Surviving the Saintess (1) 19
“That’s strange. My Isaac wouldn’t do that. Right?”
A fabricated smile.
But her eyes weren’t smiling at all.
It was like the look you’d give someone thinking, Look at this guy…
The gaze of a girlfriend catching her boyfriend cheating.
“...Um, Miss Chloe?”
“Yes.”
“I think there’s a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding.”
Her eyes narrowed.
With a chilling air, she asked,
“May I ask what kind of misunderstanding you mean?”
Normally, she was polite yet always pushing to get a step closer.
But right now, she had taken a step back.
“The letter was just from someone I know.”
“Someone you know.”
She repeated it word for word.
“So there’s another lady you call by name. Besides me.”
“......”
The reason she was angry.
I could roughly guess.
The process for her to get me to call her by name had been arduous.
And lately, she’d been appealing to me in various ways, so to her, we were at least in a deep “almost-there” phase.
Of course, from my perspective, it was unfair.
Veronica was family, so that’s why I called her by name.
But explaining that would be tricky….
To say it, I’d have to start by revealing I was the fourth son of the Sinclair Duke’s family.
Was it okay to reveal that while exiled?
How would she take it?
Say it when it could spread through high society and who knows what happens?
Especially while Veronica was handling the aftermath?
...I had no choice but to hold off.
“It’s someone I’ve known for a long time.”
“A long time.”
“Really.”
“...How long?”
“Pretty long.”
“May I ask specifically how long this ‘pretty long’ is?”
It felt like I was being interrogated.
If this kept going, it’d never end, so I changed direction.
This wasn’t what she wanted confirmed.
“Miss Chloe.”
“Yes.”
“Me calling you by name and calling someone else by name are fundamentally different.”
She made a puzzled expression.
Like I had with Veronica, I steered toward providing a ‘foundation’ to solidify her feelings.
“Sure, I might casually call others by name.”
I glanced at her with a tender gaze.
“But you’re different, Miss Chloe. Even just calling you by name mattered so much that it was that hard for me.”
It was the truth.
It was the first time I’d ever sweated blood over a form of address.
“...It mattered to you?”
“Yes.”
“But not with others, only with me?”
“Of course.”
“......”
Before I knew it, the chill around her eyes had turned to warmth.
Her cheeks slightly flushed.
Hmph, almost humming a tune.
This was it.
“So please don’t misunderstand. Casually calling someone by name is something I can do with anyone, but you’re not just anyone, Miss Chloe.”
Because you’re my one and only Chloe.
The magic words I hadn’t used in a while.
A bit cringy, but effective.
Her face turned bright red as she fidgeted with her hands.
But it seemed not fully resolved yet.
She entered phase two.
“...What about the letter?”
“Which part….”
“I had to ask Helen to get a reply.”
Her voice quietly recited.
This was her usual tone, packed with suppressed complaints.
“But just now, I saw you writing one. A reply to Veronica. Without any prompting, on your own.”
“......”
Hard to defend.
Embarrassingly, it was true.
My replies to her came only after Helen checked and nagged about “weak expression” a few times.
But she’d seen me dash off Veronica’s reply alone.
But the reason was too hard to explain.
Your letters need romantic content, but I’m not good at that.
The tone can’t be too casual, but I don’t know that either.
...I couldn’t say that!
Or that Veronica’s could be sloppy since it was easy.
“...That’s because.”
“It’s fine.”
I was cut off mid-thought.
“I was weird for asking. No problem at all.”
Her expression screamed there was a problem.
The smile from earlier had already evaporated.
Ha, driving me crazy.
What she needed now wasn’t a logical explanation.
Reassurance to soothe her heart.
That’s what was required.
I stood and took her hands in mine.
“Miss Chloe, will you listen?”
Eyes looking up at me.
Into that blue, I whispered soothingly.
“I can’t tell you everything yet.”
This was honest.
Not acting—the situation really was that.
“There are circumstances making it hard to say.”
“......”
“But I’ll make one thing clear. In this counseling office, no one can replace you, Miss Chloe.”
“......”
“You’re the one who holds the biggest place here.”
No lies.
She paid 8 silver each time, so financially, she was over half.
Each visit covered my rent.
I worship you anew, Levantia family.
This fact was truer than any flowery words, so I could say it unshaken.
“So can you wait a little?”
She was silent for a while.
Her upturned eyes flashed with emotions.
