Ryan looked at Eloise.

She was staring at him, her lips slightly parted, an expression of disbelief on her face at his words.

Eloise’s current state was such that it would be impossible to call her presentable, even as a polite lie.

She had come inside and quickly wiped herself down, but only enough to get the worst of the mud off.

Unlike her usual neat appearance, her hair was still damp and curling wildly in all directions, and her clothes, hurriedly pulled on, were wrinkled everywhere.

If she walked out to meet people like this, anyone would think she’d just returned from a day of backbreaking labor—Eloise looked a mess.

And yet, to Ryan’s eyes, she looked more beautiful than ever.

He recalled how Eloise had looked earlier that day.

She had been struggling alone in the downpour, trying to move the boulder blocking the barn. The moment he saw her, he felt both relief at having found her and a surge of anger.

The bridge and embankment could have collapsed at any moment. She had entered the village to find a child, knowing that if the structures gave way, she would be swept away instantly.

And it wasn’t even her own family’s child.

It was admirable. Risking yourself for others was the noblest thing anyone could do.

He, too, had always been taught that. He had lived with pride, pledging to lay down his life for his country and people.

He always felt respect for comrades who risked themselves in dangerous situations—so why did seeing Eloise throw herself into danger, without a thought for her own safety, make him feel as if the sky was falling?

Ryan looked at her, still unable to speak, her lips moving but no words coming out.

She had unsettled him from the very first time they met.

He had thought, during his stay here, that if nothing else, this was someone he would never grow close to.

Hadn’t he even deliberately avoided embarrassing her when returning the painting she’d left at the dinner table?

But after Mr. Surberton’s absence brought her to Blissbury, the resolve he’d had at first melted away as quickly and completely as spring snow.

Whenever he heard her laughter from the top of the stairs, Ryan would find himself drawn up, as if hypnotized, to seek her out.

And every time he saw her enjoying herself with others, chatting and laughing, he would approach for no reason, making teasing remarks out of an unexplainable restlessness and unease.

Whenever he did, Eloise would frown and glare at him.

But Ryan liked that look on her face.

Because in those moments, she was focused on him alone.

And now, as Eloise looked at him with a face that seemed not to know what she’d heard, Ryan realized there were still many expressions of hers he had never seen—and that this current look was the most endearing of all.

More disheveled and exhausted than ever, she made Ryan’s heart pound.

He recalled what Eloise had said to him a moment ago.

That he looked even more handsome tonight.

It was such a trivial thing to say. In the capital’s social circles, he’d heard that phrase so often at every party that he’d grown numb to it.

And most of the time, people had meant it sincerely.

Back then, it hadn’t moved him at all—yet now, that simple compliment, said almost as a joke, made his heart race.

His heartbeat grew even more intense.

With both of them silent, only the sound of rain and the crackling fireplace filled the house.

Ryan slowly raised his hand. He gently brushed aside the damp hair clinging to her forehead.

Though he had already done it several times, and there was no more hair left to move, his fingers still carefully traced her forehead.

His hand slowly moved downward. With the utmost care, as if handling the most delicate and fragile thing in the world, he cupped Eloise’s cheek.

Feeling the warmth of her skin in his palm, Ryan was filled with relief once again.

He had almost lost her forever today.

If he had found her even a little later, the collapsed embankment would have swept away both her and Andrew without mercy.

Only now, thinking back to that moment, did Ryan’s hand begin to tremble.

Just then, Eloise raised her own hand and held his hand against her cheek.

“Ah.”

Her action made Ryan realize what he was doing.

Eloise was still shaken by the fear of what had happened that day.

And yet, here they were, isolated together, and the man suddenly reached out to her.

“I’m sorry, I…”

He felt only regret, thinking he might have become another source of fear for her. As Ryan hurriedly tried to pull his hand away—

“I’m not afraid.”

Eloise held his hand and said those words.

Hearing that, Ryan wore the same expression Eloise had just moments before—one of disbelief, not knowing how to respond.

The flickering fire cast dizzying shadows over the faces of the two as they looked at each other.

“I’m not afraid.”

Eloise’s words were no lie. There was not a trace of fear in her eyes as she looked at him.

Eloise trusted him.

She had absolute faith that nothing he did would ever harm her.

That unwavering trust filled Ryan with a warmth he could not explain.

He had seen that look in her eyes once before.

It was when she had defended Ryan Wilgrave. Absurdly, Ryan felt envious of himself—of Ryan Wilgrave, who received infinite trust from a woman living in this remote countryside, something Ryan Thornton could never have.

And now, Eloise was looking at him with the same eyes.

Her warmth traveled through their joined hands.

It was the same warmth he had felt on the night of the ball, while they danced excitedly in the empty corridor.

The first joy, the first fluttering of his heart—everything was there in that warmth.

When he said he would leave, Ryan had steeled himself, knowing he would never feel that warmth again.

He had told himself it was fine, that this fluttering was just a fleeting whim.

But the warmth passing from her hand to his now set his heart ablaze.

Ryan realized it then.

He had fallen hopelessly, clumsily in love.

Eloise closed her eyes. Ryan’s face slowly moved closer to hers.

Their breaths mingled. Ryan hesitated for a moment.

He had said he would leave. He had resolved to return to the capital and live as if Blissbury had never existed. He was certain of it, and yet…

His lips touched Eloise’s, slowly.

In that moment, he couldn’t think of anything else.

Her lips were the softest, warmest thing he had ever known. Now, only one thought remained in his mind.

A little more.

He wanted to sink deeper into this warmth, given to him without fear.

Their lips met, their breaths mingled. The sound of wet skin entwined with heated breaths, fading into the rain.

The kiss was slow and deep. Both were clumsy, as if it was their first time, but soon they found the most comfortable way to explore each other.

“Ah…”

Their fingers intertwined tightly.

In a world covered by rain, the two of them kept kissing.

As if this was the only thing left to do in a world where only they remained.

***

“Mm…”

Suddenly, Eloise’s vision filled with light. Even with her eyes closed, a bright red glow shone through, and she instinctively pulled the blanket up over her face.

And then, after a moment—

“Light?”

Startled by what she saw, she bolted upright and opened her eyes.

She immediately rushed to the window. Beyond the glass, she saw a sky so blue and cloudless it was hard to believe.

The rain had stopped.