TNBTW | Episode 42

“Thank you. For paying attention to what I said. You must have been busy with all your work, but thanks to you, I had a wonderful time.”

Despite the silence, she smiled brightly, her expression as clear and radiant as ever. It made it all the more difficult to look at her directly. Whenever he met that gaze, his thoughts seemed to falter, refusing to function properly. It was likely because he wasn’t used to it.

As was his habit, Skyle lowered his gaze, but then, he froze. Edith’s face, which should have been out of sight, appeared right before him.

Momentarily flustered, Skyle realized, albeit belatedly, that she had followed his gaze, moving accordingly. The already petite woman had even bent her knees, tilting her head upward to look at him.

His reflection was caught in her eyes, which resembled delicate blades of grass. He had never seen himself looking quite this foolish before. Only then did Skyle snap back to his senses.

“What… are you doing?”

“Skyle, do you know you have a habit? Whenever you’re embarrassed, you always look downward.”

She whispered the words as if sharing a secret before breaking into soft laughter. Her round eyes curved into crescents, and a deep dimple formed on one cheek. The sight imprinted itself in his mind, as if etched onto his retina.

Skyle furrowed his brows. The space around Edith seemed strangely bright. The light couldn’t possibly be shining on her alone, yet it felt as though it was.

“Skyle?”

Noticing how he had frozen in place, Edith cautiously called his name, but Skyle couldn’t answer right away. There were countless objects around them, yet only she remained illuminated in his vision. Perhaps, extreme fatigue was taking its toll.

“…I should get some rest.”

Had there been an outbreak in Merlot? He hadn’t heard of such a thing, but it wouldn’t hurt to investigate. If there were any peculiar symptoms, he ought to examine them thoroughly.

Widening his stride, Skyle moved away from her. Yet, no matter how far he walked, the lingering image of Edith refused to leave his mind.

***

 Chapter 6. Friend or Rival

“Wow!”

As Edith stepped past the open-air terrace, an exclamation of wonder escaped her lips. The moment she entered the sunlit interior, her admiration only deepened.

Lush green grass swayed gently in the spring breeze, stretching out before a vast, shimmering lake. The scenery beyond the café’s grand glass windows was a masterpiece in itself, as if lifted straight from a painting.

This establishment had recently gained popularity among nobles and wealthy commoners alike. It was one of the many ventures run by the Viscountess Standen, an intimate, villa-style estate that had been converted into a café.

“My goodness, Madame. This place is absolutely stunning.”

Once again, Edith expressed her admiration. She had seen many cafés like this back in Korea, but here, it was a first.

After all, it hadn’t been long since restaurants and cafés had begun to separate in this world. There still weren’t many variations to speak of, but this place stood out distinctly.

It seemed perfectly suited for quiet, private gatherings with family or close acquaintances. Even inviting important guests here would leave a favorable impression.

With such a serene atmosphere, how could one’s heart not soften?

“I was quite concerned about the distance from the city, but thankfully, many people have been willing to visit.”

Though she maintained a modest demeanor, the Viscountess Standen did not diminish her own success, undeniably a trait of a seasoned businesswoman. It was almost hard to believe that this was the same woman who had crumbled in front of her daughter.

Yet both were facets of the same Viscountess Standen. A successful entrepreneur, now striving to build a successful relationship with her child.

Edith wished to help her in any way she could, to ensure that the Viscountess wouldn’t have to sacrifice either.

“Thank you for inviting me to such a wonderful place.”

“I should be the one thanking you for accepting my invitation. I would have liked to welcome you to my estate instead, but I don’t believe the time is right just yet.”

Hearing the tinge of regret in her voice, Edith shook her head.

It had been her who advised the Viscountess to ensure that, at the very least, their home remained a sanctuary for Evelyn, whose innate anxieties ran deep.

She knew it was no easy task. In many cases, an invitation to one’s estate carried significance far beyond mere social calls. For a businesswoman like the Viscountess, it was a matter that required careful thought.

Nevertheless, she had followed Edith’s advice. A duchess she may be, but they had only met once at a ball, and the social circles were not particularly kind in their regard toward her. For the Viscountess to take the words of such a person to heart, it could not have been easy.

Still, she had done it. Solely for the sake of her beloved daughter. Indeed, she was a woman who had single-handedly upheld her household and elevated her family’s standing.

“You’re doing wonderfully, Madame. I know you’re giving your all for Evelyn. Truly, you’re doing a remarkable job.”

Edith offered her heartfelt encouragement. She knew a few simple words wouldn’t change much, but if they could serve as even the smallest comfort during the long wait for Evelyn to come around, she would be glad.

“And you don’t need to feel sorry. If we are friends, then something like this is only natural.”

A little hesitant, Edith mustered the courage to say it, recalling the letter the Viscountess had sent her.

“That’s true. We are friends.”

For a brief moment, the Viscountess’ eyes widened in surprise. But soon, a gentler, more at-ease smile graced her lips.

As a warm sense of camaraderie settled between them, the tea and light desserts they had ordered arrived. Only then did Edith realize that a separate preparation area had been set up at the back of the villa.

With guests and staff entirely separated, they could converse in peace. It was evident that the Viscountess had put a great deal of thought into the business before opening it.

“Evelyn is doing well. There was a time when, if I forced her to go out, she would be too exhausted to even get out of bed the next day. But now, that doesn’t happen anymore. It makes me realize just how much strain I had been putting on her…”

As they sipped their tea, the Viscountess finally broached the subject. As expected, it was about Evelyn.

Sensitive and anxious children often slept for long hours—it was a form of escape.

For Evelyn, whose fears revolved particularly around social interactions, such days must have left her utterly drained, causing her to sleep even more deeply.

Feigning the act of lifting her teacup, Edith discreetly opened Evelyn’s status window once more. Though only a few weeks had passed, the child had shown remarkable improvement.

In truth, it was rare for a child’s condition to improve drastically through counseling or treatment alone. Change typically unfolds over a long period, varying in both degree and pace.

For such positive progress to occur so quickly meant that the Viscountess had devoted an extraordinary amount of effort and, at the same time, that Evelyn had likely recognized and accepted her mother’s sincerity.

“I wouldn’t presume to say that Evelyn completely understands your feelings, Madame, but I don’t think she would want you to grieve over it. What matters most is that she feels at ease right now.”

She was a kind-hearted child—one who, despite her fear of strangers, had struggled to comfort her mother when she sensed her sadness. Surely, she wouldn’t want the Viscountess to carry any guilt.

“I always find solace in your words, Duchess. Though you are younger than me, I feel there is much I can learn from you.”

“Oh my, I had assumed we were of the same age!”

“In that case, perhaps you should be the one managing the business instead of me.”

With her playful remark, the subdued atmosphere lightened once more. The conversation drifted into casual, lighthearted chatter, and as it neared its end, the Viscountess hesitated before carefully steering the discussion toward a new subject.

“In truth, the reason I invited you here today is not because of Evelyn.”

Caught off guard by the unexpected admission, Edith blinked in surprise but decided to listen first.

“Then may I ask what the reason is?”

“I must apologize to you, but I once spoke of you to someone I am quite close to. They, too, have been struggling with concerns regarding their child.”

Ah, so that’s what this was.

Edith immediately understood where this was going. To put it simply, it was a referral, like those kindhearted individuals who, upon finding a good counseling center or teacher, spread the word among their acquaintances.

“And upon hearing about you, they expressed a strong desire to meet you.”

Much like the Viscountess herself had done!