The Beast Who Has Returned Obsesses Over Me - Chapter 8

Emil, as he greeted Leon, seemed to have forgotten his initial awkwardness. His eyes were glued to the lavish spread of food before him.

Leon, while acknowledging Emil’s greeting, scanned Yvonne’s thin frame from head to toe.

“Yvonne. Have dinner ready earlier from tomorrow.”

It was about 30 minutes later than their usual dinner time. She had been running around, gathering everything he needed, and it had made them late. Perhaps his stomach was particularly empty, as Leon’s tone was sharp.

“This is quite good.”

As soon as Leon finished his sentence, Emil popped a piece of meat into his mouth. Wow. It was more than “quite good.” It was delicious. He savored the melt-in-your-mouth meat with a blissful expression.

Something felt off about the whole situation, but at least Emil looked happy. Just seeing his joy brought a smile to Yvonne’s face.

Yvonne was relieved that Leon, who had provided the money for the meal, seemed to be enjoying his food without complaint. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding and watched the two men eat.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

Startled by his reprimand, she quickly picked up her spoon. She hadn’t expected him to care whether she ate or not.

“Finish everything.”

He commanded her not just with his words but with a stern look. It was as if he would scold her if she left anything on her plate. Wait…… Could it be…… Was he making her eat because he had commented on her being too thin earlier?

It shouldn’t matter to Leon whether she was thin or not, so why was he concerned?…… Could he be planning to make her do something after she had eaten her fill? That seemed unlikely, too. He had never hesitated to order her around before, regardless of whether she had eaten.

Yvonne pushed such thoughts aside for now, focusing on the appetizing food before her. She would eat first, as he wished.

It had been a while since she had enjoyed such a proper meal. The taste…… was beyond words. She felt Leon’s sharp gaze on her several times as she ate, but she was too preoccupied with watching Emil to notice.

The dinner, which she had expected to be awkward and uncomfortable, was proceeding rather smoothly.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten such a delicious meal, complete with a sweet and savory tart topped with thinly sliced fruit. She was almost worried her stomach wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Nora was a talented head maid, especially skilled in the culinary arts. Desserts were her specialty, but due to their limited budget, they had been unable to afford such luxuries for a long time.

Thanks to Leon, the dining room was filled with the aroma of meat once again, and they could finally eat their fill. Oh dear. She had just thought “thanks to Leon.” She took a deep breath, chiding herself for acting as if she had been starved. In any case, this was undoubtedly a good thing for Emil, who was still growing.

“I made plenty of beef stew. I’ll serve it again tomorrow.”

Beaming, Nora responded to Emil’s praise for the stew. Emil’s face lit up at the prospect of having it again tomorrow.

“Sir Leon. Thank you for the wonderful meal.”

Emil politely expressed his gratitude after the meal. Leon’s gaze shifted to him. He had been eating in silence, but now he studied Emil’s face, seemingly deep in thought. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking from his expression. However, he didn’t appear displeased.

Emil, his violet eyes wide, scratched his blonde hair sheepishly. He seemed a little embarrassed, as if Leon’s unwavering gaze was making him uncomfortable.

Suddenly, Leon winced and looked away.

“Are you alright?”

Emil jumped to his feet and rushed to Leon’s side. Yvonne was more surprised than anyone. Emil…… Don’t go near him!

The angelic Emil treated everyone this way. He offered a helping hand, comforted them, and empathized with their feelings. That’s why it felt strange to Yvonne that he was doing the same to Leon. Leon was someone who would only hurt you if you got close.

It was unpleasant to witness, but Emil seemed to think differently.

“You should go to your room.”

Emil was already pushing the wheelchair, even as he spoke. Seeing his small frame diligently pushing the chair tugged at her heartstrings. It seemed he wanted to repay Leon’s kindness for the delicious dinner. It wasn’t necessary, yet…… He was too kind for his own good.

She wasn’t sure if Leon was genuinely unwell, but he remained silent as Emil pushed his wheelchair. His expression seemed frozen. Did he want to go to his room and rest?

Seeing him leave so abruptly, she couldn’t help but worry if something had bothered him during the meal. Did we eat too much? Having experienced Leon’s behavior firsthand, Yvonne’s thoughts naturally gravitated towards such concerns.

***

“Should I call a servant?”

They had arrived at the bedroom, but they needed help to get Leon onto the bed. Emil, unsure if Leon wanted to lie down immediately, asked considerately.

“Later.”

At Leon’s brief reply, Emil nodded and turned to leave.

“You look a lot alike.”

“Pardon?”

Confused by Leon’s words, Emil’s eyes widened. He looked just like a cute little squirrel.

Leon, however, chuckled without further explanation.

“Um…… Leon?”

Seeing Leon’s frown relax, Emil decided to ask what had been on his mind.

“May I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

Encouraged by Leon’s seemingly normal tone, Emil spoke confidently.

“Why do you call my sister Yvonne?”

Leon fell silent at Emil’s unexpected question.

Unsure why the silence was stretching, Emil tilted his head slightly.

“Did it sound strange?”

“Not really, but this is the first time I’ve heard you call her that.”

With his blonde hair and violet eyes, Emil, who bore a striking resemblance to Yvonne in her younger days, spoke more eloquently than she did at that age. His innocent face and eyes, however, remained unchanged.

“It’s my prerogative. Are you going to question everything that changes?”

Emil immediately shook his head, seemingly convinced. He was quick on the uptake.

