After the others left with the servants, Stella remained with three others.
One of them belonged to the Loran family, while the other two were Rosamond's assistants and a servant from the Linden household. They stood waiting for another carriage to take them home.
"They must have arranged this shortage on purpose. Wow, all this just for me?"
Stella thought sarcastically as she observed the group.
Rosamond's assistant was chatting casually with the two others. He seemed like a pleasant man, tall, rather slim, and probably in his mid-forties.
But midway through his conversation, he began patting his pockets and collar, looking for something.
The other servant asked, "What are you looking for, Mr. Gilbert? Did you lose something?"
Gilbert replied with slight irritation, "Yes, I must have lost my watch."
The servant said, "You probably left it somewhere, or maybe dropped it. Hopefully it's the first case, otherwise, you'll just have to buy another one."
Gilbert sighed, "You're right. I should go back and look for it. It's a keepsake, a very dear one."
"Oh, that's unfortunate," the servant murmured, already dreading the possibility of being the one sent to look for it. He added quickly, "Shall we go and search for it, then?"
Gilbert patted his shoulder lightly, "Thank you for the offer, but not you. I'will need someone else to come with me. You know how it is, we're just servants. They might not let us in without someone who looks a bit more... respectable."
As he finished, he looked toward Stella and the other servant.
With a polite smile, he said, "My apologies, Miss, but would you accompany me to look for my watch? You're probably more familiar here than I am, and..."
Stella interrupted him calmly, "Oh, I'm sorry about your watch, but I can't go back now. The carriage could arrive any moment, and I still have many tasks to finish. Besides, we went to so many places, you wouldn't even know where to start."
Gilbert kept his smile, "You're probably right. My apologies again."
"No problem," Stella replied simply.
The other servant, visibly annoyed, sighed, "Well, I suppose there's nothing to be done. I'll go with you then."
Gilbert waved his hand dismissively, "No, no. As I said, I'm not even sure if I lost it or simply left it in my room. Don't trouble yourselves over it."
"I don't know what these people are thinking, but they're already getting on my nerves", Stella thought to herself.
"I'will just stay put and avoid any unnecessary trouble."
After a short while, the carriage finally arrived. Stella felt relieved, at least she wouldn't have to stay there any longer, especially not with Gilbert trying to start a conversation again.
She climbed in, but Gilbert followed right after, saying to the two remaining servants, "You two, walk back home."
His tone was firm, enough to make them obey immediately without a question.
"Damn it. I didn't see that coming", Stella cursed inwardly, keeping her expression perfectly calm.
Gilbert closed the carriage door neatly and said to the driver in a composed voice, "You may go now."
The carriage moved quietly, the seat beneath her trembling slightly with each bump in the road. Stella sat by the window, expressionless, while Gilbert sat across from her, watching her closely.
After a moment of silence, he said,
"You look tired, miss White. I don't blame you, staying too long in a stranger's house must be exhausting."
She didn't respond, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery outside.
He continued in a soft voice, "Sometimes leaving at the right time is better than staying where you're no longer needed. Especially when people start feeling that you've... outlived your usefulness."
Still, she didn't look at him. She only adjusted her dress slightly and replied coolly,
"Really? I'will think about it when I have the time."
Gilbert let out a quiet laugh, "Oh, so you still have time to think? I thought you'd be smart enough not to wait until things are said out loud. People there, as you know, dislike chaos, and those with... questionable intentions or little experience."
At that, Stella finally lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes briefly, sharp enough to wipe the smirk off his face, "Is that your opinion, or are you just repeating what someone told you to say?"
A condescending smile crept back onto his lips.
"Does it matter? Sometimes the message itself is more important than the messenger."
Stella turned her eyes back to the window, her tone laced with quiet sarcasm, "Then tell whoever sent you that the message has been received... but the reply will take its time."
His expression shifted for a moment, but he said nothing. He only straightened his posture and began tapping his fingers on his leg in restrained irritation.
Stella, meanwhile, allowed herself a faint smile, "I was planning to leave anyway... but now? No. I won't give them the satisfaction of thinking they've won."
When the carriage finally stopped in front of the mansion, she stepped out gracefully without looking back.
Gilbert remained inside, staring out the window in silence, wondering how he had somehow lost the exchange, despite never raising his voice once.