FWTR Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Once I recognized it, the bergamot scent from the person behind me became even stronger. A cool yet sweet aroma, with the freshness of spring, filled the air, deeply penetrating my senses.

My heart raced wildly as I wondered if the person around my waist could be Michael.

“Could it be…?”

Estelle swallowed nervously and cautiously turned around.

“…Ah.”

Though the person was covered by a robe, what caught Estelle’s eye was the sky-blue hair.

There was no need to check the facial features; this was not Michael. A strange sense of disappointment made her lower her head.

“Why, what’s the matter?”

The man, showing a hint of confusion, finally spoke. Estelle was startled by her own rude behavior.

‘If this person hadn’t caught me, I would have fallen flat on my face. Yet here I am, openly disappointed.’

It felt odd. She was disappointed, having made assumptions about the bergamot scent without reason.

Was it because the scent, embedded so deeply in her mind, was linked to emotions? The bergamot aroma triggered her expectations instantly.

Estelle quickly wiped away the expression of disappointment. More than that, the contact of the man’s hands on her waist was starting to bother her.

“Could you… let go of me?”

His slow, lingering touch made her face burn with heat.

“Ah, thank you. I guess I was just so startled. I nearly had an accident, thanks to you.”

“…No need to mention it.”

His low voice was sweet, and Estelle didn’t know where to look. She stole a glance at his large hand.

‘A knight, perhaps?’

Through the rolled-up sleeves, she could see blue veins and the firm muscles beneath.

“…Shall I catch that little one for you?”

The man exuded an unpleasant aura. The intimidating pressure wasn’t aimed at Estelle, but it made her body shiver.

‘He must be referring to the kid who stole my bracelet.’

The child appeared young, and judging by his attire, he was likely from the slums.

‘If a commoner is caught stealing from a noble, they might lose a hand.’

She didn’t want that to happen, especially since the bracelet wasn’t even that important. She also didn’t want to trouble the man unnecessarily.

“No, it’s really fine.”

“If you say so, then I understand.”

The man nodded lightly in agreement.

“…Thank you once again. I want to express my gratitude, but may I ask your name?”

After all, she didn’t want to feel like she owed him without showing any appreciation.

‘Maybe I should send a gift from my family.’

With her usual dignified composure, Estelle guessed the man must be of noble birth.

“Sir?”

The man didn’t respond but turned his head to the left.

As Estelle realized that he was hiding his identity by wearing a robe, she recognized that asking for his name would be improper.

Unable to take back her words, Estelle quickly changed the subject to avoid any awkwardness.

“I’m Estelle Winchester, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Winchester. I will remember your help.”

“Estelle, Winchester…”

The man’s lips moved slowly. His deep, solid voice made her heart race again, almost as if it was in a hurry.

“Sister! Why aren’t you following?”

“…Melody?”

From a distance, Melody, looking quite excited, was huffing and puffing as she ran toward them.
She had expected Estelle, the elder sister, to be there to comfort her, so she looked confused.

“Who is this man?”

“He just saved me from almost falling. Say hello.”

“So you didn’t look for me because of this?”

“Melody.”

Estelle called her name with a warning tone, but Melody, still clearly upset, didn’t hide it.

“Hmph, he looks like a commoner, so why should I greet him? He should greet us first, shouldn’t he?”

Melody extended her hand as if offering the honor of a kiss. Estelle’s head throbbed at her childishness.

‘She’s outright calling him a commoner and treating him with disdain…’

Although she was upset that Estelle hadn’t comforted her, Estelle couldn’t help but sigh at how clueless Melody was.

“Melody. Enough.”

She pulled at her sleeve, but the man’s mocking laugh filled the air.

“Did you just laugh at me?”

“…I laughed because it was amusing.”

Even as Melody’s cheek turned red with embarrassment, the man didn’t stop smiling. His grin was so bright that it made his dimples appear. Estelle couldn’t help but feel relieved by the sight.

She herself couldn’t smile comfortably in this situation, but the man was freely expressing his amusement.

“Don’t you know who I am? I’m the Lady of Winchester!”

“There’s no need for you to tell me.”

The man’s voice became slightly colder. “By the way, I suggest you stop touching me. I find contact with others unpleasant. Please understand.”

The man, not hiding his hostility toward Melody, leisurely turned and entered a narrow alley.

“Did he just—interrupt me and leave?”

