Side Story 2. Our Home

“Miss Lierre!”

“Yes!”

The woman spun around at the voice calling her. The end of her braided hair couldn’t keep up with her body’s rotation speed and slapped her neck with a smack.

Ann Lierre swept her bright blonde hair that tickled her neck back behind her. As expected from the warm voice, the person who called her familiarly was the laundry lady.

“What are you doing standing under a tree dripping with water? Come inside.”

“I was taking a walk since the rain stopped. I should go in soon since it’s almost time for the young master to wake up.”

“The days have gotten much longer. The sun is already this high. I think there was a delicious smell coming from the kitchen?”

Ann Lierre smiled broadly. Talk of meals always made her happy.

“The food at the ducal residence is always delicious.”

It was one day in late autumn a few years ago when Duke Chesterfield called her back. She couldn’t find any trace of his past sharp appearance in the man who politely extended his hand in a handshake, saying he was sorry for rudely dismissing her.

It was the duchess who gave her the answer when she was confused about which was the duke’s true appearance. She had been staring intently at the duke throughout his greeting with Ann, and as soon as her turn came, she warmly grasped both of Ann’s hands like an irreplaceable friend.

And Ann clearly saw it — the venom rising in Duke Chesterfield’s eyes the moment they held hands.

Ann, who had been deceived by his gentle attitude in front of his wife, quickly reached a conclusion. Duke Chesterfield was indeed a scary person. And at the same time, he performed the role of perfect protector for the young master.

Marsha smiled brightly.

“Has the young master finished writing his reflection essay?”

“Barely. I don’t know if His Grace will approve of it though.”

Just the day before, Percy had been running down the corridor when he stepped on the bare wooden floor and slipped. He managed to avoid falling by grabbing onto a chest of drawers attached to the wall, but the large vase on top of the chest wasn’t as lucky as Percy.

When Ann and Celian rushed over at the crashing sound, the duke had already arrived at the scene. With the child standing in front of him with his head hung low, the duke continued his gentle lecture.

Though she was also at a loss, Ann thought the duke’s lecture didn’t contain brotherly affection. But she definitely felt his sense of responsibility as a guardian.

Ann bid Marsha a good day and stretched lightly.

It was time to go have a delicious breakfast.

***

Bright sunlight streamed through the windows, and the savory smell of bread tickled their noses. Light smiles floated on the faces of those sitting around the dining table in comfortable clothes……

……or not. Celian poked Izer in the ribs with her elbow.

“Izer Chesterfield, soften your expression.”

“……”

It was no use. Celian deliberately made a clattering sound as she put down her fork. At the noise from his left, he turned his expressionless face toward his wife, then saw the hand that had disappeared from the table and his face hardened even more.

“Lian, eat more.”

“Someone’s making such a scary face that I can’t eat. I have no appetite.”

“……Don’t say strange things and eat.”

“Would you be okay if I got indigestion and collapsed?”

“……”

His black eyebrows twitched, then his wolf-like cold eyes became gentle as if asking what the problem was. Miss Lierre, who had been at a loss, sighed in relief.

Celian picked up her fork again as a reward for her husband’s softened gaze. She seemed to understand why Izer had threatened Celian by using his own health as hostage.

“Izer, it’s just one broken vase. Percy is reflecting too. You should also lighten up and forgive Percy.”

“Can you say that after seeing the state of his reflection essay?”

“Not everyone in the world writes as well as you do.”

As soon as Celian retorted, Izer’s lips clamped shut like a clam. The slight upturn of his mouth corners was evident.

The morning’s cold war ended there for now. After finishing their meal, Izer and Celian moved to the second-floor living room. Percy, who had cleaned his plate despite his upset feelings, disappeared to his room with Miss Lierre.

Celian spoke to her husband following behind in the sunlight with a cheerful tone, pushing aside the morning’s awkward atmosphere.

“It’s sunny as if there was never a storm. Once the roads are cleared up a bit, we could go out……”

“It’s not about penmanship, Lian.”

“……Huh?”

