Chapter 9

“I promised. Just one day on Sunday, to be together.”

“Yes. Just for one day.”

Satisfied with the confirmation, Usher left late at night. Eleanor turned only after Usher’s car passed through the gates of the duchy and completely disappeared from view.

“Ellie.”

As she reached the front door, Olivia approached hesitantly, looking sorrowful with her red eyes. Behind Olivia stood Logan, like a grim reaper. Though there was no fierce expression, his face was impassive. Of course, his innate aura made him intimidating nonetheless.

“Olive did something wrong.”

Her voice was still filled with sobs. Logan, who had never once been angry with Olivia while watching over her, seemed to have not let this unexpected major incident slide.

“It’s okay. I’m not angry.”

Eleanor bent down to meet Olivia’s gaze. Olivia, who looked sullen, glanced at her brother’s expression.

“I’m fine.”

“Olivia, go upstairs first.”

When Eleanor cautiously expressed her intention, Logan firmly told Olivia, who was clutching Eleanor’s skirt and refusing to let go, to go to the bedroom and prepare for sleep.

The reaction was so shocking to Olivia, who was always held and comforted by Logan, that she nodded with a gloomy face and climbed the central stairs. Though she hesitated and looked back several times, she stopped once she realized Logan was standing there, watching her with a blank expression, and returned to her bedroom.

“I’m sorry, Miss Hudson.”

Logan apologized briefly. Eleanor, unexpectedly hearing an apology from Logan, blinked awkwardly, standing at the stone steps leading to the front door.

“I scolded her harshly, so she won’t run out recklessly during class again.”

I was going to teach her from tomorrow anyway. 

She felt sorry for letting Logan take on the bad role.

“Olivia didn’t act knowing this would happen.”

“I felt I had been too indulgent with Olivia’s whims, so I did it.”

However, Logan calmly explained that it was simply time to do so, rather than scolding Eleanor for her negligence that led him to reprimand Olivia.

It might be because he disliked causing trouble for others, but it didn’t seem to be just for that reason. His gentle demeanor contrasted sharply with his sharp and somewhat sensitive appearance, like a finely carved statue.

“I just didn’t want Olivia to struggle with educational stress like I did.”

Eleanor could read the hardships of his life from a single sentence.

At twenty-four, Logan was a man who bore many burdens at a young age. The fact that he could lead this great family with such composure was backed by considerable effort. It was hard to imagine the child who couldn’t show signs of struggle while being educated and trained as the next head of the family from a very young age. Perhaps he didn’t even know how to rely on others.

“I worry if I’m too late realizing she was different from ordinary people.”

He must have wanted to give his sister, who was in a position where it wasn’t necessary, the freedom he didn’t have. Though their circumstances were different, Eleanor felt she understood his heart. She could also guess the level of affection he poured into his half-sister Olivia.

“Children grow and mature even when you can’t see it. They surprise you with how much they’ve come along.”

So she wanted to reassure him.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll handle the teaching, so you, Your Grace, can remain the dependable brother you’ve always been.”

Considering she hadn’t properly taught yet, Olivia must have been very surprised to be scolded harshly for a single mistake. Moreover, Logan was the only one Olivia relied on in this mansion, so the shock must have been doubled.

However, Eleanor knew better than anyone that the person scolding wouldn’t have felt good either. So Eleanor assigned him the role he most wanted to take.

“That’s why you hired me as a tutor.”

A lukewarm breeze blew from behind. At that moment, Logan smiled faintly. It was a face close to expressionless, not looking like he was smiling, but there was a very subtle difference.

“Did you finish your conversation with Usher well?”

“Yes. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t surprised, but… Neither exposing nor seeing the skin was intentional.”

Eleanor smiled slightly. Unlike Usher, who was flustered just by having seen Eleanor’s bare skin, Logan remained indifferent even when the incident was mentioned.

“He offered to show me around the city on Sunday as an apology.”

“Ah, as an apology.”

