HOMA18CL 08
Episode 8: A Magical Thing
◈ A Week Later, Baron Godwin’s House.
When over a week passed without any contact from Viscount Monson, the Baroness Godwin treated her daughter, Lydia, with even greater sarcasm.
“What did I tell you? I told you absolutely not to wear that dress, but you insisted on forcing yourself into it, and look where it got you. How could a man like Viscount Monson possibly like a woman wearing such a shabby dress? There are countless women all around him who are dressed exquisitely. How awful you must have looked?”
“……”
“You acted like you were so smart all by yourself, but how can you be so clueless about how the world works? What man do you think would like a woman who doesn’t even know how to groom herself and just buries herself in those useless, difficult books?”
“……”
Lydia remained silent despite her mother’s venomous remarks.
“Ugh—I’m so frustrated! You foolish girl, you make my heart burst. Anyway, I absolutely must get Smith married next year, so I’m planning to expand your room to make a bigger one. You’ll have to use the room attached to the backyard from now on. Understand that you are moving your room today!”
Smith, scheduled to be married next year, was Lydia’s younger brother, the youngest and only male sibling in the family. The Baroness Godwin was already putting a lot of effort into preparing for the new daughter-in-law, as her younger brother’s marriage was as important as a ceremony to continue the Godwin barony’s line.
“If things had gone well with Viscount Monson and you had married into an Earl’s family, how much face would your siblings have saved? How much will the new daughter-in-law ridicule our family when she sees an old woman like you living here? Ugh—I can’t even look at you, so hurry down to the yard and tidy up your room!”
.
.The small room attached to the backyard had been used as a storage room for a long time. Although the servants had cleaned it, the uninhabited room was damp and utterly desolate.
‘It will be quite cold in the winter… but still, this is not bad, considering.’
Although she was forced to move rooms, Lydia actually felt a sense of relief at the thought of being able to avoid her mother’s nagging for a while.
‘If I hang curtains, move the bed near the window, and place a few potted plants, it will be quite pretty.’
Under the pressure to marry, she hadn’t been able to read the books she loved for a long time. But at the thought of being able to immerse herself comfortably in books starting today, she felt much better.
‘Right. Marriage was never in my cards, anyway…’
She felt rather ashamed of how desperate she had been to get married for the past few months.
◈ Five Days Later, Baron Godwin’s House.
“Why… without any notice?”
The Baroness Godwin’s face turned completely white. It was because of Tae-oh and Viscount Edward Monson standing at the door.
“I am truly sorry. The Viscount has been busy with urgent matters and hasn’t been able to see Miss Godwin. He felt bad about the delay and was eager to meet her quickly, so I brought him here just like this.”
Tae-oh deliberately paid a surprise visit to Lydia’s house without calling ahead. His intention was to show the Viscount her genuine, unadorned self.
Viscount Monson, who was in on the plan, played along.
“Baroness, I am truly sorry. I’ve had some things come up lately. If I don’t see Miss Godwin today, it will be difficult to contact her for a long time again.”
The Baroness was flustered and didn’t know what to do.
“Still, you should have called before coming! Well… w-wait a moment, then. Please give me a little time. I will have Lydia prepare and come out. She is a mess right now.”
Viscount Monson smiled and dissuaded her.
“No, what special preparation is needed? I just want to quickly see her face and apologize for my late contact. I’m short on time right now.”
The Baroness turned around anxiously and said.
“Anyway… anyway, just a moment! Please sit here for a moment. I will have tea prepared first, Melanie! Melanie!“
Tae-oh, seeing the Baroness rushing into the kitchen, quietly called over a maid standing some distance away.
“Where is Miss Lydia Godwin?”
“Pardon? Oh… well…”
“The Viscount is very busy right now. We plan to leave quickly after just a brief viewing, so please tell me. Otherwise, he might leave without even seeing her.”
“……”
“Hurry.”
At the urging that they might just leave, the hesitant maid answered as if she had no choice.
“The young mistress… is in the backyard.”
“Then, please lead the Viscount there immediately.”
“Pardon?”
“You must take the Viscount to Miss Godwin right now. We don’t have time! Please hurry.”
“Ah… yes.”
Tae-oh winked at Viscount Monson, who smiled faintly and followed the maid.
