Chapter 4. The Fourth Meeting

“Miss.”

“Mm.”

“Are you going to stay home today too?”

“Mm.”

“Really…?”

“Mm.”

Alisa anxiously watched Karina, who lay blankly on the bed, mechanically responding with just “mm” while blinking her eyes.

“Miss.”

“Ah, what.”

“Did something happen?”

Alisa carefully broached the subject. Though she had been curious for the past few days, she hadn’t dared to ask.

‘How many days has it been now.’

The day when her Miss returned without an escort after dressing up as elaborately as she would for a ball.

The day she met the Brigadier General, something must have happened.

And as her personal maid, Alisa had a duty to check on her Miss’s condition.

At Alisa’s question, Karina’s head, which had been giving halfhearted responses as if bothered, creaked as she turned.

“Why?”

“Pardon?”

“Why do you think that? Nothing happened to me, okay? Hm? What happened? What are you talking about?”

Seeing Miss suddenly spring up from her spot and rapid-fire questions, something definitely happened.

But this was rather relieving.

For someone who had been lying listlessly in bed, she seemed quite energetic.

Alisa smiled and yanked off the blanket.

“What!”

“Since nothing happened, please get up now.”

“What? No.”

“Do you know how many days I haven’t been able to clean this room? I need to change the bed sheets. Air out the room. And Miss, please change your clothes too.”

Though it had only been three days.

Still, with Miss occupying the bed, proper cleaning hadn’t been possible. Alisa grabbed Karina’s hand and pulled her up from the bed.

Then she pushed her into the bathroom before she could protest.

“First wash your face to clear your head. And look at the new clothes that were ordered. I’ll prepare your bath soon.”

“Nooo.”

“The Count and Countess spent a fortune because they were worried about you. As their child, you shouldn’t ignore your parents’ feelings like this.”

“Using my parents is cheating.”

“Since you say nothing happened, you’re not allowed to lie in bed anymore. Everyone’s worried, you know.”

“…Haah.”

Certainly.

She was right.

During the days she stayed home, her parents and even her brother seemed to be walking on eggshells around her.

“Is it very uncomfortable?”

“Yes. Everyone’s holding back from asking, afraid of stirring up trouble. You know what I mean, right?”

“Fine! I get it.”

Nothing would be solved by spending time in bed. She wasn’t childish enough to keep being stubborn while knowing everyone was worried and tiptoeing around her.

Karina raised both hands in surrender.

The hot water poured down with a swoosh.

Upon hearing that the lady had finally gotten out of bed after days, five maids helped with her bath.

“Miss, do you know how worried we were?”

“You ate alone and just kept lying down, we thought something terrible had happened.”

“That’s right.”

They tormented Karina while each adding their own comments.

“Nothing really happened?”

“I said nothing happened! Why do you keep asking? It’s noisy. Stop talking about it.”

Karina slapped the water surface for no reason. The splashing sound sent water droplets everywhere, wetting the maids’ clothes.

“Eek! Miss, please don’t.”

“Look at you being petty.”

Karina grumbled at the maids who were playfully glaring at her.

“This is what happens when you worry unnecessarily.”

“But we’ve never seen you like this before, Miss.”

“Really, nothing happened. Can’t I rest a bit? Everyone else spends time at home.”

“Other young ladies might do that. But you’re you, Miss.”

“That’s right.”

Outnumbered, Karina gave up trying to stop the maids’ chattering and closed her eyes.

The bath lasted as long as the maids’ chatter. But perhaps because she soaked in the bath until her hands wrinkled, her troubled mind seemed somewhat clearer.

As she was drying her hair after the bath, one maid came running through the corridor and called out loudly.

“Miss! There’s a visitor!”

“A visitor?”

Karina slightly frowned with one eye.

“Why are you telling me?”

“The Count and Countess left early for a meeting, and young master has already gone out.”

In other words, Karina was the only one available to receive guests.

