The next day at dawn, Mikhail, Igor, and Yuri departed as early as the morning light. A number of servants, so large it would be no exaggeration to say it was all of them, came out to see him off.
Contrary to their initial nervousness, the man who would become their new master was a refined, pleasant, and generous person. Perhaps because Yuri and Igor had let it slip the day before that the Sokolov estate required more servants, the staff soon began to harbor hopes that if Elizabeth were to go to Sokolov, they too would be able to follow.
The Countess was still nowhere to be seen among those bidding him farewell. However, this time, a perfectly dressed Elizabeth and a sleepy-eyed Catherine, blinking against the morning, saw him off.
"Then, I ask that you wait for me."
Before boarding the carriage, Mikhail kissed the back of Elizabeth’s hand. It was a very brief kiss, but it was enough time for Elizabeth’s face to flush and for the servants to turn their heads away for a moment. After releasing Elizabeth’s hand, he kissed Catherine’s as well.
The maids looked at the young ladies with envious eyes, seeing a gesture reserved only for the ladies of Lauderdale. They thought to themselves that such treatment was only natural for their mistresses. Mikhail, having greeted the two sisters with courtesy, bowed his head slightly.
"Edenhurst was a truly interesting and beautiful place. I hope it remains unchanged until I return."
"Of course. Edenhurst will always welcome you."
At Elizabeth’s words, Mikhail offered a soft smile and boarded the carriage. Soon, with the crack of a whip, the carriage began to move. The servants remained bowed until Mikhail’s carriage disappeared into the distance. Only when it had finally vanished did they lift their heads.
"Whew..."
Everyone let out a long breath, as if by mutual agreement. It was as if they had been pressed down by something. As Elizabeth and Catherine went back inside, the servants began to chatter excitedly.
The atmosphere of the manor, which had been heavy before their arrival, had changed significantly. While it was partly due to the Countess’s orders, none of the servants at Edenhurst wore black anymore. And they would not wear it in the future, either. Now, the joyous occasion of Elizabeth’s marriage awaited them.
"I want to go to Sokolov. Yuri said that Mikhail’s estate in Sokolov is filled with gold. Not only are there ornaments from Ils, but it’s also filled with flowers shipped from Flandre every week. Even in the middle of winter!"
In Novgod, flowers that could decorate a manor in winter were the ultimate luxury. Because it was such a cold country, there were no flowers that grew in winter, and since flowers withered quickly, they had to be purchased anew constantly. Yet, to think they would send ships all the way to Flandre just for decorations.
In the eyes of the servants, who had thought Edenhurst the wealthiest and most beautiful of estates, the peeling paint on the manor walls suddenly looked glaringly obvious today.
The servants spent the entire day talking about the wages at the Sokolov estate that Yuri had subtly hinted at. It was not only the servants who were in high spirits. As Mikhail’s visit and his meeting with Elizabeth had proceeded even more smoothly than she had hoped, the Countess wrote letters to her acquaintances and relatives in the capital. At the same time, she began to purchase items from the capital that she had been unable to afford for some time.
*It seems Elizabeth has met a good match and will be married soon. When the time comes, would you be able to attend?*
Those who received the Countess’s letter inquired about who had visited Edenhurst, and upon hearing the name Mikhail Sokolov, they wrote back without delay.
No matter how much he was at odds with the Empress Dowager, everyone knew Mikhail would win. Besides, if he married Elizabeth, would he not formally become the Count of Lauderdale? Then he would stand firmly at the center of power.
Replies that had rarely come despite her sending several letters now returned quickly, and the owners of the high-end boutiques in the capital, summoned by the Countess, arrived with several wagons loaded with the most expensive and fashionable items of the year. For the first time in a while, Edenhurst was bustling with people.
Because of this, everyone was so busy that they forgot. They forgot the fact that Anastasia was still in a corner room on the third floor. It was only after another week had passed that the Countess remembered Anastasia’s existence and furrowed her brow.
"I had forgotten about that insolent thing."
She had almost made a fool of herself in front of Mikhail Sokolov. Fortunately, she had reached an understanding with all the servants, including the head maid. That she wandered about because her mind was not sound. That she was practically an imbecile, so she could not be sent anywhere and was being cared for here.
*It is fortunate that Mikhail Sokolov didn’t say anything. He hasn’t really mentioned her since then, either.*
At first, he had held her and even used his own room to look after Anastasia. That was why the Countess had been forced to pretend to take care of her, even going so far as to create a fake room for the creature on the third floor of the main building.
But since then, Mikhail had not sought Anastasia out. He had only said he would have his doctor send medicine. Even on the last day, he had said he would like to see her at dinner out of courtesy, but when he didn’t come, he hadn’t said a word about it.
