Tears Of Canary || LISKOOK

Chapter 8

The doorman looked flustered.

Lalisa nodded towards him as if she understood. She was sure one had brought a junk bicycle to the best hotel in the city.

After the doorman took several turns examining Lalisa and Rose, he took away her bicycle. Lalisa expressed her gratitude with a short greeting and entered the hotel. The tearoom was sitting on the right side of the central lobby.

Coming with his quick steps, the manager guided them to the terrace that was headed to the riverside. Lalisa was the last to sit at the table. Her seat had happened to be facing right across Duke Herhardt.

Lalisa hurriedly focused her eyes on her legs in order to avoid his vacant stare. The thin, gold-rimmed glasses glistened in the summer sun.

Shouldn’t the person who was seen naked be more embarrassed than the person who saw it?

Lalisa was amazed at the duke who continued to casually look at Lalisa as if nothing had ever happened at the river.

It was understandable. To the aristocrats, commoners and servants were nothing more than furniture or painting. No one was ashamed of being naked in front of a piece of furniture. And there wasn’t any furniture that was ashamed to see a naked person.

When Lalisa reached her conclusion, the tea-table was set up. Even though Duke Herhardt didn’t order anything, there was a cup of strong-scented coffee placed in front of him. His fingers holding the teacup were very smooth and long.

Rose and Jungkook continued their own conversation as if they had completely forgotten about Lalisa’s presence. The exhibition they saw today. An update on their relatives. A weekend party at the mansion. Jungkook’s soft, low tone and Rose’s fluttering, high tone crossed at regular intervals.

Lalisa wondered why they decided to bring her along if they were going to converse among themselves. Lady Brandt’s actions were largely beyond Lalisa’s understanding. She never understood her ever since the first summer they met.

“So, Lalisa. How’s school? Are you having fun?”

Rose’s voice was suddenly heard along with the sound of the cup being laid down on the saucer. Although she was only a year older than Lalisa, she always spoke as if she was talking to a child in an adult-like way.

“Yes, Miss.”

For Uncle Bill. Lalisa  incanted in her head while she answered Rose.

With a satisfied nod, Rose formally asked a few more questions about Lalisa’s school life and Lalisa repeatedly answered with a consistent smile.

‘Yes, Miss’ was what Rose had only expected from Lalisa’s responses. And Lalisa was accustomed to answering that way.

“You’ll be graduating next year right?”

Although she had a dull look, Rose’s tone was rather amiable.

“Yes, Miss.”

Lalisa continued to answer faithfully.

“What are you planning to do after graduation?”

“I’m taking a class preparing for a teacher certification.”

“A teacher…”

Rose stretched the corners of lips as she grasped the teacup. The ribbon and the corsage that decorated her small hat shook along with her nods.

“Good girl, Lalisa. That’s a great goal. I think it would suit you very well.”

Rose smiled again, praising the commendable child.