Chapter 28: Gustav’s Thoughts
“I saved you the trouble of searching. I was told in Pabst village that if you go up the hill ahead, I’ll find your house,”
Gustav said, wiping the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief in the early summer warmth.
“. . .I saw people gathering here, but what is this place?”
“This is a cabin where hot springs come out.”
“Oh, so hot springs even spring up in such a remote place. . .”
“. . .By the way, Onii-sama, what exactly do you want from us?”
Gustav stumbled over his words.
It was understandable. After once telling them to sever their ties as siblings, he would naturally be suspected of having ulterior motives by Diana.
Gustav, for some reason, answered with a slightly defensive tone.
“Well, um. . .I thought it was necessary to see what kind of life my sister-in-law is living.”
“Why?”
“Isn’t it fine? I just felt like it.”
Leon interjected, trying to ease the tension between the two.
“Since it’s not suitable here, it would be better if you come to our place.”
Gustav laughed as if relieved.
“Is that so? Well then, let’s go.”
Gustav got into the carriage, while Diana and Leon rode their horses as guides and started walking.
“. . .I wonder what kind of situation we’re walking into.”
“I don’t know. But I can understand the feeling of being concerned about your sister-in-law’s life.”
“Hmm. . .”
As the sun began to set, the group dismounted their horses on top of the hill, just before the mountains.
Gustav looked around anxiously as soon as he got off the carriage.
“Hmm? Where is the house. . .?”
“Over here.”
Diana pointed towards a small hut.
Gustav, rather than being surprised, turned pale and stared at the hut.
“This. . .is our home?”
“Yes. . .”
Leon and Diana smiled apologetically.
Gustav cautiously stepped inside.
He meticulously examined every corner of the neatly arranged hut, his face contorted in a complicated expression as if he were examining an intricate miniature.
“I will make some tea.”
Diana struck a match and lit a fire in the kitchen.
She carefully boiled well water in a dented pot until it reached a boil.
She put the tea leaves in a teapot and let it steep for a while.
Gustav sat solemnly at the table.
When the red tea was poured into the oak bowl in front of him, Gustav finally relaxed his shoulders.
Diana placed a jar of sugar on the table, and he added two spoonfuls to his tea.
“Hmm. . .Do you have the luxury of drinking tea with sugar?”
“The tea was a gift to celebrate a wedding in the village. We didn’t buy it ourselves.”
“I see.”
Gustav saw his reflection in the tea.
His back looked pitifully desolate, prompting Diana to ask without thinking.
“Onii-sama, what’s wrong? You seem different.”
Diana and Leon also gathered around the small table. Gustav cast a slightly pleading gaze at Diana.
“Are you satisfied with this married life?”
Both of them opened their mouths in surprise.
“Y-Yes. . .I am satisfied.”
“You used to live a luxurious life without any worries at Heinz Trading Company. Aren’t you tired of this bottom-of-the-barrel existence?”
Leon looked a bit downcast beside him. Diana quickly corrected herself.
“I’m not tired at all. Actually, I felt much darker when I was living in that mansion.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“W-Well. . .”
She couldn’t possibly say that she had despaired of a future marrying a cunning, overweight man like him while watching her sister’s marriage.
“U-Um, yes. I was despairing of a future where I would marry anyone other than Leon, whom I loved.”
She wasn’t lying. Leon’s mood improved slightly beside her.
“I see. To be loved――.”
Gustav lowered his voice and lifted his face as if he had made up his mind.
“Hey, Diana.”
“What is it, Onii-sama?”
“What does it take to be loved?”
The couple froze at that question.
“W-Well, Onii-sama. . .”
“It seems Ilsa didn’t love me.”
Diana recalled their previous conversation.
“I love Ilsa. I never even considered marrying anyone else. But she saw being my partner as a duty.”
Diana suddenly felt sorry for her brother-in-law. She was confident that she wouldn’t be able to recover if she were in the same position.
“So, I asked her what she was dissatisfied with. And you know what that woman said?!”
Gustav leaned forward as if clinging to something.
“. . .I’ll tell you.”
“?”
“She doesn’t have any likes or dislikes. In other words, she has no interest in me whatsoever!”
“!”
“No matter what I do, I can’t capture her attention. Even when I gave her precious jewelry, fashionable items, and the mansion itself, it all ended with that. . .that sad word!”
Leon secretly shuddered.
“So, I thought. . .as her younger sister, you might know how to capture Ilsa’s attention. . .and embarrassingly, I came to seek your help.”
“That. . .I apologize on behalf of my sister.”
“No, you don’t need to apologize. Giving presents to her was something I did because I liked it.”
Diana twisted her head and answered.
“Perhaps, there are no complaints in her life. What bothered me is that Onii-sama has been talking only about material things. Maybe it’s because he has been giving her things to gain Onee-sama’s affection?”
“Well, basically.”
“I believe Onee-sama wants your heart, not material possessions.”
“But she has no interest in me. And how can I give her my heart?”
Diana was slightly shaken. She was being asked something very difficult.
Suddenly, Leon spoke up.
“Diana, do you still have the candy from earlier?”
Diana looked up.
“Yes, I do.”
“Let’s give some to Ilsa-sama. Ask Gustav-sama to take it back with him.”
She tilted her head. Why did Leon suddenly suggest such a thing?
“Candy? What are you talking about?”
Diana took out a bottle from the basket and handed it to Gustav.
Gustav widened his eyes and stared at the rare candy with a blue flower trapped inside.
“Oh, did you make this, Diana?”
“Yes. It has a slightly mint-like taste.”
“. . .Interesting.”
“You can have as many as you like. How many do you need?”
“Then, I’ll take about three.”
Diana wrapped the candy in an organza handkerchief and tied it tightly with a ribbon.
“Please give this to Onee-sama.”
“Thank you. Oh, right. Let me give you the payment first.”
Gustav instructed the coachman and had a wooden box brought over.
Inside the box were matching teacups and wine glasses.
“Oh, Onii-sama? What is this?”
“Since I’ll come again, just leave it there.”
“Huh?!”
Gustav grinned.
“Of course, you can sell it if you want.”
“. . .After hearing your words earlier, I can’t just sell it.”
“I’ll come again.”
“. . .”
Caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, Diana was dumbfounded.
Gustav got back on the carriage and left. Leon, with a relieved expression as if all the problems were resolved, stood by Diana’s side and watched his brother-in-law leave.
