Carol suddenly felt the gap between the two people. She dismissed such thoughts and forced herself to smile more.
“I see. Then I’ll gratefully accept it. I was planning to buy it today.”
“Thank you for buying it for me.”
The food was placed between the two of them. It was a dish filled with ingredients rarely seen in the northern region.
“…I wanted to repay my younger siblings for helping me a little.”
“Even without your abilities, my entry into the Walden family wouldn’t have been much help in the north.”
“You’ve done so much. Even the scholarship..…”
Louis firmly interrupted Carol.
“Although it’s nice that you benefit, even if that weren’t the case, I would have donated to the academy. It’s an investment concept, like this restaurant.”
“Investment?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Carol’s eyes showed skepticism.
“Yes. So, that’s why I suggested meeting separately today—to discuss that continuation.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s go to the capital together.”
Carol’s hand, which had been serving food, froze in midair. The playful remarks about ‘taking you along’ that had been made several times were always brushed off as a joke, but this time, it wasn’t a joke.
“The capital?”
“Yes.”
“…You know that the kids have to attend the academy.”
“I know. We’re not talking about right now, but about after graduation. There’s not much time left.”
“We should also consider the opinions of your younger siblings.”
“..…”
“You’ve already asked them?”
In response to Carol’s speculation, Louis nodded.
“Finding work in the capital is easier.”
“…I see.”
The problem lay with herself. Surely, there would be more work to do in the capital during the evenings.
‘But if I just abandon everything and run away, I won’t be able to live at ease.’
Carol hesitated, unable to respond immediately, and bit her lower lip.
Louis felt the weight of that brief silence more than ever.
Finally, Carol spoke heavily.
“I have my own work to do. I can’t quit right away.”
“Is there a special reason why you can’t quit?”
Louis’s sharp observation made Carol’s eyebrows twitch.
But Louis was considering a different reason for her hesitation.
“Is it because of someone else here, rather than anxiety preventing you from answering?”
He had been confident that the Duke had no interest in Carol.
For a moment, the image of the flower passed through his mind, but Louis shook his head. That couldn’t be it.
Wrapped in paper, it might seem less valuable, but it was a moonflower that only bloomed in summer. It wouldn’t have been worth even a penny. Louis knew that, but he completely dismissed the possibility that the Duke might be interested in Carol.
Instead, another hypothesis flitted through Louis’s mind.
What if the opposite were true?
Even in the capital’s social circles, there were countless young ladies who would laugh and cry at his every word.
Surely, that flower held no real significance. It had to be that way. After all, Carol would be the only one hurt.
The giver might not have meant much, but what if the recipient attached meaning to it?
‘The person Carol interacts the most in that mansion…’
It was the Duke, of course.
High status, handsome appearance, and kindness—a combination that would easily captivate anyone.
Was it possible that the incident with the noble lady, Margaret Chesworth, wasn’t just a matter of duty as a servant?
Louis clenched his fist under the table.
Perhaps it wasn’t love.
It could just be a hasty thought.
But being considered special by someone was a danger sign.
Louis set down his wine glass and, placing his hand over Carol’s, and said,
“You can rely on me.”
Carol didn’t find those words comforting. The sweet promise of responsibility was fleeting.
Living a life dependent on him would be inevitable if she followed Louis to the capital.
Since Carol had no foundation there.
Louis didn’t want to be too lenient.
Her life was hers to decide.
Relying completely on someone else was akin to surrendering her right over her own life.
“What kind of responsibility?”
Carol asked. Louis was a good friend, but their definitions of responsibility likely differed.
“Well, that…”
Louis trailed off. He assumed that once the younger siblings’ issues were resolved, Carol would naturally agree.
Carol’s words were quicker than Louis’s attempt to find a follow-up.
“You know it’s difficult to adapt even for someone from a noble family. Don’t worry about me.”
“I just wanted to share your concerns; I didn’t mean to draw a line like this.”
“I always worry about you. You know that, right?”
“Instead of worrying equally about everyone.”
Louis belonged to a special category. After the family head, he was next in line. But he still felt inadequate, despite what he said.