.
Having descended to the backyard, the maid spoke cautiously to Viscount Monson.
“Viscount, could you wait here for just a moment?”
“?”
“I will quickly go and inform the young mistress. If we go as we are, I think she will be very surprised.”
The maid quickly finished speaking, turned the corner, and rushed off somewhere.
‘How much of a mess is she in that they are all making such a fuss? The makeup was a little heavy that day, but is she unrecognizable without being adorned?’
Unable to contain his curiosity, Viscount Monson stretched his neck out and secretly peeked into the backyard.
‘…!’
In the small yard, bathed in bright sunlight, a wooden bench stood. On it, a woman was loosely reading a book, her abundant blonde hair casually tied up, leaning comfortably against the bench.
Her smooth legs were resting easily on the corner of a nearby tree, and her bare toes wiggled pleasantly in the warm sunlight.
It was Lydia Godwin.
Viscount Monson walked slowly around the corner and stepped into the yard, like a man possessed. Her clear eyes focused on the book, her sharp nose, and her cherry-red lips… it was like looking at a beautiful watercolor painting.
If one were to choose the most relaxed and happy person in the world at this moment, it would undoubtedly be Lydia Godwin.
And Viscount Monson was utterly captivated by her unpretentious appearance. The Viscount, whose heart had been completely stolen by this impression of Lydia Godwin, was entirely different from the one he had met before.
The maid, who had rushed over, whispered into Lydia’s ear that the guest was right next to her.
Startled, Lydia quickly smoothed her hiked-up skirt and jumped to her feet. Turning around from the bench, Lydia met the Viscount’s eyes and questioned him accusingly.
“Who are you to trespass here…?”
But soon,
“No… you are…?”
Lydia, recognizing the guest as Viscount Edward Monson, looked greatly flustered.
“Why are you here…?”
“Miss Godwin. If I have been rude, I sincerely apologize.”
Despite the Viscount’s polite apology, Lydia was extremely angry.
“Surely, you haven’t come all the way here just to see me?”
“Pardon? Ah, yes. That’s right.”
“I am quite displeased. Your attitude at our first meeting, showing up at my house without warning like this, and coming silently into this backyard—it is all extremely rude. Do I look that easy to trifle with just because I’m old and unmarried? Please stop disrespecting me. Please leave now!”
“Miss Godwin, please calm down and hear me out.”
“I don’t know why you’ve come to see me, but I’d like you to simply leave. I find this extremely unpleasant, no matter how I think about it.”
Lydia turned and tried to enter her room, radiating cold rejection.
“Miss Godwin! Wait, just a moment!”
“?”
“I believe Mr. Theo Sanderson is a very special person. It was his introduction that led me to meet you. If it hadn’t been for Mr. Sanderson’s introduction, I wouldn’t have even made an appointment to meet.”
Lydia’s hand, gripping the doorknob, paused.
The feeling was mutual for Lydia. It was because of Tae-oh Sanderson’s introduction that she had met the Viscount with a certain expectation.
“In my life, I have never been swayed by anyone’s words. However, Mr. Sanderson was truly different in every way. The person that such a special man actively introduced is you, Miss Godwin.”
“……”
“I had great expectations for our meeting, based on Mr. Sanderson’s confident claim that he, who seems to see through all the world’s principles, could find the lifelong partner I had been searching for.”
“……”
“But honestly, at our last meeting, I thought Mr. Sanderson was wrong.”
Viscount Monson stepped closer and continued.
“But today, I think I understand why he was so eager to introduce Miss Godwin to me. Mr. Sanderson was confident that we could form a lifelong, good relationship, and only today do I vaguely comprehend the meaning of his words, despite my own foolishness.”
Lydia turned abruptly, a look of incredulity on her face. She shot back at the Viscount.
“Suddenly? You suddenly feel such conviction after a second look? I don’t know what caused your mind to change so easily, but your fickle attitude also makes me very angry, as it feels like you’re mocking me. Please leave immediately!”
But Viscount Monson suddenly pointed to the book in her hand.
“Miss Godwin, that book you are holding…”
Lydia looked confused by the sudden mention of the book.
“?”
“What is that book?”
Lydia held up the book in her hand and countered.
“…Why do you ask about this book?”
