About Your Pride and My Prejudice

Chapter 61: A Catalyst for the Novelist

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Even in this chaotic situation, I was sure that the maids would not be able to harm me arbitrarily, and it was not wrong. They are excellent servants who thoroughly perform a given task.

It is all thanks to it that my violent threats, which I said I would jump out of the window and bite my tongue on the first day I woke up here, worked.

But there was one problem that I had never expected.

“He hasn’t come home yet.”

“What?”

Alan Leopold is not coming back.

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It had already been three days since he left the house. I know that the issue of his succession to management rights is at stake in this new Lunoa business, but…….

“He didn’t come yesterday?”

Even so, isn’t it a bit too much to stay out for three days? Does he have a villa other than this huge mansion? This isn’t even Sourn.

More than that, what kind of person, who kidnaps and confines a person, just leaves the house….

“I’ll tell you when he gets back, so please wait a little longer.”

“…I understand.”

To sum up, somehow the waiting time for him is getting longer. What the hell is going on?

What I’ve found out over the past three days is that the place I’m in is an annex—it looks like a castle no matter how you look at it—to the west of the mansion. Of course, the owner of this magnificent mansion will stay in the main building, so even if he comes back, we will not meet unless I’m asked to come to the separate building.

Life here is very calm, contrary to my imagination, which was full of anxiety and extreme things. But I feel stifled because the maids accompany me every time I leave this room, whether I’m going to eat or take a bath, and I can’t leave the annex, but first……

I’m still uncomfortable with being waited on hand and foot like a noble lady of a great family, and to live a luxurious and comfortable life than I thought. However, thanks to this treatment, I was able to shake off concerns that I might not even be able to face Alan Leopold when he returned.

On the first day, I was not in a good mood and I had no sense and was like being under the influence of evil, but, in fact, Alan Leopold is a model for all unmarried men and a perfect gentleman. At least superficially.  So, if I make a fuss like I’m going to bite my tongue, of course, he’ll listen to the story.

Of course, I don’t know what answer will come out of Alan’s mouth when I pour out my wrathful questions. But whatever it is, he must have his own reasons, and if he talks well, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to register on time for the fall semester.

It won’t be easy to forgive him completely, but I won’t curse you forever if it doesn’t affect my studies.

So please don’t ruin my education Sir Alan.

* * *

Three days ago, the maids led me into the room and handed me my shabby baggage.

There were notes and pens in the bag, but still I could not write any love stories, and of course the only way I could spend my time was to concentrate on reading.

But I had a fatal problem; my suitcase was so small that I could only bring two books…….

What is surprising here is the question of whether there are any books to read—I didn’t have high expectations, and at best, I thought the boring books in the Lunoan language were going to be offered—It is the fact that what the maids gave to me were in Sournaire, which were also quite good and colorful novels and collections of poems.

These books seemed to be from the library of the main house, which Alan, the owner of the mansion, had brought directly from the kingdom. I asked the maids if his hobby was reading because he had an impressive eye for books and also it was a collection that no ordinary reader could have, but no answer came back.

When it comes to their master, it is no longer surprising that they become excessively reserved.  Because he’s not an ordinary master.

More than that, when I looked at the books that the maids had brought me, I noticed familiar titles, for example,

<Fugitive>

“It’s a very famous work, so I’m sure it is, but…….”

<When Love Became a Thing of the Past.>

<The Night that Covers the Waiting and Sleeps>

“These books….”

When I came across the books Alan Leopold had picked up for me in front of an old bookstore in Florin…… I had goosebumps all over my neck. Would it be too presumptuous to feel like it is not a mere coincidence?

The more painful fact is that these are exactly the two books I brought to the Principality…….

I don’t even understand how I felt when I was packing, and I don’t even want to think about it anymore because I regret it a lot. When I was in Archie Hill, I only read the books in my grandfather’s study, and I never even took those books out of my bag.

“…I don’t even know my mind.”

Anyway, before I go to bed, I take a bath in a petal-floating bathtub—it’s very uncomfortable for someone to wash me up, but I can’t help but accept it as rejection doesn’t work—and when I wake up, I have a nice meal, fragrant tea time, and write my diary…….

One day, while I was helplessly immersed in this ridiculous life, I heard an urgent knock.

“Miss,”

Before I could answer, the door burst open and a maid came in. Her tone was no different from usual, but somehow she looked tense.

I had a hunch then.

“No way… “

“The young master is back.”

