“Instead of rabbit meat… I’d prefer something else.”

“Oh, do you have anything in particular in mind?”

“Yes… Can I tell you later?”

It seemed that En preferred the rabbit to stay alive. Was she an animal lover? With En so agitated and insistent, Corinne couldn’t bring herself to argue about dinner plans involving the rabbit. Instead, she nodded reluctantly, keeping her eyes on the animal.

“All right then. It’s a shame though – it looks so chubby.”

Corinne sighed sincerely and En gave her a strange look. Perhaps Corinne had been a little too obvious about her appetite.

A little embarrassed, Corinne laughed and picked up her broom again. But instead of resuming her task of sweeping the entrance, she slowly approached En.

En, now visibly relieved, had crouched down again to play with the rabbit, her hands moving skilfully and gently – movements that seemed practised and familiar.

Corinne had assumed En to be a cultured young lady, but to see how adept she was at handling animals was a strange sight. Not to mention the faint scars on her hands, which suggested she hadn’t lived in the comfort of a sheltered existence.

In truth, the idea that En was a well-bred young lady was largely based on her appearance; her behaviour said otherwise. En seemed uncomfortable being served or receiving help.

Even with her doctor, Moiria – who had tirelessly cared for En over the past six months – En maintained a certain level of formality between them. Moiria seemed to understand, but couldn’t help feeling hurt by En’s distance.

On the other hand, En seemed very casual around Gentian (Zane). Sometimes she spoke bluntly – almost carelessly – often saying things that cut like a knife and showed how comfortable they were with each other.

So comfortable, in fact, that it didn’t seem romantic at all. This realisation had made Corinne sad for a moment, but she was soon cheered up again. It was obvious that Gentian liked En – anyone could see that – but with someone as beautiful as En, it was hard not to.

Even Corinne, who secretly loved Gentian, couldn’t begrudge him that.

“Um, miss, where are you from? You must be from a big city, right?”

Born and raised in a nearby fishing village, Corinne had always been curious about life in the distant cities. But there hadn’t been anyone around to explain it to her.

Hans was from the same village, and Moiria had flatly stated that she had never had the luxury of exploring the town, having spent her life caring for patients.

Corinne was too shy to ask Gentian, and the lord of the manor was almost never around.

So now that she finally had someone suitable to ask, Corinne thought she might take the opportunity to satisfy her curiosity.

“Are you related to the master of the house?”

Corinne lowered her voice as she knelt beside En. The fingers that had been gently touching the rabbit’s nose stopped.

“The master?”

“Yes, but you don’t really look like him… You’re much too beautiful… Ah, not that there’s anything wrong with the Master’s appearance! It’s just that… He’s handsome, but also a bit intimidating…”

Corinne much preferred Gentian, who might not be as conventionally attractive as the Master, but was far more kindhearted and humorous.

“Do you know him?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say I really know him. I’ve only seen him on his rare visits.”

Corinne replied with a shy smile.

En, who had been watching Corinne, asked cautiously.

“What did you think of him?”

“Me? Uh… He always seemed the same – cold, intimidating and, um…”

To be honest, Corinne didn’t care much about the Master, as long as her paycheck kept coming. Still, she wanted to keep the conversation going, so she tried to think of something to add. But before she could, En cut in bluntly.

“Gruff, dull and boring.”

“Oh my, that’s true!”

“He’s always suspicious of everything.”

“Is he?”

Corinne hesitated.

“His words are harsh.”

“Ah, that part I wouldn’t know…”

“He’s also relentless and stubborn.”

Corinne blinked at En’s last words, then smiled brightly as she asked.

“You two aren’t enemies, are you?”

“We probably are.”

At this point, Corinne decided it was best to keep quiet.

Corinne concluded that the Master must have done something to earn En’s dislike. She nodded in understanding.

Suddenly an idea seemed to strike her and her eyes widened.

“Oh! You’re lovers, aren’t you?”

“What?”

En replied, clearly taken aback.

“Ah, I thought so!”

En shook her head frantically, but Corinne just grinned mischievously and looked away, a look of amusement on her face.

A romantic novel quickly formed in Corinne’s mind – the story of a fragile city girl and a wealthy, mysterious man. It was a classic trope, a popular and oft-told story.

“The Master does have a romantic side, it seems.”

“What are you talking about…”

“I hear you like the water, miss! He must have chosen this beautiful place by the sea for you!”

Corinne said, her eyes twinkling.

En grimaced, as if she had just heard something absurd.

En blinked slowly, looking uncertain, before tentatively asking.

“He didn’t say he hoped I’d drown, did he?”

“Oh dear, miss! What a frightening thing to say!”

Corinne laughed, waving her hand dismissively.

She remembered now – when was it exactly? It must have been shortly after they had settled here. It was a conversation between Moiria and the Master in the drawing room. Corinne had been there, making tea, and had overheard them by chance.

Moiria had asked why they had chosen a place near the water, and the Master had replied that En liked the water. And then…

“He said… something about it being the only thing he knew you liked, so this was his way of doing something for you… Oh dear.”

That might not have been a good thing to say. Corinne belatedly put her hand over her mouth, but En had already understood everything, even the unspoken parts.

With a worried look on her face, Corinne watched En carefully. En seemed a little surprised, but not angry.

How indifferent must the Master have been to her that she wasn’t even disappointed to hear that he didn’t know what she liked? Corinne couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment towards the Master. It was all his fault, she was sure of it, even if she didn’t know the details of what had happened between them.

“Miss, could you please keep what I have said a secret from the Master?”

Corinne pleaded, suddenly afraid of the consequences since it was the Master who was paying her.

Thankfully, En nodded willingly and Corinne breathed a sigh of relief, putting her hand to her chest as if a weight had been lifted.

It was said that city girls were often stuck up, but that seemed to be just a rumour. Corinne really liked this young lady, who seemed so delicate and yet spoke so boldly.

“Well, I should get back to preparing the ingredients!”

Corinne announced brightly.

Tonight’s dinner deserves a special effort! As she thought that, her eyes landed on the rabbit nearby, its ears pricked up. The young lady wasn’t in the best of health – wouldn’t some rabbit stew help her regain her strength?

As if sensing Corinne’s thoughts, En quietly picked up the rabbit and held it close.

Corinne sighed and gave up, smacking her lips in mild disappointment. She’d have to ask Mr Hans later if he could catch a rabbit in secret without En knowing. Once it was skinned and served as a dish, the young lady wouldn’t be able to say no!