1. The Start of a Long Summer  ( Part 3)

Returning to her study, Cecilia chuckled softly, recalling Ethan’s stunned expression. The pen, gliding smoothly over the paper, frequently paused.

‘Of course, he must have been surprised. The Earl of Godwin he remembers would have been my father.’

But Cecilia had been just as surprised during their meeting. Thinking back to the moment Ethan stepped out of the carriage, her grip on the pen loosened slightly.

‘It was unexpected.’

She had vaguely imagined a simple, good-natured young man. Being four years younger than her, she had even thought of him as a cute younger brother. However, Ethan Hoffman, who stood before her, was nothing like what she had anticipated.

Standing well over six feet tall, with broad shoulders that commanded attention, his physique was imposing. Every movement hinted at the well-toned muscles beneath his clothes. Despite his thick chest, his waist was slender, and his long legs added to his striking appearance. His ordinary military uniform looked as regal as a Crown Prince’s ceremonial attire.

While his towering and sturdy build was impressive, it wasn’t entirely outside her expectations. As a graduate of the Military Academy, he must have trained his body rigorously. But his face—so strikingly handsome it bordered on excessive—was truly astonishing.

The moment Ethan stepped onto the estate’s lawn, those waiting for him collectively held their breath. His face was anything but simple; it was profoundly aristocratic. Perhaps due to his sharp eyes, he appeared slightly intimidating. When he squinted slightly, as if bothered by the glaring sunlight, the air around him seemed to cool.

‘It’s incredible that a person can look like that.’

His hair was jet black, as if it could absorb all the light in the world. The short military cut only emphasized his sharp and well-defined features. His skin was a healthy bronze, though it was hard to tell whether it was naturally dark or tanned from the sun.

But the most striking feature was undoubtedly his golden eyes. The moment Cecilia met his gaze, she felt every hair on her body stand on end. The vivid color, as if melted gold had been poured into them, etched itself deeply into her mind. His eyes were intensely sensual.

Cecilia’s tension broke the moment she extended her hand to greet Ethan. She had naturally expected him to kiss it lightly, but instead, he grasped it firmly without hesitation. The warmth of his hand, almost hot, enveloped hers completely. It seemed like a habit ingrained in him from shaking hands in the military.

‘That’s kind of cute.’

His expression when she revealed herself as the Earl of Godwin was priceless. Cecilia felt that his personality, as she had guessed from reading his letters, remained consistent. His innocence, which made him blush at the smallest things, and his unpretentious demeanor were quite endearing.

“I can’t seem to focus today; maybe I’ll step out a little early.”

With her thoughts more scattered than usual, Cecilia finished her afternoon tasks. Stretching, she stood up from her seat. Though it was a bit earlier than the scheduled dinner time, she doubted she could concentrate on work any longer if she stayed in her study.

When she entered the dining room, she saw Ethan already waiting in a white shirt. He looked much more relaxed than when he was dressed in his uniform. Cecilia greeted him as she walked past.

“You’re early. Did you get some rest?”

Screee.

At the sight of Cecilia, Ethan immediately stood up from his seat. It seemed like a reflex. His gaze followed her as she moved.

“Yes, thanks to your consideration, I rested well.”

“Don’t stand on ceremony. Make yourself at home. How’s the room? Is it comfortable?”

“It’s the best room I’ve ever stayed in.”

Perhaps embarrassed by his overly honest answer, Ethan’s cheeks turned slightly red. Cecilia chuckled softly and sat down.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Shortly after, Merilyn and Violet came down, and the meal began. Sitting across from Ethan, Violet barely touched her food, openly admiring his striking appearance.

“Wow, he’s really handsome.”

“Violet.”

Cecilia’s voice carried a stern tone of warning. However, this time, Merilyn sided with Violet.

“But it’s true. I completely understand how Violet feels.”

“Right?”

Merilyn grinned mischievously and directed a question at Ethan.

“Be honest, Ethan. You’ve heard this so often by now that it doesn’t even affect you anymore, right?”

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly. With a somewhat flustered expression, he shook his head.

“Not at all.”

Violet, who had already put down her cutlery, leaned forward and asked eagerly, 

“That can’t be true. You mean people around you just let someone this handsome be?”

Glance.

Cecilia’s eyes shifted toward Ethan. She couldn’t help but feel a bit curious about his response.

At that moment, Ethan turned his head toward Cecilia. With a slightly bewildered expression, he asked, 

“Am I… handsome?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you think so too, Madam?”

‘Is he serious?’

Cecilia raised her eyebrows slightly. Anyone with eyes could see how striking he was, but his gaze, fixed on her, was utterly innocent.

Cecilia, sensing his peculiar nervousness, slowly nodded.

“Yes, Mr. Hoffman, you’re very handsome.”

Shifting her gaze from him to her plate, Cecilia asked, 

“Have you really never heard that before?”

“A few times… I thought it was just polite flattery.”

“Well, you did mention you graduated from the Military Academy. And now you’re a soldier, so I suppose you’ve mostly been surrounded by men.”

Merilyn, who had been quietly listening to the exchange, murmured softly, 

“A diamond buried in the dirt…”

Cecilia added a calm compliment, 

“If you didn’t know before, you should now. Honestly, I was surprised when you stepped out of the carriage. It’s rare to see someone this handsome, even in the capital.”

A gentle smile spread across Ethan’s lips. In a voice tinged with faint embarrassment, he said, 

“I was surprised a lot today too. I’m usually not easily fazed.”

Cecilia nodded as she raised her wine glass.

“That seems to be the case. You couldn’t take your eyes off my face earlier.”

“That was because you’re so beautiful, Madam.”

Cecilia, who had been sipping her wine, nearly choked. She bent forward abruptly, barely avoiding spitting it out. The man who had startled her looked even more surprised, his eyes widening.

“Did I surprise you? My apologies.”

Cecilia dabbed at her lips with a napkin, her face slightly flushed. Quickly regaining her composure, she cleared her throat and replied, 

“I was a bit taken aback, but there’s no need to apologize.”

“I didn’t think you’d be surprised. You must hear that so often it’s tiresome.”

Ethan’s voice was steady, as though he was stating an obvious fact. He didn’t seem to be flattering her to gain favor, nor did he come across as a Casanova skilled in sweet-talking women. If anyone else had said such words, Cecilia would have immediately frowned in distaste, but she didn’t feel particularly annoyed.

‘Is it because he’s so good-looking?’

A beauty capable of making words feel more truthful—if that was a talent, it was certainly a unique one. Cecilia stared at Ethan for a moment before straightening her posture and speaking, as if unaffected by his words.

“…Finish your meal.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Cecilia continued her meal, though she couldn’t shake the feeling of someone’s gaze brushing against her cheeks. Her plate, which she would usually leave half-eaten, was completely cleared. It was a subtle change that no one noticed.