The One Who Won't Be Abandoned - Chapter 34

Among all the maids in D’Hel, I was the only one granted private audiences with the lord.

Even amidst the chaos of settling affairs and securing his rule, Lord Clint never forgot about me. He called for me several times, ensuring my well-being and offering small gestures of kindness.

I was truly grateful.

Of course, as time passed and I fully adapted to life in D’Hel, those private meetings became rare.

And I didn’t mind in the slightest.

If anything, I was relieved.

The special treatment had started to feel excessive—enough that I could feel the other maids’ stares on my back. The less attention I drew, the better.

But tonight, for the first time in a long while, Lord Clint summoned me through Madame Judith.

It was already late, the sun long set and the castle bathed in the quiet hush of night.

Balancing a tray carrying a plate of neatly sliced fruit and a bucket filled with ice, I made my way to the floor where his bedchamber, study, and private drawing room were located.

I found myself slightly nervous.

Though I knew the lord held me in high regard, he was still my lord.

No matter how many times I had stood before him, it was impossible not to feel a bit on edge.

Knocking lightly on the door, I waited until his voice answered from within.

“Come in.”

When I stepped inside, Lord Clint was reclining on an elegant sofa, sipping dark liquor from a glass—neat, without ice.

I hurried forward, setting the tray down and reaching for the tongs to add ice to his drink.

But he gave a small shake of his head.

“No need.”

I hesitated for a moment before setting the tongs aside.

I had noticed, in passing, that his complexion hadn’t been great lately, his expression often clouded with unease.

Tonight, that exhaustion seemed even heavier.

Concern welled up inside me as I looked at him.

Lord Clint must have noticed, because he offered a faint smile, as if to reassure me, before gesturing toward the sofa across from him.

“You must have come straight from work. No need to stand—sit.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Keeping my posture respectful, I took a seat.

Lord Clint studied me for a moment, his gaze filled with quiet fondness.

“You’ve grown,” he murmured.

As if seeing me properly for the first time in a while.

I felt my face heat under his gaze.

I was far past the age of being flustered by such things, yet I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

His expression softened with nostalgia.

“Looking at you… I can’t help but think of Scarlet. She was an incredible woman. A loyal lady-in-waiting, and more than that—a dear friend to my wife.

She always offered wise counsel, guiding her toward the right path.”

It had been so long since I’d heard him mention the past.

Or the people we had lost.

In fact…

Since arriving in D’Hel, I couldn’t recall a single time anyone had spoken of them aloud.

It was as if we had all made an unspoken pact to keep their names buried.

“…I’m sorry, Jeanne.”

Lord Clint’s quiet apology pulled me from my thoughts.

I realized my face had gone stiff, my expression betraying the emotions I had failed to suppress.

Forcing a smile, I quickly shook my head.

“No, my lord, there’s nothing to apologize for.

It doesn’t hurt as much as it used to.

It’s been a long time, after all.”

He exhaled softly, turning his gaze to the flickering candlelight.

“Lately, I keep seeing my wife in my dreams.

I suppose I’ve been dwelling too much in the past.”

I hesitated before asking,

“Is it… because of the young master?”

There was only one matter weighing on him recently.

Andre’s engagement.

Lord Clint sighed, running a hand over his face.

“I have never stopped missing her.

But now, more than ever, I long for her presence.”

His voice was thick with exhaustion, a quiet grief laced in his words.

A lump formed in my throat.

I wanted to say something, anything, to offer him comfort.

But I had never been good with words.

All I could do was meet his gaze, silently offering my understanding.

“You’re close to Andre,” he continued, his voice quieter than before.

“I imagine you’ve already heard about the engagement.”

“…Yes,” I admitted. “He mentioned it a few days before he left for the capital.”

Lord Clint hesitated before asking,

“And the bride?”

There was no way to answer that without discomfort.

Awkwardly, I forced a strained smile.

“…Yes.”

It was clear from the deep furrow in the lord’s brow that he didn’t bother to hide his displeasure. Understandable—if I was struggling to accept this, how much harder must it be for him? How much greater his sense of betrayal?

Yet, despite the clear disapproval surrounding Andre’s engagement, I felt an odd sense of relief.

What a fool.

Once again, I found myself resenting Andre. But no matter how much I resented or disliked his choices, I had no option but to stand by his side.

“I respect the young master’s decision,” I said. “He’s not a child anymore. He must have his reasons.”

“Whatever the reason… why her?”

The lord shook his head, his expression darkening further.

“By the time Andre returns from the capital, every noble will know,” he muttered grimly.

With a heavy sigh, he took up his half-filled glass and drained it in one go. Then, setting the glass down with a sharp clack, he gritted his teeth.

