Episode 5
“Did you hear? The duke brought back diamonds from the south this time.”
“What? Diamonds? Did he finally find a lady he fancies?”
“No way. That Icy Duke?”
“Ah, there’s something else you might not have heard of.”
“What is it?”
The two maids giggled.
Ashlyn moved her hands more quickly as she scrubbed the stairs. She’d been in a hurry ever since they’d started talking about the duke.
“Ashlyn, that’s enough. You can stop helping us.”
“Ah.”
A pale maid with brown hair came over and spoke. On her chest was a gold badge like Ashlyn’s.
Ashlyn removed her hands from the stairs. The other chief maid, Lena, looked at Ashlyn and gave her a smile.
“If you’re free, just relax. Afterall, you’ve more than proved your sincerity.”
Ashlyn had volunteered to help Lena and Ann clean the main entrance of the annex. It had become Ashlyn’s routine these days.
Going around the mansion and offering to help anyone.
Thanks to this, Ashlyn’s reputation grew day by day. Aslyn was also pleased, since physical labor prevented her from thinking too deeply about things.
“It’s not finished yet.”
“It’s alright. It’s already almost done since you helped. We’ll do the finishing touches – more importantly, shouldn’t you go see to doing your own work about now?”
“…”
Ashlyn, who’d been caught like a mouse, pressed her lips together. When she begrudgingly looked out of the window, she could see the sun beginning to lower.
“Yes, it is.”
Ashlyn smiled and wiped her hands on her apron.
“Hey, Ashlyn.”
“Hm?”
Lena pursed her lips for a while as if choosing her words.
“You…”
“What about me?”
““Uh…”
Her words never came out. Ashlyn tilted her head in confusion.
Then, suddenly, a thought crossed her mind.
“Are you trying to talk about Jason Barron?”
“Huh?”
“Lena and I were shocked when we heard the rumours.”
It was Ann who was standing in the back who suddenly interrupted us. Two pairs of worried eyes pierced Ashlyn. Ashlyn just blinked her eyes.
“They’re not true, are they?”
Lena asked. She wore a cautious expression. Seeing that, Ashlyn smiled softly.
“Of course, it’s just a rumour. Don’t worry.”
“Ah, that’s good!”
Both the maids’ faces brightened at the same time.
“Look at that! Didn’t I say, ‘why the hell would Ashlyn have an affair with someone like that?’”
“But then where did the rumours come from?”
“Well…”
Ann tilted her head.
Ashlyn didn’t respond. Instead, she looked out the window once more then turned around to be on her way. It was a bit earlier than she wanted, but she couldn’t help it.
“Then, I’ll be on my way.”
“Yes. Thank you for your help, Ashlyn!”
“If you ever need our help, let us know. For anything.”
“Okay.”
With a slight smile, she left Lena and Ann behind and left the annex.
‘I’m dying of boredom.’
Ashlyn walked slowly. She was sick of repeating the same conversations she’d been having for days. She felt suffocated, so she rubbed her chest. These days, because of her worries, no matter what she ate, it felt like she had an upset stomach – heavy.
Ashlyn had not yet decided what to do about the rumours.
‘Let’s think about it after I finish today’s work.’
‘She practically had to drag herself to the master bedroom. To be honest, she was already at her limits while dealing with the duke. She couldn’t devote her mind to the likes of Jason Barron.
and, actually, if she put her mind to it, at least Jason Barron was…
“Ashlyn!”
Someone roughly turned her around by the shoulder. A gasp, as if the owner had come running from afar, followed.
“…I figured you would come soon.” Ashlyn said.
“What?”
“Nothing. I’m busy, just tell me your business, Jason Barron.”
“You…! How dare you talk to me like that?”
Ashlyn crossed her arms and stared at the person in front of her. Jason snorted at her and glared at her as if wanting to kill her.
‘But then where did the rumours come from?’
Lena’s voice from a moment ago came to mind.
‘Of course, from this idiot.’
Ashlyn held back a sneer.
It was the first time she’d seen him since that day at the laundry room. Jason Barron’s routine was as messed up as his hand, so there was no use avoiding him.
“I’ll be going if you have nothing to say.”
As Ashlyn turned, Jason hurriedly grabbed her and stopped her.
“You. Did you hear that rumour?”
“What rumour?”
“Our rumour.”
Ashlyn laughed inwardly. He looked so desperate to rub it in her face.
“Yes, I heard it.”
“So you heard it and still didn’t come to see me?”
“It’s just a rumour anyway. Why would I come looking for you?”
“What?”
“Get out of the way. I’m so busy.”
Ashlyn waved her hand in annoyance. Jason’s face started to turn red.
“Why are you doing this? You said you liked me too!”
“When did I do that?”
Ashlyn almost burst out laughing.
“You smiled when I picked up a pair of scissors that’d fallen on the ground for you a few weeks ago!”
“….”
Bark, bark, bark.
That’s what it sounded like to Ashlyn, so she didn’t say anything.
