The Cowardly Young Lady and the Escort Knight

Chapter 12: First Day Getting to Know Each Other (5)

Sir Albert came out of the door and walked down the corridor.

The sunlight streaming through the window was incredibly bright, yet it failed to illuminate the face of the knight passing through it.

‘How could this possibly happen?’

No matter how many times he reconsidered, it was astounding.

As a nobleman himself, he knew that engagements were things made and broken according to the political climate.

However, it was uncommon for the side that had earnestly requested it to be the one to break it off.

Unless something occurred to make them enemies, they usually proceeded as planned out of consideration for appearances.

Yet, Count Trebble had calmly committed such an act.

‘I knew he was one to pursue profit over reputation…, but to this extent……!’

Sir Albert rubbed his eyelids and let out a heavy sigh.

‘However, there was something even more infuriating……!’

His eyes wide with anger, he went down to the inner courtyard. He then walked unhesitatingly to the innermost area, approaching the lord's eldest son, Heyve, who was watching his friends kick a ball.

Judging by how the foolishly smiling face hardened instantly upon seeing him, it seemed Heyve guessed the reason Sir Albert sought him out.

In that case, things would be quick.

Sir Albert gave a slight bow and then spoke to his future lord, who was looking at him with eyes that screamed a desire to flee immediately.

“Could you spare a moment? Young Master Heyve.”

“……”

Though phrased as a request, it was practically an order.

Sighing deeply, Heyve nodded his head.

After exchanging a few words with his friends, he trudged along behind Sir Albert.

As soon as they reached a secluded spot, Sir Albert glared at the young master and began to speak.

“Do you find this amusing?”

“No, it’s not like I wanted this either. You know my father’s personality. There was nothing I could do!”

“Do you think that’s why I’m acting this way! What exactly was Loren to you, Young Master!”

The knight’s expression grew even fiercer as the young man flinched.

“Didn't you say you fell in love the moment you first laid eyes on her? You even declared you couldn't marry anyone but her! This engagement began because of those words of yours!”

“Th-that’s……”

“But what now? You dislike the young lady of House Rosepole because she’s like a beggar’s foot wrap? Did you throw the love you proclaimed so loudly to the dogs? Did the wild goose fly away carrying your affection along with it?! ‘I cannot do this because of Loren!’ How could you possibly not have said those words!”

To elevate the family's glory.

That was the duty and means of survival for those born into nobility.

In other words, it meant possessing greater power than anyone else, ensuring other families could not carelessly challenge them.

Their care for the common folk stemmed from this, and even abandoning benevolence and righteousness at times were all choices made for the family's benefit.

Therefore, Sir Albert could, to an extent, understand the Count’s actions.

It was just that the party involved was his deeply cherished niece, causing all but a sliver of reason to be consumed by his fury.

And Heyve’s attitude was fuel added to that fire.

The fellow who had eagerly courted and clung to her even before the engagement was finalized had failed to invoke love when confronting his father's intention to break it.

How could such behavior not be called despicable!

“I am truly disappointed, Young Master…! I will never forget how you’ve allowed Loren to become a laughingstock……!!”

Sir Albert delivered his stern warning and immediately turned and walked away.

Heyve watched the fuming knight depart, then, as if his strength suddenly failed him, he slumped to the ground right where he stood.

“Damn……!”

Muttering a curse directed at no one in particular, he tore out some nearby grass and threw it away carelessly.

The unjustly plucked leaves drifted futilely through the air before settling onto the ground.

* * * * *

In the heavy silence of the room, only the faint sound of clattering could be heard.

Although the food had lost its warmth, the inherent flavors should have remained.

However, Patrick tasted nothing as he mechanically forced the food down.

In a way, this could be considered fortunate.

He hadn't felt much guilt while eating the steak, after all.

But he would have much rather forgone the meat than see his young mistress slumped on the sofa.

Patrick glanced towards the sofa again.

Her red hair, slightly visible just moments before, had now completely disappeared below the backrest.

With no one there to reprimand her, it seemed she had simply flopped down and sprawled out on the sofa.

The fact the Tutor had calmly announced……

She seemed deeply shocked by the news that she was to marry the Count’s eldest son in half a year.

‘Well, it was understandable.’

Not even a full day had passed since arriving at the castle, yet her marriage was already planned.

In other words, the Count had brought her here with the intention of marriage from the very start.

His claim of intending to repay the kindness received from her father, Marquis Rosepole, had been purely empty words.

Perhaps Cecilia was also hurt by the fact that it had all been a pretense?

Patrick pictured her lying listlessly on the sofa and stirred his stew, his heart growing heavier.

He felt he should say something.

But he didn’t know what would be appropriate to say.

Clumsy attempts at comfort would likely only deepen her gloom.

Just as his sighs deepened, Jenny wiped her mouth with a napkin and generously scooped pudding onto a clean plate.

Then, taking a fresh spoon, she approached the sofa.

“Um, Lady Cecilia.”

She then spoke, bending slightly towards Cecilia, who was presumably lying down.

“Would you like some pudding? You must be drained after shouting so loudly earlier, right? Sweet things are the best for times like these! Since Mrs. Haltt isn't here, I can feed it to you!”

“……I don’t want any.”

“Oh? But you seemed to enjoy it so much earlier, I thought you liked it……! Ah, perhaps you’re still full? That’s alright! Every woman has a separate stomach for dessert, you know. Would you like to try just one spoonful?”

“……It’s not mine.”

Cecilia mumbled in a listless voice.

“……If I eat it, the two of you can’t have any.”

“Not at all, Lady Cecilia.”

Patrick quickly interjected.

“I had no intention of eating it from the start. Sweet things don’t really agree with my palate……”

“……It didn’t seem that sweet.”

