The Stepmother Has Left - Chapter 40

Chapter 40

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After Hannah suspected their relationship, Michael decided to stop helping out after consulting with Cassia.

They didn’t want to keep showing themselves to Hannah, and anyway, there were customers who recognized Michael.

There was no need to take such a risk in the yard that had decided to close anyway.

On the day the customer came, Cassia was finishing the day by herself after work.

A strange man walked up to her and said he had something to discuss with her.

“A memorial?”

“We want to keep this gallery forever. Emperor Fontrich himself ordered it.”

He was an errand boy from the Imperial Palace, and was sent directly by the Emperor. 

“I know a lot of people are coming in to buy this place. Hand over this gallery to the Fontrich family. If the transaction is successful, 5000 gold will be awarded as a reward.”

“I want to think about it.”

The sudden news made Cassia want to tidy up her hair, so she asked him for some time.

He said he couldn’t wait for too long, went out to smoke a cigar and told her to make a decision by the time he returned.

After he left the store for a while, Cassia sat down and began to ponder seriously.

A memorial…

It would be ideal if her gallery was transferred to the Fontrich Imperial family.

Perhaps the gallery will be well preserved as a symbol to commemorate the return of the Third Prince. All the paintings will remain, too.

It was, however, the most reliable partner of any person who had ever appeared for a trade.

…But will Adolf like the news?

The fact that she had refused an interview with Hannah and that she wanted to quietly close the gallery.

One of the reasons she had been trying to be quiet all this time was because of Adolf.

He might find it unpleasant for people to find out about his past.

Just like she wanted to live here without getting caught up in the past.

As she was contemplating, she heard the messenger come back into the gallery. He came over and said to her.

“Now, let’s make a decision.”

“Okay, I’ll make a deal.”

“You thought well.”

He smiled as he expected the deal to go smoothly.

He must have thought that she would not be able to refuse easily because the person who asked to make a deal was the head of Imperial Palace.

“However, there is one condition.”

“…What is it?”

As she added, he tilted his head and looked at her. 

“This is a place where traces of the Third Prince’s stay remain. So it’s difficult for me to dispose of it with my own decision. I might think that His Majesty is using the Prince’s name.”

“…”

“Please show me proof that the Third Prince is also in favour of this transaction. Otherwise, there is no deal.”

* * *

“What?”

“This is an urgent letter from Lawrencia. They ask that you respond as soon as possible.”

Adolf looked at the rolled-up letter that Enoch, one of his closest associates, had offered to him.

Lawrencia. 

It was a nostalgic name. Adolf, who had been lying on the bed, sprang up to his feet.

He had never particularly liked the space of the Imperial Palace, but this home was his home.

Since he came here, he has been sleeping like crazy, and he has been spending his daily life focusing on relieving his travel sickness.

“Who sent it?”

He asked with a thought. Without realizing it, anticipation was rising.

‘Maybe it’s Cassia? Did she send a letter all the way here?’

The gallery’s closure and the news of the ‘hyena swarms’ aiming for it were already reported through articles.

Adolf was just wondering why Cassia suddenly sold the gallery.

‘Maybe she’s trying to come to the capital? All of a sudden, why?’

The knight who came with the news, Enoch, pondered for a moment before opening his mouth.

“I understand that the Emperor’s confidants are now in Lawrencia.”

“…Did the confidant send it? Why?”

Adolf wrinkled his brow slightly. Enoch answered.

“It seems that His Majesty is trying to make the gallery famous in Lawrencia a memorial to the Third Prince.”

“My father is doing something useless again.”

Adolf shook his head.

In fact, it was what he expected from the moment he saw the article.

He had already expected it. There was no way the Emperor, who loved him so much, would not touch the gallery.

Emperor Fontrich always wanted to raise him as his successor.

For him, a gallery in a rural village was a good item that would increase the people’s friendly awareness of Adolf, if used well.

He was not the father who would miss that opportunity. So it wasn’t surprising.

It was a pity that the person who contacted him was not Cassia, but it was interesting anyway.

‘You have to go and sign a contract on your own, but why did he suddenly contact me instead of someone else?’

Adolf’s eyes lit up with curiosity. He took the letter and opened it.

“…It seems that there was some problem in the process of purchasing the gallery.”

“Yes.”

