46 – The End of Spring
Silence settled in the classroom.
Professor No, who was slowly calling out the names of the students, put down the test papers and adjusted his glasses. Then, the classroom fell into complete silence.
Amidst the soundless confusion, I looked up.
Yuriya, with her eyes wide open, came into view.
“Ah.”
I regained my senses.
For a moment, I borrowed the gaze of a third person to infer what I looked like.
Kneeling in front of the wheelchair, as though pledging loyalty to a king on his throne, he even went as far as to enclose Uriah’s delicate hand with both of his.
Cold sweat trickled down.
What on earth am I doing?
Because of the proposal of a different amount, my inner “entrepreneur” momentarily took over and I became nothing but a shape.
Even Uriah, who reached out her hand first, seemed unable to predict my sudden action. While she tried to maintain a seductive smile, her eyes rolled slightly in confusion.
But I suppose the upper class is the upper class after all.
With a blink of an eye, her expression regained a thorough rationality.
Uriah swiftly withdrew her hand from between mine.
“Take it.”
She took out a note from her bosom and handed it to me.
I received the note. It was still a peculiar sight since I was still kneeling, but it couldn’t be helped.
With that, it seemed the matter was over as Uriah relaxed her facial muscles and drew a gentle smile.
“See you next time.”
With those words, Uriah wheeled away towards the entrance.
It happened to be around the time her name was called.
I remained kneeling, still in the same position.
I can’t stay like this.
With that thought in mind, I tried to sit naturally at the desk, making the most natural gestures possible.
The view from the back of the classroom was unnecessarily wide. As a result, even though I didn’t intend to, I could clearly see students whispering to each other or students giving me unfriendly looks while covering their mouths.
Ignoring all that, suddenly, Louis’s words from the other day came to mind.
“Spring is slowly ending. Haven’t you heard any news in that regard?”
News, huh?
If this counts as news, I wonder.
I became curious about the contents of the note.
If what’s written here is a love letter filled with various expressions of affection, it might meet the conditions of the news Louis mentioned.
Ding-dong!
Today, of all days, the noisy bell echoed loudly.
I gracefully left the classroom and opened the note in a secluded place.
“…?”
[ This Saturday ]
[ Getreide St. 9, 5020 Fraussen ]
[ ᕕ( ՞ ᗜ ՞ )ᕗ ]
Come to the address mentioned this Saturday. A picture of someone running excitedly…
Folding the note, I awkwardly tied my hair.
I didn’t know for sure, but it definitely didn’t seem like just a love letter.
#June 8th. Rain.
Saturday arrived.
Bang!
I was entering Getreide Street as mentioned in the note.
There were a few trivial issues that arose until reaching this point.
The first problem was stepping outside the door.
A weekend outing, something I rarely did since starting school. And of all days, attempting to go out on a day when thick rain was pouring, led to some suspicion.
After employing the excuse I often used when persuading Susan, who was worried about catching a cold, and giving me doubtful looks, that I was going out to meet a friend, only then could I venture out.
“Eugene finally making friends in college…!”
Although Susan bid me farewell with a face of admiration, it was somewhat dubious.
Even afterwards, it took some time to find the Gate-Raide Street. I’ll admit it. I got lost.
Anyway, now that I’ve arrived, isn’t that a good thing?
So, I wandered around Gate-Raide Street to find number 9, and after following the signs, I could reach the address on the note.
Yes. I’ve only arrived.
“Where’s 5020?”
It’s a residential area all around.
On the left, a wall endlessly extends, blocking a building site like a government office, and on the right, houses stretch out for a long distance.
When did I confirm all that?
Without hesitation, I changed my approach.
Seeing a passerby wearing both an umbrella and a hat, I approached without hesitation.
“Excuse me.”
“Hmm? What business do you have, young man?”
“Could you tell me where the building 5020 on number 9 is?”
As I asked, a question mark appeared on the middle-aged gentleman’s face.
“Why are you asking all of a sudden?”
“It’s my first time coming to Gate Ride.”
“Oh, I see. Then you might not know. It’s the building on the left.”
