TNDOBM 02

Chapter 02

She knew that beyond the wall was connected to the neighboring mansion, but she never expected to run into a person there.

That was understandable, since the owner of the neighboring mansion resided only in the capital, making it practically an empty house.

Cecilia, caught red-handed in the act of trespassing, hesitantly parted her lips.

“…Uh, hello?”

The stiff, tense figure opposite her nodded silently.

‘Is he too surprised to even speak?’

Jumping to conclusions, Cecilia hastily explained her disgraceful state.

“Well, I’m not a suspicious person, I live next door. A cat took my bracelet and came over here. I was chasing it and mindlessly…”

“Ah… I see.”

It was an extremely quiet voice, almost like a soliloquy. Yet, at the other’s clearly resonant voice, any sense of embarrassment scattered away like dandelion seeds.

Only then did Cecilia take a good look at the other person.

The person, presumed to be a man, was hunched over with his shoulders drawn in, yet his height and build were very large. But that was all.

His head fixed towards the ground, the dirt-stained hem of his robe, and lastly, a gardening shovel held in one hand.

He was clearly a gardener with a shy personality—in other words, a supporting character.

‘In romance novels, these kinds of unusual events usually lead to miraculous encounters.’

Like meeting a crown prince hiding from political strife, or encountering a cursed grand duke—those surprise events.

But reality was harsh.

For three months, she hadn’t had a single chance encounter, and the only men she’d met were priests devoted to God, servants of the mansion, or the elderly marquis’s guests, so Cecilia quickly lost interest and expectation.

“Have you by any chance seen a white cat? It should have passed by here.”

“I, I did see it heading towards the west garden…”

The man extended a straight finger, pointing to somewhere that didn’t even have a proper path.

She didn’t know exactly where the west garden he mentioned was, but surely it couldn’t have run too far away.

“Then would you mind if I intrude for a moment? I’ll leave as soon as I find the cat.”

“Wo, would it be alright if I guided you, if it’s not too inconvenient?”

Cecilia decided to slightly revise her first impression of him.

Far from chasing away an intruder, he was offering to help. He was undoubtedly a shy and very kind gardener.

“Then I’d appreciate that.”

As she nodded with a bright smile, the man flinched, his shoulders jerking. Then, hesitantly, he began to guide her.

Crossing the grass, which was hardly worthy of being called a path, they soon arrived at the garden he had mentioned.

Right in the center of that garden, the white cat from before was sitting proudly.

Rolling around and making a mess of what was clearly a meticulously cared-for flowerbed.

“Oh, my.”

Horrified at the appalling sight, Cecilia covered her mouth.

Those flowers now lying on the ground would clearly never rise again.

“What should we do about the cat ruining the garden?”

Even though it wasn’t her cat, seeing the man’s seemingly dejected back made her feel oddly apologetic.

‘I hope he doesn’t get in too much trouble with his employer…’

“We-well, if it’s the owner of this mansion’s cat, then…”

“…It’s a cat I’ve never seen before.”

‘Oh dear.’

The large back hunched down a little more.

Cecilia, clearing her throat uselessly, quickly scooped up the cat that was still rolling around, oblivious to the atmosphere.

“We-well, it’s not actually my cat either. But in any case, I’ll personally apologize to the owner about the damaged garden… Ah!”

Before she could even finish speaking, the little troublemaker in her arms caused yet another accident.

As if displeased with her touch, it struggled, then suddenly leaped towards the man’s face.

Reflexively catching the cat, the man lost his balance and fell straight onto the grass. The dirt-covered shovel rolled on the ground, and the robe he was wearing slipped off.

“Ah.”

It wasn’t the man who let out that sigh.

Cecilia, now facing the man’s bare face, went rigid.

‘I found him. My leading man!’

Skin as white and clear as snow, without a single blemish, contrasting with his jet-black hair; perfect features that seemed like they could only exist in 2D; and amethyst eyes, like wisteria flowers, ensnaring his gaze beyond silver-rimmed glasses.

She had read about countless black-haired handsome characters in novels, so she still didn’t know exactly which book this world was from.

But one thing was certain: someone with that dazzling appearance couldn’t possibly be a mere supporting character.

‘He must be someone hiding his identity.’

Whoever he was, Cecilia decided to make the man before her her male lead.

Even if this wasn’t a romance fantasy novel, and even if she wasn’t the protagonist, it didn’t matter.

‘From now on, I’ll object to all objections.’

Firmly resolved, Cecilia promptly reached out her hand to the man.

“Are you okay?”

As if touched just by her offering a hand, the man’s eyes widened, and he soon blushed.

“Th, thank you.”

A sorrowfully beautiful face with such an endearing attitude. Just by removing his robe, a magical transformation occurred, changing his previously gloomy aura in an instant.

