Chapter 34
“What do you mean by that?”
I honestly didn’t know, but the more perplexed I grew, Hubert’s face filled with malicious wit.
Something felt odd.
I felt uneasy.
“As a child, didn’t you throw a tantrum, crying that the Young Master was too handsome and that you wanted to marry him?”
“What did you say?”
I almost forgot about my regard for the old and grabbed him by the collar, but Hubert was unaffected by my fierce face.
“Now that I think about it, you clung to the Countess and insisted on marrying the Young Master, generating quite a spectacle. How everyone was taken aback by a kid so small, shouting and crying for a promise, makes me sweat just thinking about it.”
“Did such an event really occur?”
Adrian appeared to contemplate, attempting to recall such a memory.
I almost cursed for the first time since I became stuck in this game.
Even when I lost all of my experience points or couldn’t sleep due to the pillow, I didn’t curse, so you can understand how frustrated I was.
Who am I to associate with that murderer, that demon… what?
Suddenly, I was terribly sweating and my back was saturated.
“Um, Doctor Hubert. Oh, well. What are you saying…? Making irresponsible assertions is not right, hehe…”
“Even as a child with no understanding of the world, choosing the Young Master of all people for such absurd comments would have resulted in execution. However, the Lady showed you mercy by allowing you to sleep by the Young Master’s side for a night. Even as a child, you were brave enough to insist on holding hands while sleeping, causing the lady even more embarrassment. You were so brazen back then, hehe. And you followed the Young Master for a bit after that.”
Stop, please!
Adrian’s expression is growing strange!
I envisioned putting my fist in Hubert’s mouth to silence him.
My fingertips twitched as if preparing to act on that thinking.
“Furthermore…”
“Young Master! Look! This! I am returning it to you! I promised to return the garden shears yesterday!”
I interrupted Hubert, not knowing what else he might say.
I hurriedly pushed the plate nearer Hubert and gave the garden shears.
If I could, I’d use these shears to remove those awful words from memory.
“Returning it, that’s unexpected.”
His waxy face spoke monotonously.
It appeared to be a whisper to himself rather than a comment directed at me, but I swiftly reacted so Hubert had no chance to speak.
“What do you mean? I said I’d return it to the mansion.”
“Your look yesterday implied that you intended to bury it somewhere in the mansion. It’s strange since you have no need for it.”
“That, that can’t be.”
“You snatched the garden shears with force yesterday as if you were scared of having them in my possession. However, today you return it as if yesterday’s event never occurred. I do not understand. What is it about me that always scares you, Hilda?”
His lengthy fingers tapped the handle of the shears.
Why doesn’t he realize why I’m terrified?
It appears that this demon has already forgotten to declare himself my enemy.
Just because he talked in a polite and soothing tone does not make the message any less frightening.
It felt meaningless to respond since he wasn’t truly listening.
When he stopped tapping his fingers and looked up at me,
“…It’s okay, I can find out even if you don’t tell me.”
“…”
“Anyway, you’ve brought it well.”
His stare was ruthlessly scrutinizing, but his lips twisted into a faint smile.
I burst into a cold sweat again.
Could he also have an ability called ‘Devil’s Eye’ that allows him to read my intentions?
“Doctor Hubert, when you have time, let’s go for a walk in the garden. There are several topics I’d want to discuss.”
Adrian got out of bed and placed the shears near it. I promptly stepped back to allow them to go easily.
Hubert set the tray I had pushed towards him on a neighboring side table.
“Yes. Let us go, Young Master.”
“Be careful, Young Master. And you, Doctor Hubert!”
I quickly feigned to clean up the platter as I bid them farewell.
Hubert arched his heavy brow as they both turned around simultaneously.
“Hilda, what are you talking about? I do not live in this mansion.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, so I hoped you’d safely return to where you’re going.”
“Actually, Hilda, about what Doctor Hubert mentioned earlier.”
Adrian stepped in between the two of us, signaling Hubert with his gaze.
Hubert took a hasty step back and disappeared from the doorway.
Adrian’s expression was strange, and I blinked as if I didn’t understand.
“I didn’t realize you were watching me like that.”
Not on this topic again.
“Young Master, please do not tease. See how embarrassed she is.”
That old man is really…
Just as I thought Hubert had vanished, he resurfaced when Adrian shushed him again.
This time, Hubert appeared to have traveled fairly far away.
I was furious. If this were a real game, I would have banged the keyboard or the desk in a fury (a common reaction when players become furious while gaming, resulting in keyboard damage).
I could feel my face turning bright crimson from embarrassment, shame, and humiliation.
“No, that is not true. Doctor Hubert appears to be misremembering; perhaps he is becoming senile?”
“That’s unnecessary, Hilda. I remember everything now.”
Damn it…
“And that’s why you said it. You have difficulty looking after me because you are so nervous.”
What is this about?
Did I mention anything like that?
The crises had been so numerous, and my bluffs so common, that it took a while to recall.
I did compliment Adrian’s appearance every time we met.
But did it truly relate to this?
“Not realizing your feelings, I kept summoning you every morning, it must have been hard for you.”
But somehow…
“Could it be that you were sleeping in my bed because…”
It’s becoming weirder.
“Even planning to stop by the lingerie store?”
It is getting out of control…
“No, Hilda. We are now adults, and it cannot just end with holding hands like it did when we were younger. It is not that simple.”
He stared at me with pity, as if he’d heard some sad story.
That is a novel expression.
I bit my lip as my face burned up to my ears.
Ah, the shame.
It was significantly more awkward than getting discovered snoring or drooling in bed.
Unable to explain why I was sleeping in his bed and appreciating his appearance…
Should I just jump out the window?
Yes, it appears that is the best solution.
“No, Young Master. As the doctor mentioned before, it’s an old story. Back then, I was so childish, demanding on mar, mar, mar… phew, mar… riage with the Young Master; hehe, very nuts, right? Even I believe I was out of my mind. Now I completely understand my position. Presumptuous, how could I, the Young Master’s wife? It’s, ha, lol, too dreadful to even speak… totally ridiculous.”
“That is good. It’s a relief to think that way.”