“The left?”
I turned my head and looked to the left.
There, only a large building and a sturdy fence surrounding the premises stood tall.
I tapped on the fence and asked, “Is there nothing beyond this fence?”
“That’s right. That fence is called 5020. It’s the mansion of the Miller family. The entrance to the mansion is behind me. Looks like you passed by it.”
I barely stopped my mouth from dropping open.
I thought it was some kind of government office or park or something.
“It’s a mansion.”
Although I had seen similar-styled mansions before, it was still a shocking revelation that this massive structure was just a house.
After expressing my gratitude to the elderly gentleman who had shown me the way, I walked along the fence for a while and arrived at the entrance of the mansion.
The window screens were tightly shut.
There was no sign of anyone around.
“Phew.”
The raindrops were gradually getting stronger.
It’s not very pleasant to just stand here in this weather with no end in sight.
I didn’t want to stand in front of the entrance with no doorbell, so I wandered around, looking around here and there.
Shaking the window bars absentmindedly, it was a time when time seemed to linger.
“Please stay still.”
“!”
Out of nowhere, a figure that seemed to be the gatekeeper suddenly appeared where there was no sign.
“Are you Eugene Oslo?”
“…Yes. That’s correct.”
“Master Hana is on the way. Please wait a little longer.”
His words proved true.
As a few more minutes passed, a group of people with umbrellas in the rain was seen approaching the main gate.
Squelch—
The window bars opened.
At the forefront of the group, Hana, the mistress, spoke.
“Eugene Oslo. The young lady is waiting.”
*
From the main gate to the interior of the mansion, one had to pass through four doors.
“This is the young lady’s room.”
And now, I stood in front of the fifth and final door.
Knock, knock, knock.
When Hana cautiously knocked, a soft voice from inside echoed.
-Who is it?
“Miss, there’s a guest.”
―Ah, please let them in.
At the same time, the housekeeper looked at me.
A figure reminiscent of a tree trunk. After exchanging glances with me for a moment, the housekeeper opened the large door.
“Please come in.”
I did as I was told.
I stepped into a room that was slightly brighter than the corridor.
The first thing I noticed was the scent. It wasn’t until the rose fragrance that filled the entire room tickled my nose that I realized this room was much larger than the living room in Oslo.
And then.
“Hello?”
Julia, sitting at a spacious desk, greeted me warmly with a broad smile.
She was dressed no different from her university days.
I couldn’t see a wheelchair nearby. She either walked with a cane in the room or simply didn’t move at all.
From Noble mtl dot com
Kwong. The door closed.
Finally, as if relieved, Julia relaxed her lips, revealing a more open expression.
“I didn’t expect it to rain. How was your journey here?”
“…I was excited to come, just like the picture painted in the letter. But the atmosphere is more solemn than I expected.”
“hehehe. You can speak comfortably. I’m a year younger than you.”
Come to think of it, Julia was an early admission student.
I didn’t bother to refuse.
I sat delicately on the sofa placed in one corner of the room and spoke.
The beginning of our conversation might as well be some light small talk.
“Do you usually dress like that even at home?”
“Oh. Are you interested in such information already? It’s fine later, but it’s a bit awkward now.”
Small talk canceled.
Judging by the expression, there was a full intention to tease.
So, I went straight to the point.
“Explain. I welcome being hired, but if you’re planning to take advantage, I won’t be pleased.”
“Well….”
Was she choosing her words carefully? After a short contemplation, Yulia answered simply.
“A contract.”
“A contract?”
“Yes. A legitimate contract. You know, I’m quite popular, don’t you?”
Though it sounded like she was boasting, it was a fact.
“Unfortunately, I don’t particularly enjoy popularity in that regard.”
“So, are you planning to use me as a shield?”
“Oh, you guessed it?”
Yulia chuckled cunningly.
“Eugene Oslo. Current residence, not much affiliation with Prussia. Top scorer in the entrance exam. Tall with a well-trained physique. No connections with the upper class. In short, an outsider.”
