Chapter 11
Following Lynn’s guidance, the four ventured deep into the forest. After a while, the dense birch trees began to thin out, revealing a wide lake.
“I didn’t know there was a place like this.”
Everyone nodded at Phillips’s admiration. It seemed they were all surprised inside though, they didn’t show it. Though rarely visited by people, it was discovered by chance during a previous outing picking wild berries.
She simply thought that if by luck, she had a day off, she would come here to play with friends. The pine trees formed a circle around the lake, providing ample shade.
“Let’s settle here.”
Upon hearing Martin’s words, Elizabeth and Phillips placed their horses at a suitable spot. Just as Lynn was contemplating how to descend from such a height. Phillips quickly dismounted and extended his hand toward her.
“Ah, it’s okay… Thank you.”
Though she wanted to refuse his kindness out of consideration for the lady, she had no choice but to accept his help to descend.
It was her first time riding a horse. She knew she couldn’t dismount herself but tried to avoid taking Phillips’s hand.
In the end, she had to accept his assistance. As she awkwardly dismounted, losing her balance, Phillips came closer and supported her waist.
“That was close.”
“I’m sorry.”
As she replied, she instinctively glanced at the lady’s expression. As expected, Elizabeth’s eyes were filled with anger.
The thought of enduring Elizabeth’s wrath when they returned home weighed heavily on her mind.
However, what Lynn needed to focus on now was preparing for the young masters and the lady to enjoy their picnic.
She unfolded and spread a large cloth in a shaded area and arranged the snacks that Aunt Julie had carefully prepared in the center.
After finishing the preparation for the three to enjoy their picnic, she moved to where the horses were tied.
“Come sit over here with us.”
Phillips, who had been watching her intently, kindly invited her.
Lynn couldn’t hide her surprise and instinctively glanced at the lady’s face. Elizabeth didn’t seem pleased with the situation, but in front of Phillips, she couldn’t say anything and was visibly suppressing her anger.
“It’s alright, sir. I’m comfortable here.”
“I’m uncomfortable because of you.”
“…Right, Lynn. Sit next to me and pour some tea.”
After Phillips’s repeated invitations, Elizabeth reluctantly spoke up. For a moment, Lynn hesitated at the lady’s words but the fierce gaze directed at her made her sit beside Elizabeth without further delay.
Clink.
The air temperature was just right, a gentle breeze brushed against her cheeks, and the sunlight glimmered on the lake’s surface. It was a peaceful and beautiful moment.
While the three enjoyed their time leisurely, Lynn knelt beside them, diligently attending to their needs.
“Why don’t you sit comfortably?”
“…Huh?”
Martin’s words made her eyes widen. At that moment, both Phillips and Elizabeth turned their gazes toward her.
“You look uncomfortable.”
“I’m fine.”
In response to her refusal, Phillips chimed in.
“Exactly. Who’s watching us? It’s just us here, right, Elizabeth?”
“It’s better to listen to your brothers, Lynn.”
“…Understood.”
After hearing the lady’s words, she could no longer refuse. She shifted her legs from kneeling and sat down on the ground.
She hadn’t noticed the fatigue when she was tense, but now that she had changed her posture, exhaustion washed over her. Lynn placed her hands on her knees and listened attentively to the conversation between the three in her slightly more comfortable position.
“We have to enter the academy in a few months. Have you prepared well, Martin?”
“Is there anything special we need to prepare?”
He nonchalantly replied as he set down his teacup. Unlike the somewhat excited Phillips, Martin seemed disinterested in the academy. Despite the other’s lackadaisical attitude, Phillips’s excitement didn’t wane.
“Of course. We need to decide which horse to take to the academy. Oh, by the way, have you thought of joining a social club?”
“Not sure.”
“Well, just because you want to join doesn’t mean you can. You need a member’s recommendation. Who will give you that?”
Phillips lamented in a tired voice. Hearing the conversation, Elizabeth spoke up with a disappointed expression.
“What will I do if you two go to the academy and leave me here all alone?”
“You’ll see us during every vacation.”
