Chapter 2 – A New Beginning (Part 6)

Ellerdin went to the warm fireplace and sat on a plush sofa. She carefully opened the book and saw something written in crooked handwriting.  

Upon closer inspection, she realized it was Fernan’s name.  

“How cute.”  

She couldn’t help but smile at the adorable evidence that Fernan had really loved this book as a child.  

Ellerdin began to read the book with a pounding heart.  

Suddenly, she paused while reading.  

One page was particularly wrinkled compared to the others. It looked like someone had cried while reading it.  

The star that fell from the sky asked the boy,  

‘If I leave, you’ll be alone. Aren’t you afraid of that?’  

‘Hmm…’  

The boy thought for a moment, then suddenly stood up and shouted,  

‘Don’t worry about that! I’ll find new friends, and we’ll make new memories together! And I’ll introduce you to them. Like this!’  

The boy took the star to the top of a hill.  

‘Look at that sky! My friend is up there.’  

The boy pointed to the sky and spoke to the star sitting next to him.  

‘…’

Ellerdin touched the wrinkled page. She felt she understood why young Fernan had cried so much at this part.  

‘Were the Duke’s parents… stars?’  

Ellerdin stopped her thoughts, realizing it was rude to speculate without certainty.  

But whether that hypothesis was correct or not, it was certain that young Fernan had been very lonely. Ellerdin had been, too.  

When she looked up, it was already dark outside.  

Startled, Ellerdin looked at the clock on the wall. It was well past dinner time.  

She jumped up and hurriedly started running towards the dining room.  

‘How foolish! Why didn’t I check the time!’  

Being this late wouldn’t just end with a scolding.  

‘What if he hits me? What if he locks me up?’  

Even though she knew Fernan wouldn’t do that, facing a similar situation made rational judgment impossible. Her body, conditioned by past abuse, trembled.  

When Ellerdin, panting, opened the dining room door, Fernan was already sitting at the table, eating.  

Just as she opened her mouth to apologize, expecting a plate to be thrown at her, a soft voice echoed in the dining room.  

“Why did you come so hastily? Are you okay?”  

Catching her breath, she slowly walked towards him.  

“I’m sorry for being late.”  

Fernan tilted his head.  

“You’re not late. You came just in time.”  

Despite his gentle words, Ellerdin still felt uneasy.  

She glanced at Fernan with a frightened expression. He couldn’t possibly not be angry. There were times when people smiled and then threw knives.  

At that moment, as Fernan reached for a knife, Ellerdin’s shoulders flinched.  

Seeing this, Fernan awkwardly smiled, lowered his hand, and stood up.  

He approached the stiff Ellerdin, pulled out a chair for her, and sat her down next to him.  

Fernan reached out, took the plate from his original seat, and cut the meat into small pieces with a knife, offering it to her.  

“It will take some time for the food to come out, so let’s share mine. Was the book interesting? I went to check earlier and saw you were so focused that I was preparing to send food over there.”  

Ellerdin gaped at his words.  

‘What was he saying? Instead of getting angry, he was preparing to send food? Was that even possible?’  

Ellerdin stared at him blankly.  

Fernan, sensing her gaze, lowered his arm in realization.  

“I’m sorry. I’m not familiar with the etiquette of the capital. Is this rude?”  

His ears turned red as he spoke in embarrassment.  

It’s strange. Really strange.  

It hurt like someone was pressing on her chest.  

‘We are just in a simple contract relationship.’  

‘I haven’t resolved anything for you yet. Why are you being so kind?’  

In the winter that surpassed death, a warm breeze blew.  

That breeze made Ellerdin feel like something inside her was crumbling. She reached out and grabbed Fernan’s arm.  

“No, it’s not rude.”  

“Really? That’s a relief.”  

Fernan smiled brightly.  

“Aren’t you hungry? I’ll bring more food.”  

Ellerdin was once again flustered by Fernan’s words.  

‘Where was there a noble who went into the kitchen?’  

