Else didn't like it. She didn't like everything. She didn't like how he had changed during the four days she had been sick, and she didn't like the girl who had followed him without calling him. The person who wanted to heal him was Else. From the moment she saw him soaking wet in the rain, she wanted to caress his wounded face.
But he recovered cleanly without Else's touch. Could it be that the girl who followed the boy around without being called had been by his side all day?
But he recovered cleanly without Else's touch. Could it be that the girl who followed the boy around without being called had been by his side all day?
Her eyes were distorted. Else glared at him again, snorting. She picked up a pillow and threw it at the boy.
“I want to ride a horse.”
“Get ready, I'll tell them.”
Else shook her head.
“Not that. You. I want you to give me a ride.”
Else glared at him with cold eyes. When Else was being stubborn, people usually asked her why. Why on earth are you doing this? What is it that you don’t like that makes you want to be so stubborn?
“I want to ride a horse.”
“Get ready, I'll tell them.”
Else shook her head.
“Not that. You. I want you to give me a ride.”
Else glared at him with cold eyes. When Else was being stubborn, people usually asked her why. Why on earth are you doing this? What is it that you don’t like that makes you want to be so stubborn?
Else didn’t answer when she was first asked. She lay down and whined, throwing a tantrum. When the flustered maid called the nanny and lifted Else up, Else stammered and opened her mouth.
This time, she planned to do the same. Instead of lying down and making excuses, she planned to torment him with her ridiculous stubbornness. He was not used to kneeling, so he would be flustered and refuse. He would ask why, and Else would stammer out what she didn't like. She planned to ask him to get rid of that girl who kept coming every day and spend time with him alone.
“What are you talking about...”
“Be quiet! Don’t interfere!”
The girl who had been listening quietly opened her lips with a furious face. Else shouted in a fit of rage and threw the music box on the nightstand at her. The girl who saw the music box flying towards her took a step back. Else, who saw the music box fall at her feet, flailed her feet in anger and threw a tantrum.
“No! No! Who called you? Why did you come here! Get out! Get out!”
Else flailed her feet, swearing. The girl, whose face was astonished and unable to even laugh, looked at her with wide eyes.
“This unlucky bitch! This gal...”
A large hand grabbed her shoulder. Else looked at him with a surprised and wet face. He wiped Else’s eyelids and cheeks with the back of his hand and whispered, “Shhh.” Else looked at him with a bewildered face. The lips that had been muttering humiliating curses stopped moving.
“Get on my back.”
The boy who had been patting Else's thin back spoke softly. Else's eyelashes fluttered. Goosebumps seemed to appear on her twisted lips.
"Ugh...!"
The girl who had been watching them opened her mouth in surprise. The boy looked back at her as if to warn her. Else watched him kneel in confusion. This isn’t right. This isn’t what I called you to do... It wasn’t like she wanted this and was being stubborn. But her lips wouldn’t move.
His two knees were completely on the floor. When she showed no sign of getting up, he carried Else on his back. Else squirmed slightly and pushed him away, but he carried her on his back and bent his knees.
Her face turned red. He was crawling on the floor with both hands. The girl, pale and trembling, was glaring at her. She was a little scared because she was glaring at her with a sharp look on her face as if she was going to kill her. Else, who turned her gaze away, slid down his body and rolled. Then she threw the pillow that was lying on the floor while grumbling.
“Hey, hey! You son of a bitch! You son of a bitch! Ugh, ugh...”
The distorted face was familiar and ugly in places. Else wiped her eyes with her sleeve and hated the slave who didn't do what she wanted. Suddenly, a long hand came and hugged her. A boy much bigger than Else was holding her in his arms.
“I guess you don’t like it.”
“No! No!”
Else, who had been screaming as if her throat was going to burst, punched him in the chest. She tried to hit his face too, but she couldn't because the raw wounds she had already made were blooming here and there. Else shook her shoulders and buried her face in his chest.
“I don’t like it!”
“Shall I put you down on the bed?”
