The Maid Under the Stairs - Chapter 56
< Chapter 56 >
Mabel, who returned to Summerhill, suffered for a whole week.
Although there were no other symptoms, she vomited whenever she ate and suffered from headaches all day long.
Mary, who thought something was wrong, took Mabel to the health center at Summerhill College, but it was no use. They only received vague answers, suggesting it might be physical symptoms of stress and advising Mabel to rest deeply and try not to stress.
“Do you really have to graduate early? What about taking a semester off to recuperate if you’re not feeling well? If it’s because of admission requirements, they’re already out in the open anyway….”
Mary said to a pale Mabel as they visited Cheshire Hall together to get a mail.
She couldn’t know what happened at Oxford, but Mabel, who spent several days there, was different from before. She had lost her sparkling eyes and tears would well up in her hollow eyes at the slightest provocation.
“I know, but… I just want to leave this place.”
Mabel replied in a weak voice. After lying in bed for a few days and receiving Mary’s care, she looked as if even holding her body back was difficult.
“What then? After staying at Oxford, are you considering going to America?”
Mary asked, supporting Mabel’s arm.
She was very surprised to hear that Leon had proposed a trip to America for Mabel. He, who had worked tirelessly day and night to become the head of Montaire Publishing House during the past few years in England, suddenly wanted to go back to America with Mabel. Although he was her brother, Leon was truly an enigmatic person.
“That’s…”
Mabel hesitated as she walked along the autumn-colored path. The chilly air felt sharp against her fragile lungs.
She hadn’t replied to Leon yet, but she was seriously considering going to America. At that moment, she found a thick envelope with Leon de Percy’s name on it among the mail she received from Cheshire Hall and opened it.
Miss Willis.
I heard something at the party on Isle of Wight that I attended. Normally, I hate gossiping, but I regret not warning you earlier this time.
I’ve attached information about Rebecca Silvester. Since Mary mentioned it, it seems like that woman might be the one who investigated you.…
Mabel looked at the yellow file enclosed in the letter. The file had Rebecca’s name written on it, as Leon had mentioned.
“Oh, that… “
Mary recognized Leon’s handwriting and the file.
“Even after the Isle of Wight party, Leon asked me if there was a group at Summerhill that seemed to dislike you. At the time, I didn’t know what he was talking about, but it turns out that at that party, Rebecca told Julia and her sister something about your background. Leon happened to overhear that….”
As Mabel unfolded the file, she found a lengthy list of information about Rebecca’s lineage and her personal life.
“At the time, I didn’t think much about it, but now it seems like Rebecca intentionally investigated you. Given your connection to Mr. Edmundstone and how your name has been circulating in gossip articles, it seems like jealousy, or maybe she’s genuinely concerned about the reputation of Summerhill College, which her father sponsors. So, I thought it might be a good idea for you to know some information about Rebecca….”
Mary regretted not telling Mabel sooner when Leon warned her about Rebecca.
While it was true that Mabel had kept her identity hidden from her friends, both the admissions office and the sponsors knew about her status. Nevertheless, Mabel thought it was cowardly and rude of Rebecca to secretly dig up information about her in the student council room and cause a scene by dragging Mabel out of Cheshire Hall as if conducting a witch trial.
“Did Mr. de Percy investigate Rebecca’s lineage because of me?”
Mabel looked at Mary with a surprised expression as she scanned through the documents.
“The hearing is over, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt for us to have some knowledge just in case, especially considering how active she was in attacking you. Our side should be prepared too, right?”
Mary was well aware that Rebecca and her club still spoke ill of Mabel. Mary spoke with a determined expression.
“Oh, of course, don’t misunderstand. My brother detests this kind of behavior. But since it’s related to you, and he has witnessed you suffering, he willingly complied with my request.”
“…”
“Of course, when you work in the media, you end up hearing a lot about the personal lives of individuals from prominent families, especially unmarried ladies whose status as potential spouses can change based on rumors and reputation.”
Mary shrugged as if it were no big deal, which made Mabel feel uneasy.
The way this sibling pair thought of her was like they were thinking of their own family. Mabel felt grateful to them, yet sad that personal information that could be a weakness for Rebecca was so easily accessible in her hands just because she was known as the daughter of a well-known family.
“Thank you, Mary. Both you and Mr. de Percy… Even your parents sent me my favorite cake when they heard I was unwell.”
Mabel looked at her steadfast friend as she spoke.
