The Serpent of Paradise - Chapter 35

Similar situations often arose in business. Lies that slipped naturally into a conversation to give the other party confidence. Such things had to be said without hesitation. Only then would the other person believe he knew what he was talking about and follow his lead. So this was no different. What was so difficult about making up a plausible name for a weed no one knew the proper name of anyway?

Moreover, seeing the great expectation in the eyes gazing at him made him feel even more compelled to do so. His mind began calculating rapidly. After a split second, Mikhail smiled and answered, “I don’t know either.”

“…Yes?”

Just as he expected. Anastasia looked surprised, then her shoulders drooped. Did she really have to be that disappointed merely because he didn’t know the name of one insignificant flower?

Mikhail felt slightly wronged, but patiently asked, “Why do you want to know the name of a weed like this?”

“This one….”

Anastasia crouched down and looked at the weed’s flower.

“It blooms even in winter.”

“…?”

“Everything else dies in winter, but sometimes this blooms between the snow. That’s why I was curious.”

Did it? He had never looked closely at flowers growing by the roadside, so he had no particular knowledge of them. Watching the disappointed Anastasia, Mikhail collected himself and said what he had truly intended to say.

“Then would you like to go find the name of that flower?”

“Huh? Where?”

At his suggestion that they go somewhere, Anastasia sprang to her feet in alarm. When anxiety appeared on her face, Mikhail quickly reassured her.

“We won’t go far. The answer should be right over there.”

Mikhail answered as he looked toward the mansion. Once Anastasia realized they wouldn’t be leaving Edenhurst, she finally relaxed and followed behind him.

“Are you going to ask the gardeners?”

“No. They probably have a name they call that flower, but it won’t be precise.”

If the flower grew throughout Novgod, it was probably called something different in each region. He could simply tell her one of those names, but Mikhail wanted to give her its proper name.

When Mikhail passed through the same door they had come out of and began climbing the main staircase, Anastasia hesitated for a moment before abruptly grabbing his hand.

‘It seems she still thinks I need support.’

This was probably Anastasia’s nature. Even when she was afraid, she braved that fear if someone else needed her help. Mikhail found that nature, so different from his own, both pitiful and amusing. Those who lived kindly and virtuously according to the word of a god who didn’t even exist. That must be why she remained prostrate and silent despite being abused for so many years. A weak and docile nature. It was also the kind Mikhail despised.

Suddenly, he became curious. How would she react if he shook off the hand holding his now? What would she say if he took back everything he gave her and drove her into the basement again? What would happen if he cleared away the lavish meals and served her food that even Sokolov’s dogs wouldn’t eat? She would probably….

‘…accept it.’

She would be bewildered at first, but soon accept her circumstances. She wouldn’t resent anyone and would simply believe it was her fate. A fate given to her by God.

Mikhail couldn’t imagine Anastasia hating or resenting anyone. To the point that he wondered what someone would have to do to earn such feelings from this woman.

Mikhail slowly climbed the staircase one step at a time. If Igor had seen him nearby, he would have looked at Mikhail as though asking what he was up to now. Fortunately, neither Igor nor anyone else was there to witness them.

Mikhail deliberately leaned toward Anastasia as she clutched his hand and struggled. He must have been quite heavy, and seeing her strain until her face turned red made him feel sorry for her even as he wondered how long she could endure it.

In the end, Mikhail didn’t lift his weight from her until they reached the second floor. By the time they arrived, Anastasia’s legs were trembling as though all her strength had been drained away.

‘She’s still this weak.’

He thought she looked much better, but apparently she wasn’t there yet. Mikhail clicked his tongue inwardly. It seemed he would have to put more effort into her before he could take what he wanted.

When he began walking along the second floor, he noticed a figure moving behind a window in the corridor leading to the annex.

“….”

He glanced that way once, then continued walking as though he hadn’t seen anything. A moment later, a familiar face appeared between the curtains. It was Catherine.

Catherine saw him and Anastasia walking beside him, and her face twisted viciously. Then, perhaps worried about being discovered, she soon vanished behind the curtain. Since the curtain no longer moved at all, it seemed she had left entirely.

‘Will she go straight to the countess or Elizabeth?’

Seeing Catherine reminded him of Igor’s visit the night before.

“It’s good that you’re enjoying your vacation, but why not take care of what needs to be done before you enjoy yourself?”

“What needs to be done?”