“No! I don’t want to. Don’t put me down. Hold me. Hold me tight.”
When asked if she should get off, Else shook her head and hugged his neck. It was better for him to get up and hold her, rather than crawl on the floor like a dog. Else clung to his neck and buried her face in his chest.
“Stop crying.”
The boy who was gently stroking Else's head whispered with his lips against her ear.
“...Don’t cry.”
Else sniffled a few times and replied. He saw Else wiping her eyes and nose with her sleeve and felt her eyes with his big thumb. Else liked the touch and leaned her face against his big hand. The long hand smelled good. It was the scent of morning magnolia. It was clean and elegant. It was a pure and noble scent. It was a scent that suited him well. Else opened her closed eyes and looked at the boy. His straight face was sharp and noble. The name of the beast did not suit him. Her boy had the most noble features in her world.
“Ian.”
Else, who had been looking at him with still eyes, whispered softly. The boy’s blue-gray eyes examined Elde’s eyes, which were swollen and red. Slowly, as if picking at each inch of her body... The red aura that colored her clean, white skin was a refreshing rose color.
“Your name is Ian.”
It was the name of a knight. It was the name of a man who had achieved many military feats and received a high title from the King of the capital among his father's close friends. If a man could receive a high title from the King, it would be the name of a noble and blameless man. That suited the boy well. That's why she wanted to give him only the best things. A good bed, good clothes, good food... He suited those things well.
“Ian.”
"Yes."
When Elae called him Ian, who didn't respond, the boy answered softly. Else pursed her lips. She turned her gaze to look at the girl who had turned pale.
“I wish she went somewhere else.”
The girl clenched her fists as if she had heard Else's whisper. Else looked up at Ian.
“Send her somewhere else.”
The boy looked down at her. Else rolled her eyes and thought of her maternal family. Her maternal family, the Baron Gerjon, ruled over a territory not far from Lugdun. It was located to the west of the Tridene River, so it was just a short walk past the wheat fields.
“To my maternal grandfather...”
“That won’t do.”
It was unexpected. She had a face that would listen to anything and comfort her, so she naturally thought he would listen to her. Else looked at him with a stern face. Ian had the same face. But he was firm. He shook his head with the same face he had when he stroked her hair and wiped his eyes affectionately.
"Why?"
Else asked. Ian laid her down on the bed and answered calmly.
“Because that child is mine.”
Else opened her eyes. The bedroom, bathed in the dawn light, was dim and hard to distinguish outlines. Else, who had been moving her eyelids in the dim dawn, rolled her eyes. Ian was where her gaze landed. Else, who had been scanning the blue twilight around his eyes and nose, rolled her eyes down and stared at the thick arms that were holding her.
It wasn't often that she opened her eyes before Ian. Even when she did, she would fall back asleep right away, so when she came to, her side was always empty. Else habitually tried to burrow into his arms, but curled up into a huddle.
Ian had someone he liked. Even if he didn't like them, they were precious to him and someone he couldn't take away from him. Else wondered what it would be like to be that kind of person to Ian. To Else, Ian was someone who couldn't get even a little pity without being mean. If she could get love by pretending to be pitiful, she would have done so.
But she got him the wrong way from the beginning. There was nothing she could turn back now. That’s why her heart ached every time Ian treated her well. Even if it was a bothersome affection, it was an unforgettable affection to Else... The love that had been slowly festering from the beginning was swallowing her up. Still, this pain was Else’s alone. Just as this love was Else’s alone.
Else closed her eyes and traced the dream she had had for a long time. The rainy day she first met Ian was one of the days Else often recalled. Else sometimes started that morning from the beginning. Like feeling the end of a book that had been burned by fire, very slowly. Slowly... She started everything.
After having Ian like that... She always regretted it. It was hard to let him go even now, even though she could have. It was even harder because he was so affectionate for such a short moment. She wishes he would have behaved like yesterday. Else knows how Ian will change when he opens his eyes.
