HBTF 22

Chapter: 22

Isn’t It A Bit Too Early

Did Lady Merran deliberately ditch Lady Classie? Just so she could meet that gentleman alone?

Anna grasped the situation immediately.
She clicked her tongue inwardly. Since when did the lady I always thought was so innocent start scheming like this?

‘Really, Lady Merran… If she likes that man and wants to be alone with him, couldn’t she just be honest about it? It’s not like Lady Classie would go out of her way to ruin her date.’

But regardless of the truth, Anna couldn’t allow her lady to be embarrassed in front of this gentleman.

“Lady Classie said she had another appointment and left. She didn’t mention any other plans. There must’ve been a misunderstanding somewhere.”

“I see,” Dernick replied with a narrow-eyed smile, agreeing politely.

But something about that smile made it feel like ‘I know what’s really going on, but I’ll play along.’

Anna’s heart sank.

Just then, a clear voice rang out from the top of the stairs.

“Aunt went out for a visit, Sir Dernick.”

It was Merran, descending the stairs. Dernick turned to her and held out a basket of candy he’d brought. Merran approached like a butterfly, took the basket with a bright smile, and gave Anna a quick glance.

It was a signal to give them privacy—but Anna didn’t move. That was because Classie had instructed her to stay close to Merran and Dernick.

Even when Merran guided Dernick to the drawing room, Anna continued to follow.
Merran, on the verge of closing the door, finally couldn’t hold back and asked,

“Anna, are you really going to stay here?”

“I need to be here to attend to you both,” Anna replied innocently.

Dernick stood by the window with his hands behind his back, smiling slightly.

With her back to him, Merran shot Anna a fierce look. But Anna didn’t leave, and Merran’s face turned red with frustration.

“Anna, must you make me look like a fool in front of a guest?”

“A fool? Never. How could I treat my dear lady that way?”

“Then why don’t you listen to me? What will Sir Dernick think of me?”

“That you’re someone cherished and protected like gold and jade.”

“Anna. Please leave. I’m not a child.”

“But my lady, he is still a stranger.”

Suddenly, Merran’s anger surged.
Anna was one of her aunt’s people. No matter how well they got along, she still worked for the Kalashi family.

That’s why she’s disregarding me like this, Merran thought bitterly. If my aunt had told her to leave, would she dare disobey?

“Anna. Leave.”

Merran’s voice turned cold and sharp.

Anna, for her part, was stunned. Merran inviting Dernick over today had been her own idea—but it was agreed that Anna would accompany them.

Merran had pleaded with Classie: “I want to invite Sir Dernick on the day you’re out.”
Classie had allowed it, on the condition that Anna stayed by their side.

So Anna being here wasn’t just Classie’s order—it was part of the deal between Classie and Merran.

But now, Merran was acting like no such agreement had ever existed.

Even so, with Classie gone, it was becoming harder and harder for Anna to keep ignoring Merran’s direct commands.

As Anna was pushed out of the room, Merran slammed the door shut with a loud bang. Dernick watched her lean back against the door, breathing quickly.

It was only after a while that Merran calmed her breathing, then staggered over to the sofa. Dernick didn’t offer to help her, but asked instead,

“Lady Mary’s daughter. Should I call a doctor if you’re unwell? I can come back another day.”

Merran leaned her arm on the back of the sofa and shook her head.
“I’m not sick. I’m just angry. I’ll be fine soon.”

Dernick, sitting on the window sill, let out a laugh.
“No need to get upset. The youngest ones are always overprotected. It’s natural. And it’s not like I’m close with the Kalashi family anyway.”

With her forehead resting against the cold leather of the sofa, Merran replied,
“It’s not overprotection. She acts like that because I’m not one of this household’s people.”

“Why wouldn’t you be? You’re the niece of the lady of the house.”

“But I’m from the Omel family, not the Kalashi family. And Anna’s loyal to my aunt, not to me.”

Dernick looked around the reception room, which was elegant and warm in atmosphere, and asked,

“You seemed to get along well with your aunt. Is that not the case?”

“Sometimes we do. Sometimes we don’t.”

“Same with me and my parents. That’s just how families are.”

Merran recalled Classie’s earlier request—to ask Dernick which family he was from. But after everything that had just happened, she didn’t feel like following her aunt’s instructions.

Besides, while she did like Dernick, Merran hadn’t yet decided if she wanted to pursue a serious relationship with him.

Was there really a need to ask about his family right now?

Letting go of Classie’s request, Merran rose from the sofa. She was still angry because of Anna, but she had gone through the trouble of inviting a guest over.
She couldn’t just spend the whole visit venting.

“It’s fine. Let’s go to my room. I’ll show you the keepsakes.”

