The hem of her skirt fluttered and rustled against her legs. Janice led the way without uttering a single word. Following her, Charlotte felt like she had swallowed a thorny rose. Every time she tried to open her mouth, the thorn seemed to prick her throat mercilessly.
What did she hear?
How much did she know?
No words could escape her lips. The tension was so thick it felt like it could burst at any moment, and it was only broken when Janice locked the door to the main room. With her back turned, she warned Charlotte with a steady tone.
“I hope this door never needs to be opened.”
“…Yes.”
Their eyes met, cold and unyielding. Charlotte, with her head slightly bowed, answered meekly. Janice, staring at her expressionlessly, reached into her pocket and handed something over.
“This is the key.”
“……”
“You can only open it from your side. Do you understand?”
Handing her the key while telling her not to open the door was contradictory. Charlotte had a vague sense of what this paradox meant. Janice’s cold eyes waited for an answer. Clutching the key tightly, Charlotte nodded.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Only after hearing the desired response did Janice grasp the door handle. Just as she stepped into the hallway, she paused.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
“……”
“From now on, call me Ms. Janice.”
It was the most definitive statement of all. The worst-case scenario had come true. Charlotte bit her lip and responded a beat too late.
“…Yes.”
The door closed decisively behind her.
That night, fortunately, nothing happened as Janice had warned. The night passed quietly, almost mocking Charlotte, who had spent it on edge, listening for the sound of the door handle turning.
The next day, she was awakened by the bell beside her bed. Following its sound led to Richard’s room.
Having slept lightly, her eyes opened quickly, but her body ached from having spent the night tense and fearful. Stretching, she gathered her disheveled hair and tied it back, then changed into her uniform.
As she stood by the door, the main hall’s clock struck nine. After a couple of knocks, she turned the handle, and the door opened without resistance. Charlotte took a deep breath and entered the room cautiously.
“I’ve brought your wash water, Sir Richard.”
“Put it over there.”
Richard, wearing the same attire as the day before, indicated to a low dresser with a nod. Her gaze was drawn to his unusually disheveled hair and the faint stubble on his sharp jawline. Lowering her head to avoid meeting his eyes, Charlotte placed the basin on the dresser and asked politely.
“Is there anything else you need?”
There was no response. Just as she was about to step back from the shadow looming over her, he spoke.
“If there’s nothing else, then I’ll…”
“Have you ever shaved someone before?”
“Pardon?”
Instead of answering, he handed her something. Looking at the sharp razor in her hand, Charlotte’s eyes widened as Richard asked again.
“Shaving.”
It was such an unexpected request that her response came out hesitantly.
“I have, but…”
“Who?”
She had to answer quickly.
“My father.”
His eyes, which had briefly narrowed, softened slightly.
“I’ve done it a few times, but I’m not very good at it…”
“Take your time.”
Richard sat down on the bed, cutting off her attempt to decline. He gestured toward Charlotte, who stood there, unsure of what to do. Biting her lip, she squeezed out a confession.
“You might get hurt.”
“Then you’ll have to be punished.”
“What kind of punishment…?”
“If you’re curious, go ahead and try.”
His smile was chilling, sending shivers down her spine. Sometimes, he seemed like a demon incarnate. He pretended to step back when necessary, but never yielded in crucial moments. Resigning herself, Charlotte stood before him.
“Don’t move.”
He nodded. It felt strange to look down at the face she always looked up to.
Thick eyebrows with slightly upturned ends, wide almond-shaped eyes, long and elegant eyelashes curving gently, a straight and neat nose, sensual lips. And, despite doing nothing, hair that shone with the quality and luster of daily rose oil treatments.
Despite his cynical nature, he was always so perfect that people couldn’t help but be entranced. When their eyes met—his irises a blend of purple and navy—her heart felt like it stopped.
“Is there something on my face?”
Swallowing, Charlotte cautiously made a request.
“Could you close your eyes for a moment?”
“Why?”
Caught off guard by his question, her thoughts spilled out unfiltered.
“Because it’s making my heart flutter.”
“……”
Richard furrowed his brows. The words were already said, so Charlotte added bravely.
“I’m distracted and might make a mistake.”
In other words, she couldn’t concentrate because of his face. Richard smirked at her unexpected confession and closed his eyes gently. The intense gaze that had been pinning her in place was gone, and her rapidly beating heart began to calm.
Charlotte knelt on the floor and, looking up at him slightly, raised her hands with utmost concentration. One hand held his cheek, while the other moved the razor blade.
“If you feel any discomfort or pain, please tell me right away.”
She felt like an artist finishing the final touches on a sculpture. His skin was smooth as marble under her palm. Despite the vulnerable position of having his face in someone else’s hands, Richard’s breathing remained steady. It showed complete trust, or perhaps indifference to any potential mistakes she might make.