Celian realized Izer had brought up that topic again. Her husband’s eyes were serious as she turned halfway around to face him.

“The letters got bigger toward the bottom. He used tricks to fill the required length. You know that too.”

“But Izer, asking a child to write a five-page reflection essay in one day was unreasonable. It was too much.”

“It’s not too much. Percy is nine years old now. He’s old enough to go to boarding school. We can’t coddle him forever.”

“You’re not coddling him at all. Miss Lierre is a good tutor, and Percy is a good child.”

The direction of Percy’s education was one of the elements where the couple’s opinions didn’t align. Izer, who had let the child play when he was young, had revealed his ambition to raise Percy as the finest boy in Treven as soon as Percy turned eight.

But there was someone here who could neutralize even this strict man. Behind the door Celian gently opened, a small bed was visible. The maid sitting beside the baby’s crib reading a book bowed silently to the master couple.

When entering the nursery, all adults whispered as if by agreement.

“Is she sleeping?”

“It seems so.”

Celian felt a movement behind her. It was the sound of Izer stepping forward to see the baby.

“Did she eat her soup?”

“Yes, she finished it all today too. You don’t know how gentle and lovely she is, Your Grace.”

“Did she pee too?”

“Of course. The moment she whimpered, I changed her diaper right away.”

The topic of conversation conducted in such businesslike tones, as if checking the current status of a business partner, was extremely cute.

Celian held back her laughter and looked down at the baby. She still remembered Izer’s face becoming terrifyingly grim as if Owen’s medical diagnosis was a death sentence.

“You’re pregnant. About two months, I think……”

“How do we get rid of it?”

That day Celian had a huge fight with Izer.

To her declaration that she would give birth no matter what, Izer growled that he couldn’t allow such a terrifying thing. To her hysterical cry asking if he was human for talking about killing the baby as soon as he learned of its existence, he responded that her husband was a bastard then and now.

A chill settled over the house that had been peaceful for a while. Celian packed her bags and moved to the villa. Izer, who came carrying her favorite foods and flowers, was nicely kicked out at the door. It was for the cruel reason that he might have put medicine to kill the baby in the food.

After a week of separation from Celian, Izer raised the white flag with a haggard complexion.

“I lost. Do as you want.”

If she was going to give birth, it had to be as safe and healthy as possible. From that day on, the ducal residence’s dining table was filled with foods said to be good for mothers and fetuses. Dr. Caleb’s letters that flew to their house every other day contained detailed methods for caring for expectant mothers and lists of foods Celian had particularly enjoyed eating when she was pregnant.

Although unlike the first pregnancy, which was quiet throughout, the second one frequently involved Celian rushing out of the dining room with nausea just from smelling food.

On such days, Izer would immediately put down his utensils and follow her. Bending down or kneeling became his basic posture.

Celian was too honest to lie and say she was fine to her husband, who looked like he had vomited too.

“Izer, I think one child is enough……”

Izer looked at her belly, which showed signs of swelling even though it had been only a few months, and firmly suppressed the words “let’s get rid of it right now.” Because carelessly trying to kill a healthy fetus with drugs would endanger Celian too. For that reason alone, he prayed to God every night, hoping the baby would be healthy.

“Please give me a daughter. If it’s a son, I don’t think I could look at him kindly.”

Fortunately, God heard his prayers.

Thanks to being born a daughter, Estelle Chesterfield, who received overflowing love instead of her father’s jealousy and resentment, was destined to grow up as a young lady like a white lily. Very pretty and splendid, but with a fragrance toxic enough to kill small animals.

The ‘small animals’ dying beside her would be young men, and the toxic ‘fragrance’ would be Izer Chesterfield’s murderous gaze. Anticipating the future, Bess thought her first niece’s prospects were simply pitiful.

But that was still a future more than ten years away, and the baby now was sleeping peacefully.

Celian whispered to the maid.

“Change Estelle’s clothes. The muslin dress we bought last week would be good. The beige one with purple ribbon, you know what I’m talking about, right?”