“Even if I face such disadvantages, I believe I can handle it.”
“…”
My impressive friend, Louis.
Having known him since childhood, I understood that his words weren’t mere flattery.
He sometimes acted nonchalant, but beneath that exterior lay a rock-solid core. I knew that when he truly desired something, it weighed heavily on him.
“I get it. You’ve always been considerate of others, Carol. That’s why I haven’t worried excessively.”
Carol defended herself. Instead of using the word “responsibility,” Louis played his most effective card.
“The younger siblings will have more career options than they do here.”
“I understand. Your suggestion is excellent.”
Carol wiped her forehead. It was a risk-free proposal, but she couldn’t respond immediately.
“So, Carol.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s leave our jobs and go to the capital together.”
The confession could wait until they were in the capital.
Ignoring Margaret’s warning, they needed to move first.
“But…”
“You don’t have to answer right away. We have time until graduation.”
“I’ll think about it.”
However, it wasn’t a conversation for some distant future.
“Don’t push me away.”
“That’s…”
Louis touched his forehead. He desperately held back from confessing outright, knowing it wouldn’t be appropriate.
But he couldn’t remain silent. He cut through the deeper feelings within him and revealed only a small part to her.
“I want a relationship where I can protect you.”
His voice burned with intensity. Carol remembered the moment in the carriage when she jerked because of the stone. The warmth of Louis, higher than usual.
“I’ll consider it.”
Carol’s heart fluttered, making it hard to fully enjoy the delicious meal during their dinner.
On the way back home in the carriage, neither of them spoke.
Only after they arrived did Louis step out first and bid her farewell.
Click.
“We’re here.”
“Thank you for the ride.”
“Rest well.”
“You know I’m a night owl.”
“Since you’re tired, you’ll probably sleep soundly.”
Louis chuckled, wrinkling his nose. When she wasn’t human, she slept much more than she did now. Her waking hours were shorter than the time she spent asleep.
Thinking back to those days, he couldn’t help but say,
“Carol, you don’t sleep as much these days!”
“Haha. Well, that’s a relief. Now go inside. It’s cold.”
“Okay.”
Louis gestured toward the brightly lit window with a nod of his chin.
“Dylan and Kevin are probably still waiting, not having gone to sleep.”
“Or maybe they fell asleep with the lights on.”
“About going to the capital… think it over.”
“…Yeah. Thanks. I’ll head inside now.”
“Just a moment.”
Louis stopped Carol.
“Why?”
“…If we happen to run into each other in the mansion, can you pretend to know me?”
Carol hesitated, but since they rarely saw each other’s faces anyway, it seemed reasonable.
“Yes.”
The guest room was opposite the Duke’s room, and after Margaret’s unexpected behavior, the servants would be even more vigilant. Louis wouldn’t cross any lines.
Carol returned home with Louis trailing behind. He reached out momentarily toward her retreating figure before pulling back.
“Go ahead.”
Rattle.
Louis’s words vanished into the darkness as the carriage moved away.
Carol closed the door, leaning against it as she sank to the floor.
‘But…’
She couldn’t discern the exact shape of what she had picked up earlier, but the restaurant scene lingered like a thorn in her mind.
Carol cupped her cheeks and sighed.
“Now is not the time for these thoughts.”
She got up, and entered the living area.
“Hey, you two. I’m back—”
As Carol had playfully suggested, the two of them lay side by side in front of the fireplace, already asleep.
“Guess they fell asleep waiting.”
Though still young, they weren’t small. It would be too much for Carol to carry them both to their rooms alone.
Carol returned with a blanket, covering them before heading back to her own room.
Once inside, instead of changing clothes, she flung open the window.
The room felt stifling.
Cold air rushed in. Carol took a deep breath and looked up at the night sky.
The stars were densely packed.
“Ha.”
For some reason, the Duke came to mind.
Before making her decision, there was someone who had come to her thoughts even before her younger siblings or herself.
‘I need to see the Duke.’
And this time, she had to be certain of his intentions and act accordingly.
She hadn’t yet been of much help to her young friend.
