Side Story

“Luciella.”

“Mmm……”

“It’s time to wake up. The morning sun has already risen.”

Enoch patted Luciella’s back as she remained buried in the fluffy blankets. But still wandering in dreamland, Luciella showed no signs of waking. She tossed and turned a few times before eventually settling back into a steady, rhythmic breathing.

As if accustomed to this routine, Enoch let out a soft chuckle before getting up from the bed first. Contrary to the expectation that he would head straight to the dining room or study after leaving the bedroom, he returned shortly with a silver basin filled with warm water in both hands.

On his way back, several maids were startled and tried to take the basin from his hands, but Enoch remained adamant.

“Luciella.”

Enoch called out to her again as he placed the basin on the bedside table. Only then did Luciella slowly blink her eyes and let out a yawn.

“Enoch……? Is it morning already?”

“Yes, I wanted to let you sleep a bit longer, but……”

Enoch trailed off with a regretful smile. Then he skillfully helped Luciella sit up.

“The designer will be arriving soon.”

As he spoke, Enoch carefully washed Luciella’s face with the cleansing water. Despite his hands being rough and calloused from a lifetime of wielding a sword, his touch was gentle.

It was a cautious touch, as if he were handling something extremely precious.

Since their trip to the south for recuperation, such small acts of service had become familiar to Enoch. Luciella had neither ordered nor wished for it, but Enoch had taken it upon himself to start doing these things.

At first, Luciella had refused, finding it burdensome, but she had given up resisting long ago.

“Mmm, but I really don’t need new clothes or anything……”

“But Luciella. You said you wanted to start attending social gatherings again.”

“The dresses I already have are sufficient.”

“I find them insufficient.”

Enoch responded firmly, even shaking his head resolutely. He appeared extremely unyielding.

“I’ll make sure no one can look down on you, Luciella. I’ll buy up all the latest fashionable dresses and place exclusive rights on them so other families can’t purchase them.”

“What?”

Luciella, who had been listening quietly, looked up at Enoch with a dumbfounded expression.

“You’re joking, right?”

“I’m serious.”

“Please tell me you’re joking. Enoch.”

Luciella pleaded, unable to hide her bewilderment. Regardless, Enoch continued his tirade.

“Just thinking about those pathetic people who dared to whisper behind your back at the last banquet……”

He stopped mid-sentence and clenched his fist tightly. He furrowed his already fierce expression and ground his teeth.

“I’m still furious.”

Who knows which banquet he was recalling. Luciella let out a small laugh, contrasting with Enoch’s grim expression, and lightly hit his arm a couple of times.

“Enough, how long are you going to talk about that?”

“I won’t forget it even after years pass.”

Though Enoch continued to fume, he carefully finished washing her face and gently pressed a soft, dry towel against Luciella’s face. She entrusted her face to him, seemingly accustomed to this routine.

“Anyway…… I want to attend social gatherings again because I’d like to have friends to chat with.”

Enoch nodded slightly instead of responding.

“There’s no need to force yourself. After all, if relationships can be made or broken over a dress, they’re not worth having.”

“……I understand.”

Once again, it was Enoch who backed down.

He was well aware of what Luciella wanted. Since coming to the Empire, she had no one to properly converse with except for Enoch and a few servants.

In truth, the situation hadn’t been much different in the kingdom. Due to her status as royalty, it had been impossible for her to freely converse and mingle with other young ladies of her age.

Luciella was firmly determined to make proper friends this time.

⁕⁕⁕

“My lady, the designer has arrived.”

Typically, when women select dresses, they naturally only have a few close maids by their side as they check the catalog. Even for young ladies, it was usually just their mothers helping them.

In other words, there was no reason for a spouse or the head of a household—a man—to face a dress designer.

“Ahem.”

Behind Luciella, who was seated on the sofa, stood Enoch with his tall, imposing figure and head held high. The terrified designer placed the catalog on the table with trembling hands. Then he nervously glanced back at Enoch.

Enoch was already large, but looking up at him while seated made him seem as tall as a mountain. The designer gulped and darted his eyes around like someone who had committed a crime.

“Enoch.”

“Yes, Luciella.”

“I can do this by myself.”

“But just in case……”

“What ‘just in case’ could possibly happen when choosing a dress?”

Despite Luciella’s firm attitude, Enoch showed no signs of backing down. He merely glared at the innocent dress designer with an intimidating gaze.

Finally, Luciella stood up and began pushing him out.

“I’ll choose on my own, so get out. Out.”

Even as he was being dragged out, Enoch shouted toward the designer as if leaving his last words:

“The trendiest designs with absolutely the finest fabrics!”

