Chapter 5 – Part 10

“But, Teacher.”

Ruby looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Why is the garden in such a mess?”

One of the reasons Palman misunderstood was because of the chaotic garden, as if someone had destroyed it.

“Ah, that. We’re planning to install a new fence.”

“But it looks like you’re destroying it rather than installing a new one.”

Palman was genuinely curious.

Ruby suddenly burst into laughter.

“It may look like it, but it’s not. Palman, would you like some more pie? Dominic must have baked some.”

Ruby stood up to bring pie along with tea.

Lord Grit, following Ruby, was dressed in completely different casual clothes than the ones he wore at the party.

“Originally, if you’re installing a new fence, you have to break the existing one, right?”

“But you’re not supposed to break it so recklessly.”

Their conversation continued as they left the parlor, and judging by the dirt on Marquis Grit’s clothes, he was the one who had made the garden look like that.

It made sense to her to say that the garden was a mess. It was the sloppy work of someone who had never done it before.

“Aaron will be here soon. Don’t overdo it.”

“I can handle this much.”

“I know. But you might get hurt, so let someone more skilled do it.”

The two chatted lightly while bringing the pie.

“If I get hurt, you can just apply the ointment like last time.”

Ruby lightly hit Eli’s arm in response to Eli’s words.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to hurt yourself on purpose, because then I won’t do it for you.”

“I like it when you do it. I won’t get hurt on purpose.”

Ruby’s casual and unconstrained behavior towards Lord Grit truly looked like that of a wife. It was a surprising sight for Palman.

The first time she’d seen him at the debut party, Marquis Grit had seemed arrogant and bored the entire time.

But now, with Ms. Ruby in front of him, he was no longer the man who lorded it over the nobles at the ball.

He was just a man who liked one woman too much.

“Shall I bring more tea?”

Dominic, who followed Ruby and Eli, had a tray with warm tea.

She didn’t seem to mind, as if their bickering was part of their daily routine.

Soon, Leton and Dominic also settled in the reception room, and they all had tea time together.

Palman finally got to experience the tea time that she couldn’t have with Lady Grit.

***

“I’m pretty sure he’s got his nose pierced.”

Laura spoke angrily.

“And he’s got more than a face. You’ve got a family, and you want a governess. And to think he’d come all the way out here to the countryside to pursue someone who’d run away from him, and what about his own family?”

Laura’s conclusion was that Lord Grit was guilty.

“It’s not like that.”

Palman, who couldn’t explain all the known facts, tried to stop Laura.

It seemed understandable that Ruby wouldn’t explain everything, considering the complexity of the situation. If Palman didn’t know the rumors from the capital, it would have been difficult for her to understand.

“Are you sure he’s not?”

“Yeah, really not. There is no other family or woman, just a faithful husband.”

Palman summarized briefly.

“Is that so? But why did he come here alone in the first place?”

Laura still had lingering doubts as she looked at the two.

“He probably has complicated reasons.”

Considering the information she had heard in the capital, Palman thought.

Recalling the conversations among nobles in the capital, it seemed that issues related to their relationships were more of a concern than the feelings of the two people. For example, the gap in social status, the relationship between Lord Grit’s wife and Lady Mile, and the like.

Meanwhile, Lord Grit himself was diligently following Ruby as she went shopping. He consistently had eyes only for Ruby. His gaze, filled with all the splendors of the capital, looked much happier than when surrounded by many people. Watching Ruby pick and choose items, his gaze was charming as he lightly smiled.

The situation was completely different from the stories circulating about divorce and escapes among the nobility.

“So, that’s how a man in love looks.”

Palman muttered in awe. In this place, there were only men who found happiness in seemingly trivial things.

“How can you misunderstand just by looking at that?”

Palman realized that the stories she had heard were all meaningless. The splendor and beauty of the place might not bring happiness to everyone.

“So, how was the capital?”

“There were a lot of things to see. A lot.”

Palman continued speaking while still keeping her eyes fixed on Eli and Ruby.

“And?”

“I enjoyed delicious food and danced a lot.”

“And?”

“And….”

“No man confessed to you there?”

“No.”

Palman said, lowering her eyebrows. She had danced a few times, but that was it.

“You said you got compliments. You should have gotten at least one.”

“Ah! How am I supposed to attract attention when no one shows interest? I don’t know!”

“Do you have any idea how much money I spent on you?”

“I won’t go to the capital anymore, so I’ll work hard at the store!”

Looking at the casually speaking Palman, Laura felt frustrated, as if her heart was being hit.

“Don’t take a break and work!”

Laura slapped Palman’s arm and shook the duster nervously.

“Ouch…”

Palman rubbed the arm she was hit on.

“Are you here to help?”

