If You Wish to Have Me - Chapter 136

That night, Kisa returned to Count Vansfelt’s residence feeling somewhat dazed.

Even as she finished preparing for bed and lay down on her bed, it still didn’t feel real.

The question Manoa had asked her just before leaving the mansion still lingered clearly in her mind.

[We’ll need to discuss this story you’ve told me in more detail. When would be a good time for you this week, Miss Kisa?]

Kisa stared blankly at the darkened bedroom scenery and muttered to herself.

“……No matter how I look at it, this has to be a positive sign, right?”

It would have been rude to keep her for too long, and since the banquet had ended, Kisa was worried the coachman might find it strange if she didn’t leave until late, so she had to explain her situation to Manoa within a short time.

Still, she had conveyed everything she needed to say. Manoa would surely have grasped the general situation Kisa was in from just that brief explanation.

‘And yet she didn’t refuse outright.’

On top of that, they had even made an appointment to meet in two days. It was truly remarkable progress.

This was about helping the Duke of Hillan’s fiancée escape.

Any ordinary person would have shown reluctance, if not outright scolded Kisa to abandon such foolish thoughts, but Manoa had done nothing of the sort.

Whatever her true feelings might be, she had calmly listened to Kisa’s story and waited patiently without rushing her even when her words faltered.

Although it wasn’t confirmed that she would help, Kisa somehow found it difficult to calm her racing heart.

How wonderful it would be if tomorrow didn’t come and it could immediately be the day after tomorrow when she had her appointment with her.

Kisa closed her eyes while indulging in such frivolous fantasies.

Before long, drowsiness came along with a red-haired man who visited and whispered something in Kisa’s ear.

That person with a gentle face who had appeared every night to torment her terribly since some time ago.

Kisa, with her eyes tightly shut, silently told the man:

Ah, tonight of all nights, your voice too shall be quieter than usual.

The flame of hope in her heart, once kindled, was already blazing brightly.

****

On the day of their appointment, Kisa left the house saying she was going to meet Aria. It wasn’t a lie.

“Kisa, over here! Here!”

Aria, who had arrived first and was standing at the meeting place, smiled cheerfully.

“Thank you for gladly spending time with me. Since you know the trends of this country better than I do, I’m saved.”

“Not at all. I was just wanting to get myself a hat to use in spring anyway.”

Afterward, the two strolled through the shopping district, thoroughly browsing this shop and that shop without discrimination.

Manoa wasn’t the only person Kisa had made an appointment with at the banquet held two days ago.

[To commemorate us opening our hearts to each other like this, shouldn’t we have some fun?]

Kisa couldn’t bring herself to refuse the proposal Aria had offered.

Having deliberately ignored her words about sharing any worries, she wanted to accommodate other requests as much as possible.

Moreover, she was surely suggesting they spend time together for Kisa’s sake, who had undoubtedly lived a secluded life for a long time.

Thus, while making specific arrangements with Aria, Manoa had approached to request a conversation.

And later, when she asked when Kisa would have time, Kisa deliberately chose the day she had already arranged to meet Aria. She had her reasons.

“Wow, I had no idea that Miss Manoa’s trading company operated such an atmospheric tea house!”

Aria, who had just taken her seat following the employee’s guidance, looked around and exclaimed in admiration.

Kisa sat across from her and replied.

“I only learned about it recently too. I became interested after reading about her background and looked into various things. Since it opened not long ago, it’s not very famous yet.”

“That makes it quiet and nice instead. Thanks to you, Kisa, I’ve discovered a good place.”

Subsequently, time passed with conversation over a cup of tea, and when their teacups were nearly empty, the two stood up from their seats.

“Well, see you at the next gathering, Kisa.”

“Yes, get home safely, Aria.”

After watching Aria’s retreating figure as she headed toward the main road to catch a hired carriage, and when her form had completely disappeared, Kisa moved her steps.

However, the place she headed wasn’t where her family’s carriage was parked, but back inside the tea house.

“This way, please.”

The employee who saw Kisa guided her to the stairs as if he had been waiting.

When they reached the third floor, the very top of the building, he led Kisa to the front of a certain room’s door and then turned and disappeared.

When Kisa carefully knocked on the door, a voice from inside told her to come in.

“Welcome, Miss Kisa.”

“Thank you for calling me, Miss Manoa.”

