As soon as the guard saw the Count’s crest on the carriage, he opened the gate and waited for me to enter as usual. As I traversed the garden, I agonized over how I could persuade the Duke.
Friedrich Magnus wasn’t a pushover. Of course, I was not confident that I would be able to win an argument against him.
The carriage stopped and the door opened. I grinned broadly at Adele who was waiting for me.
“Adele, I want to see your bedroom.”
Adele replied while repressing a smile at my complete lack of proper greetings.
“Anastasia, you haven’t even gotten out of the carriage yet.”
“You’ve barged into my bedroom before. I think I have the right to see yours as well,” I insisted, undaunted.
But Adele seemed to have already figured out what I was up to.
“I’m telling you in advance, I don’t have any weapons in my bedroom. There are no bodies as well.”
Ack, I got caught!
Taking Adele’s hand, I alighted from the carriage and went upstairs. Olga had also visited Adele’s bedroom in the novel.
Olga had expressed that it was a very neat and clean room. It was a pure and clean room without any filth.
I followed Adele to his bedroom door.
Adele looked at me for a moment, then opened the door. I peeked into the room before entering.
At that moment I realized that Olga’s description was severely lacking.
What is this place? Is this a sterilization room?
“Uh, it’s very tidy?”
Adele’s bedroom was so clean that I began to suspect that it was a place where a mysophobic patient was staying.
Everything was white, there wasn’t even a speck of dust in it.
The blankets were wrinkle-free, the pillows looked new and were arranged neatly, the vase on the shelf was appropriately angled towards the sunlight, and even the books were arranged alphabetically on the bookshelf.
Additionally, the pure white curtain had no wrinkles and there were no pollen-like particles on the window sill.
The leather sofa had no trace of anyone sitting on it and the floor was so polished that it was literally sparkling.
Feeling curious, I swept my finger across some furniture.
After I saw that there was nothing on my finger, I blew on it to see the dust in the air, but nothing flew off.
“I don’t really like dirty things.”
Hearing Adele’s answer, I turned to the desk and the table. The pens, ink bottles, and water cups were lined up perfectly by type and size.
“When I see everything lined up, I have the urge to destroy i-… AHHHH!!!”
As I murmured softly and turned my head I suddenly saw something terrifying on the wall and screamed.
“Oh my gosh! Why did you hang my drawing on the wall?!”
I thought my heart stopped!
The only blemish in this bedroom was that picture. I glanced at Adele who was still looking at me.
My mischievous nature arose. I took one of the books that was neatly arranged on the shelf and reversed it while Adele was watching.
“Adele, you don’t like me doing this, right?”
“I’m fine with that,” Adele replied undeterred.
I know that you’re not really a clean freak but you prefer a clean environment, right?
This time I unmade his perfectly arranged bed by slightly lifting the bed sheet. I also messed up the pillows. While I was at it, I also moved the vase to a shaded area and left the desk drawer half open.
“What about this?”
“Is there a problem with it?”
I groaned internally. I didn’t know if Adele was just putting up with me or if he just genuinely didn’t care.
“Anastasia, I’ll treat you to some black tea.”
At Adele’s offer, I stopped messing around and sat down at the table. Soon the maid brought bread, cookies, butter, and jam.
I glanced at the picture on the wall as I buttered my scone and Adele poured the black tea.
I really had an urge to take it down and throw it away as soon as possible. I know that I drew it myself, but it’s just too…
“Ah!”
I straightened up while distracted and bumped my elbow on the table, causing the scone to fall. The scone, covered with butter, hit the table and plummeted to the floor. I looked alternately between the scone that had fallen buttered side down and Adele.
“No, I didn’t mean to do that um…”
“Ah, it’s okay.”
Why did I have to stutter just now?!
“It was a mistake!” I explained in embarrassment and Adele smiled stiffly.
“I’m really fine.”
“I’ll clean it up now!”
I jumped out of the chair in a panic, but that was a mistake. A spoon that had been hanging precariously on the edge of the table was knocked off by the recoil. A moment of silence ensued.
“Uh…”
Thankfully, with perfect timing, a knock came from the door. I thought it was a maid, but the person who came in was the Duke, frowning.
“Anastasia, no matter how close you are to Adele entering his bedroom is…”
“Duke! I missed you!”
