“Phew….”
Hannah poured hot green tea.
Hannah shivered as she took a sip of green tea, caressing the steaming white teacup with her cold hands.
Hannah smiles awkwardly and makes an apologetic expression.
“I’m sorry. Was it too sudden? I’m the type of person who has to eat what I want right away….”
A question came to mind, but I didn't say it out loud.
I felt sorry for her, getting soaked in the rain.
I feel bad for her for coming here just to drink tasteless green tea.
"Because you're such a picky eater, we learned tea brewing techniques from the East seven years ago. I think it's because this technique enhances the flavor of tea."
“Haha… Is that so? It somehow tastes better.”
"I feel good because you said it was delicious."
It's a joke. In fact, if you're worried about the East or something, give it to the young lady.
Because the girl with cheap taste prefers cocoa to fancy tea.
She lied without feeling embarrassed.
I watched Hannah closely.
Two swollen eyes.
My eyelids were red and flushed like someone who had shed a lot of tears, making my mouth heavy.
It seems like I should be comforting him by asking if he's okay rather than asking why he's here.
I hesitated for a moment.
Honestly, I never imagined she'd come here. Common sense dictated she'd brave the torrential rain to arrive at this abandoned mansion. Even without guests, I assumed she was a ghost.
The current time is 7 PM.
It's time for the sun to set.
The sky outside the window is overcast and rain is still pouring down outside.
I could figure it out without having to think too hard about it.
A noble lady suddenly showed up at my house in the early evening, unannounced, and to drink some tasteless green tea? This was a no-brainer.
It seems that Hannah ran away from home.
Crunch. I heard Hannah scratching her old teacup with her fingernails. She bit her lip, lost in thought.
The awkward atmosphere seems uncomfortable.
“It’s raining a lot….”
"That's right."
"I'm in big trouble because I don't think the laundry will dry."
Hannah and I met eyes. I responded with a small, silent smile.
If you ask her what happened, will she answer? Probably not. What she needs right now is more time to think quietly than prying questions.
I needed that kind of time when I ran away from the orphanage. Back then, I spent time with homeless men at the subway station, but since this world doesn't have a meeting place like Seoul Station, I guess they came to my house.
This is probably the subway station for Hannah.
A quiet hideaway from the rain.
I didn't feel bad because it felt like I was seeing my past self. In fact, I wanted to treat him well.
Hurup. I looked out the window while drinking tea.
"When it rains, it's green tea."
"I think it puts my mind at ease."
"Would you like some more?"
Hannah answered firmly.
"are you okay."
As expected. I guess the green tea at our house doesn't taste good.
I am confident that I can present a heavenly taste if I only had expensive tea leaves, but unfortunately, I have already sold the expensive tea leaves used.
"I'll treat you to a better cup of tea later."
"It's good enough now."
She flinched. Her body trembled.
His lips were pale and he looked cold.
They did give me an outer garment, but wasn't that enough?
After bathing, I was going to give her some clothes to change into, but I felt like I should give them to her now.
And the underwear that looks strangely shiny too.
Because you might catch a cold.
I looked out the window with a worried heart.
As time passed, worry grew on Hannah's face. It seemed her worries weren't going away.
I thought it would be easy to resolve if I had time, but it seemed like it was a problem that needed more conversation than time.
The weather is cold.
The temperature is dropping.
Hannah's expression also didn't get better.
By the time she'd finished her tea, she was ready to leave the mansion, wiping the rainwater off the floor.
A picture of someone crouching down and wiping away rainwater.
It looked shabby.
A musty smell rose from the old planks. Unable to bear it any longer, I reached out to snatch the rag she was using.
"Huh?"
Hands that were accidentally covered.
Hannah and I accidentally held hands. I was incredibly embarrassed. I was just trying not to ask the customer to do something. I guess I was in a hurry.
Hannah… .
He held the towel tightly without any reaction.
He hid his annoyance and spoke calmly.
"Just rest."
"No. I'm going straight home."
"Are you planning to make me unemployed?"
Even if they are runaways, it is unforgivable for them to take away a butler's work. It is okay to ask a guest to wash the dishes, but making them mop the floor is something that only low-ranking butlers do.
And I didn't want to do this to a runaway teenager.
"Please sit down."