She didn’t want to disappoint him.
Charlotte focused as much as she could. His porcelain-like face would show any injury immediately.
Or, if he did get a cut, maybe fewer women would look at him.
Startled by her own impulsive thought, Charlotte realized how selfish she was. Though she always vaguely thought of the end, she was perpetually anxious that he would be the one to turn away first. It was only natural for her to suffer from such a gap.
As she hesitated with these sudden thoughts, a veined hand covered hers.
“Keep going.”
“Yes.”
Refocusing, she finished the task. Though it took time, she thankfully made no mistakes. After wiping off any residue, Charlotte stood up and reached for the dresser. Her hand found a small hand mirror.
“All done. Check it out,” she said.
Richard opened his eyes a beat later, looked in the mirror, and stroked his chin.
“Very clean.”
He seemed satisfied. As Charlotte straightened up, relieved, he suddenly turned her around and wrapped his arms around her slender waist. Startled, she froze as he murmured against her stiffened arm, his face buried in her shoulder.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
His warm breath seeped through the fabric. Charlotte, having momentarily resisted, nodded. She had so much to say, but with just the two of them, all words seemed to vanish from her mind.
Reading her thoughts, Richard spoke in a calm voice.
“I knew Janice had noticed a while ago.”
“…Since when?”
“About two weeks ago.”
“Then why…?”
“Because I knew you’d behave like you did yesterday.”
Richard growled, cutting off her trembling voice.
“You acted like a foolish rabbit that thinks it’s completely hidden with its head buried in a hole. Adorably naive.”
“F-Foolish rabbit…”
As Charlotte was left speechless by his sharp words, someone knocked on the door from outside. She jumped up, startled to her core. The voice that followed was that of a steward.
“Are you up, Sir Richard? The Earl is calling for you.”
“I’ll be ready shortly.”
Richard’s lips curled into a smile as he looked at his lover’s pale face. He took off his gown. The sound of fabric falling to the floor made Charlotte instinctively shut her eyes tight.
“Incompetent maid.”
“You usually don’t ask me to attend to this…”
“If I tell you to, you should do it.”
Charlotte fidgeted, unable to argue with his point, until the rustling sound stopped.
“You can open your eyes now.”
“……”
Richard was now impeccably dressed, as if he had never been disheveled. He straightened his tie one last time.
“I have somewhere to be this evening. Keep that in mind.”
“I have plans this evening…”
She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence under his gaze, which seemed to ask if she had anything to say. Finally, Charlotte nodded. Richard smiled satisfactorily and started to walk past her. Or so she thought.
“Oh.”
As if he had just remembered something, he turned back slightly and reached out to remove Charlotte’s coif, letting her hair fall free. His low voice delivered a warning to her innocent, wide-eyed face.
“I told you to let your hair down when we’re alone, Charlotte.”
Leaving her frozen in place, he closed the door behind him.
***
On the awaited festival day, Finn was excited from the moment he woke up. His brother had asked him repeatedly if something good was happening. Knowing he would be teased if he told the reason, Finn didn’t answer.
But there was no hiding it. Watching his younger brother dodge his questions, Carl narrowed his eyes.
“Aha, it looks like you’ve got a girlfriend, huh?”
“No, I don’t!”
“It’s true. Your ears are turning red. That’s a dead giveaway,” Carl teased his younger brother, who was desperately denying it, with a sly smile.
“Are you planning to take her to the festival?”
Finn, who had been denying it vehemently, finally gave in to Carl’s knowing grin.
“Well… she’s not my girlfriend. Just someone I know.”
“A maid from Seoren Hall?”
“H-How did you know?”
Carl flicked his naive brother on the head.
“Ow!”
“Isn’t it obvious, you dummy? There’s no way someone as shy as you already has a girlfriend. The only girls around here are either much older or just kids.”
“…”
“So, what’s her name?”
“…Charlotte.”
“Oh, that’s a pretty name.”
“How can you tell just from the name?”
“I’ve got a sense for these things.”
Rubbing his stinging head, Finn retorted, “Don’t get interested. She said she’s leaving soon.”
“Who said I was interested? Those nobles always leave after a season anyway, like migratory birds.”
Carl, who worked as a stable boy for the nobles, shared this sentiment. After most fishing was banned for aesthetic reasons, the remaining people of Corlen Island were largely employed by the nobles to make a living.
Sensing he was getting in too deep, Finn stood up abruptly.
“Anyway, it’s none of your business, so stay out of it.”
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Finn, seizing the opportunity to escape his persistent brother, moved quickly to answer it.
“Yes, I’m coming!”
As he opened the door, Finn’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What brings you here…?”
🍉🍉🍉