I enthusiastically welcomed the Duke. When I entered Adele’s bedroom I had expected some nagging, but he had meddled pretty quickly.
When the Duke saw the disarranged bedroom, with the scone and spoon on the floor, he turned around without hesitation.
In fact, the situation was too hilarious and wholesome for an adolescent boy and girl who were holed up together in a bedroom.
Plus, Adele’s sullen expression proved that I was the perpetrator.
“I just recalled that I have some urgent business, so I should go.”
“Where are you going?!”
I pulled the Duke’s arm. He burst into a nervous laugh.
“You’re having fun. It seems that you’ve made up.”
I looked up sharply.
“I have to ask you something, Duke. Why is Adele restricted from going out when I was the one who went back without saying anything that day?”
“Of course, you left because my son did something wrong,” the Duke replied like it was the most obvious thing.
I immediately refuted his assumption.
“No! Not at all!”
“Then tell me what happened.”
He looked down at me quietly. Adele tried to calm me down.
“You don’t have to defend me, Anastasia. It was my fault.”
I glanced at Adele. Adele was under surveillance by the Duke who must have tied Adele down in dozens of other ways that I didn’t know.
If Duke Friedrich had judged his son to be dangerous, he must have had his reasons and justifications for believing that.
Adele was gradually unleashing the feelings that he had suppressed his whole life due to the Duke.
And I was the one who told Adele that it was okay not to be a good person anymore.
“If you wish, I will defy my father’s will, abandon the kindness and pretense that I learned, and face you sincerely.”
I didn’t want Adele to have to use a fake persona for the rest of his life, but I also didn’t want the pair’s relationship to break down. If I was the cause, then that was all the more reason for me to intervene.
The Duke refused to listen to Adele and Adele had long since given up on his father. However, there might be a very slight chance for me.
“I actually heard the Duke talking to Adele that day.”
I made a straightforward confession. Adele, who had been approaching me, stopped.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overhear you, but I was looking for Adele that day and I got lost.”
The Duke’s sharp, blue eyes focused on me. He understood and accepted my words without further explanation.
The Duke began to speak slowly.
“It seems that you have learned quite a lot from overhearing our conversation. If you want anything, tell me. I doubt that you would use this pretext to threaten me, but I will grant you anything that you request.”
“Why would I threaten you? I was going to ask you to trust me just this once. The trouble that the Duke is worried about will never happen. I’ll make sure of it. So could you be a little kinder to Adele?”
It was unclear how persuasive my words would be, but I begged. The Duke pressed his hand against his forehead.
“Your proposal isn’t very convincing, so don’t ask. If you heard our conversation at that time, you should know that Adele’s image is fake. Even so, do you intend to stay by his side?”
“I want to get permission from the Duke. I want Adele to be sincere with me. Can’t you at least give us a chance?”
“I can’t allow that. You still don’t know how dangerous this child is.”
Naturally, I was refused. Even if the opponent was someone that he trusted, the Duke would have responded the same way.
“I have no intention of criticizing the Duke’s education policy, but I think it would be better to have at least one person nearby that Adele can confide in. And the chances are high that I will die before I have my coming-of-age ceremony. My lips will be sealed naturally in time, so wouldn’t it be okay?”
I deliberately used my limited life span to provoke the Duke.
“Use me to test him. You decided that Adele was dangerous a long time ago. You can see if he is still unable to control himself.”
The Duke sighed.
“You’re sure saying some cruel things. I have no intention of using you that way.”
My heart ached. It wasn’t a lie that this man really thought of me as his own daughter.
I spoke, feeling truly sorry, “I know. The Duke cares about me. But consider this case. What if something happened to the Duke suddenly, or what about a situation where you’re far away from Adele and the safety device doesn’t work properly?”
I couldn’t guess what methods someone like the Duke, who had money to burn, was using to hold on to Adele’s leash. And he probably already considered the last resort to control Adele.
The Duke did not deny it.
“I’m always contemplating the method of last resort.”
“I guessed the Duke would do something like that,” I murmured bitterly. The Duke bent over and stroked my head.
“I can’t negotiate with you on this. But thank you very much, Anastasia. I was actually very worried when I saw you and Adele getting closer. At times Adele really seemed to like you, so I was planning to force him to distance himself from you, but if you still favor him…”
His milder tone gave me hope. This time I spoke wholeheartedly.
