"But even so, there was no need to go this far..."
Leaning her cheek against Etienne's firm embrace, she trailed off. All she wanted was to make him look at her again.
He immediately seated Shioana on the bed and knelt on the floor. Then, his large hand immediately groped her slender ankle hidden beneath her dress.
"Did you not receive any separate treatment?"
Her cheeks flushed bright red from the warmth radiating from the large hand.
She certainly didn't mean to do this.
She felt like it had become a slightly embarrassing situation, so her voice trailed off.
"I received treatment, but I'm still a little..."
Actually, she was healthy enough to run up hills, but she decided to hide it for a while.
Because she liked seeing Etienne at a loss for what to do because of her. It was a fitting punishment for a slave who talked back to their master.
"Have you ever learned something like this?"
For some reason, his touch was professional, and it felt like her ankle was being refreshed. In response to Shioana's question, he silently did only what he had to do.
Shioana's gaze landed on the crown of Etienne's head as he bent down to examine her ankle bone.
'It looks soft.'
As Shioana naturally reached out and ruffled his hair, his broad shoulders visibly vibrated.
"...It's soft."
At her words, Etienne let out a groan, and the air inside the narrow shelter quickly became stuffy.
***
Eli, who had stopped by Hybel for the first time in a while, found a cozy two-story house.
"Sir, have you come?"
The housekeeper took his coat and cane.
"Bring me something to drink upstairs."
"Yes."
As he strode up the stairs and opened the bedroom door, a woman in a blue dress greeted Eli.
"You. Why are you so late?"
As the woman ran straight into his arms and sobbed, Eli gently stroked her head.
"Elizabeth, doesn't your pretty face become ugly when you cry? Won't you show me your face?"
"...I missed you.”
Elizabeth's eyes were moist as she lifted her head from his embrace. Just then, hearing a footstep, the two separated for a moment.
"Sir, I have brought something to drink."
The employee came in, placed the wine on the table, and soon disappeared.
"Elizabeth, sit here."
When Eli pulled out a chair for her and offered her a drink, Elizabeth shook her head.
"Drinking alcohol from daytime onwards is forbidden..."
“It’s okay for me to give it to you.”
"Then..."
Elizabeth's eyelashes fluttered as she shyly took a sip of alcohol. Eli, who had been watching her closely, gave a wry smile.
'Things are going smoothly.'
From the outside, Eli Evgenia had little to boast about. His family was not powerful, nor was he wealthy, so aside from his handsome face, he was rarely mentioned. However, he harbored a greater ambition in his heart than anyone else. Perhaps this was a trait he inherited from his father.
'If you are born a man, you are bound to harbor a dream like this.'
As he thought about the work being done in secret, he instinctively tensed up in his lower body.
"I love you."
Elizabeth, whose face had turned red from just a sip of alcohol, confessed her love to him. Eli, who had been reaching out and gently rubbing the back of Elizabeth's hand with his fingers, lowered his head.
"I am your servant forever."
After kissing the back of her hand, Eli whispered softly. At his words, Elizabeth turned red up to her neck and teared up.
"I want to marry you soon."
"..."
At her words, Eli took his hand away and suddenly wore a serious expression.
"Elizabeth, I can be your faithful servant, but I cannot be your husband."
"...What on earth do you mean by that?"
Elizabeth stood up from her chair and trembled. She fell in love at first sight with Viscount Evgenia, whom she met by chance on her walk.
It was a fateful love that came to her, who had just passed adulthood.
"You know very well how much I love you."
Elizabeth's small hand, gripping the back of the chair he was sitting on, was trembling. Without turning to look at her, Eli spoke in a sorrowful voice.
"Your father won't allow me."
***
Count Noah frequently visited Regbell. Each time, he gave various reasons, such as the weather being nice, to eat a new cake together, or to play chess with Eli.
One sunny afternoon, he visited without notice.
"Oh no, what should I do? My brother went out this morning because he had something to do."
