Eloise, staring outside in disbelief, turned away as the strong light began to hurt her eyes.

The afterimage of the sunlight briefly clouded her vision.

As she blinked slowly, everything gradually came into focus. She gazed blankly at the familiar, yet now chaotic, living room with furniture scattered everywhere.

“That’s right. This is my house.”

Yesterday, the bridge had collapsed, leaving them isolated, and they had come home.

She was lying on the sofa, which had been moved to avoid the leaking roof.

She clearly remembered, before falling asleep, seeing Ryan checking the fire in the fireplace. As she drifted off, she recalled thinking about his back, wondering if all soldiers had bodies like that…

As she remembered this, Eloise realized her neck was turning red and shook her head.

Last night, what happened between the two of them went no further than a kiss. Honestly, it could have gone beyond that. But just as things were about to deepen, Ryan had pulled away.

Then, with the most serious expression, he said,

“In a situation like this, I don’t want to hold you.”

He continued, kissing her hand again and again as he spoke.

“No matter what, I’ll do my best to get us out of here. And after I’ve made everything clear before everyone, I’ll take your hand without shame.”

With a look of great struggle, he told her to rest for now and gently laid her on the sofa.

“Ryan.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t mind, though.”

At her words, his face flushed so red it looked ready to burst, and he turned away, running a hand over his face.

“If your goal was to drive me mad even in a moment like this, you’ve succeeded, Eloise.”

At his reply, Eloise smiled quietly and pulled the blanket over herself.

She had worried she wouldn’t be able to sleep because of her pounding heart, but as soon as she lay on the sofa, the exhaustion from running around all day hit her, and her eyes closed in an instant.

The last thing she saw was him kissing her forehead and tending the fire to keep her warm.

“Ha…”

Recalling last night, Eloise let out a long breath.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Eloise immediately ran to the front door and opened it.

“Ryan!”

“You’re awake.”

She saw Ryan approaching with a smile, and behind him, the clear blue sky.

“When did the rain stop?”

“A few hours ago, it faded away as if it had never been, and the clouds cleared in an instant. But…”

He took her hand as she stepped outside, his face turning a little serious.

“When you see Feltham, you’d better brace yourself.”

At his words, Eloise calmed her excitement and nodded with a serious expression.

She remembered the torrents of earth that had poured down in the rain. And the other houses swept away by the mud.

When she walked with him and looked down the hill—

“Ah…”

She had braced herself, but a sigh escaped her lips before she knew it.

The peaceful view of Feltham she always saw when leaving the house was gone. All that remained was red earth and houses completely collapsed.

The lower floors were crushed by the mud, and the second floors had fallen in as well.

“It’s… truly devastating.”

But not every house had been destroyed.

Turning her head, she saw that some houses, like hers, remained intact. The shape of the hill had barely held back the landslide, saving the houses that stood even a little higher.

Nearby, livestock that their owners hadn’t managed to evacuate wandered about, bleating in relief when they saw Eloise and Ryan.

“And look, people are coming from Blissbury.”

Eloise saw people approaching. Several wagons were coming, loaded with ropes and tools.

Ryan, waving to the people, continued to explain to Eloise.

“As soon as the sky cleared, I came out to check. As we planned yesterday, Richard came back and searched for a way out.”

He pointed to a spot beside the hill.

“That’s where the mudslide is narrowest. When the others arrive, they’ll tie ropes between the trees on both sides.”

Just as he said, the people who had reached the other side waved their hands in greeting.

“Sergeant Thornton! Miss Eloise! Are you both all right?”

Hearing the villager’s cheerful voice, Eloise waved back and called out loudly.

“We’re fine, Mr. Foster! How is Blissbury? Are all the villagers safe?”

That was what she was most anxious to know.

‘Had everyone made it out safely? Was anyone still buried somewhere in this devastation?’

“Some people evacuated the other way, so I can’t say for sure, but no one who went to Blissbury is in critical danger!”

At those words, Eloise breathed a sigh of relief. When she had first arrived in Feltham yesterday, there had been people so injured they couldn’t even stand.

Just then, another wagon approached from behind. Someone jumped down and ran quickly toward her.

“Miss! Are you all right?!”

It was Emily. As soon as Emily saw Eloise standing there, she burst into tears and collapsed onto the ground.

She must have worried terribly all night.

After confirming Eloise’s safety, Emily said she would cross as soon as the rope was secured and hurried back to the wagon.

She began unloading cooking utensils, firewood, and food from Blissbury, preparing to feed the workers.

“It’ll take a little while. We should eat something too.”

The two of them returned to the house at once.

“Should I make stew again, like yesterday?”

“That sounds good. If you make enough, the others can eat as soon as they cross. Is there anything I can help with?”

“Then please rekindle the fire in the hearth. It’s gotten quite low.”

At her request, Ryan immediately went to the fireplace and stirred the ashes with a poker. Then he called to Eloise as she headed for the kitchen.

“Make a lot, please. It was really delicious yesterday.”

“Don’t you think that compliment is a little late?”

“I know, that’s why I’m saying it so loudly now.”

Eloise chuckled and headed to the kitchen.

She really did plan to make plenty.

By lunchtime, they finally succeeded in securing the rope. With ropes tied tightly at intervals above and below, Richard was the first to cross.

He checked several times to make sure nothing came loose, but everyone watched anxiously. Below the rope, the current—though weaker—still rushed with rocks and gravel.

As soon as Richard crossed, he grabbed Ryan in a hug.

Ryan grimaced and pushed him away. Laughter erupted from the other side, and soon others began to cross.

Among them, Emily came over as well.

“Miss!”

Emily ran to Eloise, voice trembling, and hugged her tightly. She was shaking, clearly scared from crossing the rope.

“Why did you come? You could have stayed on the other side.”

“I—hic—I couldn’t just do that.”

Eloise hugged Emily, who had run to her in worry, even tighter. After sobbing for a while, Emily began to describe the situation in Blissbury.

“It was like a battlefield there, too. But Sir Osborne managed things well, so there weren’t any big problems. Even Miss Julia was helping for once.”

“And my mother?”

“Don’t even ask. As soon as she heard you were stranded in the village, she fainted. She cried for a long time after waking up.”

“……”

Eloise felt her throat tighten at Emily’s words.

She was the only child of the Surberton family. Though her mother often nagged her, she knew it was all out of love.

But now, with her father away and her mother facing this disaster alone, how hopeless must she have felt?

“But early this morning, Sir Cameron, who came to check on things here, heard from Sergeant Thornton that you were safe. He rushed back to tell us. Thanks to that, your mother was much calmer before I left. She’ll probably come here this afternoon.”

With that, Emily wiped away her tears and released Eloise.

“I’ll go inside first.”

Apparently eager to clean, Emily hurried into the house. Eloise shook her head, unable to resist, and followed her inside.