“….”
Carol’s firm attitude left Louis speechless like he had eaten honey.
A friend like family was distinctly different from actual family. Louis was well aware of that difference.
She may later deeply regret rejecting Louis’ proposal if things became too difficult.
If she couldn’t freely transform between human and bird form, it would only get harder, and she might regret not accepting Louis’ offer.
“I know you’re saying this out of concern for me. That’s why I pondered over it for so long too.”
Carol brushed Louis off in a much softer tone.
“…Alright for now. But quit working at the Duke’s Mansion.”
Giving up living comfortably was due to the Duke’s influence. After accidentally entering the Duke’s Mansion and overhearing the inner heart of the pitiable monster trapped in the winter castle, there was no going back.
“I can’t do that.”
“Something bad will definitely happen to you there. It’s an ill omen that Margaret Chesworth’s servant went out too.”
“I told them today that I’ll extend my work contract at the Duke’s Mansion.”
At some point, Carol had changed. Louis remembered exactly when that was.
It was after she had finally broken down and disappeared following her parents’ passing.
“Carol, you’ve changed.”
“When do you think it was a change for the better?”
Louis’ head spun rapidly. He still couldn’t figure out the reason.
But in succession, he recalled Carol changing, gaining her own will through that change, and how she had thrown herself into working for the Duke within the mansion.
And amidst that, one question arose.
“When you disappeared back then, did you perhaps meet the Duke?”
Carol’s body flinched. Her blue-green eyes averted Louis’ gaze.
So that was it.
Louis grabbed Carol’s body.
“Were you with the Duke that whole time?”
“…Let go.”
Carol refused to answer. What had happened that changed her so? He had been by her side the entire time she was grieving, and that was it. It felt like rage was bubbling up inside.
“So? What are you even trying to do there?”
Going so far as to change her status, just what was Carol trying to do at the Duke’s Mansion?
“It’s a personal issue.”
“The Duke probably can’t even remember that sparrow he met was you anyway.”
“I know.”
Carol had no intention of explaining anything to Louis.
She gave a curt reply and clamped her beak shut.
“Do you…like the Duke?”
“…It’s not like that.”
“Then…”
Suddenly, Kevin opened the door.
“Are you closing the door to have a secret conversation?”
“No.”
Kevin was holding a ladle, indicating the meal was ready. Seeing her chance, Carol flew over and perched on Kevin’s shoulder.
“All ready?”
“Yeah, sis needs to eat and get ready to leave.”
“Got it.”
“I suppose so.”
Louis was still standing in the middle of the room. Belatedly turning towards the door, he asked with an odd look.
“Doesn’t this smell different from the perfume I gave you?”
“…I received a gift.”
“From who?”
“….”
“No, don’t tell me.”
Louis’ face darkened. Even the Duke’s feelings, which he had been certain were not romantic, now seemed uncertain. And he had learned there was a period Carol had spent with the Duke that he didn’t know about.
“Nobles don’t see commoners as equals. So…”
The more he spoke, the deeper he felt himself sinking, but he couldn’t stop. He felt unbearably anxious.
“Louis.”
“….”
“You’re a noble too.”
Just by being in this house, Louis was a noble who felt out of place.
“I…Carol, how could I ever think of you that way! You know that, don’t you?”
She was so precious to him that he agonized just circling around her, afraid to even become her friend. Yet Carol looked at him with cold eyes.
“Other nobles could think the same as you.”
“I…”
“Don’t say any more, Louis.”
Louis protested indignantly but soon closed his mouth.
Saying more would only further hurt each other’s feelings.
“Sis?”
From outside, Dylan approached Carol’s room after setting down his spoon. Kevin, who had been silently watching the tense situation, swiftly changed the subject when Dylan appeared.
“Let’s hurry and eat. You want some too, brother?”
Though the sun was starting to set, it was still closer to late afternoon than early evening.
“It’ll be time for the sun to set soon.”
But Carol spoke as if night would come right away.
When night fell, Carol would transform into a human and it would be time for her to leave this house.
“Let’s talk later.”