“Yes, I’ll put beige shoes on her too. I’ll dress her up very prettily, so don’t worry, my lady.”

The baby opened her sleepy eyes at the adults’ voices. Though she looked tired, unfortunately today’s nap ended here.

***

As soon as the front door opened, the fragrant smell of grass wafted in. On the left, servants were busy carrying bundles of branches the storm had broken under the gardener’s direction. There were three bags of branches that couldn’t withstand the rough spring. The grass cut this morning showed off its greenery wherever it was stepped on.

In front of the main gate, Izer looked up at the house. The fountain was still white, and the sky was still blue. Today he wore a black jacket again, and his eyes were red. But his expression gazing at the mansion was completely opposite to any day in the past.

The door opened and a teenage girl came running out, her dress fluttering. A blonde boy, not as long-strided as Bess but superior in stamina, came bouncing down the stairs. The secretary quickly twisted his body to avoid disaster when the boy charged like a colt.

Then Izer, who had been staring at the door, moved urgently toward the entrance. The baby, who had been toddling while holding her mother’s hand and missed a step on the stairs, landed safely in her father’s arms. Celian’s sigh could be heard.

“She can’t even walk properly but has such an impatient personality……”

“Who can you blame? She’s your daughter, Lian.”

The baby laughed cheerfully, oblivious to her parents’ worries. Seeing the tiny fist grab and pull hair of a similar color to her own, a similar sigh to Celian’s flowed from Bess’s mouth. The father, whose hair was being sacrificed, was busy cooing at the baby.

“Yes yes, our daughter. She just takes after her mother, right?”

“Izer, is that possibly an insult to me?”

“I’m saying I love her because her personality exactly like yours.”

At the honey-dripping voice, Bess, who had been waiting in front of the carriage, pretended to retch. Percy, whose morning scolding hadn’t completely worn off, also made an incredulous face. Time had brought them comfort instead of formality.

Izer, who had helped Celian into the carriage first, followed while holding Estelle. Bess and Percy sat across from them. Four sturdy horses were mobilized to pull the heavy carriage carrying five people including the baby.

The four-wheeled carriage made cheerful clattering sounds as it entered the outskirts. The familiar river water that they had passed so often welcomed the familiar visitors with open arms.

Celian stretched her stiff shoulders upward. The riverside in early summer, where the leaves had deepened from light green to dark green, offered a different feeling from spring.

Dandelions that had sent off their seeds and left only bare stems naturally spread among the weeds. Forget-me-nots that had bloomed early in the season, choosing only sunny spots, shook their tiny petals in the wind. Izer placed his hand on her shoulder as she stood under the hot sunlight.

“Step back. It’s sunlight.”

“Thank you, Izer.”

With those words, Izer turned back toward the carriage. Celian continued to gaze at the river water. Among the rustling of her companions, Izer’s calm voice mixed in.

“Percy, give me the bouquet.”

“……”

Today was David Ren’s death anniversary. At the same time, it was also just two weeks before Renée Chesterfield’s wedding anniversary.

This riverside was the closest place to their home among the spots where David Ren had been scattered. They had wanted to scatter him in the garden, but couldn’t approach a place that already belonged to someone else, so they let him flow into the river.

Izer looked up at the sky.

***

David Ren was from the southern region. When he first stepped forward to work as a gardener, the noble ladies all showed reluctance. For them, who were earnestly competing to cultivate gardens and flower beds, an excellent gardener was an absolutely necessary existence, but conversely, a mediocre gardener would only become a laughingstock.

Baroness Avery, a notable of Fairville, was also one of the proud noble ladies.

“Yes, you said David. I understand that you’re serious about gardens. But you’re too…… young. Farming and gardening are different. I’m concerned that you might kill all the plants in the garden and greenhouse, making me embarrassed.”

“I will do my best to ensure there are no problems with your concerns.”

Even then, Fairville was interested in other people’s stories. Gossips murmured for a while about Baroness Avery finally hiring an unfamiliar man as a gardener. Among them were some rather unpleasant rumors. The story was that the old lady approaching sixty had fallen for a young man’s seduction.