“That book… why are you reading that book? The cover is tattered; have you read it that much?”
“…”
“It’s important to me. Can you tell me why you are reading that book?”
Lydia was bewildered by the irrelevant talk about the book.
“Why am I reading it? I’m reading it because it’s a book I like.”
Viscount Monson moved closer to Lydia.
“You, a woman, like Descartes?”
“Is there a problem with a woman liking Descartes?”
The Viscount, his face excited, pulled Lydia by the hand.
“Oh, what are you doing?”
“Here—please sit on the bench. And let’s sit and talk slowly. Shall we?”
“?”
The Viscount led her to the bench. Although Lydia was still bewildered by his continued strange behavior, an inexplicable pull made her sit down with him.
“Miss Godwin? Isn’t this Descartes’ ‘Meditations on First Philosophy’?”
“…Yes, it is. And?”
“It’s not an easy book. When did you start reading it?”
“……”
Lydia just stared blankly in reply, so the Viscount suddenly began to softly recite a passage from the book.
“This is confirmed by the fact that… we cannot understand any body except as something divisible… and conversely, we cannot understand any mind except as something indivisible.”
It was a recitation close to instinct, like humming the lyrics of a favorite song.
But Lydia stared at the Viscount with wide eyes. Viscount Monson was reciting the very passage she loved most! As Lydia looked intently at him in surprise, the Viscount nodded as if he understood.
“My thought was correct, wasn’t it? Miss Godwin, you like this book as much as I do?”
“……”
Lydia didn’t answer. But all the answers were contained in her surprised eyes.
The Viscount asked with a gentle smile.
“Do you perhaps like other philosophy as well?”
“……”
“Miss Godwin, it doesn’t matter if marriage isn’t the purpose. Why don’t we take the time to get to know each other starting today? I believe there is a clear reason why Mr. Sanderson, with his exceptional insight and wisdom, tried so hard to introduce us. So, I would like to talk with Miss Godwin about many things. Somehow… I feel that Mr. Sanderson’s words might be right.”
“……”
.
The Baroness Godwin, followed by a maid carrying warm black tea, marched angrily toward the backyard. The Baroness openly vented her displeasure at Tae-oh, who was following her.
“Mr. Sanderson! This is truly too much! How could you bring the Viscount here when my daughter looks like a beggar? Even though you’re a man, didn’t you know how important a woman’s grooming is?”
“……”
“I fully explained to you that I was worried about not being able to marry off Lydia, so how could you do this when you clearly knew the circumstances?”
“That is why I came without calling ahead.”
The Baroness Godwin glared at Tae-oh.
“Hah—What did you say? Are you saying you deliberately came without contacting us? Mr. Sanderson, you were a strange person indeed, weren’t you?”
But the maid, who had turned into the backyard first, suddenly stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing something.
“Mistress!”
“What is it? Why aren’t you going faster?”
“Mistress… look over there.”
“What?”
Stepping into the backyard, the Baroness was left with a blank, dumbfounded expression.
“No… what is that?”
On the bench where the Baroness’s gaze settled, Viscount Monson and Lydia were sitting side by side. They were facing each other, talking affectionately like an old couple.
The Baroness, unable to believe the sight, looked at Tae-oh.
Tae-oh, who arrived shortly after, watched the scene with a pleased expression and spoke.
“You see, Baroness. This is why I came by suddenly.”
“No, what on earth is happening? Did you use some kind of magic, Mr. Sanderson? My daughter said he barely spoke to her and was completely cold. How could they become so intimate…?”
Tae-oh smiled and replied.
“Sometimes, a magical thing happens when you do nothing.”
“Pardon?”
“Haha, in any case, congratulations in advance, Baroness. It seems you’ll need to start preparing for your daughter and the Viscount’s marriage soon.”
At the word “marriage,” the Baroness’s eyes widened.
“M-marriage preparations?”
“Don’t you know yet? Doesn’t the beautiful harmony of those two people seem to reach all the way here?”
“……”
To be able to meet the best ideal match who is so compatible, as they have, is perhaps a blessing in a short lifetime. And Tae-oh, who had accomplished this difficult feat even in this past life, was immersed in a long-lost feeling of proud accomplishment.
‘Yes. This is why I worked so hard at this job. Hehehe.’
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