Karina waved her hand dismissively.

“Tell them no one’s home. I’m not in the mood to meet visitors.”

“Ah, um…”

Making a troubled sound, the maid nodded and ran back down the corridor.

However, soon familiar footsteps were heard approaching Karina’s room again.

“Miss!”

“What now?”

“I told them that, but they insist. They say they must see you today.”

Karina’s expression soured.

“Even though you said I couldn’t meet them?”

“Yes! I even lied that you were sick with a cold, but they insist they must meet you today.”

“Who is it? Who’s being so rude? Visiting without an appointment and insisting on meeting? This is ridiculous.”

The maid rolled her eyes uncomfortably at Karina’s irritated response.

“Well, it’s Brigadier General Winchester. I find it strange too. He said he must meet you, Miss, not the young master. And he doesn’t usually insist like this… twice even. It hasn’t been long since the Brigadier General last visited you, could there be some important matter?”

However, the maid’s subsequent words didn’t reach Karina’s ears.

She doubted her hearing.

Just now.

She thought she heard the word ‘Winchester’.

“What did you say?”

Karina asked dumbly, slowly blinking her eyes.

She must have heard it wrong.

Winston or some other family name, perhaps. Though she didn’t know well. The world was vast, surely there must be similar surnames.

But the maid clearly repeated in a loud voice.

“Oh my, Brigadier General Winchester! The one who went out with you on Sunday, Miss.”

An unnecessary confirmation shot.

To the stammering Karina, the maid emphasized.

“He says he won’t leave until he meets you, Miss. What should we do?”

* * *

Though he had often walked this corridor when visiting the Crawford mansion, this was his first time going past Lucas’s room.

‘Still, it’s fortunate.’

When he heard that Karina didn’t want to meet him, his heart felt like it had dropped to the floor.

Though his visit was sudden, he hadn’t expected her to completely refuse to see him.

‘As expected.’

It seems the shock was significant.

His already dark face was cast in deeper shadows.

Soon, the maid walking ahead of Dominic stopped. They had arrived at Karina’s door.

Knock knock. The maid knocked and stepped aside.

Dominic passed by the maid and took one step into Karina’s room.

The first thing he noticed was a scent entirely different from his or Lucas’s rooms. The flower-like fragrance that touched his nose was similar to what he had faintly sensed during their previous kiss.

Karina was sitting on a sofa placed in front of a large window. Unlike their first encounter at the mansion or their outing a few days ago, she was in comfortable indoor clothes, her hair still damp.

“I’m sorry. I just finished bathing.”

He gave a bitter smile at Karina’s explanation for refusing to meet.

She didn’t need to explain; he understood that she didn’t want to see him.

“Please sit. Are you going to keep standing?”

“No.”

Dominic sat opposite her. A slightly awkward atmosphere hung between them.

“The maids are gone.”

“I asked them to leave. I didn’t think this would be something others should hear.”

“You did well.”

It would be troublesome for both parties if anyone saw or heard. Dominic was grateful for Karina’s quick-witted consideration.

“So… why did you want to see me?”

“I want to apologize for that day.”

Karina sighed deeply.

She had vaguely guessed there could only be one reason why this rigid man would want to meet her.

“That’s not necessary.”

“No. I can’t do that.”

“I said it’s fine. It was an accident. It’s not like you did it on purpose.”

That’s why don’t worry about it.

…is what she was about to say.

Karina couldn’t finish her words.

Because of what Dominic pulled out from his chest.

He placed it on the table.

“What is that?”

“A blade.”

Karina was speechless at the sudden appearance of the object.

Well, she knew it was a blade. Wasn’t it the dagger her brother absolutely forbade anyone from touching?

Even though the blade issued to naval officers was primarily ceremonial, a weapon was still a weapon. After nearly getting hurt by the sharp-bladed dagger before, even Lucas, who rarely got angry, had furiously forbidden anyone from touching it, so she couldn’t fail to recognize it.