“Episode 5”
“Snake, isn’t it a fitting animal for the greedy Simon?”
“No, no!”
Whether it was because of the chilling sensation of the scales wrapping around his ankles or not, Simon wiggled his legs in place.
As the noisy screams spread, passersby on the street stopped one by one.
“I am the proud successor of the esteemed Britton lineage! I dare to commit such an act and still survive! Oh, help me, I’ve done wrong!”
Just a moment ago, Simon was confidently stepping on the narrow bridge, but now his legs were trembling as if they were about to give way.
After Simon struggled and struggled with foam at his mouth, Ethan finally let go of his hand.
“Truly, one of the most unpleasant memories I’ve ever had.”
“Ethan, your complexion doesn’t look good.”
Even after letting go of Simon’s hand, Ethan held his temple for a while and complained of a headache.
Supporting Ethan’s body, I looked down at Simon, who was sitting down like a newborn baby. Simon, who suddenly came to his senses, spat at Ethan and pointed his finger.
“Eeek!”
“Is there a problem?”
The owner of the jewelry store, who had been there for goodness knows how long, asked worriedly.
“That man suddenly showed me a snake!”
Simon’s face, as he foamed at the mouth, was incredibly unsightly.
He, who once devoted his life to serving, was now such a pitiful man.
“A snake? Is what you’re saying true?”
As the store owner asked in a hurry, Ethan struggled to raise the corners of his mouth.
“Well, I’m not sure. A snake appeared on a street with not a single pebble to be found. It’s a story that I can’t make sense of.”
As Ethan continued to feign ignorance, Simon complained of injustice with a pale face.
“B-Bella, say something. You saw it too. A snake as thick as an arm crawling on the ground!”
Well, what answer should I give?
Far away, I spotted a woman who was staring at Simon as if he were a stone statue. It was the very woman who shyly smiled and leaned on Simon’s arm inside the jewelry store.
There wasn’t much time to hesitate. As if she understood, she finally turned towards Simon and spoke.
“Poor Lord Britton, seems like you didn’t get enough sleep to be dozing off on the street?”
The belatedly aware store owner cautiously intervened.
“I’m sorry, but there are other customers around, so please try not to cause a disturbance near the store.”
Upon hearing this, Simon’s face turned red and green.
“How dare you…”
He seemed extremely indignant at being treated like a fool in front of others.
“Bella, you’ll regret humiliating me like this. Are you really okay with that?”
The ghostly Duke and the grotesque innkeeper spouted venomous insults, and in between, it was none other than me who was being dragged by the hair.
“I’m warning you in advance because you’re sensitive. Are you really okay with that?”
With the mask of a gentleman, Simon laid out a kind threat. With the gentle voice of love that he once used.
“Bella, can’t you understand? Your mistake could also have a negative impact on Lady Eloise’s business.”
My savior, who will release the shackles wrapped around my ankles. My only god. My future, dedicated for ten years.
“…Do as you please.”
Smiling lazily, I looked down at Simon. His face contorted beautifully.
Simon, you won’t even know what regret is. Because of your wretched fickleness, I lost my home and family in an instant and ended up on the streets. A pauper with nothing to lose shouldn’t be impatient with petty thieves.
“I don’t care, so do as you please.”
I put a period on the long unrequited love affair. A complex mix of frustration and relief overwhelmed me.
As I looked at Simon’s pale face, Ethan lowered his head and whispered softly in my ear.
“You did very well, Isabella.”
Ethan’s faint laughter tickled my ears like feathers.
* * *
“Isabella, shall we raise a toast today to commemorate the light revenge?”
A toast? Today was indeed a worthy day for that. For the first time in my life, I treated the haughty Simon Britton like a fool. And I couldn’t be more pleased that I didn’t give in to Simon’s tricks!
“Sure.”
As I replied affirmatively, Ethan’s lips curled up into a mischievous smile. I glanced affectionately at his busy figure as he quickly began preparing the meal, tying on an apron.
Perhaps feeling my gaze, he turned around with a charming smile.
“Isabella, why don’t you rest in the bedroom until the meal is ready?”
“Is there anything I can help with? I’m always sorry for being a burden.”
I thought I could easily handle tasks like peeling potatoes, albeit clumsily.
Then, Ethan leisurely nodded and opened his mouth.
“No need for that. You need rest right now. I can handle preparing the meal alone, so don’t worry.”
Lost for words at his firm refusal, it seemed more like he was setting boundaries rather than worrying about my physical condition.
So, am I supposed to spend the whole day idly playing around? This way, he’s no different from the parrot he keeps.
“A simple thank you is enough to show your appreciation.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
I responded as politely as a well-trained parrot, and his lips curved up in satisfaction.
“It’s okay if it suits your taste.”
Fresh ingredients transformed by Ethan’s hands had turned into a splendid dinner. The juicy meat, without any special sauce, became a delicious dish with just the right amount of grilling.
“Let’s sit down before serving.”
As I was about to carve the meat, Ethan pushed a neatly cut piece of meat towards me. It felt as if he was serving a master rather than a guest.
“Oh, I almost forgot.”
He got up and returned with a bottle of wine and a corkscrew.
As I glanced at the elegant label, he smiled and said, “I hope you’ll like it since I took my time choosing.”
After uncorking the long-sealed cork, the slightly sweet aroma of grapes poured into the tilted wine glass.
“Let’s skip the usual toasts and have a deeper conversation, shall we?”
I met his gaze and lightly clinked my wine glass. The bitter flavor spreading in my mouth was quite enjoyable.
“Not bad at all.”
In front of me sat a creature favored by the gods. I took a sip of wine, using Ethan’s eyelashes as an appetizer.
Before I knew it, the conversation had matured, and when I glanced at the wine glass, it was empty.
“Would you like another glass?”
“Perhaps it’s better to drink moderately?”
“I can have a bit more.”
The pleasantly warm heat made me want to have another glass.
As I handed him the empty wine glass, Ethan nodded reluctantly, lifting his chin as if to say it couldn’t be helped.
“Overindulging isn’t good for your health, so this will be the last.”
As I watched the swirling crimson waves, a sense of fulfillment filled the empty corner of my heart.
“…It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed drinking like this.”
How long had I been living according to others’ standards? Even at the Earl’s, I had to match my father’s pace in emptying wine glasses.
It was the same at parties. I pretended to sip champagne, but my eyes were always on Simon, mingling with other women.
“I feel so liberated.”
Lost in the sensation of freedom, he approached me unexpectedly.
“Isabella, if you don’t mind, would you like to make wine together?”
“Wine?”
“Growing grapes and making wine ourselves. We have a wine cellar downstairs.”
As he made an unexpected suggestion, I blinked my eyes, and he quietly withdrew his left hand. His delicate touch on my feverish face made me blush.
“First, we’ll plant grapevines together and wait until the delicious fruits ripen. It might be cumbersome, but it will be a very pleasant memory.”
A warm emotion, infused with the rich aroma of grapes, bubbled up from the depths of my heart.
“Sure. Just imagining it makes me excited.”
In high spirits, I slipped my fingers between his. As I leaned closer, feeling the heat rising in my cheeks, he hesitated awkwardly.
“…Isabella, you seem quite tipsy right now. It might be better to rest.”
“I’m not tipsy at all.”
“It’s even worse if you’re sober. It’s one thing to be so defenseless in exploring a man’s body, and while I’m glad you trust me, it’s better to rest for now.”
Exploring? Me? I just briefly slipped my fingers, like I did to the parrot. Besides, you were the one who touched me first.
With his suggestive words, the air became uncomfortably warm.
“…Isabella, shall we go to bed?”
