Chapter 5 (Part 2)

This morning, Celestia was preparing a meal in Kayev’s reception room under the butler’s orders. As she neatly arranged the silverware, a thorny gaze bore down on her. Lately, the butler had not bothered to hide his displeasure with her. However, Celestia, whose head was filled with thoughts of Kayev, had no time to care about such looks.

Only two days ago, she had rolled around on the sofa in this very reception room with Kayev. Trying hard to erase the memory from her mind, Celestia focused on setting the table. A short while later, Kayev, who had been training knights since early morning, returned and spotted Celestia, a broad smile spreading across his face.

“You, leave us.” 

Kayev said without even glancing at the butler. Bowen left the reception room with a deeply dissatisfied expression. 

“Have you been well? Nothing happened, right?” 

The atmosphere in the reception room changed instantly as soon as the butler disappeared. It had only been half a day since they had seen each other that morning. What could have possibly gone wrong in that time? Still Kayev asked after her well-being as he loomed over her with his large frame.

The man who had maintained a dignified demeanor in the butler’s presence had vanished, replaced by what felt like a spoiled puppy. Ignoring Celestia’s shaking head, Kayev pulled her into a tight embrace despite her being busy with preparations for the meal.

“Why are you doing this? I told Bowen not to assign you any tasks. I’ll have to remind him again later.” 

Kayev complained, planting loud kisses on her as she squirmed to escape his arms.

“You assigned me here, so I have to do my job. I can’t set the plates if you keep hugging me. Let go, will you?” 

Her elbow pushed his face away, as if she truly found him bothersome, and he let out a grumble.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while, but I really think you should stop working as a maid.”

At his casual but heartfelt remark, Celestia shook her head vigorously. That was the last thing she wanted.

“Please don’t.” 

Quitting her position as a maid was not a good choice for her right now. While she might be able to rely on his goodwill for the time being, she was certain it wouldn’t last forever. 

Even Celestia, inexperienced as she was, had an instinctive sense of caution. Lately, Kayev’s attitude seemed… Was it just lust for the first woman he had been with? 

Having been thrown into a cold world, she had grown somewhat cynical. Once, she had believed in eternal love and endless happiness, like something out of a book. But reality, as she had experienced it, was no fairy tale.

“Why not?” 

Kayev’s casual question felt unfair to Celestia. 

How could he ask why, as if he hadn’t experienced it himself?

“Because of what rumors might spread.” 

She replied, her tone colder than usual. Kayev remained silent for a moment. Of course, he knew exactly what Celestia was worried about. How could he not? Back in the days of Danverton Estate, being the sole recipient of her affection had often put him in difficult situations.

In some ways, his circumstances had been better back then. They were young, and Celestia’s affection had amounted to nothing more than the cute love confessions of a young noble lady. 

But now, both of them were adults, and their relationship had deepened far beyond what it had been before. 

Ever since the night he first spent with her, Kayev had been troubled by their situation. For now, he had only managed to keep Celestia tied to the main estate, but he knew some action was necessary. 

Setting aside all these complicated matters, Kayev simply hated the idea of her working as a maid. More precisely, he hated the fact that her status as a maid limited their relationship to this awkward state. 

He planned to resolve this issue soon. However, since the situation wasn’t yet clear, he couldn’t say anything to Celestia. He intended to share his plans with her only after everything was perfectly prepared.

While he hesitated with a bitter expression, Celestia began pushing him toward the table. 

“Just sit down. Sit and eat. If you don’t eat properly, I’ll get scolded.” 

She was urging him to sit at the table, which was now set for the meal. Caught off guard, Kayev took a seat at the table but quickly grabbed her arm as she tried to move away.

“Where are you going? Come here and sit. Eat with me.” 

Celestia, who was about to stand behind him to assist with the meal as maids typically did, stopped in her tracks when he held her back. 

Since becoming his personal maid, he often asked her to eat with him. She had refused several times before, but seeing him ask again today, Celestia felt her resolve waver slightly. 