He will be good to her for a while. He will be sweet and affectionate enough to make her shiver. Even now, after drying her with a towel, didn't he cover her with the blanket? After finishing his work, he didn't leave the room, and he didn't get up before her and get dressed.
And then, soon after, he would return to Ivana. It didn't matter whether Ivana was his lover or not. Else felt like she had lost the world just because she was not in a finite relationship with him. He hated her with all his heart and suffered with all his heart.
It was painful to have the other maids' eyes on that elegant and handsome face. She wanted to gouge out those women's eyes and ruin Ian's handsome face, and her blood boiled. When she was young, she used to be a brat and cause trouble, but now she knows that she can't catch him with that.
This time, she planned to do the same. Instead of lying down and making excuses, she planned to torment him with her ridiculous stubbornness. He was not used to kneeling, so he would be flustered and refuse. He would ask why, and Else would stammer out what she didn't like. She planned to ask him to get rid of that girl who kept coming every day and spend time with him alone.
“What are you talking about...”
“Be quiet! Don’t interfere!”
The girl who had been listening quietly opened her lips with a furious face. Else shouted in a fit of rage and threw the music box on the nightstand at her. The girl who saw the music box flying towards her took a step back. Else, who saw the music box fall at her feet, flailed her feet in anger and threw a tantrum.
“No! No! Who called you? Why did you come here! Get out! Get out!”
Else flailed her feet, swearing. The girl, whose face was astonished and unable to even laugh, looked at her with wide eyes.
“This unlucky bitch! This gal...”
A large hand grabbed her shoulder. Else looked at him with a surprised and wet face. He wiped Else’s eyelids and cheeks with the back of his hand and whispered, “Shhh.” Else looked at him with a bewildered face. The lips that had been muttering humiliating curses stopped moving.
“Get on my back.”
The boy who had been patting Else's thin back spoke softly. Else's eyelashes fluttered. Goosebumps seemed to appear on her twisted lips.
"Ugh...!"
The girl who had been watching them opened her mouth in surprise. The boy looked back at her as if to warn her. Else watched him kneel in confusion. This isn’t right. This isn’t what I called you to do... It wasn’t like she wanted this and was being stubborn. But her lips wouldn’t move.
His two knees were completely on the floor. When she showed no sign of getting up, he carried Else on his back. Else squirmed slightly and pushed him away, but he carried her on his back and bent his knees.
Her face turned red. He was crawling on the floor with both hands. The girl, pale and trembling, was glaring at her. She was a little scared because she was glaring at her with a sharp look on her face as if she was going to kill her. Else, who turned her gaze away, slid down his body and rolled. Then she threw the pillow that was lying on the floor while grumbling.
“Hey, hey! You son of a bitch! You son of a bitch! Ugh, ugh...”
The distorted face was familiar and ugly in places. Else wiped her eyes with her sleeve and hated the slave who didn't do what she wanted. Suddenly, a long hand came and hugged her. A boy much bigger than Else was holding her in his arms.
“I guess you don’t like it.”
“No! No!”
Else, who had been screaming as if her throat was going to burst, punched him in the chest. She tried to hit his face too, but she couldn't because the raw wounds she had already made were blooming here and there. Else shook her shoulders and buried her face in his chest.
“I don’t like it!”
“Shall I put you down on the bed?”
“No! I don’t want to. Don’t put me down. Hold me. Hold me tight.”
When asked if she should get off, Else shook her head and hugged his neck. It was better for him to get up and hold her, rather than crawl on the floor like a dog. Else clung to his neck and buried her face in his chest.
“Stop crying.”
The boy who was gently stroking Else's head whispered with his lips against her ear.
“...Don’t cry.”
Else sniffled a few times and replied. He saw Else wiping her eyes and nose with her sleeve and felt her eyes with his big thumb. Else liked the touch and leaned her face against his big hand. The long hand smelled good. It was the scent of morning magnolia. It was clean and elegant. It was a pure and noble scent. It was a scent that suited him well. Else opened her closed eyes and looked at the boy. His straight face was sharp and noble. The name of the beast did not suit him. Her boy had the most noble features in her world.
