Finding Lisa

S1 CH. 3

Sunlight streamed through the leaves and troves of trees as tall as the mansion. The rainy season was finally over.

"I heard Madame brought a child. Did you see?" gossiped a servant.

Servants had come with piles of laundry in the river flowing in the east of the mansion, and they soaked the clothes with gusto.

"I did, but I could not tell whether the child is a girl or a boy," said another, "While the child has short hair and boy's clothes, the face is too... beautiful."

"Really? I heard that he is the Marquis's hidden son. Why has the boy come when Master Eunwoo is here? I think it was unnecessary," said yet another.

Another servant that had been stomping on a bedsheet to get the stains out, clicked her tongue. "Master Eunwoo's illness is incurable. What would happen if the other nobles knew that? The Marquis is trying to show that there's a healthy successor. Isn't that plausible?"

The others nodded at the remark and focused on getting their respective laundry done when Minzy came out with Lisa. The servants hushed and raised their heads to confirm if the rumours were true.

"Is he really a boy?" whispered one servant.

"He really looks like Master Eunwoo," said another.

The servants were surprised at the honey-blonde hair and emerald eyes. The traits left no doubt about who the father of the child was. The child did not dawdle around and made his way to Eunwoo's outhouse through the path decorated with rose gardens designed to Marchioness's taste. The servants chuckled at the sight of the child. Now that they had seen the child with their own eyes, they searched for other subjects for their gossip.

*

Lisa spent ten days in her room, eating the food that Minzy brought for her and sleeping until her back and head ached. The only other person she met was the Marchioness's personal hairdresser. He was a man with a soft voice and took great care in making Lisa's hair appear presentable.

She tried to run. But whenever she reached the metasequoia path, she lost her courage. The place was huge, and she wasn't sure how she would find her way back to her home. She wondered if she was more obliging and followed the Marchioness's orders, maybe she would let Lisa see her mother. She had decided to do that.

"Minzy, are we there yet?" asked Lia.

The maid smiled as she pointed beyond the splendid fountain. "Almost. You need to remember the way since your classes will be held in the young master's outhouse from now on."

"This place...," mumbled Lisa, "is huge." Lisa was in awe looking at the bustling manor.

"You will like it here," said Minzy, "Master Heechul taught Master Eunwoo in the academy. Unfortunately, he retired due to health problems last year."

Minzy's voice was joyful. She was more polite and respectful towards her now. But Lisa wished MInzy was the same Minzy before everything happened. Before she turned into a 'Bale'. Minzy ignored her protest when she requested her to speak with her as she used to.

"I don't know how to write and calculate," said Lisa.

"Be more condescending. You're a Bale now and the Marquis's son," said Minzy.

"It's too difficult."

Lisa walked with a lowered head, and sweet air brushed against her white skin. She was so far away from home.

"The Marquis will return soon. I heard that he successfully finished business up north. He will be happy to see you," said Minzy, looking up at the beautiful clear sky.

Lisa's mood was downcast. The lovely fountain and the rose gardens did nothing to make her feel better, instead, they made her feel sad and scared that her life was spiralling out of control and she could do nothing to stop it.

Then, a loud gunshot rang as they arrived at Eunwoo's outhouse. The birds squawked and took to the sky. Lisa could not move a muscle. Her eyes widened when another shot followed. She slowly turned around in the direction of the sound, and a boy who looked about Eunwoo's age stood there with Eunwoo himself. Lisa was fascinated by his clear blue eyes and black hair. She could not take her eyes off him. He was a head taller than Eunwoo and smiled a bit. It was terrifyingly beautiful.

Servants came up to the two boys. The boy with blue eyes and dark hair had tried his hand at a hunting rifle. He handed the rifle to the servant. Eunwoo saw Lia. He rolled up his sleeves and called to her.

"Li!" called Kieran.

(essential villainess: Li is a nickname Eunwoo has given Lisa)

She remembered Minzy's instruction and lowered her head. Eunwoo approached with springy steps and hugged her.

"You came out...," said Eunwoo, "I was worried."

Lisa wondered how to address Eunwoo. "Jungkook," he called, turning back to address the other guy, "This is my brother Lin Bale."

Eunwoo had made the choice for her, and Lisa broke free from Eunwoo's embrace. The guy called Jungkook then walked up to them. His footsteps were light, and his manner dignified. Lisa thought he was like an angel with black wings.

"He looks like you," remarked Jungkook.

Jungkook's response was indifferent, and he took off his gloves and drank from a glass a servant brought him. Then, he held a new gun. Jungkook looked over the elaborate pistol and glanced at Lisa.

"Cover your ears," he warned.

Lisa did so while staring at the guy who seemed to have just stepped out of boyhood. He may have felt her gaze, as he smiled slightly while narrowing one eye to aim at a tree before pulling the trigger. The smell of gunpowder overwhelmed the lavender in the garden, and Lisa saw Jungkook's elegant profile among the thin smoke. She thought this place was full of beautiful and dangerous things.