There is no happy ending

EPISODE:9.3

Moening trained its heirs from the time they were crawling, a training that created them as heirs before it created them as human beings. Bianca was confident.

Bianca jerked her chin at the stack of books. Rayman craned his neck stiffly as if he were making a squeaky noise.

‘You don’t have to look again, Ray, that’s sixteen.’

In the very short time Bianca had seen him, he was a man of many expressions. His face went white at Kufa’s words.

As he counted the books, he scratched my head with both hands. My neatly tied hair was disheveled.

‘Uh, uh…… you shouldn’t do that, why sixteen? ‘There’s The Arrogance of Britain, there’s An Introduction to Economic Warfare, there’s Schwilz’s Neutrality.’

Rayman, who had been studying the books intently, reciting their names one by one, let out a shriek of horror and jumped in place.

Bianca gasped, and guppa looked at him with a look that said, ‘He’s doing it again.

‘It’s …….’

‘Why, what happened?’

‘My most important book is missing…….’

Rayman’s face contorted as if he was about to cry. Bianca thought he was cute.

But only for a moment.

‘Do you know me?’

Guppa said.

He wasn’t having any of Rayman’s silliness. He even kicked Rayman and Bianca out, telling them to go away because he was going to take a nap. It was a depressing end.

Kufa’s house was on a hill, and Rayman’s shoulders sagged as he walked downhill. He looked pitiful.

Even Bianca felt a little sorry for him.

If Bianca had hurt her knee, he could have given her the money to have it fixed and called it a day. Instead, Rayman shuffled his feet as if he didn’t know what to do, abandoned the book, and took Bianca to the doctor’s office.

Bianca looked at his sagging shoulders and said.

‘What’s the name of the book you lost?’

‘It’s ……, isn’t it?’

‘The name of the book you lost, because I’ll reimburse you for it.’

As if he’d been told something he hadn’t expected to hear, Reiman asked.

‘Why?’

He had been expecting the Book Name to come back, but he hadn’t expected the question, ‘Why?’ to come back. Bianca shook her head.

‘You don’t like it?’

‘What? I don’t hate it, but…… you don’t have to.’

‘Why? You said it was an important book. I guess I’m partly to blame for its loss.’

Bianca sincerely thought so. If she hadn’t taken him to the councilman, he wouldn’t have lost the book.

And when she saw Rayman’s grass die and shrivel up…… it seemed like it was her fault.

I guess it was because he was a good person who could do favors for others out of the goodness of his heart.

After hearing Bianca’s words, Rayman shook his head. It was a very strong rejection.

‘You don’t have to do that, no, it’s okay, I’m sure I can find another bookstore that will have it!’

Bianca hasn’t had much experience with rejection in her life.

In the Moening family, she’s the heir apparent, and everyone cherishes her. Outside of the marquisate, however, she was different. It was a morning in Falborne, where Bianca was arrogant and venomous, and few people could point it out.

It wasn’t that Bianca’s proposal was a bad one. Bianca was surprisingly sure of her deal.

Her proposals often resulted in a win-win situation. As a result, it was rare for her to be rejected.

Bianca’s eyes narrowed at the unexpected rejection. Her lips pouted. Bianca tugged at Rayman’s sleeve as he shook his head.

‘Why? Why don’t you like it? You said it was important, but it wasn’t?’

‘No! It’s important, it’s important…….’

Bianca tilted her head slightly to one side and looked up at Rayman. He looked at her face and then scratched the back of my neck.

At first glance, his ears flared red.

‘But isn’t it weird?’

‘What’s weird, I don’t get it.’

‘Well, ……I dropped the book because I bumped into Bianca, and that’s why she got hurt, and that’s why I took her to Mr Gufa to take responsibility.’

There’s no reason for Bianca to be responsible, Rayman said.

…… He had a point.

Objectively, there was no reason for Bianca to ask for Rayman’s book.

If he had kept his eyes open and not bumped into Bianca, she wouldn’t have been hurt. Then he wouldn’t have had to take her to the councilor. He could have left the book alone and not lost it.

But why?

Bianca didn’t like this situation at all.

‘……I hate you.’

Bianca said, looking him right in the eye. His hand stopped scratching the back of his neck.

It hadn’t been long, Bianca thought since they’d arrived in Banog, but the sky had gradually turned red, like red paint.

In the evening light, Rayman’s red hair was as clear as a dying flame.

‘Uh…… that…….’

Rayman seemed to struggle with the choice of words.

Bianca likes things to be certain. She had her preferences, but other things had to be black and white.

Call her selfish, but she can’t help it. She’s been that way all her life. She will continue to be that way. It was not something that could be easily erased.

She had endured the hot weather in Banoque, the hot tea served by the immigrant madam in the wardrobe room, and before that, the stress of the journey to Banoque, without showing it.

Considering him, Bianca must not be the most patient person…… burned inside. Maybe he’d been waiting too long.

‘Answer.’

Bianca urged him to answer. Rayman couldn’t put it off any longer.

‘Not the book, then.’

The corners of Rayman’s mouth curved gently. He did. Ever since Bianca had forgiven him, he had been constantly on the lookout for ways to make her feel better. The corners of his mouth curled up into a smile, and his eyes twinkled.

It was enough to make Bianca think it would be okay to listen to him for once.

‘Do you mind if I ask you to buy me dinner tonight?’

‘Not a book?’

‘……Well, that. There might not be any more copies of that book in Bannog, because if I’m not mistaken, I’ve turned every bookstore in Bannog on its head.’

