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 47

Several days had passed in the blink of an eye since I started working under the queen.

(Haaah… This is quite exhausting.)

The guest list was complete, and now Otilie was focused solely on writing the invitations. Although the wording was predetermined, she had to write in careful, beautiful script, and if she made even a single mistake, she had to start over from scratch. With dozens of invitations needed, it was quite draining.

(Lord Varick, I wonder if he’s doing well?)

This was the first time since becoming his assistant that they’d gone so long without seeing each other. She found herself missing Varick’s voice, his smile, his very presence.

(Oh my, I’m probably the only one feeling this way.)

Chuckling self-deprecatingly, Otilie stretched her back with a grunt.

Working for the queen wasn’t particularly physically or mentally taxing, and she’d been instructed to finish at regular hours. Because of this, it would have actually been possible for her to do her work as Varick’s assistant after finishing with the queen.

But if Otilie made such a suggestion, it might cause trouble for the other assistants or for Varick himself. Thinking that made her hesitate to even visit the office.

(But I want to see him. I want to see Lord Varick’s face.)

It might be a bother. Even knowing that, she still wanted to prioritize her own desires.

(Just a little… Really, just a little bit.)

Her destination: Varick’s office. Change of plans.

Along the way, she desperately thought up excuses for why she’d come to Varick’s office, repeating the mental rehearsal. There were plenty of reasons like being concerned about some documents. As someone who could hear inner voices, Otilie should be able to handle it easily.

For a moment, she considered honestly confessing, “Because I wanted to see Varick.” But that would be far too embarrassing, and if he laughed it off, she’d never recover. She also hesitated at the thought of other assistants overhearing. …That’s how earnest and serious her desire to see Varick was to Otilie.

“Ah, Miss Otilie. It feels like it’s been a while,” she was greeted by Philip and the other guards as soon as she reached the office. Otilie bowed slightly to them before letting out a relieved sigh.

(Thank goodness. Since Philip is here, Lord Varick must definitely be in his room.)

She was about to knock and enter when it happened.

“Philip! Did you just say Otilie!? Where is she? Is she still there? If she is—”

“Huh!? …L-Lord Varick?”

The office door suddenly swung open, and Varick popped his head out energetically. They stared at each other for several full seconds. Varick’s cheeks turned bright red, and then he slowly averted his gaze.

“Um… well…”

“Sorry.”

“Huh!? Uh…”

Why was he apologizing? Otilie looked around in confusion, her eyes darting about.

“I thought I heard Otilie’s name. I was thinking if she happened to be passing by, I’d have someone stop her so I rushed out of the room in a hurry.”

Letting out a long sigh, Varick bowed his head in embarrassment.

(Ughhh… How pathetic. Just how badly did I want to see Otilie?)

“Huh?”

Varick glanced up briefly as if making sure no one else could see… no one but Otilie. His bright red cheeks were paired with a frustrated expression, his brow furrowed, his eyes slightly glistening—enough to make her heart skip a beat.

(Lord Varick wanted to see me?)

No way. Could that really be? It was hard to believe.

…But the fact that he’d come running just at the sound of her name, and the pained look on his face—his inner voice was clearly expressing Varick’s true feelings.

“Well, I was concerned about some work…”

Spinning the excuse she’d prepared earlier, Otilie bowed her head slightly.

“This is the first time I’ve been away from the office for so long… so…”

No. That wasn’t it at all.

She’d wanted to see Varick so badly she couldn’t sit still, even preparing excuses to come here. And he had confessed his true feelings. Was it really okay for Otilie to do this? To deceive him, to lie—was that really alright?

Otilie shook her head and lifted her face. Then she peered straight into Varick’s eyes.

(That’s a lie. The truth is, work has nothing to do with it. …I wanted to see you too, Lord Varick.)

Squeezing Varick’s hand tightly, Otilie whispered those words softly in her heart.

His eyes widened, and he smiled with an expression that looked like he might cry.

(Otilie… I’m so happy. Really happy. I really wanted to see you.)

Even though only their palms were touching, it felt as if she were being embraced tightly, with his whole body.

It was joyful yet painful. Her chest felt hot, she was dizzy and lightheaded, as if her entire body had gone numb. Conflicting emotions were raging violently inside Otilie.

After all, it wasn’t just Varick she hadn’t seen for a while. The conditions were the same for Airny and the other assistants. And yet, the one Otilie had wanted to see, the one she’d yearned for was only Varick.

(Why? Why did I want to see Lord Varick so badly? …And why did Lord Varick want to see me?)

Her heart was pounding loudly. Staring into Varick’s eyes, Otilie repeated the questions to herself.