Chapter 6 – Part 6

The carriage carrying Ruby and Eli came to a stop with a jolt.
 
“What?”
 
The coachman’s panicked voice followed.
 
“Again?”
 
Eli stepped out of the carriage with Ruby. One of the carriage wheels was stuck in the mud.
 
“It’s been raining for a few days, and there must be a lot of mud.”
 
As the coachman quickly pulled the wheel out, Eli looked at the road he had been on and the road he had to travel.
 
“Ruby, why don’t we call it a day and turn back?”
 
“I think that would be better.”
 
It wasn’t the first time today that the mud had caught up with them. 
 
It had happened so many times that it was clear that today was not a good day for an outing.
 
While Eli contemplated a safe way back to the coachman, Ruby looked wistfully at the sky.
 
It had been raining in Zenfield since the day after they had seen the land where the new mansion would be built.
 
After only a few days of clear skies, the two went on an unplanned outing. It ended up being a short outing.
 
“Are you disappointed?”
 
“I guess it was nice to see some sunshine after all this time.”
 
“Maybe another time.”
 
Eli said, wrapping his arm around Ruby’s shoulders in a reassuring gesture.
 
Before they realized it, the hems of Ruby’s dress and the ends of Eli’s pants were dirtied by mud. It was clear they had struggled with mud even during the outing.
 
With that, they climbed back into the carriage.
 
* * *
 
“Are you okay?”
 
Eli placed a cold towel on Ruby’s injured foot.
 
“I think so. It’s just a slight burn from the tea. But what about the shattered teapot?”
 
“We can buy another one. Think about yourself.”
 
“Did you see the doctor’s expression earlier?”
 
“What was it like?”
 
“It seemed like he was scolding us for calling him for such a trivial matter.”
 
“That’s his duty, as a doctor.”
 
Eli muttered under his breath.
 
Eventually giving up on the outing, Eli and Ruby returned, changed out of their dirty clothes, and tried to have tea outside.
 
They set up the outdoor table and chairs that Aaron had built for them, and Ruby brought out the kettle for tea.
 
But as she grabbed the kettle to pour the tea into the mugs, her hand slipped. It happened so fast. Eli quickly pulled Ruby away, saving her from a serious burn, but not from the hot tea that splashed out of the shattered teapot and onto Ruby’s socks.
 
Ruby’s socks were fine with a cold towel, but Eli sent the coachman to fetch the doctor.
 
The doctor who rushed to the urgent call looked bewildered when he saw Ruby’s wound, but after seeing Eli’s serious expression and sincerely applying ointment to her face, he left.
 
“We need to get a good doctor to come to Zenfield.”
 
“Do you think anyone will come?”
 
“We can pay him generously.”
 
Ruby didn’t argue this time, because having a good doctor here would be good for everyone else.
 
However, she couldn’t help but feel that nothing good happened today.
 
And that evening, as if to prove her point, a letter arrived in Eli’s mailbox.
 
“A letter has arrived for Damon. The madam asks you to come to Shuban.”
 
Eli realized it was time to get things in order.
 
That meant he’d have to leave the mansion for a while, and it also meant he wouldn’t be able to see Ruby during that time.
 
“Okay. Call the head of the security team here.”
 
His mind was eased only when he was assured that Ruby’s safety would be his top priority while he was gone.
 
* * *
 
“When did you wake up?”
 
It was one of Ruby’s happiest moments to open her eyes and see Eli.
 
“Just now.”
 
“You’re lying.”
 
Ruby smiled weakly as she snuggled into him, even in her half-awake state.
 
Eli gazed lovingly at her as she hugged him, unable to smile back in his usual grumpy way. He just held Ruby tightly.
 
“What’s wrong?”
 
Ruby lifted her head slightly from his embrace and asked.
 
“…… Why?”
 
“You don’t look okay.”
 
Ruby brushed her hand over the corners of his eyes.
 
“Is something really wrong?”
 
Normally, Eli reassured her that everything would be fine, but Ruby sensed something strange in his silence.
 
“I have to go somewhere for a while.”
 
Eli barely managed to get the words out that he didn’t want to say.
 
“I won’t be able to come back to the mansion until the matter is resolved.”
 
