The Forest of Glass — Chapter 7

LYERVINE MANSION, "MARQUISATE OF EMILHEIM"

THE GRAND DUKE'S RESIDENCE IS THE LARGEST IN THE CAPITAL,

BUT THE MARQUISATE IS ACTUALLY WIDER BECAUSE IT INCLUDES THE FOREST.

A FOREST? DO YOU MEAN THE HEINEN FOREST?

YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

AND I HEARD LADY ALICIA EMILHEIM LIVES SEPARATELY IN THE ANNEX.

ALONE IN THE ANNEX?

YES. I SUPPOSE IT'S BECAUSE HER MOVEMENT IS LIMITED, ISN'T IT?

IS IT OUT OF CONSIDERATION?

OR...

IS IT EXCLUSION?

WELCOME.

I AM BERTO WATSON, THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF LYERVINE.

I AM LUHAN ESTRICHEN.

I WILL GUIDE YOU TO THE YOUNG LADY.

PLEASE, COME THIS WAY.

THEY CALLED HIM THE BLOOD WOLF...!

IS THAT MAN REALLY THE MASSACRE DEMON OF THE BATTLEFIELD?

I THOUGHT HE WOULD BE SAVAGE AND OVERBEARING...!

HE'S SUCH A TALL AND HANDSOME MAN!

Our Lady Is So Lucky!

IT IS HERE.

IT'S A TEA ROOM DECORATED WITH PLANTS THE LADY GREW HERSELF.

IF YOU WAIT HERE, SHE WILL BE DOWN SHORTLY.

THEN I SHALL WAIT OUTSIDE, YOUNG MASTER.

FINE.

A WOMAN WHO CAN'T EVEN SEE IS TOUCHING DIRT AND PLANTING GRASS AND FLOWERS?

HOW RIDICULOUS.

I AM ALICIA EMILHEIM.

I AM LUHAN AB ESTRICHEN, MY LADY.

THE TEA ROOM IS BEAUTIFUL.

THANK YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENT.

I WORKED HARD ON IT WITHOUT REST.

PERHAPS YOU ARE DISAPPOINTED?

...I AM ALREADY AWARE THAT YOU CANNOT SEE, MY LADY.

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE.

I SUPPOSE THIS MARRIAGE PROPOSAL ISN’T PLEASING TO YOU EITHER, SIR.

EITHER...?

MY ANSWER MUST HAVE DISPLEASED YOU. YES, IT IS NOT PLEASING.

THERE’S NO WAY I’D BE HAPPY ABOUT IT, OF COURSE.

...I HOPE THIS MARRIAGE FOLLOWS A PATH THAT IS BENEFICIAL TO BOTH OF US.

BENEFICIAL?

SINCE THERE WILL BE NO LOVE, SHOULDN’T IT AT LEAST BE BENEFICIAL?

I’M CURIOUS HOW YOU INTEND TO BE HELPFUL.

OR IS IT THAT YOU NEED MY HELP?

I WILL NOT INTERFERE IN YOUR LIFE AT ALL, SIR.

EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN A FAITHFUL MARRIED LIFE, I DO NOT MIND.

THIS LADY–

DOES SHE EVEN KNOW WHAT SHE'S SAYING?

WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING AT?

ISN'T THAT ONLY A GOOD THING FOR ME?

NO, I HAVE A CONDITION AS WELL.

PLEASE LET ME STAY HERE EVEN AFTER THE MARRIAGE.

I WANT EVERYTHING, INCLUDING MY SERVANTS, TO REMAIN IN PLACE.

IS IT BECAUSE OF YOUR EYES?

BEING UNABLE TO SEE... COMES WITH MORE DIFFICULTIES THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.

YOU WILL GAIN MANY THINGS, SO PLEASE LOSE THIS MUCH FOR ME.

A PATH THAT IS BENEFICIAL TO BOTH OF US...

IT'S NOT A BAD PROPOSAL.

I FEEL AS THOUGH I'VE ACHIEVED MY AIM.

STILL, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS.

...IS IT FLOWERS?

YES. I THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR A PROPOSAL.

THEY ARE BLUE POPPIES.

AH, MY APOLOGIES.

I MADE A POINTLESS EXPLANATION WHEN YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THEM ANYWAY.

...I HAVE SEEN BLUE POPPIES BEFORE.

YOU HAVE BROUGHT SUCH PRECIOUS FLOWERS.

THANK YOU.

WHAT ON EARTH AM I DOING...?

IS THE KISS OF OATH ALL THAT'S LEFT NOW?

SIR?

SIR...! WAIT A MOMENT...

IT'S A RING....

YES. IT'S AN ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR A PROPOSAL.

SO WE ARE ENDING UP MARRIED WHILE KNOWING NOTHING BUT EACH OTHER'S NAMES.

SIR... LET US BE FRIENDS.

FRIENDS?

YES. LET US... GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER SLOWLY.

...?

I WONDER.