Chapter 9

For the past few days, I had been staying at an inn in the capital, so I thought I would be staying at the inn again today, but we headed to a large mansion.

When I got out of the carriage and opened my mouth in surprise, I was amazed at the size of the Middleton family's mansion, which was only used for staying in the capital.

If I had been overwhelmed by the Middleton family's level of wealth, Olivia would come running from the front door, calling my name.

"Tori"

As always, the beautiful Olivia.

Just being near her, she smelled so good that I couldn't help but sniff the air, and Olivia tilted her head.

"Is something wrong?"

"Olivia, you smell like flowers."

"Perhaps because I was watering the flowers until just now."

Olivia's refined laugh.

"I was worried about you, Tori, since we left without even seeing you. John said he had given the staff proper instructions, but I hope everything went well?"

Although a lot had happened, I nodded, and Olivia looked relieved.

"Mother, it's been a while."

Olivia hugged Oliver and Brian, who got out of the carriage with me.

Then another carriage arrived a bit later.

"Welcome back, sir."

"Ah, I'm back, Olivia."

They weren't just hugging; they were even kissing.

Brian, who saw my wide eyes, took my hand.

"Those two are always like that, so it's best not to mind."

With a wry smile, Brian led me into the mansion, where John greeted us.

"Welcome back, Master Brian."

"Ah."

When I nodded to John's smile, for some reason, Brian's grip on my hand tightened.

I wondered what was wrong, but Brian's face looked the same as always.

"Tori, you'll use the same room as me."

"Huh?"

"Do you mind?"

Shaking my head, I said, "Then we'll be together," and Brian picked me up.

"Mother will spend time with Father, so John, please help Oliver with his bath."

"Understood."

Brian carried me up the stairs quickly and entered a room with a blue door.

"This is my room. You can relax here as if it were your own."

I thought I couldn't relax in someone else's room, but perhaps due to the fatigue from the journey, I fell asleep before I knew it. When I woke up, Brian was smiling and fixing my messy hair.

"Tori, you can't leave my side today."

"Huh?"

"Can you promise me that?"

I wondered why I couldn't leave Brian's side, but I thought he might not want to say or couldn't say the reason. I nodded slightly at Brian's serious expression.

"Good, you're a good girl. Let's head to the dining room for dinner."

Holding my hand firmly, I followed him.

The Middleton family was gathered in the dining room.

Paul was the only one missing because he had gone to the knights' headquarters.

So, the entire earl's family was here.

My seat was between Brian and Oliver, and the gentlemanly Brian even pulled out my chair for me.

When the meal started, I realized that everyone, being nobles, ate very elegantly.

I tried to mimic them, but my four-year-old hands were clumsy and I couldn't eat well. I had trouble cutting the meat, but the considerate Brian cut it into small pieces for me, and Oliver wiped my mouth when it got dirty.

"Hehe, Oliver, you're like an older brother to Tori."

"Tori gets dirty easily, so I have to be there to help."

Everyone probably thought Oliver looked cute and honest with his proud expression.

The earl's family seemed to have a very good relationship, and it was a happy family gathering.

I felt warm in the harmonious atmosphere.

But then, out of nowhere, I found myself in another chaotic situation.

"Put down the knife, John."

Indeed, to everyone's surprise, John, who was serving the meal, suddenly took out a knife and took Oliver hostage.

"Finally, I and my lady—"

John was muttering something, and he was frankly scary.

"Calm down."

The earl's words only made John angrier.

"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up."

"John, what's wrong?"

Olivia's words made John pause for a moment.

"I love my lady... Gah!"

John started to speak, but Oliver, who was supposed to be the hostage, grabbed John's arm and threw him.

Brian and the earl restrained the falling John.

As for Oliver:

"The juice from the knife kept splashing on me! It was too dirty to bear."

He wiped it off with a napkin. Truly, Oliver.

Later, I heard that John loved Olivia. John was content as long as Olivia was happy. But one day, seeing Olivia cry because her husband had cheated, he strongly believed that everything causing her tears was wrong.

The earl, who might have cheated, his mistress, and their child.

"When Tori first came to the mansion, John was the one who told me that you were after the inheritance and trying to destroy the Middleton family from the inside."

Brian said, and Oliver added:

"I also heard from John that you were the reason Mother was crying. The maids said they heard the rumors from John too."

Olivia was deeply shocked by this.

Being betrayed by John, whom she had trusted for so long, was understandably painful. She came to apologize to me for what had happened.

"I'm sorry, Tori, for making you go through such a hard time."

"No, I was fine, really."

"How can you be fine when you were made to sleep in a storage room?"

The beautiful lady's eyes welled up with tears, and I panicked.

"Um, the futon was very comfortable, and the food was plentiful, warm, and delicious."

I tried to reassure her, but tears still fell.

"Also, Oliver gave me a bath. He made me smooth and shiny, and I smelled so good, which made me very happy."

"Oliver gave Tori a bath?"

Uh-oh.

I realized I might have said something wrong when Olivia, who was skillfully laughing and angry at the same time, called Oliver's name and left.