“Lord von Oestenberg, it’s a bit early, but have a good night. Please don’t work too hard.”

Jacqueline left the study like a spring breeze that briefly lingered on cold stone.

Only after hearing the spirited woman leave did Oscar lean back in his chair. Fatigue suddenly washed over him, and the words “I’m exhausted” escaped his lips involuntarily.

Since it came out unconsciously, Oscar didn’t notice anything strange about it, but Heather, who stood by his side, looked startled. Heather was the person who had witnessed Oscar’s birth and current state most closely. 

In his 29 years of life, his master had never once said he was having a hard time or feeling tired, and now he was showing a human side for the first time.

‘Well now, should I consider this a strange blessing from Miss Carroll?’

“Master, may I look at your shoulders for a moment?”

“I’ll allow it.”

As Heather loosened the tense muscles, Oscar’s rigid posture gradually relaxed. Oscar was always tense and couldn’t rest comfortably even when alone.

“I’ve been thinking lately. Perhaps the reason you can’t rest is because you don’t know how to. You’ve shouldered so many responsibilities from such a young age.”

“It was something I would have to do eventually. I just started earlier than most.”

Oscar had been learning family affairs since he was five years old, in order to manage Hildegard House in place of his perpetually busy parents. 

When the political situation was in turmoil, the von Oestenberg couple had been busy day and night managing the family’s crisis of survival, unable to directly care for their young son.

Despite this, they expressed their love whenever possible, and fortunately, their son didn’t grow up maladjusted. 

The von Oestenberg couple felt sorry for Oscar, who had grown up well without their help, but they were also proud of him. For the sake of his trusting parents, Oscar couldn’t stray from the right path.

In the past, he had suffered under others’ scrutiny and his own self-censorship for having excellent parents, and now he lived hiding himself, oppressed by his own reputation.

Heather felt sorry for Oscar, who had grown up without even the opportunity to be indulged by his parents. On the other hand, he couldn’t even imagine what would happen to Oscar if he were ever freed from emotional restraint.

“I still vividly remember that shocking day when small hands that should have been turning the pages of fairy tales were correcting numbers in accounting ledgers.”

“Don’t exaggerate. It was simple arithmetic.”

“My grandson couldn’t even read properly at that age, let alone do arithmetic. Come to think of it, you skipped right over the typical rebellious phase boys go through. I secretly looked forward to seeing when you might cause some trouble during your boyhood.”

“Do you also think I’m abnormal, like my aunt does?”

“Not at all. I’m merely saying that the burden placed on those strong shoulders looks particularly heavy today.”

It was an invisible burden that only the old butler, who had been by Oscar’s side from birth until now, could see. Heather felt something hot rising in his chest. But he suppressed it and asked Oscar:

“In any case, you seem more tired than usual.”

“It’s because of that woman. She talks too much.”

Heather indulged his master’s complaint appropriately.

“Miss Carroll must have been quite frustrated too. After all, you essentially forced her into a vow of silence all day. How many things must she have wanted to say during that time?”

Hearing Heather subtly taking Jacqueline’s side, Oscar said with an irritated expression:

“Her constant chattering makes it impossible to concentrate on work. I tried to endure it for my aunt’s sake, but I’ll have to contact the Volunteer Association soon to get rid of that woman.”

“I will follow your wishes, Master. But considering Lady Sharon’s involvement and Miss Carroll’s efforts so far, perhaps we could wait a little longer and observe?”

“I’m only tolerating this for my aunt’s sake. Seeing how she continues to come here despite such treatment, she must have some ulterior motive…”

Since losing his eyesight, Oscar had stopped trusting people. When he had to hire new people out of necessity, he would verify them multiple times before working with them, and he couldn’t skip this process even for someone recommended by his own blood relative.

“I’ve asked Warren to investigate Miss Carroll’s background, so I should receive a report by tomorrow noon at the latest.”

“That’s a shame. I was hoping Miss Carroll would stay longer.”

“If she has lived an upright life, who knows.”

Heather knew his wish was unlikely to be fulfilled. When Oscar thoroughly investigated someone, it was hard to find a person without flaws. But this wasn’t his place to intervene, so he stepped back.

The reason Heather wanted Jacqueline to stay longer was because he saw some hope in her rehabilitation approach. 

