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 34

Varick seemed rather strange. I could hear unusual sounds coming from him. A throbbing ache and a muddled haze and his expression looked somewhat pained.

(What could be wrong with Lord Varick? Could he be feeling unwell?)

The moment Otilie thought this, a loud, sputtering burst of laughter reached her ears. Wondering who it was, she lifted her head and saw that the one laughing was the aide whose hand she was holding. What was so amusing? As Otilie tilted her head in confusion, the aide narrowed his eyes and chuckled softly.

“No, no, that’s not it, Miss Otilie.”

(Huh? No? That’s not it?)

Since he shared her mind-reading ability, he should have heard Varick’s inner voice just as she did. But if he insisted it wasn’t that, then perhaps Varick wasn’t unwell after all.

(Then why is Lord Varick…)

While they conversed mentally, Varick gave a small, deliberate cough. “Ahem… So, what are you two doing right now?”

“Huh? W-we’re holding hands?”

Why would he ask such a thing? As Otilie answered, Varick pursed his lips in a pout. Immediately after, the aides’ laughter echoed in her mind.

(Miss Otilie, that’s not enough information!)

(Just a little more! Give him a bit more detail!)

(Detail… detail?)

Why were the aides laughing? Why did Varick seem a little upset? It seemed her mind-reading ability was being blocked, as she could no longer hear Varick’s inner thoughts at all.

As Otilie stood there bewildered, Varick gently tapped her shoulder.

“Otilie, he has a fiancée. You should stop holding his hand.”

“Huh? I-I know that. But…”

“Come on, that’s enough.”

With that, he pulled Otilie’s hands away from the aide. The moment he did, the aides’ laughter echoed in her mind once more.

(Lord Varick…!)

(Oh, this is so frustrating!)

(Frustrating? …What’s so funny about this?)

She didn’t feel mocked. In fact, she sensed a warm atmosphere, though she couldn’t quite understand why. Part of her wanted to ask, but perhaps it was better if Varick didn’t know they were laughing. Otilie tilted her head in thought.

“By the way, there’s something I need to discuss with Otilie about work. Shall we talk over there for a moment?”

Varick pointed toward the sofa.

(Lord Varick, it’s break time right now, isn’t it? Is it really about work?)

(When we got back to the office, you seemed eager to talk with everyone.)

Before Otilie could even nod, the aides’ teasing remarks reached her.

(Now that you mention it, that’s true…)

What on earth was going on with everyone? Wondering this, Otilie followed Varick.

“Um, what was it about work?”

The moment she sat on the sofa, Otilie asked.

“Before that…”

Varick looked at her seriously.

“Hey… why were you holding his hand? Like I said earlier, he has a fiancée, you know? It’s not because you like him or anything, right?”

His tone was earnest. Seeing Varick’s somewhat flustered expression, Otilie’s eyes widened.

(Like him? Me?)

She never imagined Varick would misunderstand her like that. Looking back, there had been no such atmosphere at all, and she couldn’t understand why he’d misinterpreted it. Otilie shook her head in denial.

“Then, are you just holding a man’s hand for no reason, Otilie? Somewhere I can’t see. …With another man besides me?”

As he said this, Varick tightly grasped Otilie’s hand. Instantly, her heart pounded loudly, and her body grew incredibly warm.

(Why? When I held Mr. Blood’s hand earlier, I didn’t feel anything like this.)

The sound of her heartbeat thumped noisily. Seeing Varick’s somewhat pained expression, Otilie’s chest tightened.

“That’s not it! Earlier, I was just holding his hand so he could experience my ability!”

She couldn’t bear this any longer. Blushing with embarrassment, Otilie desperately tried to explain to Varick.

“Experience? Your ability?”

“Yes. He said he was curious about how it sounded, so that’s why.”

As he listened to Otilie’s reply, Varick’s face slowly turned red.

“I see. So that’s what it was…”

“Yes. So, it’s not that I like him or that I go around holding just anyone’s hand!”

Please, let him understand. As Otilie pleaded, Varick let out a deep sigh and buried his face in her shoulder.

“Huh? Um… Lord Varick?”

“Sorry… I’m being pathetic, aren’t I?”

She shook her head, thinking that wasn’t true, but he probably couldn’t see it. More than that, the closeness, the fact that they were touching, was far more important to Otilie.

Her heartbeat quickened even more than before. Would Varick hear it? …But then she realized the heartbeat echoing in her mind wasn’t just her own.

(Is Lord Varick’s heart pounding too?)

Why? …She suppressed the urge to ask and took a deep breath.

“Sorry… I’m really sorry.”

“No, not at all. There’s no need for you to apologize, Lord Varick. It was just a misunderstanding.”

“No, I was definitely in the wrong earlier. —I just lost my head.”

“Huh?”

Otilie couldn’t help but ask for clarification. Varick finally lifted his face slightly, wearing an embarrassed expression.

“When I saw you holding another man’s hand, I felt so muddled and upset. If I’d been calm, I would’ve realized you were just letting him experience your ability, but it never crossed my mind. …I was just really, really bothered by it.”

His breath was warm as he sighed. Otilie didn’t know how to respond and simply nodded repeatedly.

“…Are you disappointed in me?”

“No, of course not! I could never be disappointed in you, Lord Varick.”

He had taken her from her home and even given her work. How could she think such a thing? As Otilie desperately insisted, Varick’s face crumpled into a smile. “I’m glad…!”

(Oh, what kind of face is he making…!)

Her own heart was incredibly loud. Even though she wasn’t sad, tears were welling up. Otilie had never known this feeling—a mix of confusion and embarrassment. But it was surely more than that.

(I must be happy.)

She couldn’t quite explain why.

Otilie and Varick’s gazes met. One of them looked away, then they slowly looked back at each other. She felt she should say something, but her lips wouldn’t move properly.

How much time had passed? Varick was the one to break the silence.

“Hey, if I said, ‘Even if it’s to share your ability, I don’t want you holding hands with other men,’ what would you think, Otilie?”

“Huh?”

Varick’s expression was somewhat sulky. He usually seemed more mature than his age. Thinking this, Otilie shook her head slightly.

“If you don’t like it, Lord Varick, then from now on I’ll practice sharing my ability without holding hands so I can do it from a distance.”

As she answered, Varick’s eyes widened. Then he smiled, looking truly delighted.

(I kind of wanted to ask, “So you don’t like it?”)

Judging by his reaction, that must be the case.

If so, why would he dislike it? Otilie’s questions were endless. But since he was hiding his inner thoughts, prying would be tasteless. He probably didn’t want to be asked.

(Will you tell me someday?)

Wondering if she wanted to know or not, Otilie smiled softly to herself.