HBTF 24

Chapter: 24

The Kind of Relationship Where He Carries Her Shoes

His hand was strangely warm despite it being the middle of winter.

“Are you that happy to see me?”

Dernick smiled brightly as he helped Classie steady herself.

What an awfully coincidental timing this was. Classie, still dazed, looked up at Dernick. Then, suspicion suddenly flared, and she turned to her friend.

‘Did Florence bring me here just so I could meet Dernick?’

After all, among nobles, everyone was somehow connected. But Florence looked even more surprised. Her eyes were wide as she glanced back and forth between Classie and Dernick, clearly startled. This meeting really was a coincidence.

“Your friend?”

When Dernick asked, Florence immediately put on a smile full of hidden intentions and quickly extended her hand in greeting.

“I’m Florence. I’m married to Viscount Heimer.”

Though the title of Viscount didn’t technically exist under the current laws, heirs to noble families that held hereditary titles often introduced themselves this way after getting married and establishing their independence.

It was a way of hinting they would eventually inherit the title, while also distinguishing themselves from their parents.

Moreover, because nobles with territorial titles couldn’t use this expression, those with family titles used it to subtly differentiate themselves even further from territorial nobility.

Florence had always thought that kind of phrasing was ridiculous, so she’d never used it before. But now she was using it, apparently curious about what kind of person Dernick was and which noble family he belonged to.

Classie’s face flushed with heat. She wanted to immediately tell Florence, “Don’t get the wrong idea! He’s just a passerby!”

“Ah, I see.”

But Dernick was different from typical nobles. Most nobles, once someone clearly stated their status, would respond in kind with their own. It wasn’t a legal requirement, but it was considered polite.

Dernick, however, simply smiled and shook hands without ever revealing who he was. Florence’s eyes narrowed even more.

“Are you also a friend of Classie’s?”

But Florence had a bold personality and wasn’t one to back off easily. Since Dernick didn’t introduce himself, she asked him outright.

Classie couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped in to answer.

“No, he’s just someone I happened to meet.”

Then she glared at Florence with a look that said “You’re misunderstanding right now”, prompting Florence to show a disappointed expression.

“Huh? I thought we were friends?”

But Dernick deliberately rekindled Florence’s dying curiosity. Florence covered her mouth with her glove and smiled with her eyes.

“Oh my, you two are saying different things. What kind of relationship is it, for your stories not to match?”

“We really aren’t anything special. It just so happened that… he’s a friend of Merran’s.”

“‘Just so happened that he’s a friend of Merran’s’? What kind of explanation is that?”

Classie suddenly felt the urge to kick Dernick out of the scene. The moment where he had helped her was now completely forgotten. Grabbing Florence’s hand, Classie spoke to Dernick in a tone that clearly conveyed distance.

“Thank you for your help. But I came out to relax with a friend, and having Sir Dernick here makes things uncomfortable. I’ll be going now.”

Drawing a clear line, Classie grabbed Florence’s arm and pulled her in the opposite direction, away from Dernick. But perhaps because she’d nearly slipped badly earlier—of all times, her leg decided to give out again.

The moment she felt the strength leave her leg, Classie let go of Florence. She didn’t want to drag her friend down with her onto the ice.

As Classie began to fall, both Florence and Dernick each caught one of her arms.

“Are you okay? Your leg again—!”

Florence knew Classie’s condition well. She supported her and sighed.

“I’m fine.”

Classie quickly cut her off before she could start blaming herself..Florence was the only one who took Classie around despite the unpredictable state of her legs.

Merran always scolded Florence for being thoughtless, but Classie liked this about her.

“I’ll get your cane. It’s in my carriage.”

Florence even kept Classie’s cane in her own carriage.

“Thanks.”

Classie mumbled softly, doing her best to avoid looking in Dernick’s direction. But Florence turned to him with a request.

“Our carriage is the white one at the end of the lake. The maid drinking coffee in front of it is mine. Could you please ask her to bring the cane?”

Dernick readily agreed.

“She won’t be able to skate anymore anyway. Why don’t I just carry Lady Classie to the carriage instead?”

“That’d be even better,” Florence quickly replied.

Classie almost shouted “Hey!” but bit her lip to hold it back. If Dernick didn’t carry her, she would have to rely on Florence and the cane to cross the ice all the way to the carriage—which would be difficult for Florence.

“…Please.”

Classie reluctantly took Dernick’s arm and mumbled. He whistled cheerfully, then, without hesitation, lifted her up into his arms.

