Euclid said he would take Erencia home because Erencia had been looking at him throughout the lecture.
The gaze staring intently at him, as if someone had something to say, was so intense that even Euclid, who was used to people's stares, felt his face burning.
Is she interested in me?
It was a gaze so blatant and full of desire that even Euclid, who always guarded against arrogant thoughts, had such thoughts.
He felt like a rabbit in front of a wild beast.
His neck felt hot, and he got goosebumps.
Do you have something to say...
He didn't want to make a separate appointment to meet. Nothing good will come of getting involved with Novellita. However, he can spare some time to go home.
So he gave her a chance.
"Since you do not have a carriage, I will take you there in mine. May I?"
Don't refuse.
However, Erencia smiled brightly and placed her hand on his forearm.
"Yes, Lord Euclid."
***
Clank clank.
The carriage shook.
Every time that happened, Erencia's body also shook.
'As expected, it's easier to talk.'
Erencia looked out the window, having thoughts unbefitting of a noble lady.
Whoosh, the scenery outside the window needed to change.
'Slow.'
The scenery viewed from inside the carriage passed by frustratingly slowly.
It is a good thing that the surrounding scenery changes rapidly.
'I wish time would pass that quickly, too.'
Fail quickly and end your life as a Novellita.
Anyway, since the horse caused such a ruckus today, it will probably be difficult to ride around for a while.
The thought that she can't ride it makes her want to ride it even more.
"Do you need something from me?"
A curt voice was heard. Erencia snapped out of her thoughts and turned her head to look at Euclid.
Two pairs of indifferent eyes met in the air. It was Euclid who felt emotion first. Euclid's eyes narrowed.
"Do you have anything to say?"
"Wasn't there a reason you wanted to see me?"
Erencia asked back with innocent eyes.
“Nothing. It’s business.”
"Really? You said there was a debt. I thought you wanted some compensation because of the horse incident earlier."
Euclid furrowed his brow.
"I'm fine. I wasn't hurt, either."
"I see. Then why did you give me a ride in the carriage?"
Suddenly, Erencia thought of an answer that sounded like something out of a romance novel.
- I fell in love with you at first sight.
"Because you looked at me like you were going to eat me alive."
It was a completely unexpected answer.
“Me?”
Erencia asked back in surprise. Euclid nodded.
'Did I say that?'
Erencia pondered the scene at the salon.
And she remembered it clearly.
She was completely captivated.
It was rude.
But she couldn't help it.
It was Erencia's instinct to have her eyes drawn to a handsome man. Or isn't that everyone's instinct?
"I'm sorry."
Ah! This isn't it.
Erencia suddenly realized that it did not fit with her ultimate goal and glared fiercely.
"I just took back the apology."
Why are there all these women?
Euclid's gaze toward Erencia was not kind.
"So it is true that I looked at you as if I were going to devour you."
Erencia readily admitted it.
She was able to admit it openly because she had given up on her reputation.
It’s not bad to be known as a woman who is obsessed with men’s looks.
Erencia was not at all pleased that noble men openly demanded women's appearance as a condition for marriage, yet when noble women brought up a man's appearance, they would say things like, "A man's wealth is what matters."
Don't you even know the principle of equivalent repayment?
Face for face, wealth for wealth, and power for power.
Ugly people always complain about ability.
I'm telling you, most of them are even just average in ability.
With her reputation already given up on anyway, Erencia had no need to hide her desires or sugarcoat her beliefs.
"Why did you look at me that way?"
"Because you're handsome."
An unexpected answer came out.
Euclid became curious about Erencia.
Erencia was a person who did not exist in the group of people he knew.
She was a kind of anomaly, and an anomaly was enough to attract the attention of someone as curious and studious as Euclid.
Arriving on horseback, clearly stating her opinion to the scholar, feeling not the slightest sense of responsibility for the lecture ruined because of her, getting into a stranger's carriage without any business, and there.
