Microscopes and Canvases - Chapter 7

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 7
Because Eugenia Norton had been ignored countless times by Patrick Bennett over the years, the mere sight of his face from a distance made her stomach churn.
How could he call on her so often and not even know she existed?
Their relationship had never once been mutual. In truth, there was no relationship to speak of at all.
Whenever she recalled that it had always been her unrequited love alone, Lady Norton would often be seized by violent rage and resentment.
At times, watching Patrick Bennett from afar, she had cursed him to fall into hell itself.
Yet today, the moment she saw Patrick Bennett again after years apart, Lady Norton’s heart began to race beyond her control.
It was because Patrick Bennett was too magnificent to hate. With each passing year he had grown more handsome, and his indifferent manner—as though the gazes of those around him meant nothing—stirred her again and again.
And as she stood watching…
Patrick Bennett was a man equally indifferent to everyone. When she realized that his cold, frigid demeanor was directed not at her alone but at all alike, Lady Norton suddenly found herself able to see infinite possibility in this relationship.
Perhaps this time might be different.
Once she began turning that wheel of hope, his face looked different to her. Good heavens, just look at that magnificent hair. Why was his nose so beautiful, his eyebrows so long? His fingers were slender, his hands so large….
Excessive desire ignited in her chest. When Patrick, with a reluctant expression, at last yielded to her mother and took a bite of the scone she offered, the sight looked so suggestive that Lady Norton nearly swooned.
Heavens….
“Listen well, my dear. As we stroll through the Garden, I shall venture ahead into the deeper Inner Garden. You must then pretend a sudden headache has come upon you, and stumble about weakly. No matter how cold a man is, a nobleman must be a gentleman. He won’t be able to leave you unattended.”
Both mother and daughter knew it was a childish performance that would make even an infant laugh. Yet what did it matter if it was transparent? If it meant securing Patrick Bennett, even at the cost of gossip, it was worth it.
So today, unlike always—when she detested the earthy smell of the Garden and the sluggish insects crawling through it—she dutifully trailed after her mother, making a show of examining flowers and leaves with interest.
All the while, her heart trembling, she hovered near him, watching for her chance, hoping he might turn his head toward her just once.
“Baron, these flowers truly are lovely, aren’t they? I’m quite fond of tending gardens myself.”
Yet each time she mustered the courage to speak to him, Patrick offered only distant, dismissive replies, as though her very existence had slipped his mind entirely.
“Yes, they are charming.”
“There are orchids my mother adores in the Inner Garden. Very rare ones….”
“I see.”
After this pattern repeated several times, Lady Norton became convinced that this cold, graceless man probably didn’t even know her name.
“Baron?”
It was the same even now.
Patrick Bennett, whose expression had been blank throughout, suddenly grew animated, and before she could comprehend it, he stepped away from the gravel path and approached a stone wall tucked in the corner.
What could possibly be there?
Lady Norton, curious about what had captured his attention, pressed close behind him.
What was he looking at so intently?
The spot his fingertips carefully traced was entirely covered in moss. Patrick picked up a small twig and began scratching away the moss gradually, examining it with great care.
Honestly….
All the air went out of Lady Norton. Common moss of all things—why was he fascinated by such trivia? There were rare plants everywhere around them, yet he busied himself peering at that.
The problem was that now was precisely the time she and her mother had arranged for their scheme. The Countess Norton, having already excused herself ahead to give them privacy, peeked her head between the enormous leaves and waved her hand frantically.
‘Collapse now! Put your hand to your head! Stumble!’
But he wasn’t even looking at me….
As Lady Norton hesitated, the sound of women’s laughter drifted in from the far entrance of the Greenhouse, and her heart grew urgent.
What should I do?
She needed to stumble and fall before those other women arrived, but Patrick remained absorbed in scraping moss from the wall, making it impossible for her to time it properly.
“Um, I….”
Lady Norton, positioned awkwardly behind Patrick, bent her legs in a convincing wobble and pressed a palm to her forehead.
“I’m feeling dizzy…. Isn’t it terribly warm?”
The indifferent man who stared only at his own hands gave no reply whatsoever.
Though she found the situation somewhat shameful, Lady Norton threw her best effort into the performance, letting her limbs go limp and swaying as though standing on the tilting deck of a ship.
“Ahh… so dizzy…. I feel….”
Surely he would look back at least once?
As she buckled her knees, twisted her frame, and even rolled her eyes slightly, the man showed no reaction whatsoever.
Anyone watching would surely think her mad. Lady Norton grew anxious, eager to escape this mortifying situation.
“Baron, my head hurts so….”
Then, just as she continued emitting meaningless whimpers, Patrick finally turned his body halfway.
Now was her chance!
Lady Norton abandoned the last shred of dignity and went completely limp.
Patrick Bennett is a gentleman. He wouldn’t leave a lady to collapse in the dirt….
Yet as her body pitched forward, what Lady Norton saw was his broad back.
As always….
Patrick Bennett hadn’t even realized she was there. Her presence was so faint, so utterly negligible….
That… bastard….
Lady Norton’s body fell limply, landing awkwardly atop the Green Metal Cart that a gardener had left behind. At least she hadn’t struck the bare ground—or so she thought in that moment.
Suddenly, several unfamiliar faces abruptly appeared above her head.
“Lady Norton! Are you all right?”
“Oh my goodness!”
The women’s shrill exclamations rang out, and the Countess Norton squeezed her eyes shut. But that was not the worst of it—that came next, in the form of Eugenia Norton’s most humiliating moment.
The man who had never once spared her a glance was now looking down at her with raised eyebrows.
“Lady Norton. Are you all right?”
Do I look all right to you? You madman? She wanted to scream it at him, but proud Eugenia Norton gritted her teeth and forced a smile instead.
“I’m… I’m fine. Just a bit dizzy.”
“You fell onto a compost heap. I’d suggest you get up as soon as possible.”
Compost?
The Countess Norton’s face went pale as she recognized the dark earth piled in the cart beneath her. The earthy, pungent smell reached her next.
Bewildered, humiliated, and seized by an absurd hatred for that madman, she felt something crack inside her and a laugh spilled out—half sob, half hysteria.
“This is absolutely insufferable.”
She was laughing in that hollow, despairing way when her mother, realizing her daughter’s plan had failed, approached with a frown.
“Good heavens, what on earth happened?”
The Countess Norton pinched her nose, her face contorted. Eugenia shook out her skirts with flustered, furious motions, her face blazing red.
“The smell! Ugh! What is this?”
Patrick Bennett had already disappeared down the path, and the women who had been fawning over Eugenia abandoned her as well, rushing after him instead.
“Why on earth did you devise such a ridiculous plan? How childish! How mortifying!”
Consumed with shame, Eugenia Norton’s face burned crimson as she seethed.
“Patrick Bennett is a madman. I’d rather live alone than marry that lunatic. Whoever ends up with him—well, he’ll drive any sane woman to a nervous collapse. That’s the kind of man he is!”
Eugenia hurled accusations at her mother, then caught sight of the dark stains marring her dress and felt tears prick her eyes, which she hastily wiped away.
Never again would she venture anywhere near that madman.
But she would keep her eyes wide open, watching to see which woman ended up matched with him.
She’d grind her teeth and wait to see if he treated her with such disdain as well.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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