5. Announcement.

"Tell me the reason why you accepted my grandfather's offer, huh? Didn't I ask you to reject it?"

Belle almost screamed when she found Lionel's figure already standing behind her, right when the girl closed the door to Grandpa William's room after delivering breakfast.

"Oh my God!"

"Tell me, Belle." Lionel pressed again. He had been angry since last night but had been holding it in for various reasons, especially when it came to being as calm as possible in front of his grandfather.

Belle looked around, she was afraid of others seeing or even hearing the interaction between them. She was already dizzy, answering every question from the other servants while in the room, and then Lionel was probing like a detective.

"I think you already know the reason," Belle said.

"So, it's true that you're after the inheritance from my grandfather, huh? You want it that badly?"

The accusation made Belle squint; she felt humiliated. "Why do such evil thoughts keep spinning in your head, young Master Lionel?"

"I'm right, aren't I?"

Belle was unmoved, she stared at Lionel unblinkingly as she recalled every sentence she had heard from Maria and Tom's lips. 

Hearing the accusatory words from Lionel's lips made Belle wonder, did that man not know anything about his uncle and aunt's foul intentions? Belle snorted, she didn't answer or deny Lionel's question, instead, the woman walked past Grandpa William's grandson before descending each step to the main floor.

The way Belle ignored him annoyed Lionel; he hurried to follow Belle and pulled the girl's hand. "Hey! Do you have stitched lips so you can't answer, huh?"

"I'm curious." Belle folded her arms across her chest. "Are you sure you didn't realize something about your family?"

"What do you mean, huh? Have you become an infiltrator to gain access to so much about my family? You seem to have mastered many things in infamy." He brought his face closer—so that Belle backed away and almost hit the wall—and Lionel's left palm pressed against the wall just to the side of Belle's head—as a restraint so that the girl would not rush out of the way like before.

"Oh, or maybe it's because you've lived in America long enough to know nothing; if it's for this reason, I can understand, no problem."

"Please don't mince words because I'm really annoyed with you."

Meeting Lionel at such a close distance did not make Belle afraid or feel anything strange; she remained relaxed as if she were not facing an enemy.

"Perhaps your uncle and aunt wanted greater things, so I was forced to agree to Mr. William's request and remember all the services he has done for my life." She swallowed. "I was thinking of serving your grandfather and accompanying him for life."

"DID YOU ALREADY—"

"Belle."

The two compactly turned their heads to the left and found another servant standing at the end of the stairs while showing a confused expression. He looked at them in turn. Lionel immediately lowered his hand, storing the part in his pants pocket, before walking up the stairs back towards the second floor. He tried to leave the awkwardness there while Belle smiled at her friend.

"Yes, can I help you?" She looked at the pile of clothes that seemed to have been ironed.

"I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Belle. Will Mr. Lionel be angry with me?" The young woman's expression turned anxious.

"Angry? I don't think so. Are those Mr. William's clothes?"

"Yes, Belle."

"Just give them to me." Then the 60-cm-tall pile moved to Belle's two hands.

"Sorry for troubling you."

"Not at all, and also don't feel anxious; you don't have to think about anything you've seen."

"Alright." He stepped aside, leaving Belle standing facing the second floor as she thought—would Lionel keep waiting for her to get an answer or vanish behind the bedroom door? "Never mind, he'll definitely ask again."

***

A surprising moment occurred tonight when Grandpa William asked all the workers in his house to gather in one room, then announced proudly in front of them that Lionel would soon marry Belle because his feelings had become so good that he intended to increase the salary and bonuses for all his workers.

Belle was all smiles as she sat amongst everyone; she saw her friends so happy as they congratulated her, even though her head was in turmoil as she felt—was it the right decision to accept the offer?

"I'm so happy for you, Belle. You bring many blessings to others."

"You must be able to love Lionel quickly, he's so handsome, isn't he?"

"Tell me how it is that Mr. William wants you to be his granddaughter so much, Belle?"

"Thank you, Belle. If Mr. William really gives a bonus as well as an increase in my salary, then the savings can increase a lot, and I will follow you in marriage."

Belle seemed to be surrounded by journalists, even though she was only among the workers in this house. Many surprising moments had come her way since the offer of marriage left Grandpa William's lips, but Belle still had a hard time appreciating the pleasure of others—when some people actually felt threatened.

She just nodded and smiled in response to others. They agreed that Belle was very lucky to have a bright future; the grandson of the wealthy older man in this city would marry his grandfather's nanny.

Like a story from a fairy tale.

She looked sadly at Grandpa William; the man kept smiling to show his happiness, while here, in this position, Belle was both trapped and afraid. Can Belle hold on to her responsibility until later?

"What are you thinking, Belle? You look gloomy," said Lucia, one of the servants in this house.

Belle smiled awkwardly, and she shook her head. "Really? But I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Lucia began to whisper so that others would not hear her. "I've been watching you since yesterday, especially when you came out of the dinner with Madame Maria and Mr. Tomy. Is there a problem?"

Belle swallowed, knowing that anyone had the right to conjecture with their way of thinking. Then she shook her head, the smile on her face becoming more friendly.

"Nothing, Lucia. I wonder, if you were in my shoes, would you be surprised when your boss made an offer of marriage to his grandson?"

"Ah. Of course, I am very surprised. I will definitely immediately contact my entire family to celebrate this, Belle." Lucia was very excited.

"Yes, just like you, I was also surprised, but maybe at some point I felt denial. I kept asking myself, standing in front of the mirror, is this right? Did Grandfather William do something right when he chose me? It's quite hard to accept my common sense."

"Eum, I can understand how you feel right now, Belle." She rubbed her friend's back. "I'm sorry for thinking badly." She was dreamy. "You're right; I would have wondered if such a big moment was reality or just a dream."

"Thank you for your understanding, Lucia. I'll definitely be better tomorrow and accept everything."

"I always pray that everyone's life is blessed, including yours."

They smiled at each other. Belle could only admit the least likely of the true facts, but she was used to keeping her problems to herself, making her good at hiding things and disguising her unrest using a few sentences.

***