Today, Dia had a writing class. Though called writing, the main content of the class was memorizing popular poems and correcting handwriting.

“You… come to me… become a beautiful flower…”

Dia read the verses repeatedly while diligently writing them down. Sometimes she closed her eyes to memorize.

Aileen corrected Dia’s handwriting or taught her which words and sentences to emphasize when reciting poetry.

‘There’s not much I can help with here.’

Deborah, wondering what to do with her spare time, decided to write a letter to Madam Saint.

Deborah’s smoothly moving pen tip stopped. She stared seriously at the fountain pen in her hand.

“Hmm.”

“What’s wrong?”

Aileen, who had gifted the fountain pen, asked in a worried voice. Deborah, still with a serious expression, said:

“I like it.”

Finding that answer somewhat abrupt, Aileen blinked quickly and said:

“Pardon? What do you like?”

“I really like this fountain pen so much. The writing feel is good, the weight is nice, and above all, this design and color. I really love it.”

Seeing Deborah earnestly continuing her praise, Aileen let out a faint smile.

Dia, who had been busy memorizing the poem, belatedly agreed with Deborah’s opinion.

“That’s right. It’s really pretty and writes well.”

“I’m glad you both are so satisfied.”

Deborah asked Aileen, who was covering her mouth as she laughed:

“May I ask where you bought this fountain pen? I’d like to gift it too.”

“Oh my. It’s not difficult to tell you.”

Aileen wrote down the address of the stationery store on a blank paper. Deborah took the address and smiled, her eyes crinkling.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I think I can give a nice gift.”

Deborah wanted to gift this fountain pen to Madam Saint.

Considering her wealth, it was a modest gift, but if she worried about that, there would be nothing she could give Madam Saint.

‘In the end, it’s the thought that counts.’

Aileen, with a faint smile, asked:

“May I ask who you’re planning to gift it to?”

“Ah, I’m planning to send it to the madam I served before coming to the Baker household.”

“Ah. You’re giving it to the person who recommended this place. But won’t this design be a bit young for an older person?”

“Hehe. The madam’s taste is younger than mine, so it’ll be fine.”

Sometimes Madam Saint would sit Deborah down and tie her hair for her.

[Oh my, madam! Please don’t do this!] [No. I don’t like seeing a young girl tying her hair like an old woman. You’re not lacking in taste, so why don’t you dress yourself up?]

Madam Saint said firmly, hiding playfulness in her voice.

She hummed a tune and touched Deborah’s hair with the gentlest hands in the world.

Though it was awkward, it was actually the first time someone had touched her hair since the Heather household, and she couldn’t believe how thrilled she was.

‘Since I’m buying a gift anyway, I should buy gifts for others too.’

It had been a really long time since Deborah had gone shopping alone, and for gifts rather than necessities, so she was excited.

When Aileen suggested taking a break, Deborah immediately went to find Cedric. She wanted to schedule an outing right away after thinking about it.

‘Baker said to tell him about everything, but for this kind of schedule, it’s right to consult with Mr. Rearford, the head butler.’

Besides, Zen had returned to the mansion after the morning sun rose today.

‘And then he went straight to his office,’

Deborah was worried about Zen. Is it possible to handle such a schedule?

‘It might be fine while he’s young, but someday his body will break down.’

But Deborah also knew why Zen worked so hard, overexerting himself.

Not just to live well, but for revenge, wasn’t it?

‘Revenge…’

It was a word that made her heart heavy just thinking about it.

‘They say revenge ultimately leads to emptiness.’

Deborah too had experienced unfair and upsetting things, and sometimes wished for their misfortune.

But she didn’t dream of revenge. She didn’t have the strength for it, and even if she took revenge, the future wouldn’t improve.

‘Can’t Baker give up on revenge?’

Although he had come this far for revenge, couldn’t he be satisfied with the current situation?

As her thoughts reached that point, Deborah unknowingly touched her forehead.

‘Look at me. What am I thinking right now.’

She didn’t think revenge was the right action.

But it was extremely rude of her to wish for Zen to give up on revenge when she only knew that he had been abandoned by Duke Buin, without knowing the detailed circumstances.