Usually, she hesitated because of the watchful eyes in the dining room, but today, they were alone in the reception room. It should be fine… Besides, the high-quality food on the table looked particularly appetizing today. She had already thought several times while setting the table that she wanted to eat it. 

Unable to resist the sudden impulse, Celestia gave in to his invitation and took a seat at the table.

What wind had blown to make her sit so obediently? 

He looked at her with a slightly surprised expression, but soon turned it into a broad smile. Kayev scooted his chair closer to Celestia, who had seated herself a bit away from him, and gently reached his fingers to her cheek.

Feeling the heat radiating from their close proximity, Celestia, though uncomfortable, did not turn her head away. It was true that she resented him, but it was also true that she didn’t entirely dislike such actions from him.

She was starting to resent her heart, which pounded uncontrollably whenever she saw Kayev. It was no different now. His fingers lightly brushed her cheek, then carefully tucked her loose hair behind her ear, making her heart pound so loudly it felt as if it would burst.

“Is your diet poor? Why do you look thinner?”

Whether he knew her feelings or not, Kayev expressed concern for her physical condition. He had even ordered the staff to pay closer attention to the meals since her arrival, but perhaps the food didn’t suit her taste.

Forgetting to start his own meal, Kayev stroked her thinner cheeks and delicate wrists, which had lost weight since her days at the Danverton Estate. These were touches he could never have imagined back when she had been served as a noble lady.

Even back then, Kayev had occasionally stolen glances at her, thinking her pale skin looked incredibly soft. And now, having actually touched it, he found her skin was not only soft but tender to the point of being fragile. In fact, it wasn’t just her skin—Celestia herself seemed so delicate that she might shatter at any moment.

Kayev finally understood why people worried endlessly over things they held dear, fearing they might fly away if left alone or break if touched too roughly.

“Is the butler overworking you? If you’re okay with it, I’d like to intervene. I hate seeing you struggle, Celestia.”

His long fingers, which had gently held her hand, slipped under the cuff of her maid’s uniform to brush against her slender wrist, where he could feel her faint but steady pulse. Each beat against his rough fingertips sent a faint blush to the tips of his ears.

The thought of her fragile wrists enduring hard labor troubled him deeply, even though it was a situation he himself had created. This was something he needed to fix immediately. As he pondered how to stop Celestia from working, his hand continued to caress her wrist.

A short cough from Celestia snapped him out of his thoughts. Startled, Kayev realized how he must have appeared—like a despicable nobleman harassing a powerless maid.

He quickly and gently placed her hand back where it belonged. He hadn’t sat her beside him with the intention of teasing her, but lately, just seeing her face seemed to short-circuit his brain, making his body react before he could think.

Given how things had started, he knew he should show more restraint. Otherwise, she would have every right to accuse him of being shameless. Kayev silently vowed that, at least for today, he wouldn’t do anything inappropriate. If possible, he’d be content just holding her hand for a while.

Contrary to Celestia’s assumptions, it wasn’t mere lust that drove Kayev’s desire for her.

“For now, it’s important that you eat well. The food you’ve had until now must have been lacking. Is there anything in particular you’d like to eat?”

Celestia didn’t bother answering his question. Of course, there were many things she wanted to eat. One of the hardest adjustments since being expelled from a luxurious estate and becoming a commoner was the lack of proper meals.

She stared blankly at the table she had set. Lavish dishes she hadn’t seen in nearly a year were laid out before her. Just a few weeks ago, she had trembled over stealing a single sugar cube. It seemed being favored by the master had its perks.

Celestia thought bitterly to herself. As she instinctively placed the napkin on her lap and picked up the salad knife, she let out a small, ironic laugh. Even in her current state, her body remembered the etiquette she had learned as a child.

Sitting at a grand table in a maid’s uniform, dining with refined manners—it was a scene that would invite ridicule if anyone saw it.

Feeling increasingly miserable, Celestia tore her bread apart with irritation. Since things had come to this, she resolved to eat as much of the delicious food as she could.