It had been exactly a week since I woke up in the basement of the mansion.

* * *

The maid said she couldn’t bring Alan Leopold here, and I rose without hesitation and followed her. There were no complaints as the location was not important.

However, as I hurried to the main building of the mansion and walked down the bright hallways, my mind gradually became blank.

It’s true that I’ve been waiting for Alan to come back, but my nervous heart trembled at the thought of meeting him alone. I wasn’t sure where to start the story or whether I could convey everything I needed to convey in a coherent manner.

A fresh green afternoon poured in from the window of the hallway, where I cast my eyes, as I rubbed my sweaty palms over my clothes.

As I was walking down the corridor, feeling the motion sickness that had weighed on me on the huge passenger ship, I tried to shake off my terrible senses while looking at the fresh natural scenery.

In the meantime, I was at the door.

“Well, wait a minute. I…”

“Master, I have brought her here.”

Instead of giving me time to catch my breath, the maid burst open the door. Since she passed the long and solemn stairs and hallways, it would not be unreasonable to assume that her heart was already prepared.

“Wai….”

I was pushed through the doorway in an instant.

The room was in the shape of a dignified office, and the inside was filled with a cold and subtle air enough to make you forget the season. The man sitting on a huge table inside the room was completely obscured by the large newspaper he was reading.

But I couldn’t process who the fingers wrapped in black smooth gloves, holding the newspaper belonged to.

“…….”

At that moment, I heard the door slam behind my back. All my thoughts stopped.

A cool, deep voice followed.

“Here you are,”

It was a strange distant sound that made my whole body relaxed.

“How are you doing?”

Folding the newspaper down onto the table, he smiled faintly.

I froze again.

“You must have had a lot to say to me.”

“…you…why me…….”

Despairingly, Melissa Collins had no immunity towards those blue-gray eyes. All I could do was tremble my clenched fist and bite my lips with a painful look.

“Let’s sit down first.”

Then he got up and sat down on the sofa in front of the table. As I stared blankly at the sight of his beautiful body slumbering on the dark brown leather sofa, his long, straight legs overlapping with a noble movement, he urged me in a low voice.

“What are you doing, not sitting down?”

“…….”

I couldn’t resist the gentle, overbearing voice, and I couldn’t stand still and endure his cold gaze, so I took a trembling step and sat down in front of him.

“Sir Alan, I…….”

Please, please, calm down, Melissa. He’s Alan Leopold, and this is his castle. It is impossible for me to subdue him.

But I don’t have any obligation to this journey in fear.

“…why did you kidnap me?”

I said it!

I wondered if my heart was going to come out together, but fortunately, I spoke out safely. I’m afraid of what a terrible answer he’s going to give me…….

“Kidnap.”

But I didn’t know this would be the reaction. I can’t believe you’re slowly folding your arms, raising your chin, looking down at me and saying that kind of arsenic.

“I don’t think that….that kind of attitude is proper in this situation. Your position in the kingdom…… I don’t think you don’t know…….”

“You can try again,” (to speak)

“H-how could you have used drugs against someone as weak as me.”

“I drugged you?”

At that moment Alan Leopold scoffed. That arrogant smile drove me mad.

“…Are you going to keep it a secret because there’s no evidence? What about me waking up in a cold dungeon? If you think there’s an eternal secret in the world…….”

I barely added, as I gasped and breathed.

“…You’ve miscalculated.”

My whole body and even my exhaled breath were shaking noticeably, but I didn’t take my eyes off him. He didn’t look away from me either. As if standing over a railing, my precarious and anxious heart screamed as if it were about to fall.

I’m sure I’ve had this feeling one day. The person who gave me this feeling, as always,… It was Alan.

A moment of silence seemed eternal. His red lips finally moved.

“Are you surprised?”

What do you mean surprised by what? That you stalked me while hiding your identity? That you’ve caused harm to people around me?

Or did you use a bunch of scoundrels to put me to sleep and bring me here at your will? The fact that I’m gradually becoming powerless because I can’t refuse your unilateral and ridiculous favor?

“I’m sorry to put you to sleep in an uncomfortable place. But Melissa, you’re a writer.”

“…….”

“Isn’t the moment when imagination becomes a reality the best catalyst for a novelist’s writing?”

“What…?”

“Didn’t you stop writing recently?”

Alan added, without taking his eyes off me, who had only licked lips, doubting my ears.

“I bought this old castle only to present that moment.”