“Melody, you were the one being rude first.”

Estelle reflected on the man’s words as she looked at the furious Melody.

‘When he caught me earlier, I asked him to let go, and he did, yet now his attitude is completely different.’

A smile appeared on Estelle’s face as she thought about the contrast.

“He’s a commoner! I am a lady of the Winchester family! Is that why you’re still treating me as a commoner, just like Lilliana does?”

Melody stomped her feet in frustration, trying to catch her breath.

‘If she collapses here, it’s going to cause a lot of trouble.’

She had fainted before due to hyperventilation, so Estelle couldn’t just ignore it. If she collapsed in the street, it would clearly be Estelle’s responsibility.

“Aren’t you the ladies of the Duke of Winchester’s family? What’s going on?”

As people began to stare, Estelle quickly wrapped her arms around Melody. Without applying force, she couldn’t endure the disgust she felt.

“Melody, calm down. You’re a Winchester lady. Your actions shape how people view Winchester.”

Whispering softly in her ear, Estelle slowly noticed the struggling shoulders relax.
There was nothing that could calm her inferiority complex better than reminding her of the “Winchester” name.

“…Right. I’m a Winchester lady. I guess I’ve been too sensitive. I’m sorry, sister…”

“Let’s head back for today. I’ve asked Madame Servan to come to the Duke’s mansion. Should we pick a dress for you tomorrow?”

“Mm-hmm…”

Estelle guided Melody back to the carriage.

She caught a faint whiff of the bergamot scent the man had left behind. The nausea she had felt earlier slowly faded.

‘Even though it was just for a moment, it’s deeply embedded in me.’

Perhaps it was because the scent was mixed with that of the unfamiliar man, but for some reason, her heart felt inexplicably fluttered.

Inside the alley, as the man took off his robe, his good black hair was revealed.

‘I wasn’t planning to appear now.’

Having been watching Estelle from behind, the man’s reflexes kicked in when she stumbled.
Had he not been able to change his hair color with divine power, he would have been caught.

When Estelle looked back, it had been a long time since she had seen his face, and she had to forcibly suppress the urge to touch him.
It was fortunate that she hadn’t met his gaze.

‘I thought she was disappointed.’

The look in Estelle’s eyes when she had seemed disappointed lingered in his mind.

“You followed me again.”

A strange wind stirred, and Michael sensed someone hiding nearby.

“I greet Your Highness, Michael.”

Masked knights appeared and knelt before him.

“I told you to wait.”

“Forgive us, Your Highness.”

The shadows.
Officially, they were part of the Imperial Third Knights, but in truth, they were secretly ordered by the Emperor to serve Michael due to the Emperor’s suspicion of the Empress.

‘It’s always amusing. They tried to kill me, and now they want to save me.’

With the Emperor currently unconscious in a vegetative state, Michael couldn’t tell what the Emperor’s true intentions were. Seeing the shadows always stirred up the anger he had felt when facing the Emperor.

‘This is such a hassle. It’s probably the work of Marquis Aslan.’

The loyalty of Marquis Aslan, who led the shadows, often became a nuisance.

‘Your Highness! You must always be accompanied by the shadows. The Empress sent another assassin just the other day!’

Because of Marquis Aslan’s constant worry, the shadows always followed Michael wherever he went. Naturally, they were aware of where the bracelet stolen by the little kid was.

“The bracelet?”

“It’s here.”

As expected, the knight immediately handed over the bracelet. Michael took it and stared intently at the sapphire gleaming in the center.
It was the same blue gemstone as Estelle’s clear eyes. It was almost like a gift to repay their brief encounter.

“What should be done with it?”

“Dispose of it? Oh, are you talking about the little kid? Just leave it.”

“…Understood, Your Highness.”

Estelle hadn’t wanted the little kid to be punished.
Though he had been angry at first, hearing her voice full of sympathy had calmed him down.

Since childhood, Estelle had known how to control Michael’s emotions. No matter how much he wished to fall and die, whenever he saw Estelle, he would want to live again as if nothing had happened.

Because of her, he could keep living.

“Your Highness, you need to go to the Marquis’ mansion urgently.”

One of the knights whispered before respectfully requesting.

“…What’s going on?”

“Marquis Aslan has collapsed.”

The smile that had briefly tugged at Michael’s lips when thinking of Estelle instantly disappeared.

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