While everyone else was cautious due to the scrutiny of the family or concerns about rumors and status differences when associating with Mabel, Mary always stood by her side.
Furthermore, even though the de Percy couple learned of her status, they still treated Mabel the same as before, and they even kindly remembered to send her the food she liked from last Christmas upon hearing she was unwell.
As Mabel read the rest of Leon’s letter, she felt her heart warm with thoughts of the de Percy family.
… I wonder how you’ve been lately. Is it really okay not to serialize your novel anymore?
I know you don’t want me to serialize your novel using my name and authority, but I still think your novel is good enough to be published in the Winter Edition magazine.
So, whenever you change your mind, let’s talk about it. I’m still a big shot at Montaire Publishing. When else will I use my connections, if not now?
Above all, I worry if you’re eating properly or if you’re walking around with a sad face like last time. It’s strange.
You easily skip meals when you have something to focus on, and now I can’t even get you to empty your plate by threatening you with a manuscript as your editor-in-chief.
There’s not much I can do for you right now, but at least I know how much comfort your writing brings you, so I’m enclosing a poem by your favorite, Olivia Panthera, in this letter. It’s a poem that hasn’t been published yet.
Would you believe it’s a poem written for you? Haha. A reply including your thoughts after reading it is a must.
Seeing the world from a single grain of sand
Seeing the forest from a single flower
In my heart, I see you.
Loving your sorrow,
My sorrow becomes a joy
And in this way, the world goes round.
Creating our own universe together.
– Panthera, What Makes the World Go Round (* Adaptation of a poem by the 1800s poet William Blake)
Your Leon de Percy.
Mabel read Olivia Panthera’s poem from Leon’s letter multiple times.
‘And in this way, the world goes round.…’
That was what Mabel said to him the day they first met. When Leon dismissed stories of ladies falling in love as cliché and insignificant, Mabel replied isn’t it those ladies falling in love that makes the world go round?
Perhaps Panthera also thought that the world turned because someone fell in love.
Feeling a strange comfort from the poem, Mabel and Mary finally arrive at the door of the dormitory room together.
“Oh my goodness, what is this!”
Mary screamed and stepped back. At the same time, she looked at Mabel’s room with a pale face.
“…”
Mabel was equally surprised. In front of her room, there was a pile of garbage, iron buckets used for cleaning, brooms, and mops.
Moreover, the wooden door had blood-red writing on it.
[Leave Summerhill!]
It seems like a warning aimed at Mabel. The person who made this mess is probably the culprit.
“Goodness! This is way beyond acceptable!”
Mary noticed the mischief of the students who couldn’t accept the outcome of Mabel’s hearing and complained fiercely. It was clear that the cleaning supplies rolling on the floor symbolized the maid under Mabel’s status.
“We need to inform the Student Council or better yet, the dean immediately and catch those students who are behaving like this. How can students from prestigious Summerhill College engage in such despicable acts?”
“No, Mary…”
Mabel sat down on the floor, hesitantly pulling the trash bin closer.
Just a few weeks ago, she would have been hurt and broken by the torment of the club members. But after pouring out all her tears and emotions to William while saying goodbye, Mabel didn’t care about whatever was happening now.
‘I’ve dedicated my life to your happiness, Mabel, my beloved. I love you.’
William’s face, confessing with a faint smile and overflowing affectionate eyes and her sharp words that shattered him were the only things haunting her for days.
“Mabel, are you going to clean this up alone?”
As Mabel started slowly putting the trash into the bin with her trembling body, Mary spoke, surprised. But Mabel, lost in her thoughts, continued to clear the front of her room like a ghost.
‘Hey, how can I be different from the rest.…’
Mary couldn’t help but sit beside Mabel and ponder. Despite her carefree demeanor, she had never directly cleaned up such filth as the only daughter of a prestigious family. She didn’t dare to pick up a mop and follow Mabel willingly.
“Let’s ask if we can call the maids assigned to the dorm. Oh, or maybe I can… No, I’ll try. I’m worried you might collapse since you’re not feeling well.”
Finally, Mary, who sat beside Mabel and couldn’t help but pick up the trash bin awkwardly, said. At that moment, the sound of footsteps behind Mary and Mabel stopped, and a shadow loomed over their shoulders.
“And you can’t even clean this up properly? Aren’t you supposed to be a maid?”
Irina’s sharp voice with her shiny black short hair swept back echoed through the dormitory hallway.