'Do you admit that you stared at me?'
It was something an ordinary young lady could never do.
- Because you're handsome.
Her words echoed.
Euclid's mouth slowly parted belatedly.
Amazing.
The admiring glances of women were familiar to Euclid. However, he had never in his life seen a woman who so confidently said she looked at him because he was handsome.
"You're handsome. It feels good just looking at you, so why not? It's not like you're going to wear out."
Euclid needed time to accept Erencia's words.
He felt like he'd been thoroughly harassed.
But he didn't feel bad.
How should he describe this feeling?
"Did you feel bad? Well, it can't be helped. I can't undo what I've already seen."
Even as Euclid searched for a response, Erencia's strange logic continued.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, I had a comfortable trip."
And then she arrived at Novellita's mansion.
"See you again, Sir Euclid."
"See you again?"
"I'll be careful with my eye contact then."
She felt a little sorry because he was so flustered.
Erencia whispered.
“Goodbye.”
Euclid reached out his hand to escort Erencia, but Erencia did not even see that and scurried off.
Euclid watched her for a long time.
It felt like a huge storm had passed. But he was not tired.
Euclid laughed hollowly at the strange emotion.
The wind blew.
He saw Erencia roughly holding the fluttering train of her dress.
Laughter erupted at the unrestrained behavior.
One thing has become clear.
Erencia is a fun woman.
***
"Miss! How could you just leave like that? Do you know how worried I was?"
What awaited Erencia when she arrived home was a storm of nagging from Agnes.
Erencia entrusted Sophia to Agnes, who had chased after her in a carriage.
Agnes personally drove the mother and daughter home in a carriage and once again clearly explained the reward that Erencia had mentioned.
Time was wasted persuading a woman who adamantly insisted she was fine.
Agnes stomped her feet in anxiety, worried about Erencia being alone.
When she arrived at the salon in a hurry after finishing the task Erencia had ordered, Erencia had already left in Euclid's carriage.
“You came quickly.”
Agnes shook her head at Erencia's carefree attitude.
You came in a carriage with just the two of you, a man you met for the first time!
"Miss, I heard you came by carriage with Lord Euclid."
“Yeah. Why is that?”
Erencia replied nonchalantly and took off the ornament on her head.
Agnes quickly helped Erencia tidy up her hair ornament.
"Do you want to become an outcast among the young ladies?"
Agnes was serious.
“What? Outcast?”
Lord Euclid is public property among the noble ladies. No, wait, not just the noble ladies. He is public property of all women...
“Say it again.”
Erencia's eyes lit up as she held Agnes's hand tightly.
Her eyes were excited, like someone who had realized that a stone they had picked up turned out to be gold.
"W-what do you need?"
Agnes stammered, having completely forgotten that Erencia had been nagged by her father.
"I mean about Lord Euclid."
"So, regarding Lord Euclid's something..."
"You mean you can be bullied? You're saying I'm hated because I rode in a carriage with Euclid. Right now?"
Could it be that Erencia is upset?
Agnes's heart pounded. She had spoken foolishly.
She was so arrogant, thinking that they had grown up together since childhood and that she had opened her heart only to her.
She said it out of concern, but it was so rude that she wouldn't be able to forgive it even if she were fired immediately.
It is preposterous for a maid to give advice to her master.
"I'm sorry, Miss. That's not what I meant. Since Lord Euclid is so popular, I was worried that a rumor might spread incorrectly, even though you have no particular feelings for him..."
"No, you did very well!"
“Oh, Miss?”
Agnes was dumbfounded by Erencia's praise.
"Quiet for a moment. I need to think."
Erencia was piecing together Agnes's words.
She became busy formulating hypotheses in a short amount of time.
Euclid is so popular that it is called a public good.
If you try to monopolize public goods, you will face resentment.
Therefore, just being associated with Euclid makes one an object of jealousy...!
'What if I proposed to Euclid?'
It's going to turn completely upside down, right?
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