Naturally, the old lady didn’t hire David because she felt romantic emotions toward his appearance. Baroness Avery pitied this young man of unknown origin. With looks that could easily catch some decent noble and live comfortably for the rest of his life, as the world gossiped, his appearance at her house in half-beggar condition might have aroused her curiosity.

In any case, David Ren was an excellent gardener. He made even fruit trees he’d never seen before bloom and bear fruit. The fact that various plants of unknown nationality overflowed in Fairville, due to its characteristic of having merchants from various countries come and go, posed no obstacle to him whatsoever.

So much so that there was a story that plants touched by David’s hands would come back to life even if they were dead. Naturally, the shoulders of Baroness Avery, who employed him, also rose high.

Whenever she invited friends, she would invariably lead them to the garden to show off.

“This is all your handiwork.”

“You flatter me.”

David always said the same thing while bowing politely. It was natural that rumors about the young gardener at the Avery baronial house spread widely.

Those rumors made a full circle outside the baronial house and headed back inside. Renée stared blankly down at the paper.

Renée Avery was a timid young lady, unlike her aunt. For such a person, her joy in life was hiding behind windows and stealing glances at the handsome gardener’s face.

Though young men overflowed, coming all the way from the distant south to exchange even one word with the baronial house’s young lady, she was reluctant to form deep friendships with them. It was probably because she felt uncomfortable with the words she had constantly heard from her aunt since childhood: ‘You are a good commodity.’

Harris Chesterfield, a young man who had turned twenty this year, smiled brightly.

“The young lady is quite quiet.”

“……I’m sorry.”

“You apologize for everything. There’s no need for that, so feel free to speak comfortably.”

“……”

Good commodities sell for high prices. She turned her head to avoid the gaze that seemed to see through her heart, and outside the window, a tree was moving by itself.

Doubting her eyes, she squinted. Looking closely, the tree had arms and legs attached.

‘Of course.’

David Ren was working hard. She envied his unhesitating movements even under the blazing sun. She resented her own frail limbs that stayed only indoors. If she had been born a man, if she had been a little healthier, could she have gone outside like David?

A gentle voice struck her ears as she was thinking.

“Your pen will break, my lady.”

“……!”

Renée jumped in surprise and lifted her hand. All the ink that had accumulated was seeping into the parchment. The poetry she had romantically transcribed before Harris Chesterfield’s arrival was also smudged beyond recognition.

Renée stammered.

“S-sorry.”

“Not at all. Seeing your handwriting is my pleasure. Did you formally learn calligraphy?”

“When I was young, from my mother……”

“The baroness must be proud of her niece. To be so overflowing with refinement.”

“……”

Renée’s eyes shook unsteadily. She was afraid of Harris Chesterfield. Every time she saw this man with his tall appearance, kind smile, and face that looked at her as if she were the most lovable thing in the world, she got goosebumps.

His blatant interest in Renée made her uncomfortable. She felt suffocated before the affection that should have been precious enough to be luxurious for her. Renée guessed this stemmed from the difference in status between herself and Duke Chesterfield. It was perfectly natural for the niece of a humble rural baronial family to be intimidated before the powerful figure of Humingham.

“You keep looking outside since earlier. Is there something interesting?”

“No. Just, the weather is nice……”

But Harris was already heading to the window. The thought that she should stop him suddenly flashed through her head, but it was already too late. Leisurely putting his hands in his pockets, he looked down at the afternoon garden bathed in sunlight.

“I know about the relationship between you two.”

“……!”

“Don’t worry. The baroness knows nothing. It’s something I found out personally. Let me ask, what’s so good about that gardener?”

“You’re mistaken. David and I aren’t in that kind of relationship. He’s a good gardener, and he just taught me how to make pretty flowers bloom. Over there, the red roses……”

“Did he also teach you how to make women bloom?”

“Your Grace!”