Listening to Jacqueline’s stories painted vivid scenes in his mind. If even he, without visual impairment, felt this way, it must have been even more effective for his master.

‘The fact that the master felt tired after hearing Miss Carroll’s stories means he was concentrating on them that much.’

Oscar suddenly felt hungry. As soon as he felt the urge to put something in his mouth, he said to Heather:

“Bring me some simple finger food.”

Heather asked with a brightened expression:

“Are you hungry?”

Even though Oscar didn’t answer out of pride, Heather read his mind precisely.

‘I should bring out a salad with the chef’s special sauce too.’

“I’ll prepare it right away.”

That day, the chef shed tears of joy seeing the completely empty plate.

* * *

The capital, which Jacqueline returned to after two years, felt unfamiliar and unfriendly. The streets had become more complicated, and most of the restaurants she used to frequent had closed down. 

Since the end of the war, Labon had grown at a rapid pace, comparable to children, and Jacqueline felt this acutely when she met Tommy and Emma of the Hennessy family.

The children she hadn’t seen in a long time had grown so tall that they now filled her arms completely when she embraced them. 

Tommy, who used to be timid, now boasted that he was no longer afraid of the imaginary monster living in the closet, and Emma, who had been a tomboy, had transformed into a composed young lady under her mother’s strict education.

Jacqueline was delighted by the twins’ growth but couldn’t help feeling a bit wistful.

‘When did they grow so much?’

Since the incident when their birth father ran away, Tommy and Emma had become more mature in their thinking. 

The children, who had grown up quickly, began helping their mother, older brother, and cousin, and when the family united, they became truly invincible, making the impossible possible.

At one point, the textile factory had faced a crisis due to Mr. Hennessy’s embezzlement scandal, but fortunately, Zachary Hennessy had business acumen and good timing, allowing him to overcome the difficult period. 

Thanks to this, the Hennessy family became more prosperous than before. The Hennessy family was healthier and more harmonious than ever, to the point where even the days of being chased by creditors could be beautified as a strengthening experience.

Mrs. Hennessy hadn’t forgotten Jacqueline, who had helped them during difficult times. When Jacqueline had said she was leaving the capital, Mrs. Hennessy had been even more upset than her own children and tried to hold her back.

‘If you need a job, come back anytime. No, I misspoke. You can come whenever you want. Miss Carroll, you’re family to us.’

Jacqueline had been surprised and touched when the once proud and prickly Mrs. Hennessy had warmly cared for her.

‘Miss Carroll, please make time to visit us no matter how busy you are. Our children miss you terribly. So do I.’

Mrs. Hennessy had asked her to attend the twins’ upcoming birthday without fail.

‘Children really do grow up so fast.’

Jacqueline smiled faintly as she watched a mischievous child running through the alley. She already missed the sound of children’s laughter.

Anette wiped her sweat with a towel and asked Jacqueline:

“Is this all your luggage?”

“You can put the clothes over here. I’ll organize them later.”

“Mr. Meynard… no, not anymore. Mrs. Rohasch was disappointed.”

“It couldn’t be helped. It would be strange for me to move into the apartment where the two of them live together.”

“That’s true. Jackie, how does it feel to be back in the capital?”

“The city is convenient for living.”

“You say the city is convenient, but your expression suggests otherwise. You think your body might be more comfortable here, but your heart prefers it there?”

“I can’t lie to you.”

Labon still had murky air from smoke that made it difficult to breathe. Wiping the window covered with gray dust, Jacqueline recalled the time she had spent in dense forests and lush fields.

There were no paved roads crisscrossing like spider webs, but fruit trees lined the roadsides for thirsty and hungry travelers. 

The people weren’t cultured or particularly kind, but when someone was in trouble, they would quietly step forward and help, treating it as their own problem.

Jacqueline loved the small town’s modest atmosphere, with its perfect balance of care and indifference.

“Felsorn is a nice place too. You’d like it if you came to visit.”

“Jackie, listening to you makes me want to go there. I could eat all these delicious hazelnuts too, right?”

Anette said this while putting one of the hazelnuts Jacqueline had brought, a specialty of Felsorn, into her mouth.

“Eating these hazelnuts reminds me of those people who are busy roasting hazelnuts these days. Are they still bickering with each other?”

“They’re doing well. Uncle treats Aunt so well.”