Bella’s explanation continued for quite some time. During this, Eloise learned more facts about her.

Bella had recently experienced a major personal tragedy. When she was unable to do anything, lost in despair, she met her current fiancé and barely managed to regain her senses because of him.

She had given her heart to him for comforting her during her most difficult time and promised to marry him, but recently, her fiancé’s behavior had become strange.

“…It’s not that I haven’t talked to him about it. When I told him what was bothering me, he said it was because I was being too sensitive. He said that if I keep doing this, it would be hard for him too…”

As she spoke, Bella’s hands were trembling.

“Every time he says that, I keep wondering. Is it really because I’m too sensitive? Will things get better once we’re married and I feel more secure? But whenever I think like this, I feel even more anxious…”

Eventually, Bella’s voice became tearful. Eloise gently held her hand.

“I think it’s only natural, Bella. It’s human nature to worry when facing something important. It’s not because you’re particularly sensitive.”

Perhaps this simple comfort reassured her. Bella’s tense expression softened.

As if her heart had opened up along with her expression, Bella took a sip of tea and spoke again.

“The reason I decided to get engaged to him was because he comforted me when I was at my lowest. When everyone was gossiping about me, he, a complete stranger, sincerely consoled me…”

Bella gave a bitter smile and dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.

“At first, I appreciated his kindness. But lately, he seems to be becoming more and more domineering… He’s so different from how he used to be that I’m confused, and when he says that I’m the one who’s changed, I feel even more bewildered…”

“Have you talked to other friends about this? Or have people around you said anything about your fiancé?”

“Well… my fiancé has certain circumstances that make him dislike meeting people. I only told a few people around me about our engagement, and he doesn’t seem to have told others. Plus, he rarely wants to go outside…”

Compassion showed on Bella’s face as she spoke about her fiancé.

“Actually, he used to be a soldier. After the war ended, he said he became disillusioned with everything and tends to stay indoors.”

“Ah, there are people like that.”

Eloise thought of Ryan. Wasn’t that exactly how he had been when he first came to Blissbury?

As she recalled the Ryan from long ago and sympathized with Bella’s story, time continued to pass. When the clock in the café showed 1 PM, Bella rose from her seat in surprise.

“Oh my, we’ve been chatting until this hour without even having lunch. So…”

Bella said to Eloise with a mysterious expression.

“If you don’t mind, would you like to have a meal at my house? And… actually, there’s a real reason why I asked to meet you today…”

Bella looked around, then whispered in Eloise’s ear.

“Actually, at my house…”

As she heard Bella’s whisper, Eloise’s eyes grew wider than ever before. Then, as if in disbelief, she asked:

“R-really… you found a model?”

Eloise took several deep breaths in the swaying carriage. Bella, sitting across from her, looked at her with concern, but Eloise couldn’t possibly explain why she was so flustered.

‘She found a model… she found a n*de model!’

The moment Bella whispered those words, Eloise felt as if her heart would leap out of her mouth.

What had Bella first asked her?

‘She asked if I liked male bodies.’

At first, it had led to a discussion on the aesthetics of n*de paintings. As their conversation lengthened, Eloise remembered how both of them had whispered about wanting to see a proper model.

That’s when Bella had said, “Shall I find one?” and Eloise, thinking it was a joke, had replied, “Oh, that would be wonderful.”

Since there had been no further mention of it, she had assumed it was just a jest, but to think Bella had actually gone through with it.

In a mixture of joy and confusion, Eloise found herself being led by Bella’s hand onto a carriage. And now here they were.

Bella, who had been looking outside, said in a bright voice:

“We’ve arrived!”

At those words, Eloise turned her head to look out the window.

In that moment, Eloise couldn’t help but be just as surprised as when she had heard about the n*de model.

A massive mansion appeared before them. It wasn’t the grandeur that surprised her; she had seen plenty of splendor before. Eloise was shocked because she recognized this mansion.

‘This is Baroness Surrier’s mansion!’

After learning about the Ryan impersonator, she had seen this mansion while walking through the city with Ryan. Amazed by its unusual size, she had been staring at it when a passing citizen informed her that it belonged to Baroness Surrier.

At that time, Ryan had given her a meaningful look, as if to say, “Please don’t even think about going inside.”

‘And now I’m entering?’

At Bella’s word, the firmly closed gates of the mansion opened. For the past few days, Ryan had been worrying about how to get into this place, and now she was entering so easily?

