The next day, the bright red bloodstains that streaked across the main hall had vanished as if they had never been there, immaculately cleaned away.
It felt like a bizarre dream. Though it was unclear who had taken care of the aftermath, the employees appeared as usual, as if the events of the previous night were nothing more than a nightmare of hers.
Time swiftly passed, and before long, three days had gone by.
Charlotte diligently heeded the warning she had been given. As a reward or perhaps by coincidence, she had no encounters with Richard Kensington. It was a natural outcome, given that their respective domains were strictly separated.
However, there was a minor issue, one that was beyond her control: she couldn’t help but overhear snippets of conversations, like those of maids chatting while they worked. These snippets inevitably reminded her of that night.
“Right, Charlotte. Have you seen Mr. Richard Kensington? He’s quite a famous lawyer. With his wealth, he could live comfortably without working a day.”
It was the last thing she wanted to hear or be asked about. Charlotte responded with a forced smile, saying, “Is that so?”
Having joined the household staff, she couldn’t just eat and sleep all day and started helping out voluntarily, but she was beginning to regret it. The five maids were constantly busy with laundry, cleaning, and endless chatter, especially when their supervisor, Janice, was away.
“Sooner or later, being in the military and of his age, he’s bound to find a suitable wife, right?”
“Ah, if that happens, he’ll live independently, won’t he? It’d be a shame not to see his good looks anymore…”
“Such nonsense. Would the earl let his cherished younger sibling live independently? He’s almost like a son to him.”
“Speaking of which, there’s a lady he’s been close to recently, probably a cousin of a friend, if I recall… Oh? Where are you going?”
Charlotte’s attempt to sneak away failed miserably. She kicked a bucket next to her, one that had been filled with water to wet mops.
Splash.
The water from the half-filled bucket spilled out all at once, and she pretended to be startled, jumping up.
“Oops!”
“Watch it, will you!”
A maid clicked her tongue at the water soaking the dirt floor. Charlotte, looking apologetic, grabbed the handle of the bucket.
“I’m sorry. I’ll refill it.”
“Alright, do that.”
No sooner had permission been granted than Charlotte picked up the empty bucket and quickly made her way out, turning a corner.
Thud.
Colliding with someone, Charlotte found herself on the hard ground, a pair of men’s shoes in her line of sight. A sinking feeling of dread began to creep up, wondering if it could be him.
Before she could see who it was, a large hand grasped her upper arm and pulled her up.
“Oh…”
The first thing she saw was auburn hair, followed by eyes as blue as the winter sky.
This man was also strikingly handsome, but he was not Richard Kensington. Relieved, Charlotte let out a breath she had been holding, but the man, misunderstanding her reaction, asked cautiously, “I’m sorry about this. Are you alright? Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine to me though…”
“I’m really fine.”
Dusting off her skirt and shaking her head repeatedly, Charlotte was about to hasten her step when suddenly a familiar pain in her stomach struck her. Biting the inside of her cheek, she wondered when was the last time she had something sweet.
Standing still to catch her breath, the man, noticing her discomfort, turned his back to her.
“Get on.”
The words were clear, but they didn’t quite register. He slightly bent his knees and said to the bewildered Charlotte,
“I said, get on.”
“Wha…?”
“I’ll take you to your room.”
“No, really… I’m fine.”
“You’re quite stubborn, aren’t you?”
Charlotte had no time to refuse.
“You’re hurt.”
The man, named Felix Barker, moved behind Charlotte, who was blinking her round eyes in a daze. He wrapped his arms around her knees and shoulders, lifting her up effortlessly. Charlotte’s vision swayed, and in the next moment, she found herself cradled in his arms like a princess.
Before Charlotte could protest, he had started walking.
Felix, who had introduced himself as Felix Barker, was kind. He was heading towards the fourth floor where the staff’s rooms were located, but Charlotte insisted that the kitchen was enough and declined further assistance.
“Are you sure you can leave? You still seem to be in pain.”
“Thank you, but I’m fine. I’m grateful for the kindness you’ve shown me.”
Fortunately, the kitchen was empty. Charlotte sighed in relief internally. Her lower abdomen throbbed as if pricked by needles, but she managed to smile faintly.
“I think I’ll feel better after sitting for a bit. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
Felix smiled wryly and replied.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. I insisted.”
At that moment, the door connected to the main hall opened, and someone came down the stairs.
“Sir Felix? What brings you here…?”
It was Janice. She alternated her gaze between Felix and Charlotte, then fixed her eyes on Felix again. Worried about being misunderstood as harassing a maid, Felix quickly explained.