As he read the whole letter, Adolf’s eyes were gradually coloured with joyful light.

“It was because of Cassia.”

“What?”

“…She thought of me again.”

Adolf grinned. A happy smile spread across his lips. He ordered the knight not to turn around.

“Enoch, I must reply to Lawrencia. Let me write it myself.”

“Yes, Your Highness, I’ll get it ready.”

At Adolf’s instructions, Enoch prepared a piece of paper and a quill to write the letter on.

Adolf took them, put them on the table next to the bed, and began to write quickly.

Enoch went outside when instructed to roll up a letter containing elegant handwriting and the reply.

The empty room. 

Adolf stood up. The curtain fluttered in the wind as he opened the bedroom window.

He murmured as he looked at the bustling scene of the capital and the Imperial palace that stretched out under the high field of vision.

“I know it’s greedy, but I want you to come to the capital.”

‘…Then I would really take good care of you.’

A nostalgic smile spread across Adolf’s lips as he whispered.

* * *

“Can you see it?”

The next morning, a member of the Imperial Palace who came to the gallery opened up Adolf’s letter to Cassia.

“This is a letter written in Your Highness’ own handwriting, in favour of this transaction.”

When she read the letter, it was written in Adolf’s elegant handwriting that he was in favour of making this place his own memorial.

Now that the conditions were met, Cassia was able to talk to the messenger comfortably.

“All right, let’s make a deal.”

All the rights to this place were thus transferred to the hands of the Imperial family.

Shortly after he left, her dealings with the Imperial family spread through newspapers and word of mouth.

People were enthusiastic about the news that Adolf’s place would be turned into a memorial.

To them, the fact that the Third Prince returned after 7 years was heroic.

Since the Third Prince first appeared in society, many said he would be the next Emperor, saying that he had excellent appearance and intelligence.

Time passed quickly.

After dealing with the problems of the gallery, Cassia proceeded to prepare to leave for the capital.

She bought a train ticket for the long journey from Lawrencia to the capital, and a wagon to carry her luggage.

Michael stayed by her side and supported her the whole time she was preparing to leave.

The house she would live in in the capital, and all the documents she would need to settle there.

Michael helped her with such preparations and was always by her side.

When she woke up, it was the day before she left Lawrencia.

* * *

One day before leaving Lawrencia.

Thanks to the preparations for leaving in advance, the day was relatively empty, and she had nothing much to do.

She decided to look back on her past time here with Michael and undo her regrets together.

Her luggage was already loaded in the wagon and left first for the capital.

Michael had the Count’s men airlift ready-to-cooked food for her.

They were sitting at the table in our empty house, eating food together.

“The Count’s chef’s taste is as good as ever. It’s been a while since I ate it, so I feel like I’m back in time.”

“It’s always the same taste.”

In particular, the steak grilled moderately was filled with the chef’s unique sauce and taste.

She was moved because the wonderful food tasted exactly the same as the ones she got when she went to Diana’s house to play as a child.

“Isn’t the chef’s name Anna? She must be quite old now.”

“That’s right. Now that she’s a grandmother, she critisizes me every day.”

Since childhood, the chef, Michael and Diana have been together, almost like family.

Cassia smiled at the happy face that emerged from the blurred memories, and Michael looked at her.

“I’m the owner, but sometimes I feel it’s unfair when I receive threats that aren’t such threats.”

Joyful, joking words came out of his mouth.

“Seeing that you love food, I’m sure you’ll have to take care of yourself sooner or later.”

“Yes, I will. I’ve wanted to see her for a long, long time, Michael.”

He burst into laughter as she continued to speak with a pleasant laugh.

The atmosphere was good. After we finished eating, they sat next to each other and drank wine.

Cassia didn’t usually enjoy drinking that much, but she felt a little excited today.

In fact, the taste of the wine she hadn’t tasted in a long time was also exquisite, thanks to Michael’s careful selection.

The aroma of moderately well-fermented grapes and alcohol gave the nose and tongue a pleasant sensation.

As she was drinking wine happily with a slightly flushed face, Michael looked her in the eye and said, “I’m sorry for breaking the atmosphere.”

“Yeah. Tell me, Michael.”

“I mean, going to the capital…”

His voice faltered. 

Cassia looked at him. 

Michael opened his mouth to speak, “Can’t you just think about it one last time?”

***