I Ran Away And The Reverse Harem Started

Chapter 22 “Pardon? His heart?” “It’s true that the Count has been very hard on me, but sometimes when he looks at me, he looks at me with such fascination, as if he’s seeing something he misses, as if he’s mesmerized.” Deborah blinked her large eyes slowly. The eyes beneath the long eyelashes sparkled like jewels. She remained silent for a moment and then spoke cautiously. “Actually, he was looking into my eyes.” “Your eyes?” “Yes. I knew that the Count was thinking of someone he missed when he looked into my eyes.” Deborah stared off into space for a moment, expressionless, as if trying to recall the lingering image in her mind. “I was a little surprised to learn that the Count was a man who knew how to make such facial expressions. And I was very curious. Who is the person the Count misses so desperately? … Why is he looking at me with a face that reminds him of someone?” “…….” “And what kind of person would look into my eyes with such a wounded face.” Saying that, Deborah slowly made eye contact with me. “I think I found out today,” she said, “or rather, I found out by the look in your eyes.” She grinned. Deborah and I had the same purple eyes. Deep, deep purple eyes that reminded me of a field of lavender. I stared at Deborah with a puzzled expression on my face. ‘I see. Daniel was thinking of me as he looked into Deborah’s eyes.’ Well, even in this world, purple eyes are not such a common eye color.I stared at my reflection in the tea water, feeling like a fool. Daniel thought of me as he looked at Deborah’s eyes. And Deborah knew Daniel’s feelings early on. So, she knew right away that his friend at the orphanage was me. “For now, I’ll end the story here. The reason I wanted to meet you separately was for a different reason.” Deborah must have noticed that I was drooping, and said with a bright smile on purpose. “For what reason?” “I heard it from the Count. The Count said he wanted to go to a party with his friend from the orphanage. He insisted the whole time that he wasn’t going, and I don’t know what made him change his mind, but….” “…….” “Oh, of course, the Count doesn’t know that I noticed that his friend is a maid.” Deborah shrugged. “Actually, ever since I heard that the Count was desperately looking for his friend, I have been saying that I would like him to attend this party with that friend.” A party, that’s what I’d overheard when I was hiding in the closet. I nodded thoughtfully. “I heard about that. But do you know why he changed partners to attend the party? Daniel offered me good terms, but I’m still hesitant.” Deborah nodded softly as if she understood everything. Then she looked at me with eyes that were a little deeper than before. “… Do you know that I am going to marry the Count?” Deborah’s voice was a little melancholy. Instead of nodding, I just looked at Deborah. She continued. “I don’t know how my story sounds to you, but that’s how I’ve lived my whole life, doing what everyone else told me to do. When my father found out I was divined as a saint, he handed me over to the temple right away.” “…….” “When my father, who sold me to the temple, asked me to send him money, I sent him the money I didn’t have. Even though I suddenly became a saint, I always did my best to fulfill my responsibilities. It was a life I didn’t choose, but I worked hard to live the life I was destined to in order to repay the favor because there were people who expected me.” “…….” “And the reward for me was a marriage I didn’t want.” Up to this point, this was the setting of the original Deborah that I knew. “At some point, I became skeptical, because no matter how hard I worked, freedom seemed as far away as a luxury to me, and I wasn’t even married, and yet I was expected to attend a party with a man who didn’t even like me because of the king’s orders.” Instead of getting angry, Deborah replied bitterly. But the gloom did not last long. She said with a faint smile. “Still, a saint who is loved by the people of the kingdom is lamenting her situation like this. You probably think I’m immature, right?” “No. I don’t think so at all.” I was surprised and answered quickly. She nodded and quietly whispered thank you. “… If I was destined to get married anyway, I thought it would be okay to find some freedom before marriage.” “By refusing to attend a party with a partner chosen by His Majesty the King?” “Yes.” “…….” “Please don’t think too hard about it. It’s not like breaking the king’s command, just a little rebellion before I walk the path of my destiny.” “…….” “I think it would be a little unfair to become Countess Drunia while doing nothing like this.” “…….” “I will take care of it without putting a burden on you. You can think of it as just a maid going to see the palace.” “No matter how you describe it, it’s an event at the royal palace…” “I heard that you are also close to Sir Colin and Sir Lucas. This royal party has a light