The next day and the day after that day, and the day after that day, and so on… Lloyd came to help François with her work.
(It’s true that getting the work done more quickly is helpful, but the guilt of having someone of royalty do this kind of thing, and the fact that no matter how much he helps me with my work, I can’t talk about what he wants to, makes his presence here become nothing more than a nuisance.
Of course, in no way I’d say such a thing to Lloyd, so when I expressed my gratitude to him, Lloyd, who can’t read the air at all, smiled happily)
That smile made François’ heart ached.
“François-san, why don’t we talk at the usual place today, too?”
“…”
Almost every day since the first one, she and Lloyd had lunch together while he tries to get the truth out of her.
Today was the day François was going to refuse the invitation.
Lloyd, as Doris’s brother, might want to know the truth, but for François, talking about the story behind the breakup of the engagement, would be risky and of no benefit to her at all.
What is more, even François herself does not know the whole story, just a part of it.
(I want to forget about Doris, and about them! And yet, whenever I look at Lloyd’s clear eyes, his small nose, and his face, which has some semblance of Doris in it, I always remember Doris. Oh, how I hate it!! So today, I will finally tell him what I think!)
She politely declined Lloyd’s invitation.
But Lloyd’s reply was surprising.
“François-san. You are mistaken. It is true that I said that as a brother I wanted to know the truth, but…
… But there is another reason.
I’m sorry for what my brother did to François!
So, as his brother, I want to hold him accountable and compensate François for the humiliation you suffered.”
Compensation… At the moment that word came out of his lips, François’ mind started to wander, daydreaming about a mountain of gold coins… A huge compensation!
If Lloyd’s help makes the truth come out, and she receives a compensation, it might make her whole life easier!
Maybe for her mother, too!
It’s risky, but she knows there’s nothing more she can lose.
“Dear Lloyd. Thank you for your concern. If that is really what you’re looking for, I would be happy to tell you everything I know about it.”
“Really? Thank you!”
François was aware that he was naive, thinking that she was worried about her ruined reputation when she, in reality, only cares about the money of the compensation.
However, it’s her life the one that is on the line, so there’s no need to tell him.
And Lloyd, in reality, already knows about her real thoughts, that is why he mentioned compensation, on purpose, to take advantage of François’ weakness.
Even so, he has good intentions.
Translated by Djurasico (dot) home (dot) blog
djurasico.home.blog 