Chapter 10 – A Clear, Summer-like Hue

“Eloise.”

“…”

Her bright blue eyes were brimming with light. Involuntarily, her breath caught in her throat.

“Miss Bailey.”

At the continued address, Eloise quickly lifted her head.

Stupidly, she thought he had called her by name. Just like he did when they were children.

‘I’ve been waiting.’

But now, that was just a meaningless past. He had long since forgotten those trivial memories of their youth. 

And she too would gradually forget them.

“Hello.”

Eloise gently bent her knees in a polite greeting. She kept her gaze lowered, not wanting to reveal the embarrassed blush that was surely coloring her face.

“What should I do? My sister and parents aren’t here right now.”

Fortunately, her voice sounded fairly calm. Now it was his turn.

‘Say you’ll come back next time. And leave. Please…….’

But unfortunately, he stood there without moving a muscle.

It was the height of a bright midsummer afternoon, but a cold silence hung between the two of them.

Eloise could not bear this situation and spoke up again.

“My sister and parents aren’t here right now…”

“I’ll wait.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said I’ll wait.”

‘Was I imagining things? He seemed a little annoyed.’

The unexpected absence of his fiancée couldn’t have been a pleasant situation, but…

Just then, the sound of a black horse tied to the garden fence snorting and stamping its hooves was heard.

It seemed he had rushed over without a carriage. The intensity of his affection was no longer surprising.

‘He must have been upset to have come all this way for nothing. He must have missed her so much.’

Though his true feelings were impossible to know since he wouldn’t say, he was acting extremely cold.

It was the opposite of how he had been with Sarah.

Eloise thought she had grown accustomed to his distant manner of treating complete strangers, but apparently not.

She bit her lip helplessly in her sorrow.

“Can I wait inside?”

Then Ansel added a word. Behind him, the radiant season was in full swing, but his voice was as cold as ice.

She had no right to refuse such a precious guest.

He must have known that too. So, it was clear that this was a demand.

Eloise absently rubbed the tip of her nose with the back of her hand.

In any case, she couldn’t keep him standing in the unsightly garden with duck feathers scattered After all, she couldn’t leave him standing in the shabby garden where goose feathers were scattered around.

“Yes, of course.”

Barely answering, Eloise hurriedly turned her body, fearing she might meet his eyes.

For a moment, she thought she heard a mocking breath.

‘No, it must be the sound of the wind.’

She needed to fix her habit of being overly conscious of anything related to him. After all, he was going to marry her sister……

Eloise swallowed a silent sigh and stepped inside. Soon, the door closed.

* * *

Eloise led Ansel to the dining table.

The old table wasn’t too shabby, thankfully, thanks to the fresh roses placed on it that morning.

Of course, if he found this old house and furnishings unpleasant, he wouldn’t have visited here so often, so it was a meaningless thought.

But Eloise felt like she had to think that way.

Being alone in the quiet house with him made her so tense she thought her head might explode…… 

“They said they’d return as soon as they found the fabric, so it shouldn’t take long.”

She spoke as if nothing was wrong, but her voice trembled unintentionally.

“They took the carriage, so it should be faster than walking.”

‘……Why did I add such a stupid remark?’

Eloise tightly gripped the faded poplin dress, her fingernails digging into her palms.

The sharp sensation jolted her loosening nerves back to tension.

But he seemed oblivious to Eloise’s voice, not even responding or turning to look at her.

He simply stared absently at the flowers on the table, not even acknowledging her.

No, Eloise couldn’t even tell if he was really looking at the flowers or had his eyes closed.

Such arrogance was astonishing.

“I’ll bring you tea right away. I’ll wake Mrs. Hearst…”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“…”

The cold refusal swallowed her unfinished words, and her face flushed in vain. Frustration welled up in her chest.

‘Why is he being so harsh to me? Now that he’s set to marry my sister, does he think I’m not worth paying attention to anymore?’

‘But you are a gentleman…’

No matter how she thought about it, his cold attitude was incomprehensible.

It was ridiculous to question it while desperately avoiding him.

Just as she reached that thought, an uneasy suspicion arose like smoke.

‘Could he have noticed the subtle emotions in my gaze?’

That was a feeling she should never have.