Eli laid his hand over Ruby’s.
 
“It might take longer than you think, but one thing’s for sure: this will be the last time I leave your side.”
 
“Will… you come back?”
 
Ruby asked as she listened to him.
 
“Of course. The only place for me is by your side. As long as you don’t leave me, nothing will ever change.”
 
His lips against her forehead felt like the pledge of an oath found in a sacred ceremony.
 
She hugged him wordlessly.
“I hope you feel better.”
 
He hadn’t told her what he was going for, but she seemed to know already.
 
“I know it’s not much help, but I’m on your side.”
 
“……Yes.”
 
Eli buried his head on Ruby’s shoulder.
 
His resolve, having gained her as his most reliable ally, solidified even further.
 
* * *
 
“And brother?”
 
When they finished breakfast and Eli mentioned that they would be returning, Emily thought it was time to say goodbye.
 
But when he said Eli was coming with her, Emily was surprised.
 
“I’ll be back soon. Just pack what’s necessary. Leave behind anything heavy; we can just buy new ones.”
 
“Okay.”
 
If Emily followed her brother’s advice, there wouldn’t be much for her to pack. She hadn’t brought many things here in the first place.
 
As soon as Emily was done packing, it was time to go.
 
Before climbing into the carriage, Eli said to Ruby.
 
“I’ll be right back.”
 
Ruby weakly nodded, meeting his gaze. She tried to smile as if everything was okay, but she couldn’t hide the sadness behind her smile.
 
Eli couldn’t do anything about it because he was the one who had made her look like that. Except kiss her cheek before turning away.
 
“You and Leton take care, and I’ll say hello to Ms. Palman for you.”
 
“Thank you.”
 
With Emily’s greeting and Leton’s bow, the carriage carrying the three set off.
 
“Come in, my lady.”
 
Dominic, who had accompanied them, put a comforting hand on Ruby’s shoulder as she watched the carriage until it was out of sight.
 
“……Yes. Let’s go in.”
 
Ruby’s gaze remained fixed on the direction the carriage had gone until the moment she turned back to the mansion.
 
* * *
 
“This is the dowry for Lady Eve’s marriage.”
 
Eli and Leton’s business was not over, even though they were staying at an inn on the road to Shuban.
 
“Did the Earl of Ron say anything?”
 
“Yes. They seem rather eager to hasten the marriage.”
 
“That’s good. Let’s talk to the Earl of Ron so that Eve can prepare for the wedding the way she wants. We’ll support her with whatever she needs.”
 
Emily ate her meal as she watched Eli and Leton.
 
The two men didn’t seem to pay much attention to Emily.
 
“Emily.”
 
They had finished talking about Eve’s marriage.
 
“Yes?”
 
“When we get to Shuban, we’re having a meeting with all the vassals.”
 
Eli explained it to Emily. Technically, it was more of an emergency meeting, but he didn’t bother to explain that part.
 
“You’ll be there, too.”
 
“Me?”
 
Emily asked, mildly surprised, having never been involved in the family business before.
 
“Yep. You’ll hear a lot of things there, some you’ve never heard before, some you don’t want to believe, but you can’t stay in the dark…….”
 
“Is ……Eve coming?
 
Eli shook his head.
 
“She’s soon to be married to the Earl. We told her to focus on that, and she agreed.”
 
Emily quickly understood.
 
After her marriage, she would be Eve Ron, not Eve Grit. She didn’t need to know about the complicated family business.
 
“Brother, I believe you will do well.”
 
“……Yes.”
 
The way he looked at her spoke volumes, so she nodded cautiously.
 
Her eyes met his, and she cautiously nodded her head. Eli smiled wryly, patting Emily’s head encouragingly.
 
Eli and Leton were talking again, passing papers back and forth.
 
Emily couldn’t understand much of what they were saying, but by listening, she got a general idea of the situation her brother and she were about to face.
 
Afterward, there would be significant changes for Eli, for her, and even for the Grit Manor.
 
* * *
 
The carriage traveled for several days and entered Shuban.
 
When the carriage arrived at Grit Manor, Eli could see the people waiting for him.
 
Marie was there, with Arlen beside her. At that moment, Eli’s eyes narrowed of their own accord.
 
“It’s been a while.”