Chapter 5.7

Wendy and Joel returned to the villa just before lunchtime.

Though the autumn sun was bright, it wasn’t entirely warm due to yesterday’s rain. Puddles were scattered on the road back, making it difficult for Wendy to walk comfortably despite her casual attire.

“Be careful, Miss Wendy.”

Joel supported Wendy.

With his escort, Wendy hopped over the puddles. Her skirt got wet and darkened, but since her shoes were already muddy from the dirt road, it didn’t matter.

“Miss Wendy, you are quite a little rascal too.”

“‘Too’? Who else is a rascal?”

“My younger sisters are no less. They roll around in the snow.”

“Oh…”

Isn’t that what people do when the snow piles up softly?

She used to roll around with Jayden. Lucas caught them and scolded them, though.

Wendy mumbled awkwardly.

“Sir Joel, are you a kind brother?”

“Well, I don’t think so. Compared to Sir Jayden, I’m far off.”

“No, the kind brother is Lucas. Jayden is just a bothersome brother.”

Wendy was firm. She was generous with compliments but stingy when it came to Jayden. Joel noticed this and chuckled briefly.

“It’s natural to be kind to someone else’s sister. Like His Grace.”

“Yes, Lucas is kind.”

“He cares a lot for you, Miss Wendy.”

Even yesterday.

He brought in Wendy, soaked from the rain, and stayed by her side, constantly checking if she was okay. Whether she was a friend’s sister or like a sister to him, it seemed a bit excessive from another man’s perspective.

What about Seira? Didn’t she misunderstand?

Probably. She showed irritation, unusual for her, towards Joel, who got soaked searching for Wendy.

“Joel?”

“Ah.”

Called back by Wendy, Joel returned from his thoughts.

“Will Seira like this?”

Wendy smiled brightly, holding up a branch. The fluttering red leaves in her hand looked like a warm, small autumn.

Joel suddenly recalled a past moment. When Seira had ridden by in a carriage and admired a snow-covered camellia, he had brought it back for her.

He had retraced the snowy path, enduring the effort and injury, for the joy it would bring Seira. But she had gotten angry, and Joel, flustered, had stood there holding the camellia branch.

“She’ll like it. It’s a gift from you, Miss Wendy.”

“Our gift.”

Despite most of the leaves falling due to yesterday’s rain, they found a tree with vibrant red leaves farther out.

When Wendy expressed her desire to show it to Seira, Joel had promptly broken off the branch she pointed at, the one with the most beautiful, intact leaves.

Will Seira be happy this time? 

He hoped so.

“Receiving a gift always feels good.”

“Right. Speaking of which, I need to buy gifts for my sisters too.”

“How many sisters do you have?”

“Two. Being girls, they have many requests from the capital, but I have no idea what they are.”

“Shall I help?”

“Really?”

“Of course. I’ll help you become a kind brother.”

“Thank you.”

Talking about their families, the two leisurely walked back to the villa.

As the silhouette of the villa came into view, Lucas, who had been watching from the bedroom balcony, also spotted the faint figures of Joel and Wendy.

Going out early in the morning and wandering for hours before returning now. It seemed she had completely forgotten about almost getting sick from the rain yesterday.

Joel, who knowingly kept Wendy out, was also at fault.

“What’s so amusing?”

Wendy walked with Joel, swinging a branch with red leaves loosely attached. Each time she laughed, the branch she held shook with red leaves.

Joel was the same. Lucas had never seen him laugh so comfortably, always being so tense.

“I told you not to leave my sight.”

The promise was made just last night, yet here she was, breaking it the next day by going out.

Though he wasn’t pleased, Lucas decided he should still go out to greet them, so he turned away from the balcony railing. It seemed that it wasn’t just the Earl Rosewood’s Household that was weak to Wendy, and Lucas couldn’t help but chuckle as he headed to the entrance.

***

“We’re back.”

Wendy greeted brightly as she entered the villa, and Lucas approached. As she tapped her wet shoes, she smiled as fresh as a leaf with raindrops.

“Lucas. Did you sleep well?”

But instead of replying, Lucas placed his hand on Wendy’s round forehead. Surprised by his sudden gesture, Wendy paused.