Not just because it was impossible to fulfill. But because he was her sister’s……

‘But if he truly noticed, Ansel would have told the whole family out of contempt.’

After all, he was the young master of a military family that valued principles and discipline.

‘Maybe he just found my stammering and inability to make eye contact pathetic. I would have felt the same.’

Whatever the case, one thing was clear.

Just because she liked him didn’t mean she was okay with being treated poorly.

She wanted to confront him directly, but she couldn’t bring herself to, so Eloise sighed lightly.

“So, you’re going to wait here? Alone, bored……”

“…….”

“…Well, do as you please.”

She turned with the intention of going upstairs, but a heavy voice suddenly stopped her.

“Play.”

‘Did I hear wrong?’

“What?”

Her light-colored eyelashes trembled slightly. The response froze her.

“I seem to have interrupted you. Why not continue?”

“Why…….”

“At least it won’t be boring.”

‘Was he just mocking me?’

Though she wasn’t as skilled as her sister, the playing and singing that had filled the drawing room before he arrived were embarrassingly poor.

“Please ask my sister when she returns.”

Feeling utterly perplexed, Eloise’s tone turned rigid as she added,

“Sorry, but I don’t intend to be a laughingstock.”

“…….”

There was no reply.

Regretting her excessive reaction, she couldn’t take back her words.

Eloise closed her eyes tightly and turned weakly.

“……Then, make yourself comfortable.”

“It seems I make you uncomfortable.”

“…….”

His words struck a nerve, freezing her legs again.

It felt like he knew everything and was toying with her, making her anxious.

‘But his voice seemed a bit shaky…….’

‘Was it a mistake? He looked completely at ease.’

His gloved hand slowly stroked the petals of the summer rose in the vase.

His jet-black hair was neatly arranged without a strand out of place.

Seeing him so relaxed, despite her efforts to hide her turmoil, made her stomach churn.

“If you know that, then stop coming. Invite my sister instead.”

“That won’t do.”

He laughed. At the same time, Eloise’s brow twitched. His laugh was close to a sneer.

“Because it’s not right to bother one’s fiancée.”

And those words sounded like he didn’t care about a woman who wasn’t his fiancée.

“Why, knowing I’m uncomfortable…….”

“To tell you this.”

“Get used to it. I have no intention of changing my mind.”

He slowly rose.

“You’ll encounter me so often it’ll feel like we live in the same house. We might actually end up living together.”

“…….”

‘What was he saying? Could it be that my parents and I would also move to Fairmont House……?’

“Isn’t that expression too much? It’s all your family’s wish.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

At that moment, Ansel turned and met her gaze.

“It’s advice that you’d better be prepared for.”

“…….”

His voice was so low it felt oppressive, making her body freeze.

Yet his gaze was so calm it no longer made her angry.

He seemed to have no interest whatsoever, except for Sarah.

His aristocratic eyes, as if saying, ‘If it weren’t for the beautiful eldest daughter, I wouldn’t even deal with someone like you.’

‘And yet, those are the eyes I once loved…’

Her head spun again. Her feelings of love and hatred were mixed.

Yet, she felt like she’d go crazy wanting to approach him and affectionately touch his cheek.

Like when they were children, if they touched noses and playfully met eyes, a ticklish laugh would burst forth.

It felt like he would return to being the Ansel Blaine she knew, as if it were all a joke.

Eloise desperately clenched her jaw, fearing everything would spill out if she opened her mouth.

Meanwhile, the man’s beautiful eyes remained cold.

Though they were the color of a clear summer, Ansel was chillingly cold.

“Eloise, there’s a horse…….”

As if by magic, the door opened, and Sarah’s voice was heard. Her surprised voice followed, as if she had just noticed Ansel.

“……Sir Ansel?”

“My goodness, Ansel!”

The house finally became lively as Mrs. Bailey’s voice, filled with blatant joy, joined in.

Ironically, it felt like salvation.

“Sit down, Ansel. Oh, Eloise! Where is Mrs. Hearst? Haven’t you served tea yet?”

At her mother’s urging, Eloise took a deep breath.

The ominous pressure that had filled the air had vanished without a trace. Eloise just wanted to rest now.

“I’ll wake her.”

The second daughter, who answered in a faint voice, soon left the place as if fleeing.