At Kisa’s greeting, Manoa, who had been at the desk, smiled warmly and then invited her to take a seat.

Then, instead of mentioning their previous conversation, she posed a new question.

“May I ask why you had tea with Miss Aria on the floor below before meeting with me?”

Kisa took a breath and then answered with a cautious attitude.

“So that even if people investigate my whereabouts later, they’ll be less suspicious of today’s outing. After all, I left the house to meet Aria, so it has nothing to do with you, Miss Manoa.”

Was her answer amusing? Perhaps it was her imagination, but Manoa’s smile seemed to deepen.

However, she soon changed to a serious expression before speaking.

“Good. I understand how sincerely you want to leave this place. And that you don’t want to cause me trouble as much as possible.”

Kisa swallowed and quietly waited for the words that would follow.

“I don’t know exactly what happened between you and the Duke of Hillan, Miss Kisa. It’s just my guess, but you probably thought it would be better for me not to know and didn’t tell me.”

It was correct. First, it was unclear whether she would believe this shocking truth, and for any potential situation, it was better for her not to know.

That was tantamount to Seyard’s greatest taboo.

“……But I too have thought from before that the Duke seemed somehow like a rather frightening person.”

“Do you know him?”

“I’ve only seen him in passing a few times due to business relations. However, I was fortunately born with good judgment of people. It’s one of the driving forces that allowed me to get back up again after failing so many times.”

Saying this, Manoa tapped the desk with her finger while wearing a somewhat stern expression.

“Even if that weren’t the case, just seeing how he seized control of his family in such a short time shows he’s someone to be sufficiently cautious of. The nouveau riche-like behavior he showed right after succession was also a kind of mask, wasn’t it?”

Listening to her words, Kisa tried to prepare her heart.

That’s right. Since Seyard was that kind of person, it wouldn’t be wrong for Manoa to refuse Kisa’s request, which might cause her unpleasant problems with him.

Even if she heard words of refusal, she resolved not to blame her or show too much disappointment, when suddenly—

“So I can somewhat understand Miss Kisa’s desire to escape from the Duke.”

Completely opposite words from what she expected reached her ears, and her eyes widened.

“Pardon?”

The middle-aged woman gazed at the bewildered Kisa with gentle eyes.

“Between men and women, there are always circumstances known only to them that others don’t understand. I’ve encountered several men who were endlessly good people on the outside but weren’t so to their wives.”

“…….”

“I can’t be certain that the Duke is that type, but at least I can clearly see that Miss Kisa’s emotional suffering has been considerable. Though you pretended otherwise, your face has become full of worry since I last saw you.”

Kisa could no longer hold back and let her trembling voice escape.

“Then, you’re saying…… perhaps…….”

“Yes, I’ll help you.”

Manoa readily agreed to Kisa’s request.

“I’ll arrange transportation so Miss Kisa can secretly leave the capital. If you want, I can also look into regions that are relatively good for strangers to settle in.”

Unable to believe what she had just heard, Kisa blinked her eyelids several times.

“Do you have any particular hopes about where you’d like to go?”

Toward such a Kisa, Manoa asked in a very gentle tone as if to say she could be trusted.

“Preferably, I’d like you to choose from among the regions where our trading company delivers goods. That way, I can transport Miss Kisa on one of our merchant ships.”

Kisa answered the question so urgently that she unknowingly sprang up from her chair.

“I, I’m fine with anywhere! I’ll go with whatever place Miss Manoa recommends!”

A chuckle flowed from Manoa’s lips.

“Good spirit. But since we have many things to discuss from now on, I recommend sitting in the chair.”

“Ah…… I’m sorry. I was just so happy.”

After that, Kisa truly felt like she was in a dream as she worked with Manoa to concrete her escape plan.

With her help, things that had previously seemed impossible now felt tangibly real.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Therefore, during their conversation, Kisa expressed her gratitude to her several times.

Manoa, saying she had heard enough thanks and stopping Kisa, moved on to the next topic.

“So now for one of the most important issues. The day we execute our plan.”

A sheet of paper was placed in front of Kisa.

“This is our merchant ship’s sailing schedule. Considering various factors, I recommend this day. Precisely this day is the optimal day to take Miss Kisa to your intended destination.”

“This day is…….”

Kisa trailed off as she looked at the date Manoa had recommended.

A familiar date she had encountered countless times. It was exactly the scheduled wedding day of Kisa and Seyard.