Chapter 5 – Part 4

Ruby’s prediction was correct.

He seemed to have no understanding of how the butter-making machine worked, even though he had been doing the difficult tasks outside. Making butter directly was probably beyond his capabilities.

“I think it’s better to call someone tomorrow.”

Eli’s clothes were covered with butter stains from the machine.

“No need to trouble yourself since we’ll be calling someone. Hurry up.”

Ruby quickly helped him up, enduring his struggles throughout the repair. Eli reluctantly stood up with Ruby’s assistance. However, there was a look in his eyes that couldn’t let go of the regret for not fixing the machine.

“Hmm…… I think I’ll just have to let this run.”

As Eli got up and brushed off his clothes, Aaron, who had approached, quickly fixed it by touching various parts.

“Oh my, it’s working!”

Dominic, after turning the butter machine, exclaimed loudly in joy.

“Thank you, Aaron. Can you show Aaron out, Dominic?”

“Oh, sure.”

Dominic, who finally noticed Eli, quickly led Aaron away.

“I can fix it all by myself.”

Eli muttered quietly. His gaze was fixed on the now-functioning butter machine.

“I know.”

Ruby noticed his ears turning red and smiled slightly.

“Come this way.”

She soon took Eli’s hand and led him into the mansion.

“Have a seat here.”

After putting him on the couch, Ruby left for a moment.

“When Leton returns, I should ask for the internal mechanism of the butter machine.”

Eli muttered to himself while alone. It would have been easier if he understood how it worked.

“All the internal mechanisms of the furniture in the house…”

“No need for that.”

Ruby, who had returned, placed a box on the table and opened it.

The box contained items used for injuries.

“Why bother doing all that?”

Ruby wiped his hands with a damp towel and then applied ointment to the injuries on Eli’s hands.

“If I don’t do it, Aaron will keep doing it.”

Ruby laughed softly at Eli’s childlike words.

“Aaron does a lot of things related to making things, so he knows well about new things. He’s said to be skilled in craftsmanship in Zenfield.”

That explained a lot.

Eli felt a hint of resentment.

“You did well.”

“But I couldn’t fix it in the end.”

“You tried. Today was your first class, and you even taught the kids.”

“…”

“Even if Aaron had done it, he might have tried various things just like you did. Aaron just seems to have fixed it all at once because you’ve touched it around. So you can’t even say you don’t have credit for it.”

Ruby gently blew on the ointment to help it absorb better.

“Even though I couldn’t fix it?”

“Thank you for trying.”

“…”

“But don’t take the lead in the future.”

Ruby wrapped a handkerchief around the injuries to secure the ointment.

“Because I couldn’t fix it…”

“If it were the butter machine alone, it’s fine, but attempting to fix dangerous things may end up with injuries. Do you know how surprised I was when you turned it with your hand still inside earlier?”

At the rare expression of concern, Eli’s lips curved slightly.

“Don’t try to fix things in your house without a reason. Call a technician. I’ll tell Leton, too.”

Ruby scolded him like a strict teacher. But in Eli’s eyes, it was only lovable.

“If it weren’t for you and Aaron, I would have done it myself. So, thanks for your effort. I’ll return the favor.”

Eli resisted the urge to kiss Ruby and deliberately averted his gaze.

“Can you come here?”

After tidying up the ointment, Ruby stood up and went to the window of the mansion. Gesturing for Eli to come quickly. When he approached with a puzzled expression, she pointed outside with her finger.

Outside the window, Aaron, who hadn’t left yet, was explaining something to Dominic, who nodded attentively. While Dominic touched the items, Aaron’s gaze was fixed not on the objects but on her.

“It was Dominic?”

Eli quickly understood Aaron’s feelings.

Ruby wasn’t convinced from the start, either.

He came to learn etiquette for the person he liked, and he only talked about that person, and when Dominic entered the room during the lesson, he stiffened and made mistakes repeatedly. It was evident that he was captivated by her, not the subject matter.

“You got it? I’m not the one who Aaron likes. You sometimes overestimate me.”

Looking back, Dominic seemed to have often teased Ruby when talking about the person she liked.

“Well, maybe this time. But don’t underestimate yourself too much.”

This time, Eli’s misunderstanding was correct, but it didn’t mean that all the events until now were solely due to his misconceptions.

“That’s what went wrong.”

As she spoke, Eli looked at Ruby, who still didn’t take her eyes off the window.

Suddenly, Ruby, feeling something strange in Eli’s silence, turned around and found him looking at her.

“I grew up seeing beautiful things, but you’re so beautiful that they’re nothing compared to you.”

“…”

“It’s natural for others to see it that way too.”

If someone else had said it, it might have been uncomfortable, but coming from him, it didn’t feel that way. His straightforward confession and affectionate gaze made her face flush.

“I-I don’t think anyone sees me that way.”

With warm cheeks, Ruby touched the box and brought it over.

“You don’t know how much I burn inside.”

Watching her shyly, he sighed deeply without admitting it until the end.

***
“So… you’re asking me to make it according to this drawing, right?”

“Yes.”

As Eli answered, he looked around Aaron’s workspace. Various types of wood and equipment that seemed to be used for woodworking were scattered everywhere.

“But if you make it like this, you can get hurt because it’s pointed.”

“That’s why I’m making it like that.”

Eli answered in a tone as if asking why he would question the obvious. However, his expression showed curiosity about why he wanted to do something risky.

“For security purposes,”

Eli added an explanation to Aaron, who seemed not to understand.

“Oh, I see. It might take some time to work on it. I’ll bring it to you when it’s done.”

Thinking that it wouldn’t be quickly made because it would be a fence around Ruby’s mansion, Eli nodded lightly, indicating his understanding.

“I’m counting on you to make it sturdy.”

With that request, Eli took his leave.

Aaron thought he would leave immediately, but unexpectedly, he was looking at the sculpture he had made.

“Did you make it yourself?”

“Yes.”

He had personally made and painted it. Aaron stood next to Eli.

“It’s a bird living in this area. It’s a tradition to give it as a gift to newlyweds, meaning they will live well for a lifetime.”

Knowing that Aaron liked Dominic, Eli looked at him as if asking if he was a newlywed.

“I make and sell them. There’s no one else around here who makes these kinds of things.”

Aaron, realizing Eli’s gaze, shook his head while clapping his hands.

Other items that seemed to have been made by him were also placed in one corner. Eli thought that his craftsmanship was not bad when he saw them.

“I want to buy this too.”

“This? Well…”

About to say that newlyweds usually bought it, Aaron began wrapping it up.

“I’ll see you later.”

Eli, who received the wrapped item, left the workshop.

He was impressive even in Ruby’s mansion, but from the outside, he looked even more striking.

Aaron absentmindedly looked at his clothes and workshop. Then he happened to see himself in the mirror displayed on one side. He tried to make his hair look like Eli’s, even though it felt completely different, but gave up soon.

“Aaron, who was that person who just left?”

“I’ve never seen him before.”

Aaron, surprised by the sudden entrance of the surrounding merchants, quickly pretended not to see the mirror.

“What did he ask you to make? Did he just move here?”

“I don’t know who he is. I saw him at Ruby’s house.”

Suddenly focused stares made Aaron lightly shake his head, trying to restore his original appearance.

“Ruby? So, were you acquainted with him before coming here? He looks like a noble no matter how you look at him…”

Laura muttered.

“Yeah. He’s from a different class. It’s pretty noticeable.”

It felt similar to when Ruby first came here.

The difference was that Ruby tried her best to hide it, but the new man didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding it.

“Maybe he didn’t just happen to move here. Perhaps he followed Ruby, unable to forget her.”