Chapter 83
Who would have thought that such a trivial question would have made him so at a loss?
Not even the jeweler had thought it would be. When asked the question, Otis only gazed at the glass case under his hand for a moment. In the midst of all the jewelry, various ornaments studded with amethyst were glistening in the light.
Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, boutonnières, and more.
As the ornaments varied, the shape of the amethyst embedded also varied as well. Some were in the shape of a droplet, some were rectangular, and some were round.
He had no idea which of them would suit Irene’s taste. While the conversations he had with Irene were not little, the matter was still an abstrusity. Feeling resentful, Otis thought back to his childhood conversations but still could not figure it out.
There were only three pieces of information about Irene that were in his memories.
“Belkin’s poetry is rather straightforward, so it doesn’t fit the socialite metaphor, but I like it.”
“I think cherry tastes better than cherry pie.”
“Why do I hate rainy days? I don’t know. Well, doesn’t everyone hate it? It’s damp, and it feels a little lonely.”
It was only that much.
Even yesterday, they had a lot of talk about how flimsy the recent popular literature was though Irene’s taste was not revealed at all. In the first place, their conversation led to Otis speaking and Irenea adding words with him.
Even though she knew everything about him, Otis knew nothing about her.
What impressions she had of the literature, which he had criticized poorly, left her, and what passages did she like? Or, even if she thought it was terrible as well.
There was nothing he could be certain of.
‘It certainly felt like we were of the same opinion throughout the conversation.’
…Why was it that when he thought back, it felt like she was just playing along with him?
For a moment, he felt like he was suffocating.
‘That’s not possible.’
Otis quickly denied that fact.
In the end, he bought a brooch that was best-selling and most popular. The other accessories worn on the body were obviously something Irene could not wear, so he chose something that would be a good decoration for her.
Up until then, Otis’ mood had not been so bad. Rather, he was intoxicated by the fact that he had just realized.
‘Tonight, I can ask about Irene.’
Even if he did not know it before, he could find out from now on. It would certainly be fun to sit in front of tea and hear about Irene’s tastes. Seeing what kind of expression she would make after receiving the gift also left him with a sense of cheerfulness.
It was also due to Otis’s belief that his bond with Irene was deeper than that of others.
He returned to Lavrenti with a light footstep.
However, what was waiting for him was not so light. From the moment he stepped into his mansion, a strange mess surrounded him. When he saw Amer standing in front of the stairs, the sense of incongruity became even more entrenched.
“Amer, why are you here? Did brother call you?”
“Oh, Master Otis. Hello. It seems that you haven’t heard yet. Well, I don’t know how many people in the mansion…”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Did something happen while I was away?”
“Young Master Rodion has taken an unknown drug and has not yet woken up. They said there’s no harm in life, but… Master Ahibalt has put control in place so that the news isn’t disclosed to the outside world.”
“Rodion has taken a drug and hasn’t woken up yet? That kid?”
“Yes. Would you like to visit him yourself? He’s on the third floor.”
If it was the third floor, it must be the room Irene was using when she was paralyzed the other day.
Otis went up the stairs first without giving an answer because of his urgency. In the first place, Rodion was resistant to all kinds of poison. In particular, the food poison was barely consumed by Rodion, yet he took a medicine and still has not woken up?
Suspicion and worry prevailed.
Funny enough, however, as soon as he climbed the stairs and reached the door, it was not such a frivolous concern that dominated Otis.
He saw a man and a woman kissing through the gap in the obliquely open door.
His half-brother was looking at Irene with a viciously ardent expression.
Irene’s wet cheeks were reflecting the cloudy light. She was crying and had an expression similar to that of Ahibalt. With her slightly frowned face, she was in his arm, which clasped her tightly between the awkward kisses. At the same time, their rough breath could be seen in the room.
It was like that until the moment their lips fell.
Ahibalt’s limits were seen fading because there was no longer the gentleman mask he wore, which seemed unable to be removed with any sharp razor blade. The blue eyes facing only Irene were glistening with madness. The desire lurking in that shallow patience was clear.
His essence, resembling a viper, was heading towards the only person in front of him.
However, the person opposite him — Irene, had an expression on her face as if she was not at all afraid or unperturbed, even in front of him.
No, it was the other way around.
If she had been able to see her own face, Irene might have been a little surprised. At this very moment, it was shown how much she wanted that desire… an expression as if deliberately painfully touching a bleeding wound.
It was an expression that Otis would never see.
A blind realization came.
…There was no room between the two of them that he could intervene.
What he had found in the lake was a stone, though what Ahibalt had found was a piece of gold. It was so small and small that he could not put it anywhere. Still, it was clear on which side the values were leaning.
Otis turned and ran away.
He could not stand the scene in front of him… He could not face it.
…Whether Ahibalt would really betray his patience, or would Irene reach out to him? Seeing everything with his own two eyes, it felt as if there was no turning back.
He turned away and finally reached out to Irene.
Just like any other night, he wanted her to stay by his side tonight. Otis believed that even so, Irene would never turn away from him… He believed she would be by his side like she always was. It was because she was always by his side.
Even when she ran away from Ahibalt, she was in his shadow.
So, as long as she held his hand, he could do anything. He could confide everything he had planned to her. He wanted to give her the present, and he wanted to hear things from her. Now, he could not love her indifference, nor did he want her to be indifferent to him.
‘…So please, don’t leave my side.’
However, what came back was…
“I can’t do that today.”
It was a clear rejection more than ever.
Otis almost grabbed Irene, who was holding his hand, without realizing it. He endured it by grinding his molars before releasing it.
“Why not today? Why only today…”
Nevertheless, he could not stop his face from being distorted.
“…Are you going to brother?”
“Yes. I need to talk to him about something.”
“Now… Do you have to go right now? Can’t you do that in the morning? Are you in a hurry to leave me behind?”
‘…Can’t I be your priority?’
“Irene. Please…”
The words that escaped between Otis’ teeth were close to a plea. He was afraid the hand that was holding him might fall off. The pleadings that overflowed like cries made no sense and lingered in his lungs.
Irene. She was always by his side whenever he needed her.
‘You’re my childhood, my solace, my…’
“….”
A tear rolled down Otis’s eyes.
It was because he realized what he was going to say at the end of all the recitations.
…Love.
It was love.
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