SIDE STORY – Elgagrove (Part 6)

He took her to the stables.

The stables, where the horses rested after the match, were on the west side of the field, far from the spectator area. There were over thirty stalls, and almost all were occupied. Visiting such a large stable for the first time, Evelyn curiously observed her surroundings. Bryant identified each horse and told her their names, though they all looked quite similar to her.

“This one scored the first goal. His name is ‘Black Storm.'”

“Black Storm? Do horses always get such grand names?”

Evelyn asked with a laugh. Indeed, the names of the horses he introduced were all impressive. Summer Lightning. Brave Bear. Shadow of Fury. “Shadow of Fury” sounded like a perfect title for a thriller novel.

“Grand? You saw him run earlier. It’s a perfectly fitting name.”

Bryant said, feigning seriousness. Well, he had indeed raced like a storm with this man on his back. His entire coat was pitch black. Evelyn chuckled in agreement.

“Try touching him.”

Bryant demonstrated by stroking the horse’s forehead. With his other hand, he held the bridle. Evelyn cautiously extended her hand. Feeling the stiff fur, she slowly stroked from top to bottom, calling the horse by name.

“Black Storm.”

Once she called the name, it indeed seemed a fitting one.

“You did really well today. You were amazing.”

She murmured softly as she stroked the horse. The black horse looked at her as if understanding the praise. Unlike humans, with no stray thoughts or distractions, its eyes were pure and gentle. Evelyn quietly gazed into those eyes, the smooth, shiny eyes of a herbivore.

“Your eyes are truly beautiful.”

She admired softly, turning her head. She looked up at the man as if seeking agreement. Holding the horse’s bridle with one hand, he looked down at Evelyn intently and smiled while keeping his gaze on her eyes.

There was no one else in the stable. Just over thirty horses in their stalls and the two of them. So when Bryant leaned down, Evelyn didn’t pull away. She closed her eyes willingly when his lips touched hers. Amidst the smell of horses, hay, and dry wood, she could discern his scent. She could naturally distinguish that familiar smell.

The kiss started lightly and unexpectedly deepened. It began gently and grew more passionate. At some point, their bodies were pressed close together. Evelyn felt his lips trailing down her neck and caught her breath. A tingling sensation filled the inside of her closed eyelids.

Slowly, Bryant, who had been kissing her neck, lifted his head.

“I want to touch you, but I’ll restrain myself.”

Evelyn opened her eyes and looked at him. The man, with his palms open to the air, smiled.

“My hands are dirty.”

She tried to return the smile, but there was no chance. Their lips met again, and their breaths mingled. Bryant embraced her with both arms, keeping his hands turned back to avoid touching her. It was such an awkward pose that Evelyn let out a small giggle. Through their joined lips, she felt him smiling too.

Soon, the stable fell silent. Dust from the hay floated slowly in the slanting sunlight. Freed from the eyes of others, the lovers indulged in their kiss. The gentle horses merely watched quietly.

*

The four-day banquet was more splendid than expected. The Marchioness told Evelyn that there were about 120 guests this year. It felt as if the entire Gallahad Hall had turned into a grand hotel.

As a member of the Marquis family, Bryant also played the role of host. He attended dinners and balls with Evelyn as his partner, but otherwise, he was hard to find. He must have been busy entertaining over a hundred guests. Thanks to this, Evelyn spent more time with the Marchioness and the Madame over the past three days. Being introduced to unfamiliar noblewomen and young ladies and socializing with them was quite a busy affair. Evelyn had no complaints about it. She always welcomed the opportunity to closely observe a variety of people.

The roles of the Clifton family continued until the last day of the banquet. They bid farewell to departing guests and saw off particularly important ones from the entrance. Evelyn, not being a Clifton, did not participate in this. She watched the carriages and automobiles leaving in succession from her bedroom on the second floor. As her nerves from the past few days eased, fatigue and relief washed over her. The successful completion of this grand event was thanks to the Marquis family, especially the two noblewomen, who helped her in subtle ways.