“The disgrace I endured when I first came to D’Hel will be nothing compared to what’s coming. Andre will face humiliation and scorn beyond measure. I’d send him back to Siaumos if I could, but… at his age, do you think he’d listen to his father?”

“He has grown a lot,” I admitted.

“Exactly! That’s what I mean!” he burst out. “I always knew we had a giant among our ancestors, but I never thought my son would turn out so tall! Whenever we stand face to face, I can’t help but feel dwarfed. It’s ridiculous!”

The liquor was clearly warming him up—his face had taken on a faint flush, and his words had loosened into disgruntled rambling.

Not that I disagreed. I had my own frustrations about Andre’s unexpected engagement, and knowing I wasn’t alone in my disappointment was, in some strange way, comforting.

So I nodded along, offering sympathetic hums of agreement as he vented.

After some time, I reached for a piece of fruit from the plate I had brought. Noticing the movement, the lord kindly slid the dish closer to me.

Even in his frustration, his innate refinement and generosity were evident. Watching him, I thought, So this is where Andre gets his composure and kindness from.

It was something to be proud of, as a member of the Kaïman household.

“Andre has trampled on my trust,” the lord continued, voice weary. “This should never have happened. After everything that… that man did to both of you….”

His voice tightened, but he quickly exhaled and looked at me with unexpected sincerity.

“Jeanne. I’m sorry. I know you’re as disappointed in him as I am.”

I blinked, caught off guard.

Then he added, “When Andre returns, slap him. I give you permission. If you can manage it, you can even hit him until he faints—just like before.”

The serious expression on his face nearly made me laugh. But I bit the inside of my cheek, suppressing the urge, and nodded solemnly.

“Of course.”

“Hah… if that would knock some sense into him, I’d have no regrets.”

“Well, I don’t know if I’d get that far,” I said, tilting my head playfully. “I’d probably tire out before he does.”

“I’d be more worried about your wrist giving out first.”

Our eyes met, and at the same time, we both broke into small smiles.

Before the fall of the Kaïman estate, I had never been this close to the lord. He was never the type to dote on me—he was far too busy for that.

But ever since coming to D’Hel, he had made a sincere effort to keep me company, to ease the loneliness of my new surroundings. I was always grateful for his kindness.

“You’re right, Jeanne,” he admitted. “Andre isn’t a child anymore. You have a better perspective than I do. Here I am, drowning my frustrations in drink, while you’ve already chosen to accept and respect his choices.”

“If you keep drinking, you’ll regret it in the morning,” I warned lightly.

The lord ignored me and refilled his glass, though I knew he wasn’t much of a drinker.

He waved a hand dismissively, as if to reassure me, before taking another deep sip. Then, wiping his lips with the back of his hand, he sighed again.

“The knight commander sees this differently,” he mused. “He thinks Andre knows what he’s doing.”

“Sir Dune?” I asked.

“Yes. It seems I’m the only one who doesn’t trust my own son.” He chuckled bitterly. “What a disgraceful father I must be. But what can I do? A stubborn nature is something I was born with….”

The self-deprecating tone in the lord’s voice caught me off guard. For a moment, I was genuinely startled. But I quickly schooled my expression and responded with unwavering conviction.

“Please don’t belittle yourself, my lord. You have a noble heart, and your accomplishments speak for themselves. You took this land—once nothing but fields and forests—and turned it into something grand. Everyone here is grateful for you. You are D’Hel’s greatest blessing.”

The Lord looked at me as if no one had ever spoken to him like that before. A faint hint of bashfulness crossed his face.

“…Do you truly think so?”

“Of course!” I replied without hesitation.

He cleared his throat, as if to cover up his reaction, but I could see the corners of his lips twitching. He was pleased.

Seeing his mood lift, I felt a swell of satisfaction, like someone who had just successfully completed an important task.

The heavy air around him gradually dissipated. Sensing my chance, I pressed on with even more enthusiasm.

“If it weren’t for you, my lord, the people of D’Hel would still be lagging behind in this era of progress. They would have continued living off hunting and gathering alone. It was you who brought this land into a new age.”

Without hesitation, I had just reduced the innocent people of D’Hel to primitive foragers. If Snique were here, he would surely demand I take back my words.

“And this castle—my lord, before you, it was on the verge of collapse. You rebuilt it into something magnificent, full of elegance and dignity. Do you know how proud the servants are when guests arrive? They take immense pride in serving under your name.”

The lord tried to maintain a neutral expression, but his nostrils flared, and his lips twitched again, as if suppressing a smile.

He looked just like Andre when he was embarrassed.

