Euclid offered to escort Erensia home because throughout the lecture, Erensia had been watching him.
Her gaze was so intense, like someone who had something to say, that even Euclid, who was used to people’s attention, felt his face grow warm.
Is she interested in me or something?
Even Euclid, who was always wary of arrogant thoughts, couldn’t help but think that. Her stare was blatant, filled with a kind of desire.
It felt like being a rabbit in front of a predator.
The back of his neck felt hot, and goosebumps rose on his skin.
Does she have some business with me?
He didn’t particularly want to arrange a separate meeting. Nothing good would come from getting involved with Nobelita. But sparing the time it took to go home was manageable.
So he gave her a chance.
“My carriage is available, since you don’t have one. Shall I take you home?”
If she refused, so be it.
But Erensia smiled brightly and placed her hand on his arm.
“Yes, Sir Euclid.”
Rattle, rattle.
The carriage shook.
Each time it did, Erensia’s body swayed along with it.
Horses really are more comfortable.
Thinking something unbefitting of a noble lady, Erensia gazed out the window.
The scenery outside should have been rushing past, but—
Slow.
From inside the carriage, everything moved frustratingly slowly.
That was why she preferred riding a horse. The changing scenery felt faster.
I wish time would pass that quickly too.
So everything could collapse sooner, and she could be done with living as Nobelita.
Still, after the horse caused such a commotion today, riding again would probably be difficult for a while.
Now that she couldn’t ride, she wanted to even more.
“Do you have some business with me?”
A blunt voice cut in. Erensia came out of her thoughts and turned to look at Euclid.
Their indifferent gazes met in the air. It was Euclid who showed emotion first; his eyes narrowed slightly.
“No business?”
“Weren’t you the one who had business with me?”
Erensia asked back with innocent eyes.
“I don’t.”
“Really? You said I owed you. I thought you might want compensation for what happened with the horse earlier.”
Euclid frowned.
“It’s fine. I wasn’t hurt.”
“I see. Then why did you offer me a ride?”
For a moment, Erensia imagined a line straight out of a romance novel.
— I fell in love with you at first sight.
“You were staring at me like you wanted to devour me.”
That answer was entirely unexpected.
“Me?”
Erensia asked in surprise. Euclid nodded.
Did I really do that?
She thought back to the salon.
And remembered clearly.
I was staring without realizing it.
That was rude.
But it couldn’t be helped.
Being drawn to a handsome man was instinct. Wasn’t it everyone’s instinct?
“Sorry.”
Ah, that wasn’t right.
Erensia suddenly realized that apologizing didn’t suit her ultimate goal, and her eyes sharpened.
“I take that apology back.”
What kind of woman is this?
Euclid’s gaze turned less kind.
“So you admit it?”
Erensia nodded without hesitation.
Having already given up on her reputation, she could admit it freely.
Being known as a woman who cared about men’s looks wasn’t so bad.
Erensia had always disliked how noble men openly judged women by appearance as a condition for marriage, yet scoffed when noble women mentioned men’s looks, saying things like “a man is about wealth.”
Did they not understand the principle of equivalence?
Looks for looks, wealth for wealth, power for power.
It was always the unattractive ones who talked about “ability.”
And even that ability was often mediocre.
Since she had already abandoned her reputation, there was no need to hide her desires or sugarcoat her beliefs.
“Why were you staring like that?”
“Because you’re handsome.”
Another unexpected answer.
Euclid found himself growing curious about Erensia.
She didn’t fit into any category of people he knew.
She was a kind of anomaly, and anomalies were more than enough to attract the interest of someone as curious and scholarly as Euclid.
She had appeared on horseback, spoken her opinions clearly to a scholar, felt no responsibility for the chaos she caused at the lecture, gotten into a stranger’s carriage without any business, and on top of that—
She admits she stared at me?
No noble lady would ever do that.
— Because you’re handsome.
Her words echoed.
Only then did Euclid’s lips part slightly.
Remarkable.
He was used to women looking at him with affection, but never had he seen one admit it so boldly.
“You are handsome. It’s nice to look at you. Why, is that not allowed? It’s not like you’ll wear out.”
Euclid needed a moment to process her words.
It felt like he was being boldly teased.
And yet, it didn’t feel unpleasant.
What was this feeling?
“Did it bother you? Well, it can’t be helped. I’ve already seen you, and I can’t undo that.”
Even as he struggled to respond, Erensia’s strange logic continued.
“Thank you. I had a comfortable ride thanks to you.”
And they arrived at the Nobelita estate.
“Let’s meet again next time, Sir Euclid.”
“Next time?”
“I’ll try to control my gaze better then.”
Because you seemed a little flustered, and I felt slightly sorry.
She whispered.
“Goodbye.”
Euclid extended his hand to escort her, but Erensia didn’t even notice and hurried off.
He watched her for a long time.
It felt like a great storm had just passed.
Yet he wasn’t tired.
At that strange feeling, Euclid let out a hollow laugh.
The wind blew.
He saw Erensia casually grabbing at her fluttering dress.
Her unrestrained behavior made him laugh.
One thing was certain.
Erensia was an interesting woman.
“My lady! How could you just leave like that? Do you know how worried I was?”
What awaited Erensia upon arriving home was Agnes’s storm of scolding.
Agnes had followed in a carriage and, at Erensia’s request, taken care of Sophia.
She had personally escorted the mother and daughter home and made sure to clearly explain the compensation Erensia had mentioned.
Convincing the woman, who kept insisting it was unnecessary, had taken time.
Worried about Erensia being alone, Agnes had rushed back, only to find that Erensia had already left in Euclid’s carriage.
“You’re back early.”
At Erensia’s carefree attitude, Agnes shook her head.
She had ridden alone in a carriage with a man, and a man she had just met at that!
“My lady, I heard you rode back with Sir Euclid.”
“Yes, so what?”
Erensia replied casually, removing the ornament from her hair.
Agnes quickly helped organize her hair.
“Do you want to be ostracized among the noble ladies?”
Agnes was serious.
“What? Ostracized?”
“Sir Euclid is considered public property among noble ladies. No, not just them. He’s public property for all women…”
“Say that again.”
Erensia grabbed Agnes’s hands, her eyes sparkling.
That look was like someone realizing a stone they picked up was actually gold.
“W-what do you mean?”
Agnes stammered, forgetting she had been scolding her.
“About Sir Euclid.”
“Which part about him…?”
“You said I could be ostracized, right? That I’d be resented just for riding in a carriage with him?”
Had Erensia been offended?
Agnes’s heart dropped. She had spoken out of turn.
They had grown up together, and Erensia had always been open only with her. Agnes had grown too comfortable.
Even if it came from concern, it was still rude. A maid advising her master was unthinkable.
“I’m sorry, my lady. That’s not what I meant. It’s just that Sir Euclid is so popular, and even if you have no feelings, rumors might spread—”
“No, you did great!”
“M-my lady?”
Agnes was stunned by the praise.
“Be quiet for a moment. I need to think.”
Erensia began piecing together Agnes’s words.
In a short time, she constructed a hypothesis.
Euclid was so popular he was called public property.
Trying to monopolize public property would invite resentment.
Therefore, merely being associated with Euclid would make one a target of jealousy…
What if I propose to Euclid?
That would cause an uproar, wouldn’t it?
