Masters, Are You Going To Imprison My Sister?

Even after Count Nigor and Oberon were executed and we returned to the mansion, I could not be relieved. Even though everything seemed to have been resolved, the young masters of Emers still remained. Yuria was hovering around as if she had read my anxiety.

I’m sorry, but there was nothing I could say to her.

What can I say? I am worried that young masters seem to have a heart for me? What do you think they would do to keep me from going out?

I couldn’t say anything about memories of my previous life or the contents of the novel. Even Yuria would find it hard to believe those words. Also, this was not a problem that I could share with Yuria. It was something I had to overcome with my own hands, and it was something only I could solve. The opportunity came sooner than expected.

Two days before I left the mansion, Osses called me. The maid came to the room and told me that Osses was waiting in the garden, and then she went out.

I got dressed and went out to the garden. The place he called me was the place where they used to drink tea. On one side of the garden was a table and chairs for tea time. But it was only Osses who used it. Except for him, the people of the duke family did not enjoy drinking tea.

The Duke and Arthur drank more coffee than tea, and preferred to enjoy themselves in their own room rather than with others. Isley didn’t like to sit and quibble – he was described like that – at tea time.

So, that place could be said to be a place for Osses.

When I got to the destination, I saw him sipping tea. There was no one around, thinking it was just the two of us talking. As I got closer to the table, Osses put down his teacup as if he felt my presence. He got up from his seat with a characteristic, friendly smile. And he pulls out the chair opposite him.

“Welcome, Layla. Sit here.”

It was truly a gentlemanly manner.

“Thank you, Master.”

I sat down in the chair he had taken out. Osses tilted the kettle and handed me the tea before returning to his place. I waved my hand for me to do it, but his actions didn’t stop. I had no choice but to say thank you again after taking the tea in front of me.

“It’s okay to call me Osses. Layla is no longer an employee, but a guest of this mansion, right?”

“I have a habit of when I was an employee… I still feel more comfortable  calling you, master.”

“That’s too bad.”

He smiled politely and looked over the table. Tasty desserts were laid out along with a kettle and a teacup. It smelled sweet and looked like apple pie. Osses offered me a pie, but I refused.

How can you put that in your mouth when you don’t know what’s in it?

“Really? I thought you liked it.”

He pretended to be sorry and put down the pie knife.

“A lot has happened lately.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“I think we didn’t see each other often because we were busy with various things. Layla, when you were in prison, I couldn’t help… I’m so sorry. My mother stopped me, so there was nothing I could do to help.”

In an instant, laughter was about to burst out. Who made us imprisoned? It was the Duke who used it to obtain information, but that doesn’t change the fact that Osses led us underground. But when you say something like that casually, the only thing that comes out is that you have a thick face.

“This time I heard that Count Nigor was executed. I’m glad the things that bothered Yuria and Layla are gone. Now, both of you can be in the mansion with peace of mind.”

“No. We are going to leave the mansion.”

“Why? Is there no reason to leave now?”

“There have been some bad things, and I want to start anew somewhere else.”

“I understand how Layla feels. But there’s no better job than here, right? Do you really want to leave?”

“……”

“Even if I entrusted you as the exclusive maid? I can give you more money if you want.”

It seems that was the purpose of calling me. The young masters can’t leave the mansion. He’s trying to stop me because he can’t catch me if I go far. In the first place, if I leave the mansion, he will soon forget me. Because you are such a person.

“Young master.”

I smiled and asked.

“You don’t want me to leave the mansion, right?”

“Did you know that? To be honest… Yes. I wish Layla never left her mansion. That’s why I call you like this.”

“Why?”                   

“Because, I like you.”

He said without a sign of concern.

“I like Layla. As the opposite sex.”

Although he is confessing his love, there is no shame on Osses’s face. Hearing the confession, Me, too, did not feel any excitement. Again, I only feel negative emotions.

“Is it too sudden? I’m sorry for making you feel burdened. But I thought I wouldn’t be able to catch you if it wasn’t now.”

“So, that’s why you told the maid to send me a present?”

“Yes. Even though I knew I couldn’t win your heart with such a gift, I wanted Layla to like me at least a little bit.”

“You are mistaken.”

