Chapter 4

“Doctor!”

Yulia stood up abruptly, unable to hold back any longer.

“…Yulia, I hope you won’t be too hurt by whatever reaction Resti shows.”

“Resti isn’t that kind of person. It’s too much.”

She didn’t want to hear any more about how he might be untrustworthy. How could anyone say such things? Yulia fled from the room, feeling as if she were escaping.

It had only been about three months, but Resti was always kind. Not just to her, but he smiled gently at everyone he met and treated those around him well. He was a cheerful person. When Yulia announced she was dating him, the townspeople all congratulated her; he was well-regarded.

However,

‘I really don’t know anything.’

She had never questioned it before. Simply… he was just “Resti.” She hadn’t asked about his past, and Resti hadn’t volunteered any information. He had only said, “I wanted to escape.”

Was his name even real? Who was he really? 

Yulia bit her lip.

‘No, Resti is a good person.’

She didn’t care what anyone else said. She believed in him. She wanted to believe in him. Yet, the seed of doubt planted by others slowly began to sprout.

***

Yulia calmed herself down and dressed in her best clothes, waiting for Resti.

‘He might propose today.’

He usually showed up unexpectedly, but this time he had given her a hint. It was clear he was planning something different than usual. As she fidgeted with her fingers and checked the time, there was a knock at the door.

“Resti!”

Had she ever waited for him so eagerly before? There was so much she wanted to say. She wanted to know more about the man named Resti. To complain a bit. And then, to tell him she was pregnant. As she opened the door with a joyful smile, Yulia forgot all the words she wanted to say.

“Yulia.”

The man who would usually pout and rush in if she opened the door late was standing upright, greeting her. She slowly looked him over, from head to toe, at this familiar yet unfamiliar man.

Gone were the clothes he wore until they were worn out, given to him by her. Instead, he wore a shiny outfit embroidered with gold thread and polished shoes. Moreover, his usually tousled hair was neatly combed, revealing his handsome face more clearly.

For a moment, she was breathless. He didn’t seem like the “Resti” she knew. Though his voice and expression were the same, who was this man?

“Re-Resti?”

“I came to pick you up, Yulia.”

He extended his hand. She took it reflexively, and Resti led her to a carriage.

Before her was a carriage unlike any she’d see in their small town. It was adorned with gold leaf, like something out of a fairy tale. Yulia stared blankly at the golden footrest.

“…What is all this?”

That was all she could say. Her mind was dizzy. 

What was happening? 

The carriage, which couldn’t even be seen in their small village, was so conspicuous that all the townspeople had come out to gossip and watch.

“Let’s talk as we go.”

The man smiled and lifted Yulia into the carriage, seating her gently inside. Sitting beside her, Resti pulled a cord to ring a bell, and the carriage started moving. 

The ride was as smooth as if they were floating on clouds, incomparable to the freight wagons she’d been in before. The soft seats were so plush they felt like they might swallow her whole, even more comfortable than her bed at home.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that she didn’t belong in such a place.

Velvet cushions. The golden interior of the carriage. Even the floor was covered with a soft carpet, and the man’s clothes beside her were made of a fabric she had never seen before. Yulia looked down at her own clothes, which felt especially shabby. Her stomach churned.

The doctor’s words floated in her mind. It was true that she knew nothing about Resti. Even Yulia, who thought she knew everything about him, realized she didn’t know anything about the man named “Resti.”

“…Let me out.”

She barely managed to squeeze out her voice.

“Are you okay, Yulia?”

With a worried tone, Resti wrapped his arms around her shoulder and kissed her forehead. His actions were unmistakably those of the man she loved, but what she saw was a completely different person.

“Are you okay? We’ll be there soon.”

“Let me out. Please, let me out.”

She spoke as if she were about to cry, pounding his chest with her fists.

“It’s too far to walk, Yulia.”

Thinking she was feeling unwell, he pulled her onto his lap, knocking on the driver’s seat.

“Drive carefully.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“No… I don’t want this. Let me out.”

“Are you feeling sick? Hmm?”

She bowed her head deeply. Instead of the comforting scent she associated with Resti, there was a luxurious perfume smell. She hated it. It seemed to be telling her that this wasn’t the man she knew.

“Just bear with it a little longer. If I’d known, I would have taken more time to prepare the carriage. There are better ones, but I got impatient.”

His low whisper was filled with concern. Yulia squeezed her eyes shut. His hand gently sweeping her hair was the same as always.

How much time had passed? She felt the carriage stop. Resti quickly opened the door and lifted Yulia out again. The chilly early evening wind brushed past her body. Realizing she was outside, she opened her eyes and froze.

A massive mansion stood before her. Walls painted all white. Windows gleaming with gold and smooth-looking glass.

“…”

She blinked in a daze. Everything felt like a dream.

Only then did she realize where they were. 

Wasn’t this the “high noble’s villa” the townspeople talked about? 

It hadn’t been visited for decades. She recalled how everyone marveled at how such an incredible place was left unattended.

“A noble…”

Yulia stared blankly at the man still holding her. Their eyes met, and Resti gave an embarrassed smile.

“I’ll explain over dinner. Relax, okay?”

He whispered softly, pleadingly, and kissed her lightly on the lips. She tried to smile, but even that didn’t come out right. With a subtle expression, Yulia watched as Resti, who was looking down at her, smiled and walked briskly.

Not only was the exterior impressive, but the inside of the mansion was dazzlingly bright. The ceiling was so high it seemed endless. Chandeliers adorned with jewels. The floor was so polished it could serve as a mirror, and even the servants wore better clothes than Yulia.

The path to the dining room was so long. She buried her face in Resti’s chest to escape the glances of those who pretended not to see but subtly glanced at her. The heavy, luxurious perfume scent made her head spin a bit.

“Well, I didn’t know what you’d like, so I prepared as much as possible.”

The dining room they finally reached was also large enough to make her jaw drop. If she combined ten of Yulia’s houses, it might equal the size of the dining room. The food laid out on the long table was decorated so beautifully it felt like a crime to disturb it.

Resti seated her at a chair and sat across from her.

“Shall we eat first? Did you have lunch?”

“…No.”

Yulia answered absent-mindedly, then suddenly straightened her back. Resti was a noble. A “very high” noble, indeed. Not a viscount or baron managing the local area. 

If he owned such a magnificent “villa,” what kind of noble was he?

Her lips parted as she glanced at the man in front of her.

“I-I didn’t eat…”

“What’s wrong, Yulia?”

“Resti… no, Lord Resti, you’re a noble… aren’t you?”