[AFYC] Chapter 59

“...”

“Of course, this space is His Excellency’s study, so it can also be considered part of his domain. You are free to read the books here, but please be sure to return them to their original place after you’re done.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Please, come in.”

Barbara opened the door on the right and stepped inside. Seo Ah followed her into the room, which was decorated with light green wallpaper, giving it a bright and cosy atmosphere.

Three windows with sheer curtains overlooked the annexe, and the bed was positioned against the wall opposite the windows. From the bed, the annexe was visible at a glance. On either side of the bed were small tables, each with a small gas lamp placed on top.

While Abel placed her luggage beside the bed, Barbara pointed to a wooden wardrobe standing in the corner and the door next to it.

“You can arrange your belongings in here. That door leads to the bathroom and toilet.”

“Thank you.”

“Meals will be brought to your room at the scheduled times, but if you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask. And if there’s an emergency, pull the cord on the right side of the bed.”

Seo Ah noticed a thick cord hanging from the ceiling and trailing down to the right side of the bed.

“Do you have any other questions?”

Seo Ah, who had been staring at the thickly braided black cord, shook her head at Barbara.

“No, I don’t.”

“If you think of anything later, feel free to ask. I’ll come by to bring your dinner later.”

After quickly surveying the room, Barbara left with a final suggestion to rest. Abel followed her out, closing the door behind him. Seo Ah listened as their footsteps receded through the study until she heard the distant sound of a door closing.

Even after they had gone, Seo Ah remained standing in place, her hands tightly clasped. She let out a long, shaky breath only after several moments.

“Haah…”

Her eyes closed as the tension drained from her shoulders, causing her hands, which had been tightly clasped in front of her, to drop. She took a deep breath, and with it, the scent of the still air filled her senses. She could hear the faint sound of a bird chirping from far away.

For a brief moment, she allowed herself to be submerged in silence. When she opened her eyes, her gaze traced the high ceiling, its ornate decorations, the drawn curtains, the sunlight filtering through the transparent fabric, and the scenery beyond the windows.

As she looked at the annexe surrounded by the forest, the elegantly patterned lawn, and the circular fountain, it suddenly struck her that she was indeed in a foreign land, far from home.

She thought of the ship where she couldn’t find a moment’s rest, the train ride to Felphe filled with anxiety from being pursued, the bank and the inn she had mistaken for safety, the terrifying night, and then... Oscar.

With its dark, almost shadow-like atmosphere, this place was unmistakably his. There was no doubt that this was his home.

She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the distant throb of her heartbeat. After such a long journey, she had finally arrived here. The realisation made the pulse in her neck quicken. Pressing her hand more firmly to her chest, Seo Ah felt her body weaken as she staggered toward the bed. As she sank into the soft mattress, the tension that had kept her upright drained away, and she let herself fall into the bed, almost as if collapsing.

While she would still be under surveillance, it seemed she would have some freedom to move about. Perhaps, at least for now, she could trust in the contract she had made with Oscar.

That would have to be enough.

As her tilted gaze caught the pattern of sunlight filtering through the window frame, she felt an odd sense of detachment from even the warmth of the light.

Blink, blink.

As the sunlight began to seep into her vision, Seo Ah’s eyes slowly closed without her realising it.

♔♔♔

“Didn’t you see that my letter was included with the envelope the crow delivered?”

“I saw it.”

Barbara’s curt response made Abel frown.

“Then why didn’t you prepare a room next to mine for her? It would’ve been better if you had at least assigned her a guest room in the annexe.”

To think that the target’s room was situated right next to the Marquis’s staff quarters, of all places when Abel hadn’t even gotten to hold her hand yet.

The room assigned to Seo Ah was originally intended for Simon von Bernheim, who was supposed to occupy a room directly connected to Oscar’s space. In fact, that area was considered part of Oscar’s private quarters.