‘That’s a face that could fill you up even without eating, truly.’

Having lived confined to this small territory, she had thought ‘Cecilia’s’ face was the best, but she had been a frog in a well.

‘Wait, could it be that faces like this are common if you go to the capital?’

But recalling the occasional noble guests or merchants who came to see her father, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Regardless, Cecilia had no intention of letting this perfect opportunity to execute Plan D slip away.

“I’m sorry. I should have held onto the cat better.”

“It’s fine.”

The man hurriedly shook his head and carefully handed over the cat.

Cecilia accepted the jelly-like, stretched-out cat and subtly added,

“Thank you for your help. I actually thought no one would be here since the house next door has been empty for so long. Did you move in recently?”

“Yes. I, I mean, the master said he didn’t quite suit life in the capital, so we came down here.”

“Then you’ll be staying for a while?”

“If I am permitted…”

“Hm?”

“Oh, no.”

‘So he’ll be staying next door for the time being, at least?’

His trailing off was a bit puzzling, but the important thing was that there would be plenty of opportunities to meet this man in the future.

Having quickly made her assessment, she readily offered the name she had grown accustomed to.

“I’m Cecilia Weberdin. And you?”

“…I am called Rien.”

‘Yeah, that’s a pseudonym.’

From the subtle pause just before he spoke to the way he awkwardly averted his gaze—she would have bet her wrist that it wasn’t his real name, but she pretended not to notice and extended her hand to him.

“Then let’s get along well. As neighbors.”

Rien hesitantly clasped her hand. His large, warm hand transmitted his tension clearly, and Cecilia couldn’t help but laugh again.

—

Could a person’s mood really change this easily, as if turning one’s hand over?

Just this morning, she had been despairing over the failure of her plans.

But now, she felt she could willingly cherish this other world, even without tteokbokki, ramen, or iced Americano.

In a bedroom entirely white—from the wallpaper and window frames to the tapestries and furniture.

Cecilia, lying similarly on a white bed, slowly raised her hand.

The sapphire bracelet on her wrist sparkled under the light.

When she had been about to leave after finishing their greetings, the man had found it among the flower debris and personally fastened it for her.

[I’m glad we found the bracelet.]

And that faint smile on his face as he said it.

It was probably just a simple consideration since she couldn’t use her hands while holding the cat.

But either way, recalling his careful touch made her smile involuntarily.

‘Before the cat stole it, it was just a uselessly expensive mineral.’

Now it seemed like it would become a symbol of good luck.

‘No, is this cat the symbol of good luck?’

The cat that had led her to this amazing encounter was baking a loaf on the fluffy cushion placed under the bed.

Where on earth did this little one come from?

As soon as she returned to the mansion, she had asked the butler to check if any servant had lost a cat, but there had been no news so far.

“It couldn’t have just fallen from the sky.”

She planned to take responsibility and protect it until its owner showed up.

While gently scratching between the ears of the sleeping cat with a magnanimous heart, she suddenly heard a knock.

It was her personal maid, Melanie.

“Miss, your bath is ready.”

Melanie, who had been horrified to see her mistress suddenly disappear and return covered in dirt, had rushed to the bathroom without even asking what had happened, and had just returned.

Her startled heart seemed to have calmed down considerably in the meantime, and she calmly helped Cecilia up from the bed.

“Let’s get your clothes off first. Now, say ah and raise your arms.”

Cecilia silently raised both arms and soon immersed herself in warm, fragrant water.

Her relaxation was short-lived.

As she rubbed Cecilia’s skin with a soft cloth, Melanie suddenly spoke up.

“I was in such a hurry earlier that I didn’t get to ask, but what happened to get you so covered in dirt? You’ll explain, of course, right?”

The corners of her mouth seemed to be twitching upwards, but that must be Cecilia’s imagination.

“O-of course.”

She had never intended to hide it. She planned to go back and forth through that dog door in the future, and she couldn’t keep deceiving Melanie, who was by her side all day long.

“Well, what happened was…”

Cecilia readily told her maid about the strange cat and the man next door.

“I ended up going into the neighbor’s house while chasing the cat.”

“I see.”

“Yeah, and I met a man there, and when I talked to him…”

“Wait a moment! A man? Surely you didn’t meet and talk to a stranger, did you?”

Melanie, who had been listening rather calmly, was horrified and dropped the soapy cloth.

For some reason, she looked even paler than when Cecilia had appeared covered in dirt.

“Uh, yeah.”

“What if you get kidnapped?!”

Melanie, passionately lecturing about the dangers of the world, seemed genuinely worried about her mistress.

It wasn’t exactly an overreaction.

After all…

‘Cecilia is a saint.’