Chapter 59

‘It’s Karina, right? Karina Edelin.’

Phyllis first met Karina in the garden under exceptionally bright sunlight. Karina’s first impression was special. So much so that the memory from that young age lingered even now. He couldn’t explain why. It just was.

Her blank gaze, her indifference to any games, unlike other children her age, and her unusual aloofness. The fact that he even noticed these things was proof that Karina was special to Phyllis.

Fortunately, Karina didn’t push Phyllis away, and the two quickly grew close.

‘Do you like cake?’

‘Yes.’

The closer he looked, the more Karina seemed like a curious child. Even when she liked something, it didn’t show on her face, and her calm demeanor made it difficult to tell what she was thinking.

For some reason, Phyllis liked that about Karina. There was no particular reason for it.

‘I’m going to see Karina for a bit.’

The Earl of Herwin seemed quite pleased with Phyllis and Karina’s friendship. Phyllis, still young, didn’t fully understand why, but he thought it was fortunate.

‘Don’t build unnecessary relationships. Surround yourself with people who will benefit you.’ Phyllis had been hearing these words since he was old enough to understand them.

‘It seems like my father likes you, Karina.’

‘Likes me? Why?’

‘I don’t know either.’

In any case, it was a good thing for Phyllis. At least he wouldn’t have to part ways with a friend he liked.

‘Hmm… My parents like you too.’

Hearing Phyllis’s words, Karina responded in her usual calm tone.

‘Because you’re my friend.’

‘I see.’

At that simple answer, Phyllis tried to hide his joy by mimicking Karina’s indifferent tone. It was probably the first time Phyllis had experienced someone’s pure affection.

The bleak atmosphere of his household, his mother, whom he had to take care of, and his young sister. Amidst all that, Karina Edelin was Phyllis’s only solace.

So Phyllis didn’t think beyond that. It was already enough. He realized this wasn’t true when they turned ten.

‘…An engagement?’

It was a predictable story. A proposal from a family of similar status for the young daughter of a noble household.

Karina and her parents rejected it without much thought, and Phyllis knew this. Yet, he didn’t feel pleased.

While Phyllis was going through a restless period, unable to understand his own feelings, Karina came to him. With an unusually serious expression, she firmly said to him:

‘You know, you’re my most precious friend, Phyllis.’

At that moment, Phyllis realized. What he truly wanted was this moment. After that, Karina became the most important person to Phyllis.

‘Phyllis Herwin? Oh, the son of that leeching family?’

However, few around them viewed their relationship positively. Karina was the only daughter of a Duke’s household, while Phyllis was the child of an Earl.

What had started as a pure relationship between Phyllis and Karina slowly became tainted as it passed through the mouths of strangers.

‘That kid is shameless. He’s just like his father.’

‘Well, he doesn’t know anything else, so of course.’

Through this, Phyllis learned many rumors about his father.

That he would do anything for success, using the wives of powerful families as tools for his advancement. Now, he was trying to use the Duke’s household to secure an illegitimate position for his son.

Ironically, the main target of these rumors wasn’t the Earl of Herwin but the young Phyllis.

‘Hey, Phyllis. I heard you go to the Academy to seduce girls?’

‘Who’s next? Rumor has it the Lady of Edelin is already in your grasp.’

Despite the baseless rumors and malicious words, Phyllis continued his studies diligently. It wasn’t because he didn’t know about the rumors. If anything, it was quite the opposite.

His father, who neglected the family, and his mother, who always seemed lonely for reasons he didn’t know. Perhaps Phyllis believed those rumors about himself more than anyone else.

In that situation, Phyllis lived as if nothing was wrong. He interacted with people as he always had, holding a pen in his hand as he always did.

He had to. Phyllis had to act as if nothing was wrong.

‘Phyllis. Did something happen?’

At least to Karina, he didn’t want to tell the truth. Sometimes, he felt grateful that Karina’s social circle wasn’t wide.

That’s how Phyllis lived. Being with Karina made him feel like everything was okay. But what shattered that belief was a single comment, no different from the others.

‘He’s really ruthless. Pretending to have feelings just to climb the ladder.’

It was the year Phyllis turned thirteen, the day he graduated at the top of his class at the Academy.

‘That girl is pathetic too. Blinded by a boy.’

The mocking voice was talking about Karina. Phyllis could see the face of the one mocking her. That child was laughing.

The next few moments were a blur. When he came to his senses, Phyllis found himself clenching his fist.

‘Take it back.’

‘My nose, my nose…!’

‘I said take it back!’

