CH 142

I didn’t know the reason for Abigail to visit this mansion, but I had a bad feeling about Orion meeting her first.

I ran breathlessly until I stood in front of the living room’s door.

“Aha, I see.”

The kind voice and friendly atmosphere spread through the door.

When I looked dumbfoundedly at the knight guarding the door, he smiled with a proud face.

The moment I hurriedly opened the door out of uneasiness, Orion, who was holding the cup, smiled brightly and waved his hand.

“Marianne!”

I examined Orion as I approached him calmly.

Unlike usual, a hard voice came out.

“Orion, why are you welcoming my guests?”

“As the heir of the family, I can’t neglect the guests visiting the house, can I?”

I was speechless as I saw the sparkling blue eyes.

It was true that they were my guests, but there was nothing wrong with them visiting this mansion, and he welcomed them as the owner of the house.

I looked down, and called her name in a low voice.

“Abigail.”

“Ah, that’s.”

Accepting my gaze, she approached me hurriedly.

“There’s something you left. I think you’ll need it.”

The paper in her hand was familiar.

It was clearly the confirmation of disciplinary action I received today.

I was told to submit it by tomorrow, wasn’t I?

If I didn’t submit it, there was no doubt I would get in trouble.

Finally I realized the reason for her to be bold enough to visit this mansion.

Where did I leave my mind?

Normally, this wasn’t a mistake I would make.

A bitter smile was drawn on my lips.

She must also need a lot of courage to come here.

I could see the tips of her fingers curled up as if she was nervous.

“Thank you. I forgot about it, but you took care of it.”

Hesitated, she nodded.

Looking at the trembling lips as if she had something to say, I asked Orion.

“Thank you for welcoming my guests, Orion. Now can you please leave so we can talk on our own?”

“Yeah, of course. There must be something you have to talk about.”

As though he understood, he looked at me while smiling once, then at Abigail and Liz. Then, he slowly disappeared behind the door.

Abigail still looked nervous even after the door was closed.

“I’m thankful to you for bringing me this, but it seems like you have something else you want to say.”

I met her determined eyes.

The trembling lips soon parted.

Her face was stiff and tense.

“About framing you in the previous academy . . .”

She struggled to bring up the topic.

I saw Liz worriedly stole a glance at Abigail.

“I also know. That it wasn’t purely because of the curse.”

Her hands turned pale.

“The priest said there are a few conditions for the curse to work, and he told me one of them is that negative feelings like hostility or disdain against someone must be present.”

In fact, she already sent a hostile gaze at me from the moment I entered the exam site to do the advancement exam.

I only stayed silent as I knew the reason.

“I have no intention to hide the fact I was in one-sided love to the son of the Beryl family. Also the fact I treated you badly because I thought your status was lower than me.”

“Yes.”

After letting out a short breath, she examined my expression.

Perhaps she was relieved that there was no particular difference in my expression, the trembling in her voice subsided.

“Because I held ill will against an innocent person for no reason, the normal me would obviously try to harass you even if it’s not because of the curse.”

Obviously.

Just like Rany, she was also someone famous in the academy.

Especially as a pure aristocratic person who ruthlessly insulted students with humble family, merchant family, also commoner.

“I feel like I finally realized it as I lost everything at once. If I was a bit wiser, then I wouldn’t do that kind of thing. There’s also nothing good for me to take my anger out by harassing others.”

Her behavior obviously returned like a boomerang after her family fell down.

Her eyes sent a desperate gaze.

As if asking me to acknowledge her.

“I’ve changed now. I will look at the person, not at the status.”

It seemed like the hardship in these few months gave a big influence in her change.

“Please let me serve under you from today, Young Lady.”

As I nodded while listening to her, I turned stiff momentarily.

“. . . Serve where?”

Under me?

What’s under me that you want to serve there?

“Now I’m not belittling you anymore just because of your origin. Through looking at your long patience and outstanding brain, and also your effort, I saw the brilliant future.”

I was speechless at the calm voice yet its content wasn’t calm.

The eyes I saw were burning.

“That patience to endure the humiliation to perfectly turn the tables. The immaculate way to hide your identity so far, the ability to judge at the right time, also the effort to gain all of those.”

“. . .”

“Even though this uncivilized me couldn’t dare to estimate how far your ambition is.”

“Wait, Abi, Abigail. Can you please hear me out first?”

Why did you suddenly mention ambition?

I don’t have ambition.

The moment sparkling yet chaotic eyes stared at me, I subconsciously took a step back.

“I want to help you until you reach the highest place, as far as your ambition goes, Young Lady.”

I saw Liz next to us covered her mouth with a touched expression.

Why are you like this?

I was about to reach out my hand to calm down Abigail once again.

The living room door suddenly opened wide.

I saw Lord Duke with confused eyes, Mom with glittering eyes while linking arms with Lord Duke, also Orion covering his mouth like Liz next to them.