*He never even went to see her.*
The maid assigned to Anastasia had said that Mikhail had never once visited. At that, the Countess felt relieved. Indeed, Anastasia was someone who feared people. She was even more at a loss when the person was a man. That ignorant thing followed only the words of God taught by her father in her childhood, so if she were ever left alone in a room with a man, she would surely have shrieked in terror.
The Countess recalled the sight of Anastasia in the third-floor room. Emaciated, unable to even meet her eyes properly. Yet, even in her wretched state, the Countess knew. The fact that her beauty had bloomed even more than in her childhood. It was only hidden by her hollow eyes, sunken cheeks, and bizarre attire.
"The guests have left, so I must send her away."
Because her son had cherished her, she had kept her tucked away in a corner of the manor and occasionally reminisced about her son. But was it not time to tidy things up?
Even the Countess, who would usually have shed tears thinking of Edward, did not feel as emotionally overwhelmed as before, now that she thought her daughter could reclaim the glory of the past.
The Countess pondered how to get rid of Anastasia cleanly. Considering the eyes of others, she thought it would be best to marry her off to a suitable man who matched her station and then send her away. The Countess thought of those coming and going in the nearby village. One of the Village Head’s sons was said to be a simpleton; perhaps she should send her there.
At that moment, an unexpected answer came from Elizabeth, whom she had thought would agree.
"Leave her be."
"...Elizabeth?"
"I don't want to cause any unnecessary noise by casting her out right before such a good event. There is no major problem with dealing with it slowly, so just leave her for now. Besides, guests will be visiting for a while, and there might be people who would create bad rumors if we cast her out now."
"...That is true."
There would certainly be those who did not look favorably upon this marriage. Besides, was Mikhail not in the middle of a confrontation with the Empress Dowager?
At the thought of the Empress Dowager, a smile appeared on the Countess’s face.
*That damned bitch.*
The vulgar words, unbecoming of a noblewoman, vanished in the Countess’s throat. She was the woman who had deliberately sent her son to the military. The woman who had taken Edward hostage and slowly drained the wealth of the Lauderdale family. Had she not snatched away everything, from the beautiful beach villa to the estates that brought in large annual profits? And yet, after holding onto him until the end, she had finally killed Edward.
The primary reason the Countess had contacted Mikhail was to save the cornered Lauderdale family, but the desire to drive the Empress Dowager into a predicament was also a significant factor.
*Mikhail Sokolov knows that favor well.*
Now, he would soar high with the wings of Lauderdale. He must never forget that it was they who had attached those wings to him.
***
By the Countess’s order, Anastasia’s room was moved again. She had thought she might return to the basement as before, but instead of a corner room in the basement, she was given the best room in the area where the kitchen staff stayed.
Unlike the previous room, this was a semi-basement where the ground was visible, and it had a large window that let in light, so it did not feel like a basement. The wallpaper was properly applied, and there was furniture, however modest.
Anastasia, bundled up in layers of clothes as before, began to organize the clothes she had brought down from the third-floor room. After checking to see if anyone was outside the window and confirming that the door was firmly locked, Anastasia reached under the bed. Her fingertips touched a soft box. A moment later, Anastasia pulled out a red box and held it to her chest.
Mikhail had told her to open the box after he left. So, it was only the next day, after he had departed, that Anastasia opened it. Inside was a pair of leather shoes. Shoes that were clearly new, never worn by anyone.
They were made of such soft leather that she dared not even try them on. Had she ever received anything new in her life? Not when she lived with her father, and not even after coming to Edenhurst had Anastasia ever received anything new. Even when the Count was alive, the things handed to Anastasia were always just the things that Elizabeth or Catherine could no longer use. At that time, the Count had said:
"When the time comes, I will give you everything."
Anastasia knew exactly when that time was. He had always whispered it to her. But the time he spoke of had passed, the Count was dead, and she held nothing in her hands. She thought it was for the best. Anastasia had never waited for that time, nor had she ever wished for anything.
Anastasia shook her head violently, trying to clear the image of the dead man from her mind. Then, she carefully cradled the shoes in her arms and stroked them. The small ornaments attached to the shoes swayed under her touch.
Holding the shoes to her chest, Anastasia beamed. She was so happy. Over the past few weeks, she had filled her eyes with the beautiful scenery of Edenhurst and enjoyed the beautiful room. Furthermore, she had received a gift as proof that what she had seen was not a dream. Sitting alone in her semi-basement room, Anastasia wore the brightest smile of her life.
"I love it so much..."
The emotion she couldn't fully swallow spilled from her lips.
Anastasia thought of the new master of Edenhurst who had given her all of this. She was ready to respect, love, and serve Mikhail anew. That was why, like everyone else in the manor, she hoped for Mikhail’s swift return.
However, two weeks later, the atmosphere of the manor began to change.
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