# 104
104. Coincidence is Perhaps Destiny After All (1)
Before I could pour anger into the hand patting my back, the nanny eased the mood. After playing with the animal-shaped stone carving Ethan had bought last time for a while, Robert grew tired and went down for a nap, so I stepped outside. The nanny said she'd take a quick nap too, so we parted ways and I returned to Ethan's room.
Surprisingly, he was sitting on the bed reading a book. Still half-naked and endlessly relaxed, but his face reading the book was quite serious. As I tried to quietly leave without disturbing him, whether he sensed my presence or not, Ethan took his eyes off the book and looked at me.
"You're here?"
"Ah, yes. Sorry for interrupting."
"No, not at all. I was just reading because I was bored."
He scratched his messy back hair and set the book down on the side table.
"Then there's something I'd like to suggest."
"Go ahead."
"How about having dinner with Lord Robert?"
"With Robert?"
"Yes. I thought it would be better to eat together than alone."
I didn't understand why they lived in the same mansion but ate separately. Remembering Robert, who had looked depressed earlier, I made the suggestion.
We had fun playing together, but the child kept glancing at the nanny and me. Come to think of it, even when our relationship wasn't good, Robert was rough with me but occasionally checked the nanny's mood. Realizing that he secretly gauged adults' feelings despite seeming to act however he pleased made my heart ache.
Ethan smiled languidly.
"I actually wanted to arrange a meal with Robert anyway. Sounds good."
"Yes. Then I'll prepare it that way. And if you don't mind, how about asking Lady Joely as well?"
"Go ahead."
"Understood."
Having gotten the answer I wanted, I was about to leave with a light heart when I suddenly stopped.
"Lord Ethan."
"Yes."
He answered with his gaze back on the book.
"What about... inviting the Master as well?"
"...."
No immediate answer came back. Ethan's expression while reading creased ever so slightly. In the past, he would have readily allowed it, but the silence was long.
"...Go ahead. Though I don't know if he'll come."
A heavy permission fell. I deliberately ignored the latter part. Having received permission anyway, I nodded.
"Then I'll ask the nanny."
"No... I'll tell her."
Surprisingly, Ethan showed initiative. I looked at him approvingly. Even though their relationship had deteriorated, I wanted to support Ethan, who seemed unwilling to give up on his relationship with Vincent.
As I left the room, I asked him not to be late, and he nodded half-heartedly. Seeing him still lounging in bed, he didn't seem reliable at all. I'd probably have to fetch him on time.
When I delivered this news to the nanny, her eyes, heavy with sleep from just waking up, sparkled bright. Delighted, she said it was wonderful and went straight to see the chef. It was clear she wanted to put care into the dishes served for such an important occasion.
I headed to Joely's room to ask her intentions. Knocking on the door, permission to enter came through. As I opened the door, lively conversation voices drifted through the gap, and I paused upon hearing a familiar voice mixed in.
"Come in, Ann."
Joely greeted me with a bright smile. I bowed silently while glancing across from her.
On the table spread with an elegant tablecloth sat cookies, cake, and teacups. Judging by the time, it was a somewhat late tea time.
But what surprised me was that the person elegantly sipping tea across from Joely was Alicia. At this unexpected sight, I wondered if my eyes were playing tricks on me.
"What brings you here at this hour?"
"Ah, Lord Christopher has decided to have dinner with Lord Robert, and he told me to ask if Lady Joely would also attend."
"I'd love to."
Joely answered readily. I knew she wouldn't refuse. But even after hearing the answer I wanted, I didn't feel good.
My gaze kept drifting toward Alicia. What kind of situation was this? They hadn't gotten along from their first meeting, and I'd heard Alicia badmouth Joely every night... When on earth did they become so close?
Alicia, even sensing my gaze, sipped her tea without a single change in expression.
"The cake looks really delicious today, doesn't it?"
Joely, looking at me, held up the plate with the cake. I immediately bowed my head.
"I apologize."
"My, I didn't mean for you to apologize. Would you like a bite?"
She must have misunderstood that I was glancing because I wanted cake. Just as I was about to wave both hands to say that wasn't it, Alicia turned to me and smiled affectionately.
"Sister, let's eat together."
S-sister...?
"This is really delicious."
I barely held back from screaming "Are you crazy?!" at Alicia's act of playing the part of a friendly sister. I clamped my mouth shut and forced a smile as I shook my head. If I spoke, I felt like I wouldn't be able to hold back my true feelings. Though I forced a smile, my lips curved up awkwardly, making it unmistakably stiff.
"Ann would like that too. You can join us."
Joely added. At that, Alicia's smiling face twisted slightly. She looked ready to stab my thigh with a fork if I said I'd join. And I also felt that if I squeezed into that seat, I wasn't sure whether the cake would go into my mouth or my nostrils.
"Ah, no. You eat a lot, Alicia."
I barely answered and shut my mouth again.
Joely smiled regretfully, saying we should definitely eat together next time. Alicia also wore a smile full of regret, but what lay within her curved eyes was the pressure to hurry up and leave since she was done with me.
"Come anytime if you change your mind."
"Yes, understood."
I bowed and quickly turned around. Laughter came from behind.
