Chapter 6 – Part 20

Eli rose early in the morning and quietly descended, leaving Ruby asleep.
 
“Tell me in detail.”
 
“I believe Tyrus has told you briefly.”
 
Beside him, Gardner followed.
 
“I heard it wasn’t a typical break-in.”
 
“Yes. There were four of them in total, two heading straight for the bedroom and two scattering things around. It was probably to disguise themselves as burglars.”

Just listening to the story made it seem as if the scene was unfolding right before his eyes.
 
If he hadn’t taken precautions beforehand, Ruby could have been really in danger.
 
“Fortunately, she was sleeping in the Marquis’s mansion. It seems that they didn’t know that.”
 
“So…… you’re saying they might not have known about my mansion?”
 
“To be honest, that’s quite possible. The Marquis’s mansion remained intact even after moving Lady Ruby here.”
 
Eli paused in thought.
 
“What did you do about the intruders?”
 
“I prioritized Lady Ruby’s safety and moved her first, the rest of the team chased after, but they managed to shake off the pursuit and disappeared. They are skilled assassins. What should we do?”
 
“For now, keep an eye on the surroundings. I’ll have to take a look around when Ruby falls asleep one of these days.”
 
“Understood.”
 
With that, Eli finished looking around the mansion.
 
“Did Ruby see anything that made her uncomfortable?”
 
“No. Not that I know of.”
 
He nodded in understanding.
 
“We’ll have breakfast separately; don’t worry about it.”
 
Ruby looked like she’d be up for a bit longer, so he motioned for the knights to eat first.
 
“Ah……. I see.”
 
Catching Gardner’s expression out of the corner of her eye, Eli looked at him, one eyebrow raised.

“You seem disappointed?”
 
Eli asked, crossing his arms as if to say, “Tell me.”
 
“No, My Lord.”
 
“It’s okay, tell me.”
 
“…Recently, Lady Ruby has been preparing the meals.”
 
Gardner replied with a rueful look.
 
“Ruby?”
 
“Yes. Since coming here, we’ve been preparing meals for her, but it seems she hasn’t been… very pleased.”
 
“Oh…”
 
Eli was taken aback, he hadn’t thought of that part.
 
“She inspected the pantry and said she would cook herself. We helped and prepared our own as well.”
 
“I see.”
 
“I’m sorry. You told us to take care of your wife…….”
 
Gardner bowed quickly.
 
“Ruby wanted that. You have nothing to apologize for.”
 
“…….”
 
“But how did you like the food Ruby made?”
 
“It was delicious. Many of the knights liked her cooking.”
 
Seeing him praise her with such a large build was oddly reminiscent of a large dog being fed. He almost laughed at the thought that Ruby had tamed him with food, but stopped himself as it led to further thoughts.
 
‘What if she tamed other men? I was the only man she needed to tame.’
 
“I see. For now, you guys can eat on your own today.”
 
“Understood.”
 
Suddenly serious, Eli hurried to the room where Ruby slept.
 
* * *
 
Ruby hadn’t slept in a long time, and the sight of Eli’s face when she opened her eyes cheered her up.
 
It must not be a dream. She wanted to confirm it for no reason but stopped herself from reaching out with her fingertips as she felt she might wake him up.
 
“Why did you stop?”
 
Catching Ruby’s hand as she tried to pull away, Eli pressed her palm to his cheek.
 
“How long have you been up?”
 
“A little while ago. Did you sleep well?”
 
It was a peaceful, insignificant question, but strangely, it made her happy and content. Feeling choked up, Ruby could only nod her head without being able to answer.
 
“…What about you?”
 
“I slept deeply after a long time.”
 
Eli, too, felt relieved just having Ruby by his side, so he slept well.
 
“Let’s have breakfast.”
 
At that, Ruby sat up.
 
“What time is it now? Mealtime must have passed by now.”
 
“Everyone already ate on their own.”
 
Eli said, remembering that he had ordered Gardner to eat separately earlier.

“It seems like you’ve gotten quite close with the knights.”
 
Raising his upper body to lean against the head of the bed, Eli wrapped his arms around Ruby’s waist.
 
“…Seems like.”
 
“It’s not just ‘seems like,’ you’ve completely tamed them.”
 
The knights seemed to take a liking to Ruby. Judging by the look of disappointment on their faces when I told them they’d have to eat breakfast separately,.
 
“I can’t even leave you alone anymore out of worry.”
 