Shioana looked flustered by the Count's sudden visit. She had never hosted guests without her brother by her side.
"I sent a message early yesterday morning, but it seems something went wrong along the way."
"I guess so. If my brother had known the Count was coming, he absolutely wouldn't have gone out either."
"I was thinking of playing chess with the Viscount..."
Watching Count Noah trail off, Shioana blinked at Martha, who was nearby. She signaled for help, but the nanny turned away from her, covering her face with her hands.
'What the heck! Why is she acting so weird?'
These days, Martha was all smiles every day.
'My lady would like it.'
'What do you like?'
No matter how Shioana looked at it, nothing good had happened. Regbell's daily life was so similar that it was impossible to distinguish between yesterday and today. Then, recently, she came to the realization that she was feeling a bit lonely.
'Well, Etienne is here, and Count Noah drops by often, too.'
As Shioana's cheeks flushed bright red, Martha giggled as she folded her clothes.
'Count Noah seems like a truly wonderful gentleman. Good heavens, he even prepared snacks separately for his servants!'
'Yeah, he does seem like a very thoughtful person.'
It is too early to judge a person based on just a few meetings, but Pierre Noah was quite kind. He always looked upon Shioana favorably and only praised her.
'What I mentioned earlier might soon come true.'
'...What do you say?'
As Shioana asked back, a thought crossed her mind.
'I'm telling you, the day I can hold a baby that looks like you is not far off.'
'...Ah! really!'
Shioana's cheeks flushed at something that happened not long ago, and he spoke up.
"I think I should go back."
Count Noah swept back his disheveled platinum blonde hair and was about to put his hat back on. Shioana hesitated for a moment and then cautiously suggested it.
"Since you've come all this way, please have a cup of tea before you go."
No matter how much she thought about it, it seemed like a bad idea to just send Count Noah away. Besides, he was a kind gentleman who always brought her plenty of trendy things from Highbell, and he was very close to her brother.
"I can't cause such trouble."
Seeing that Count Noah seemed hesitant despite her suggestion, Shioana stepped forward first.
"Marth, please bring some tea and snacks."
At the young girl's instruction, Martha winked and bowed her head.
In the drawing room where the stove was burning, a warm atmosphere enveloped the two people sitting facing each other.
“Have some tea.”
Shioana brewed the tea herself and handed him a cup. Unaccustomed to such hospitality, her fingertips trembled slightly.
It was a house where no guests ever visited, and there was even less reason for her to act as the homeowner.
"I will enjoy this with gratitude."
As Count Noah elegantly raised his first cup, Shioana suddenly became a little bothered by the old teacup.
Today, Count Noah looked as handsome as someone who had just stepped out of a fashion magazine popular among Highbell ladies.
His first coat was angular, and the vest and white shirt underneath were neat without a single wrinkle. Striped trousers wrapped around his long legs.
'For some reason, he seems like someone far from me.'
The steaming teacup looked just like her.
It wasn't chipped, but the paint on the painting was faded and looked shabby.
As she was trying to suppress her bitter feelings alone, Count Noah spoke to her gently.
"The tea tastes quite good."
"I'm glad it suited your taste."
Count Noah quietly looked around the not-so-spacious drawing room. This space, which held the history of the ages intact, was filled with portraits of Evgenia's ancestors on all four walls.
It usually didn't bother her, but as soon as the Count's gaze fell upon it, Shioana somehow felt that the drawing room looked shabby. No matter how much she cleaned it, old things never looked new.
Then the Count, having averted his gaze from the portrait, asked.
"Aren't you bored staying here alone?"
"...Ah."
Shioana was speechless at the unexpected question.
It was something that neither her father nor Eli had ever asked her about. The family seemed to regard Shioana just like this old stone building.
She's like a rock that doesn't need any attention at all and always stands there.
"Oh, dear! I was being presumptuous."
Count Noah wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking troubled.
"Oh, no. I was just glad you asked."
She meant it. She was very happy that there was someone who cared about her being alone.
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