Chapter 44

"Clearly, they're following us."

Mary glared at the carriage that was closely trailing behind them, muttering with exasperation. The carriage behind them was undoubtedly from the Albert family, and more specifically, it belonged to her brothers. Just when she thought they had left yesterday, talking about frogs and lizards, they were now chasing after them. It was clear that they had planned to follow from yesterday.

Mary had hoped that they would be entrusted with the household affairs while she and the others were away, but it seemed that was not the case at all. Her faint hopes and her brothers' reputation crumbled with a loud thud in her mind.

She regretted having sent Roberto to search. If he had stayed, he might have stopped her brothers' actions. Or perhaps, after deliberating whether to stop his master's foolishness or chase after his even more foolish younger brothers, he would have casually climbed into the carriage and followed them. Mary thought the latter was more likely, as she relied on Roberto but also considered him part of the trio of her brothers.

"Really, are they treating this like a trip just because we're looking for Anna's house?"

"Surely Lord Lang and Lord Lucian are worried. So don't worry, Anna. They definitely didn't bring any frogs or lizards with them."

Adi comforted Anna, who was clinging tightly to him. She looked frightened, muttering, "I hate frogs... I'm scared of lizards..." Her pitiful appearance made Mary feel uncomfortable just looking at her. Mary clenched her fists tightly and declared with determination, "Leave it to me!"

"Whether it's frogs or lizards, I'll drive them away...!"

"Really...?"

"Really! If they come, I'll just pluck them and toss them out the carriage window!"

Mary declared confidently, and Anna thought for a moment...

"That's cruel..."

and hung her head. She disliked frogs and lizards, but she couldn't bear to throw them out the window. Even at a slow speed, being thrown from the carriage would be a matter of life and death for the small reptiles. Seeing Anna's pity, Mary, confused, said in a pitiful voice, "What do you want me to do...?"

She had volunteered to deal with the reptiles to reassure the frightened Anna, but she hadn't expected Anna to feel pity for them. Mary hadn't overcome her fear of frogs and lizards either. If her brothers had brought reptiles in the carriage and Anna wasn't there, she would have screamed. Or perhaps she would have lamented their lack of growth.

However, she couldn't retract her statement. As Mary was at a loss, Alicia smiled and called out to Anna.

"Let's return the frogs and lizards to the Albert family's mansion. There's a garden and a fountain there, so they can live comfortably."

"Really? You won't throw them out?"

"Don't worry, I won't. But we need to get permission from the Albert family."

Alicia deliberately turned to Mary with a look of "What should we do?" Mary's eyes widened in surprise. Suddenly being put on the spot, she blurted out, "Me?" But when Adi nudged her with his elbow and smiled wryly, she understood what Alicia was getting at. Patrick was also smiling wryly and encouraging her with his gaze. Anna looked up at Mary timidly, her rust-colored eyes pleading. Her hair, the same color as a cat's fur, fluttered softly.

How adorable, Mary thought, considering Anna's concern for the nonexistent frogs and lizards.

"Can the frogs and lizards live at your house, big sister?"

"Sure, why not? I could even have a frog statue made for the fountain."

Mary declared confidently, and after a moment's thought, Anna firmly rejected the idea. It seemed she didn't like the statue. Mary grumbled, "You're so picky," and Anna giggled, covering her mouth with her hands. She looked like a child. It seemed she was teasing Mary now, and her changing attitude was disconcerting.

They continued their conversation peacefully as the carriage moved on. Anna gradually opened up, sometimes playing hand games with Alicia and even talking to Mary and the others. She still clung to Adi, calling him "Daddy," but her wariness of the surroundings had disappeared.

"Oops, I lost again. This is the first time I've lost a series of games."

Patrick, who had lost to Anna in a hand game, seemed to be struggling. It was probably the first time he had lost a series of games in his life.

"You're no good, Patrick. You lose because you try to come up with a complex strategy for a simple hand game."

"I don't want to hear that from someone who tries to turn it into a psychological battle."

They criticized each other's mistakes, and Mary and Patrick smiled at each other. What a beautiful smile from such a handsome couple. It was like a painting, though in reality, they were competing for the bottom spot. Alicia and Anna laughed at their exchange.

As for Adi...

"Daddy, are you okay...?"

"I'm not your daddy, and I'm not doing well... But don't worry, you can keep playing..."

He leaned against the window, looking pale and distant. Clearly, he was suffering from motion sickness. Mary and Patrick, still smiling beautifully, nodded at each other. "Adi is a no-show," "Adi is the worst," they agreed. It was unfair, but as representatives of a noble family, they couldn't allow themselves to be the worst, even in a child's hand game.

They played hand games and chatted idly. After a while, the carriage began to slow down. Mary patted Adi's shoulder, saying, "Adi, we're here." Anna, mimicking Mary, also patted Adi's arm. What a kind child.

The carriage came to a gentle stop, and everyone turned their gaze to the window.

A vast field of flowers spread out before them. The colorful flowers, illuminated by the sunlight, sparkled, and the gentle breeze carried their fragrance into the carriage. Mary sighed in admiration at the beautiful scene. It was a different kind of beauty from the perfectly maintained gardens of the Albert family, where the flowers bloomed freely.

Mary had visited this place a few times. The colors changed with the seasons, and because it was natural, the same scenery never appeared twice. She was always captivated by it, no matter how many times she visited. But now was not the time for that. She asked Anna to show her the postcard. From the pochette on her shoulder, Anna carefully took out the postcard, which undoubtedly depicted this very flower field, though the flowers were different.

"Anna, you've been to this flower field, haven't you?"

"Yes... But since Daddy wasn't there, I was taken back in the carriage."

Anna clung to Adi, perhaps remembering the time she had come to the flower field alone. It was a beautiful place, but for a little girl searching for her father, it would have been impossible to appreciate its beauty. Her heart would have been too preoccupied.

Thinking of this, Mary said, "We might remember something, so let's take a look around."

"That's fine, but is it okay for the young lady? We should leave as soon as possible..."

"Unless someone can continue the journey in the carriage, it's a different story."

"...I request a temporary break."

Adi, looking pale, asked for a break. He stumbled out, and Mary, shrugging, supported his right arm. Anna clung to his left side, not hiding but supporting him in her own way. She reached out to pat Adi's arm and looked around. Spotting a rest area with a table where a few people were sitting, she pulled Adi's arm, saying, "Let's go there."

To an outsider, they might look like a wife and daughter supporting a motion-sick husband and father. Mary smiled wryly as she supported Adi, walking with him.

She decided to ignore Patrick, who was happily leading Alicia away, saying, "Then, let's go together." After all, he had accompanied them this far, so she should at least pretend not to see their date in the flower field.

Of course, she also ignored Lang and Lucian, who dramatically got out of the trailing carriage, saying, "Oh, Mary! What a coincidence to meet you here!!" and "Surely, God guided us to meet here..."

She had enough to deal with already.