Chapter 15
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Studying Cherry Sinclair
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[Things to Remember.
No. 1 is Brunel, No. 3 is Springwater, No. 6 is Hague, No. 8 is Notium.]
I pointed to the memo written on the back of the blueprint and asked Vanilla.
“Do you know what this is? Something like this was written on the back of the manor's blueprint. I know Brunel is a town name and Notium is a street in the capital, but I don't know what Springwater and Hague are.”
Vanilla narrowed her eyes and stared at the writing. She soon tilted her head.
“First of all, I didn't write it. It looks like my father's handwriting, though… Considering it's on the blueprint, maybe it's related to the manor? It was inherited, so there's no one to ask.”
Her words about inheriting the manor gave me a rough idea of her family situation. The original owner of Happy House was probably Vanilla's father, who must have passed away, leaving only the manor to her.
But with the mystery still unsolved, I asked her again.
“To say it's related to the manor… isn't Notium a street name in the capital?”
At my question, Vanilla's eyes widened as if she'd remembered something.
“Could it be the locations of manors owned by the Ruskins? I own a manor in Notium, too.”
“In Hague and Springwater, too?”
“Uh… I'm not sure about Hague and Springwater.”
Vanilla tilted her head. Ethan, who was sitting across from us drinking espresso, overheard our conversation and answered for her.
“I believe it refers to Hague Street. It's near Westmore Station.”
Benton, Westmore, Honderf, Kintne.
So, Westmore was one of the train stations on the way from the capital to Kintne.
Hearing Ethan's words, Vanilla nodded vigorously.
“Ah, I remember now. 10 Hague Street, Westmore. That's an inherited manor, too. But I really don't know about Springwater. I'll let you know if I remember later.”
“Oh, but then what about the numbers written before the names?”
When I voiced my question again, this time both Ethan and Vanilla shrugged as if to say they didn't know.
“Who knows.”
Vanilla's reply was listless, as if she had lost interest.
To be honest, if this memo is just a list of Ruskin-owned manors, I have no reason to be any more curious.
“I see. Thanks for the answer.”
Still, I replied as such and bid Vanilla farewell. Once her business was concluded, she said her goodbyes without a second thought and turned away crisply.
I folded the blueprint, put it back in my dress pocket, and finished the rest of my juice.
Ethan, sitting across from me, was reading a newspaper. When I stared at him, he lowered it.
“Have you seen this?”
Ethan placed the newspaper he was holding on the table and pointed to an article. A picture of me was printed on the front page.
[The Sinclair Family's Heiress, Cherry Sinclair. The Worst Cricket Player in History…!]
A familiar headline.
Below it was a picture of me in a uniform, holding a cricket bat and smiling brightly. My face looked incredibly young. It was an old newspaper, so of course it would.
At fifteen, I loved cricket, but loving something and having a talent for it were two entirely different matters. My technique was excellent, but I was too frail to play professionally back then, and my grip strength was abysmal.
I got a taste of life's bitterness back then, facing all sorts of ridicule from the media and cricket fans.
“Where did you find this?”
“The police station keeps archives of old newspapers.”
“So why were you looking for it?”
“I'm studying up on you, Miss Cherry.”
“What?”
What was that supposed to mean? I stared at him, bewildered.
He sat with his legs crossed, elegantly lifting his espresso cup. He looked like a picture straight out of a magazine.
“You seem to be an utterly unpredictable person. I thought looking into things like this might help me understand you.”
Is he introducing himself? I was the one who wanted to ask Ethan why he was acting this way.
I don't know why he's so obsessed with me, but with so little time left until the world ends, he'll soon find out why I'm doing what I'm doing.
The wisest course of action would be to just ignore him and do my own thing.
“You only played as a cricket player once. Is there a reason?”
“If you saw that newspaper article, can't you guess?”
“The public's assessment was scathing, but to have played professionally at such a young age, you must have had some skill…”
“My skills were terrible, too. My parents secretly made a donation to the club. That's why I was able to play that season. Though I only found out about it later.”
I'd never doubted that I'd competed on skill alone. The shock of learning the truth was indescribable.
‘If only I'd had this monstrous strength back then.’
Though even if I had, it wouldn't have been easy to succeed as a female cricket player. Ethan stared at me as I smiled bitterly.
“There have been more than a few people who've approached me out of interest in the Sinclair name.”
With a sullen face, I took out a handkerchief and pretended to dab at the corners of my eyes. Of course, I didn't shed any real tears.
“I do tend to be misunderstood a lot. I like luxury and I'm always causing trouble like a child. It probably seems like I'd commit a crime without a second thought.”
I then sniffled loudly.
“I'm fine. I'm used to such misunderstandings.”
Ethan hadn't even asked if I was okay, but I answered as such and rose from my seat.
It doesn't matter what information he has on me. Seeing as he can't drag me away right now and is just testing the waters, he has no physical evidence.
‘Then I just have to hold out.’
I just have to endure without getting caught by Ethan until the world ends.
‘I'm good at enduring!’
I clenched my fists and left the dining hall.
I could feel Ethan's gaze fixed on my back, but I paid it no mind and returned home.
I should get back to cleaning Happy House.