TDWO Chapter 10
by xxsienna“Oh, my, oh my, look at that. What if that gentleman has a crush on Anri, mother?”
Candice fretted, tapping the windowsill.
Eunice, equally surprised, focused on the scene outside the window.
The guest gentleman stood alone, away from the others, gazing intently towards the stables.
At the end of his gaze was Anri.
However, Anri seemed focused only on what was happening inside the stables.
So, it was unclear where the guest gentleman’s attention was directed.
“Ack!”
At that moment, Catherine abruptly pushed Eunice aside and leaned further out the window, squinting her eyes.
“No, Candice. He’s just observing the stables, clearly.”
Eunice, pushed by her mother, winced at her sore arm.
“Ugh!”
Candice buried her face in her hands as if she were about to cry.
“Because of Anri, I will never be able to get married and will die of old age. Mother, how can I live with Eunice for the rest of my life?”
“Don’t worry, Candice. That raccoon bxtch hasn’t even reached her twenty-first birthday yet, so she can’t marry without her parents’ permission.”
Catherine clutched Candice’s slender arm as if to assure her.
Feeling like an invisible presence in the room, Eunice quietly darted her eyes back and forth between her sister and mother.
Why were they so desperate to torment someone as kind as Anri?
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‘What should I do? What should I do?’
A tense atmosphere hung over Marilyn’s house.
It was just before Marilyn and Kristan’s meeting.
Anri tightly gripped the wooden fence surrounding them, unable to hide her anxiety.
She wanted to approach the horses like the coachmen did but couldn’t.
Horses were naturally sensitive animals, prone to startling even at the slightest sound. They were said to be more sensitive when mating than usual.
It was common for coachmen to get seriously injured while nearby during mating.
Hence, Hendel and Jeffrey had already taken precautions, wearing protective gear like steel-toed boots to prevent any potential injuries.
However, it wasn’t safe to leave only the horses together; it was said that without supervision, a greater accident could occur between the two horses.
Anri hoped for the safety of the two stablemen, especially Jeffrey.
If the man’s coachman sustained an injury, wouldn’t Catherine attempt to grasp onto him, believing it was her opportunity?
Although Anri had brought Kristan and the man into the house because of Marilyn, having a guest in the house, even for just one night, was no small matter to worry about.
The workload for the servants would increase, the food supply would dwindle, and they couldn’t just roam around the mansion in their nightclothes.
“Yes, Miss Wentworth?”
Anri turned around at the sudden call from Albert.
“Hmm. I’m afraid it’s not safe for a lady to watch. As you may already know, the horses can be quite unpredictable, and they are quite strong.”
“It’s fine. Surely they won’t break down the whole stable, right?”
Smiling, Anri turned her attention back to Marilyn.
However, Albert was left in a state of indecision due to Anri’s confident and cheerful attitude, as she turned her head away.
He glanced briefly at Duke Edwin, who was standing some distance away.
Nobles such as Edwin typically kept their distance from the stables.
Moreover, it would be befitting of one’s status not to come near while a major event, such as horse mating, is taking place.
However, Miss Wentworth was smiling brightly, even lighting up her eyes.
Edwin gazed at her with a serene look in his eyes, as if thinking, “Well, there are all kinds of women.”
Edwin had already asked her to leave the stable with him, but she had refused with a fresh smile.
“Hendel, is Marilyn really okay?”
At Anri’s call, Hendel, who was stroking Marilyn, approached her.
She wanted to confirm once again before starting the mating process.
But judging by Hendel’s expression, things didn’t seem okay at all.
“Yes, Miss. But as I said, she’s extremely unstable…….”
Hendel seemed somewhat lacking in confidence.
“Then perhaps it would be better to put it off?”
“That’s not advisable. You see, we’re in a situation where she can’t meet Kristan, but she also can’t avoid meeting him…”
‘Ah.’
Anri understood Hendel’s words.
While Marilyn was desperate to see the stallion she’d fallen for at first sight, she might become even more agitated upon meeting him.
“And what about Kristan?”
“Kristan is also very anxious, but I think he’ll freak out when he meets Marilyn…….”
Hendel’s voice seemed to fade away into a mouse hole.
Both Hendel and Jeffrey exchanged equally anxious glances.
Anri also tensed up, uncertain of what would happen after the two horses met.
“Miss, I believe it would be safer to set the stage sooner rather than delay further.”
Hendel suddenly made up his mind.
Upon this, Anri nodded firmly, her face set with determination.
Hendel and Jeffrey also exchanged determined glances from a distance.
Finally, Jeffrey led Kristan, who had been tied up outside the stables, over.
