Chapter 30 (2/2)
”How am I supposed to do that?!”
Addy, about halfway through his road to total despair, forcefully ended the conversation with a rebounding, 'We're done talking here!' and began walking in manner that suggested he wanted to high-tail it. Mary, on the other hand, was the very picture of confusion as question marks bulleted from her head, but she nevertheless followed after her attendant with more than a bit of haste.
She slid the bracelet to her wrist… then rethought this, slid it off, and put it into her pocket.
”…Aren't you going to put that on?”
”Please, why would Mary Albert ever wear something so low in quality? I might as well smear the whole Albert family with mud while I'm at it.”
”So… I'm guessing that means you don't need it? Should I throw it away?”
”There's no way Mary Albert could ever neglect something gifted to her by someone of common blood. I might as well claw away at the Albert family legacy.”
”Hmhm…”
Noticing the contradiction in Mary's speech despite her tone, the corners of Addy's mouth curled up in a smile. It was at odds with the almost reproachful glare she sent his way. The way she both blamed and sulked with an expression so out of place for the daughter to the Albert household made Addy say, 'Same as always, Madam' before he lost his hold on the chuckles that burst out.
”What now? If there's something you've got to say, say it.”
”Oh, it's nothing. I just thought it might be all good and well if you just kept it in your pocket, after all. For now, at least.”
Mary wrinkled her eyebrows in confusion, unsure of what he meant by 'for now', or anything he'd said for that matter, but still brought a hand to her pocket.
At the small sound of two beads clattering against each there, Mary, seemingly in low spirits, pouted and twisted her lips.
A new feeling welled up in her chest, an odd mixture of shame and unease that she had never felt before, something that was keeping the thoughts in her head from flowing right. It felt as if some part of her was happy, but another just gnawed at her with dissatisfaction.
She could find no words that might have expressed the strange, restless feeling, and the only thing that remained clear in her vision was Addy as he laughed, the one person to whom her wild gesticulations might have made any sense. Then again, it wasn't as if she had many people she could talk to.
No, if the daughter of the Albert household was involved… then there was surely no one who wouldn't be happy to share their wisdom. Even those ladies among her peers who burned with envy would heed her parents and lend an ear, for the sake of their own houses.
Mary was a daughter of the Albert family. There were heaps upon heaps of people who would beg for a chance to speak to her, to get into her good graces. Once they would give their advice, the Albert household was indebted to them, and they would willing speak to and offer whatever advice Mary would deem necessary.
The point was, if the daughter of the Albert house claimed to be suffering under the thrall of some unknown sensation, then you could toss those lady peers right out the window, because even the most renowned of scholars would likely come to her aid.
But for whatever reason, that line of logic seemed far from applicable this time around.
It wasn't the consultation of the Albert girl that was needed… but then, what was?
The uneasiness built up even further in Mary's chest as she realised she had no clue what she should be doing, then simply filled out out her cheeks and let the empty boxes in Addy's hand sway.
”Whoa, please, stop that! That's dangerous!”
”I'm not shaking this thing because it's dangerous! Wow, even your calming expressions are getting me riled up!”
”That's like the next level of venting anger… Although I'd say I'm pretty composed, M'lady! At least compared to you!”
”Just shut up and let me vent!”
With an exasperated call, Mary shook the boxes with all her might. The top began to waver, more than was needed. Good old empty boxes. Mary just had to shake one to make them all ripple. Realising how dire the situation was, Addy called for her to stop.
Amusing as he was in his panic, he provided Mary with a halfway decent distraction. But she still noted the heaviness in her chest, and breathed out a prolonged sigh.
”This is probably because I didn't follow up on that delicious croquette store. Yes, that has to be it.”
And so she came to her contrived, incredibly forced conclusion.
It was a bit of a crude postulation, at least for a lady of the n.o.ble Albert house, but that same girl had… rather, Mary Albert had… gained a friend, a legitimate friend for the first time… and that's what had her on the ropes. Her conclusion being a bit rough around the edges was something she couldn't help at this point.
Addy, being the only one to grasp her circ.u.mstances as well as whatever it was that left her so restless on the inside, simply continued chuckling. He then turned to his Lady, who was holding on to her sulky expression, and told her with some mixture of ridicule in his tone that she'd certainly feel better after some good croquettes.
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