Without hesitation, she turned her back on him. Jason Barron grabbed her by the shoulder again this time, with such strength that it hurt.
“Stop there!”
“Leave!”
She groaned and brushed off Jason’s hand. Jason looked at Ashlyn with burning eyes.
“Stop playing around. When are you going to accept me?”
“Why should I accept you?”
“Ashlyn Rosbell!”
“Yes, I know I’m Ashlyn Rosbell.”
Jason gritted his teeth at the cold reply.
“I thought you were a calm and quiet girl.”
Ashlyn raised one eyebrow.
‘I’m quiet and nice…’
She’d never heard anything like it.
“The Housekeeper will be happy to hear that.” she said.
Jason frowned and took a step closer.
“What are you mumbling about?”
“I said that to get you off me, but if you want, sure, I’ll say it again.”
“You…!”
Jason’s face flushed. After sending a glare into his blazing gray eyes, Ashlyn glanced up at the sky.
‘I’m really going to be late like this.’
She didn’t think the duke would be angry at her for being late, but she didn’t want her chances of having to talk with him to increase.
“If you dare touch my body one more time, I won’t let you go.”
It was a beautiful day with clear blue skies.
Jason hardened his lips. Ashlyn wanted to scream at him the consequences of what would happen if he didn’t leave her alone, but her body strangely didn’t obey her heart. She was perhaps too tired of this.
Ashlyn turned her back. Only then did a servile voice burst from Jason, who was trembling.
“What should I do!”
“……”
“Ashlyn!”
“Ha, this is really tiresome. If you want to court me, bring me a southern diamond. I’ll think about it then.”
Ashlyn spoke coldly.
“You, how can you say that? Were you always such a materialistic girl?”
“That’s right. So stop bothering me. And if you can’t say shit in front of others, don’t say it behind their backs.”
Jason sighed. Ashlyn turned her body and moved on without hesitation.
“Fuck!”
She heard Jason yelling from behind. He couldn’t seem to control his anger, so like a child, he kicked a stone pillar.
‘It’s different.’
Ashlyn shook her head.
“I won’t give up. I won’t!”
An aggravating voice continued. Ashlyn laughed at the sight once more and hurried her feet.
‘How could I get involved in something like this?’
Nervousness lingered in her steps. She was in an awful mood.
Walking quickly, she quickly reached the end of the long corridor.
If she just turned around the corner, she would see the main building.
‘I have to hurry.’
It was time to turn the corner with a rather hasty movement. Her body trembled greatly with agitation. Something firmly gripped the staggering Ashlyn.
“… … !”
As soon as the identity of that ‘something’ was confirmed, Ashlyn swallowed her breath. She also had a look of surprise on her face when she saw their face.
“My Lord.”
Duke Laperion.
‘Why is the duke suddenly popping up from here?’
Ashlyn was taken aback and said nothing more, only pursed her lips.
The duke blinked. Then, he gently rolls his eyes and smiles.
In the dazzling afternoon, his face, half submerged and glistening in the sunlight, looked as magnificent as one in a painting.
“Are you on your way to the bedroom?”
“…yes.”
The duke had a smooth smile on his lips.
“I will take you.”
Suddenly, she felt a warm sensation in my arm. Ashlyn only then realized that one of her own arms was being held by him.
Ashlyn took a step back. As always, the duke’s hand came off lightly.
“No, thank you, your excellency, but it seems that you have other businesses to tend to.”
Ashlyn said while looking at the sword in the duke’s hand.
“Ah, this.”
The duke shrugged. Ashlyn assumed he was headed to the training grounds or the armory. Either way, his destination wasn’t the bedroom.
“My matter of business is there.”
The duke looked nowhere in particular with a languid smile. Ashlyn couldn’t understand what he meant. But she didn’t ask.
There was silence for a moment. The duke broke the silence with a light tone.
“Currently, I’m on my way back from seeing the head maid.”
“….I see.”
It was unusual.
Unable to read his intentions, Ashlyn answered mechanically.
“The maid said something strange. Could you explain?”
Ashlyn’s eyebrows narrowed slightly. The Duke smiled and met her gaze.
In those eyes, Ashlyn suddenly felt an ominous energy engulfing her body.
“She said she would have to write a letter of recommendation in a month.”
Her body hardened.
“A letter for Ashlyn Rosebell, to be specific. She mentioned that you’d begged her to write it.”
“My lord, that’s….”
“Tell me yourself. Is what I heard right?”
The man’s voice was still deafeningly sweet, but his eyes weren’t smiling at all.
Ashlyn only then realized something.
That the duke had been holding back something ever since the beginning.
“Ashie.”
He moved his free hand. His fingertips, which seemed to tremble, eventually fell without reaching Ashie.
“Do you really intend to abandon me?”
He swallowed dryly.
“To leave me… For that gardener?”
“I beg your pardon?”
Ashlyn’s whole body cringed.
Translator’s note:
I decided to not stick to a schedule immediately since I want to post a good amount of chapters before that. Please read only at moonlightnovel ^^