At Phillips’s words, Elizabeth quickly revealed her feelings. The academy of the Troina Empire doubled as a military school, and admission for girls was strictly prohibited, so Elizabeth couldn’t even dare to think of attending.
As the thought of not seeing Phillips for a long time crossed her mind, Lynn felt a rush of anxiety.
“Please come visit us at our home.”
“The summer vacation is quite long. Staying at home can get boring. As you know, there aren’t any big forests in the Hargreaves estate. If you invite me, I’d be happy to come.”
“Brother, you will, right?”
At Elizabeth’s question, Martin slowly nodded. A satisfied smile spread across Elizabeth’s face in response to his reaction. Observing the atmosphere among the three, Lynn cautiously spoke up.
“Um, my lady, if it’s alright, may I go take a look around?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
Elizabeth readily accepted her request.
Normally, she would have kept her distance, but because of the kind Phillips, she felt uncomfortable being so close. It seemed she wouldn’t need her assistance until they returned home.
“Then I’ll see you in a bit.”
She politely greeted them and gradually moved away. She couldn’t go too far, as she needed to be ready to respond if the lady called for her.
Finding a spot where she could still see them but not hear their voices, she sat on a large rock and stared blankly at the small stream flowing in front of her.
“So they are going to the academy.”
She had heard about it not long ago, but hearing it from the young master confirmed it. Despite having a tiring day since early morning, watching Martin was not exhausting at all.
However, when she heard that Martin would be leaving the duke’s household in a few months, all her energy drained away.
“I won’t be able to see him for a while.”
The occasional encounters with Martin felt like a reward for Lynn, who had nowhere to anchor her heart. They were a reminder to endure the busy and difficult days as if the world was cheering her on.
That’s why serving the capricious lady hadn’t felt burdensome. Now, what would she do? What could she focus on to get through her tough days? The thought of not seeing Martin again made her feel increasingly melancholic.
“I should at least dip my feet.”
She took off her socks and shoes and dipped her feet into the small stream flowing in front of her. The water, flowing from the lake, was quite cold—refreshingly so.
As she stared blankly at one spot, something caught her eye. Wild raspberries.
If she picked a few, the lady might like them. She had asked her to gather wild raspberries not long ago. Perhaps if she brought those, she might get in less trouble.
“I’ll just pick a few.”
She stood up and crossed the stream without hesitation. Spreading out her apron, she placed the wild raspberries inside. Though she hadn’t picked many, it was a decent amount.
“I think I can go now.”
She had wandered quite far from the lady as she focused on picking the raspberries. Lynn began to worry if Elizabeth might have been looking for her while she was picking.
Hurrying back to the stream’s edge, she spotted the angry lady on the opposite side.
“My lady.”
“You! I’ve called for you several times!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
“When we get back, I won’t let you off easy. Do you have any idea how much I’ve been holding back?”
Elizabeth approached her, fuming. It seemed she was so angry that she hadn’t noticed the stream in front of her. Startled, Lynn rushed forward and called out urgently.
“My lady, be careful!”
“You really—ah!”
“My lady!”
It seemed Elizabeth stepped on a mossy stone and lost her balance. Startled, Lynn quickly ran over and grabbed the flailing lady’s hand to steady her.
Fortunately, thanks to Lynn, Elizabeth managed to regain her balance and didn’t fall, but Lynn lost her balance and fell forward. The wild raspberries she had gathered spilled onto the ground, and she tumbled over, getting soaked in the process.
Worried that Elizabeth might also be drenched like her, Lynn hurriedly lifted her head. Thankfully, Elizabeth’s dress was only slightly wet at the hem, unlike Lynn, who was soaked and in a sorry state.
“I’m glad, my lady.”
“What is this? Because of you!”
Annoyed by the situation, Elizabeth raised her voice. Instinctively, Lynn squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for a hit.
“What’s going on?”
But fortunately, she could hear Martin and Phillips’s voices approaching from behind. Elizabeth, who seemed ready to slap her, paused and lowered her hand.
“Are you hurt, Lynn?”
It was the first time she had heard such a kind voice since seeing the lady.
