Chapter 5 – Part 9

As the familiar village scenery came into view, Palman felt both relieved and anxious. So, as soon as she arrived in Zenfield, she decided to visit Ruby.

Contrary to hoping for nothing to happen, the closer she got to Ruby’s house, the more anxious she became.

When she reached Zenfield and saw Ruby’s mansion, it looked different from her memories. No, it was a mess.

Moreover, as Palman quietly approached Ruby’s mansion, she could hear a man’s voice. Not one, but maybe two people.

Palman recalled the man Laura had mentioned, who had come from the capital to see Ruby. Together with Gloria’s words, anxiety reached its peak.

“Teacher!”

Feeling guilty and responsible for everything that happened, Palman urgently knocked on the door.

“Teacher! What’s going on? Teach…”

The door suddenly creaked open. There stood a man.

The man was handsome. It was doubtful that he had the kind of face that would make any woman fall in love with him, as Laura had described in her letter, but it was the kind of face that Laura, born and growing up in Zenfield, would have thought so.

Palman would have thought so, too, if she hadn’t been to the capital.

“Who are you?”

“Where’s teacher Ruby?”

With caution, Palman took a step back, eyeing the unfamiliar man. She had considered finding Ruby by entering the mansion, but pushing through a well-built man seemed difficult.

“What are you looking for?”

Moreover, the man seemed uninterested. He showed no intention of providing information about Ruby.

Palman remained silent, stepping back and then sprinting towards the backyard.

“Hey, where are you going?”

Despite the man calling out to him, Palman paid no attention. Fearful of being caught by the unknown man, she ran with all her might.

“What…”

As Palman reached the backyard, she saw a familiar face—Dominic.

“Dominic!”

Upon spotting Dominic, Palman immediately embraced her.

“Palman!”

“Are you okay?”

“Huh?”

Confused by Palman’s sudden appearance, Dominic alternately looked between Palman and the leisurely approaching Leton.

Palman, still embracing Dominic, turned her head to glare at Leton.

“I asked her who she was, and she didn’t answer, and then she just ran into the yard.

In a situation he didn’t quite understand, Leton shrugged and explained.

“What’s your name?”

He asked Palman again, wearing a slightly more imposing expression than before.

“Oh, um, I’m a student Lady Ruby used to teach. I came back from the capital because I got a letter from Mother, and I was worried…”

“Why is it so noisy?”

Another man’s voice intervened.

“That’s because a student Lady Ruby used to teach came.”

“So?”

“There seemed to be a misunderstanding.”

Palman looked at the new man. Then her eyes widened in surprise.

He was the kind of handsome man you don’t often see in Zenfield. Even in the capital, he was the kind of man who would be the center of attention, like a high nobleman.

Like the Marquis of Grit, who had shocked Palman into thinking, How could a man look like that?

Like the Marquis of Grit?

Palman loosened her arm around Dominic and looked at the handsome man.

“Marquis of ……Grit……?”

Palman muttered under her breath.

He was definitely the Marquis Grit she’d seen in the capital. His appearance was so shocking that it stuck in her mind.

In Palman’s muttered words, everyone, including Leton, Dominic, and even Eli, stiffened.

“……Who is that?”

Eli asked, wary at the sound of a voice he didn’t recognize but knew instantly.

“How did you get here?”

“What’s going on, everyone?”

It was Ruby’s voice, coming out to find people who hadn’t come when she waited.

“Teacher!”

Palman hugged Ruby as soon as she saw her.

“Palman?”

“Teacher, are you okay? Is there something wrong?”

“Huh? Well, I’m fine. When did you come?”

“Teacher…”

Once Palman confirmed that Ruby was okay, her tension eased.

“It was a long way back.”

Unaware of what was going on, Ruby patted Palman on the back, assuming she was tired from the long trip. Her eyes flickered between Eli, Leton, and Dominic. Mouths opened to ask what was going on, but none of the stunned trio could think of an explanation.

***

“You came out of nowhere; does Laura know?”

Ruby asked as she moved into the parlor and set a cup of hot tea in front of Palman.

Palman, who had stopped here as soon as she arrived, shook her head.

“I was worried about you, Teacher Ruby, so I rushed here and forget to inform her.”

“Teacher?”

As Ruby scratched her head in confusion, Palman glanced over at Eli, who was sitting on the couch in the parlor.

“You must be the Marquis of Grit, right?”

Palman blurted out in surprise, not expecting her to recognize him at once. Turning her head to look at Eli, she shrugged her shoulders in confusion.

