Chapter 202:
Our New Home
THEIR DAYS TOGETHER WERE quiet and peaceful. It was the sort of peace that used to make Violette feel trapped and brace herself for a coming storm. Now, however, she just knew that this peace was normal; that it was with her every day because the storm had finally passed her for good.
“Everything’s ready to go on this end, Lady Violette…”
“I’m ready too. Our ride’s already downstairs, so let’s go.”
“Are you sure you want me to come as well, my lady?”
“Of course. This’ll be your home too, Marin.”
“Since I’m a live-in servant, I suppose you could say it’s my home, in a way.”
“I already told Yulan you’d be coming along anyway.”
In the days leading to graduation, most of the students enjoyed some time off. Even Yulan came to a stopping point as he prepared for the student council’s transfer of power. It wasn’t until a few days earlier that the long put-off visit to his birth home had finally been scheduled.
Violette had heard about Yulan’s first home ever since they were children, but she’d never visited it. His birth mother was no longer there, yet Violette felt a bit of the same nervousness that hung over her when she visited the Cugurs estate. She didn’t need to feel uncomfortable, though; Chesuit had already taken up residence there as a servant, and Marin would be with her.
“You haven’t been there yet either, have you, Lady Violette?”
“No, I haven’t. I knew about Yulan’s childhood home, but even he didn’t seem all that interested in it.”
Yulan had only lived with his birth mother for a little while, and he’d spent even less time in the home they were about to visit. Even though it was his property, it wasn’t the kind of place they could’ve tramped carelessly to as kids. Thus, Violette had completely forgotten its existence until the house came up in conversation.
“It’s not exactly deep in the mountains, but it’s surrounded by greenery, and the air is clear,” Violette told Marin.
Although the mansion was large, the commute to the city took much longer. It was the perfect place to hide one’s mistress and bastard son. The residence was far from the outside world; if it vanished into thin air, nobody would even have noticed. Indeed, Yulan’s mother hadn’t left a trace of herself behind there.
“I hope you and the other servants won’t find shopping too difficult, Marin.”
“Well, I’m never leaving your side, my lady. And Chesuit has always cared more about the quality of groceries than the distance traveled to procure them.”
“You know, that’s right. He has.”
Once, Chesuit had disappeared, then suddenly reappeared three days later. When eventually asked, he revealed he’d gone to the other coast to buy spices. Traveling several hours was no different from doing so for a few moments to Chesuit.
“I never imagined he’d quit working at the house either,” Violette said.
“Well…he’s a free spirit. Nothing he ever does will surprise me now.”
“True.” Violette giggled. “Still…I didn’t think he’d come with us.”
Violette had thought Marin would be the only servant who joined her. She’d known Chesuit longer than Marin, but because of that long association, she knew Chesuit wasn’t easily swayed by sentimentality or personal loyalties.
Therefore, when Yulan told her that Chesuit had resigned from the Vahan estate to come work for them, she was quite surprised. When she learned that Marin had quit too, and that Yulan had hired her, the surprise escalated to bewilderment. She was shocked that Marin had left the family estate, and equally shocked that Yulan had employed the maid. It only reaffirmed Violette’s faint suspicion that all her closest associates were quick to bounce back after a loss.
“All this Chesuit talk makes me want to eat his chocolate tart again.”
“I believe he’s already prepared one for you, my lady. We’re taking our lunch at the house, aren’t we?”
“Yes. I wonder how long touring it will take?”
“I’ve heard that the garden, at least, is quite large.”
The house had been prepared for a mistress, but by the crown. In a way, it had probably been her severance pay. One thing about the residence was certainly clear: It was far too grand a place for a woman to live alone with her baby.
“I’m not sure why…but I think I’m nervous to see this home now,” Violette confessed.
“Me too, my lady…”