‘All I can do for him is to do my best at the tasks I’m given. So that he can worry less about the young lady.’

It seemed that was the only way she could help Zen after all.

And the better Deborah served Dia, the more satisfied Dia would be. Also, if Deborah worked hard, Aileen and Cedric would have less work, which would be good, and it could ease the burden of Madam Saint, who kept sending worried letters after sending Deborah here.

‘So you just need to do your job well without thinking unnecessary thoughts, Deborah Johnson.’

After scolding herself, Deborah smiled bitterly. If her husband Charles were watching Deborah, he would surely say something like this:

[It’s good that you’re not worrying about others, but don’t be too harsh on yourself.]

Deborah was reminded of Charles whenever she saw the sea. She heard Charles’s voice and his face vividly appeared.

Deborah stood still, looking out the window. There was no sea visible no matter where you looked here.

Maybe that’s why. She recalled Charles less often than when she was in Bermuda.

Still, she was glad that Charles’s voice was clearly remembered.

‘Maybe someday I’ll forget you.’

Of course, she hadn’t recorded Charles’s voice, and they had never taken a photo, which most young couples these days take at least once.

Yet, Deborah could vividly recall him whenever she saw the sea or the few things Charles had left behind, because he was always with her in her mind.

But as she aged, her memories would naturally fade.

When that happens, she might forget Charles’s facial features and voice.

Deborah knew that forgetting was natural, but still she hoped.

‘But I hope I never forget you for the rest of my life.’

With a faint smile, Deborah turned her head again. Soon, her footsteps echoed pleasantly in the empty corridor.

As she passed through the corridor and descended the stairs, Deborah spotted Cedric talking to someone in front of the main entrance on the first floor.

‘Who is that?’

Judging by his attire, he was clearly a footman, but not one of the Baker household. A moment later, as if the conversation had ended, the footman left.

As soon as the man left, Cedric immediately turned around and came up the stairs. His expressionless face somehow looked serious.

“Oh.”

Cedric, climbing the stairs, soon discovered Deborah.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

At Deborah’s apology, Cedric smiled kindly as he always did.

“Haha. No one would think that. But what brings you here? Are you looking for something?”

“Um, I was looking for Mr. Rearford.”

“For me?”

When Cedric asked with wide eyes, Deborah nodded.

“Yes. I wanted to go out, so I was hoping you could schedule it for me.”

“If I may ask, where do you plan to go?”

Cedric asked with a smile. Deborah looked into his eyes quietly, and Cedric added as if making an excuse:

“Just curious. Unlike Mrs. Brown, you don’t have a residence in Dover, Ms. Deborah.”

“I’m thinking of visiting the shopping district. There are some things I want to buy.”

“Ah. Shopping.”

Cedric nodded greatly. He somehow looked a little relieved.

“It’s not urgent, so if you could schedule it later at your leisure…”

“Leisure? Shopping should be done right when you think of it!”

“Pardon?”

As Deborah blinked and asked, Cedric said with his eyes crinkling:

“Why don’t you go now?”

“Now, right away?”

Deborah asked awkwardly, taken aback. Cedric answered with a very clear smile:

“Yes. I’ll tell the driver. Is it alright if you leave in about an hour?”

“That’s fine, but is it okay to go out so suddenly?”

“Of course. If it’s alright with you, Ms. Deborah, there’s no problem at all.”

Cedric, letting out a low laugh, asked Deborah when she planned to return and then said:

“I wish I could see you off, but I have work to do. Let me see you off now.”

“Oh my, there’s no need for that. It’s just a short outing.”

“Hehe. I hope you have an enjoyable shopping trip.”

And so Deborah headed to Dia’s room to inform her of the sudden outing.

As soon as Deborah disappeared from sight, Cedric rushed to Zen’s office as if running.

Upon arriving at the office, Cedric urgently knocked on the door and opened it before Zen could answer.

“What’s the matter?”

Zen frowned and glared at Cedric as he asked.

“A footman from the Delta Marquis household has come.”

Zen’s eyes widened.

“He says Lord Delta will visit at 3 PM.”