(EP-205.1) Summer #3
205 – Cold Summer #3
Aside from the various circumstances I was in, my life at the Draco Family’s mansion was satisfactory.
I could enjoy uninterrupted free time without anyone’s scrutiny, until the Draco twins returned from the dormitory in the evening.
Spacious mansion. Beautiful garden. Butterflies fluttering around. Women’s capes and soft skirts hanging on the wall, drawers filled with colorful cosmetics…
However.
When I was alone, I kept thinking about what happened with Aira and her chilling gaze.
━Scram! I won’t say it a third time. And never—.
Never—what was she trying to say next? “Never show yourself in front of me again”? Something like that?
Thinking about it made me angry. Even though her words were incomplete, the message was clear.
━She’ll call you back in three days.
Elga said so. And that Aira couldn’t even put on her own stockings, much less do anything. That she’d call for me in three days.
It was now the third day. Aira showed no sign of calling or looking for me. Perhaps, she was living her life just fine without me.
As for how I feel about this situation… What should I call it?
It felt like when you were holding onto your phone waiting for a call from your ex-girlfriend. Or was it different?
After all, Aira wasn’t my girlfriend…
Yeah, she was not even that, we were just a boss and a subordinate. Was there a need for me to feel anxious?
What was the relationship between me and Aira in the first place?
We weren’t just a Queen and a servant, but comrades and companions who crossed the line together… wasn’t there some level of bond between us?
“No.”
Continuing to dwell on this would only make me gloomy and angry. I think it was better to do something, so I decided to explore the Draco family mansion.
Except for the “forbidden room” Mirna mentioned, I could go anywhere and do anything in this mansion.
My favorite place was the Ladies’ office or study. A serene room with sunbeams coming through the window, shining on the floating dust particles. All sorts of fascinating things.
Swoosh.
Opening the drawer, I found perfume and cosmetics giving off an apple mint scent.
The smell was nice. It smelt like Mirna.
Before long, I had taken out a mirror and thin tissue. With that, I decided to reflect the sunlight and play with burning tissues.
* * *
After finishing work, Mirna returned and cooked simple dishes, placing them one by one on the long table.
“This time I’ve roasted pork. You can dip it in the spices you like. Here’s a salad with cherry tomatoes from the garden and chicken breast”
“It looks delicious.”
We sat facing each other, cutting our food with forks and knives. Curry? No, it was… turmeric? Dipping the meat in turmeric powder gave it a unique flavor.
Mirna was a good cook, no doubt.
“…….”
“…….”
Though, it was a bit awkward as Mirna was a silent eater. There was no conversation or small talk during the meal. Or was it just me who felt uncomfortable?
Glancing at her subtly, she had finished her meal and elegantly wiped her mouth with a napkin.
“You’ve been here for two days already. Is there anything uncomfortable or something you would like to suggest?”
“No, there’s nothing uncomfortable. The room you arranged is cool and comfortable, and you provide meals for every meal…”
“Huhu, the Draco family’s hospitality was famous even on the continent. Although the mansion is quiet now, the eastern main house is still bustling with many guests.”
“I see.”
I nodded moderately. Mirna also didn’t choose to press me, taking the empty dishes and putting them in the sink instead.
Clatter, clatter.
“Shall we take a short break? Are you familiar with chess?”
“I just know how to play.”
After washing the dishes, we sat together in the reception room and played chess.
Tick-tock.
When I moved my white knight, threatening the black bishop, Mirna chuckled.
“You have moved knight to D-5. You have activated my trap magic! Sir Theo’s knight is sent to the graveyard.”
“…….”
I still didn’t fully understand the rules of chess in this world…
After playing for a while, despite being summer, the evening wind started getting chilly. I went out with Mirna to the well-kept path in the garden.
The mansion’s garden was so vast it was like a park in itself. It felt nice.
“By this time next year, all the flowers we planted this year will bloom. We’ve planted lots of snow-on-the-mountain flowers, so it will be a magnificent sight.”
“Snow-on-the-mountain….”
“These are the cherry tomatoes we had for dinner. Normally, we leave them like this and pick one whenever we need it.”
“Tomato….”
Uttuk-.
Mirna, who was walking alongside me, abruptly stopped.
“You look like a soulless puppet. Sir Theo, what are you thinking about right now?”
Seuk.
Mirna grabbed my cheeks, and made me face her.
Caught off guard by the unexpected force, I could only gaze at Mirna’s face. Peering into her eyes that glowed bright red in the night. It was eerie yet beautiful.
“You’re thinking of the Queen, aren’t you?”
“… Was it obvious?”
“Forget the Queen. You’re the only one who doesn’t know that it’s already over.”
“But it’s not completely over yet. In fact, I haven’t even received a definite dismissal notice.”
If it were the old Aira, she would have mercilessly dealt with anyone who dared to oppose her.
Seeing that my neck was still intact, Aira was probably not too angry at me-. As I was thinking about that, Mirna pressed on my cheeks.
“I really don’t understand why you’re acting like such a fool. It must be because your mind is filled with nonsense.”
Edited by: faker
