CH 17

17 – No Longer Believed In Scarlett’s Laugh

“I want to lie down,” Scarlett said after applying the medicine.

“Okay.”

Isaac moved away from where he was leaning on the wall.

“How about a watch shop?” Isaac asked as Scarlett lay down next to him.

“Well, the watch I made worked.”

“Amazing. I’m proud of you.” Isaac spoke affection but soon looked disappointed. 

“I want to go to the watch shop too….”

“I’ll show you around as soon as it’s organised.”

“No.”

Isaac shook his head. Then he soon spoke in a bright voice.

“I’ll go when my eyes can see. I’m going to look at the watch you made.”

“Okay. When you see, we’ll stop the guardianship. And I’m going to the Crimson Factory.”

“Great.”

“Let’s bring all the factories back.”

“This is our factory.”

“Why our? The successor inherits the title and the factory.”

“If our parents were still alive, they might have made you the successor.”

Isaac, who had never been stubborn in his lifetime, was adamant only when he talked about the factory.

Scarlett sighed, “Okay.”

“When the guardianship is stopped, I will go to your store alone. I have memorised the address.”

“Ah, just thinking about it makes me excited,” Scarlett said a little excitedly.

She talked for a few more moments, and then she got up. Isaac would not be able to see if she shook her hand, so she spoke aloud every time she moved.

“Oh, I should get going.”

“Be careful when you go.”

Isaac smiled and waved his hand. Before Scarlett got up, he fumbled for her hand and grabbed her arm.

“By the way, Scarlett. I don’t think that way, you know, right?”

“What?”

“You said you abandoned me. I never once thought of it that way.”

It varied for each person, but if Isaac did not tell her, Scarlett would blame herself for leaving here a bland person and getting married. Of course, he did not blame her for saying this, but it was still better than remaining silent.

Scarlett smiled and nodded.

“Yes.”

With that said, Scarlett left the room.

The door closed, and the little boy removed the cloth covering his eyes with both his hands.

He knew that he could no longer be a burden after Scarlett married Dumfelt. But she spent most of the money she received from her divorce on this uncertain drug.

“...I want to see.”

He remembered when he was a kid. He had a fight with his uncle, who beat up his sister.

Abel Crimson had said while appeasing Isaac at the time.

“You are different from Scarlett. She’s nothing, but you’re going to be heir to the Crimson title, good boy, don’t associate yourself with her.”

Isaac remembered Able, then placed his hand on Scarlett’s cheek. It was an act to make Isaac one of them. The little boy slapped Scarlett on the cheek until his uncle was satisfied.

That night Scarlett came up to me and spoke softly.

“It’s a secret from Uncle, but it didn’t really hurt at all.”

She’d laughed.

The little boy never confronted his uncle from that day, and he stopped believing in Scarlett’s laugh.

♔♔♔

Scarlett rode her bike back to her watch store. On the glass wall of the shop where she had set up her bike, a large sign read ‘Scarlett Crimson’s Watch Shop,’ and underneath it was written small custom orders.

The Crimson was a family of great watchmakers. Five generations ago, she was recognised for her skill and was given the title of Earl.

‘Crimson’ was the name of the family as well as the name of watch parts. Putting this name in the store’s name meant that they could make watches with those parts.

When Scarlett first suggested using this name, the Crimson craftsmen vomited blood and objected. But when Scarlett made her Crimson parts, they had nothing to say, and they backed off.

Scarlett went inside and asked Andrei, “Did you have any orders?”

“There was. I’m telling you in advance, so please don’t make a fuss.” Andrei spoke softly and then showed an empty box.

“This was sold again, and the next customer even made a reservation in advance.”

At Andrei’s calm words, Scarlett looked at him, squinting her wine-coloured eyes, which were often curved with joy.

Andrei spoke as he put the box down again. “Just say it.”

“What did I say?”

“You said it would sell well, right?”

“Yes, I didn’t know that sapphires like this would continue to sell. It’s my only negligence.”

Andrei spoke in a slightly affronted tone, put down the box, and immediately gave Scarlett a pint of glass.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and make sapphire again soon.”

“It’s the Eye of the Sea Goddess. Why do you keep calling it sapphire when it has such a pleasant name?”

“The only one who thinks that the name Eye of the Sea Goddess is pleasant is you, boss. In fact, I call them by a different name.”