Chapter 21

“Please wait here for just a moment. I’ll prepare some water for you to wash.”

“Ah, thank you.”

As the maid left to prepare the bath, Emilia hurried out of bed and stood in front of the vanity.

What on earth happened to me…?

The moment she saw her reflection, she was speechless.

Looking at the sorry state she was in, Kaiden’s words from yesterday naturally came back to mind.

No wonder he compared me to a fish.

…Wait.

Was he talking about my appearance rather than how I was moving?

As she silently reconsidered the fairness of his remark, the maid returned.

“The bath is ready!”

“Thank you.”

Emilia quickly headed toward the bathroom.

Just as she entered, the maid naturally followed behind her.

“Ah…”

Realizing why, Emilia glanced at her awkwardly.

“If you’re here to help me bathe…”

She hesitated out of embarrassment.

“…I’ll be fine on my own.”

There was no way she could let someone else see just how filthy she’d become.

“I understand.”

The maid smiled warmly.

“Then I’ll leave your clothes here. Please take your time, and just call me when you’re finished.”

With that, she quietly stepped out.

A short while later.

Having finished her bath, Emilia emerged from the bathroom.

The bathwater had been filled with flower petals, leaving behind a delicate floral fragrance.

The temperature had been perfect as well.

Honestly…

She hadn’t wanted to get out.

As she changed into the clean clothes prepared for her, a thought crossed her mind.

Once I have some money to spare, I should buy a few more outfits.

Most of her savings had gone toward finding a place to stay, so she’d only managed to buy a handful of clothes after arriving in the capital.

Huh?

She looked toward the bed.

The bedding had already been completely replaced.

Remembering how spotless yesterday’s sheets had been before she’d dirtied them, Emilia let out an awkward cough.

Just then, there was another knock.

The maid entered carrying a towel.

“May I dry your hair?”

“Of course.”

Emilia smiled gratefully.

“Thank you.”

The maid skillfully began drying Emilia’s long hair.

“My name is Laura.”

“I work here as a maid.”

“If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask me.”

“Oh.”

Emilia smiled gently.

“I’m Emilia.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Laura.”

Laura’s eyes sparkled.

“Likewise!”

As she carefully brushed Emilia’s now-dry hair, she occasionally stole curious glances at her.

“…Is there something you want to ask me?”

Laura’s eyes widened.

“Oh!”

“I’m sorry.”

“There actually is something I’ve been wanting to ask.”

Something she wants to ask?

Emilia tilted her head.

…Wait.

Did she somehow see how I came back yesterday?

But she immediately dismissed the thought.

She couldn’t remember returning to the mansion herself, but Kaiden had mentioned leaving a carriage nearby.

Surely one of the servants or the coachman had carried her inside afterward.

At that moment, Laura spoke.

“It’s about Young Master Ivan!”

“Hm?”

Emilia blinked.

“Well…”

“Young Master Ivan has been living here for quite some time, but he’s always seemed so quiet and lifeless.”

“But yesterday…”

Her smile brightened.

“He looked incredibly happy after meeting you.”

“Ah…”

A quiet sigh escaped Emilia.

Just thinking that Ivan remembered her—and actually liked her after such a brief meeting—made something inside her feel strangely warm.

I’m glad I agreed to become his tutor.

Meanwhile, Laura continued enthusiastically.

“So I wanted to ask you!”

“How do you become friends with Young Master Ivan?”

“Unlike my little troublemaking brothers…”

She laughed.

“He’s just so adorable.”

Emilia chuckled.

Laura clenched her fist dramatically.

“I absolutely have to bake my special homemade cookies for him someday!”

“Special homemade cookies?”

“Yes!”

“They’re so good that my little brothers practically fight over them!”

The two happily chatted while Laura enthusiastically shared her “secret recipe.”

Then—

“Oh!”

Laura suddenly clapped her hands.

“I completely forgot!”

“This isn’t the time to be chatting.”

“His Grace asked me to bring you to breakfast as soon as you woke up.”

The smile instantly disappeared from Emilia’s face.

Following Laura’s directions, Emilia stopped outside the dining room.

No one’s here yet?

She cautiously peeked inside.

Only a massive, elegant dining table occupied the center of the room.

“Looking for someone?”

A low voice suddenly came from behind her.

Emilia flinched and quickly turned around.

Ah.

The first thing she noticed was the slightly open collar of Kaiden’s shirt.

She hurriedly looked away.

“N-No.”

Shaking her head, she instinctively took a step backward.

Only then did she properly notice his appearance.

Compared to yesterday, he was dressed much more casually.

His hair was still slightly damp, making him look less perfectly composed than usual.

There was no reason to dress formally for breakfast.

Even so…

Seeing him like this made something finally sink in.

I’m really staying at Kaiden’s mansion.

She had only ever read about this place in the novel.

Actually standing here felt strangely unreal.

Then…

She felt someone staring at her.

Looking up in confusion, she found Kaiden watching her.

Feeling inexplicably guilty, Emilia asked,

“W-What is it?”

“Nothing.”

His tone was perfectly casual as he walked past her.

“Have a seat.”

The two of them ended up sitting alone in the enormous dining room.

Looking around, Emilia asked,

“…Why is it just the two of us?”

When he’d invited her to breakfast, she’d naturally assumed Ivan and Herald would be joining them.

“Because…”

Kaiden shrugged as though it were obvious.

“By this hour, everyone else has already finished breakfast.”

“…Right.”

Emilia nodded awkwardly.

He wasn’t wrong.

It was already late enough that lunchtime wasn’t far away.

That only raised another question.

Then why is Kaiden only eating breakfast now?

Her gaze drifted toward the ends of his still-damp hair.

It didn’t look as though he’d overslept.

If anything…

He looked like he’d already finished his morning training.

But before she could think any further—

An irresistibly delicious aroma filled the dining room.

“Excuse us.”

Led by the head chef, several maids entered carrying dish after dish.

“Wow…”

Emilia’s eyes grew wide.

“…This is incredible.”

Without thinking, Emilia murmured the words after taking a generous bite.

Every dish covering the table was exquisite.

It was unlike any meal she had ever experienced.

But what moved her the most wasn’t even the taste.

It’s been so long since I’ve eaten food someone else cooked.

How long had it been since she’d enjoyed a meal without already being sick of the smell from cooking it herself?

Preparing dinner for Cedric and Lady Romance had always been her responsibility.

Across the table, Kaiden stopped cutting his food.

His eyes drifted toward Emilia.

It was only a meal.

Yet…

The small mouth busily enjoying every bite wore the happiest expression he’d seen all day.

She seemed so focused on eating that she hadn’t even realized someone was watching her.

Yesterday, she’d avoided looking at him simply because he’d glanced at her for a moment.

Now…

Every time the head chef explained a dish, she’d nodded earnestly.

And after tasting each bite…

She nodded again in quiet satisfaction.

For some reason…

That irritated him a little.

She’s perfectly capable of agreeing with someone.

So why is it that every single thing I say gets argued with first?