“… Mistaken? What are you talking about?”

“I think you are making the mistake of thinking that you like me. Why are you confessing to me? Usually no one confesses to someone who doesn’t care about what the others do, let alone love.”

Osses said as if he didn’t understand.

“I already know that Layla hates me. But I hope you don’t deny my heart. I love you.”

“Do you really love me? Do you know what food I like, what books I like, and who I am best with? What made you fall in love with me? Why did you become interested?”

“Just…”

“Don’t just say, ‘It just happened to be’ There’s no way you can fall in love without knowing your partner. Did you like my face? If so, I can tell you that it’s not love, it’s just a momentary thrill. But the master doesn’t even feel the excitement when you see my face. Shall I tell you what you’re feeling for me? At least it’s not love.”

“Layla, stop it. You’re right. I don’t really know about you. It’s only recently that I’ve been interested in you, and that I’ve come to like you. But don’t you think it’s too early to say it’s not love? It’s okay to at least give me a chance to get to know a person named Layla better before you tell me.”

“Even if I give you more time, the master won’t try to find out about me.”

I spit out the sentence slowly and accurately.

“Because you love someone else, not me.”

“… Yes?”

“One day, the master discovered that there are similarities between the person he loves and me. So when you projected that person on me, you stopped thinking and thought you were falling in love with me.”

Osses’s eyes fluttered. It was the first I saw that.

That’s right.

“Who is that person you are thinking of when you look at me?”

“No… I’m….”

His smiling face begins to crack.

The reason they became interested in Yuria in the original work was simple. Because she reminds them of Duke, their own mother. Yuria resembled the Duke before she made ‘a promise’, she’s a kind and amiable mother. Those aspects attracted the hearts of the three and eventually made them obsessed.

“Who do you love so much?”

Crack

“… Please stop it.”

It’s broken

“There is one person I can remember.”

I’ll shatter that smiling face with your illusions.

I laughed softly.

“Sometimes the master would look at someone with tender eyes.”

“… Stop.”

The Duke did not love people.

There is no big reason, just born that way. Neither her parents, nor her friends, nor the puppy she had raised as a child were attracted to her.

The only person she loved was her husband, who died of an illness. The duke loved only her husband. Other humans were not as good as stones rolling in the street.

It was the same with the children. Her sons received the basic benefits as nobles, heirs, and children, but they were not loved. Still, they loved the Duke.

That is why most of her children were unable to leave the mansion even when they reached the age of independence.

The three of them tried to find the love they had not received from their mother in a similar person. Selfishly, they try to use others to make up for their own shortcomings. In the original, the subject was Yuria, and now it is me. I don’t know how they got to see the Duke in me, but… This is what they consider to be love.

A pathetic emotion with nothing to see, no value, and only regrets.

“Do I look so much like the Duke?”

It’s pitiful too.

Bang!

“Stop it…!”

Osses jumped out of his seat and stood up. The impact causes the teacup to topple over and the liquid inside spills out.

The white cloth covering the table was wet with red. He looked at me with his face contorted.

“It’s unpleasant, really…”

The smiley face was completely shattered, and pieces fell to the table.

“I don’t understand why you preach so well about other people’s feelings. Are you thinking that you are some kind of god?”

Contempt and hatred were intertwined in the eyes that looked at me.

What do you know?

It is a figure that shows off his undesirable teeth and gives off a lot of heat. He is so angry that he can’t even think of hiding himself with soft words or a mask.

“I don’t want to see your face anymore. Leave the mansion or not. I’m not going to catch you.”

“… Then, excuse me.”

It was the sound of disappearing from my eyes immediately. I got up.

As I turned and walked through the garden, Osses did not catch me. I glanced back and saw that he was trembling with his head bowed. When I turned my head to the front again, I heard a rustling sound from somewhere.

It seemed to come from behind the statue.

As I moved there, Arthur was standing there. It looked like he was hiding behind the statue.

“Master Arthur?”

“……”

“Have you ever heard the conversation between me and Master Osses?”

Arthur staggered back and stepped back. With his confused face, I had no choice but to know that he had heard the story.

That’s good. I don’t need to tell you more.

I thought of that as I looked at Arthur’s back, who hastily left the seat.