Chapter 2

She rode the train to Southern for two days. The two days spent in the third-class carriage, filled with unpleasant smells and noise, were quite exhausting. Eleanor disembarked with a somewhat tired face. Southern’s train station was bustling with people.

“Move! Move!”

Eleanor was startled to see a boy running roughly in her direction and quickly stepped aside. However, the boy was caught by the neck by a station attendant and dragged away. It seemed he had been caught trying to ride without a ticket. But Eleanor was the only one surprised; others briefly glanced and then coldly turned away.

Eleanor briefly observed her surroundings and then naturally turned around. She started walking in the direction where people were flocking. As expected, the entrance to Southern Station appeared.

“…”

Once she left the train station, the central street of Southern was revealed. Large roads and well-maintained paths, fruit and food stalls, and flower shops on the first floors of three-story buildings composed a lively city. It was incomparable to Kent.

Eleanor managed to suppress the urge to exclaim in awe with superhuman strength, but she couldn’t help covering her mouth with one hand. It was irresistible.

“Are you Miss Hudson?”

She came to her senses when someone called her name. Eleanor turned towards the direction of the voice in surprise.

“Yes, that’s me. Excuse me, but who are you…?”

“I’m Ash Manderton, the driver from the Claven Duchy.”

“Oh, Mr. Manderton. Nice to meet you.”

Ash smiled at Eleanor’s greeting. Dressed in a vest and jacket, Ash seemed too polite for a mere servant.

“Feel free to call me Ash. I’ve been sent by the Madam.”

“I didn’t expect them to send someone ahead.”

“Please give me your luggage.”

Ash took Eleanor’s luggage and loaded it into the car first. Eleanor, unfamiliar with automobiles, awkwardly accepted Ash’s help to get into the car.

As the car moved, the scenery of Southern began to change. Everything felt different.

The car carrying Eleanor drove for a while and entered the quiet entrance of the Duke’s estate. The green leaves of the plane trees lining the well-maintained stone path waved as if welcoming the guest.

The blowing wind rustled and shook the leaves. The sunlight filtering through felt warm.

“…It’s very large.”

Eleanor, who had been leisurely enjoying the surroundings, paused when she noticed the gate and bars surrounding the mansion as if protecting it.

The iron gate intricately depicting the Claven family’s emblem was impressive, but the scene beyond was even more so. A three-story building existed with a mountain-like bulk. It was a building carved from stone, as natural as the passage of time.

“Well, it is the Claven Duchy.”

Ash answered Eleanor’s murmur with a smile. The car began to slow down as it reached the entrance of the mansion. The guards checked the car’s license plate and opened the gate.

“But the Duke Claven and his family are all kind, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

The car passed the long path leading from the gate to the main building. The gardens on both sides of the path were lively and beautifully landscaped, making the long path not boring.

It was a different world. The house she had lived in was enough for Eleanor, but compared to the Claven Duchy, it was not even a separate house. It was thrilling yet intimidating.

* * *

‘There was a message from the Grand Madam that you should rest comfortably as Miss Olivia and she is out, Miss Hudson. I will have a maid show you to your quarters, so please rest comfortably.’

It was when Eleanor had just gotten out of the car. As if expecting the scheduled guest, the head butler, George O’Neil, approached Eleanor and conveyed Cindy Claven’s words.

It was fortunate for Eleanor, who was worried about meeting her employer immediately. Thanks to Cindy taking Olivia out, she could wash and tidy up her body, which had become grimy after being stuck in the train for two days.

The room given to Eleanor even had an attached bathroom, which was better than what she had enjoyed at the Hudson Viscountcy. This level of comfort could lead to extreme satisfaction in living.

Of course, that would only be possible if she didn’t get fired.

“Miss Eleanor, I’ll bring your meal.”

It was when she was pondering what to teach Olivia, who was eight years old that a maid came with a large tray, announcing it was dinner time. Simple dishes were placed on the tray.

“The Madam hasn’t returned yet.”

Even though Eleanor was scheduled to work as a tutor, she was still a guest who hadn’t even seen the faces of the hosts.

