MDCHC 85

chapter 85

It was a brief greeting.

“Welcome back.”
“Thank you, I’m back.”

After that, a slightly awkward silence settled between Sir Winchester and me. It had been like this for several days already, but having just returned from the bustling Pomots mansion earlier in the day, the silence felt unusually long today.

A few days ago, Sir Winchester had come home early, and I was so surprised that I spoke to him several times, which at least allowed for this small greeting…

People’s desires really do have no limits. Even though the atmosphere had been distant and indifferent, and we had managed to exchange this small greeting, I found myself wanting more.

It wasn’t much—just exchanging kind greetings like before, and having warm, pleasant conversation.

“…Huh?”

As Sir Winchester brushed past me, my thoughts instantly froze. And then they were wiped away.

Instead, a sense of bewilderment rose in my mind.

…Is that… a woman’s perfume…?

It was the scent that had reached the tip of my nose just now. It was a fragrance I had never smelled on Sir Winchester before. Moreover, it wasn’t a scent that suited him at all.

It was clearly the sweet fragrance a woman might wear, and it had wafted past me when Sir Winchester brushed by. That scent had turned me into a statue, frozen in place.

“…….”

When I stood still, no longer moving, Sir Winchester, who had walked ahead, turned around to look at me.

“Shall we prepare dinner first? Or would you like to wash up first?”
“Since it’s a bit late, I’ll have dinner first. I’ll just wash my hands quickly.”
“Alright, as you wish.”

In truth, there was no need to ask. When Sir Winchester came home early, he washed first and then had dinner with me. And on days like today, when he came home a little late, we ate first and washed afterward.

I realized he was considerate of my hunger because whenever he came home very late, he would always tell me to eat first.

I just don’t understand Sir Winchester. Sometimes he’s considerate, sometimes indifferent, and sometimes… irritating.

I had been watching Sir Winchester’s back for a moment when a sound from behind snapped me back to reality.

“Ah! There!”

Rushing outside, I saw the carriage turning.

“Is something the matter?”

Hearing my voice, Eden stuck his head out of the carriage window. Since he sometimes accompanied Sir Winchester on his way home and sometimes didn’t, I had stopped the carriage just in case. Fortunately, Eden was inside.

“Did Sir Winchester have a guest today?”
“Ah! Yes, he did.”

Saying that, Eden smiled brightly. Seeing that smile, I couldn’t help but feel relieved. If Sir Winchester had met a strange woman, Eden would never have been able to speak to me with such a radiant, confident expression.

“Who was it?”

It could have been Her Majesty the Empress or the Princess. If it had been them, it wouldn’t have been strange at all for them to visit the Royal Knights, and they would certainly wear sweet perfume.

“It was Lady Evelyn.”
“Excuse me?”

An answer I hadn’t anticipated at all came out of Eden’s mouth—at least according to my understanding.

“She came personally to speak with Sir Winchester. H… my goodness… I met her at the last ball, but seeing her up close, she’s even more beautiful.”

Eden spoke with a dreamy, enraptured expression. The reason he had smiled so brightly at me wasn’t because there was nothing to worry about—it was because he was thinking of Evelyn’s beauty.

“Well, that Melissa fox really is pretty, like a fox. Men are naturally dazzled just by a pretty face.”

For a moment, I remembered what Sophia had said. Eden looked exactly like that—dazed and mesmerized.

“Why did Lady Evelyn come to see the Commander of the Royal Knights?”
“I’m not sure. I was out, so I don’t know much.”

My heart sank again at Eden’s answer. So, Sir Winchester and Melissa had been alone in the Commander’s office?

And so close that her perfume had lingered on him?

“Are you… acquainted with Lady Evelyn?”

Eden leaned further out the window to ask. His eyes sparkled almost like he was in love. It was clear what he wanted to say by asking if I knew her.

He had fallen for her at first sight and wanted me to introduce them.

“No, not at all.”

I shook my head, and the sparkle in Eden’s eyes deflated like a popped balloon.

“But… perhaps… Lady Evelyn is…”

Knowing very well how Melissa could pick men, I cautiously began to speak to Eden.

She probably wouldn’t be interested. She was very ambitious, so someone like Eden, a baron’s son, had no chance. Only a free-spirited romance would be possible with her.

“Yes?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”

But when Eden’s eyes lit up at the mere mention of Melissa, I couldn’t bring myself to say it. A person in love cannot see the flaws of the object of their affection.

Even if I told him Melissa’s heart wasn’t as beautiful as her face, Eden wouldn’t hear it. And since there was no real chance between him and Melissa anyway, there was no need to mention it.

“Take care on your way.”

I waved as the carriage departed. Eden still leaned out of the window, reluctant to leave, looking almost like a dog enjoying a drive.

“Like a dog…”

I was startled at the harshness of my own words.

And then again, because it perfectly matched my feelings, I was startled once more.

Dinner was quiet as well. Maybe it was just my imagination, but it felt even more so than when I had gone to meet him at the entrance.

The atmosphere wasn’t suffocating, but it was just uncomfortable enough to feel slightly off.

“Um…”

I cautiously opened my mouth toward Sir Winchester. He slowly lifted his head and looked at me.

His blue eyes held a subtle mix of wariness and hostility. Meeting that gaze, the words I wanted to say vanished.

Maybe it’s better not to bring it up.

What I wanted to say was, of course, about Melissa. Why she came, what they talked about, how close they were.

It was like with Ellie. I brought it up for no reason, and the atmosphere only worsened.

The words lingering on my tongue retreated entirely back down my throat when I remembered Ellie.

Not all curiosities need to be resolved. Saying everything you want isn’t always the best choice.

“The potatoes are delicious. Please try them.”

In the end, I swallowed the words trapped in my throat. Even though I knew it would only make the situation worse, some things had to be done.

This was one of those moments.

“Madam.”

Sir Winchester, glancing once at the potatoes, slowly called my name.

“Yes?”

I had been cutting the potatoes, and I looked up at his call. His sharp blue eyes were fixed intently on me.

He had initiated the conversation, but like someone unsure of what to say next, he simply looked at me.

What is he trying to say?

I blinked at him and waited.

“…The carrots are good too.”

…Huh?

From his handsome lips, the only thing he said in his serious voice was that. The carrots were good—very useful information.

“I see…”

I looked down at the carrots on my plate. Slightly sautéed with olive oil and paired with green beans, honestly, they didn’t look particularly appetizing.

“Carrots are rich in fat-soluble vitamins, so lightly sautéing them in oil makes them even more nutritious.”

I stabbed a carrot with my fork and offered the utterly unhelpful information.

“I see.”

Sir Winchester’s voice didn’t make it sound like he thought it was very useful information either.

Silence slowly drifted through the dining room again. The awkward air floated in the void.

My throat itched, and my backside ached. I couldn’t help but glance at Sir Winchester, but he simply ate in silence.

Ah… I miss Daniel…