As the tall man lifted the young lady in a princess carry on the ice, the eyes of everyone who had been busy playing instantly turned to them. Embarrassed, Classie took off her gloves and covered her eyes. Dernick burst into laughter.

“Lady Classie, do you get braver when you only cover your eyes?”

“I might not feel brave, but at least the embarrassment goes away,” she replied in a quieter voice.

Dernick’s shoulders shook as he laughed.

“You’re more quirky than you seem. Don’t people usually hide their faces in my chest in this kind of situation?”

“We’re not that close!”

“Still, it probably looks better than covering your face with gloves.”

Classie then used her other glove to cover her mouth as well.

That made Dernick laugh even harder, to the point he almost slipped on the ice, and Classie had to grip his shoulder tightly.

“Walk straight!”

Classie warned, and his shoulders trembled again from laughter.

She decided it was best to just keep quiet. If he ended up falling from laughing too much, they’d both end up injured. But with her face hidden, she started to grow curious about what was happening outside. Classie slightly lowered the glove covering her eyes.

She was trying to look for Florence—but the moment she moved her glove, what came into view were Dernick’s gray eyes.

And the moment she saw those silver-tinted eyes, she was suddenly reminded of the boy from ten years ago.

She hadn’t made the connection before, since the hair and eye colors were completely different. But seeing Dernick this close, she realized—his eyes were shaped just like that boy’s.

Of course, that boy hadn’t been broad-shouldered or tall like Dernick. He’d been short and very skinny. Though, his face had been much better-looking than Dernick’s.

“Why are you staring at me like that? Did you fall for me even harder up close?”

And besides, that boy hadn’t had this sly, snake-like personality. Classie didn’t reply and simply covered her eyes with her gloves again.

After that, for some reason, Dernick didn’t tease her anymore or try to talk. After what felt like an eternity, Classie was finally able to get into Florence’s carriage.

When she felt her body lift off the ground, she moved her gloves from her face and saw Dernick simply lifting her into the carriage like luggage.

Florence helped her stretch out her legs and get comfortable, then brought over a blanket to place on her lap.

“Let’s take the carriage for a short ride around the plaza before heading back. It’ll lift your spirits.”

Florence took off Classie’s skates and handed them to a servant.

“You probably came out to have fun today. I’m sorry,” Classie mumbled timidly.

Florence gently tapped her forehead and smiled.

“Don’t say that. If you do, then I’ll feel like I have to apologize to you too.”

“Okay. Ah, what about my shoes?”

“Oh right! I need to go get them. I left them where we rented the skates…”

The warm, friendly atmosphere they’d built up shattered the moment they spotted Dernick.

Somehow, he’d already found and brought them—he was now hopping over on long strides, holding one of Classie’s shoes in each hand.

Classie’s face turned beet red.

‘Why is that man always carrying my shoes?’

He did the same thing the second time they met. Dernick had been holding her slippers back then.

“Miss Classie’s shoes and I must have a deep connection,” he teased, placing the shoes on the carriage floor when he arrived.

Florence’s eyes filled with suspicion again.
Classie jabbed her in the side and quickly offered Dernick a polite goodbye.

“Thank you for your help today. I’ll send a thank-you gift later through Merran.”

She’d thought this one through, even if briefly. Merran had said she liked Dernick.
If Classie sent a gift through Merran, the two would naturally meet again. That’d be good for both of them.

But Dernick responded dryly.

“That’s odd. You got the help, but Lady Mary’s daughter gives the thanks?”

“I’m the one giving it. I’m just sending it through Merran, that’s all.”

“Why go through all that trouble? Just come yourself. Or I could come to you.”

“No.”

“What a mean little scheme. Are you trying to make Lady Mary’s daughter your errand girl?”

Florence’s eyes turned even sharper, like a freshly honed blade. She clearly wanted to know what was going on between Classie and Dernick.

That fierce curiosity pushed Florence to speak.

“You two really can’t get your stories straight. So here’s what we’ll do. Let’s all ride together and head to my house. Right now. I have a few outfits there that’ll fit Classie. She can change, and this… gentleman can rest a bit too. Meanwhile, our chef will prepare something warm and delicious. We can eat together and have coffee afterward, how does that sound?”

Classie was about to refuse, but Florence squeezed her hand tightly. Before anyone could say anything more, Dernick hopped right into the carriage and gave Classie a bright smile.

“Perfect. I was freezing to death out there.”