Swan Grave - Chapter 28

They say enemies are bound to meet on a narrow bridge, and of all people, it had to be them. Anna bowed her head and stepped back to clear the way, hoping they would simply ignore her and pass by.

But such hopes are never granted. Svanhild cheerfully called out to her.

“Hello, Anna. Good morning.”

“…Good morning, young master.”

Anna thought Svanhild would still be hurt from being so thoroughly rejected the other day, yet he showed no trace of it.

“I thought Father would of course take you with him when he went out, but I see he didn’t.”

“Yes. He told me to rest today.”

“Then you don’t have anything to do?”

Svanhild’s eyes sparkled. His eagerness to somehow drag her into his plans was plain to see.

He smiled sweetly and asked, “I was just thinking of going to the garden. Want to come with me?”

When the child of one’s employer asked such a thing of a servant on her day off, the answer was limited. Whether he was oblivious or just pretending not to know… with Svanhild, it was surely the latter.

If she had known this would happen, she wouldn’t have gone around asking others if they needed help. She would have hidden in her room straight away. Regretting it too late, Anna tried her best to politely refuse.

“Aren’t you going with Teacher Schwartz? I’d only be in the way.”

“You went to the garden with Father yesterday. Don’t you want to go with me?”

At his words, yesterday’s memories returned. Remembering how she had been in Rothbart’s arms there made her even less willing to go to the garden.

‘The Marquess said he had brainwashed them, but what if the gardener still remembers yesterday…’

Just the thought was horrifying.

Anna glanced at Rose standing behind Svanhild. At the mention of her going to the garden with Rothbart, Rose’s face instantly twisted in displeasure.

Since Rose despised Anna, she would surely find some excuse to pick a quarrel and keep her from going along. Anna pinned her last hope on Rose.

“Come with us, Anna.”

But Rose crushed that hope without mercy. Instead of her usual venomous glare, she smiled brightly, and true to her name, she looked beautiful.

“It’s just a walk in the garden. Why wouldn’t you come along?”

Svanhild was one thing, but Rose’s eagerness to drag her along was impossible to understand. Was it just to look good to Svanhild? Whatever the reason, Anna wanted nothing to do with it. She was about to feign fatigue as an excuse when Rose cut in first.

“Or is it… that the Marquess’s personal maid doesn’t have to grant the young master’s requests?”

With words like that, refusal was impossible. Anna sighed. And so, burdened with unease, she followed them toward the garden.

Svanhild, seemingly overjoyed, held Anna’s hand and skipped along. It was behavior befitting a child his age, yet somehow it didn’t seem to suit him at all.

Rose followed behind them. Though Anna had joined them late, it was Rose who seemed like the third wheel. Her indifference to being left out only made Anna more uncomfortable.

“Oh my, isn’t this the young master. What brings you to the garden?”

The gardener from yesterday greeted Svanhild obsequiously. Apparently, Svanhild didn’t come to the garden often.

“Yesterday we had a young lady visit, and today the governess. The flowers will pale in comparison.”

Though his words seemed to praise both Anna and Rose, his gaze landed only on Rose standing behind Anna and Svanhild. His face glowed as he looked at her. It was no surprise since Rose was strikingly beautiful.

Anna, on the other hand, felt relieved at his reaction. It seemed he truly remembered nothing of yesterday.

“Shall I guide you? Or…”

Svanhild entered the garden without replying. Indeed, he was not the type with a polite or amiable personality. The gardener, seemingly used to such behavior, only gave an awkward laugh.

Svanhild strode across the garden. He didn’t seem to be admiring anything in particular. As he wandered through the garden, he suddenly stopped. Of all places, it was where Anna had been in Rothbart’s arms the day before. Like a thief with a guilty conscience, Anna’s heart pounded.

Svanhild looked back at Anna nonchalantly and asked, “Anna, how about picking some flowers? Father would be pleased if we decorated his study with them.”

“Well… I think he’d prefer it if you picked them yourself, young master.”

Anna trailed off. But such indirect refusals had no effect on Svanhild. Rothbart never listened to others either, but with Svanhild, it was even worse, mixed with the illogical stubbornness of a child, making him far harder to deal with. He continued insisting.

“No. Father would like it more if you picked them.”

At Svanhild’s words mentioning Rothbart, Rose’s lips twisted. The more Svanhild singled out Anna, the more Rose would come to hate her, yet Svanhild didn’t care in the slightest.

“Still, I should ask the gardener first. I might accidentally pick flowers I shouldn’t.”

“There are no flowers you can’t pick. And since they’ll decorate Father’s study, how could it be wrong?”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll go fetch the pruning shears. Please wait a moment.”

Rose stepped in to assist Svanhild. Though Anna tried to stop her, Rose turned briskly as if she hadn’t heard and walked away.

Before long, Rose returned with the shears. Smiling brightly, she handed them to Anna. To Anna, they felt like a noose tightening around her neck.

But there was no escape. It was clear Svanhild was determined to make Anna pick the flowers, and that was why he had dragged her all the way to the garden.

Surely, Rothbart wouldn’t kill her simply for picking flowers. Resigned, Anna let out a sigh and reached for the shears Rose offered.

With one snip, the stem of a rose drooped its head.

***

When morning came, Rose went to find Butler Barrett. Lately, Rothbart had always used the excuse of being busy to avoid meeting Rose, and the more he avoided her, the more restless she became.

“I want to see the master. When will it be possible?”

“The master is busy today. He has no time. If you have something to say, tell me and I will pass it on.”

“You always give that excuse!”

“It’s no excuse. He truly is busy.”

Barrett stiffened his neck and firmly dismissed Rose’s words. Rose, who had never once been in such a position, was beside herself with indignation. Yet now she was in no place to demand—she had to beg. Again and again, Rose pleaded with Barrett.

“It’s about the experiment. I must tell him directly.”

“That too, you can tell me and I will deliver it.”

“The master always said he would grant my requests. Blocking my meeting with him like this is an abuse of authority!”

“Circumstances are different now. What the master once supported with all his resources was the black magician, not the governess.”

Unlike the impatient Rose, Barrett remained calm. He glanced out the window, then turned back to her with a look of contempt.

“Isn’t it about time for Young Master Svanhild’s lessons? If you wish to remain in this mansion, perhaps you should fulfill your duties as a governess.”

At Barrett’s sneering words, Rose could only bite her lip and turn away.

Butler, head maid—those who once bowed their heads and watched her every move now trampled her with arrogance. Yet what stung her pride more was that they seemed to side with Anna, that girl, giving her subtle support.