However, Anri, who had never seen a mating scene of horses before, did not anticipate what was to come.
“Ahh!”
Recognizing Kristan, Marilyn suddenly rushed forward as if to break through the stables, and Hendel ended up with a broken bone from being kicked by a hoof.
“Ow!”
Jeffrey, exerting all of his strength, tried to protect Marilyn and Kristan alone, but ultimately fell victim to Kristan’s sudden kick, resulting in a broken bone as well.
‘Indeed, animals are animals…’
Anri realized why the two coachmen were so nervous and anxious.
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“…….”
“…….”
The first silence belonged to Anri, and the second silence was from Eunice.
Even after nightfall, the man sat at the Wentworth mansion’s dining table.
The mating of Marilyn and Kristan was ultimately successful.
Although Kristan was afraid of Marilyn’s aggression, he eventually accepted her.
Even now, the two horses were together… cough.
The problem, however, was that the stable fence had been completely broken, and the two coachmen were unable to move.
Seeing an opportunity, Catherine tried to hold onto the man.
However, the man firmly refused and attempted to find another coachman.
He planned to stay nearby overnight and return in the morning to take care of Kristan.
Albert didn’t know how to drive a carriage, and although the man could do it, he probably wouldn’t.
So Albert called for a doctor and went around the town, trying to temporarily hire another coachman.
But, as it happened, the coachmen were away from home.
He decided to stay at the Wentworth mansion, as it would be impolite to leave an injured coachman and return home alone.
“You are welcome to stay for a night or two. To think that our daughter and the gentleman are so closely connected through the horses—it’s truly remarkable,” Catherine chuckled again.
The man, maintaining his usual indifferent expression, slightly raised and lowered the corners of his mouth in a barely noticeable manner.
Just when it seemed like he would remain silent, unexpectedly, the man spoke up.
“I, too, consider it a rare connection.”
“My word, sir, you also think highly of it!”
Catherine and Candice were simply overjoyed, as if their lives had been saved.
The atmosphere became awkward once more.
Suddenly, with a chilly demeanor, the man tilted his chin and made a remark.
“I wasn’t expecting much, but it’s quite tasty.”
“…….”
Anri and Eunice turned to look at the man, stunned by the words, “I wasn’t expecting much.”
Eunice looked slightly dismayed, but Anri glared at the man disdainfully.
They say that one word can repay a debt of a thousand gold coins, but this man had a talent for making one word hit like a blow to the neck.
The man’s reputation, which had slightly improved due to the documents regarding Marilyn’s treatment and the Wentworth estate, was now completely shattered.
However, Catherine and Candice were ecstatic about his remark on the taste and cheered as if they had fallen head over heels once again.
The man nonchalantly continued with his meal, causing the hearts of the mother and daughter to flutter.
Then, suddenly, he glanced up diagonally.
Anri, who had been looking awkwardly and disapprovingly, was taken aback. Their eyes met briefly, but she quickly pretended to lower her eyelashes naturally.
But she quickly averted her gaze and looked natural, even scratching her nose casually.
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As soon as the awkward meal ended, Anri immersed herself in the bathtub.
Perhaps due to the tension caused by Marilyn, she desperately longed for a hot bath.
After soaking her body for a while, Anri dried her wet hair.
Although she was happy that Marilyn and Kristan were reunited, she felt sorry for the two coachmen.
Of course, the doctor said that broken metatarsals and fractured ribs, like crushed eggshells, would heal with time, but she wondered how painful it must be.
“Hendel, Jeffrey. I don’t know if this will be comforting, but perhaps you can think of it as a chance to rest? Jeffrey, and especially you, Hendel, have done so much for us while you’ve been with our family.”
Anri expressed her concern as she visited the coachmen’s room.
The coachmen were so overwhelmed by Anri’s presence that they felt even more sorry, but they were also very grateful for her concern.
“Don’t worry about medical expenses or wages. I hope Jeffrey isn’t too uncomfortable. While our mansion may not be as comfortable as yours, please feel welcome. That way, you’ll recover faster.”
“Oh, Miss…”
Jeffrey was momentarily taken aback by Anri’s kindness, and soon tears welled up in his eyes.
However, he didn’t seem to grasp the hidden meaning behind Anri’s smile.
‘That way, you’ll leave our house quickly, bringing that man with you.’
“Then rest easy, both of you.”
With a graceful smile, Anri turned away.
Suddenly, she understood how Catherine felt.
If marrying off one horse was this difficult, how much harder must it be to marry off two daughters?
Meanwhile, Edwin also intended to briefly visit Jeffrey before sleeping.
However, Anri was already in the room, so he waited outside the corridor instead.