"You said you came from Filton, Alicia? That's quite far, isn't it hard working in an unfamiliar place?"
"Not at all. I'm quite used to it."
"My. It seems you've done this kind of work before."
"I have some experience."
Their voices exchanging conversation sounded quite enjoyable.
When I closed the door, the voices grew smaller. I leaned against the door blankly for a moment. This feeling... I'd felt it before... When was it?
The hallway was quiet with no passersby, and occasionally pleasant noise came from beyond the door. Only after hearing it several times did my mind slowly start working. I'd been frowning, and I forced my reluctant feet to move. I needed to deliver this news to the nanny first.
Seeing something unpleasant made my stomach feel bloated. Rubbing my chest area, I entered the kitchen but stopped at an unexpected sight. The nanny and chef were talking, and Audrey was beside them, having arrived at some point.
The nanny spotted me and approached happily. When I informed her of Joely's attendance, she was overjoyed as expected. When I even shared the news that Vincent might attend, she was in an even bigger uproar.
The three had a serious discussion about the dinner menu. This person liked this, that person liked that—it was quite a heated conversation. I stood there blankly watching them. They were so serious there was no room for me to interject. Anyone watching would think they were preparing a banquet.
When the dinner menu was finally decided, the chef rolled up his sleeves and began cooking. The nanny and Audrey stood on either side of him, offering various opinions. When opinions diverged, a silent battle of wills ensued, and the chef, reading the atmosphere, hurriedly completed the dishes.
I helped the kitchen maid carry the food to the dining table. Quite appetizing dishes filled the table.
When preparations were mostly done, the nanny told me to fetch Ethan. I nodded and went up to his room.
Is he still sprawled on the bed? Thinking I'd give him an earful, I knocked hard on the door, and soon permission to enter came. When I opened the door and went in, unlike my expectation, Ethan was standing properly dressed. Moreover, for some reason, he wasn't alone.
A man with a familiar face stood beside Ethan. It was the servant who had delivered the letter to Vincent. Ethan said something to the servant, and the servant nodded repeatedly, listening attentively. Soon the conversation seemed to end, as the servant bowed and turned toward me. Then he noticed me and bowed silently, so I nodded in return.
Tracing the servant leaving the room with my eyes, I looked back at Ethan as he swept his hair back and put on his jacket. I quickly went behind him and helped him into it. And smoothed down the back of his hair nicely. At Ethan's added comment with a smile, I briskly rubbed his protruding back of the head.
"Are the preparations all done?"
"Yes, but..."
"Then let's go."
Ethan, perfectly dressed, left the room.
Ethan's gait walking down the hallway was leisurely. He turned his head to look here and there in the hallway, and even gazed out the window. He looked as if he were enjoying a stroll. Perhaps because there was no one in the hallway now, his usual stiffness had softened a bit.
"Did you prepare a lot of delicious food?"
"Yes. The nanny put a lot of care into it."
"She's peculiar about these things. The chef must have gotten quite a nagging."
Ethan laughed briefly as if he could see right through what the situation had been like.
"Will the Master be attending?"
"Well. I haven't received an answer yet."
Ethan shrugged. As I thought, his conversation with the servant earlier must have been about the dinner. "If he can't attend, it can't be helped," Ethan said lightly, but his heart was surely not light. This was, in a way, an opportunity. A chance to mend their relationship even a little. Judging from how the two had been last time, let alone conversation, they rarely even shared the same space.
Did Vincent know? That Ethan wanted to mend his relationship with him.
Then I remembered what had happened with Vincent last time. My mood grew depressed. When I suddenly fell silent, Ethan glanced back at me.
"Did something happen?"
"Pardon?"
"You don't look like you're in a good mood."
"It's nothing."
Ethan didn't ask any further after hearing my answer. But as he walked at his slow pace, he said one thing.
"If someone upsets you, tell me. I'll scold them."
I opened my eyes wide, then smiled slightly.
That day when the incident with Vincent occurred, Ethan had frowned when he came to collect the dinner tray. His gaze had remained fixed on my face for a long time. Even though I had washed with cold water, the traces of tears must have shown. He had opened and closed his mouth several times but ultimately only let out a deep sigh.
'Give me the meal.'
That day, he quietly ate his dinner too. Perhaps it was because of what had happened then. Seeing him secretly caring despite pretending otherwise made me feel somewhat reassured.
When we arrived at the dining room, Robert was already seated. His small head kept checking the door, and when he saw us enter, his body perked up. His wide-open face was full of joy. If I'd known he'd be this happy, I should have suggested it to Ethan sooner.
Ethan sat across from Robert, scanned the food spread on the table, and smiled faintly. Standing beside him pouring water into his glass, I asked quietly.
"Why are you smiling?"
"I was thinking someone must have worked hard."
"Does it look that way?"
"All the food reflects our tastes. Me, Robert, Joely, and even Vincent. It's all food everyone would like. No need to worry about anyone complaining about the meal."
Ethan picked up the glass and moistened his throat. When Robert excitedly spoke to him, he answered affectionately. I helped the nanny and kitchen maid bring the newly prepared dishes.
However, even after all the food was set out and the appointed time had passed, the person we were waiting for did not come.