Chapter 3 – The Mysterious Appearance (Part 4)

Ellerdin approached Fernan and looked at him quietly.

Fernan, meeting her gaze for a moment, shyly covered his face with his hand.

“If you look at me with such sparkling eyes, I get embarrassed.”

Ellerdin frowned in confusion.

Sparkling? She had never heard such a thing in her life.

She had only ever been told that her eyes looked unpleasant.

Such a strange person.

“Dinner time is approaching. Is there anything special you’d like to eat?”

“I like everything.”

Fernan smiled and took Ellerdin’s hand.

“Really?”

Joy was visible beyond his curved eyes. Not knowing the meaning of his question, Ellerdin tilted her head and looked at him.

“Do you like bell peppers too?”

Ugh. Ellerdin shuddered at the word ‘bell pepper.’

She had endured eating them well, so how did he know? No one had ever noticed.

Startled, her large pupils looked at him. Fernan stifled a laugh at her cute reaction.

“I’ll ask the chef to cook without bell peppers. Please wait. Oh, where would you like to eat?”

She still thought she should eat in the dining room. The words ‘I want to eat in the room’ rose to her throat, but she suppressed them.

“I’ll eat in the dining room.”

“Then I’ll call you when it’s time.”

Fernan smiled and closed the door.

After he left, Ellerdin returned to the balcony.

She was a bit worried about eating in the dining room, but she felt it would be okay since she was with him.

Ellerdin looked at the sky beyond the forest. Darkness was slowly creeping in from the end.

Being in the north, night came very quickly here.

Fernan had asked if she didn’t dislike the darkness, but she actually liked it more.

Above all, the night sky viewed from the Duke’s estate was truly beautiful.

Her heart raced at the thought of seeing the stars filling the black sky.

***

Dinner time was quiet. In the dining room, where not even the sound of utensils could be heard, only the sound of breathing filled the air.

Ellerdin cautiously lifted her head and glanced at Fernan.

He was sitting across from her, with a large piece of meat in front of him. He was eating that large piece of meat without pause.

‘…He really eats well.’

He was the first person she found elegant despite eating so well.

‘Comfortable.’

In her past life, everyone had taught her not to make any noise with utensils at the table, but no one actually followed that rule. Only Ellerdin was forced into silence.

Because of that, she had to put down her fork at every meal.

But since coming to the Duke’s estate, she had been able to eat quite comfortably.

Thanks to that, she felt like she had gained some weight recently. She was grateful for that and smiled unknowingly.

Meanwhile, Fernan, watching her, sighed inwardly.

How can she survive on such a small amount?

Even though he was ignorant of human meals, he knew that her portion was not that of a normal human.

With her frail body, he was always worried she might collapse at any moment.

Ellerdin always said she was healthy, but Fernan couldn’t believe it. Just the other day…

‘Huh? Ellerdin?’

He saw Ellerdin standing in the hallway.

Wondering what was going on, he approached her, but suddenly her body swayed heavily.

Startled, Fernan rushed to catch her in his arms.

“Ah… thank you.”

Ellerdin’s face was pale, and she seemed to have no strength in her body. It was dizziness.

She closed her eyes tightly and held onto Fernan’s arm. After a moment, she seemed to recover, exhaling a short breath and standing up from his embrace.

“Are you okay?”

Fernan asked worriedly.

“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for catching me.”

Ellerdin smiled. It was a smile meant to reassure him, but the cold sweat on her forehead showed otherwise. There was a clear line.

This distance must be appropriate for her.

Fernan clenched and unclenched his hand.

“Next time, please hold onto the wall or nearby objects. I’m worried you might get hurt.”

“Oh, then I might break something.”

Ellerdin answered hesitantly. Fernan nodded silently.

He didn’t know the exact circumstances, but behind her worry about breaking things was surely the trauma that had shaped her into the person she was now.

He wanted to tell her it was okay. That she could break any object and continue to rely on him.

But fearing she might run away if he spoke out of turn, Fernan could only feel vague pity for her.

Coming out of his reverie, he looked at her. She had barely eaten, yet she was already putting down her utensils, seemingly full.

It was already dark outside.

Come to think of it, today was that day.

With a bitter expression, he continued his meal.

***

After finishing her meal, Ellerdin hurried back to her room, put on a light shawl over her clothes, and went out to the balcony.

She loved this time. She even thought that the anticipation of this time made her look forward to mealtime.

The black night sky was filled with stars, like a Milky Way pouring down. When night fell like this, she often felt as if she were floating in the sky.

‘Beautiful.’

At that moment, lost in the night sky, forgetting the cold, something reached Ellerdin’s ears.

‘What is that sound?’

Ellerdin looked at the closed door reflected in the clear balcony window and perked up her ears.

There were footsteps beyond the door.

What time is it?

Looking at the clock, it was already past 1 a.m. The servants of the Duke’s estate didn’t come up to the second floor at this hour, so the only person awake would likely be Fernan.

Ellerdin returned from the balcony to her room and opened the door.

He had already gone down to the first floor, as she could hear footsteps in the distance.

‘Where is he going at this hour?’

Worried that something might be wrong, Ellerdin hurriedly followed him.

When she reached the first floor, she saw Fernan turning towards the room with the basement.

Following him into the room with the basement, she saw the iron door slightly open, as if he had already gone down.

Peeking through the open door, she saw Fernan descending the stairs in the distance.

He was holding a candle in his right hand, descending the dark basement without hesitation.

Knowing this was not a place she should be, Ellerdin turned to leave, but a fierce voice echoed through the passage.

“Who is it?”

It was a rough, unfamiliar voice she had never heard before.

Startled, Ellerdin stepped back.

At that moment, with a loud bang, the iron door closed firmly in front of her.

Realizing she had been caught, Ellerdin hurried back to her room.

She climbed into bed and tightly closed her eyes.

Hoping that he didn’t notice her.

She heard the sound of the door opening.

Ellerdin held her breath.

The door closed, and Fernan slowly approached her. His footsteps, heard through the blanket, were very tired.

Fernan collapsed next to her.

“Hoo…”

A rough breath escaped. The bed rose and fell with his breathing.

Fernan stretched out his arm and hugged Ellerdin’s cold body. As if seeking refuge, he buried his face in the nape of her neck.

‘Fernan…? Why is he like this…?’

Ellerdin was puzzled but pretended to sleep quietly.

His breath tickled, but she held back with all her might. Her heart, which had been pounding with fear, gradually started beating for a different reason.

Ellerdin held her breath, afraid that Fernan might wake up.

Thanks to her effort, Fernan’s rough breathing gradually calmed down and soon turned into soft snores.

Her cold body had already warmed up with his almost hot warmth.