The Lady and the Stableman

Walter swiftly embraced the bewildered Edith and leaned her against the window.

Because the shutters were closed, only Edith’s luscious blonde hair was visible from the outside, peeking through a thin gap.

Who the man holding her remained unknown, but the situation was clear enough to discern.

『 If he’s pretending to seduce me, then… 』

Edith swallowed a dry gulp, now imbued with a different meaning than before. The heat emanating from their closely pressed bodies made her feel like her face might burst.

However, there was no time to hesitate. The person who had ridden over the horizon was rapidly approaching, visible through the window’s gap.

Edith, trapped like a cornered mouse, spoke as dignifiedly as she could.

“Walter, you… you’d better not betray my trust. You wouldn’t do that, right?” 

Although it was clearly something a superior would say to a subordinate, her voice trembled slightly.

Walter burst into a gentle laugh at Edith’s awkward attempt to be a lady.

The Fourth Lady had a knack for commanding even in her pleas. When she was confident, she seized her opponent with clear eyes and a commanding voice.

Suddenly wanting to see Edith flustered, Walter smirked mischievously.

“I’m not sure what kind of trust you’re talking about.”

“I-I mean that you just have to pretend enough to fool the butler.”

“Whether or not I betray your trust will depend on how quickly Whitman becomes suspicious.” 

Walter said as if he didn’t know what would happen. 

Held in the man’s arms with her body pressed against his, Edith’s heart raced as if it might burst; it was probably because it was the first time she had been held this way.

His gaze had become distinctly more intense, he seemed to exude a statue-like aura, as if he had been transformed into a person. His gaze had deepened, resembling that of a beast, making it hard to breathe.

Edith inadvertently found herself wondering what it would feel like if his high, smooth nose touched her face and shoulders.

『 …You’re crazy, Edith.』

Walter appeared remarkably skilled in these kinds of situations, to the point of creating the illusion that everything wasn’t a plot to deceive the butler, but a dream fulfilling one’s desires.

The sound of the horses’ hooves grew closer and closer.

Walter was able to lift her with only his left arm. He tousled Edith’s hair using his right hand.

Edith bit her lip, feeling a prickling sensation akin to electricity.

Walter whispered as he lightly brushed Edith’s slightly hanging leg.

“It would be more convenient if you wrapped your legs around my waist.”

Edith tightly shut her eyes. His voice, slightly lower than usual, echoed in her mind. The sound of the horses’ hooves, which had been getting closer, soon stopped, and the footsteps of a person approaching cautiously became audible.

Walter grabbed her legs and positioned them, assisting her since she was still stiff like a wooden doll.

Awkwardly draping her legs around his waist, Edith exerted force in her legs to prevent them from sliding off.

Then Walter let out a short groan. Following that, as he swallowed a dry gulp, his prominent Adam’s apple moved roughly.

Walter adjusted his hold on her and pulled her closer. The fact that his breathing had become as rapid as hers made Edith feel strange.

She saw herself reflected in his pupils, and for the first time, she noticed her distorted face.

For a moment, she felt trapped not in a bestial savagery but in a different dimension. Feeling like all her strength might give out, she asked him in a small voice,

“… Can I hug your shoulder?”

“…” 

When Walter nodded as if entranced, Edith carefully wrapped her arms around his shoulders and tightly shut her eyes.

Her long eyelashes cast a shadow that turned every touched bit of skin crimson, and the deepest red on her rosy face was her ripe lips.

“Ah…!” 

Startled by the cold air through the window, Edith let out a thin voice, causing Whitman to turn around as if his doubts had been cleared.

Even after seeing Whitman get back on his horse, Walter couldn’t stop his actions.

A somehow familiar scent emanated from Edith. It was a refreshing yet deep fragrance, reminiscent of dewy wildflowers in a rain-soaked forest.

Intoxicated by that scent, he closed the distance, intending to devour Edith’s lips.

“No.”

“…” 

Walter looked at Edith’s palm, which was blocking his lips. It was the same hand that had clung to his shoulder just moments ago.

He chuckled at himself for being dissatisfied with this situation.

As he pressed his lips to the palm of her hand and looked up at her, he saw Edith’s face, flushed and visibly nervous.

“…You can’t touch my lips, Walter.”

This order came across almost like a plea. Even her exhaled breath was hot and rapid. Her tone was that of a master who fears a rampaging beast that won’t listen to her but who still tries to keep it under control.

“…” 

Walter mustered up his patience and stopped what he was doing. It was the first time he had heated up in the presence of someone, so he couldn’t completely calm himself down.

He gently lowered Edith, who he had been carrying.

Edith, still trapped between the wall and his chest, stammered an excuse.

