Missing Cinderella

Eschert’s eyes widened that moment as he silently looked at Siella’s calm face. Just like a person who only realized something then. 

“Isn’t it strange? I never said those. Why do you think the Head Butler said that?” 

Siella emotionlessly watched as Eschert’s face gradually hardened. Even if Eschert felt something was wrong now and tried to find out the truth about his intuitions, it was too late now. It was too late and nothing could be done now. 

“Though we’re talking about the butler, I haven’t had a proper meal these days. I think it has been more than 15 days.” 

“What… on earth is that? Don’t the attendants usually prepare your meals in your bedroom?” 

But even so, Eschert needs to know. He needs to know the fact that it was made possible for them to peacefully and smoothly maintain this contractual relationship only because Siella had patiently endured everything. 

“That was the case, but lately they haven’t brought me food.” 

“Maybe there is a mistake….” 

“Yes, there must have been a mistake.” 

But now that Siella had lost the will to endure Eschert, this relationship is bound to end. It was now time for him to acknowledge and accept Siella’s words, rather than treat her like an immature child – what resulted from his own indifference and negligence sitting by the sidelines, just as Siella had long acknowledged and accepted everything. 

“So could you go and check with the Head Butler instead of me to see if there was indeed a mistake?” 

What would the skillful old butler try to say about it this time? 

In any case, Eschert will use this opportunity to check whatever was going on. He’s not stupid even if he’s indifferent. Having said that, he’ll surely know that something was wrong. Well, maybe not. 

Siella agreed with Eschert as she turned away with a nonchalant face. She absolutely doesn’t have any expectations from a man who didn’t even utter a single proper apology after confirming that Kyle had indeed escaped the island. 

However, none of that mattered. When Eschert finally figured out however Siella was treated inside the mansion, Siella had already left the mansion. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Siella was able to meet Leonard in the afternoon the next day. Conscious of having an unexpected guest like what happened when they were at the back garden the other day, Leonard came to Siella’s bedroom this time. So the possibility that Siella and Leonard would be interrupted by someone else like last time was remarkably low. 

However, since Siella will have to face Leonard in a much narrower space compared to that day, she had been trying to calm down her constantly anxious heart. 

Leonard had also noticed Siella’s expression. But he didn’t bother to point out that Siella was staring at the opened door earlier. 

“Why were you like that in the greenhouse last time?” 

Siella removed her hand from the teacup she had been meaninglessly fiddling without touching it and stood up from her seat. She then went straight to the window, pulled back the curtains. Leonard then saw Siella looking out the window, which seemed unnatural to him. He could tell just by looking at her slender hands gripping the hem of the curtain with all of her strength. 

She was pretending that nothing was wrong, that she had little regard for this matter. She was trying not to show the other person her own discomfort. 

Staring at Siella’s weakly trembling hand holding the curtains, Leonard quietly looked away from her. He put down his lukewarm teacup down on the table, keeping his eyes on the empty seat across from him. 

“Do you want an apology for my unilateral departure that day?” 

“It’s not that.” 

“Then?” 

“You suddenly acted strangely, Leonard.” 

Siella looked back at Leonard with a cold face. The person who had been talking normally suddenly said that his head hurts so bad he shook off the other person and left. How many people in the world wouldn’t think that such a thing wasn’t strange and let it pass? 

Moreover, Siella badly needed Leonard’s cooperation most of all. That’s why it was difficult to ignore Leonard’s unexpected and sudden change in behavior. In a desperate situation where there is no alternative, it is necessary to prevent unexpected variables from occurring. 

“I can’t understand why you would do that simply because you really had a headache.” 

Leonard was a cynical man who never understood people who behaved impulsively or unreasonably. 

Leonard sighed as if he had a headache at Siella’s questioning. Leonard closed his eyes and opened his mouth, holding his temples with one hand over the armrest. 

“I don’t even know why I did it then.” His voice was low, as if he was talking to himself. It was a faint, but confused tone. “I don’t remember why I had to get out there just so my headache would go away.” 

(T/N: And this confirms that Camellia indeed had something up her sleeves, tsk tsk.)

Leonard had only one thought at that time. Looking back, it was indeed strange, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was strange. There was no way he could make others understand what he himself also doesn’t understand. 

Siella carefully observed Leonard’s face as he sighed again and slowly raised his eyelids. 

‘I don’t think he’s lying.’ 

It doesn’t feel like he was making excuses nor justifying his actions. Leonard sounded like he was serious. So she became more confused. What she was certain of was that the situation back then wasn’t a normal one. It was a thing beyond comprehension. 

Siella was reminded of Camellia’s awkward smile as she left the greenhouse with Dennis. Yesterday as well, when Eschert came to find her to tell her that he had confirmed Kyle escaped the island. She was reminded of the man’s figure, who has consistently maintained an indifferent and arrogant attitude, telling her about the news too late. 

Siella didn’t want to understand anything more. She no longer wanted to come forward, step up, understand, and accept any more. 

“I need to leave this mansion right away, Leonard.” 

It was just a waste of time to put off what she had already decided on doing. And most of all, she had a feeling that more situations beyond her comprehension were about to happen in  the future. It was a premonition close to certainty. 

No more time should be wasted here. She couldn’t get rid of the thought that there would be unexpected big variables or unstable factors if that happened. 

“If you ever change your mind about helping me, then I will leave here by myself and find a place to stay.” 

Leonard began to think that Siella was being reckless when she said that. But he didn’t dare tell her that, guessing the amount of time Siella had endured for her to say it. 

Siella stared outside the window in silence for a moment, then she said, “It would be safer to go out with you, but I think it would be alright now even if it’s not.” 

Just outside the window, an antique carriage was going out through the front door. The nobles who had stayed in the annex of the Duke’s mansion began to leave the mansion one by one after commemorating and celebrating Edwin’s return. It was just the right time to leave secretly, just when the atmosphere of the mansion was cluttered with guests leaving and preparing to return. 

“No.” At that time, Leonard leaned and rested his chin on his seat, then spoke. “Let’s go out together.” 

Let’s do what we originally planned. Leonard was firm when he added that. It was just taking a young woman without anyone knowing. Leonard had no intention of giving up the huge reward that he would receive in return. 

“I don’t think it’s possible to leave far away right now in your state.” 

He took out a paper he had prepared in advance before he came to see Siella, in which he wrote down the options, and put it on the table. 

“I’ve selected a few mansions within a realistically movable distance.” 

The list was made taking into account the great difficulty Siella will face to travel in a carriage. The list included places far from Leroy County but not very far from the Duchy here. 

The plan was to go to either one of these residences, then decide on a safer and better place to live after spending enough time there. And it was also Leonard’s opinion that taking Siella in one of these places was the best option for Siella under the circumstances. 

“You can go to one of these places right now, if you want.” 

(T/N: I’m patiently waiting for you girly to leave.)