When I said goodbye to Vincent, he smiled brightly and waved his hand. There was no sign that he was sad I wasn’t going with him. I felt relieved, but also a little disappointed.
I watched Vincent leave with Sahel toward the forest of the estate for a moment, then returned to the mansion. The maids were running around busier than before.
I looked around the reception room. It was already cleaned well; not a speck of dust was visible.
I immediately turned and headed for the mansion’s kitchen. I could have sent a servant to get a report, but I wanted to see for myself.
The kitchen was quite busy. I asked a nearby cook,
“Is the food almost ready?”
The cook looked surprised when he saw me but then nodded slowly.
“Yes, it’s almost ready. By the way, madam, it’s an honor you came to visit.”
All the cooks nearby stopped working and bowed their heads. I felt awkward and smiled nervously. After looking around for a moment, I left.
I should have sent a servant, I thought. It felt a bit strange. Then I went to check the rooms where Chartine and Floren would stay. The room was neat and clean. The floor looked shiny, as if it had been oiled. The maid who was running around busily here yesterday was not there. It seemed well prepared, so I headed to the room. I was unconsciously walking up the stairs and down the hall.
The door to a familiar room was open. It was not my room but the one Cedric had once said was made as a child’s room. Before, I never dared to open the door. I reached out to close it but saw inside a little.
After a moment of hesitation, I opened the door. A small white-painted bed and a small doll stuck to the ceiling caught my eye. Nearby were a small chair and a table. On the table, white clothes that looked like children’s clothes were neatly folded. It seemed perfectly ready.
I remembered the first time Cedric talked about joining the rooms. I hadn’t seen this room finished then. I looked around with a serious face and unconsciously touched the wooden wall.
“Madam.”
Startled, I turned around and felt something sharp brush against my hand. I clenched my fist and looked at the maid.
“A guest has arrived.”
Without thinking more, I left the room. Then I stopped for a moment and said to the maid,
“Keep this room locked.”
In the reception room, Chartine and Floren were already sitting in chairs. They looked around with curiosity. Since it had been a long time since we met, I quickly walked toward them. Chartine stood up with a bright smile.
“Revril!”
Chartine came closer with a bright face. Her face looked the same as before, maybe even more lively. Floren also looked at me with a smiling face.
“How have you been?”
I nodded and sat down. Chartine held my hand and sat next to me.
“It really feels different seeing you here!”
Just then, Floren came closer and smiled brightly at me.
“As expected of Lady Jedburgh! I was really surprised the first time I came here. It’s my first time visiting such a huge mansion.”
Chartine nodded and said admiringly,
“Yes. I’ve only been in the countryside of Yurhen before, so coming to such a big place was confusing.”
“But I’m glad you came. You haven’t eaten yet, right?”
“No. When I was about to eat, Floren told me not to bother because she made a lot of delicious food here.”
Floren smiled at me.
“Was it hard to prepare everything?”
“No. The servants did almost everything, and I only gave the orders.”
Floren and Chartine nodded in understanding. Then Chartine looked around quietly and asked,
“What about Vincent?”
Only then did I remember Vincent left with Sahel. I quickly called a servant.
“Has Vincent returned?”
“Not yet.”
I glanced at the clock; it was not lunchtime yet. Then Chartine carefully asked,
“Revril, did we come too early?”
“No! You came at a good time. I’ll show you around the mansion.”
When I stood up, Chartine and Floren also got up. I added,
“Vincent went for a walk with the nanny and will probably return by lunchtime.”
Chartine nodded and asked gently,
“How is raising Vincent? It must be much better here, right?”
Looking at the facts, yes. I barely interfered, and there was already a tutor. Vincent seemed to grow well on his own.
“By the way, do you know how surprised Duke Jedburgh was when he first came to the temple? I still clearly remember that day.”
Floren talked about it many times, still remembering that moment. Chartine nodded in agreement. Floren continued firmly,
“I think that was the most amazing thing I’ve ever experienced. And I criticized my husband without knowing it.”
I smiled slightly and said to Floren,
“It’s okay. At that time, it was the right thing to do anyway.”
Floren looked at me wide-eyed. I didn’t want to say more, so I smiled and changed the subject. Floren nodded without asking further.
I showed them the banquet hall and several other rooms. They couldn’t stop admiring everything. They admired the wall decorations, paintings, statues, many books, and the fancy carpets.
When I first came to Bestine mansion, everything was new, interesting, and beautiful. But after staying long, I lost interest and sometimes got bored. While I was just watching them, Chartine came closer.
“Revril, doesn’t Duke Jedburgh say much?”
“What do you mean?”
“Although we were formally invited, we are not people important enough to visit here. And even though he invited everyone from the temple, the priests had to stay to protect the temple, so only we came.”
“No. Even if it wasn’t Cedric, I would have invited you formally.”
Seeing Chartine look worried, I quickly added,
“He treated me well. After all, I lived there because you helped me.”
“I just introduced you to a job.”
“I’m more thankful for that. Now that I think about it, I was happiest then.”
I still missed it. It was freer than living at Bestine mansion, and getting paid for regular work was enjoyable. When I made scented pouches, if I hadn’t been short on money, it would have been a decent life.
Thinking about it, I wondered if I inherited my father’s enjoyment of making money. Of all my experiences, life at the temple was the most comfortable and pleasant.
“Revril, don’t say that. Temple work was so annoying and busy. Even if you wanted to eat something, you had to wait a week because there were no ingredients.”
“But I liked that. Living a bit isolated wasn’t bad.”
Chartine was looking at me for a moment. Then Floren quickly came over and said,
“Revril, there’s a big carriage outside.”
I went to the window and saw a familiar carriage. Soon the door opened, and a familiar person got out — Cedric. I wondered why he came at this time.
“I’ll come early.”
I didn’t know that meant he really came early. I had never seen Cedric come at this time before. It was close to lunchtime now.
As I looked with a serious face, Chartine and Floren looked at me worried.
“Revril?”
I smiled awkwardly.
“I didn’t expect Cedric to come at this time. I thought he would come in the evening.”
Floren smiled brightly.
“Maybe he came early on purpose! To surprise you.”
“No. He probably came early because an important guest arrived.”
“Important guest?”
Chartine asked with surprise, and I answered quickly,
“Cedric is grateful to the temple for taking care of me.”
“Really?”
Floren smiled happily. Chartine nodded quietly in understanding.
“True. If he wasn’t that grateful, it wouldn’t have been easy to build the road from Kellabird to Yurhen. Thanks to him, Yurhen has really become lively.”
It was good Cedric helped the temple. I had been so busy I hadn’t paid much attention.
Trying to hide my mixed feelings, I smiled. Floren took my hand and led me toward the stairs.