Yulia, who recited my identity without being told, nodded and continued speaking.
“If I were to walk with you, it seems like I could shake off most of my burdens as if they fell from the sky.”
“Well… I’m not sure if those people would easily give up on you.”
“That’s why it’s a contract. You have to make them give up.”
The smile disappeared from Yuriya’s face.
Finally, I could see her real face.
“Eugene, from now until the end of the summer semester, you’ll be my aide and practically act as my lover. Weekly pay of 200 pounds, and an upfront payment of a thousand pounds. Don’t worry about the arrears, as we’ll be drafting a contract.”
“How about it?” Yuriya smiled faintly.
Her eyes weren’t smiling at all; that was probably her original way of smiling.
Had the documentation already been completed?
Yuriya handed me the contract, and I rose from the sofa before approaching the window.
Yuriya, sitting at the desk in a relaxed posture, was smiling playfully.
“It’s not just being an aide; it’s also about pushing the wheelchair. Oh, and the term ‘acting as lovers’ might not be clear, but I’ve included a separate clause in the contract, so give it a read.”
Ignoring Yuriya, who was talking nonsense while looking at me, I spoke in a tone that was both assertive and unfamiliar to her.
“Yuriya, you look much better when you smile like that.”
“…!”
Her pumpkin-colored eyes widened.
“Is this what you wanted?”
Upon hearing my continued words, Yuriya soon burst into a sly laugh.
Crooked eyebrows and crimson lips.
It wasn’t pretense.
“It’s accurate.”
*
Kwoong. The door closes again.
I step out of the room, holding a copy of the contract.
I was worried that I might get lost inside the mansion if there was no guide, but fortunately, that concern was put to rest.
The housekeeper was standing near the entrance, as composed as ever.
“I will guide you.”
“Ah, yes.”
We cross the mansion.
If there’s anything strange, it’s that the housekeeper’s footsteps were more leisurely compared to when he approached earlier.
It seemed deliberate, the way he deliberately took slow steps.
Without a doubt.
“…Miss Eugene Oslo, there’s something I would like to discuss regarding the contract.”
The housekeeper opened his mouth as if he had already heard the circumstances.
“Miss is in poor health.”
“I am aware.”
“You know that her legs are not in good condition, right?”
That’s correct.
The housekeeper’s words, spoken in a sincere voice, surprised me quite a bit.
“It’s not just a mild lower body paralysis. She also suffers from severe anemia and various minor ailments. There are times when she faints if she overexerts herself, so please familiarize yourself with the location of the infirmary within the mansion, and we will also provide you with several types of emergency medicine. And…”
I recalled the events from a few days before the exam.
The sight of me sprawled on the street.
Perhaps I didn’t just fall; maybe I momentarily lost consciousness.
Up to this point, the content was somewhat shocking, but Hanoyang’s lips continued to spill words one after another.
“We also have a favor to ask.”
“…A favor?”
“Top scorer in the entrance exam. Moreover, there are rumors that you possess exceptional magical casting abilities, manipulating the whole body rapidly.”
Chills ran down my spine.
How much information have they gathered about me?
The next moment, Hanoyang stopped walking and spoke while looking at me.
“Miss, it seems you’ve lost interest in magic. Despite having excellent theoretical skills to the point of considering early admission, your spellcasting is awkward enough to occasionally fail even with basic Type 1 magic.”
“…”
“Please rediscover your interest in magic until the end of the contract. I promise an additional two thousand pounds.”
“Whose request is this?”
After a brief pause, Hanoyang answered quietly.
“It’s from the head of the family.”
I sighed openly.
It wasn’t a matter of deciding whether to accept or not. It was a form where additional payment would be made upon achievement.
However, contrary to Louis’s expectations, there was no romance; only a financial relationship was laid out before me.
As I climbed up the earthen path, trying to guess the reason, I came to realize one thing.
Despite the heavy rain, I didn’t feel the cold. It meant that the weather had become significantly warmer.
It was too late to exchange affectionate feelings in the ordinary way, riding the current of the season.
It was the tail end of spring.