Rayman scratched the back of his neck as he said that. Bianca watched and nodded slowly.

Well, so be it. Morning’s name gave Bianca almost unlimited power, but there were …… limits.

If she had more time, she would have sent someone to the capital, or perhaps to another city, to retrieve the book, but three days was not enough time.

‘Okay, fine.’

She didn’t like the idea, but she didn’t hate it either. Bianca pulled one corner of her mouth into a pout and released her grip on Rayman’s hand.

‘But first, I’d like to change, because I don’t want to wander around in dirt and torn clothes.’

The setting sky meant it was time for Jade to head back to her quarters. This time, Rayman nodded at Bianca’s words.

‘Looks like it,’ he added briefly. It was the kind of nod that suggests he’ll go along with whatever Bianca says.

Down the hill, Bianca and Rayman had come up, through the square, and after a long walk, there was a building that stood out. It was a tall building made of white marble with romantic nooks and crannies.

It was where Bianca unpacked her luggage. The building was imposing, built in an older architectural style that was not unique to Banog.

Rayman’s expression, which had been strange the entire time he had been behind Bianca, became even stranger when he saw the building. He asked.

‘Is that where you’re staying?’

‘It’s not much of a place, is it?’

‘Yeah, it is.’

It was a stupid question. Bianca didn’t pay much attention to Raymon’s question.

He was cute, and she was vaguely fond of him, but she didn’t feel like sharing details. There was still some distance to go.

When they reached the front of the inn, a dark brown-haired man with his back to them was stomping his feet. White skin, dressed in clothes that didn’t belong in Bannog. It was Jade.

Bianca’s face crumpled.

‘Jade?’

Jade’s head turned at Bianca’s call, her face full of concern. Jade quickly looked Bianca over. Jade’s jaw clenched when she saw the dirt and tears in Bianca’s skirt. Swallowing hard, he opened his mouth to speak.

‘Mistress.’

‘Are you Bianca’s servant?’

Rayman asked at the same time as Jade’s call. Bianca nodded slowly. Rayman looked at Jade. Jade did the same.

Rayman looked at Jade, his gaze darting to the right as if remembering something. Jade stepped forward with a hard expression, putting distance between her and Bianca. Jade didn’t know who Rayman was.

‘Miss, where have you been, do you have any idea how worried I…… have been?’

‘Don’t fuss. Nothing happened. Something happened in Bannog.’

‘Not even in Bannog!’

Jade added, ‘And you hurt your knee, too. Bianca didn’t seem to mind, but Jade did. Jade lowered both eyebrows and tapped his foot. Bianca couldn’t understand why he was doing that at all.

This was where Jade and Bianca’s differences most often manifested themselves.

To take Morning’s surname or not to take it. Bianca never treated Jade like a brother. Rather,…… she saw him as something she could hold in her hands and shake at will, sometimes like a well-behaved dog.

The dog could worry about his owner. It had to. A dog that didn’t care about its owner was better off not having one.

That was Bianca’s way of thinking. But being worried didn’t mean she didn’t care, and she didn’t like it.

The smile that had often tugged at the corners of her mouth when she was with Rayman was no longer there. Bianca sighed deeply.

‘You’re being presumptuous, Jade.’

Jade’s expression twisted.

‘You think I might be worried about you.’

I’m your brother, Jade’s voice seemed to echo in the back of her mind. Of course, that didn’t impress Bianca.

‘I didn’t give you permission.’

Once the words were out of her mouth, Jade could barely contain herself.

Bianca didn’t punish Jade or get angry. Because Rayman was there, she simply told Jade to get her act together. She walked past Jade, who looked hurt.

Rayman was torn between the hurt servant and Bianca’s suddenly blunt behavior but soon chose to wait for her at the entrance, which seemed a better option.

Bianca found her clothes as soon as she entered my room. Inside the room, as she had expected, the clothes she had bought briefly today were neatly hung up. Bianca picked up the forsythia-coloured dress in front of her.

She then changed and left the room, tossing her original clothes on a chair. Jade will take care of those clothes in my absence.

When Bianca reached the entrance to the building, Rayman was there, but Jade was not. Bianca’s gaze scanned the street. It was a fleeting glance, but Rayman caught it and spoke.

‘Bianca’s servant is upstairs.’

His voice sounded unappealing. Bianca asked.

‘Did he cry?’

‘No, I didn’t cry, just…….’

‘I’m glad you didn’t look too bad.’

‘You sounded worried about her, Bianca.’

‘That’s what she always tells the kids, that it’s my choice that matters, and she’s never stuck to it.’

Rayman still looked like he was thinking about something, but then he shook his head. He shook his head, realizing there was no point in thinking about it. After all, it was the master’s job to deal with servants and servants, not Reiman’s to ask questions.

He could see Jade’s face was sad, and he felt sorry for her, for he was a sympathetic man, but he also didn’t want to offend Bianca, so he turned the question around.

‘Do you like seafood? If you’re in Bannog, you should eat seafood.’

Bianca was not a big fan of seafood. To be fair, she had a lot of reservations about it. Anything with a fishy flavor didn’t satisfy her. But she didn’t say so.

‘This is my first day in Bannog, so I don’t know …… anywhere. I’ll go where you lead me.’

‘Okay.’

Bianca and Rayman walked toward the restaurant, both scantily clad but looking more formal than anyone else. I could see them from a mile away.

As Jade returned to her room in tears, she looked out the window and saw a small smile tugging at the corner of Bianca’s mouth.