‘Then Bella must be…’

Suddenly, the puzzle pieces began to fit together in Eloise’s mind.

Arabella Primrose, Baroness Surrier. Bella must be short for Arabella! The major personal tragedy she mentioned must be her parents’ death. And the man who comforted her then must be the fake Ryan.

‘That explains why he doesn’t want to leave the mansion.’

Because he’s a fake. Nobles frequently visit Bringport, and there are quite a few officers who are close to them. If he were to wander around outside claiming to be Ryan, he would be exposed immediately…

His excuse was plausible too. Pretending to be tormented by the deaths of former comrades, he would claim to avoid people.

As the puzzle pieces fell into place, everything Bella had confided in the café now made complete sense.

‘What should I do now?’

In the carriage slowly entering the mansion, Eloise’s mind raced. Looking up, she saw Emily, surprised by the unexpected situation.

‘If I had known this would happen, I should have told Emily and Garner!’

Since the fake Ryan matter was supposed to be handled with utmost secrecy, she had deliberately not told them. It seemed unnecessary to worry them.

‘Still, if I could somehow explain and send Emily or Garner to Ryan…’

While she was thinking this, the carriage passed through the mansion’s courtyard, and simultaneously, the gates closed firmly. Watching the servants lock them securely, Eloise sensed:

‘It seems they won’t let Emily and Garner leave until I do!’

They weren’t hostile, but they were clearly cautious about outsiders coming and going.

After all, it was said that the mansion wasn’t receiving visitors.

‘Though Arabella is a baroness, there’s no heir yet…’

Hadn’t Ryan mentioned that while her relatives weren’t villainous enough to harm her for her fortune, they were still being cautious just in case?

But now that she saw it, it seemed less like caution and more like the servants deeply caring for her.

‘Well, if she had never left the mansion, neither I nor the fake Ryan would have met her!’

It seemed she had quietly left the mansion alone and encountered the fake Ryan while wandering around.

‘But… even if I send Emily to Ryan, there’s not much he can do right now!’

Even if Emily went out and called him, he couldn’t enter this place. In that case, it might be better to stay quiet and return later.

‘I promised Ryan though, this is bad.’

As if the Sinclair incident had become a trauma, Ryan couldn’t bear to see Eloise in even slightly dangerous situations. His nagging about being careful and not doing certain things was annoying, but she could feel his concern, and he never crossed a certain line.

For this matter, such a Ryan had made her promise several times. He had begged her, please, not to get involved with the fake Ryan situation.

‘But this wasn’t my intention!’

Wondering what to tell Ryan when she returned, Eloise followed Arabella out of the carriage.

“My lady!”

From among the standing servants, a maid with a lively impression jumped out to greet Arabella.

“Samber, everything alright?”

“Of course.”

Then Samber whispered in a small voice:

“The model has arrived and has been shown to the room.”

“Really? How is he?”

“Hush, you wouldn’t believe it. He’s tall and has an excellent physique! Though I haven’t seen everything yet…”

Samber subtly gave a thumbs up and whispered in a solemn voice:

“I think you’ve found the perfect model.”

At those words, the corners of Arabella’s mouth turned up. She took Eloise’s hand and headed inside.

“Let’s go, Ellie!”

At those words, Eloise entrusted Emily and Garner to the servants and followed Arabella. Judging by the servants’ attitudes, they would treat Emily and Garner kindly, so she wasn’t particularly worried.

‘If I’m worried about anything, it’s Ryan…’

She decided she would explain when she returned. But if he asked how she became friends with Arabella and why she came to this mansion…

Eloise broke into a cold sweat.

She couldn’t possibly say, “I came because she said she found a n*de model!”

‘What should I say? Should I just say we drew pictures together? It’s not a lie. I’m just not telling everything. But if he presses for details, I’ll have no choice but to tell the truth…’

‘Should I say I want to leave now?’

But the atmosphere wasn’t right for that. Above all, she didn’t want to.

Hadn’t she wanted to see a proper model for a very long time? Finally, the opportunity had arrived.

While various thoughts were going through her mind:

“Arabella? Who is that person?”

A strange voice filled with wariness was heard. The moment Eloise turned toward the owner of the voice.

“…!”

Eloise was shocked.

There stood Ryan Wilgrave.

Or more precisely…

‘The Ryan Wilgrave from the portrait!’