“It looks like the butler is gone, so I think it will be alright.”

Amid her flushed body and rapid breathing, avoiding his gaze, she spoke as if trying to find an escape, evoking the image of a mouse searching for a hole.

In reality, Edith felt embarrassed and ashamed about the current situation. She couldn’t even allow her lips to be involved in this abduction and pregnancy scheme. It felt like something a teenage girl might say.

『 But Walter stopped without going too far…』

She wondered if she sounded like someone who expected more than necessary. Edith slipped out of his arms.

Walter asked, looking at her intently as she avoided his gaze.

“I have a question, just in case.”

His voice still carried a warmth, creating the illusion that what had just happened was still ongoing.

“For instance, if we were under surveillance again, like today, and if Sophia or Whitman says they need to check from start to finish…”

“…” 

“When this happens again, even if you are embarrassed, can I do more even if you say that your lips are prohibited?” 

Unconsciously, Edith lightly bit her lips.

Perhaps she was mistaken, but his words sounded like he was expecting more. Her overthinking prevented her from reasoning logically.

“…It’s something that hasn’t happened yet, so I don’t want to think about it right now.”

Despite having only been held for a few minutes, her energy seemed to have drained. Edith sank to the floor for a moment.

Walter pondered her words. He couldn’t understand why he had asked such a question when the situation she referred to hadn’t even occurred yet.

Did he secretly desire to witness the composed woman before him, unravel, either in pleading or pleasure?

Walter swallowed the answer that unconsciously came to him.

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An awkward silence settled after they left the cabin.

Edith simply mounted the horse with Walter holding the reins, gazing out at the scenery.

The Fortrion Manor was quite large, and the building itself was vast, so the distance from the room at the eastern end to the room at the western end was considerable.

According to what Edith had learned, Sophia was reluctant to spend time with the other wives, but Elizabeth and Isabelle often enjoyed tea together.

『 If the Viscount dies, the inheritance will be divided among the other wives as well, and Sophia will do whatever it takes to strip the other wives of their inheritance rights.』

Edith gazed at the west wing of the mansion. Although the distance was too far to see who was inside, it seemed wise to go meet the other wives staying on the western side as soon as possible, especially if she planned to confront Sophia.

“The horse seems thirsty, so let’s stop for a moment.”

Upon discovering a small spring, Walter patted the horse’s back as Edith dismounted and looked around.

There were quite a few cute sculptures in the garden near the mansion, probably to the liking of the Western ladies.

Then suddenly, a faint singing voice could be heard.

 

🎶🎶  “I know,

The reason your breath grows warmer.

When you pull me close,

Something is brewing between us.” 🎶🎶

 

『 Who’s singing?』

Due to the distance, the lyrics were faintly audible, but the voice was clear and rich, captivating even Edith despite the distance.

“That’s Isabelle Fortrion, Nicholas’ third wife.”

Walter approached and explained that Isabelle often practiced singing in the middle of the garden at this time and that many of the servants admired her singing.

“It is said that her voice brings a small joy to the western servants before dinner every evening.”

Edith nodded, understanding. At the same time, she realized that it was already time for dinner.

When she was caught up in Sophia’s scheme and almost imprisoned in the mansion, time passed so slowly that it was frustrating. But when she spent time with Walter, the sunset would descend in the blink of an eye.

“Let’s start heading back. Sophia might start suspecting, and Vivian is waiting too.”

“Before you go.”

Walter looked directly into Edith’s eyes and asked.

“You must tell me everything that seems suspicious. Things like the Viscount’s strange behavior before the incident and your past.”

“Ah.” 

It was only then that Edith remembered the terms of the contract with Walter. He was protecting her by deceiving Sophia, so she also had to do something for him to help him preserve his memories.

“There’s only one thing in my life that could be considered a special experience that others haven’t had. When I was young, my mother once received a woman of unknown identity and her son as guests.”

“Guest?” 

“Yes. My father died early, and we weren’t well off, but the house was quite spacious.”

Although the Lowell Manor was gambled away by her maternal uncle shortly after her mother’s death.

Edith smiled bitterly and continued.

“Anyway, that boy back then resembled you a bit.”

“Resembled me…”

“Yes. When I first saw you, I thought of that boy. If your eye color weren’t different from his, I might have confused you both.”

Edith, who thought of Walter and Isaac at the same time, suddenly remembered an important fact.

『 That’s right. Isaac had deep scars on his thighs.』

She recalled that Mrs. Leah had been upset at times, saying those scars would never fade, even as he grew into an adult.

Edith’s gaze naturally went to Walter’s thigh. Then he made a peculiar expression and said.

“Seeing you trying to confirm whether I resemble him suggests you were rather intimate with that boy.”

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