"But it got dirty because of me. I have to clean it up."
"it's okay."
Hannah clutched the towel tightly.
He showed a strong will not to let go.
I waited quietly.
Until she loosened her grip.
Hannah bowed her head deeply.
A little time has passed.
Just as the warmth of his palm warmed Hannah's cold hand, a hot sensation appeared on the back of her hand, holding the towel.
A small water droplet. Not a droplet falling from wet hair, but a droplet loaded with a slightly heavier emotion.
"You know, butler."
Inside the mansion, even the slightest sound resonated. Hannah's wet voice echoed softly.
"yes."
I answered quietly.
"Did you know? It's my birthday today."
“Oh…. Happy birthday.”
"But why can't I receive congratulations?"
Hannah was looking at the floor.
I felt like I could tell what expression she had on her face without even looking at it.
birthday.
It's not a special day, but it's a day I want to rest and be celebrated. I, too, wanted to make sure I celebrated my daughter's birthday with all my heart.
It was like that in my past life too.
Even though I was busy with work, I would buy myself a cake after work on my birthday, and even though the gift cards my friends gave me on my birthday weren't anything special, I was so grateful.
In my memory, birthdays are the happiest days, but strangely enough, they are also days when I feel the most lonely.
Hannah said.
"You're the first person to congratulate me today."
“This is…an honor.”
"Right?"
Hannah shakes her head.
No matter how much she thought about it, it seemed like she was faced with a problem for which she couldn't find an answer.
"You know, butler. What did I do so wrong?"
Hannah gripped the towel tighter.
“I also wanted to be praised by my father and become a younger sibling that my older sister and brother could be proud of.”
Hot tears poured down the back of my hand.
"Is it a sin to have no talent?"
Her powerless soliloquy echoed throughout the mansion.
Hannah's hot warmth felt on the back of my hand.
My heart ached.
"I told Dad today that I was going to beat Senior Mikhail."
She buried her forehead in the back of my hand.
"Do you know what Dad said? He told me not to think too highly of myself. Do you think so too, butler? No, right? No, you don't."
Hannah buried her head.
"If you're a father, can't you at least give him some words of encouragement?"
I've never had parents, so I don't know for sure. But I do know that typical parents don't act like that. That's the kind of parent I dreamed of in the past. I wish I had someone of my own who would praise and support me.
I don't have the confidence to comfort you.
I've never comforted much, nor have I ever been comforted much, so I thought I might say something hurtful.
But right now, at this moment, I felt like I had to do something. Even though I knew nothing about Hannah in those two short weeks.
I decided to tell you what I learned during that time.
"Hannah, I don't invest in things that are impossible."
"…."
"He's a very materialistic person. He calculates things and if he doesn't get an answer, he gives up."
"…."
"I'm really sorry to say this, but if I thought Hannah had no talent, I wouldn't have even made that bet."
Hannah opened her mouth cautiously.
"Am I talented?"
"Yes. I swear to the goddess."
“I’m not as talented as my older brother and I’m worse than my older sister…?”
"Are those people my alphas?"
Hannah looked up and looked at me.
A look of disbelief.
But I guess he liked my firm words.
[Hannah's favorability rating increased by +15.]
Hannah looked up at me.
I felt relieved to see her expression, which had become calmer than before. Seeing her like this after always seeing her crying was much better.
"I am selfish."
"i know."
"When you say that, it makes me sound like I'm a really bad person."
"Ugh... That's right."
"That's true. So, please defeat Mikhail quickly and put ten thousand gold in my wallet."
"..."
"I will make it possible."
After I snatched the rag from her hands.
He said, stroking her head.
"I happen to be a baker, so why don't you have some birthday cake?"
Hannah looked at me.
Hannah's wet gaze, staring at me with a somewhat stern expression, was strangely erotic. I quickly turned my head, seeing her revealing underwear.
“I… have an appointment.”
"They say the appointment has been canceled."
Her promise is not mine.
Maybe he was going to go to the Adventurer's Guild.
Because there's nothing better than swinging a sword to get rid of distracting thoughts.
Perhaps today was Hannah's last day in the original. Perhaps she gambled in despair.
Anyway, I'm planning on having her stay at my house today. I also wanted to make her a friend.
"You should sleep in today."