Fernan, not noticing her shock, happily placed a plate in front of her.  

“Thank you…”  

Even while eating, she couldn’t understand the situation.  

It was too late for dinner, they were sitting side by side instead of facing each other, and he had brought the food himself instead of a servant.  

It was so different from the life she had lived that Ellerdin couldn’t help but laugh softly.  

It reminded her of the protagonist from the book she had just read.  

The boy and the star looked at the night sky that had turned black and shouted at the same time,  

‘I’m hungry! Let’s eat!’  

The boy and the star took out the candies they had picked up along the way. They sat side by side, shoulder to shoulder, with the jar of candies between them, looking up at the night sky.  

The forest was so dark they couldn’t find their way, and the star candies were too small to fill their stomachs, but they still felt happy.

Living tied to everything, she couldn’t help but be drawn to his unfamiliar freedom.  

After the meal, Ellerdin hesitated as if she had something to say.  

The book she had been reading earlier flashed before her eyes.  

‘Should I ask? He might grant permission.’  

“Don’t wander around late at night if you’re a woman. Unless you want to be treated like a pr*stitute.”  

Earl Pure’s voice echoed in her mind, but Ellerdin shook her head lightly to forget it.  

“Do you have something to say?”  

Fernan asked with a gentle smile. Hypnotized by his smile, Ellerdin spoke.  

“Can I go to the library? Now.”  

“…You don’t need my permission. You can do whatever you want.”  

Fernan said, caressing Ellerdin’s small hand.  

“But, don’t overdo it.”

He smiled.  

***  

“Umm…”  

In her sleep, she felt something soft in her hand.  

It was unfamiliar but felt like something she had touched before. Ellerdin opened her sleepy eyes.  

The first thing she saw was the fireplace crackling with the sound of burning logs.  

‘Ah… I fell asleep in the library.’  

As Ellerdin tried to get up, she put strength in her arm, but it sank into soft fur. Her body tilted, and she plopped down onto the bundle of fur.  

“…Huh?”  

Her face instantly turned pale.  

With trembling pupils, she looked down to see a black bundle of fur beneath her.  

Ellerdin silently screamed and hurriedly got up, but something seemed familiar.  

A black dog was sleeping soundly, oblivious to the world. It was the same one she had seen in the forest last time.  

She whispered while fondling its paw, which was bigger than her face.  

“Sorry for lying on you. But is this your hideout?”  

If this was its hiding place, the black fur under the sofa made sense. Its breathing was stable.  

“Sleep well.”  

She left a short greeting and lay down a bit away from the black dog.  

Fernan, who had perfectly disguised himself as a black dog, pulled her body close with its large tail.  

Ellerdin giggled and stroked the tail.  

“You were pretending to sleep?”  

The black dog purred and thumped its tail on the floor. Urging her to sleep, she chuckled quietly.  

“Let’s sleep together.”  

Ellerdin turned around and patted the dog’s head.  

Fernan, feeling embarrassed to be treated completely like a puppy, stayed still, enjoying being with Ellerdin.  

In the warm library with the crackling fire, Ellerdin and Fernan curled up and fell asleep together.  

***  

“Are you awake?”  

Celine opened the window wide and smiled at Ellerdin.  

“This is…”  

This was her room.  

She had definitely fallen asleep with that dog in the library. 

‘When had I been moved here?’  

“The Duke brought you here in the morning. Sleeping in such a place could give you a cold! Especially since your foot injury hasn’t healed yet, you need to be careful!”  

Celine said firmly.  

Ellerdin nodded obediently.  

‘If the Duke had brought me, did he see the dog I was sleeping with?’  

Ellerdin was about to ask the dog’s name but hesitated, unsure how to explain. How should she ask?  

“Um… Do you happen to keep a dog… no, an animal here?”  

Celine tilted her head.  

“No? There are no animals here. Unless you count the monsters.”  

‘…It must be living in the forest.’  

In that case, she would have to rely on chance to meet it again. If she met it later, she would definitely thank it and ask for its name.