FWTR Chapter 21

Chapter 21

After returning to her room and changing clothes, Estelle massaged her stiff shoulders.

“I was only out for a short while, but I’m already this exhausted?”

Anna carefully placed a cup of warm milk in front of her.

“I didn’t ask for this.”

Her voice came out sharper than intended. In her past life, the rosemary Anna had given her had caused unbearable pain, making Estelle naturally wary.

“You skipped your meal, saying you had no appetite. I was worried.”

“Worried, you say.”

Estelle found that answer absurd.

‘Not about me, but about yourself.’

This was just another act of self-preservation, driven by the fear of being cast out at any moment. In the past, whenever she had trouble sleeping and asked Anna to warm some milk, she was often met with annoyance.

Just then, the sound of measured footsteps echoed from outside, followed by a presence lingering at the door.

“Go see who it is.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Taking advantage of Anna’s absence, Estelle picked up a teaspoon and stirred the milk.

The spoon did not turn black.

“There’s still quite some time before that incident happens. It was an unnecessary worry.”

Yet, even after confirming there was no poison, she still hesitated to drink it.

“How did it come to this?”

Anna may have been arrogant, but Estelle had tolerated it because of the time they had spent growing up together. Now, she found her past trust in Anna utterly pathetic.

“My lady, a knight is here to see you.”

“A knight?”

Estelle recalled that she had asked the knight commander to send someone from Luweon.

She pushed the milk aside and gestured for Anna to let him in.

As the door opened, a knight entered and knelt on one knee.

“Greetings, Lady Estelle.”

“Rise. I called you because I had a question. Anna, bring him a chair.”

The knight’s tense posture was evident, so Estelle offered him a seat.

“How could I possibly?”

With his hands clasped behind his back, the knight politely declined.

Estelle had merely wanted to understand the meaning behind Michael’s greeting, but she realized she might have made the knight uncomfortable.

‘I should at least give him a gold coin before he leaves.’

It seemed best to get straight to the point.

“I heard that kissing a lady’s hair is a Luweon custom. Is that correct?”

“Ah… Yes. It’s traditionally a knight’s final farewell to his wife before heading into battle.”

“A farewell to his wife?”

Estelle’s expression betrayed her surprise. Sensing her confusion, the knight elaborated.

“Since war is unpredictable, it symbolizes a vow to protect even a single strand of his wife’s hair from harm.”

She had known it was meant to wish for peace, but…

‘So it’s a vow to protect even a single strand of her hair…?’

Her heart pounded painfully.

‘That greeting was meant only for a wife…? I had guessed our relationship wasn’t entirely casual, given how he uses endearments, but…’

Her breath caught in her throat.

“My lady, are you alright?”

As she clutched her chest and lowered her head, the knight’s voice filled with concern.

“…I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

Michael had made it clear that he didn’t want to be involved with her any longer. He had even outright told her not to come to the masquerade ball.

‘What do I do?’

And yet, the more he pushed her away, the more she wanted to know about him.

She wanted to recover the lost memories connected to him.

‘I can’t just stand by after receiving his help. That would be like owing him a debt.’

At this point, it would be strange for her to suddenly refuse to attend the ball. Besides, she had a perfectly valid excuse—she needed to return the pale yellow dress to Olivia.

‘And if I wear a mask, Michael won’t recognize me.’

She simply wanted to see his face once more.

“My lady, though I hail from luweon, my loyalty now lies with the Winchester family. If I have done anything to offend you, please forgive me.”

“Huh?”

The knight suddenly bowed deeply in apology, confusing Estelle.

Then she realized—

‘Oh no, I was so lost in thought about Michael that I left him standing there without saying anything.’

Perhaps her silence had made him uneasy.

Estelle quickly shook her head.

“No, sir, you didn’t make any mistake. If anything, I should apologize. I was just thinking about something for a moment and was rude.”

“Is that so…?”

“The spirit of Luweon knights is admirable. In a battlefield where death is certain, to worry more about your wife’s death than your own is no easy feat, right?”

Only then did the knight awkwardly scratch the back of his neck. Seeing his flushed face made Estelle smile.

“The knights of Luweon don’t easily hold someone in their heart. It’s only after much thought that they fall in love, so it’s only natural to cherish that person more than life itself.”

To risk one’s life for the one they love—that’s what it means.

I wonder if Michael thinks that way too.

For some reason, Estelle felt a bit excited.

At first, she had planned to give him a few gold coins, but then she changed her mind and opened her jewelry box.

‘This should be worth a few months of salary.’

She took out a quality ring and handed it to him.

“Take this. If you sell it, you’ll get a good price for it.”

“No, no. It’s really alright. I haven’t done much…”

The knight waved his hands hurriedly, refusing.

“If I’ve used your time, it’s only right to give you something in return. I don’t like being in anyone’s debt.”

“My lady…”

“Are you not going to accept it? My hand is starting to hurt from holding it like this.”

With a slight gesture of her hand, the knight reluctantly accepted the ring.

“Then I’ll gratefully accept it. Thank you, my lady.”

“You may go now.”

After a brief bow, the knight left, and Anna, who had been watching, suddenly spoke up.

“Who was that? Someone who greets you like that?”

“Anna, stop saying useless things.”

Estelle drew a cold line, trying to keep her distance from her, who was already becoming casual.

‘You should realize that I’m being generous by tolerating you.’

Anna, suddenly chastened, quickly closed her mouth.

It was only a moment before she spoke again.

“My lady! Outside…”

Anna suddenly pointed to the window, her eyes wide with surprise.

‘What now?’

Estelle shifted her gaze outside.

Leonov stepped out of the waiting carriage.

Soon after, Duke Winchester and the butler arrived to greet him and entered together.

‘Why is he here without any notice?’

Estelle was taken aback by his sudden appearance. Other than the day of her funeral, Leonov had never visited the Duke’s residence before.

‘Wait. Since I said I wouldn’t get engaged, there must be something to discuss with the Duke.’

Realizing that Leonov hadn’t come just to see her, she forced her racing heart to calm down.

“My lady, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”

The butler came in to announce his visit.

‘The fact that he’s telling me this means Leonov wants to see me. I thought he had business with the Duke, but I guess not.’

Estelle felt inexplicably bothered by his presence, and getting ready again seemed like a hassle.

‘I don’t really want to dress up.’

Though she was in simple attire, she wasn’t inappropriately dressed.

“Where is he?”

“He’s in the drawing room on the first floor.”

Having only tidied her hair, Estelle quickly made her way to the drawing room.

“You’ve arrived, Lady.”

Estelle saw Leonov lounging on the sofa, while Duke Winchester stood uncomfortably beside him.

“I bring greetings to His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince of Valdermann.”

She greeted him with a stiff voice, offering a formal salutation.

“Lady, sit down. Duke, you may leave now.”

Duke Winchester glanced at Estelle before excusing himself and leaving.

‘What could he possibly want to discuss to send the Duke away?’

As soon as she sat opposite him, he scanned her from head to toe.

“You seem fine. I was worried you might be sick since you didn’t come to see me.”

“…Do I have any reason to visit you, Your Highness?”

The last time she had seen him, he had said something like this.

That she would come to see him soon and ask him to pretend nothing had happened.

Back then, he had said she would probably have to beg him on her knees.

“Do you have nothing to say to me, Lady? I came all the way here personally.”

Leonov still looked as self-assured as ever.

“Stop being so stubborn. Yes, I was late. But do you think that’s enough of a mistake to break an engagement?”

“…”

“See, today you’ve even let your hair down. Didn’t you expect to meet me?”

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