“…Claire.”

In my hazy state of mind, I heard someone calling my name.

It was a man’s pleasant low voice. I had heard it somewhere before…

“Claire?”

Hearing my name called again, I came to my senses and opened my eyes, which felt unusually heavy.

My blurry vision cleared, and I saw someone’s face right in front of me. It was Alex.

“Eek!”

Startled by Alex’s sudden proximity, I shrank back and screamed.

“Why… are you surprised?”

Alex tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand and asked me.

Only then did I remember that I was traveling to Sergal with Alex.

“It’s nothing. I just suddenly opened my eyes and your face was too close…”

I stammered my answer, and Alex nodded as if he understood.

I calmed my pounding heart as I watched him.

The truth was, I was startled by Alex’s face being so close, but more importantly, I was flustered by how ‘handsome’ his face looked up close.

I felt like the surroundings were getting warmer. Worried that Alex might notice the heat rising to my face, I struggled to change the subject.

But no particular topic came to mind. The best I could come up with was…

“…How long have I been asleep?”

The sky, which had been bright before I fell asleep, was now dark.

It felt like only a moment had passed, but it seemed a lot of time had actually gone by.

Alex took a watch out of his pocket and frowned.

“Well, it seems you’ve been asleep for about three hours.”

“Wow, I slept longer than I thought.”

It was true that I was tired from traveling by carriage, but I hadn’t expected to sleep that long, so I was surprised.

“Yes. So wake up. It’s time to eat.”

Alex, who usually had a sharp look in his eyes, smiled softly.

At this moment, he looked kind, as if he had never appeared cold.

It seemed there was a significant gap between Alex’s smiling face and his expressionless one.

“Claire?”

“Yes?”

As I didn’t respond and just stared at him, Alex called me again.

When I answered reflexively, Alex chuckled.

“Can’t you take your eyes off my handsome face?”

He smiled charmingly, as if he knew he was handsome.

Although his guess was correct, my pride wouldn’t let me admit it.

“Wow, your confidence is incredible. Isn’t it usually embarrassing to say something like that?”

I looked at him curiously, and Alex brushed it off casually.

“I hear that a lot.”

“From whom?”

“Most noble ladies.”

“Oh, I see.”

Indeed, Alex was one of the few main characters in this world, so his appearance was outstanding.

That must have drawn people’s attention wherever he went.

Many noblewomen and ladies must have swooned over him.

Some might have even told him so directly.

I nodded in understanding, and Alex frowned, seemingly dissatisfied.

“Is that all?”

“Huh? Why? Was I supposed to say more?”

“Aren’t you jealous?”

Apparently, that was what Alex was dissatisfied with.

“What’s there to be jealous about? It’s true that you’re handsome, and many noble ladies must have pined over you. Hearing that doesn’t make me jealous.”

After all, Alex and I weren’t in any special relationship.

Although I was currently following Alex to his estate, I didn’t fully trust his declaration of love for me.

What had I done to make him fall in love with me?

Love is said to come unexpectedly, but I still couldn’t understand why it had to be me.

Maybe Alex was mistaking his gratitude for what happened in the warehouse for love.

“……”

However, Alex just kept frowning at me without saying anything.

When I shrugged, Alex sighed softly. Then he smiled at me again.

“That side of you is quite…”

“Yes?”

“Nothing, never mind.”

I found his sudden mumbling odd and asked, but Alex shook his head and avoided answering.

I was curious, but it seemed he wouldn’t answer even if I pressed, so I gave up right away.

“It would be better to eat outside. Staying inside all the time can be suffocating. Since the sun has set, we might have to stay here for the night.”

After finishing his words, Alex spoke to me.

“Let’s go out.”

I was about to reach out my hand when I noticed the jacket covering me. Until I fell asleep, there had been nothing on me…

“Is this yours, Alex?”

“Yes.”

Alex confirmed it as if it were obvious.

I stared at his jacket for a moment, then tried to hand it back to him.

“Just keep it on. It’s cold now that the sun has set. It’s better to wear it.”

While I hesitated, wondering whether to retrieve the jacket I had awkwardly offered, Alex took it from me and draped it over my shoulders.

“…Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Alex replied briefly and held out his hand to me. When I placed my hand on his, Alex began to escort me. This was a first for me.

Even though it was just a brief move to get off the carriage and eat, being escorted by a noble like Alex made me feel like a noble lady myself.

When I got off the carriage, I saw the people of the Berzel estate bustling around.

Tents were set up to stay for the night, and some people were making a fire and preparing a meal.

Among the busy people, I also saw the Rose Knights.

The Rose Knights greeted me from a distance. I greeted them back as well.

“Come this way. We’ve prepared a place.”

Alex, noticing my interaction, took my hand and led me.

Following Alex, I arrived at a spot with a campfire, a makeshift table, and chairs.

“Here it is. Sit down.”

“Yes.”

As I sat down where Alex indicated, the maids began to set up food on the table.

Seeing this, I felt like I was on a camping trip.

“Since we’re traveling, it’s not a proper meal, but you should still eat something.”

“No, this is excellent.”

“That’s a relief.”

Alex’s expression relaxed, showing his relief.

I smiled and checked the meal on the table.

There was a salad with dressing, thinly sliced bacon, beans in tomato sauce, two fried eggs, two slices of bread, and mushroom soup.

Considering the prestige of the Berzel estate, it was a simple menu.

But for a meal prepared while traveling, it was excellent.

“Thank you for the meal.”

I carefully picked up the fork and knife and cut the bacon into bite-sized pieces. Then I stabbed a piece with the fork and put it in my mouth. Savoring the salty taste of the bacon, I looked up.

I noticed people around me glancing in my direction.

The people of the Berzel estate were watching from a distance with surprised expressions.

I carefully observed their gazes and then glanced at Alex.

“Hey, Alex.”

“Yes?”

Alex, who was about to take a bite of bread, looked back at me.

“Are people looking this way because of me?”

I asked in a small voice, just in case.

It was burdensome to have strangers looking at me with surprised eyes.

Had I done something wrong?

I didn’t think so…

I had served Miss Veronica at the Maynard estate for over ten years.

Even when I was young and clueless, I had always tried my best to adhere to proper etiquette once I became Miss Veronica’s official maid. It was the same now.

So I didn’t think I had made any major mistakes.

Was it because I was dining next to Alex?

That made some sense. It wasn’t appropriate for me, a maid, to sit at the same table as Duke Berzel.

Alex looked up and scanned the people of the Berzel estate. They quickly averted their gazes and dispersed.

Alex, looking dissatisfied, shook his head.

“It seems it’s because of me, not you, Claire.”

“Oh, really? I’m glad it’s not because of me.”

I thought they were staring because of me.

These were the people I would spend the next three months with.

To get along well, I needed to have a good relationship with them, but it would have been awkward if they were uncomfortable with me.

“But why are they all looking at you, Alex?”

“There’s a reason.”

“……”

I pouted, seeing Alex avoid answering.

I knew he wasn’t obligated to tell me, but I couldn’t help being curious.

Looking around again, I saw people glancing this way from a distance.

“Hurry and eat. Your food will get cold.”

“Ah, yes. I’m eating.”

When I continued to show interest in the Berzel estate’s employees, Alex cleared his throat and urged me to eat.

Only then did I take my eyes off them and continue eating.