As soon as the guard saw the Count’s crest on the carriage, he opened the gate and waited for me to enter as usual. As I traversed the garden, I agonized over how I could persuade the Duke.
Friedrich Magnus wasn’t a pushover. Of course, I was not confident that I would be able to win an argument against him.
The carriage stopped and the door opened. I grinned broadly at Adele who was waiting for me.
“Adele, I want to see your bedroom.”
Adele replied while repressing a smile at my complete lack of proper greetings.
“Anastasia, you haven’t even gotten out of the carriage yet.”
“You’ve barged into my bedroom before. I think I have the right to see yours as well,” I insisted, undaunted.
But Adele seemed to have already figured out what I was up to.
“I’m telling you in advance, I don’t have any weapons in my bedroom. There are no bodies as well.”
Ack, I got caught!
Taking Adele’s hand, I alighted from the carriage and went upstairs. Olga had also visited Adele’s bedroom in the novel.
Olga had expressed that it was a very neat and clean room. It was a pure and clean room without any filth.
I followed Adele to his bedroom door.
Adele looked at me for a moment, then opened the door. I peeked into the room before entering.
At that moment I realized that Olga’s description was severely lacking.
What is this place? Is this a sterilization room?
“Uh, it’s very tidy?”
Adele’s bedroom was so clean that I began to suspect that it was a place where a mysophobic patient was staying.
Everything was white, there wasn’t even a speck of dust in it.
The blankets were wrinkle-free, the pillows looked new and were arranged neatly, the vase on the shelf was appropriately angled towards the sunlight, and even the books were arranged alphabetically on the bookshelf.
Additionally, the pure white curtain had no wrinkles and there were no pollen-like particles on the window sill.
The leather sofa had no trace of anyone sitting on it and the floor was so polished that it was literally sparkling.
Feeling curious, I swept my finger across some furniture.
After I saw that there was nothing on my finger, I blew on it to see the dust in the air, but nothing flew off.
“I don’t really like dirty things.”
Hearing Adele’s answer, I turned to the desk and the table. The pens, ink bottles, and water cups were lined up perfectly by type and size.
“When I see everything lined up, I have the urge to destroy i-… AHHHH!!!”
As I murmured softly and turned my head I suddenly saw something terrifying on the wall and screamed.
“Oh my gosh! Why did you hang my drawing on the wall?!”
I thought my heart stopped!
The only blemish in this bedroom was that picture. I glanced at Adele who was still looking at me.
My mischievous nature arose. I took one of the books that was neatly arranged on the shelf and reversed it while Adele was watching.
“Adele, you don’t like me doing this, right?”
“I’m fine with that,” Adele replied undeterred.
I know that you’re not really a clean freak but you prefer a clean environment, right?
This time I unmade his perfectly arranged bed by slightly lifting the bed sheet. I also messed up the pillows. While I was at it, I also moved the vase to a shaded area and left the desk drawer half open.
“What about this?”
“Is there a problem with it?”
I groaned internally. I didn’t know if Adele was just putting up with me or if he just genuinely didn’t care.
“Anastasia, I’ll treat you to some black tea.”
At Adele’s offer, I stopped messing around and sat down at the table. Soon the maid brought bread, cookies, butter, and jam.
I glanced at the picture on the wall as I buttered my scone and Adele poured the black tea.
I really had an urge to take it down and throw it away as soon as possible. I know that I drew it myself, but it’s just too…
“Ah!”
I straightened up while distracted and bumped my elbow on the table, causing the scone to fall. The scone, covered with butter, hit the table and plummeted to the floor. I looked alternately between the scone that had fallen buttered side down and Adele.
“No, I didn’t mean to do that um…”
“Ah, it’s okay.”
Why did I have to stutter just now?!
“It was a mistake!” I explained in embarrassment and Adele smiled stiffly.
“I’m really fine.”
“I’ll clean it up now!”
I jumped out of the chair in a panic, but that was a mistake. A spoon that had been hanging precariously on the edge of the table was knocked off by the recoil. A moment of silence ensued.
“Uh…”
Thankfully, with perfect timing, a knock came from the door. I thought it was a maid, but the person who came in was the Duke, frowning.
“Anastasia, no matter how close you are to Adele entering his bedroom is…”
“Duke! I missed you!”