Thud.

With his final protest, Luciella’s door closed.

Only then could the designer exhale deeply, as if finally relieved of a choking sensation.

⁕⁕⁕

But there was one thing Luciella had overlooked.

That Enoch’s overprotectiveness didn’t stop there.

It was the day she attended her first tea party with ladies of her age in the Empire.

Unlike a banquet, this was her first small-scale tea gathering, so with a mix of nervousness and tension, she cautiously headed to a certain count’s residence.

“It’s an honor to be invited, Countess Winchester.”

“The honor is mine, Marchioness Walter, for gracing us with your presence.”

Behind the hostess countess, other women also began to offer friendly greetings to Luciella. Only then did her body, stiff with tension, begin to relax a little.

“I’ve really wanted to meet you, Marchioness Walter.”

“Yes, me too. You haven’t appeared in social circles at all since the last imperial banquet.”

“I’ve been busy adjusting to a new place. Let’s meet often from now on.”

There weren’t any particularly malicious people as she had worried. Perhaps because of the smaller scale, it was just right for conversations without anyone feeling left out.

It seemed Enoch had truly selected a good venue. There didn’t appear to be anyone with ill intentions toward Luciella.

They also skillfully avoided topics that might make her uncomfortable, like matters related to Grand Duke Winston or the Bert Kingdom.

Thanks to this, Luciella could sit comfortably without any discomfort.

The sun that had been shining brightly was now beginning to set. Luciella had been so engrossed in conversation with the ladies, sipping her tea, that she hadn’t noticed the time passing.

“It’s already this late.”

“My goodness, indeed. The sun will be setting soon.”

“Let’s meet often.”

“That would be lovely.”

Along with regretful farewells, they began to rise from their seats one by one.

Just as Luciella was about to stand, Countess Winchester clapped her hands lightly and said:

“Ah, Marchioness, you’ll be returning with the Marquis, right?”

“Pardon?”

“The men’s gathering should be ending soon too.”

Luciella blinked for a moment, not understanding.

“Men’s gathering?”

Was there a social gathering for men besides the tea party? But she hadn’t heard anything about that……

As Luciella tilted her head in confusion, the countess laughed merrily and spoke:

“Oh my, didn’t the Marquis tell you? Our husbands had a light horseback riding session today.”

“What? Horseback riding?”

This was completely news to her. At Luciella’s reaction, the countess seemed greatly amused and couldn’t stop laughing. Then she carefully wrapped her arm around Luciella’s shoulders and began leading her somewhere.

“I thought as much. I wondered why the Marquis would arrange such a gathering himself……”

At the place the countess led her to, Enoch was standing, looking as if he had just dismounted from a horse.

“Hoho, then I’ll take my leave here……”

The countess tactfully patted Luciella’s back and disappeared from sight. Enoch, who had been adjusting his attire at the sound of approaching footsteps, turned his head toward Luciella.

“Luciella!”

Upon discovering her, he ran over with a brighter face than ever, smiling broadly. But unlike Enoch’s expression, Luciella’s face was slightly crumpled.

“Enoch, what is all this?”

“Ah, I just happened to receive a horseback riding invitation from the count……”

“Don’t lie. I heard you were the one who proposed it to the count first.”

“……”

At Luciella’s statement, Enoch momentarily lost his words and licked his lips. Then he answered in a small, dejected voice:

“I’m sorry, Luciella. I was just so worried……”

“What exactly are you so worried about? Enough to follow me to a gathering of ladies, of all places?”

At Luciella’s sharp tone, Enoch became even more downcast. His broad shoulders drooped uncharacteristically. Seeing this, Luciella also seemed to realize her mistake, sighing once before carefully patting his back.

“I didn’t mean to get angry. I was just a bit surprised……”

“I understand, I’m sorry. I was concerned that something unpleasant might happen at the gathering.”

“And if something unpleasant did happen? Were you planning to rush in and scold the other lady?”

“……”

“Good heavens, even parents of debutantes who’ve just had their coming-out don’t do that.”

“I’m sorry, my thinking was shortsighted.”

Luciella sighed briefly and looked around. Then she took Enoch’s hand and headed toward where the carriage was waiting.

“Let’s go back to the estate for now.”

* * *

“You’re banned from approaching me for a week.”

“What? No, Luciella. That’s too extreme……!”

“Every time you approach me, I’ll add another week.”

“Luciella, stop joking.”

“I’m not joking, Enoch.”

Luciella firmly drove her point home, commanding Enoch.

“I’ve been relying on you too much lately.”