At the teasing remark, Renée involuntarily screamed. Harris made an interested face upon hearing the shout from the water-colored haired young lady who had only been timid.

“Part of why I’m rushing the engagement is because of that gardener. I don’t think you’d have that kind of courage, but you never know with matters between men and women. At this rate, you two might hold hands and run away together.”

“Your Grace, what kind of wild speculation……”

“Anyone would think so seeing the way you look at that gardener and how you try to protect him in front of me.”

His speech had changed to informal language. Renée, who had been sitting, gripped the armrests as if she would bolt from her seat at any moment. Harris stood with his back to the window. As the sunlight was blocked, darkness came to the room.

“Renée, think carefully. I can give you things that gardener can’t even imagine.”

The fever of love strikes both rich and poor without discrimination. The moment he first saw Renée, young Harris’s mind conjured the image of this woman in a plain dress being in his bedroom. Wearing a chemise woven from fine cotton thread instead of the old dress of unknown age.

Who would have known he’d discover such a treasure in a house he’d casually stopped by during his travels? Since that day, Harris had visited Fairville more than once each season to attempt courtship. No one could comment on his eccentric behavior of going all the way to that countryside to bring back a bride, leaving behind the precious young ladies of the capital.

Harris, who had instantly appeared before her, looked down at her with domineering eyes.

“Renée, I know. You will become the most famous woman in Humingham. As soon as we marry, I’ll give you plenty of land and mines in your name.”

“……”

“It might be burdensome at first. But Renée, that gardener can’t guarantee you even a house that keeps out the wind, let alone jewels. What does it matter if you’re a member of the baronial house? Do you think your aunt will leave even a penny of her fortune to a niece who’s been led around by the nose by a gardener?”

“……”

“I plan to put diamond rings from the continent across the sea on your fingers, and hang gold necklaces so heavy that slender neck of yours can’t bear them. How about it, isn’t it beautiful just to imagine? Between hanging yourself with the rope of poverty and holding your head high adorned with jewels. It’s too obvious which is the better choice.”

Harris Chesterfield was certainly confident. He never thought that this confident self would be shouting in rage a few days later.

***

Their story sounds quite romantic. A love story where a young man who had been nurturing feelings for the baronial house’s young lady alone chooses to leave together, his heart softened by her tears.

They had neither diamond rings nor gold necklaces. What David had saved working as a gardener and the small amount Renée had prepared by selling her few jewels (half of the jewels the baroness had prepared for her were fake) was all their funds.

But Renée didn’t lose her smile.

“Renée, honey. I made oatmeal. Do you want to eat it now?”

“Thank you, darling.”

Renée answered while closing her notebook. The palm-sized notebook was packed with tiny handwriting. In an era when paper was expensive, it was a wedding anniversary gift David had given Renée with great determination.

Saying she couldn’t waste even one corner, she wrote so small that David teased that he’d need a magnifying glass to read it when he got a little older. It was a joke full of self-reproach from a head of household who couldn’t provide more comfortable circumstances.

The two sat facing each other across the dining table.

“Where’s Izer?”

“He went out to play with friends. He’ll come back.”

“He’s already grown up.”

Renée smiled thinking of her son. It seems like yesterday he was crawling, but when did he grow up enough to go out and play with friends? Lately he even imitated his mother by holding a pen.

David, who had been watching such a wife, began to speak.

“Renée, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Let’s go to Humingham.”

Thunk, the powerless spoon hit the bowl. The savory smell of oatmeal suddenly felt nauseating. That was the impression Renée had of Humingham. A place that was shiny on the outside but rotten inside, like Harris Chesterfield.

David pulled out his chair. He was going to get a new spoon. Despite his consideration, Renée lost her will to eat.

“David, are you serious?”

“There’s a posting for a dedicated gardener at a villa near Humingham. It’s not a position like here where you go around from house to house working when needed and getting paid. The salary is decent too.”

“I hate it.”

“Renée, don’t think so negatively. It’s not like I’d be working next to the ducal residence. There won’t be any chance of running into that person. And even if we do run into him, so what? That was so long ago.”

