I Just Needed Someone to Hate - Episode 8.5

“Could you keep this a secret from my uncle? If he finds out I have a woman, he’ll bombard me with questions all day long.”

“Of course. I should. He’d want me to bring her here right away and introduce her. Wouldn’t he just.”

“How considerate.”

The head maid blushed, saying she was just getting old and meddling, and smiled kindly. Edmund asked as if something had just occurred to him.

“Is my aunt still away? It’s hard to catch her.”

“Yes. Something suddenly happened at her family’s, and she left in a hurry. Even though His Grace the Duke insisted she at least see her nephew’s face, she rushed off.”

“I see.”

A look of disappointment crossed Edmund’s face, and the head maid comforted him and lamented.

“Honestly, I don’t understand why the mistress dislikes such a wonderful young man so much! She wants to give away this mansion and property quickly and move to a quieter place in the countryside. I can’t make heads or tails of it.”

“I understand. Lady Senovick was my great-grandfather’s most beloved granddaughter-in-law, after all.”

The head maid looked at Edmund, who replied calmly, with an expression of pity.

“It’s only natural that I’m not welcome here.”

She listened to his voice as if it were the sweet voice of God. Then, waving her hand, she said,

“No, no. The world has changed so much since then. Besides, Lord Colt’s father was the Prime Minister of Daatro, no less! And yet, she still thinks Lord Colt is trying to take over this mansion and property. She said she saw bloodstained knuckles in the vest pocket His Grace took off.”

“…….”

“She’s definitely making it up. How many times have they framed you, young master?”

“So, what did you tell my uncle, Louise?”

“I said the Duchess seemed to be suffering from a nervous breakdown. That she needed to take medicine.”

“I wouldn’t speak so badly of the mistress I serve if I were you.”

“Oh, my. You’re so kind. She still calls you by your middle name, just like your great-grandfather did.”

“If I bring a woman here later, will Louise treat my woman with respect?”

“Of course. Absolutely. I’ll tell the cooks to show off their skills, too. And keep the firewood burning warmly. After all, His Grace is the Duke’s chosen successor, isn’t he?”

“Thank you, Louise. You’re always so kind.”

“I’m always kind to handsome people. Hoho, just kidding. Come to think of it, it seems like it’s been a few days since you’ve been staying here, young master. Time flies. Are you always away from the mansion because of business? I heard you were going out for a while today, and the driver said he went to the city.”

“I went to see a movie.”

“Oh, a movie? Is it one of those new talking pictures from across the continent? Was it fun?”

As Edmund turned and walked toward the Duke’s room, the head maid matched his pace. Edmund looked thoughtful for a moment and then said,

“It was so-so.”

“I heard the story was quite exciting. And that the hidden twist in the play was worth seeing.”

“It was, but the actress’s portrayal of the nobility fell short of the nobles I know, so it was just so-so.”

“Really? Is that person an actor, too?”

“He doesn’t make movies, but yes.”

“You’re so funny with your jokes. By the way, did you hear that the Kingdom of Akaro and the Kingdom of Savebridge have ended their war? It’s all thanks to the Prime Minister’s mediation.”

The two were getting farther and farther away from the room where Edmund was staying. As their murmuring voices faded away, the sound of papers fluttering on the desk filled the room as the wind seeped in through the window.

A piece of paper, seemingly tucked between the books on the high bookshelf, fluttered.

In impeccable, elegant handwriting, it read:

A year later, when I found her again, she had become an actress.

More beautiful than the actresses in the talking pictures and faithful to her role. A disaffected senator discussed in the press, but still a noble who must remain strong. The role of that noble’s daughter.

She never lost her faint smile, but she didn’t laugh as vibrantly as she used to. It was like an artificial flower. Beautiful to look at from afar, but with no fragrance up close.

All doubts that I might not be able to find her disappeared as soon as I entered the New Year’s ball. Even after a year, the woman was dazzlingly beautiful and, at the same time, precarious.

Like a shard of glass.

Perhaps because it was winter, the light in the banquet hall was colder, and under it, the woman wore a sparkling smile.

Like roadside snow that would melt the next morning.

Knowing it would disappear, I couldn’t take my eyes off it, and I understood why I had to approach it because it was so unique.

Looking back, perhaps entering the system against my father’s orders was just an excuse to hide my curiosity.

Even as I thought I might hurt that woman, I deliberately stepped into her life.

If I admitted I was fascinated. And if I wanted more, knowing that the family’s guns aimed at that woman would one day be aimed at me, foolishly.

Also, knowing that the disguised affection of the enemy was a stronger weapon than anything else aimed at her thirsty soul, I was irresistibly drawn to it.

Without acknowledging my feelings, just a woman of the lower class, I thought as I looked at her crouching on the terrace beyond the glass.

After all, that much excuse was needed for the first meeting that would gnaw at each other.

It was the last Episode of the recollection in which I organized my thoughts to carefully handle the matter of whether to kill her or not.

A notice of murder and some kind of confession.

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