“Well then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With a bow, Emil finally left the room. It was the first time Leon had witnessed Emil’s perceptiveness. Then again, they hadn’t had many opportunities to interact. He was already aware of Emil’s close relationship with Yvonne.

Suddenly, a grimace contorted Leon’s face. He had managed to endure the pain until Yvonne finished her meal, but Emil had noticed it towards the end. The arduous carriage ride had taken its toll.

I should have asked Yvonne to call someone. Regretting his decision, Leon sighed, pushing the chair towards the bed with great effort in the drafty room. I need to get rid of this pain as soon as possible. A heavy sigh escaped his lips.

The mansion was in a sorry state as well. It seemed to have deteriorated further in his absence. There wasn’t a single part of it that was in good condition. It was hardly deserving of the title “mansion.”

He vaguely recalled there being at least twenty servants in the past. Now, there were only a handful. Back when the Count was alive, he had become privy to the family’s financial situation. He had learned of it naturally during his visits, and even then, reducing the number of servants would have been the sensible choice. But the Count had valued appearances above all else. That had only worsened their situation, and the fact that they were down to so few servants meant things had gotten much worse.

Fortunately, Yvonne wasn’t like the Count, clinging to appearances and putting on airs. However, there was no denying that they had become even poorer in the past year. They were living in conditions unfit for nobles. Every time he looked around, he couldn’t help but sigh.

***

“Is there anything you need?”

Yvonne stopped by Leon’s room again before heading back to her own, out of courtesy.

Leon beckoned her closer. Perhaps it was the satisfying meal, but she didn’t feel as afraid of him as before.

“First, use this money to hire more servants. Enough so that I won’t be inconvenienced. Hire more maids too.”

His sudden declaration made Yvonne’s eyes widen again, staring at him in surprise. This money?

In front of him lay the leather pouch she had given him earlier. Was he asking her to spend more money? His money?

“So…… you’re saying I should use this money?”

“Of course. Why else would I give it to you?”

Yvonne’s eyes blinked rapidly, her head tilting further and further to the side.

“I have to ask. Why did you give me this money?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I want you to make sure I’m well taken care of, without any inconvenience.”

Of course, they needed money to hire servants. But she never expected Leon to offer more funds. She had assumed he would exploit her and make her serve him endlessly, but this unexpected turn of events confused her, causing her head to tilt again.

“As you know, I detest inconvenience. So make sure they’re here by tomorrow.”

“If that’s what you wanted, you should have just kept the Duke’s servants here instead of sending them back. It would have saved you money and the trouble……”

“I don’t trust those people. Hire new ones who have no connection to this place.”

His suspicion and distrust remained unchanged. Still, following his instructions would be a great help in managing the Count’s mansion. It was absurd to think Leon would offer such assistance, yet here they were. Though he claimed he was spending money for his own benefit, something felt off about the whole situation.

“I’d appreciate it if you could do as I said.”

She couldn’t fathom what was going through his mind.

“Well…… then I’ll hire three more of each.”

She decided to follow his instructions for now. If she disobeyed, who knew what kind of outburst would erupt……

“Are you kidding me?”

Oh. Did she go overboard? Perhaps she should have suggested one more of each. Her face flushed, feeling like her ulterior motives were exposed.

“This is enough to hire more than ten people. What are you planning to do with the money?”

What was he talking about now……?

Instead of being offended by his accusation, Yvonne stood dumbfounded, his words about hiring ten more echoing in her ears. She slowly approached him and picked up the money pouch. It seemed she needed to know exactly how much he had given her to have a proper conversation.

Whenever she was surprised, she had a habit of becoming expressionless. It often led people to misinterpret her as bold and unfazed. This was one of those times. A quick glance told her it contained at least a thousand gold. It seemed like he had returned the entire sum she had given him. He had a knack for surprising her.

Hiring ten servants would only cost a hundred gold per month. He had essentially handed her a year’s worth of wages. It was only natural that she was struggling to adapt to this new side of Leon.

“I suggest you get started.”

Snapping out of her daze, Yvonne nodded, clutching the money pouch tightly, and turned around. She had a lot to do.

While she understood that Leon was simply looking out for himself, it still felt strange. Convinced that following his orders would be beneficial in the long run, she quickened her pace.

Even as she hurried out of the cold study, a lingering unease remained.

She had dismissed the servants due to their financial situation, but there were plenty of people in the village who would come running if she called. She could have them all replaced within two days.

As she stepped out, she found Emil waiting outside, his face etched with worry. He rushed towards her.

“Eve, are you alright?”

This was probably Emil’s most frequently spoken phrase. He was always attentive to her well-being, trying to comfort her and lift her spirits. Our angelic Emil.

Squeezing Emil’s hand, Yvonne nodded and resumed walking. She made sure to pet Toto, who was nestled in Emil’s arms. It seemed Emil was paying extra attention to Toto with Leon around. Toto, on the other hand, refused to go anywhere near Leon, especially after being kicked by him once.

Yvonne quickly summoned Jack, the servant, and instructed him to bring the former employees back early the next morning. She had a lot to do.

For now, things were off to an unexpectedly good start. There was no guarantee it would last, but the mansion’s situation seemed to be looking up. This alone gave her hope that they could overcome any future challenges.

For the first time in a long while, a spark of hope ignited in Yvonne’s eyes. Emil, gazing up at her with his identical violet eyes, mirrored her newfound optimism.