“……I have no fever.”

“That’s good, fortunately.”

His voice was blunt. In such cases, it usually led to scolding, so Wendy slightly hunched her shoulders.

“I asked Joel to accompany me just in case. I’d rather avoid what happened yesterday. Do I still deserve a scolding?”

“……Just rest warmly until it’s time to eat.”

“Yes.”

Luckily, that was all Lucas said.

Relieved, Wendy spotted Seira and ran over to her. Lucas’s gaze followed her to where Joel and Seira were.

Seira seemed to have come out to greet them like Lucas, but unlike him, the atmosphere between them was serious and heavy.

Sensing something amiss, Wendy stopped in her tracks. Seira, who usually had a cool demeanor, now exuded a chill.

“Let’s go up.”

Lucas gently nudged Wendy’s back.

She understood his intention to leave them alone, but even as she climbed the stairs, Wendy kept glancing back.

“Are you worried?”

“Oh, yes.”

“About whom? Lady Seira? Or Sir Joel?”

What a strange question. Wasn’t it obviously both?

Tilting her head in confusion, her innocent teal eyes looked at Lucas.

Sometimes, Lucas found Wendy’s eyes unbearable. The urge to disturb the clear, calm spring into a muddy mess was a strangely twisted feeling he struggled to suppress.

“Joel is here as Seira’s escort.”

“Yes, I know.”

“So even on this personal trip, Joel is essentially working.”

“Oh…”

She hadn’t thought that far.

Was that why Seira was angry? What if Joel got scolded for just helping me?

The branch with the vibrant red leaves drooped down. Somehow, this trip seemed to inconvenience everyone the more she wandered.

Today, she decided to stay quietly at the villa. And tomorrow, return quietly.

That seemed to be all Wendy could do, or rather, had to do.

***

“Seira.”

When Wendy visited Seira’s room, Seira was sitting in a chair, staring blankly out at the balcony.

Her expressionless blue eyes watched Wendy approach hesitantly.

“What brings you here?”

“I wanted to give you this…”

Wendy extended the maple branch. Thanks to her careful handling, the leaves were still fresh and intact.

“Why this?”

“Because the rain yesterday made all the leaves fall. I found a maple tree with pretty leaves still on it when I went for a walk earlier.”

“……”

“I wanted to show you… Since the garden mainly has cherry trees, and even those have lost their leaves, you can’t find autumn there.”

“……Thank you.”

Seira took the branch from Wendy.

The autumn leaves, she didn’t mind not seeing them. Seira wasn’t one to be moved by scenery. But she appreciated Wendy for thinking of her, and she couldn’t refuse Wendy’s sincerity. Wendy’s kindness shown in the capital had been genuine.

“Joel picked it. He wanted to show it to you too, Seira.”

“Is that so?”

Camellias, autumn leaves. These were all Joel could offer.

Unconsciously, Seira gripped the branch tightly.

“Are you upset because I took Joel without permission?”

“Huh?”

“Joel is your escort, but I took him without asking.”

“Who said that? That I’d be upset about that?”

She asked calmly, but Wendy hesitated and closed her mouth.

It was obvious. Who else but the Duke of Devon? But this innocent lady seemed to blame herself for everything.

How strange. She was quite adept in social circles, but when it came to Lucas, she was clueless. 

Was it because she trusted him too much, or…?

“Do you still like the Duke of Devon?”

“…What?”

Wendy was startled, her face reddened, and her eyes darted around.

“No, I mean, it’s true I used to, but not anymore.”

“……”

“I didn’t hide it on purpose. I just didn’t want any misunderstandings.”

She looked as if she might cry. Just as in her first impression, Wendy wasn’t someone who could deceive others.

Seeing Seira remain silent, Wendy’s shoulders drooped.

“Is it uncomfortable? I won’t see Lucas anymore.”

“So easily? You said he was like a brother.”

“I like you, Seira. I think you and Lucas are a good match.”

Please, she hoped her sincerity was conveyed.

Wendy enunciated each word clearly.

“Lucas is like a brother, so I hope he marries a good person and finds happiness.”

“Do you think I’m that good person?”

“Yes.”

