My Life Was Taken by My Charm-Wielding Sister—But It Ends Here (The Mind-Reading Noble Lady’s Journey to Happiness After Escaping Her Toxic Family) - Episode 22

“Ms. Otilie, could you handle preparing these documents?”

“Yes! I’d be happy to.”

It had been nearly a week since she started working. Otilie was beginning to be entrusted with simple office tasks. As she accepted the documents from her colleague, a bright smile spread across Otilie’s face.

[Ms. Otilie has beautiful handwriting and carefully checks the content, so I feel comfortable entrusting her with paperwork]

This was the inner voice of a certain aide.

Currently, Otilie was only handling routine documents, but it seemed she was already helping to lighten the burden on Varick’s busy aides.

(I’m still not truly useful yet)

Even so, Otilie felt genuinely happy. Even just a little bit was fine. She wanted to feel like she was moving forward.

“Good morning, Otilie. Working hard again today, I see.”

Just then, a gentle voice called out from behind her. It was Varick.

“Good morning, Lord Varick.”

“I thought paperwork would be difficult for you until the end of this week but I heard you’ve already read through that many documents? And you came to work so early today too.”

While checking the documents Otilie had prepared, Varick narrowed his eyes and said “Perfect.”

“Yes. Learning about things I don’t know is really enjoyable especially when I read your notes, Lord Varick. Everything feels so much more relatable. Ms. Airny gave me permission to take materials home, so I kept reading them enthusiastically even after returning to my room. Plus, I want to learn the work quickly.”

While watching Otilie’s smiling face, Varick sat down in an empty chair. Then he gently stroked under her eyes.

“Being eager is good. But you need to make sure you get proper sleep.”

“Ah…”

(He noticed I haven’t been sleeping enough, didn’t he?)

Although Karan had helped her cover it up with makeup, it seemed the dark circles hadn’t been completely hidden. “I’m sorry,” Otilie replied while her cheeks turned slightly pink.

“It’s alright. Tomorrow is my day off, so I plan to rest properly.”

The aides were given two days off per week on fixed days. For Otilie, tomorrow would be her first one.

(Tomorrow I’ll relax with some tea and reread the books Lord Varick gave me)

She found that her perspective changed between the first and second readings, offering new insights. Otilie was fully determined to hole up in her room and focus on review.

“Rest… yes, that’s right. That’s important too. Knowing you, Otilie, I thought you might be planning to study materials tomorrow too.”

“…?”

Varick seemed slightly hesitant as his gaze wandered.

(Is something wrong?)

When Otilie tilted her head in question, Varick turned to face her properly.

“Otilie… if you’d like, would you like to go into town tomorrow?”

“Eh? Into town?”

Surprised by the unexpected proposal, Otilie’s eyes widened.

“Yeah. On the day I brought you to the castle, you were happily looking at the town from the window, weren’t you?”

“Ah… yes. I’m sorry, my sister scolded me to stop because it was unbecoming.”

It seemed she had unconsciously been gazing out the window again.

“There’s no need to apologize. Actually, I’m happy that you like this town. So I thought, since you have time off, maybe I could show you around the royal capital.”

(The royal capital…)

How wonderful that would be if she could accept. The beautiful townscape she had only seen from the window – being able to see it with her own eyes and walk through it would surely be delightful.

However, considering the burden on her guide, she couldn’t help but feel hesitant. Otilie glanced briefly at Airny.

“Um… I appreciate the offer, but it’s your precious day off, and I’ve already caused Ms. Airny enough trouble because of me.”

“I’m not going?”

“Eh?”

Otilie tilted her head again. Then, looking beside her, she saw Varick point smoothly at himself.

“I was thinking I’d show Otilie around.”

“Ehh? Lord Varick!?”

When he mentioned showing her around the royal capital, she never imagined Varick himself would be the one. Stunned, Otilie shook her head in small, rapid motions.

“Th-that’s… having Lord Varick as my guide would be too much of an honor for someone like me.”

“Not at all. You don’t need to think of it so formally as being a guide, and I’ve been wanting to visit the town myself soon anyway. I thought it would be more fun if Otilie came along. I was hoping you’d be happy about it.”

Otilie’s heart began pounding like rapid bells.

Tomorrow was a holiday. Outside of work hours. If she wanted to refuse, she could. —But there was no way she could say “no” after being asked like that.

(Besides, there’s no way I wouldn’t want to)

She was simply overwhelmed by the honor.

“Is spending your day off with your boss a burden? Do you not want to after all?”

“Not at all! I would never think that.”

If anything, she was happy though she couldn’t voice that true feeling.

“Then I’ll come pick you up at your room around noon.”

“Ah… yes. Understood.”

In the end, there was no way Otilie could win against Varick. As Otilie blushed and looked down, Varick added the finishing touch.

“Since it’s a special date, make sure to dress up. …I’m looking forward to it.”

“Eh?”

Otilie turned so red it seemed like you could almost hear a “boom!” sound. Replaying Varick’s words over and over in her mind, she remained dazed for quite some time.