Missing Cinderella

She just stood there blankly, her cloudy and expressionless eyes fixed outside her window. She stayed just like that even when the maids, who casually chatted about her started talking about other topics, continued without hesitation and went away. 

How much time did she spend standing like that? 

“Miss Siella.” 

Siella slowly turned her head when she suddenly heard a voice. 

“What are you doing here alone?”

Although it was the voice she hadn’t heard in months, Siella could easily recognize its owner – Lancellot Divure. He once worked as the finance secretary in Nocturm. He was also the person who Siella has to meet every year when she rewrites her contract with Eschert. He was introduced to her by Eschert, the person who manages Siella’s assets. 

“Nothing.” Eschert’s person. 

Lancellot didn’t hide his doubtful look at Siella’s answer. So, Siella faintly smiled and added, “I was just… looking out the window.” 

Eschert went to the temple with Camellia and hasn’t returned yet. He was away now, and he might not have any intention of renewing the contract. 

When Siella realized it was time to renew her contract, she faintly smiled at Lancellot who had come to visit her without fail. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“I heard the news.” 

A long time had passed since they sat facing each other inside the study where its lord is away. Lancellot was the first one to speak, and what he said was no other than about the contract between Siella and Eschert. 

“That Prince Edwin has returned.” 

“Yes, that’s right.” 

Lancellot lived in another place than the Duke’s residence and Eschert’s place. It was natural since he left his post after Demian, the former Dule, passed away due to an accident. Even as an old friend of Demian, he gave up everything related to Nocturm and left heartlessly, like a person who would never go back to Nocturm again. 

But ever since he first met Siella, he has been managing Siella’s assets, and he has visited her, albeit not often, regarding the contracts. It was unknown whether it was because of Eschert’s request or for some other reason. 

“The Duke took Prince Edwin to the temple to confirm his identity.” 

“I see.” 

Lancellot had a nostalgic expression on his face and shook his head. He seemed to be thinking of Demian, his old friend, and Edwin, the only child his old friend left behind. 

Siella thought that it was perhaps due to Edwin that Lancellot had been diligently managing her assets. In any case, with Siella signing the contract with Eschert and cooperating with him, Edwin, who had safely returned to Nocturm, will gradually regain his place. 

“Also, the Duke probably has no intention of extending the contract with me any further.” Siella added in a calm voice, “Then we will never have to meet like this again.” 

However, Lancellot was puzzled when he heard Siella’s words as if he couldn’t understand what she was saying. 

“Why do you think so?” 

“That’s naturally because….” 

You are one of Eschert’s people. We will have nothing to do with each other after I leave the  ducal family. 

“I found out that the Duke is not in the mansion today, so I came to visit.” But Lancellot spoke confidently, like he doesn’t care about what she thinks, “I am here to meet Miss Siella.” 

“Me?” 

“Yes.” 

“Why?” 

But we had no business with each other than Eschert. 

Lancellot answered Siella’s question again without any hesitation, “There’s something I would like to offer to you, Miss Siella.” His voice was firm and unwavering. “It doesn’t matter at all whether you are living in the Duke’s mansion, or you end your contract and leave.” 

Lancellot looked straight at Siella’s eyes and said, “I hope that I can continue managing Miss Siella’s assets.” 

“What? What are you saying out of the blue….” 

“No, to be more precise, I want to have a partnership with you, Miss Siella.” 

“…” 

“And this is not on a whim.” 

Lancellot immediately reached out to the briefcase set down on the floor he brought with him. What he took out from his case was a thin wad of paper. 

“This was what I thought the moment I decided to take charge of managing Miss Siella’s assets.” 

Siella stared down at the papers Lancellot placed down on the table. 

“This….” 

She wasn’t unfamiliar with the handwriting that filled the paper. It was none other than Siella’s – it was her own handwriting. 

“This is a great business plan, but I am still in the process of polishing it.” 

As Lancellot said that, she saw the short comments added between the sentences Siella wrote. 

Siella had always wanted to help street children, those who suffered the same pain as her childhood, to paint a hopeful life. Because all she has now is money. 

I was already broken beyond my control, but if I can help those children with the money I have; if the money I have can be of little strength to those children. It would be great if I could help those children before they get ruined like myself. 

With that thought in mind, that plan started, and she wrote it down on a piece of paper but threw it away at the end. However, it was returned after Lancellot devised and wrote down a specific structure to make a profit. She was speechless. 

“I formed a bond with Miss Siella after I found this business plan that was about to be thrown away by a maid, and that bond has continued until now.” 

Lancellot told her that he had been diligently doing his work of managing Siella’s assets for the past five years after only seeing her, not Eschert or the Duke’s family. 

“I….” Facing Lancellot’s unwavering gaze, Siella plucked up her courage and continued speaking, “This is so sudden, and I am rather bewildered…. I don’t think I can give you an answer right now.” 

“That’s alright.” Lancellot nodded his head in understanding. “Please contact me whenever it is convenient for you, and I will come to hear your answer.” 

“Thank you for understanding.” 

“I am the one who’s grateful that Miss Siella takes my proposal seriously.” 

Lancellot stood up from his seat without any delay as if he had no intention of bothering Siella anymore. 

“Then I will be going now.” 

He said that she didn’t need to see him off, but before Lancellot could go out of the study with his briefcase, he turned his head as if he had just remembered something. 

“Ah, I also sent a notice to the head butler to kick out the three maids earlier. They didn’t even apologize for being rude.” 

It would have been impossible if it had been an ordinary guest at the mansion, but since it was Lancellot, it wasn’t difficult for the long-time vassal and had a deep connection with previous Family Head. 

“Though it has nothing to do with Miss Siella, if by any chance someone had offended you, I hope that you can tell me that when you contact me.” 

After he finished speaking, Lancellot walked out of the study with light steps, as if he was at ease now. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

The next day, Eschert was supposed to return in the afternoon, but he didn’t return to the mansion until it was very late in the evening. At that time, it was after Siella took only the contract with her and moved her bedroom to a random room, the attendants cleaned up Siella’s previous room perfectly under Patrick’s supervision. 

Perhaps he was feeling proud of having created a nice bedroom in such a short time, Patrick smiled and approached Eschert as he got off the carriage. Siella watched the scene from the top of the stairs leading down the well-paved path in front of the front door of the mansion. Eschert was only focused on escorting Camellia and didn’t respond to anything Patrick told him. 

He first helped Camellia get down from the carriage before lightly picking up Edwin and set him down on the floor. It was only after that he turned his gaze towards Patrick, who had been talking to him since earlier. 

Camellia restlessly stood next to him as Eschert talked with Patrick. It looks like the child was invisible as she glanced at Eschert’s face as if she was stealing glances. 

Why was it?  It felt like she was secretly peeping on a very corny comedy. 

When Siella eventually met Eschert’s eyes, who happened to raise his head, she nodded at him and turned her body away. No, she meant to, and she did. If she hadn’t noticed how Camellia suddenly turned to her and tugged at his sleeves the moment Eschert and Siella’s eyes met. 

“…” 

And let alone looking back at her with cold eyes, had it not been for Eschert slowly lowering his head at Camellia and faintly smiling at her. 

Siella felt so stupid after seriously thinking about what happened between Patrick and her the previous day before Eschert returned. 

(T/N: Even though I hate Dennis for acting so high in front of Siella as the head butler’s son, I also hate Patrick for being his father. They say an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. What a father-and-son duo tsk. My heart is hurting for Siella.)