Only then did Dernick step down from the window sill and walk over to her. His movement was so light and quick that Merran instinctively widened her eyes.

In the blink of an eye, Dernick was standing close to her and asked,

“By the way, Lady Mary’s daughter—where’s Miss Classie?”

“She went out with her friends. I don’t know exactly where. My aunt doesn’t really share her plans with me.”

“Does Miss Classie know I’m visiting?”

“Of course.”

“And she still went out?”

“Is that not allowed? My aunt doesn’t really like you, Sir Dernick.”

As Merran opened her bedroom door and walked in, she felt Dernick’s presence so close behind her it was as if he might brush her back. Embarrassed, she bit her lip.

But once inside, Dernick stepped away immediately. Like a goldfish released into water, he began to look around the room, not even coming near her.

“Is there something interesting in my room?”

Merran asked, exasperated. Dernick grinned and nodded.

“You can tell a person’s character by their room.”

“So you’re here to inspect my character?”

“You’re Lady Mary’s daughter. I figured you’d have something in common with her.”

Merran had always liked talking about her mother. To her, her mother was nothing but a fond memory. But now, with a man she liked constantly bringing her up, it felt strangely unpleasant.

“Just what kind of favor did my mother do you for you to admire her so much?”

“A great one.”

“Did she save your life or something?”

Dernick gave a secretive smile and didn’t answer.

“If Lady Mary never told her daughter, then she must’ve had her reasons. I don’t want to speak about something she chose not to share.”

“Maybe she just never got the chance because I was too young.”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty.”

Dernick smiled brightly.

“Then that’s probably not the reason she didn’t tell you.”

“Why not? I was only eleven when my mother passed away.”

“I was fourteen at the time.”

“!”

Merran’s mouth dropped open in surprise. He looked like someone her age, but his mature tone had made her assume he was much older. But it turned out they were only three years apart!

“You’re twenty-three?! So you’re only three years older than me, yet you’ve been treating me like a kid this whole time?”

Dernick smiled as if to say, what’s the big deal?, and brushed it off, then asked,
“Anyway, what about the keepsakes?”

Merran was annoyed. She wanted to throw him out without showing him anything.

But thinking about it another way, she didn’t actually dislike his attitude. He had only asked about her age and hadn’t even mentioned Classie’s.

If Dernick had asked how old Classie was, she would’ve had to tell him there were only two years between them. And she didn’t want to.

Merran didn’t want Classie to be just another noble lady his age. She wanted Classie to remain simply her aunt.

Once her thoughts were sorted out, Merran felt better. She spoke cheerfully.

“The keepsakes are in that small room over there. Come on.”

“A secret room?”

“Of course not! It’s just a little room I use as my personal storage.”

Merran brought out three boxes she had set aside in a corner of the storage room and handed them to Dernick. He carefully took out each item from the boxes and laid them on the floor.

Merran watched him with curiosity.

What kind of keepsake was Dernick looking for?

Meanwhile, Classie was taking a solo walk through the plaza. As evening fell and snow began to drift down, she returned home—she hadn’t brought an umbrella.

But by then, she had already walked through the middle of the path while snow fell heavily, so her hair and clothes were all dusted white.

“Oh dear, my lady! You’ve come home looking like a snowman!”

Anna bustled over with a thick towel, brushing off Classie’s hair and cloak.

“I thought I was going to freeze to death.”

Classie hugged Anna, trying to warm herself up. Anna had just come from the kitchen and smelled like baked bread, radiating heat.

“Oh, come now! Are you trying to freeze me to death too?”

Though she let out a dramatic shriek, Anna hugged her back. Classie laughed and let her go.

“That won’t do. My dear Anna needs to live. You’ve got grandchildren to think about, after all.”

Anna burst into hearty laughter. As she handed her cloak over to Anna, Classie asked,

“Where’s Merran?”

Anna’s expression stiffened.

“What’s wrong?”

Classie immediately sensed something had happened and asked.

Anna hesitated. What Merran had done today wasn’t exactly ideal. But tattling on her felt like driving a wedge between a close aunt and niece, and she didn’t like that.

Since Anna didn’t respond, Classie went straight to find Merran. She knocked on her door, and after a moment, the door creaked open and Merran appeared.

Her face was flushed like a strawberry.

“When did you get back, Auntie?”

Classie felt a bit relieved. Merran looked calm and in good spirits. It didn’t seem like she had fought with Dernick.

“Just now. And you? Did Sir Dernick enjoy his visit?”

At that, Merran’s face turned even redder. A yellow light flashed in Classie’s mind.
Wait a minute— Was it more than just a simple visit?

“Did you and Sir Dernick have a good talk?”

When Classie asked, Merran hesitated, then gave a small nod and murmured,

“We talked about marriage.”

“!”