“David, I……”

“Of course.”

David playfully raised his eyebrows.

“He probably couldn’t easily forget a woman like you. But look at it realistically. How many women must be swarming around the duke? You’d just be a woman who briefly passed by in the past — forgive me for speaking so dismissively, but if I don’t say this, you get unnecessarily frightened — don’t worry too much, Renée.”

Renée swallowed her words.

‘You don’t know anything about that hypocrite.’

If Harris Chesterfield had been an ordinary noble young man, Renée would have agreed with David’s words. But Harris reeked of sinister blood. The incident of the previous duke and duchess dying at regular intervals after he began courting her was representative.

But David insisted.

“Actually, this job is also my desire. First, the person who posted the job opening is General Berienne. A man any man would want to meet once would become my employer. And second, I want to have my own garden.”

“……”

“Of course I’ll be taking care of someone else’s garden. But there’s a world of difference between me tending trees from start to finish and going when needed to trim branches as ordered. I’ve been wandering too long, Renée.”

Renée was speechless. When he was at Baroness Avery’s house, David could tend the entire garden as if it were his own. The reason he became a ‘wanderer,’ as he put it, was largely because he couldn’t get a proper position after running away with Renée.

Renée thought for a moment. She had lived happier than anyone after running away with David. The diary she wrote with a crudely sharpened pen dipped in ink full of all sorts of foreign matter proved that fact.

But she hadn’t considered David’s position. If she had felt liberation from the freedom gained after living almost imprisoned in the baronial house for half her life, David had to leave the baronial house where he had barely settled after wandering for half his life. It wouldn’t have happened if not for her.

So Renée nodded.

“If that’s what you want, then yes.”

***

The story after that is the same as what Izer knows. David Ren settled at Marquis Berienne’s villa as he had wanted. The generous salary was enough to feed a family of three.

Izer Ren decided to become a stenographer with his mother and father’s encouragement. His dream was not fulfilled. It faded with time and he can’t even remember it.

And David Ren died. Renée Ren walked into the house of the man she hated to protect her son.

Izer looked up at the sky and thought. Did his mother really not know about his father’s death? Could his mother, who loved his father so deeply that she fainted before his corpse, not have perceived the danger targeting him at all?

Perhaps his mother’s bringing him into the Chesterfield house meant she wanted him to gain power and avenge his father.

But the dead don’t speak. Izer would never know the answer. As he just stared up at the empty sky, he heard chirping whispers in his ears.

“Sister Bess, it looks like brother is sleeping standing up.”

“Percy, be quiet.”

He felt watchful gazes. Izer turned around. Bess, who met his eyes, tapped Percy. The boy, who had been doing something else, came to his senses and folded his hands obediently.

“Daddy!”

……Estelle was still too young to read the mood. As she flailed her short limbs in the governess’s arms, struggling to go to her father, Miss Lierre tried to soothe the baby with a flustered face.

Eventually the baby was transferred to her father’s arms. Shaking his head at Celian who extended her hands saying she would hold her, Izer walked toward the water.

Celian, who had been watching him, also moved a step forward. The afternoon sunlight stabbed their eyes painfully, but neither Izer nor Celian suggested going into the shade.

In one of Izer’s hands was a bouquet of white Cherokee roses. They were the flowers David and Renée had loved most while alive. Blooming naturally as if they were there yet not there, then falling, and blooming again in the same place the next year.

Celian turned her head.

Izer crouched beside her, supporting the baby with one arm and holding a bouquet of white Cherokee roses in the other. After several minutes that felt like silent hesitation, his eyes fixed on the bouquet, and he finally loosened his grip on the modest flowers.

“……”

The bouquet floating on the water spun around once, then remained in place. It looked exactly like it was greeting them.

Right on cue, Estelle began to whimper. Izer, who had been looking at the white bouquet, straightened his bent legs. Orange sunlight poured over the man’s head.

His farewell was short and simple.

“This is my family.”

 

〈The House of the Man Who Hates Me / Side Story Complete〉