Chapter 12

A Love Half Full

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In the weeks that followed, Emil began to overhear rumors about their young master, Robert Vale, whispered among the staff whenever they believed no one was listening.

"Have you heard?" one steward said while polishing the silverware. "Lord Robert fired another servant from the other mansion."

"Again?" another gasped as he stacked the cleaned cutlery. "Wasn't that one new?"

"Exactly", he replied, "You know Lord Robert, make one mistake, and you're out the next day."

"I heard he doesn't even have a personal assistant anymore," someone else added. "No one ever lasts long with him. Honestly, who could stand someone that grumpy and strict?"

The others quietly agreed, and Emil heard every word of it.

But instead of being frightened by the rumors, they only made him more curious about their Lord, Robert Vale. Is he really that hard to get along with? Is he really such a terrible coworker that no one would hang out with him? These were the questions that kept running through Emil's mind over the next few days. Ironically, Robert rarely noticed him at all. Perhaps because the young lord thought Emil was just a stranger and not worthy of his attention. But Emil didn't like that kind of treatment. In fact, he didn't mind being scolded or corrected; being treated as though he didn't exist was something he couldn't accept.

So the question remained in his mind: How could Robert ever notice him?

And it seems the universe took pity on him, because one day, Grandma Vicky asked him to temporarily assist Robert during a very critical business preparation in its own office in the Midlands. Finally! This was the opportunity Emil had been waiting for—to work with Robert in person and to find out for himself whether his master truly liked him...or not. So Emil had carefully prepared himself to the point that he even consulted the stewards about Robert, like how he spoke to people, how intimidating he might be, what to expect, and what to avoid. They gave him specific advice, like not blinking too much during the conversation, since Robert wasn't a fan of people who blinked excessively. Emil was also warned not to ask too many questions repeatedly, because when Robert gave instructions, he expected them to be understood and followed the first time. In short, Robert had little patience for those who were weak-minded or unable to follow simple orders.

He had made all those preparations just for a chance to prove himself and be noticed by Robert.

But when they finally met, face to face, Emil felt a pang of disappointment...

Robert didn't even remember Emil's name.

"What's your name again?" Robert asked casually while his eyes were fixed on the laptop, typing, not even glancing at Emil, who stood directly in front of him.

"Emil, my lord," Emil replied while keeping his voice calm, steady, and respectful.

Robert paused for only a brief two seconds. At that moment, Emil thought Robert had finally paid attention to him, but he was wrong. The man just continued typing. Emil had been waiting for Robert to speak, but it seemed as though Robert had already forgotten he was there.

But Emil didn't let Robert's inattention affect him. So instead of backing out, Emil quietly began his work without interrupting Robert for guidance. There, he saw the pile of documents on the other table. He decided to start his work by identifying which ones were marked as urgent and which ones had already been partially processed. He began to organize the papers, neatly stacking them in a sequence that Robert could easily understand. After that, he even separated the documents that lacked signatures. When Emil noticed some miscalculations, he carefully recalculated the numbers on a piece of paper. He prepared the corrected version for Robert to review.

That was when Emil finally caught Robert's attention. He immediately stopped typing mid-sentence as he fixed his gaze on Emil, who was almost finished with the tasks he had taken on without a word of instruction.

"You...handled all of this without me saying a word?" he asked. His voice was intimidating, yet carried a note of surprise. Emil, in response, looked up to meet Robert's gaze and nodded politely.

"Yes, my lord. I reviewed everything and prepared it so it would be easier for you to process".

But instead of thanking Emil, Robert's brows furrowed. He rose abruptly from his seat and slammed a hand down on the table. The sudden movement startled Emil slightly, but he remained calm where he stood.

"I did not ask you to interfere with my work," Robert said coldly.

"My apologies, my lord," Emil replied at once. "But Madame Vicky instructed me to—"

"Again," Robert cut in sharply, "I did not order you to interfere with my work."

Emil understood the emphasis immediately. Robert was right—he shouldn't have interfered, especially since his master hadn't asked for help. All he had wanted was to be useful, but in the end, it seemed he'd only made things worse, giving Robert even more reason to treat him with that initial coldness.

So Emil decided to do the best thing, to leave his master's office and return to the mansion.

"I understand, my lord. Please forgive my intrusion," he said quietly. He bowed once, properly, then turned and left the room without another word.

Only after Emil left did Robert have the opportunity to take a deep breath and let his irritation subside. After that, he continued working for the rest of the day until he began to notice the documents Emil had organized. For some reason, it was easier to find exactly what he needed. Even the incorrect computations the young man had spotted in the reports were already corrected, saving him the time he would have spent reviewing them himself.

In short, Robert finished his work faster than expected and was able to present it smoothly to his business partner.

