"...Are you okay, Young Lady?"
"I asked first."
"I am perfectly fine."
Shioana swallowed her tears as she looked at the debris of broken branches on the floor. There was absolutely no way she would be okay.
"Can you move your body?"
Worried that she might be seriously injured, his voice trailed off. At that, Etienne, who had been supporting her on the ground, moved his hand slightly to the side.
"The ground is cold."
He placed his hand under Shioana's cheek, as if he was concerned that she was lying face down in the snow.
Even though he was pinned under a pile of wood and holding Shioana, Etienne felt no pain. He was only worried that something might have happened to Shioana.
'E, Etienne, are you okay?'
Shioana's whisper brought back the night from a few days ago.
'Ki, kiss me.'
At Shioana's audacious request to kiss, he could not believe his ears for the first time. He thought it was a joke, but her gaze was more serious than ever before. In that moment, Etienne felt as though his heart were plummeting into the ground.
'Do you know what I am thinking right now?'
Shioana's blue eyes, staring intently at his face, were nothing but transparent. Even if she wanted a kiss, she did not share the same feelings.
Shioana was not the only one who couldn't sleep because of a kiss that wasn't really a kiss.
Although he had only put his mouth between the backs of her hands, it was so dizzying that Etienne had to stay awake all night.
A sweet scent wafted from Shioana's body, pressed against her slender waist that wrapped tightly in his hand. Although the flowers in Regbell had already withered, it seemed as though flowers were in full bloom all around.
Even at this moment, he could not abandon the worry for Shioana that lay beneath his heart.
"What does it matter if the ground is cold? Right now, you..."
Lying prone, Shioana clenched her fists and pounded the ground. She could hardly bear to look when Count Noah had summoned him to shine his shoes. Even though it was only natural for Etienne to do such work since he was a slave.
"Etienne, I'm sorry."
Because she couldn't protect him while he was suffering such humiliation, and just stood there watching.
"It hurt a lot earlier, didn't it?"
She almost ran to Etienne as he collapsed after being kicked by Count Noah's boot. It felt as if she were the one who had been kicked, and she felt like she was about to cry. Etienne replied calmly to her trembling voice.
"Young Lady, I am fine."
"Stop saying you're fine!"
Even though red blood was dripping onto the snow, Etienne kept insisting he was fine.
"Take my hand away. You're bleeding."
"Because the ground is cold..."
Shioana struggled to lift her head. She checked his face with one eye, but only tears poured down. She had believed it was just a passing shower, but seeing Etienne's face, she couldn't even make a joke about it.
"Etienne, you know."
"..."
Drops of blood had gathered on the scrapes on her forehead and cheeks caused by tree branches. It was just as Shioana was about to open her mouth again.
"Miss! Miss!"
Just as Martha's voice was heard, Joseph and a servant rushed over.
"What is going on? Miss, stay right where you are. We will get you right away."
As the branch that had fallen on the two disappeared, Etienne quickly stood up.
"Shioana, are you alright? Please hug me."
“I can walk.”
She tried to stand up while supporting herself with her arms, but she couldn't move a muscle due to cramps all over her body. Then, Count Noah lifted her up just like that.
"Go quickly and heat up the water, and prepare for the young lady to rest!"
The Count gave orders naturally, as if this were his home. Shioana, held in Count Noah's arms, lifted her head over his shoulder.
"..."
Everyone walked toward the mansion, but Etienne alone remained in the snow-covered field littered with the debris of broken branches, blood gushing from his face and arms.
***
Count Noah ended up staying in Regbell a little longer because Shioana was slightly injured.
"I can't leave my sick fiancée behind."
"It is an honor for me if the Count stays in such a humble place."
Eli gave a friendly smile to Count Noah, with whom he had now grown quite close.
A deeply dark evening.
"Shioana. Are you sleeping?"
Eli found Shioana's bedroom. It was rare for him to visit her room.
“Not yet.”
As Shioana, who had greeted her brother while lying in bed, tried to sit up, Eli shook his head.
"You don't need to get up if you're feeling unwell."
"..."
Shioana, extremely nervous, glanced around nervously at her brother. She couldn't even begin to guess what on earth he intended to say by seeking her out so secretly.