atmosphere, so why don’t you just pretend you’re having a good time with them?” Deborah was speaking lightly, but her eyes were extremely serious. I pondered the freedom she was talking about. After all, Deborah was destined to live a certain life. She was destined to marry Daniel and be happy, even if that marriage seemed oppressive in the original story.Besides… “It’s a memory to cherish…” Strangely enough, I remembered Daniel’s face last night when he was telling me about the contract with a face that looked like it was about to collapse. And Lucas said this with a sullen face at the cafe. “I just want to go out with Rosie, spend a bunch of money, stay out all night, watch the fireworks, have a few drinks, and just hang out like we used to. We can do that now, you deserve it.” ‘Well, ever since I came here, I’ve only worked in an employee-employer relationship.’ They were the male protagonists I had to avoid, but I think Lucas and Daniel were secretly upset with me. Besides, I was planning to leave here once the inn was built. I would leave them nothing. ‘If Daniel’s marriage is finalized, if I’m going to leave anyway…’ I turned my head silently and looked out the window of the guest room. As the midday sunlight hit, I could see dust floating in the air. And I realized that my heart was also shaking and shaking like that dust. Hah, indeed. ‘This is why I didn’t want to come.’ * * * It’s late, after dinner. Daniel was sitting in his office, lit by a single candle, looking at documents. The atmosphere was quiet enough to hear the sound of paper fluttering, but strangely enough, he couldn’t concentrate. He’d been like this since he’d washed down his dinner with coffee and tea.. Because from that day until now, my mind has been somewhere else. “Ha, damn it.” Daniel eventually got up and brushed his hair. He sat down at the desk and lit a match on the end of a cut cigar. As he was exhaling smoke while looking at the moon rising in the night sky, he heard a knocking sound. “Go back.” Daniel spoke without even asking who the other person was. Because he doesn’t want to see anyone right now, whether it’s the workers or his brothers. But he could still feel the presence of people behind the door. ‘What?’ If they had been told to go, they might have left quietly… Daniel turned his head toward the door, puzzled, when a small voice came through the crack. “Should I really go back ?” “……!” Daniel ran straight to the door and opened it. Rosieta looked up at him with her eyes wide open. “Oh my gosh, why are you opening the door so wide?” “What’s going on?” Daniel was no less surprised. Because he never imagined that she would come to see him at such a late hour. Rosieta held out something. It was a dark cobalt colored watch box. “I brought you the repaired watch. I came to give it to you personally.” What she handed over was a fine watch that he had left with the clockmaker in the square some time ago. She had come to retrieve something she was entrusted with as a maid. Daniel’s face showed a hint of disappointment at the thought that she had come to him as a mere servant. His pulse relaxed. “Daniel.” “Why.” Daniel was handed the watch box and answered sulkily. There was no doubt that Rosieta would return to her room now that her work was done. However… “I have something to tell you.” “…….” “Can you please let me in?” Daniel’s eyes widened. It was obvious agitation, but Rosietta scratched her head, pretending not to notice. “If you’re uncomfortable, should we just talk here?” “No! Come in now!” “What?” “Because if we talk here… other maids can see it, so that’s why.” Daniel grabbed her slender arm, making the same excuse she always gave. Then, perhaps feeling embarrassed for overreacting, he cleared his throat loudly. Fearing that she might reply, ‘Now that I think about it, I think it would be better to just talk outside, Daniel!’, Daniel immediately brought her into the bedroom. There was only the dim moonlight and the light of the lamp, but thanks to the bright moonlight, he could see her face clearly. Daniel closed the door and looked at Rosieta again. “What is it you want to say?” He asked bluntly. He had a bad habit of getting strangely impatient when it came to Rosieta. But Rosieta, who had no idea about such habits, just shrugged. “Oh, that’s. The contract, about the party.” Daniel swallowed his saliva without realizing it. She tried not to show it, but the nervousness in her voice made her throat move. Rosieta looked away, as if she were trying to be cool, then turned her attention back to Daniel. “The contract, I’ll take it.” “… Really?” Daniel asked, his brow furrowed. He honestly thought Rosieta would refuse the contract. She was desperate to pay off her debts, but for some reason he sensed she was reluctant to put herself out there in front of others. Daniel pursed his lips at the completely unexpected flow. And after hesitating for a moment, he asked. “… Is it because of money?”