Sunday was a holiday anyway. It was an area Logan, merely an employer, couldn’t dare touch. Logan nodded with a face that seemed to understand.

“Feel free to go out and return as you wish.”

“Actually, I have a favor to ask.”

However, the unexpected story that followed made him falter a bit. Logan tilted his head in wonder.

* * *

“Usher!”

Was it already time for Usher to arrive?

Logan stood up from reading a letter sent from the Marquis of Persis, hearing Olivia’s bright voice beyond the window of his study. Through the fluttering curtains, he saw the blue garden and the path leading to the gate.

“Hello. Olive, you’re here too.”

As he roughly pulled aside the curtains and stepped onto the terrace, he saw the butler George, Eleanor, Olivia, and Usher, who had just gotten out of the car, at the entrance welcoming the guest. Usher, neatly dressed in a suit, greeted Olivia with an awkward smile, unable to hide his embarrassment.

“Eleanor.”

“I got permission from the Duke to go with Olivia.”

It seemed he wanted to ask if she intended to take Olivia along, but Eleanor calmly stated that she had already received Logan’s permission.

“I thought Olivia would want to see it too.”

Then she smiled knowingly, as if she knew how to make a man’s heart more anxious. Usher couldn’t bring himself to say no and lifted his gaze towards Logan, who was leisurely watching the scene.

Naturally, they weren’t one body, so it was unclear what Usher wanted to say with his eyes, but it was certainly something harsh. Logan shrugged slightly with his arms crossed, indicating he had no choice.

‘Can I take Olivia with us?’

Logan hadn’t pushed Olivia onto them. Eleanor had asked to take Olivia along.

‘Sunday is your holiday,  Miss Hudson and there’s no need to dedicate it to Olivia. You just take the pay for the work you do.’

Usher’s proposal was clearly a date, but Eleanor asked for permission to take Olivia along. It was good news for Olivia but a bolt from the blue for Usher. Naturally, Logan subtly refused, saying there was no need.

‘Then you can just give me a special allowance.’

‘Miss Hudson.’

‘I want to introduce Olivia to various worlds. To foster social skills.’

Yet how could he stop Eleanor from wanting to do so? Logan valued his sister more than his only friend. And above all…

Leaning against the terrace railing, Logan looked at Eleanor, dressed in a neat navy dress with a pink flower corsage pinned to her chest. Considering her bright blonde hair, she could have worn a lighter color, but unlike Olivia, who wore a chick-like light yellow dress, Eleanor’s appearance was somber.

“Logan! Olive is leaving!”

Olivia raised one hand high and waved it broadly towards Logan standing on the terrace, drawing his attention.

“I’m leaving!”

At that moment, Eleanor whispered something, and Olivia quickly changed her words. Specifically, she used more refined language. Still like a thunderbolt, she obediently followed the person she trusted and relied on, making Logan chuckle.

Logan unfolded his arms and waved one hand. Olivia, who was grinning, got into the car with Usher’s help. Eleanor, watching the scene, also bowed briefly to Logan. Logan responded with a short nod.

The car carrying Olivia and Eleanor drove along the smoothly paved road. Logan turned to return to his study only after confirming the car had left the gate.

‘Actually, I accepted the proposal impulsively. It might sound odd, but Olivia plays a role like my armor, so she’s essential.’

Suddenly, he recalled the voice that spoke honestly about the purpose of showing Olivia the world, which was merely a good pretext, and the resolute face.

‘Having Olivia with me will keep me from thinking about other things.’

Eleanor knew the gap between herself and the Fitzman Earldom and wanted to block any room for unnecessary desires. And Logan wanted to be considerate of Eleanor, who constantly tried to remind herself of her situation.

Allowing Usher’s courting behavior didn’t mean he intended to help his feelings bear fruit, so even if Usher resented him, there was nothing he could do. In any situation, the person who would be harmed or pitied was Eleanor, not Usher.

Thus, Logan believed his decision, which seemed almost like favoritism, was justified.