He couldn't help but feel guilty, especially knowing he had taken out his stress on the young man. In truth, Robert hadn't intended to scold him at all—he hadn't been in the best mood lately, weighed down by mounting pressure at work. Still, he had to admit that Emil had done more for him in a short time than any of the assistants he had hired before. Those people he hired in the past never made his work easier; instead, they doubled his workload, and he dismissed them within days.

So right after his business meeting, Robert decided to visit his grandmother's mansion. As soon as he stepped through the gate, his first question was, "Where is Grandma's little servant...?"

"He's in the library, Master," a steward replied. "That's where he's working at the moment."

Robert hurried to the library, where he found Emil carefully wiping down the books one by one.

"Hey, you," Robert said from the doorway, startling Emil.

"Lord Robert?" Emil immediately set the book aside and bowed slightly. "Do you...need something from me?"

"Your name is Emil, right?"

"Yes, my lord," he replied.

For a moment, Robert seemed unsure where to begin. He stood there longer than expected, as if he was choosing his words carefully.

"First of all," Robert finally said, "I'm sorry if I... didn't treat you well."

The words caught Emil completely off guard. He lifted his head at once, searching Robert's face just to be sure he had heard him correctly.

"It was wrong of me to do that," Robert continued. "I shouldn't have taken my frustration out on you." He paused, then added quietly, "I'm sorry—and...good job."

After Robert said those words, he turned around and left the library without waiting for a response from Emil. At the same time, the young man remained where he was, saying nothing. When the surroundings became quiet, he only then realized that Robert was gone. After that, he felt a strange warmth envelop his chest, and his face gradually turned red because of an emotion he couldn't explain. Was it...joy? Relief? Pride? He couldn't explain, but those emotions mixed in his heart, then it moved strangely for the first time; something he knew he had no right to touch, but he couldn't deny.

For a long time, Robert had felt like someone who barely acknowledged his existence. Yet just now, that same man had apologized to him, and even thanked him.

So without second thoughts, Emil abandoned his work at once and hurried downstairs, chasing after Robert, who was just about to get into his car.

"Lord Robert!"

Robert paused, one hand on the car door. He turned and saw Emil rushing toward him. Instead of speaking immediately, he waited, giving the young man time to catch his breath.

"Do you have something to say?" Robert asked calmly.

Emil pressed a hand lightly to his chest, forcing himself to steady his breathing before he spoke.

"Please..." He bowed slightly. "Let me work for you."

Robert didn't answer right away. His gaze lingered on Emil, just long enough to assess the young man's resolve.

"Do you even know how difficult I am to deal with?" Robert said at last. "Perhaps you're underestimating what you're asking for."

"No, Lord Robert." Emil lifted his head and met his master's eyes directly. His voice remained firm despite the nervous tension in his chest. "I know exactly what I'm asking." He took a breath, then added quietly but earnestly, "I want to serve you. Please...allow me to."

Robert studied him in silence, as if this single moment would decide far more than either of them realized.

Then after a while, he asked.

"How old are you?"

Emil answered without hesitation.

"Fifteen, my lord."

"Then wait until you're eighteen."

Robert opened the car door and got in, already turning his gaze toward the window. "I have no intention of being charged with child labor," he added flatly, "or being scolded by my grandmother for making a minor work for me."

With that, Robert closed the car window. He started the engine, and then the car pulled away without another word.

Robert left just like that.

Emil remained where he stood, watching the vehicle disappear down the long driveway. His chest was tight yet strangely warm. It wasn't an acceptance...but it wasn't a rejection either. But that moment marked the beginning of his quiet path—one where his simple admiration slowly took root in his heart. In time, it deepened and changed into something far more dangerous and tender:

Love.

Years later, as Emil stood at Robert's side as his personal assistant, he would often think back to that day. To the man who once barely noticed his existence, who had regarded him as nothing more than a passing breeze in his world, unaware that the same breeze would one day remain, steady and indispensable.

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"Emil, son...?"

Emil was startled out of his thoughts when he heard Madame Vicky's voice. The old lady was almost done sipping the tea the man had prepared, watching him over the rim of her cup. For a moment longer, Emil's gaze lingered on Robert, who was still in the courtyard speaking on the phone. It was the very same spot where Robert had once told him to wait until he was of age, where he had said Emil could work for him someday.

And that day had truly come.

"You seem lost in thought," Madame Vicky remarked gently. "Is something the matter?"

"Ah—nothing, Grandma Vicky," Emil replied as he carefully refilled her cup. "I just...remembered something."

Emil lowered the teapot and allowed himself a small smile as he stole another glance at Robert. Madame Vicky noticed it. She smiled as well, though she said nothing—only continuing to sip her tea, as if she already understood those gazes more than Emil had realized.