Eli jokingly muttered sincerely and bit Ruby’s finger playfully. It was his way of expressing his affection.
 
“It’s because I’m suspicious.”
 
However, Ruby said something unexpected.
 
“When I suddenly came here, Gardner said you prepared this place, but I had no way to confirm that. So, it made me let my guard down.”
 
Ruby looked at Eli and finished.
 
“If it’s not someone you hired, I could have gotten away with it.”
 
“I didn’t realize you’d think of that.”
 
Eli buried his head on Ruby’s shoulder and mumbled in remorse.
 
“Next time you do something like this, at least let me know in advance.”
 
“I will.”
 
Thinking about it, trusting strangers with swords who appeared out of nowhere wouldn’t have been easy.
 
“Next time, I’ll leave the family heirloom where you’ll be.”
 
“Where?”
 
“In the room you’ll be staying in. If this happens again, look for it in your room.”

Eli casually removed a button from his shirt and handed it to Ruby.
 
“Did anything bother you while you were there?”
 
Ruby shook her head, not taking her eyes off the button.
 
“I had everything I needed. I found things to do and did them one by one and lost track of time.”
 
“That good.”
 
It seemed like his efforts beforehand paid off.
 
“So you bought this mansion as soon as you came to Zenfield?”
 
“No.”
 
“Then?”
 
“I bought it after I got Viscount Del’s letter to you, in which he said he was sorry that he would not be able to see you this time.”
 
“I had no…… idea.”
 
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry about Viscount Del.”
 
Ruby looked at Eli as if that made no sense.
 
“It was probably Sorvan who helped you get out of Devens. You’d care if I knew that.”
 
“…….”
 
“You would have asked me to leave Sorvan alone, as he did nothing wrong. Isn’t that right?”
 
He touched Ruby’s nose lightly with his hand as she still looked at him.
 
Ruby couldn’t say anything..
 
“…So you were angry?”

Still staring at him, Ruby spoke up.
 
“What part?”
 
“Just…… everything?”
 
All of it, including the part where Sorvan helped her escape and the part where she contacted him when she shouldn’t have.
 
“There are certainly parts that were not ideal… but I understand your desire to leave.”
 
“…….”
 
“Because I’m sick of it, too, and I want to get away.”
 
Eli’s smile as he said this was somewhat self-deprecating.
 
“It’s not because I dislike you. On the contrary, I like you too much… That’s why I left.”
 
“Because you like me ……?”
 
Ruby nodded.
 
“Because you did things for me that you didn’t have to do, and it was hard to watch.”
 
“……like what?”
 
“What you did when I was in Devens.”
 
Eli looked confused for a moment, realizing that Ruby was referring to the rumors of him sleeping with another woman in the capital.
 
But Ruby continued.
 
“Ultimately, if I had given up, you would have been happy with your family. Whenever I thought of that, I thought if Lady Miles was by your side instead of me, you wouldn’t be in this situation.”
 
Eli, who had been fidgeting, frowned weakly at the mention of Lady Miles.
 
“You would be able to greet people affectionately in front of your mother and lead the atmosphere without feeling awkward… if Lady Miles was there.”
 
It was the little things that always left a scar in Ruby’s heart. Unwelcome, unable to do even those small things.
 
Afraid that her inferiority towards Arlen would be visible, Ruby couldn’t meet his gaze.
 
“Ruby, you’re mistaken about something.”
 
Eli bit Ruby’s index finger weakly.
 
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have even considered marriage. You were the only person to make me consider it.”
 
“…….”
 
“And the rumors in the capital while you were away in Devens were not true.”
 
“The rumor that you bought a mansion for a woman from the capital? Or that you spent the night in that mansion with a woman?”
 
“It’s…of it. I’m putting my heart on the line for you, and none of it is true.”
 
Eli let out a long sigh, and Ruby smiled lightly.
 
“I know none of it is true. But I just didn’t want you to torture yourself like that.”
 
She realized that Eli had put himself between her and his mother, whom he’d tried to bring down.
 
“I won’t do it anymore.”
 
Eli hugged Ruby.
 
“Okay, don’t do it. You will only hurt yourself.”
 
She said as she rubbed his back gently.
 
“There was something I wanted to tell you later, but I think I should tell you now.”
 
Eli released her arm and turned to face Ruby.
 
“I have a gift, and I think you’ll like it.”
 
“A gift?”

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