TCS 07

Chapter : 7 Your Eyes Are Sparkling

That had happened just a single day ago.

Stella pressed firmly against her burning cheeks. The more she chewed over her conversation with him, the more her face felt hot enough to drive her mad.

‘When on earth did I meet Lord Castillo?’

No matter how hard she searched her mind, no memory of meeting Adrian surfaced. It was only natural since she had lost her memory, but not being able to remember brought a deep sense of regret.

‘I really can’t remember anything.’

Stella rested her hand against her forehead.

“Are you alright?” “Ah, Jenna.” “If you are feeling unwell, I will go fetch a doctor.”

Jenna, who was kneeling in front of her, spoke with a distressed expression. To think a stranger she had met so recently would worry about her to this extent. Stella held Jenna’s worrying hands tightly and shook her head.

“It’s nothing serious.” “But you were holding your head.” “It’s just that I can’t seem to remember something.”

Jenna’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Hesitating briefly over whether it was right to ask another person about such matters, Stella slowly opened her mouth.

“You know I lost my memory. I just can’t remember anything about how Lord Castillo knows me.” “Ah, that’s right.” “It’s such a shame.”

Even if she had her memories, it wouldn’t change her current situation, yet she couldn’t help feeling disappointed that she couldn’t recall her memories with him. Seeing Stella looking so crestfallen, Jenna hesitated for a moment before adding in an excited voice:

“Actually, I don’t know the details either, but couldn’t it be recent? Lately, the Young Master’s eyes have changed compared to usual.” “His eyes have changed?” “Um, how should I put this?”

Jenna closed her eyes and tilted her head from side to side before clapping her hands together as if something had struck her.

“Ah, right! Should I say life has returned to his eyes? Although the Young Master has a handsome face, he used to walk around with such a dry, emotionless expression in the past. But recently, his eyes sparkle brightly.”

Jenna’s words didn’t quite register with Stella. To her, he was someone who had approached her from the very beginning with an endlessly gentle face.

“Especially when he looks at you, My Lady!” “It must be a mistake.”

When Jenna’s voice grew excessively high with excitement, Stella waved her hands dismissively.

“It’s true. If you look quietly into the Young Master’s eyes later, you’ll see.”

Placing a hand over her heart and making a bold promise, Jenna stood up and guided Stella to the front of the mirror.

“Ah, how should we style your hair? Since My Lady is so beautiful, any style would suit you, but ah…”

In the mirror, Jenna gathered Stella’s disheveled hair into a single strand with a deep, thoughtful expression, but upon catching sight of the burn mark, she hurriedly put the hair back down.

“Does it look hideous?” “No, absolutely not.” “There’s no way a burn scar isn’t hideous.”

Stella stroked the burn marks coiled around her neck like a snake and brushed it off with a bitter smile.

“Uh, that is… there are plenty of ways to cover a burn. Ah, if we pin your hair up like this and drape a shawl over you, I think that would work. What do you think?”

Hurriedly changing the subject, Jenna pulled out a thin, sky-blue shawl in front of Stella. The shawl covering her shoulders hid the wound.

“That sounds like a good idea.” “Then I shall show off my skills!”

As soon as Stella gave her permission, Jenna’s hands moved busily. Jenna’s skillful handiwork continued, and with the placement of a hairpin as the final touch, an elegant updo was completed.

“All done. Do you like it?” “Yes, I like it.”

Looking in the mirror, Stella smiled brightly. Just changing her hairstyle seemed to bring vitality back to her sickly face. Seeing her neatly bound hair made her want to go out and get a breath of fresh air. Perhaps it was because she wanted to show Adrian her updo for the first time.

‘Why am I getting so excited over this…’

Stella gripped the end of the shawl tightly to calm her wildly beating heart. At that moment, a knock resounded.

“My Lady. It is Owen.” “Yes.” “May I step in for a moment?”

As Stella nodded, the door opened. The butler’s gaze swept past Jenna and turned to Stella. Looking at her, he made an unexpected request.

“The Young Master requested that I ask if you could spare some time for him. Of course, he added that if you feel uncomfortable, you may decline at any time.”

Having no reason or pretext to refuse—and having wanted to see Adrian anyway—Stella didn’t ponder long and beamed a bright smile.

“I will be down shortly.”

The sunbeams unveiled the fresh greenery of early summer. The garden, radiating the strange charm of summer, carried a different atmosphere from when the sky turned dark. From the rain that had fallen the day before, the scent of grass and earth lingered, fragrance stimulating the nose.

“My Lady.”

Owen approached.

“I will guide you to the Young Master.”

With a resolute impression, he carefully guided Stella to where Adrian was. As she moved, the gazes of the surrounding maids focused on her. Strength gathered in Stella’s hands resting on her knees.

To them, she was likely a woman brought in from the outside by the Young Duke, a troublesome woman entangled with the Imperial Palace, and a woman who had abandoned the Brontë family and fled.

In an instant, sharp words penetrated her mind.

‘Do not bow your head.’

At the scolding voice, Stella straightened her back. An illusion arose as if someone were striking her back with a ruler, forcing her to sit upright.

‘Put strength into your waist and stare straight ahead. You must maintain an elegant posture so that everyone bows their heads with a single glance.’

Stella had no intention of acting like the master of this mansion. If possible, she wanted to stay quietly as if she weren’t there before leaving, but…

‘An Empress is originally the one who must stand out the most. Rather than foolishly showing vulnerabilities to others, do not take a single step outside.’

The echoing voice in her head would not easily grant her peace. Even though she had no intention of becoming an Empress anymore, the past voice echoing in her mind grew increasingly stern. Just then, a voice from reality awakened Stella’s spirit.