“Wouldn’t it be best to settle the marriage talks with Miss Elizabeth first?”

He was right. By now, the Lauderdales realized how much they were worth and that Mikhail had already paid that price. In short, they had already been sold.

But that wasn’t the end of it. A tool only fulfilled its value when it was used. If he forgot about the tool he acquired and a new one came along, the first would become useless.

‘I have no intention of taking a loss, though.’

He wasn’t the type to take losses. So he intended to make good use of the Lauderdales now that they were in his hands. Anastasia Lauderdale was merely an intriguing diversion granted to him briefly while he carried out that tedious task. He had no intention of forgetting what he originally came to do.

‘I’ll have to dine with the Lauderdale ladies tonight.’

No matter how entertaining the game was, he couldn’t forget what needed to be done.

Mikhail beckoned to a servant waiting at the end of the corridor in case he called. When the servant approached, Mikhail spoke quietly enough that Anastasia, who retreated several steps, couldn’t hear.

“Tell them to prepare. I’ll be dining with the Lauderdale ladies tonight.”

“Understood.”

The servant didn’t dare ask any further questions and went downstairs to carry out the order. Only after he disappeared did Anastasia approach Mikhail’s side again. At times like this, she seemed less like a cat and more like a puppy still frightened of the world. In any case, Mikhail thought the sight was… rather cute. The way she clung only to him.

She had entertained him, so now it was his turn to repay her. Mikhail headed toward the library at a leisurely pace unlike his usual one, slow enough for Anastasia to follow.

Since coming up to the second floor, Anastasia remained close beside him, even more wary than before. Then, as they passed the count’s room where Mikhail was staying, Anastasia’s face turned unusually pale.

“Anastasia?”

When he noticed something was wrong and called her name, Anastasia startled as though waking from a nightmare and looked at him. In that brief span of time, damp sweat had beaded across her smooth forehead. The fine fabric of her dress was covered in crumpled creases from how tightly she clutched it.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

She had been fine just moments ago. Why was she suddenly behaving this way?

But Anastasia stared at him for a moment, then shook her head vigorously.

“No, I’m fine. It’s just been so long since I came up here… and Madam doesn’t like it….”

At the mention of the countess, Mikhail understood why Anastasia was so tense. Whenever Anastasia was summoned here, it couldn’t possibly have been for anything good. She was so frightened that he considered taking her back downstairs, but fortunately, Anastasia gradually regained her composure. More importantly, there was something he wanted to show her.

He stopped before a large door. If his prediction was correct… Anastasia would like this place quite a lot.

“Open it.”

“Me?”

Instead of answering, Mikhail nodded. Anastasia grasped the doorknob with a worried expression. When she hesitated, Mikhail spoke again, “You’ll be surprised.”

At those words, Anastasia nodded as though she understood. “Is there an insect inside?”

“An insect?”

“If not, then a frog or a lizard….”

“Why would you think I put something like that behind the door?”

“But… somehow, I feel like I’m going to be startled.”

Catherine often did that. Whenever she put something in a box and called it a gift, something strange usually jumped out. Anastasia wasn’t frightened by such things. She merely felt disappointed.

Catherine always said, “There’s something inside that will truly surprise you,” but Anastasia was never genuinely surprised. Still, when Anastasia pretended to be startled, Catherine gave her clothes or belongings, so she played along. Then Catherine was happy, and Anastasia was happy too.

Anastasia finished preparing herself to feign surprise. If it would please Mikhail as it pleased Catherine, she could easily do that much for him. Even so… she didn’t expect very much.

“Go on, open it.”

At Mikhail’s urging, Anastasia slowly opened the door.

The thick wooden door glided inward smoothly and silently. Through the open gap came a rush of indoor air warmed by the sunlight. An unfamiliar scent mingled with the air. Anastasia wondered whether some animal she didn’t know was inside, but it wasn’t that kind of smell.

As though entranced, Anastasia stepped inside. Then she realized what the unfamiliar scent in the air was. It was a spacious room. And its walls… were filled with books.

Anastasia doubted her own eyes. It was the first time in her life she had seen so many books in one place. She was so overwhelmed that she couldn’t even comprehend how many there were. If she could count the number of books, it would surely be the largest number she had ever encountered in her life.

As Anastasia stood frozen in place, unable to say a word, Mikhail’s amused voice came from behind her.

“Well? Are you surprised?”