Chapter 174
Feeling a mix of bewilderment and awkwardness, I helped her to her feet. "Get up first. I have no idea what's going on, but let's sit down and talk."
I forcibly lifted the protesting Francois and sat her in a chair. She crossed her hands demurely over her lower abdomen and looked up at me. Scratching my head, I perched on the edge of the bed facing her.
"For starters... drop the formal speech. I don't know why you're doing it, but it's uncomfortable."
"No, I can't. I'm no longer nobility—just a lowly thing. How could I dare speak informally to someone as esteemed as you..."
"Francois."
I cut her off and stared straight into her eyes.
"I'm not nobility. You must have misunderstood because I've met people at the palace. I just worked there briefly in the past, and now I'm a common innkeeper."
"But even if not nobility, high-ranking officials are treated as equals to..."
"That's not it either. I just got friendly with them naturally after working there for about ten years. That's all."
There was no point in revealing my true identity to Francois—she'd never accept it. It wasn't like there was a heroic figure whose identity was unknown; no one even knew such a feat had happened. So, explaining myself as a diligent civil servant who'd faithfully served at the palace for years was easiest for both of us.
Francois fell silent and studied my face carefully.
"I understand..."
She wasn't a fool, so I couldn't tell if she'd bought my lie or just let it slide.
"Please. If you're going to be formal, you should have been from the start. It's really hard to listen to."
"Okay..."
"Good. That's better."
To ease her tension, I smiled and asked, "So, why'd you come? Something to talk about?"
"About my family. About what happened back then."
Right... might as well get it over with now. Dragging it out would just make it weirder.
I waited quietly for her to speak. Francois hesitated before opening her mouth.
"I'm from the Audrion family. That wedding was between me and the second son of the Einert count family."
"I didn't know. Usually, it's held at the groom's family estate."
"That's normal. There were circumstances. Anyway."
Francois drew in a breath and let it out like a sigh before continuing.
"I knew you held a grudge against my family, so I was scared and hid that I was an Audrion. I'm sorry about that."
"I see."
"I'm sorry. For deceiving you, and for what my family did to you. I won't ask for forgiveness—it's too late for that. When you saved me back then, I should have told you everything..."
"Francois. If anyone's apologizing, it should be me."
I interrupted her. She looked at me with moist eyes.
"I destroyed the lord's castle where you were born and raised, and killed your parents and your fiancé-to-be. But you? You just hid your family name—nothing else wrong. I should be the one apologizing."
"Bertrand... that was..."
"I'm sorry, Francois. But I had no choice. Your parents crossed my line—in the cruelest way."
Francois said nothing. What was she thinking? The enemy who killed her parents? Or did her overwhelming employer's power leave her no choice...?
"No, Bertrand. You saved me."
"Pardon...?"
"You're my savior, Bertrand."
I was so stunned by the absurd statement that I just shut my mouth, unsure how to respond. The guy who smashed her home and slaughtered her family—a savior? What the hell?
"Those people weren't my parents."
"Pardon...?"
"The man I was supposed to marry? I'd never even seen his face before the wedding."
"Pardooon...?"
"And I'd been locked in that lord's castle for five years."
"Pardooooon...?"
I kept parroting back like an idiot. What kind of nonsense was this...?
Francois calmly explained everything. Her birth parents' suspicious deaths. Her uncle and aunt inheriting the title. Forcing her into adoption and imprisoning her in the castle for five years. The political marriage to the Einert count family.
"So... that's how it was..."
"Yeah. Otherwise, how could I work for the man who killed my parents?"
For the first time since leaving the palace, Francois gave a faint smile.
"I apologized earlier... now I should thank you. For saving me. And for protecting me at the palace."
She bowed elegantly. I returned the gesture with a nod.
"At the palace? Well... those nobles were so rude, I had to."
"That's the true nature of those so-called nobles. Lucky enough to be born into nobility, they look down on and ignore everyone. Even each other."
"But you're not like that. You're the most noble-like noble I've ever met."
Her smile widened at the praise. She lowered her eyes shyly and said, "Thank you, Bertrand. You're... the most wonderful person I've ever met..."
"Haha. Thanks."
"I mean it. You have great power, but you know how to use it."
A faint blush colored her cheeks. In her usual soft, gentle voice, she continued.
"You know when to be brave and when to step back. You're endlessly kind and protective to those you must care for."
"Well... yeah..."
"You're a good man. Someone who carves out his own life with his own strength. Sure, you do some crazy things sometimes."
"Hahaha!!"
I burst out laughing, and Francois covered her mouth, giggling along.
"I like that about you. Not settling for the status quo, using any means to solve problems—with that drive and decisiveness."
"Glad you see it that way."
"But I couldn't. Locked in that castle for five years, I did nothing."
Her voice carried a note of frustration as she recalled it.
"Just sitting by the window watching the territory, or sneaking to the kitchen at night to cook, wasting away time. Like a cow eating day-old hay, knowing full well it'd end up slaughtered someday."
Francois fidgeted with her clasped hands.
"I should have at least tried climbing the wall. Or bribed or sweet-talked the guards or retainers. Or... even staged a suicide attempt with a kitchen knife. But I did nothing."
With a sigh, she confessed softly.
"That's why I like you, Bertrand. You have what I lack. You're wonderful. My employer. You cherish and treat me well, even though I'm nothing now. You saved me."
"Francois. You have plenty of courage to navigate your own life."
"No... I..."
"You've already proven it."
She looked at me, puzzled. Smiling warmly like she would, I explained.
"You escaped that lord's castle. You even stole a horse and emergency rations. And in Bue, you asked me—the man who ruined your family—for a job."
"That was just desperation..."
"Exactly. Without courage, you'd have stayed stuck. You'd probably still be sitting in the ruins, sobbing."
"Ah..."
I reached out and lightly placed my hand on the back of hers. She flinched and tried to pull away, but I gripped it firmly.
"You're brave and smart. A kind, dignified noblewoman. I like you. I like that you work at my inn."
Averting her gaze, Francois stammered, "Th-thank you... I'm no longer nobility... I have nothing... but if you like me, let me keep working here..."
"That's what I should be saying. Work with me. For a very long time. And."
I paused, and she turned to look at me.
"It doesn't matter what you have or if you're penniless. I like you not because you're nobility, but because you're Francois."
Flustered in a very un-Francois-like way, her face flushed red.
"Ah... um... so, liking me... in our work relationship... that's what you mean...?"
"I've never seen you or the others as just boss and employees."
"Then... I can interpret your words however I want...?"
"Go ahead."
She bit her lip and stared at me. Her breathing grew unsteady, her shoulders trembling visibly.
"Bertrand... come... closer...?"
I leaned forward. She leaned in toward me too.
"What I mean is..."
Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!
Francois jumped in shock, yanked her hand free, and recoiled. The inn was so quiet that the wall clock's chime rang out deafeningly.
"Sorry, Bertrand! For disturbing your rest...!"
She sprang from the chair, dashed to the window—realized her mistake—and spun around, fleeing out the door.
I sighed and got up from the bed. That damn clock ruined the moment at the end, but things with Francois had gone smoothly overall. No lingering grudges—in fact, we'd grown closer.
Whether she was an Audrion or not didn't matter. She was my employee now, someone who'd stick with me.
"Bertrand."
I turned. Francois, flushed and standing at the door, had come back.
"Uh... Francois."
"I think I need to finish what I was saying."
"Go ahead."
She steadied her breath and spoke in a trembling, excited voice.
"Thanks to the courage you gave me, I can say it now. I've been such a fool, just sitting idle until..."