“My Lady?”

Stella raised her head. As the sunlight came in and stung her eyes, Jenna held a pure white parasol over her to block the sun.

Her view instantly cleared, and a large tree appeared in the center of the garden. Beneath it, a table and simple desserts were prepared, and subtle-scented lisianthus flowers enhanced the atmosphere.

Adrian was there, having a conversation with someone with a deep, serious expression. Looking at them, what Jenna had said suddenly came to mind.

‘His eyes sparkle brightly.’

In reality, his gaze while talking with someone else was fierce. Rather than expressionless, it was closer to the sharp atmosphere of a wild beast that was difficult to approach. Those accustomed to him wrapped up that gaze in good words and called it expressionless.

Curious about his gaze, which was different from the one he showed her, she watched him closely.

Adrian, who was conversing with someone, felt Stella’s presence and raised his head. He met her gaze directly.

“It’s true.”

She completely understood what Jenna had meant. His gaze, which had been dry until just a moment ago, shone brilliantly, perhaps because it caught the sunlight. Her heart beat fiercely.

Stella covered her face with both hands, but it wasn’t enough, so she bowed her head to hide her reddened cheeks. Without giving her time to calm her mind, the wheels of the wheelchair rolled endlessly at Jenna’s fast pace.

Time, which had been flowing slowly just a moment ago, sped up as if someone were spinning the hands of a clock. Because of the wheels that rolled heartlessly, she arrived before him without time to hide her flushed face.

Noticing her, Adrian immediately took a step closer.

“Have you arrived?”

It was a voice overflowing with warmth. At the kindness that seemed to contain the sunlight, Stella slowly raised her head to look at Adrian.

A smile as bright as his voice was drawn right before her eyes. Her heart showed no sign of stopping. What if this sound reached him?

With her head bowed, Stella pressed down firmly on her chest. His tall, slender shadow fell over her knees. Following the shadow, she raised her head and met Adrian’s eyes.

“Should I come back a little later?” “No.” “So this is the Lady Brontë of the rumors.”

At Liam’s somewhat rude tone, Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

“Ahem, I am Liam Hartz. I assist the Commander with his duties.”

At his superior’s glare, Liam immediately changed his demeanor and bowed respectfully to Stella. Stella opened her lips to greet him in return, but hesitated.

“I-I am…”

‘Is it alright to reveal that I am a person of the Brontë family? No, can someone like me, who fled the family, proudly bring up the Brontë name?’

Even though she had lost her memory, she could never forget her status as a fugitive. Stella turned her eyes toward Adrian at her side.

Seeing the flustered Stella, a firm and cool voice soon flowed from Adrian’s mouth.

“Do not be a nuisance and step back.” “I shall see you next time.” “Yes.” “Troublesome fellow.”

With those words, the atmosphere turned awkward. Stella fell into deep thought as she realized that she had to become an invisible person here, while he merely watched her quietly as she gently bit her lower lip.

After a moment, unable to contain her curiosity, Stella was the first to speak.

“Could it be that you’ve been put in a difficult position because of me?”

Adrian’s elegant fingers tapped lightly on the table. In truth, there was nothing that could put him in a difficult position here. Even if he walked around stripped of his clothes, no one would dare say anything to him.

For he was the eldest son of Castillo, Adrian de Castillo.

Only Stella seemed unaware of this fact and worried. Ripples formed in the teacup he held.

“Under the name of Castillo, there is no one who can put me in a difficult position.” “Ah…”

Her mouth remained agape. She felt embarrassed that she, of all people, had asked Adrian if he had been put in a difficult spot. Raising her head, she bit her lip with a troubled expression.

He frowned as he watched her bit-in lip.

“The same goes for Lady Brontë.”

At his firm voice, Stella pressed hard against her thighs. Unable to grasp the meaning of what Adrian was trying to say, she could do nothing but wait for his response.

“If you wish, you may do whatever you want under the name of Castillo. If someone tries to stop Lady Brontë, they are no longer a person of Castillo.” “That’s…” “Am I wrong?”

Adrian looked at Owen. Owen offered a gentle smile toward Stella.

“Has anyone in the Castillo family ever criticized Lady Brontë, by any chance?” “No, never.”

Stella hurriedly shook her head. Busy with anxiety, she feared that Adrian might punish an innocent person right then and there if she didn’t. His face drew closer.

“Is that true?” “……” “Did Liam commit any disrespect?”

Did Liam, who had merely offered a single greeting, even have time to commit disrespect? Stella shook her head once more.

“No. It’s really not that.” “If there is anything you dislike, please tell me. For instance, if you do not like the gaze with which someone looks at you. Then I will punish that person.”

At his warm voice, Stella had no choice but to helplessly confess the feelings she had felt moments ago.

“I just…” “Just?” “I wondered if it was alright for me to introduce myself.”

The midday heat felt quite intense.

“I was worried whether it was right for me to state my name fully when I abandoned my family’s name and ran away.”

The more the fresh breeze tried to cool her body, the hotter her body became.

Rustle. At the sound of leaves swaying, she raised her head.

“Stella Brontë.”

Then Adrian called her name. Hearing the name that meant ‘star of the night sky’ from his lips brought a strange feeling.

Even though he had merely called her name, his voice seemed to soothe her, telling her that everything was alright.

“It is a name so beautiful that I want to call it every day. To me, the name Stella Brontë brings only you to mind.”

A fresh breeze blew and wandered between the leaves.

“Do as you wish.”

The shadow beneath the tree shifted comfortably. The name she hadn’t been pleased with until just a moment ago sounded different at a single word from him.