“Why are you here?”

She wondered why a nobleman who was supposed to be in the capital was here, in Ms. Ruby’s mansion.

“Palman, well…”

“How do you know me?”

Interrupting Ruby’s attempt to explain, Eli asked. Eli judged that he needed an explanation of how Palman knew him.

“I saw you at the party.”

“Party? Do you mean the party at my mansion?”

Palman nodded her head.

It was the only party he had attended recently. He thought it was a strange coincidence.

“Did you come to catch my teacher? What did my teacher do wrong?”

Palman asked, not avoiding Eli’s gaze.

“Don’t take her away. It’s my fault. The teacher warned me to be careful, but because I wanted to take the letter, I…”

Palman felt like everything was her fault, and tears welled up.

“Palman.”

She wasn’t sure what the letter was about, but Ruby did her best to comfort Palman.

“Letter?”

Eli muttered. The letter that came to mind when he heard the word was Emily.

Come to think of it, Emily said that the letter she received came from a new friend. The new friend said they came from Zenfield, and they learned etiquette from Ruby.

Eli finally grasped the situation.

“Palman.”

Eli muttered Palman’s name. Although Palman was startled by the sudden call,.

“Palman, you’re friends with Emily Grit, right?”

The wary look in his eyes disappeared from Eli’s face, replaced by an absurd laugh.

“I don’t know if we’re friends, but…… it was Lady Grit who took the letter from me.”

Palman muttered bluntly.

Ah, it wasn’t given, but taken.

Eli seemed to vaguely understand why Palman was anxious.

When Ruby looked at Eli for an explanation, he gave a small sigh.

“I found out you were here when Emily brought me a letter in your handwriting. Eve and Emily had a debutante party, and a friend of theirs had your letter, but there must have been a misunderstanding somewhere along the way.”

When Eli saw the letter, he came right here.

Ruby gave a small nod, remembering Eli’s frantic arrival on horseback.

“Palman, I’m okay.”

“Really?”

But Palman thought the conversation between Lord Grit and her teacher was too affectionate.

“Yeah. You must have misunderstood because I warned you to be careful.”

Ruby expressed her apologies.

“Is that why you came back early—because you’re worried about me or because you’re sorry?”

“No, it’s okay.”

It didn’t matter anyway, as she wanted to come back home.

“Well, that’s good. Did you do well at the party? Did you have fun?”

“Yes. It was fascinating and enjoyable. I even went to the palace. Gloria said it was her first time going, and I was lucky.”

Once she realized that Ruby was okay and out of danger, Palman excitedly told her about the party.

“My first party was Lady Grit’s debut party. Gloria envied me a lot, saying I was incredibly lucky. Lady Grit even told me that we debuted on the same day.”

“Really? I haven’t experienced that.”

“Is that so?”

Palman blushed slightly.

“But the relationship between you two…”

Palman, who was focused on Ruby while talking excitedly, asked again.

“Ah…”

Ruby looked at Eli as if she needed to explain.

“Do whatever you want. I don’t mind.”

Come to think of it, the Marquis of Grit had been calling her by an unfamiliar name earlier.

“Please don’t tell anyone what I am about to say now. Not even to Laura. Can you keep it a secret?”

Palman hesitated for a moment. Curious as she was, she wondered if she could keep the secret.

“Yes.”

Palman nodded cautiously. Curiosity prevailed.

“That person, Eli, is my husband. I’m temporarily away due to some circumstances.”

“So, the teacher is saying that she’s married to Lord Grit?”

Palman asked again to make sure she understood correctly. Ruby nodded.

“If you are Lord Grit’s wife, then you are Lady Grit?”

“Yes.”

Ruby nodded cautiously.

Palman looked at Ruby, who was worriedly looking at her, and then her gaze shifted to Lord Grit.

From what she’d heard so many times at parties, the rumored Marchioness was supposed to be the kind of noblewoman every noblewoman hated, greedy but unable to fulfill her duties.

But the “Ruby,” whom Palman knew, was the complete opposite, always sweet and warm.

Palman’s gaze shifted to the Marquis of Grit this time.

She wondered who could be the wife of such a handsome man, and it turned out to be Ms. Ruby, and Ms. Ruby is actually Marchioness Grit.

When it was all sorted out, Palman felt a little awkward.

“Can you keep this a secret? “

“Yes.”

Though a bit dazed, she was relieved that her teacher wasn’t in danger.

“But, Teacher.”