Doubt, anxiety.
And relief starting to spread.
“Haa….”
She let out a long sigh and looked away.
“Teacher, really.”
“Yes?”
“What am I supposed to do when you say that?”
Her lips pouted, but her ears were red.
Crisis averted, I guess.
She stood.
Instead of her earlier stomps, she walked gracefully to the door.
Then naturally glanced at the tea leaves box on the table.
Her gaze lingered on the lock.
She hesitated, clutching something precious in her bosom, then opened the door.
Ding-a-ling—
Her radiant blonde hair swayed.
The black ribbon at the end fluttered as she stepped out.
She turned back briefly, smiled brightly, and said,
“...Please give my regards to Lady Sinclair, Teacher.”
“Ah, sure….”
Staring at the closed door, I pondered.
Give her regards.
I’d do it if asked, but honestly….
“Scary.”
Who knows what happens if those two meet.
Hopefully no chance for a while. Good.
Sinclair Duke Residence, annex.
“Miss, a reply has arrived.”
Hearing the servant’s businesslike report, I sat at the desk in the study.
A pile of open documents.
I was closely examining one list on top.
Those who were in front of the counseling office that day.
Their names, families, titles, recent businesses, weaknesses.
Confirming each one while writing letters.
It’s been a week today….
Not easy.
The rumor of the duke’s eldest daughter kneeling spread faster than expected.
I’d given up completely blocking it.
Instead, I redirected the flow.
Changed the meaning in the rumors.
Lady Sinclair expressed gratitude to a long-time benefactor.
The kneeling part was exaggeration.
The duke’s name and my position in society made this level of manipulation possible.
Of course, knowing and keeping quiet versus truly believing are different….
“Can’t help that.”
Trying to handle even the unavoidable would just breed more gossip.
That wasn’t my job.
The important thing was ensuring no harm came to him.
“That’s enough for today.”
I handed the servant letters with explanations of the scandal and subtle warnings.
They’d realize digging further meant making me an enemy.
“More than that, that letter quickly….”
My fidgeting lips stopped.
I realized even that process was a waste.
“Where is it?”
“In your room, miss….”
Before the servant finished, I headed to my room.
A small table inside.
On it, a plain envelope without crest or wax seal.
My hand trembled unconsciously as I lifted it.
I locked the door and leaned by the window.
So his handwriting sparkled in the sunlight.
That outside stuff is going well, right?
“Heehee.”
A laugh slipped out unknowingly.
Of course.
Who do you think your big sis is?
No strangers came asking questions or anything. Probably because you handled it well.
“Heehee.”
Blunt and casual, like no big deal.
But that one line, “probably because you handled it well,” lifted my mood.
Confirmation of being helpful to my little brother.
I was newly surprised how warm this new sensation felt.
My gaze dropped to the next part.
Oh right. Come to think of it, Lady Levantia asked about you.
And the letter ended there.
My heart, warmed by the afternoon sun, cooled sharply.
I read it again.
Lady Levantia asked about you.
The closing, but instead of regards for me, some weird name.
The corners of my mouth slowly drooped.
Chloe Levantia.
I’d heard the name a few times while handling the rumors.
I hadn’t seen her while lining up supporters, but rumors said she was the counseling office’s core client.
For some reason, visits had slowed lately, but before that, she was there almost daily.
“Asking about me….”
...Why?
What reason?
We’d crossed paths endlessly in society.
But only because our positions required it.
We weren’t close at all.
And that person asks about me?
At my brother’s counseling office?
Daring to take the last spot in his letter?
“Ridiculous.”
A low voice echoed in the room.
I’d even warned my brother.
Told him there were presumptuous types lurking around that shop.
My kind brother hadn’t grasped the meaning.
He’d let such a lowly thing approach again.
Sorting my thoughts, I called the servant.
“Prepare the carriage.”
“Right now, miss?”
“Tomorrow.”
“What outfit should I prepare….”
I paused briefly.
Plain coat and hood.
The disguise I’d often worn to the counseling office.
...No need now.
“As usual.”
To the bowing servant leaving, I added,
“One with the ducal crest too.”
“Yes, understood.”
The aftermath was practically wrapped up.
So now I could go myself.
To manage him.
My brother, who’d become high-maintenance because I pulled a stunt.
Anyway.
Guess I’ll have to go for him.
Before more weirdos stick to him.