THNW 10

To My Husband’s New Wife Chapter : 10

Anita greeted him first with a face that did not lose its smile.
“Hello.

I’m Anita Beulroeniya.”
The director pointed carelessly to a chair and asked again.
“Who in Shabalon doesn’t know the Beulroeniya family?

Why aren’t you answering?

I asked if you’ve ever held a mop.”
Once she sat down, the director spoke slowly.
“Don’t take it the wrong way.

I may look like this, but I’m someone who’s spent thirty years doing nothing but picking people.

It’s not like I’ve only seen a case like yours once or twice.”
Hoo.

Pure white cigarette smoke covered Anita’s view.
“But you have to be useful.

What’s the point of finding you a decent servant post?

If you run away in less than a week, that’s the best-case scenario.

What if you can’t swallow your pride and you get into a fight?

The one who suffers is my company.

It loses trust.”
“Yes.

I understand.”
“Well, since Mr. Vlad introduced you, I’ll do my best too.

So, have you ever held a m—.”
Just before the director could finish, Anita rose from her chair and walked to the side of the desk.
“Excuse me.”
She untied the navy ribbon she had been wearing around her neck.

Because it was wide, when she folded it over several times it became the perfect size to use.

Wetting the ribbon with the water in a vase, Anita wiped the director’s desk clean.

Then she sat back down as if nothing had happened.
“…Hm.”
Narrowing his eyes, the director swept Anita up and down and said,
“The bed will be uncomfortable too.

It’s so cheap you’ll be lucky if your back doesn’t hurt the next day….”
“I’ve slept on nothing but the bare ground for a full two weeks.

For those two weeks, I filled my stomach with nothing but jerky.

I can dust display cabinets, and I can iron laundry creases, too.

Is that not enough?”
There had been many hardships before the Beulroeniya family settled in Shabalon.

Among them, the process of Father inheriting Grandfather’s assets had been especially difficult.

In the process of inheriting the estate, they were accused of forging Grandfather’s will and evading a large amount of taxes.

That winter, they had to endure living on others’ charity in an acquaintance’s home.

Though she was young, she tried not to shrink, helping with small household tasks so she wouldn’t become Father’s burden.

Father, who believed that “in general, it’s better to experience everything,” did not stop Anita.

Though he could not have known a day would come when it would be useful like this.

The director ground out his cigarette in the ashtray and jerked his chin lightly.
“…Come out tomorrow morning.

I’ll give you work then.”
“Yes.

Thank you.”
Leaving the director’s office, Anita let out a small sigh of relief.
‘Haa.

Thank goodness….

This will solve food and lodging for the time being.’
She thought she should gather what money remained, somehow, and prepare a maid’s uniform.

Hugging a large luggage bag to her chest, Anita returned to the manor.
***
Early the next morning.

The moment she arrived at the employment agency, the director’s secretary guided Anita to the director’s office.
“You’re here.”
The director tossed a single sheet of paper onto the desk.

Was it the location of the manor where she would be employed?

Anita carefully unfolded the paper he had thrown.

“Not a bad opportunity.

There are plenty of pretty women in the world.

But there aren’t many women who are elegantly pretty like you, miss.”
A cabaret is an entertainment establishment where you drink alcohol while watching dancers perform.

Since it wouldn’t be a cook’s path, it meant he wanted her to become a dancer.

And in a meaning that was never good.
“Hey, miss.

Do you think you can quietly do nothing but maid work with that face?”
Anita took a calm breath.
‘How should I refuse?’
Right now, she desperately needed the director’s help.

She knew it would be foolish to storm out just because she felt offended.

Father had said it.

If you’re desperate, throw away things like pride.

Pride is something you can pick back up later, after you’ve claimed what you want.
‘What matters is not offending the director.

So that I can be introduced to work that has nothing to do with my face….’
That was when it happened.

Creeeak.

The door to the director’s office, which had been firmly closed, opened.

The director, smoking heavily, shouted with a face scrunched up tight.
“Hey, what the hell?

I clearly told you not to barge in….”
“Good day, Director Olaf.”
It was a crisp greeting.

The footsteps approaching the seat beside Anita were as natural as flowing water.

The man with his forehead cleanly exposed was a very familiar figure to her.

How is this man here?
“Wh-who… are you?”
Perhaps because the man was so impeccably dressed, the director stopped in the middle of blowing out smoke and carefully opened his mouth.
“Here.

My master’s business card.”
He blankly accepted the card the man held out.

Soon, the two eyes that checked the owner of the card widened as if they might roll onto the floor.
“W-what is… the name on this card, no, the name, is it really….”
“It is.”
The man who affirmed it without hesitation let out a faint smile toward Anita.
“It’s been a while, Miss Anita.

In the time I haven’t seen you, you’ve become a lovely young lady indeed.”
The man was Jill, the Duke of Edenbahir’s aide.

Anita received Jill’s greeting with a somewhat dazed feeling.
“It’s been a while, Jill.”
But Jill seemed to have brought even more surprising news than his own appearance.
“I’m glad you look well.

Lord Lancelot is waiting.”
“…Lancelot is waiting?

Where?”
“Where else but the Beulroeniya manor?

He arrived a little late because he had to finish everything he was handling before moving.”
A slightly late arrival.

