[TKOSINM] 232 – Uninvited Guest

The next day, after having breakfast, Irene immediately headed to Madame Friedan’s room.

“Auntie…”

She was still lying on the bed, but she looked more comfortable than the previous day. The butler standing beside her appeared calmer as well.

“Good morning, auntie.”

After the greeting, Irene sat down next to the Viscountess and looked down at her. Her aunt slowly lifted her eyelids and gazed at Irene with blurry eyes. Then she smiled lovingly and parted her lips.

“...ren…”

The sound of her voice was relatively small, but Irene could intuitively tell that she was calling herself.

“Yes.”

Irene quickly lowered her posture toward her. And the moment she was about to say something.

‘Knock, knock.’

At the knocking sound, a maid came inside and reported.

“Excuse me, but we have a guest here.”

“A guest?”

At the maid’s sudden remark, the butler asked back. Irene also turned her head.

A guest, who would come here at this time?

“Did you check that person’s identity?”

The maid, nodding at the butler’s words, hesitated as she shifted her gaze toward Irene. Naturally, all eyes were drawn to Irene.

“About that... it is Count Chase.”

“What…?” The butler’s eyes widened at the maid’s report.

“...father?” Irene also got up from her seat and asked with a sense of disbelief.

“He is waiting for you in the hall….”

“Alright. You have worked hard. You can now go back to doing your assigned job now. I shall take care of the guest.”

“Yes.”

At her butler’s command, the maid left the room, and Irene approached the butler.

“Just now, my father came….”

“I am not sure if it’s really him yet.”

“But I’m sure.”

Who on earth would come here pretending to be the Count of Chase? Although they could not see the face of the person in question, both the butler and Irene were convinced that the visitor was Count Chase.

Irene was suddenly anxious, and her heart began thumping.

Why is my father here... at this time…?

When she recalled the image of him trying to take her out of the Grand Duchy, her hair stood on end. Still, Irene strived to keep her head upright.

“I will come with you.”

“But…”

“There is something I want to ask my father.”

“...”

He was the person she wanted to avoid the most, but she must show up this time around. No, she no longer wanted to hide or avoid him.

Irene turned toward the Viscountess. Her eyes fluttered when she heard that Count Chase had arrived.

Irene could not help but feel sorry for her. How did Viscountess Friedan feel when she heard that her brother, who had cut ties with her, arrived?

“Alright, you shall do as you pleased, madame.” 

“If my wife wants to go, I will go with her.”

As soon as the butler finished speaking, Noel continued. He, who had been taking the stance of a bystander this whole time, actively moved when Irene said she would meet the Count.

Irene did not wish for him to get caught up in useless things, but she was at ease whenever he was with her, so she gave a slight nod in agreement.

“...I will be right back. Please take a rest in the meantime.”

Irene spoke to the Viscountess caringly then left the room with the butler.

♔♔♔

On the way to the hall where Count Chase was waiting, Irene had difficulty controlling her trembling heart.

“It is probably because of the letter I sent.”

That moment, she heard the butler’s voice. When Irene tossed at him a strange look, the butler added gloomily.

“At first, I sent a letter to Count Chase, unaware that the Miss had gotten married. As I belatedly learned that you became a member of the Kristen Duchy, I re-sent it, but I could not retrieve the former letter I sent.”

Irene’s expression darkened at the butler’s words. It was a relief that she did not follow him back to the County but…, was the Count’s purpose really to witness his sister’s death?

While Irene stumbled over several questions in her head, three of them arrived at the hall.

As soon as they entered the hall, Irene noticed the presence of the uninvited guest. From where she was standing, a man was seen sitting on the sofa in the centre of the room, with his back turned to her. The moment she saw his reddish hair colour, Irene immediately recognised his identity.

“…father.”

At Irene’s murmur, Noel and the butler turned to look at her.

Irene’s gaze fell heavily. He was clearly recognisable to her, even when she could just get a glimpse of him from behind.

Because he has always shown me only his cold back...

So she naturally got used to it. The butler, who looked at the dispirited Irene for a brief moment, approached the man.

“You must have waited for a long time. My name is Ryuk, the head butler of this household.”

“...”

The man stood up at his greeting and turned to the butler. At his exposed face, Irene bit her lower lip.

“It’s been a while, Ryuk.”