For the first time in his life, Phyllis felt the emotion of anger.

The voice of an unfamiliar child, the laughter.

‘Karina and I… are friends. That’s all there is to it.’

It felt as though they were making not only him but also Karina into a laughingstock. And yet, he hated himself for not being able to deny it outright.

After an unforgettable graduation ceremony, Phyllis returned home and sought out his father’s study. He wanted confirmation from someone, anyone, that those words were wrong. However, as always, his father’s response was dry and emotionless.

‘There’s at least one smart kid around you.’

‘…Father?’

His father’s hand, stamping documents, was mechanical, devoid of emotion.

‘A woman in love is one of the easiest tools to use.’

The Earl of Herwin looked at Phyllis with an unshaken gaze. Phyllis felt disgusted. More than anything, he hated that those light brown eyes looked so much like his own.

After leaving the study, Phyllis didn’t come out of his room for the rest of the day.

‘Phyllis?’

And when he finally saw Karina a few days later, he thought to himself.

‘Yes, Karina.’

Karina and I are friends. We have to be.

***

Late in the afternoon, as the sun was setting, Karina stood on the terrace, looking out. From the terrace overlooking the back of the Duke’s residence, she could see the neighboring village and the stream leading to it. The bridge in the middle of the stream seemed to stand lonely in its place.

“Miss.”

While she was blankly staring outside, Becky approached from the corridor.

It was almost dinner time, she realized. Becky must have come looking for her after she disappeared without a word.

But as Becky approached, she hesitated, glancing at Karina nervously. Amusingly, at that moment, Karina realized what Becky was about to say.

“…What’s the verdict?”

The trial was over. Noah’s trial, which had begun yesterday and continued today.

At Karina’s question, Becky hesitated before answering.

“The treason charges were dropped, but he was sentenced to asset confiscation and six months of seclusion…”

“I see. Got it.”

Nodding lightly, Karina said she would come down to the first floor soon. Becky looked slightly surprised but nodded and left.

Left alone again, Karina stepped fully onto the terrace. A gentle breeze brushed past her face. She felt as though her clear mind was breaking apart.

Even without evidence, treason was a grave crime. Just being suspected could lead to punishment.

‘The sentence might be reduced in a later trial.’

It was fortunate that the punishment was the lightest and easiest to adjust. Asset confiscation was also a lenient penalty. Though she wondered if there was any property to confiscate in the first place. Karina let out a hollow laugh, recalling the first time she met Noah.

A visibly old castle, a butler with no manners, and the homeowner sleeping on the floor. She had thought she should never get involved with him again. She didn’t know when she had grown so accustomed to him.

The faint smile on Karina’s lips gradually faded. It had been a long time since she felt this way—sinking into sadness at the thought of someone.

‘Don’t come looking for me again.’

Noah’s voice saying that seemed to ride the wind and reach her ears. Karina stood on the terrace for a long time after he left.

She couldn’t understand. There was no reason, as far as her common sense went. She knew she had to be careful. But Noah’s request went beyond that.

“Maybe it would’ve been better if he’d at least set a timeframe.”

Not knowing how long or why she had to wait was proving to be harder than she thought. She already felt this stifled, and imagining the six months ahead made her vision go dark.

Letting out a sigh of frustration, Karina looked toward the distant stream.

‘Miss Karina?’

The man who had called her with a bright smile while standing in the stream came to mind. To call it a sudden memory felt strange because it had been etched into her thoughts from the very beginning.

Once again, Karina found herself helplessly swept up by him.

Thinking back, it had always been like that. When it came to Noah, she was strangely prone to being swept along and getting involved. She knew it wasn’t like her. Truthfully, she could have refused and pushed him away as much as she wanted, but she didn’t.

Why was that? Karina couldn’t answer her own question as she turned and left the terrace. Even as she headed toward her family, who would be waiting for her, her thoughts didn’t stop.

‘Thank you. I didn’t expect you to come all the way here.’

‘I was following a butterfly… Is this a place I shouldn’t be?’

‘Feel free to come by. Even if you’re just bored or have nothing to do, that’s fine.’

As she walked down the corridor, descended the stairs, and stepped down floor by floor, Karina continued to think. Finally, when she reached the first floor, she came to one conclusion.

It didn’t mean anything. Dwelling on past actions and pondering the meaning of what had already been done was meaningless.

If she had to assign meaning to it, Karina came up with an answer that was uncharacteristic of her.

‘Maybe I just like him.’

Noah, that strange man.

Maybe she had started liking him at some point without even realizing it.