“Not to mention the countless jobs you’ve created,” I continued smoothly. “You’ve given the people of D’Hel opportunities to learn valuable trades by fostering connections with skilled artisans from other territories. You ensure that no one is unfairly dismissed. If someone were to ask me who I respect most, I wouldn’t even need a second to think—it would be you, my lord.”

This time, he couldn’t hold back. He let out a booming laugh, shaking his head in amusement.

His posture straightened, his voice regained its strength, and for the first time since our conversation started, he truly looked like himself again.

“Ahem! Here I am, summoning you after so long, only to spend all our time complaining about that ungrateful son of mine,” he admitted. “Enough of Andre. Jeanne, how have you been? Has anything troubled you?”

It was clear he finally had the emotional space to focus on me. His attention was warm and reassuring, and I smiled brightly as I answered.

“I’m doing well. Housekeeper Judith and Master Steward have been incredibly considerate.”

“If you ever have any troubles, come to me at once,” he said firmly. “I regret not checking in on you more often.”

“There’s no need to apologize,” I assured him. “You’ve been busy since Andre’s return. Besides, he’s visited me frequently in your stead.”

Indeed, Andre had visited me every day until the very day he left for the capital. He treated my room as if it were his own, stopping by at all hours and somehow always knowing where to find me.

Once, after lunch, I had snuck off with the maids to a quiet, hidden corner of the castle grounds. It was a secluded spot, the perfect place to gossip away from prying eyes.

Yet, somehow, Andre still managed to find me.

I had felt his gaze before I saw him. When I turned my head, I found him standing at a distance, watching me in complete silence.

At the time, I had scolded him for creeping up on me like that. But in hindsight, it reminded me of how he used to follow me around when we were younger, trailing after me like a lost puppy.

He really hadn’t changed at all.

“Before he left, Andre mentioned something about your room,” the lord said, bringing me back to the present. “He was concerned. Said it was too small and had no windows. He wanted to move you somewhere better.”

I waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine, really. I have my own space. I’m satisfied with my room.”

“A room without windows is hardly a proper room,” he pointed out.

“The hallway outside has a window,” I countered. “I just open my door and let the fresh air in.”

There were shared servant quarters with no windows at all. Compared to those, my room was a luxury.

The lord didn’t seem convinced. “Andre insisted that once he returned, he’d personally select a new room for you. But why wait?”

A pensive look crossed his face as he stroked his well-groomed beard.

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to bring up,” he said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. “A few years ago, I had a building constructed. It’s a rather large one. The first floor is leased out to a clothing shop, but the second and third floors were built as living spaces. They’ve remained vacant.”

He paused for dramatic effect.

“The truth is, I had it built with you in mind,” he admitted. “I intended to gift it to you when you married. But given your current accommodations, I see no reason to wait. What do you think?”

My jaw dropped.

“That’s… that’s too much! I can’t accept it!”

I nearly jumped out of my seat, flailing my hands in protest.

The lord chuckled at my reaction, clearly expecting it. “You are like a daughter to me, and like a sister to Andre. This isn’t too much at all.”

“I deeply appreciate the sentiment, my lord, but…”

The lord was already giving me so much. I truly didn’t need anything more. I didn’t want to be someone who took advantage of his generosity.

But I hesitated to refuse outright.

Because when he said he thought of me as a daughter, a tiny, wicked voice inside whispered, Then surely accepting just one building wouldn’t be so bad?

A three-story building.

Even if I worked as a maid my entire life, I would never even dream of something like that.

So what if I abandoned just a little more of my pride?

The words of rejection were right there, but they wouldn’t leave my lips.

“How about this?” the lord offered. “I’ll give you the address. Go see it for yourself before you decide. Though, of course, it’s already yours. But if it doesn’t suit you, I’ll find you another building.”

“…It’s too much…”

“Jeanne,” he said firmly. “This is not just for you. It’s also for Scarlett, who remained by my wife’s side until the very end. Let me repay even a fraction of the debt I owe her.”

At that, any remaining hesitation vanished.

I schooled my expression into one of reluctant acceptance, though in truth, I was already screaming with joy inside.

The part about seeing the place first went in one ear and out the other. The moment I nodded, the building was mine.

I bit my tongue to stop myself from letting out a triumphant cheer.

“Thank you, Jeanne,” the lord said warmly.

Thank me? No, no, I thank you! I am eternally grateful. From this day forward, you are not just a lord in my heart—you are my father. No, my dad. Dad, I love you. I will be the most devoted daughter. I swear it.

Instead, I simply bowed my head and said, “It’s me who should be grateful, my lord. Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

Emotion welled up inside me, and my eyes grew misty with genuine gratitude.

Seeing my sincerity, the lord—no, my new dad—smiled in satisfaction.