Chapter 107. The Future Different From The Past, Part XIII
Translator: Khan
Editor Group: Liber Reverie
Aria asked again, âThen if you share all the perfume with other maids in the mansion and you have nothing, what should you do?â
âIf I donât have⦠I should buy it again, right?â
âWhere?â
âOf course, from Baron Burboomâs shop⦠Huh?â
Only then did Annieâs eyes glisten again since she found an answer.
âWouldnât it better for you without the perfume, because if you have a lot of perfume, you wonât have to go again?â
Of course, with that, it was Annie who would be happy the most. She would be able to meet the great Baron Burboom that she had been praising so much just now.
âYes, yes!â
Annie nodded, shining her eyes.
âAnd now I donât want to go there because Iâm bothered. Try to buy the perfume in person, whenever you need it. You can buy it and credit it in my name.â
âAre, are you sure?â
âWhen did you see me flip over?â
âNo! No!â
This would be the happiest moment of Annieâs life. He was a wonderful man, and she could raise her status if she did well. Furthermore, Ariaâs support also played a part. And when Annie looked back on Ariaâs behavior, she didnât doubt that Aria would actively help her. Was there any better condition?
âMiss! Iâll gather the maids!â
Annieâs voice was brighter and clearer than ever.
âYes, do it.â
âDo you want me to hand them out because itâs a hassle for you?â
Annie was ready to destroy all the perfume if she could. Aria smiled and said yes, and Annie hurriedly disappeared into the mansion.
Annie, who called in the maids of the mansion, handed the maids the perfume in a condescending manner. Even though Annie was arrogant and handed out the perfume, the maids were laughing at the precious gifts, and Ariaâs reputation for her kindness soared high into the sky.
After a few days, Annie, who had borrowed Ariaâs cosmetics and decorated herself to the fullest, asked Aria. âMiss, I donât have any perfume left. Shall I go buy it?â
Aria answered with an airy smile, âYes, do it.â
âHow many bottles shall I buy?â
âDo whatever you want. I wonât get involved. Would you just care so that my perfume wonât run out?â
At Ariaâs words of leaving everything for her, Annie hurried to the busy street, excited. She had a sweet cake in her arms that she had just found throughout the capital. When she thought of eating it with Baron Burboom, she felt like she was already flying above the sky.
Arriving at Burboomâs shop, Annie headed straight to the counter. It was to find Burboom. She snooped at the counter, recalling that he had come down from the second floor last time. Fortunately, no one was there, so she went over the counter and climbed the stairs that were behind it.
âWhere is he? I shouldâve just asked a staff to show me around.â It would have been easier if she had used Ariaâs name.
Annie was forced to walk upstairs and open a few doors before she could find Burboomâs office. Annie, who found Burboom, who was looking at the papers with concentration, hurried to apologize to him as if she had mistakenly come to the wrong place.
âOh my, Iâm sorry! I got lostâ¦â
All the perfumes were displayed on the first floor, so there was no reason to get lost on the second floor. But Burboom welcomed her visit with open arms because he remembered Annie had been a companion to Aria.
âI see. Iâve made a lady lose her way⦠I may have to change the structure.â
Annieâs cheeks glowed with affection. Burboom led her to a sofa on the right side of the office and prepared tea to calm her lost and frightened mind.
It was a simpler treatment than Ariaâs visit, but Annie was satisfied enough with it. In the first place, even though she was a commoner, he called her a lady and treated her politely.
Burboom, of course, just called the title âladyâ because it didnât matter whether she was a noblewoman or not.
âI was about to buy a cake, and itâs great.â
Annie handed the cake, and Burboom waved his hand with a surprised face.
âHow can I get this precious thing? Why donât you have it with Lady Aria later?â
âOf, of course, Iâve set aside Miss Ariaâs share. I bought this for extra money, so donât worry about it.â
The cake Annie gave him was put on the table when she said she had Ariaâs share. In fact, Annie was uncomfortable with one side of her heart since she had not prepared it separately, but she was able to erase it quickly because she had more joy than that. So she wanted to enjoy her tea for a while and enjoy the time with Burboom.
However, he had just taken a sip of the tea without waiting for her to do it and asked her, âBut why did you stop by here today?â
âAh⦠Iâd like to buy some perfume.â
âAre you talking about perfume?â
Burboom cocked his head. Just recently, he had given her the perfume by types, but he was asking why she would buy them again. It was more than enough for her to use for years.
âYes. Lady Aria gave them to the maids of the mansion. Miss always gives out what she has.â
When Annie spoke proudly, Burboomâs expression was eerie. It seemed a bit awkward and annoyed that Aria had given someone the gifts he had given. At the same time, however, he was admiring Ariaâs character, which was different from rumors.
âAndâ¦â
â⦠yeah?â
âAnd if I donât have any perfume, I can see Baron Burboom again.â
Annie blushed her cheeks. Her makeup was thick and slightly pinkish, but the color of the spring flowers matched well with the shy girlâs face. It was enough to make the hearts of boys of her age cry.
Annie wriggled her fingers and waited for Burboomâs answer. Unable to look at the baron, her gaze was fixed on the cake on the table. It was quite a courageous remark for her.
â⦠I see.â
After a moment of silence, he answered slowly. His voice was quivering fine. That alone made Annie feel how happy he was. So she looked up with a hopeful face, and, strangely, it was not Annieâs place where his eyes touched. He looked as if he were looking somewhere far away. It was a look as if to see someone not here.
âI didnât know that Lady Aria thought so. She must have been very kind. Whatâs more, she wanted to come back to see me againâ¦â
Burboom was very deluded. It was Annie, not Aria, who had wanted to see him. He didnât seem to have any interest in Annie, so he didnât seem to have thought of that possibility at all.
âSo, when did she say sheâd visit again?â
At the same time that Burboomâs face turned red, Annieâs face cooled down. Spring flowers withered and became frosty snowflakes in winter, and the stars that twinkled in her eyes suddenly disappeared, leaving only thick darkness.
Annie didnât think heâd pay attention to herself from the beginning, but she didnât think heâd pay attention to Aria. âDoesnât he know what position Miss Aria has?â
Aria and Burboom did not match. Although she was of humble origin, Aria was the daughter of Count Roscent. She wasnât a lady who he dared to covet. Therefore, Annie thought he would match her, a commoner. So she forced herself to smile.
âI think itâll take a while. I think Iâll be visiting for a while.â
âReally? Is it worth it? Sheâs a busy lady.â
Burboom, who was in a delusion, was still genuinely pleased. If she said Miss Aria was not interested in him, would his expression be able to remain? She was sure it would not.
Somehow, she went back to the mansion with a chill in her heart. Her hands were filled with the perfume he had given her. They were even a few bottles, but why were they so heavy? Her feet were so heavy that she wondered if they were going to go under the ground.
Annieâs steps stopped in front of Ariaâs room. She had to report because she had gone out. Annie, who had agonized in front of Ariaâs room for a long time, eventually failed to overcome her duty and knocked on the door and raised her voice. Unlike when she had left, Annie returned with a dull face, and Aria welcomed her with a motherâs heart.
âWhat happened that it makes you look so sad?â
âMissâ¦â
Annie swallowed her words she wanted to tell, âThe man I showed interest in for the first time seems to like you,â since Aria was the only one who could make her happy, both now and in the future.