I enthusiastically welcomed the Duke. When I entered Adele’s bedroom I had expected some nagging, but he had meddled pretty quickly.
When the Duke saw the disarranged bedroom, with the scone and spoon on the floor, he turned around without hesitation.
In fact, the situation was too hilarious and wholesome for an adolescent boy and girl who were holed up together in a bedroom.
Plus, Adele’s sullen expression proved that I was the perpetrator.
“I just recalled that I have some urgent business, so I should go.”
“Where are you going?!”
I pulled the Duke’s arm. He burst into a nervous laugh.
“You’re having fun. It seems that you’ve made up.”
I looked up sharply.
“I have to ask you something, Duke. Why is Adele restricted from going out when I was the one who went back without saying anything that day?”
“Of course, you left because my son did something wrong,” the Duke replied like it was the most obvious thing.
I immediately refuted his assumption.
“No! Not at all!”
“Then tell me what happened.”
He looked down at me quietly. Adele tried to calm me down.
“You don’t have to defend me, Anastasia. It was my fault.”
I glanced at Adele. Adele was under surveillance by the Duke who must have tied Adele down in dozens of other ways that I didn’t know.
If Duke Friedrich had judged his son to be dangerous, he must have had his reasons and justifications for believing that.
Adele was gradually unleashing the feelings that he had suppressed his whole life due to the Duke.
And I was the one who told Adele that it was okay not to be a good person anymore.
“If you wish, I will defy my father’s will, abandon the kindness and pretense that I learned, and face you sincerely.”
I didn’t want Adele to have to use a fake persona for the rest of his life, but I also didn’t want the pair’s relationship to break down. If I was the cause, then that was all the more reason for me to intervene.
The Duke refused to listen to Adele and Adele had long since given up on his father. However, there might be a very slight chance for me.
“I actually heard the Duke talking to Adele that day.”
I made a straightforward confession. Adele, who had been approaching me, stopped.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overhear you, but I was looking for Adele that day and I got lost.”
The Duke’s sharp, blue eyes focused on me. He understood and accepted my words without further explanation.
The Duke began to speak slowly.
“It seems that you have learned quite a lot from overhearing our conversation. If you want anything, tell me. I doubt that you would use this pretext to threaten me, but I will grant you anything that you request.”
“Why would I threaten you? I was going to ask you to trust me just this once. The trouble that the Duke is worried about will never happen. I’ll make sure of it. So could you be a little kinder to Adele?”
It was unclear how persuasive my words would be, but I begged. The Duke pressed his hand against his forehead.
“Your proposal isn’t very convincing, so don’t ask. If you heard our conversation at that time, you should know that Adele’s image is fake. Even so, do you intend to stay by his side?”
“I want to get permission from the Duke. I want Adele to be sincere with me. Can’t you at least give us a chance?”
“I can’t allow that. You still don’t know how dangerous this child is.”
Naturally, I was refused. Even if the opponent was someone that he trusted, the Duke would have responded the same way.
“I have no intention of criticizing the Duke’s education policy, but I think it would be better to have at least one person nearby that Adele can confide in. And the chances are high that I will die before I have my coming-of-age ceremony. My lips will be sealed naturally in time, so wouldn’t it be okay?”
I deliberately used my limited life span to provoke the Duke.
“Use me to test him. You decided that Adele was dangerous a long time ago. You can see if he is still unable to control himself.”
The Duke sighed.
“You’re sure saying some cruel things. I have no intention of using you that way.”
My heart ached. It wasn’t a lie that this man really thought of me as his own daughter.
I spoke, feeling truly sorry, “I know. The Duke cares about me. But consider this case. What if something happened to the Duke suddenly, or what about a situation where you’re far away from Adele and the safety device doesn’t work properly?”
I couldn’t guess what methods someone like the Duke, who had money to burn, was using to hold on to Adele’s leash. And he probably already considered the last resort to control Adele.
The Duke did not deny it.
“I’m always contemplating the method of last resort.”
“I guessed the Duke would do something like that,” I murmured bitterly. The Duke bent over and stroked my head.
“I can’t negotiate with you on this. But thank you very much, Anastasia. I was actually very worried when I saw you and Adele getting closer. At times Adele really seemed to like you, so I was planning to force him to distance himself from you, but if you still favor him…”
His milder tone gave me hope. This time I spoke wholeheartedly.
