Chapter 6 (Part 1)

“Open the door!”

The arrival of uninvited guests was sudden. During the rainy season, there were always guests asking to be accommodated in the sturdy old castle of Tarnu, but this time, it was earlier than usual.

“They say the young lord’s belongings have returned, so we must hold a funeral!”

“We are upset! Do we have to hear about such matters through rumors?”

The castle gate at the foot of the mountain, which marked the boundary between Tarnu’s old castle and the village below, had been noisy since the morning.

“Butler! We have a big problem. The collateral relatives… they have…”

“Already? How long has it been since the rainy season started?”

“Exactly. And it seems everyone knows that the young lord’s belongings have returned.”

“…”

The experienced butler swallowed his words at the gatekeeper’s report.

It was a visit from the troublesome collateral family of the Tarnu household, the Opellus branch.

Since young lord Edarson lost his parents in a sudden accident before he was even ten years old, they had been eagerly eyeing Tarnu. Although the direct line of the family had few members, the collateral relatives were numerous, with more than five fingers’ worth of connections to Edarson.

One of which was someone named Miguel. At times like this, the butler would resent the great-great-grandfather of Edarson, who passed away over a hundred years ago.

‘The lords of the past were famous for their good marital harmony, but how did they end up having an illegitimate child?’

Unlike the direct line of the Tarnu family, which had few children, the collateral relatives had as many children as others. Living in the commercial city of Anzra, a half-day’s walk from Tarnu, they would come to the castle during the rainy season when resources were scarce, clamoring for any convenience.

When Edarson was a minor, they claimed to help the young and inexperienced lord. After Edarson went on an expedition, they claimed to teach the young Madam who knew little about Tarnu.

Since Edarson’s departure, the old castle of Tarnu had not accepted outsiders, especially not the collateral relatives, but they still visited every year.

This annual event was a bit early, and it seemed they knew something.

‘Did word get out about the guest staying here?’

He thought he had instructed the servants to keep their mouths shut.

The butler, feeling a familiar headache, sighed and spoke to the gatekeeper.

“Ignore them and tighten the castle’s security for the time being.”

“Yes, butler.”

As the gatekeeper turned and ran off, the butler shook his head and looked around the castle courtyard.

He was startled by the gaze fixed on him.

Under the thick blonde hair, green eyes shone steadily… it was Edan.

Drawing water from the well, he had been watching the butler for some time. When Edan silently observed him like that, the butler often felt a familiar unease and broke into a cold sweat.

No, this isn’t because of you.

Just as he was about to make excuses.

Edan’s green eyes, staring at him, seemed to shine coldly. The butler thought he saw anger there.

“You’re back?”

Edan placed the filled water bottle on the table. It contained carbonated water drawn from the well early in the morning, mixed with lime and herbs. Although it was the rainy season leading into winter after the harvest season, there was nothing that couldn’t be obtained in the fertile estate of Tarnu.

Ellenia, who had woken up in the meantime, looked at him cautiously closing the door, burying her n*ked body under the blanket.

Again, alone, dressed so neatly.

Thinking that, Ellenia pulled the blanket up to her neck. The blanket, stuffed with goose feathers in a cotton cover, felt like a cloud.

“…Is something wrong?”

Edan, who always attended to her with a clear face in the morning, had a strangely hardened expression.

What could possibly upset him here?

Neither when he first arrived as a distinguished guest nor after he started attending to her had anyone disrespected him.

As Ellenia worriedly studied his complexion, the emotion on Edan’s face was clearly sorrow. The gloomy sunlight coming through the window, which was opened every morning, added to his fatigue.

As she thought his eyes looked sorrowful…

“What’s wrong?”

Edan leaned down and lowered his body over hers. Embracing her shoulders and neck slowly, still wrapped in the blanket.

Ellenia was slightly surprised as he subtly pressed his body against hers. He was always careful not to touch her unless necessary.

While it was welcome, the last time his face had looked so somber, it was worrisome.

“What’s the matter?”

Edan, burying his face in her neck, said nothing. Only shallow breaths, and at the end of them, something sweet and moist seemed to fill the air.