Evelyn sat on the couch, looking out at the scenery beyond the window. Monday afternoon was slowly fading away. Although this mansion, isolated from the city, had no distinction between weekends and weekdays, seeing the people working in the vineyard made her realize it was Monday.

She watched the small figures of farmers in the distant hillside vineyard as they wrapped up their day’s work. From afar, even routine labor looks as beautiful as a painting. The sight of honest life is always beautiful.

With a heart full of contentment, Evelyn picked up her pen. Still seated on the couch, she opened her notebook and began writing sentences. When no sentences came to mind, she simply listed words. The best way to capture fleeting thoughts is to write them down. Without pondering or judging, just jotting them down. It was also her favorite pastime.

She was engrossed in this activity for some time when someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

While responding, Evelyn knew it was him. So she neither stood up nor stopped what she was doing. It was only after Bryant approached and spoke that she looked up with a puzzled expression.

“Get up. Let’s go out.”

To where?

“Hurry up. There’s no time.”

Bryant, uncharacteristically urging, took off his frock coat and draped it over the couch’s backrest. Evelyn looked up at him as he loosened his silk tie, revealing a gray vest and white shirt that fit his upper body perfectly.

“Where are we going?”

Having tossed aside the tie, he unbuttoned one shirt button. Feeling more relaxed after freeing himself from the constricting attire, he looked down at her.

“To the place you’ve wanted to go the most.”

He smiled as he answered. Instantly understanding, Evelyn quickly closed her notebook.

*

The early evening air was a transparent shade of purple. A bit of sunset lingered at the edge of the western sky. Evelyn lifted her head to gaze at the crimson twilight. It had been quite bright when they left the main building of the mansion, but in the ten minutes or so they had walked, the light had noticeably faded.

Bryant walked about half a step ahead of her. With him moving a bit faster than usual, Evelyn was doing her best to keep up. The further they got from the mansion, the cooler the temperature seemed to become. The grass beneath their feet gradually grew longer. She could tell by the smell that they were nearing the lake. A faint scent of water. A large willow tree loomed ahead.

After a while, Bryant, who had been leading the way, turned to her.

“We’re here. Look over there.”

Evelyn, who had been watching her step, lifted her head. She passed the expectant face of the man and looked in the direction he pointed.

“Oh!”

And she couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

The lake was surrounded by blue darkness and white reeds. Among them, small lights floated. The flickering green lights filling the lakeside were surreal.

Fireflies. Thousands of fireflies twinkling in clusters.

“Wow…”

Evelyn was utterly captivated by the enchanting sight.

After standing dazed for a moment, she began to move slowly, cautiously approaching. She moved carefully, afraid the insects might be startled and fly away. Somewhere, the low, hoarse cry of a waterbird echoed long.

The scent of water and grass wafted from the nearby lake. The thick smell of an early summer evening. Immersed in it, Evelyn sensed the fragrance of the man standing beside her. A faint scent of narcissus. In the dusk, it mingled with his natural scent. She could naturally distinguish it.

“Do you like it?”

“It’s truly beautiful.”

“I’m glad we hurried.”

He continued in a light, laughing voice. A low voice.

“You can only see this sight in early summer, and it has to be at dusk. There are the most when everything is bluish like now. Timing is important.”

Nodding as she listened to his words, Evelyn agreed. The season when fireflies are active is short. The twilight right after sunset is even shorter. Such a fleeting moment. If you don’t pay attention and capture it, you miss it.

“It can’t be too bright or too dark. If it’s brighter than this, you can’t see the lights well, and if it gets darker, these little guys go home.”

“It’s amazing. Truly. This is like…”

Evelyn slowly took a deep breath and exhaled as if sighing.

“A fantasy.”

Thousands of lights floating in the bluish darkness. Evelyn could find no other comparison for this unreal sight. Is this really reality? Those glowing, flying insects seemed like fairies from a fairy tale.