Wendy nodded.

It wasn’t a lie. Her eyes, which brightened to a green when happy or joking, now appeared a deep blue.

Eyes that couldn’t lie, truly beautiful.

Seira lowered her gaze briefly to the branch of maple leaves Wendy and Joel had brought back from their walk this morning.

Just looking at it brought a flurry of thoughts, making her mind complicated.

“How did you sort it out?”

“What?”

“You said you liked the Duke for a long time, since childhood. How did you let go?”

“Oh, well, because I was rejected…”

“Rejected?”

The Duke of Devon she met in the capital wasn’t much different from what she’d heard in the North.

He was cool but gentlemanly, polite but detached. He only showed exceptions with Wendy. Kind, attentive, smiling gently, worrying about Wendy more than anyone.

Did he really see her only as a sister? 

It seemed too much for that. But seeing Wendy’s bittersweet smile, it didn’t seem like a lie.

What did Wendy feel, being next to him, and how did she view herself in the future?

“Feelings aren’t something you can easily sort out. How did you give up?”

“Rather than giving up, it’s like burying them. Like covering them with soil.”

Wendy gave an awkward, faint smile. It wasn’t a smile of joy but one of uncertainty.

“Keep covering them until it looks like there’s nothing there, so deep it’s hard to dig up again. When the soil is piled high, you can plant new seeds. It’s similar to that.”

“But what if covering them makes your heart heavier?”

Seira’s expression mirrored Wendy’s as she asked back.

But soon, Seira lifted the branch lightly, showing her usual quiet smile.

“Thank you, Wendy. Thanks to you, I got to see a bit of autumn.”

“It was with Joel.”

“…I’ll thank Joel separately.”

Though the mood seemed resolved, Seira’s smile was somehow wistful. Unable to say more, Wendy bid her a good night and left.

Somehow, she felt Seira needed to be alone.

***

That evening, Seira visited Lucas a bit late.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

Lucas was surprised but let Seira in. Her visit at this hour meant she had something important to say.

“Tea?”

“No, I’m fine. It’s not a long conversation.”

“Have a seat.”

Seira sat in the chair Lucas offered. Her movements were calm and graceful, barely making a sound.

Maintaining a proper posture, she waited for Lucas to sit across from her before speaking.

“What would you do if I said I was uncomfortable with your closeness to Wendy?”

Lucas slowly raised his head to look at Seira. His expression was blank, but the cool atmosphere clearly conveyed his displeasure with her words.

“There’s a big difference between a sister and someone like a sister. A sister is already family, but someone like a sister can become family.”

“It’s unnecessary worry.”

“Even if you think so, those watching don’t see it that way.”

Seira met Lucas’s eyes directly, clearly conveying her message.

“You should maintain your friendship with Sir Jayden. I won’t interfere in that. It’s not my place.”

If Lucas were to make excuses, he’d likely mention the connection with the Earl Rosewood’s Household, especially his colleague and friend Jayden.

So Seira preempted him.

“Wendy said she wouldn’t meet you if it bothers me.”

Since Seira brought up Lucas, Wendy had been quiet. Thanks to that, the time spent at the villa flowed quietly, not much different from life in the capital, except for leaving the capital.

Seira knew Wendy did it out of consideration for them. Hence, Seira wanted to be clear as well.

It had been almost a month since she arrived in the capital. During that time, Lucas hadn’t expressed a desire to refuse the marriage talks. If things continued, the marriage would proceed smoothly according to their families’ wishes, so Seira needed to know his intentions clearly.

Lucas, who had remained coldly silent, finally spoke. With a slightly crooked smile.

“Did you tell Wendy too?”

“I spoke in a different direction. Wendy was the one who first said she wouldn’t meet.”

“You didn’t make her say that?”

“If I did, would it be a problem?”

“Well, I have something I’d like to ask before I answer.”

“What is it?”

“Depending on your answer, it could be a problem or not.”

Lucas leisurely crossed his arms.

The things Seira had said so far weren’t the kind of things Lucas could afford to be relaxed about. Yet he showed no reaction, let alone an excuse. So just as the ease he displayed began to make her uneasy, Lucas spoke up.