What those words implied could not have been clearer.

It meant he had come after hearing the news of Father’s disappearance.

When Anita couldn’t give a proper answer, Jill soothed her kindly, as if he could see right through her thoughts.
“You don’t need to worry about finding work.

It seemed Lord Lancelot already had something in mind.”
It was Lancelot, who must have carved out time to come in the middle of a busy season.

Perhaps, just perhaps, today could be the last chance to meet him.

Because as a servant, she couldn’t maintain ties with the heir of a ducal house.

Once she got that far, she no longer regretted leaving this place.
“All right.

Let’s go back to the manor first.”
“I will escort you.

Ah, Director?

We will take that back.”
Jill snatched Lancelot’s business card from the director, whose eyes were still vacant.
“It was only half a day at most, but thank you for looking after our Miss Anita.

My master will soon grant you compensation.

Wait for word.”
“Yes, yes.

Of course.

Hey!

Our guests are leaving.

See them out properly!

No, no.

I’ll see them out myself.”
The director hurriedly dashed out with a face full of anticipation and guided the two outside the agency.

Just before parting, he didn’t forget to beg Anita for forgiveness.
“Miss, please forget that suggestion from earlier.

I must have mistaken you for someone else.

Last night, I definitely had a decent position lined up… haha.

I’m truly sorry.”
Anita didn’t mock the director, who was busy spouting obvious lies.

Instead, she smiled gently and comforted him.
“Anyone can make a mistake.

Then when we meet next time, I’ll be able to hear about that decent position you mentioned, right?”
“Of course!

Here, my card.

If you need help, contact me anytime.

Truly, anytime.”
He must have been quite shocked after receiving the Young Duke of Edenbahir’s card.
‘Looks like I benefited from Lancelot.’
Next time, I’ll surely be able to find proper work.

Anita carefully stored the director’s card in the inner pocket of her wallet.

After helping Anita into the car, Jill drove the steam automobile and called to her.
“Miss Anita.”
“Yes.”
“I know it’s presumptuous of me to interfere, but… please don’t draw the line too firmly with Edenbahir.”
Presumptuous.

Wasn’t it a request that made her feel both sorry and grateful at the same time?

Realizing Jill’s intent vaguely, Anita carefully asked back,
“Was Lancelot waiting for me?”
Waiting for me to come to Edenbahir and ask for help?
“No.”
After a denial so firm it was almost embarrassing, Jill added,
“He was certain you would not visit Edenbahir.”
Anita looked forward with a somewhat subtle feeling.

It had already been ten years since she met Lancelot.

Except for the last two years, she had spent every winter at Edenbahir, so it wasn’t strange to call it a bond where they could pride themselves on knowing each other through and through.
‘So it’s a reunion after a long time.’
When she pictured his face, her shoulders began to stiffen with tension.
Four hours wasn’t a distance one had to call far, and yet she hadn’t been able to see him for two full years.

To be exact, it was closer to saying she hadn’t met him by choice.

Because Anita had unilaterally avoided meeting him.

For one reason only.

Because she wanted to let go of the feelings she had for him.
‘I don’t regret it.’
Anita prided herself on knowing her place.

In her life, gaining a bond like Lancelot and Claudnia was luck beyond her station.

They were friends she could not gain unless she had been a hero who saved the nation in a past life.

So she had to stop exactly at that line.
‘A good friend I think of sometimes.’
A friend who brings childhood nostalgia to mind.

A friend with whom she shares only good memories.

A friend who feels comfortable rather than awkward, no matter when and where they meet.

Lancelot Edenbahir and Anita Beulroeniya had to have that kind of relationship.

That was Anita’s only desire, and her wish that didn’t know its place.

To remain even as Lancelot’s friend.

Avoidance was a choice made for that desire and that wish.

During the two years she didn’t meet Lancelot, Anita poured all her attention into helping Father’s work.

When she missed Lancelot’s voice so much it cut into her, she would take out the letters they exchanged once each season and slowly read them.

Perhaps thanks to that effort, now, even if she pictured Lancelot’s face, her heart didn’t pound as if it would burst, nor did she grow tense.

A measure to distance the body and, with it, the heart.

It truly wasn’t a bad measure.
“Jill.

How did you know I was at the employment agency?”
“We were lucky.

We arrived not long after you went out.”
So that means you followed me.

In the meantime, they arrived at their destination.

Anita slowly steadied her breathing, crossed the garden, and went up to the manor.

Her steps, which had continued without hesitation, stopped before the room that had once been her bedroom.

The door, which should have been tightly closed, was ajar.

Anita slowly pushed open the half-open door.

She could see a back.

A back that looked broader and sturdier than the back Anita remembered.

The blond man was sitting on a half-rotted wooden chair that had been left lying around in the kitchen, staring out the window.

The luxurious blue handkerchief draped over the chair clearly showed that the man was Lancelot Edenbahir.

Seated loosely with one leg crossed, there was no emotion to be read from him besides boredom.

The man, Lancelot, slowly turned his head, and their eyes met.
“Anita Beulroeniya.”
The heavy, solid call struck Anita’s ears.

It was a voice that sounded even clearer because it could not exist here.
“Come here.”