“I was just helping her. She seemed to be in pain.”
“I see. Sir Richard is in his room.”
“Thank you. I was about to head up anyway.”
At the mention of “Richard,” Charlotte’s body flinched involuntarily. It was almost a reflexive reaction. Felix, looking down at Charlotte sitting on a wooden chair with concern, bent his knees to meet her eye level.
“Are you really okay?”
He seemed ready to call a doctor if she said no. It was rare for a man to be this kind to a maid. Charlotte wasn’t worried about any ulterior motives from him, but she didn’t want to be involved in any scandals unnecessarily. She hastily shook her head.
“Yes, please don’t worry. You must be busy.”
“I’ll take care of Charlotte. Sir Felix.”
After Janice added this, Felix stood up, reassured.
“Your name is Charlotte, isn’t it? That’s a pretty name.”
“…Thank you.”
“Since we’ve met like this, if you ever need help, come find me in Cloverfield. It’s right next door.”
The kindness and friendliness Felix showed, even though they had only bumped into each other for a moment, felt a bit excessive. Instead of responding, Charlotte nodded, and, feeling reassured, Felix left.
As if taking his place, Janice, who had come down the stairs, was about to speak to Charlotte.
“Charlotte…!”
Janice screamed in alarm.
***
With the curtains drawn, the spacious room was dim. Approaching him felt like nearing a beast coiled up in its den, tension enveloping Felix’s body. As he entered the room and called the owner’s name, a sense of apprehension filled the air.
“Richard.”
Instead of a response, the sound of rustling blankets came back. Richard, with the blanket pulled over his head, furrowed his brow. Without hesitation, Felix snatched the blanket away.
“Get up. Do you even know what time it is?”
“…What time is it?”
“It’s two in the afternoon. The sun is well past its zenith.”
Richard, usually compulsively neat, was unusually disheveled. Felix momentarily lost himself in the oddly seductive disarray before turning away and walking towards the window. Pulling back the curtain, the influx of light made Richard groan and finally sit up.
“So, what brings you barging in here?”
His voice was low and rough, not yet free from sleep, resembling a feeling of standing before a growling beast.
“Kiara was wondering. She’s been asking why there’s been no word from you since the day before yesterday.”
It was more than just curiosity; his cousin had even pressured him.
Just two days after meeting, the proud and haughty daughter of the ducal family seemed utterly smitten. Despite her always polite and kind demeanor, there was a moment when she would turn coldly away, seemingly tamed by him. In contrast, Richard’s attitude hadn’t changed much from the beginning.
At Felix’s words, Richard, who was stretching his neck, twisted his lips.
“Are we even that close?”
“What…?”
“It’s not like we’ve shared our hearts, or that we’re physically intimate.”
The bluntness was almost crude. Felix, momentarily speechless, finally managed to speak.
“You did give her some signs.”
“What signs?”
“That, well…”
When pressed for details, Felix found himself at a loss for words again. There had never been a moment when Kiara and Richard were alone together; Felix was always with them. There was no secret encounter that could cause a scandal, nor any overt flirting.
Richard, who had gotten out of bed and changed clothes, turned around.
“By the way.”
“…”
“Did you roll around in mud before you came here?”
The question was enigmatic. As Felix scrambled for an answer, Richard, who had approached him, picked up his tie and sniffed it like a hunter scenting prey.
“It smells like flowers.”
“What are you talking about…”
“Black hair, green eyes. A woman in her late teens to early twenties.”
Just as Felix was about to retort, Richard cut him off, causing Felix to blink in surprise. Letting go of the tie, Richard grasped his neck, and Felix felt a pressure as if his breath could be cut off any moment.
“She said she was helping with the maid work. So, perhaps, it was a misunderstanding.”
Richard tilted his head slightly, continuing with an impassive face. A subtle displeasure was discernible beyond his cool voice.
“Did you touch her?”
“What…”
“Did you touch her?”
Felix’s mind raced. The woman he had bumped into had black hair and green eyes, a rare beauty with a serene presence. She wasn’t as immediately striking as Kiara but had a clean, increasingly charming appearance.
It was a first. Since his return, or even before, Richard had never shown interest in any woman. Not even Kiara, dubbed the “flower on the cliff” by high society, had been an exception.
A mischievous impulse to tease surfaced, but Felix, intimidated by the murderous look in Richard’s eyes, shook his head honestly.
“No.”
No response came, a silent prompt for more explanation.
“We just bumped into each other by chance. She looked hurt, so I carried her to the kitchen. That’s all.”
The tightness around his neck was released simultaneously.
🍉🍉🍉