Ruby and Eli had approached without them noticing. Laura only exchanged eye contact with Ruby and then sat back down. She had just vented her anger, so she needed time to cool down.

“Uh, yeah. Did you come to get some wine?”

“Yeah.”

Ruby answered, looking at Eli.

“Sweet wine.”

She rattled off a list of things Eli had asked Palman to get her. They were all expensive. Palman put the items Eli ordered into a box where she had arranged several wines.

“I’ll send someone to pick up the wine.”

“Yes.”

After Palman finished organizing, Eli paid Palman. The sight of him paying a large amount without any haggling was truly noble.

“Oh, Palman. Come join us for tea.”

“Yes.”

Palman answered Ruby’s invitation while glancing at Eli.

“Don’t worry about me. Ruby and Dominic seem to like you. Feel free to come and have fun whenever you want.”

Eli, sensing Palman’s discomfort, spoke.

“…Okay.”

It was technically Ruby’s house, but she felt like she’d been invited by the Marquis of Grit.

“What a perfect couple!”

Even more so than the noble lady.

Palman mumbled as she watched the two who were moving away.

“Gloria would freak out if she knew.”

The Marquis of Grit’s invitation brought that thought to mind, and Palman chuckled playfully as she organized his wine.

***

“Why did you buy so much wine?”

Ruby’s question contained not only curiosity about who would drink all this wine but also a question about how it would be consumed.

“It’s good to have some in advance.”

Eli replied as if he had bought it without much thought. Well, perhaps he found it bothersome to buy wine every time.

“Fondue…”

Ruby murmured.

“Yeah?”

Thinking about what dishes could be made with wine, the idea of making fondue together in the winter came to mind. It suddenly seemed like a good idea to enjoy fondue warmly together.

“…No, nothing.”

Ruby shook her head.

However, if she brought it up, it might imply the intention to spend the winter together, so she avoided answering.

Eli also pretended not to hear, turning his head. He was also thinking that it would be nice to have fondue together, nothing more.

When Eli and Ruby returned to the mansion, Aaron and Leton were installing a fence. The installation of a fence surrounding the entire house had been ongoing for several days.

“Thank you for your hard work, Aaron and Leton.”

“It’s my job, man.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Oh, you’re here.”

Dominic came out with drinks and snacks for Leton and Aaron, spotted Ruby and Eli, and greeted them.

“Have some of this before you continue.”

Ruby apologized, and Dominic made a coin shape with her hand. She didn’t really take the money Ruby gave her, but she pretended to.

“Hey, you two are doing the most important job.”

Given the situation, both Ruby and Eli, who lacked skills in either direction, were in charge of buying goods.

“How long do you think it will take?”

“I’ll try to do as much as I can for now.”

“Then when you’re done, we’ll have dinner together tonight, and we can take you home on a carriage ride after, right?”

Ruby looked at Eli, who was the carriage owner, as she asked.

“Let’s do that. It’s not proper etiquette to just let someone who worked hard go without anything in return.”

“Yeah, Aaron. You worked hard today.”

Once Eli agreed readily, Dominic also casually joined in.

“I suppose so.”

Aaron accepted the dinner invitation willingly.

“Here, let me carry it.”

“It’s okay.”

Dominic tried to help by carrying the light items, but Ruby shook her head, refusing, and they entered the mansion together.

“Is it really okay for us to have dinner together?”

As the two entered the mansion ahead, Aaron, holding the drinks Dominic left behind, finally asked, his throat dry. He’d gotten a sense of Eli’s temper from his first day with him.

“I have already given an answer. If Ruby is okay with it, then of course I am too.”

Since that day, when Eli realized Aaron liked Dominic, his attitude has changed, as if asking when he had been strict with him.

“Well-made and sturdy. I like it.”

Eli lightly tapped the fence that Aaron had made. Then, as if offering to help, he rolled up her sleeves.

“I’m glad you approved it; then, if you’ll just stand it up, Mr. Leton can hold it.”

Aaron skillfully directed Elai and Leton, who, even though they helped a few times, did not rush as much as in the beginning. Aaron worked on firmly connecting the fences the two were holding.

“It seems like the Marquis is getting used to things.”

“Hmm?”

Dominic gestured towards the outside, indicating that Ruby should look. The sight of the three working together could be seen through the window.

“He seems to be adapting well. Don’t you think so?”

Dominic asked, sneaking a look at Ruby’s expression.

“Really?”

“Yep. I mean, he almost hurt himself when he was fixing that butter tub.”

Ruby smiled faintly, as if remembering that time.

“I suppose so.”

That much effort from the Marquis was praiseworthy. However, Ruby’s face wasn’t pleased. Instead, it became more thoughtful.