About Your Pride and My Prejudice

Chapter 52: Is There a Flower Shop Nearby?

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My daily life at Arch Hill was supremely peaceful.

I didn’t encounter my great-aunt as much as I thought. She spends most of her time in her room, and she often eats separately. The morning we greeted each other for the first time after returning here was probably the moment the two of us spent the most time together.

I definitely brought my notebook, but I didn’t write anything new. It was the first time I was in a situation where I didn’t have a story I wanted to write in particular. The cause, presumably, is the emptiness that comes from sending my manuscript that I had been completely absorbed in for months to the academy.

Perhaps it’s because I learned the truth I wanted to turn a blind eye to through conversations with my great-aunt. It would be a lie if I weren’t shocked by the fact that the ugliest form of love was lurking very close.

The specific circumstances were unknown, but I didn’t want to dig because I didn’t want to be hurted.

Will it be a big problem if I procrastinate a little longer? I’ll leave the kingdom before long anyway, but even if I ignored it when I came back from my studies, would it still be an issue I’d have to face?

I really wanted to believe that. I also wanted to rely a little more on my mother’s consideration for not telling me everything.

Originally, I was not an admirer of love, but I believe that there are countless things in life that are of equal value. Coincidentally, however, the theme of the stories I write has always been love, and only love has made my pen move.

This is an irony that I cannot understand myself.

………For these reasons, I was in shock and could not write a new story right away, but it was not the first time I couldn’t write. One day when I become a writer, there will be many more things like this.

That’s why I decided not to be nervous. Time will eventually solve everything.

Instead of writing, I spent most of my time reading books until the sun went down in the library where the smell of soggy paper wafted. Thanks to the sunny weather every day, I sometimes took a nap lying under the shade of trees in the garden. It was a leisurely day like a dream.

In short, no one was disturbing me in this mansion. Every day at Arch Hill was surprisingly quiet and peaceful. I didn’t even hear the sound of a carriage passing by.

To be honest, life here fits me well like measured clothes. Especially when I think about how hard it was for me to be in a social world full of fake laughter, pretence, and stories I didn’t want to hear.

Madam Hue, who had been in this mansion for just four years, was also not as difficult as I thought. It was just a matter of my perspective that I thought she hated me.

Well, with this clumsy eye, I had no doubts in Alan Leopold’s twisted mind at all. I was deceived like a fool by his beauty and elegance…….

Anyway, Madam Hue is working hard both physically and mentally so that my life at Arch Hill is not uncomfortable. There is no such thing as having a small and affectionate conversation as I had with Mrs. Kearney, but I liked Madam Hue way nonetheless.

Most importantly, life in Arch Hill, which I thought would be lonely and aloof, is extremely free and comfortable. For the first time I realized that I was a person who likes alone time.

To exaggerate a little, I even felt like I had a completely new life. This blessed season, the sound of young birds singing from somewhere, and the fact that the dream of studying abroad is just a month away were unbearably overwhelming.

It felt like a late spring had finally come to my life, after I had been huddling and trembling in the long cold winter.

* * *

It was one morning, a month before the day of departure for the principality

Upon receiving a report on the preparation stage of the new business, Ian Leopold’s secretary left the office, and Alan also wore his outerwear. The aide who was watching the scene looked embarrassed.

“You have visitors in the afternoon, but…….”

“It won’t take long. I’m going to get some fresh air.”

Alan, who left the office leaving a concise answer, hurriedly walked out the back door. Then, instead of getting into the carriage, he climbed on the back of his standing horse with its black mane waving.

Skillfully running along the street, he passed several alleys where carriages could not pass.  As he ran for a while, the surrounding landscape gradually changed.

The place where the black horse arrived was a slum located on the outskirts. Even in the middle of the day, the dark and shady streets created a strange atmosphere.

Alan didn’t get off the horse. However, he stood at the entrance of the shabby village with a dignified posture. His appearance looked indescribably heterogeneous, but at the same time, he shone brilliantly like a jewel in the mud.

A man approached Alan, who had his beautiful forehead distorted as if it was hard to even breathe here, and the man bowed his head.

“You’re here.”

The man had a terrible appearance who didn’t even have proper clothes.  Nevertheless, his shaggy physique and copper-colored skin full of scars made it clear that he was the de facto leader of the place.

“Report.”

“Nothing this time either. I’m deeply ashamed (of myself).”

Tsk, as Alan clicked his tongue, the man’s head lowered deeper.

“Are you sure they’re all looking for it?”

“Yes. We’ve searched the entire kingdom including the convent and orphanage……. I’ll find another way soon. The possibility that he didn’t go through the facility…….”

“Ha.”

The man stopped talking at Allen’s cool laugh.

“Are you trying to say that I must have been mercilessly abandoned?”

“……no.  I was telling you that there may have been unavoidable circumstances.”

The man urgently added.

“Sir, we’re the eyes and ears of the street. I will search the whole kingdom and find the traces.”

“After a month, I will leave for the Duchy.  A servant will come from now on.”

“All right.  Please stay healthy.”

Alan, who nodded with an expressionless face, suddenly raised his gaze and looked at the distant southern sky.  The man couldn’t help but admire the picturesque profile of his master’s face as he looked up. He asked a little daze,

“…..Where are you going now, sir?”

“Ah.”

A rare smile spread on a cold face like a plaster statue. Alan, who fixed the reins, asked back in a drowsy low tone.

“Is there a flower shop nearby?”

* * *

Then one day, the new book I found in the study was so interesting that I stayed up all night reading it.

It was a romance novel about the love and farewell of aristocrats centuries ago, and it feels strange to imagine the atmosphere at the time when people often used their lives to prove the depth of love.

In those old days, people literally risked their lives for love. It is clear that if I had woken up in the book, I would have been treated more unusually than I am now.

Their love was too reckless, perhaps because of that, on the one hand, it feels unimaginably noble. It’s a world where it’s okay to be willing to give your life because of love. Throughout reading the book, I thought it was a dream-like story.

The lovers in the book threw themselves away for love, but did not show any hesitation or regret. How big, deep, and irresistible love was. Somehow it’s alien.

My great-aunt, who entered the twilight years of her life, told me that I should not trust men, and sadly, I also agree with that,

“Miss Collins.”

If love is so sacred…… At least once…….

“Miss Collins!”

“…..Gasp!”

“Did you fall asleep while holding a teacup?”

At Madam Hue’s absurd voice, I hurriedly put down the teacup.  I almost dropped the steaming teacup.  I felt a little dizzy when I imagined what could have happened.

“Well, I’m sorry. Because I couldn’t sleep at all last night…….”

“You don’t have to apologise to me. But you’d better take a nap. Something bad could happen.”

Madam Hue said in a unique blunt tone. I tried to nod and suddenly opened my mouth. It was because an idea suddenly crossed my mind.

“Now that I think about it, there was a lake on the way to the mansion…….”

Even though I knew that there was no malice in her blunt expression, I couldn’t help but feel intimidated.

“…..I saw it from the carriage.”

“The lake’s name is Dove.”

“I’d like to go there for a while.”

She looked at my complexion for a moment with a frown.

“It’s dangerous to swim in that state. Unless you want to give up your life like this.”

“What? I—”

“Moreover, there is no servant in this mansion to help with boating.”

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“No, ma’am! I don’t even know how to swim. I just suddenly thought that I wanted to get some fresh air by the lake.”

I’m not even a child anymore. She’s telling me to take precautions on the water, it’s too much. She let out a resigned sigh.

“It’s not too far.”

Madam Hue turned toward the kitchen and hinted.

“I’ll prepare a simple snack for you.”