I Ran Away And The Reverse Harem Started Chapter 97

She narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked at me, her expression unreadable.

“Yes. At Colin’s birthday party at the Count’s estate. You helped me when I was being harassed by another maid.”

“Ah, that time…”

At my words, Yvette let out a short sigh. It seemed she had momentarily forgotten about it.

“I realized later that I hadn’t properly thanked you. And I also heard that you mentioned my situation to Lord Lucas… That helped resolve things much more smoothly.”

“It was nothing. If anything, that maid was careless, causing a scene in the middle of a party with so many people around.”

Yvette answered curtly. Well, I already knew she was a brusque and indifferent person, so I wasn’t offended.

I shrugged lightly.

“Still, I have to thank you. If it had been any other noble, they would have either scolded both of us or ignored the situation entirely, heading straight back to the ballroom. No matter what happened to me.”

“…”

“But you took my side… Ah, of course, I’m not mistaken about your intentions. You simply intervened because you thought I was being unfairly targeted.”

Yvette stood with her arms crossed, lips pressed tightly together. She looked dissatisfied but didn’t refute my words. Maybe she just found my gratitude uncomfortable after what had happened at the Bullosen estate.

I gave her a faint smile.

“I just wanted to express my appreciation for that consideration. Truly, thank you again.”

“…If you insist.”

“I had always wanted to thank you if we met again—whether it was for directly helping me or… just everything.”

“…”

“But just saying ‘thank you’ didn’t seem enough.”

At that, Yvette fixed me with an intense stare.

Sunlight streamed through the platform, catching in her blue eyes. Unlike before, her face now held a mix of fatigue and curiosity.

“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to repay the favor someday.”

I slowly voiced the words I had long intended to say.

“Repay the favor?”

“Yes. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, please let me know. Even if it’s just running errands… I’d like you to make use of me however you see fit. I’m not the type to live with a debt unpaid.”

Yvette’s expression turned to one of mild confusion. I suddenly felt embarrassed under her gaze.

“It’s nothing grand, so please don’t feel burdened. I can’t help you financially or in business matters. Even though I’m friends with the Count, I’m still just a commoner.”

“…”

“If there’s anything I can do physically, I’d like to help. Of course, you might not need any assistance from someone like me…”

She had been my benefactor when Angela and I clashed.

Though our previous encounter had been humiliating for me, I couldn’t deny that Yvette had helped me. If she hadn’t stepped in, I didn’t know what might have happened.

Sure, I could have simply said my thanks and never seen her again.

But…

I hesitated briefly before flashing her a sheepish smile.

“Is that too presumptuous of me?”

“…Not exactly, but it is unexpected.”

“Really? I was just raised to always repay a favor.”

At that, Yvette shook her head.

Then, after a brief pause, she spoke words that caught me completely off guard.

“That night… when you were walking alone… I wondered if I had been too harsh on you.”

Ah, that conversation.

She had really been dwelling on it.

Though I hadn’t expected to revisit that topic, I kept my mouth shut, waiting for her to continue.

Yvette seemed lost in thought as she recalled that night.

“It’s unfortunate that you don’t remember anything from your childhood. I believed the only way to find my lost sister was through past memories… so that night, I couldn’t help but press you for answers.”

“Ah… I understand. It was unavoidable.”

“No. If you felt humiliated or resented me for it, I wouldn’t blame you.”

She furrowed her brows as she spoke.

“No, why would I resent you?”

I hesitated.

“It wasn’t resentment… It was just something that couldn’t be helped. I acted tough, saying I didn’t need a real family, but maybe that wasn’t true. When I thought there was even a small chance of meeting them, I became impatient.”

“…”

“And when you said you had given up looking for your sister… that made me even more anxious.”

Yvette stayed silent, but the tension in her face gradually eased.

“So… you really don’t intend to search for your sister anymore?”

“Not unless I find definitive proof.”

She nodded, then looked at me.

“For what it’s worth, I was unsettled by how we left things that night. Thank you for understanding.”

For the first time, I saw a rare glimmer in Yvette’s blue eyes.

To be honest, I hadn’t expected her to say thank you.

Not just because she was a noble, but because she had always seemed cold and prideful.

Yet here she was, showing appreciation toward a commoner—toward me, whom she had once interrogated like a suspect.

Maybe Yvette Bullosen was more thoughtful than I had assumed.

And in a way, I could understand her.

After that night at the estate, she probably thought I would ignore her from now on.

She must have been surprised when I spoke to her first.

Even though I made the first move… she really isn’t a bad person.

Of course, she had witnessed more of my humiliations than I cared to remember, but still.

If she were truly arrogant and selfish, she would have ignored the maids’ conflict at Colin’s party altogether.

At the time, she had been distracted by a misplaced handkerchief, but she had still stepped in to help me.

Is this what Deborah meant? When she said Yvette was cold but kind?

After all, Yvette had carried the weight of her lost sister on her shoulders for years.

At our first meeting, I had thought she was distant and indifferent, but maybe that wasn’t the whole story.

Yvette hesitated before finally meeting my gaze.

“I doubt I’ll need to ask you for anything… but I’ll accept your gratitude.”

There was still a slight distance in her words, but her expression had softened.

A voice echoed through the platform, announcing that the train was ready for boarding.

The nobles waiting on the platform began moving toward the first-class compartments.

It was time to part ways.

Yvette glanced at Jenny, who had been keeping a polite distance during our conversation.

Will I ever meet Yvette Bullosen again?

The thought crossed my mind.

If I stopped working at the Count’s estate, I’d have little reason to interact with a noblewoman like her.

At that moment, Jenny, reading Yvette’s expression, handed me something.

“This is…?”

It was Yvette’s business card.

“You’re welcome to visit me with Saintess Deborah sometime. You two seem to be close.”

“Ah… I see.”

I nodded awkwardly.

I hadn’t expected her to extend such an invitation.

Yvette gave a small, fleeting smile before returning to her usual impassive expression.

Then, after offering a brief farewell, she walked toward the train with Jenny.

Left standing in the bustling platform, I quietly stared down at the card in my hand.

 

 

****

 

 

 

The train, now carrying its passengers, slowly departed along the tracks. The journey back to the Count’s estate had begun. Through the window, I could see the vast sea and mountains that Rewybourne was so proud of. A city that embraced both the sea and the mountains—this was the place where I had spent the past few weeks.

It almost feels like a lie.

Driving Angela out after our confrontation, learning about Yvette Bullosen’s family history and meeting her in front of the estate, and even discovering Daniel’s feelings…

Perhaps I had been unknowingly tense all this time because, now that I was heading back to the familiar Count’s estate, my entire body felt exhausted. I turned my gaze toward Mika and Angie, who were chatting about something absurd, and Mari, who was reading her book.

I had clung to them on the way back, wanting to spend this time simply chatting and enjoying myself without worry. After all, this might be my last chance to laugh and talk so freely with my maid friends.

Where do I go from here…? Should I return to Danten?

As I watched the three of them talking, I slowly turned my eyes back to the window. The train clattered along the tracks, passing by blue fields, the distant sea, the bright sunlight, and the soft green of summer.

For some reason, I felt as if the Bullosen estate lay just beyond those rolling hills.

And the small village that shared my surname.

The wind must have been strong because the vast green fields rippled like wild animals running through the grass.

As I watched the waves of green swaying under the golden afternoon light, I could almost smell the salty sea breeze, even though the train window was tightly shut.

The train kept moving forward, and the golden sunlight of the resort town slowly faded into the distance.

With drowsy eyes, I watched the ridgeline until it completely disappeared beyond the horizon.

And just like that, my first journey in life came to an end.