“Ian.”
Else, who had been looking at him with still eyes, whispered softly. The boy’s blue-gray eyes examined Elde’s eyes, which were swollen and red. Slowly, as if picking at each inch of her body... The red aura that colored her clean, white skin was a refreshing rose color.
“Your name is Ian.”
It was the name of a knight. It was the name of a man who had achieved many military feats and received a high title from the King of the capital among his father's close friends. If a man could receive a high title from the King, it would be the name of a noble and blameless man. That suited the boy well. That's why she wanted to give him only the best things. A good bed, good clothes, good food... He suited those things well.
“Ian.”
"Yes."
When Elae called him Ian, who didn't respond, the boy answered softly. Else pursed her lips. She turned her gaze to look at the girl who had turned pale.
“I wish she went somewhere else.”
The girl clenched her fists as if she had heard Else's whisper. Else looked up at Ian.
“Send her somewhere else.”
The boy looked down at her. Else rolled her eyes and thought of her maternal family. Her maternal family, the Baron Gerjon, ruled over a territory not far from Lugdun. It was located to the west of the Tridene River, so it was just a short walk past the wheat fields.
“To my maternal grandfather...”
“That won’t do.”
It was unexpected. She had a face that would listen to anything and comfort her, so she naturally thought he would listen to her. Else looked at him with a stern face. Ian had the same face. But he was firm. He shook his head with the same face he had when he stroked her hair and wiped his eyes affectionately.
"Why?"
Else asked. Ian laid her down on the bed and answered calmly.
“Because that child is mine.”
***
Else opened her eyes. The bedroom, bathed in the dawn light, was dim and hard to distinguish outlines. Else, who had been moving her eyelids in the dim dawn, rolled her eyes. Ian was where her gaze landed. Else, who had been scanning the blue twilight around his eyes and nose, rolled her eyes down and stared at the thick arms that were holding her.
It wasn't often that she opened her eyes before Ian. Even when she did, she would fall back asleep right away, so when she came to, her side was always empty. Else habitually tried to burrow into his arms, but curled up into a huddle.
Ian had someone he liked. Even if he didn't like them, they were precious to him and someone he couldn't take away from him. Else wondered what it would be like to be that kind of person to Ian. To Else, Ian was someone who couldn't get even a little pity without being mean. If she could get love by pretending to be pitiful, she would have done so.
But she got him the wrong way from the beginning. There was nothing she could turn back now. That’s why her heart ached every time Ian treated her well. Even if it was a bothersome affection, it was an unforgettable affection to Else... The love that had been slowly festering from the beginning was swallowing her up. Still, this pain was Else’s alone. Just as this love was Else’s alone.
Else closed her eyes and traced the dream she had had for a long time. The rainy day she first met Ian was one of the days Else often recalled. Else sometimes started that morning from the beginning. Like feeling the end of a book that had been burned by fire, very slowly. Slowly... She started everything.
After having Ian like that... She always regretted it. It was hard to let him go even now, even though she could have. It was even harder because he was so affectionate for such a short moment. She wishes he would have behaved like yesterday. Else knows how Ian will change when he opens his eyes.
He will be good to her for a while. He will be sweet and affectionate enough to make her shiver. Even now, after drying her with a towel, didn't he cover her with the blanket? After finishing his work, he didn't leave the room, and he didn't get up before her and get dressed.
And then, soon after, he would return to Ivana. It didn't matter whether Ivana was his lover or not. Else felt like she had lost the world just because she was not in a finite relationship with him. He hated her with all his heart and suffered with all his heart.
It was painful to have the other maids' eyes on that elegant and handsome face. She wanted to gouge out those women's eyes and ruin Ian's handsome face, and her blood boiled. When she was young, she used to be a brat and cause trouble, but now she knows that she can't catch him with that.
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