Since none of the household owners had invited her, she couldn’t be guided to the dining room, nor could she be allowed to eat with servants like the maids. Thus, Butler George ordered Eleanor’s meal to be delivered to her room.

“Thank you.”

At Eleanor’s expression of gratitude, the maid awkwardly smiled and quickly left the room.

Despite the world changing significantly, the position of a noble tutor was like an isolated island. It was considered a job for unmarried women who didn’t want to work like maids, even if they were fallen nobles. A troublesome kind who earned money like other employees but kept their noses high like the upper class. Just that much.

But even if treated like that, Eleanor wanted to escape the Hudson Viscountcy. Kent was too small and unchanging, and living with Charles, who was always drunk, was tiring beyond boredom. And most importantly…

‘Do what you want, Eleanor.’

Using her deceased mother’s will as an excuse, she wanted to enter university. Charles said a woman’s fate was to catch a wealthy man and live a smooth life, but Eleanor, who grew up watching Charles, didn’t think so.

Rather than relying on a man’s wealth, she could earn money herself. She was sick of having an unknown man shake her life like her father.

“So I have to earn money.”

As much as possible. In that sense, the job as a tutor at the Claven Duchy was perfect. The Duchy did not spare expenses in hiring people to work in their mansion.

Olivia, whom Eleanor had to teach, was only eight years old, and since it would take eight more years for her to become an adult, Eleanor could earn a considerable amount of money until then, as long as she wasn’t fired.

“Let’s not be swayed by sentiment, Eleanor.”

Eleanor resolutely vowed and began her meal. Compared to the menu eaten by members of the Claven Duchy, it might be simple, but compared to the dry and tough bread at the Hudson Viscountcy, it was heaven.

Perhaps because of that, she ate excessively compared to usual. Eleanor chose to take a walk to soothe her bloated stomach. She hadn’t heard she could wander freely, but she wouldn’t be scolded just for taking a stroll in the garden.

“The weather is nice.”

Though it was summer night, it was still early, and Ledan’s summer wasn’t humid, making it cool. Eleanor leisurely walked along the path where lamps were lit intermittently. With each deep breath, the fresh air filled her chest refreshingly.

“Hic.”

At that moment, Eleanor paused at the sound of a small cry. At first, she thought it was an animal, but the continuous sound was undeniably a child’s cry. Eleanor cautiously looked around and moved toward the direction of the sound.

It was strange to have a child in the mansion who wasn’t a servant, but it seemed unusual for the child to be crying alone.

“Is anyone there?”

At Eleanor’s question, the sound stopped, accompanied by the rustling of leaves being stepped on. Eleanor pushed aside the drooping branches with her hand and gazed beyond the well-groomed bushes. A small, dark figure was moving frantically, seemingly startled.

“…Ah!”

Something jumped out like an animal and collided with her. Eleanor instinctively staggered but managed not to fall, while the girl who collided with her fell to the ground.

A loud wail erupted, apparently startled. Because of that, Eleanor didn’t hear the heavy iron gate open and the car entering the garden.

“Are you okay?”

Eleanor hurriedly approached the child, helped her up, and dusted off her messy dress, checking her condition. Her tangled hair and tear-stained face were in disarray, but the dress was exceptionally luxurious.

“I didn’t mean to harm you. I heard crying and wanted to check.”

Eleanor was awkwardly trying to soothe the sobbing girl.

“Olivia?”

A car stopped midway on the path leading to the mansion, and a man neatly dressed in a suit stepped out. At the deep voice, Eleanor turned to look at the person who had gotten out of the car.

As she became accustomed to the headlights, the man’s form became clear. A man impressively tall, with a body that appeared exceptionally solid and long limbs. The atmosphere surrounding him was so commanding that the suit seemed like a uniform.

“Logan!”

The sobbing girl called the man’s name and ran to embrace him. The man, not looking surprised, easily lifted and held the not-so-small body, patting her back soothingly. Eleanor blinked in surprise, reflecting on the situation.

The name of the child who had been crouching like an animal in the garden was Olivia, a child too young to be of value as a servant in the mansion. And the name of the man with brown hair and water-colored eyes who had gotten out of the car to comfort Olivia was Logan.

“I greet you, Duke Claven.”

There was only one possibility.