“It is to me. I don’t particularly care for any sweetness beyond that of fresh fruit.”

It wasn’t a lie.

In fact, when he ate bread, he only applied butter or soaked it in stew broth; he never added even a single drop of jam.

The white pudding served for dessert was undoubtedly sweet as well, and he likely would have had to force it down with a grimace.

He didn't like it, but leaving food uneaten wasn't proper.

“Therefore, I would be most grateful if you would eat it in my place, Lady Cecilia.”

“Really?”

Had she taken such a liking to the pudding?

Cecilia not only sat bolt upright but also peered over the backrest of the sofa to gaze intently at him.

Although her eyes were tightly shut, Patrick somehow sensed that her eyes were sparkling brightly behind her eyelids.

‘If she had a tail, it would be wagging furiously right now.’

Unable to hide a smile at the thought, Patrick replied to her, who was still staring intently at him.

“Yes, Lady Cecilia. Please, eat it in my place.”

“……Hehe. Okay, I will then.”

Smiling shyly, Cecilia turned around.

Soon, he saw Jenny scoop up a spoonful of pudding and feed it to her.

A moment later, Cecilia reached out to Jenny and spoke, her voice considerably brighter.

“Hehe, I’ll eat the rest myself. I need the practice, after all. You should go eat.”

“I’ve already eaten everything but dessert, so please don’t worry about me. Hoho, seeing you enjoy it so much makes me happy~ Now, Lady Cecilia, open wide~ Ah~ ……Hoho, is it delicious?”

“Yes! It’s incredibly delicious! I’ve never eaten anything like this before! Ah, please give me the plate. I’ll eat it myself.”

“Then just one more spoonful from me~ Here you go, say ah~”

From his seat at the table, Patrick could only see Cecilia’s profile.

However, he could easily tell that her face, as she accepted the pudding, must be incredibly bright.

Little bursts of laughter escaped intermittently as she chewed.

“Hoho, you truly are enjoying it. Watching you makes me happy! Here, the pudding plate and spoon.”

Jenny handed the plate and spoon she was holding to Cecilia and returned to the table.

However, instead of returning to her seat, she scraped the remaining pudding onto her own plate, picked up her spoon, and went to sit beside Cecilia on the sofa.

It seemed she intended to keep her company while they ate dessert together.

And so, the two young women sat side-by-side on the sofa and began chatting softly.

Perhaps eased by the sweetness of the pudding and Jenny’s gentle friendliness, Cecilia, though still stumbling over her words slightly, was speaking softly in a bright voice.

Watching the backs of the two, Patrick breathed a sigh of relief.

‘It’s fortunate that Jenny is a good person.’

If Jenny had been cold like the Tutor, she surely would have ignored Cecilia’s distress.

Then she would have spent the rest of the day feeling dejected.

It was truly fortunate that the person who treated even him—stiff in speech and manner—so kindly was her personal maid.

Thinking this, Patrick finished his own meal with a considerably lighter heart.

As expected of the Main Castle’s cooks, even the cooled dishes were quite delicious.

“Um…… you know, Jenny.”

A moment later, Cecilia handed her empty plate to Jenny and asked hesitantly.

“Jenny… you’re an adult, right? Over nineteen…….”

“Yes, I turned twenty-one this year.”

“Then… are you married……?”

Jenny visibly started, enough for even Patrick, sitting some distance away, to notice.

She must have guessed why Cecilia was asking such a question.

Likely for that reason, she paused slightly before answering.

“No. That’s why every time I go home, my family pesters me to bring a man home. They say, ‘Don’t you work at the castle? Aren’t there plenty of good men there?’ As if everyone at the castle is wonderful.”

“Then… what about the eldest son……?”

“Hmm……”

A troubled look crossed Jenny’s face.

Apparently, his character wasn't one that could be readily described as ‘alright’.

Patrick, having never met the Count’s family himself, quietly finished his drink and waited for Jenny’s reply.

“Young Master Heyve is……”

The words began softly.

Patrick found himself swallowing nervously.

“He’s just… average. Overall, he’s not particularly remarkable.”

“……”

And a harsher assessment than expected followed!

“His speech and manners are fine, naturally, since he’s a young master. His face is passable too. But for an eldest son, he lacks conviction. Some call it flexibility, but to me, he just seems easily swayed. A man ought to have a mind of his own!”

“……Is that the kind of person I’m marrying?”

“Oh my, we don’t know that yet.”

Jenny gently smoothed Cecilia’s hair back from her temple and smiled brightly.

“What Mrs. Haltt mentioned is just the plan for now. Marriage happens between people who agree to it, right? Even parents can’t legally force their own children into marriage, so how could the Lord possibly do that? He absolutely can’t!”

“……Okay.”

“And besides, perhaps you’ll find Young Master Heyve agreeable, Lady Cecilia? Everyone’s tastes are different. So don’t worry about it prematurely; just focus on the good things for now.”

She could eat delicious food to her heart’s content and use a plush sofa and bed now.

Above all, wasn't there someone she could eagerly order around?

After saying this, Jenny smiled brightly.

“Well then, I’ll clear the table and take the cart back to the kitchen. Is there anything in particular you’d like for tea time?”

“……Something delicious.”

“Hoho, yes, I’ll pass along the request for something delicious!”

Jenny returned to the table with light steps and started moving the dishes onto the cart.

Patrick naturally helped her with the task.

Thanks to both of them working quickly, the table was cleared in no time.

“Well then, Lady Cecilia, I’ll be back shortly.”

“Ah, yes. See you soon.”

Jenny gave Patrick a slight nod as well before pulling the cart out of the drawing room.

The door clicked shut behind her,

leaving just the two of them alone.