~Chapter 22~
“Um… Lady Eileen, do you need anything?”
“Lord Cedric is still in the training ground. Should I go get him for you?”
“Should we buy that snack we saw the other day for her?”
“Idiot. You think someone as noble as her would eat what you like?”
As always, the knights were nervous around Eileen.
Even when she stood silently in a corner of the training grounds just watching, they felt pressured and uneasy.
Sometimes, they were so uncomfortable they’d try to lead her away, claiming it was too dangerous—even when it clearly wasn’t.
And even though she tried to keep her distance, they still acted like she was some higher-ranking noble, even above Cedric.
“I’m fine. I don’t want to disturb the knights.”
Someone nearby spoke loudly enough for Eileen to hear — not sure if it was praise or amazement:
“She’s so elegant and soft-spoken… of course, she’s the most beautiful and noble lady wherever she goes.”
Mary grinned proudly and leaned in to whisper,
“See? It feels good, right? You should act proud once in a while, my lady.”
Eileen just gave a short smile.
But then she noticed Mary looking at her quietly.
“What are you thinking?”
“People see you as a cold and distant noble lady… but I think you’re the kindest and softest person I’ve ever known.”
“I’m not, Mary.”
“If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have forgiven me for trying to steal your bracelet… or taken me in as your maid.”
At first, Mary had been terrified of the pale hand that stopped her from stealing and those calm green eyes.
But Eileen hadn’t called the guards. She didn’t yell or shame her.
She simply looked at Mary’s ragged appearance and asked her one question:
‘Do you want to come with me?’
Mary would never forget that moment.
Even after that, Eileen never brought it up again. Eventually, Mary had to ask her herself.
‘Why didn’t you hand me over to the guards? Why didn’t you get angry?’
‘I saw you standing near the bread stand, holding your little sister’s hand tightly.’
Eileen never asked where Mary came from or what her past was. She didn’t pry or shame her for her situation.
She just made sure Mary got paid enough to support her sister.
That’s how Mary’s loyalty to Eileen kept growing, little by little.
“Sometimes, I wish you were selfish. Like people think—cold and indifferent.”
Mary knew people whispered that Eileen was heartless because she didn’t cry much after her parents and grandmother died.
But Mary had seen her crying under the blanket—crying so hard.
Even if Eileen believed, no one had noticed, Mary knew.
“I am selfish. I’m using Cedric for my own situation.”
“The only person who would call that ‘using’ is you, my lady.”
Mary truly hoped that Eileen and Cedric would grow closer. Eileen needed someone to lean on.
More than she realized or admitted.
“It’s okay to depend on him. Really.”
“…You think so?”
With her chin resting in her hand, Eileen looked off into the distance, looking lonely.
“Let’s go back now.”
“Oh… okay!”
Before Mary could come up with something to cheer her up, Eileen brushed off her dress and stood up first.
***
Winter was a quiet season—even for high society.
The party held by the Duke’s household earlier in the season had been a rare event.
After autumn, most nobles either went south to warmer places or stayed home with their families.
This time of year was for resting, waiting for spring’s busy social events to return.
Thank goodness it’s quiet. No one’s asking questions.
That meant Eileen could stay quietly in the Duke’s mansion without being questioned.
No one would wonder if something had happened to make her hide away.
‘Though by spring… people will definitely talk about why I left the Cassier house. But they’ll get distracted by something else soon enough.’
She had clearly picked up Cedric’s way of thinking. Normally, she would’ve been planning what to do in spring. But now… she didn’t want to bother; she just felt like letting things be.
“Eileen.”
The very person she had been thinking about appeared, and of course, he frowned the moment he saw her.
“Why are you dressed so lightly in this cold?”
“Says the guy who doesn’t even wear his shirt properly.”
He’d walked in with his shirt barely hanging on—and yet he was the one scolding her.
“I’m tough.”
“You’ll catch a cold like that. Don’t underestimate the capital’s winter.”
As always, Cedric argued back, refusing to lose.
“You and I are different. If I stay inside too long, I actually get sick. I feel suffocated.”
He was the kind who couldn’t leave his sword alone for even half a day.
Now that she thought about it, he’d gone out every morning since they started living together here.
“Look—your hands are colder than mine.”
Suddenly, Cedric grabbed her hand, trying to prove he was healthier.
Surprisingly, his hand was indeed warmer than hers.
“…Are you carrying a hand warmer or something?”
“Nope. I simply have always been hot since I was a young child.
“You’re totally built for the north.”
“And you? You’d never survive in the north.”
Cedric’s words felt right in some way because of this minor difference in body temperature between them.
But before her mood could sink further, his silly comment helped lighten it again.
“If I dropped you in the middle of the north, you’d be sick all the time.”
“I’m not going there, so who cares?”
Eileen tried to pull her hand away, but Cedric didn’t let go.
“You never know.”
Their eyes met and stayed on each other for a long time.
“You said I don’t belong in the north.”
“…It’s fine. You can just sit near the fireplace so you don’t get a cold.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
This time, Eileen let out a soft laugh. Cedric smiled too.
It felt like they had just shared a rare, precious moment—something that made him wish it could last longer.
“You should laugh like that more often.”
“If I smile too much, people won’t take me seriously.”
But the moment she erased her smile, the cool, distant air around her returned.
“I don’t take you lightly.”
Cedric didn’t quite understand what he felt for Eileen, but he was sure of one thing:
He respected her deeply. She was graceful and dignified—how could he not?
“Good to know.”
“You know…”
Cedric suddenly imagined Eileen standing at the snowy castle in the north, walking gently through its quiet halls.
Would she turn and look at him if he called?
Why am I thinking about that…?
Still, now that the idea was in his head, going north with Eileen didn’t seem like such a crazy thought.
He didn’t want to leave her behind.
Sure, she could stay in the mansion. But what if someone from the Cassiar family came and caused trouble while he was gone?
That’s why…
Cedric reached a simple conclusion.
Just like when he saw her alone at the Cassiar mansion, he couldn’t bear to leave her behind again.
That’s probably why he imagined her at the northern estate.
“Hey, Eileen.”
“What?”
But as she blinked slowly and looked at him quietly, he couldn’t bring himself to ask, “Do you want to come to the north with me?”
He was usually someone who said whatever was on his mind—but not this time.
“Nah. It’s nothing.”
If he only wanted to take her because he felt responsible, there were other ways to help.
And he wasn’t sure if Eileen would even want to go north.
So he couldn’t bring himself to say it—at least, not yet.