For some reason, whenever they discussed anything related to the Duke, it only seemed to worsen their relationship. Louis splashed water on his face. His neatly groomed hair became disheveled.
His golden eyes flickered confusedly. He had always gotten what he wanted up till now. At some point, he had become overconfident that Carol would too eventually.
“Yeah…”
But that wasn’t the case. It was Louis’ own fault for assuming their childhood relationship would remain unchanged.
“We’ll talk next time.”
“You’re leaving, brother?”
“Yeah. Thanks for the invitation. But I think it’s better if I just go for today.”
This couldn’t go on. Louis obediently replied, thinking to himself that retreating now was one step back for two steps forward later.
****
Even without that, today was an important day for Carol.
Even without that, her head was already aching from that matter.
Carol couldn’t get her earlier conversation with Louis out of her mind.
[Do you…like him?]
Repeating Louis’ question, Carol broke into a bitter laugh. She couldn’t fathom why he had said such a thing.
Throughout the lesson, Carol’s mind was elsewhere.
“I had the garden house in the back mountains renovated as I mentioned before.”
“Ah, yes.”
“It’s ready to visit anytime now.”
“Ah, yes.”
“How about we go together when we have time?”
“Yes.”
Carol’s brain couldn’t properly register what the Duke was saying.
Observing Carol’s state, the Duke briefly fell silent before swiftly reaching a conclusion.
“Shall we take a break for now?”
Instead of reprimanding her, he decided to pause the day’s lesson for a bit.
Only after the Duke suggested taking a break did Carol come to her senses.
“I’m sorry.”
“Even I have times when I can’t concentrate well, so I understand completely.”
“You, Duke?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
“You just don’t seem like the type at all.”
The Duke had remarkable powers of concentration. Carol couldn’t imagine him losing focus and doing other things.
“Well, I do want to appear my best in front of the teacher.”
The Duke put on a show of clearing his throat as if embarrassed to talk about it.
“You’re an excellent student.”
“Thanks to an excellent teacher.”
As the Duke deflected with humility, Carol brushed it off. There was no need to stay dejected from the Duke’s kind consolation for her one lapse in concentration.
“Then shall you go to the kitchen during this short break?”
“Is there something to get from the kitchen?”
Ever since placing the kettle by the fireplace, there was rarely a need to go to the kitchen in between. Carol asked as she half-rose.
“I recall you saying you liked sweets?”
“Yes.”
It was a conversation they had shared while drinking milk tea before. Puzzled by the Duke bringing it up again, Carol looked at him questioningly instead of answering.
“Don’t just stand there. Go have a look.”
Unfortunately, when Carol went to the kitchen, no one was there. Seeing the unlit kitchen, she scanned the interior with an awkward expression.
The wetness on the floor suggested someone had been there just before.
‘Should I go look for them?’
She knew where Norman’s quarters were. As one of the night guards at the Duke’s mansion, he shouldn’t be sleeping yet.
Instead of leaving right away, Carol searched inside the kitchen. She distinctly remembered Norman saying something before…
Carol looked towards the shelves, recalling that past memory.
[If you need anything, feel free to take more.]
[Can I really just take things?]
[Yeah, but it’ll be a hassle for you.]
[Not a hassle, but it’ll take time.]
[Then let’s do this. When I’m away, I’ll take out whatever you need and leave it on the bottom shelf, so just take that.]
[Is that okay?]
[Better than waiting for me.]
Looking at the shelf on the off-chance, Carol saw a paper bag, milk, and a small covered bowl.
With a puzzled look, Carol took the items on the shelf and left.
It seemed right, but the only one she could ask was the Duke.
Knock knock.
“That took longer than expected. Was there an issue?”
“Norman wasn’t in the kitchen.”
“How unusual. Then I made you take an unnecessary trip.”
Carol set down the items she was carrying onto the table.
“Is this right? Milk, the covered bowl, and the paper bag?”
“Why don’t we open them and see.”
Wondering what it could be, Carol opened the small bag first. It was filled with spongy, cloud-like marshmallows.
“This is…!”
Carol swiftly turned her head and uncovered the bowl.
“Chocolate!”