"Once you recover this time, follow Count Noah to Highbell. We must not let an accident happen again like this. Besides, the Count can't really stay in a place as insignificant as Regbell for long."
Although Viscount Evgenia’s bedroom had now been given to Count Noah, considering the standard of living he originally had, it was barely better than a barn. Eli was extremely worried that the Count might harbor ill feelings while staying here.
"But I'm more comfortable here."
"It would be better for you to go and get used to it in advance. How nice it would be if you could keep Madame Veil company as well."
It was a suggestion to go to Count Noah's family and solidify her position before getting married.
"And you see, a girl who is as stiff as a stone is never cute."
"..."
He didn't say it specifically, but she could roughly tell what he was talking about from Eli's bitter smile. Was he talking about the two failed kisses?
'I wonder if someone planted a person in the garden.'
A sudden thought sent shivers down Shioana's spine. She was afraid that someone might have seen her and Etienne together, and that they might have told Eli about it.
'Brother won't let Etienne get away with it.'
It was Eli who had beaten Etienne almost to death simply because he didn't like the look in his eyes. He had left Etienne alone lately because he was busy, but it was clear that he wouldn't hold back if he found a pretext.
“I’ll think about it...”
She whispered, trying her best not to provoke Eli.
***
Shioana, who had suffered a minor abrasion, recovered quickly and got back on her feet. Count Noah called a doctor from Highbell and even prescribed medicine to aid in her recovery.
"Martha, are you back?"
Shioana, who had been lying down all day, sat up and greeted Martha warmly. As she took off the gloves she was wearing, Martha wore a very displeased expression.
"Miss, I really don't know why you're acting like this. Why are you so concerned about that guy?"
At Shioana's request, Martha visited the slave in the barn a couple of times. She gave him medicine and food, and upon returning, informed the young lady of his condition.
“Can’t he move yet?”
"He was just lying there; I don't know if his arm or leg is broken. I asked Joseph to take a look, but it seems he hasn't gone to see him yet."
"...Why don't you let me check him a little?"
"Ugh, don't say such terrible things. Just looking at those red eyes brings bad luck; how could I possibly lay a hand on that body?"
Martha was the type to return after tossing the items she had taken with her far away.
"It's only natural that I care, since he got hurt trying to save me."
Shioana cautiously opened her mouth, afraid that her feelings might be discovered.
"Saving his master is only natural. Why would I be any different? I would protect the young lady by throwing myself in front of you again and again."
She couldn't say anything more to Martha, who shrugged her shoulders as if it were no big deal.
Because if she aroused Martha's suspicion for no reason, it would be harder to meet Etienne in the future.
"Martha, you've worked hard. Now I can take it easy."
"...I need to go get ready for Highbell. I have a mountain of work to do."
In the end, it was decided to go to Highbell to spend the rest of the winter. Once again, Shioana's opinion did not play a significant role.
***
The last candle in the mansion went out.
Everyone must be asleep by now.
Shioana pulled back the blanket and slowly put on the slippers she had placed on the floor. In the meantime, Martha and Count Noah had frequently visited her while she was ill, so she had no chance to go out.
"...Ha."
Ever since she left Etienne standing alone in the snow, she had thought of nothing but him. She pictured the touch of his lips kissing the back of her hand, and she thought of the red blood he shed while protecting Shioana while buried under a pile of wood.
Shioana put on the thickest cloak she could find and stuffed the cloth and powdered medicine into her pocket. As she stepped outside, a biting cold wind struck her body. Crouching low to the waist, she scanned the surroundings several times while searching for the barn.
As she pushed the barn door, a loud creaking sound rang out, and the sleeping livestock let out a small moo. She slowly closed the door and walked inside cautiously, hearing the rustling sound of straw under her feet. The memory of jer first visit here came vividly to her. Back then, Etienne had been beaten to death by Eli.
“...Etienne.”
As she whispered, a figure lying loosely on the straw came into view. The moonlight faintly touched Etienne's naked body through the cracks in the broken roof.
The sight was just like a frozen statue, and Shioana's heart sank.
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