Chapter 67
***
After about a week, Noah was practically glowing with excitement. It was her first outing in days, and she’d just gotten a new animal toy she adored.
The moment she stepped down from the carriage, she took off running.
“Don’t run!”
Elisa called after her, worried she might trip, but it was useless. Noah sprinted straight from the mansion gates to the central hall without stopping once.
She must be that happy, Elisa thought, shaking her head with a soft smile. Her gaze on the little girl was warm, and even her own steps felt as light as a breeze.
“Oh my, what a lovely wolf doll!”
“Indeed! The fur color even matches the young master’s eyes — it’s beautiful!”
When Noah proudly showed off her new toy, the servants clapped and showered her with praise.
Thrilled, Noah went around the mansion, showing her doll to everyone she met.
It was something she could never have imagined at the Leslie estate. Back there, she was constantly told no — that she mustn’t do this, mustn’t do that.
Even her nanny did little more than fulfill basic duties; she never offered emotional warmth or affection.
But the atmosphere in Baron Estevan’s home was completely different.
When Noah scribbled odd doodles on paper, the servants still praised her. And when she actually drew something proper, they made such a fuss that even her parents looked calm in comparison.
At first, Noah had been shy, bewildered by all the attention. But now, she proudly showed off her work herself, her round cheeks blooming with laughter.
Seeing Noah so bright warmed Elisa’s heart — but it ached too.
She felt guilty for not realizing sooner how deeply the child had been hurt, for not rescuing her earlier.
So yes, Elisa didn’t regret taking Noah away from the Count of Leslie’s mansion.
But peace of mind? That was something she still didn’t have.
Since she’d declared her engagement with Derek Grenville broken, word had spread that her father’s business was in trouble. Some even said the family might collapse entirely.
I need to meet Lord Grenville.
Derek Grenville had a sharp business mind. There was no way he’d advised others to invest in her father’s company just because of an engagement.
There had to be solid potential — and if she could appeal to that, perhaps she could change his mind.
If I can convince him, that is…
Elisa frowned as she recalled seeing Derek in front of the Cando Department Store.
Judging by his demeanor that day, it wouldn’t be easy to sway him.
Still, she had to try. She couldn’t just sit idly by.
I’ll take responsibility for the choices I made — to the end.
Replaying Tania Leslie’s words in her mind, Elisa looked around.
The central hall was filled with gift boxes — items they’d purchased to send as thank-you presents for the ones Ethan had received earlier.
They could have simply summoned store clerks to the mansion, but Elisa preferred to choose things herself — and she’d wanted to take Noah out for a change.
Ethan had told her not to worry about the cost and to buy whatever she wished, but looking at the mountain of boxes now, she couldn’t help feeling she’d gone overboard.
“Where’s Ethan?”
She wanted to make sure he was all right — and also discuss who to send which gifts to — so she asked the butler where he was.
“The master is resting, miss.”
“He’s still asleep?”
Before she and Noah left, Ethan had taken some medicine and said he felt drowsy.
That was three hours ago. He wasn’t the type to nap for long, which made it even stranger.
Could he be ill?
The physician who examined him that morning had said his recovery was going smoothly, but one never knew.
“He’s in his bedroom, right?”
“M–My lady!”
As Elisa started up the stairs, intending to check for herself, the usually composed butler called out urgently.
Startled, she turned back to him. He looked almost… I panicked.
“Allow me to check on him, please. I’ll confirm his condition myself.”
“Ah… all right. Go ahead.”
His desperate tone left her no room to argue.
Elisa nodded, still confused, and the butler quickly climbed the stairs.
Only after he disappeared did she realize how oddly he’d behaved.
Narrowing her eyes, Elisa watched the empty landing.
“There’s definitely something going on…”
She wanted to follow, but decided to wait for now.
While waiting, she sent Noah off to wash up and began sorting the gift boxes.
By the time she was halfway done, the butler returned — his face tense and uneasy.
“What’s wrong? Is something the matter with Ethan?”
Startled, he shook his head. “N–No, nothing’s wrong.”
But his expression said otherwise.
“Th-The master is bathing right now. Perhaps it’s best to visit him later, my lady.”
“He’s bathing?”
“Of course!”
Too fast. Too defensive. His tone was much too strong.
They say the louder the denial, the guiltier the truth.
Everything about his behavior screamed suspicious.
“Oh right, I just remembered something important I had to tell Ethan,” Elisa said with a pleasant smile. “I’ll go now.”
“Ah, m-my lady! Later would be better—”
Got you, Elisa thought, her smile sharpening.
“Don’t worry. Ethan always welcomes me, no matter when I come.”
Before the butler could stop her, she climbed the stairs briskly, leaving him flustered behind her.
She reached Ethan’s bedroom and went straight to the bathroom door.
Even with the door closed, she should have heard running water — but there was nothing.
Suspicion rising, Elisa flung the door open without knocking.
A rush of hot steam billowed out, clouding her vision.
“Ethan?”
Through the haze, she spotted him — soaking leisurely in the marble bathtub.
For a moment, her thoughts tangled. So he really is bathing…? But why now?
Droplets slid down his wet black hair, tracing the line of his neck before falling over his collarbone. Elisa’s gaze followed them helplessly.
They lingered briefly on his firm chest before disappearing between the ridges of muscle.
His skin, flushed from the heat, gleamed faintly under the steam.
Too perfect… she thought before she could stop herself.
“…What are you doing?”
His low voice snapped her out of it. Elisa’s eyes darted up, meeting his amused gaze.
One arm rested casually on the tub’s edge, his head tilted in lazy confidence.
“Did you come because you wanted to bathe with me?”
The languid rumble of his voice mixed with the steam, wrapping around her like heat itself.
“N–No! That’s not—”
Her hands flailed wildly. “I just wanted to make sure you were actually bathing, that’s all!”
The more she denied, the deeper his smile grew.
“And why were you so curious?”
“B–Because…”
“Then you did come because you wanted to bathe with me.”
“Huh?!”
Before she could retort, Ethan braced a hand on the tub’s edge and began to stand.
The splash of overflowing water rang sharp in her ears.
He was bathing, which meant—
“Ah!”
Elisa shrieked, whipping around so fast her hair flew. Her face and even her ears burned crimson.
The image in her head refused to go away, making her blush harder.
“S–Sorry for interrupting! Keep bathing!”
She bolted out of the bathroom as his quiet laughter followed her. The sound of her hurried footsteps echoed down the hall until it faded entirely.
Left alone, Ethan sat back on the edge of the tub and exhaled softly.
“That was close.”
One minute later, and she would’ve found out he’d gone out earlier.
He let out another sigh of relief, then picked up the clothes he’d hidden in the corner of the bathroom.