Ellenia took her hand out from under the blanket and patted his cheek.

“Show me your face.”

As if showing a stubborn will not to do so, he tightened his embrace around her. Her chest flattened against his firm torso through the blanket, making it a genuine hug.

“…”

Knowing why he didn’t want to show his face, Ellenia silently stroked the back of his neck.

Edan entangled his legs, arms, and body with hers, wanting to be closer.

Though it was a bit heavy, Ellenia just stayed still. She even breathed carefully, not wanting to startle him with her rapid breathing.

Though something hard asserted its presence beyond the blanket, neither of them thought about physical intimacy.

Ellenia thought he was protecting her by wrapping her tightly in the blanket and, at the same time, trying to merge her into his body.

His shoulders seemed to tremble slightly.

Taking a deep breath as if to push her scent deep into his lungs, he exhaled several times with a trembling breath.

When his exhaling breath began to sound like sobbing.

“…I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“I’m sorry…”

“…”

***

It was about five days later that unfamiliar news came from the village below the castle. The collateral relatives had been staying in the village at the foot of the mountain, knocking on the castle gate every day for five days.

“The bishop of Nux?”

“It’s been over ten years since Madam married into Tarnu…”

Leni and Greta quickly lowered their surprised voices. Though it wasn’t loud enough to be heard by Madam in the study, it was still a cautious matter.

“Yes, that’s right. Earlier, Samson ran to the butler in a panic.”

The stable boy, with tousled hair, spoke excitedly.

“Why now, of all times…”

“It seems the collateral relatives called him.”

“Why would the collateral relatives call the bishop of Nux?”

“How would I know?”

Leni and Greta, along with the other servants listening, all sighed.

“They’re causing quite a stir in the village below. It’s a matter of the Madam’s honor…”

“Why?”

Leni asked urgently, feeling a sense of foreboding. Whenever a letter came from the bishop of Nux, Madam would tremble as she handed it back, telling them to put it in the letterbox.

Though she hadn’t read it properly in front of Madam, just a few words were enough to know what it contained.

Shame. Witch. Die. Harlot.

Just recalling those curses made Leni shudder as if her soul was being punished.

“They say the Madam’s low birth made her forget her husband and abandon her chastity.”

The stable boy cautiously observed their reactions. His voice seemed slightly relieved.

Leni and Greta, anticipating the shock, were too stunned to notice. The servants listening all murmured in agitation.

“What did you say?”

“The bishop of Nux… is in the village below.”

The butler, with a deeply apologetic face, repeated the news.

Sitting at the desk in the lord’s study, Ellenia glared at the butler. Her resentment was not directed at him but at the news he brought.

“My grandfather…”

The hand holding the quill trembled. A drop of ink fell onto the parchment.

“It seems the collateral relatives brought him. They knew about the return of the young lord’s sword as well.”

Unable to hide it any longer, the butler revealed what the gatekeeper had reported.

“And in the village below… they’re spreading strange rumors, causing unrest among the people.”

“Strange rumors?”

“They’re saying you will remarry, Madam…”

Using a very mild expression compared to the actual rumors in the village, the butler avoided looking directly at Ellenia.

Ellenia, pale-faced, took a deep breath. Her chest heaved slightly.

Edan had been acting differently a few days ago. 

Was it because of this news?

If so, why was he so sorry…

Since that stormy night, when he held her just to keep her sane amidst the thunder and rain, he had changed. Sometimes, even on dry days, he would bury his face in her nape, and when she jokingly teased him, he would respond without hesitation.

His eyes had been filled with guilt, his gestures worried, and he acted as if he couldn’t leave her alone for even a moment.

He had always been obedient, but looking back, the nature of his obedience had changed around that time.

Ellenia turned her gaze to him, sitting on the sofa inside.

As expected, he had stopped peeling the fruit and was staring at her. Without asking for an answer, he shook his head slightly.

No. Don’t do it.

His green eyes shone desperately.

She knew what it meant…

Ellenia quickly looked away and pretended to examine the documents. They were the payment documents for this month’s groceries. She wanted to appear unconcerned, as if the news the butler brought was just a minor distraction.