~Chapter 100~
Shall We Take a Break?
It wasn’t long before the shop manager returned with a tray of glittering necklaces. Eleanor helped choose one, just as Karsian had asked.
Luckily, even with her less-than-perfect sense of style, she managed to pick something decent. Not because her taste had suddenly improved — but because every piece was exquisite, so she couldn’t really go wrong.
The necklace she chose was set with a finely cut emerald, its hue a pale blue-green. It surprised her; she’d always thought emeralds only came in green.
Her reason for picking it was simple: compared to the others, it had fewer diamonds around it. In other words, it looked the least expensive. Of course, “least expensive” here was still far from cheap.
But her effort to save money was wasted when Karsian spoke up.
“Please wrap up the matching earrings as well.”
“Karsian!”
“I just happen to want earrings too.”
He said it shamelessly, as if there was nothing strange about it. Eleanor could only throw up her hands in surrender.
The manager and clerks smiled warmly, clearly seeing them as a loving couple, and left the room to prepare the packaging. Eleanor realized her attempt to look like a demanding mistress had failed completely.
“Next time we meet, you’d better be wearing both — the necklace and the earrings.”
Eleanor said with a sulky face. Karsian only smiled, his lips curling handsomely.
“If that’s what you want, of course.”
That smile of his sparkled brighter than the emerald necklace. With a face like that, he could wear the flashiest jewels in the world and still look perfect.
She had lost. Eleanor didn’t know exactly what she had lost, but she knew defeat when she saw it.
“…Eleanor. Do you not like jewelry very much?”
As she squeezed her eyes shut in defeat, Karsian gently asked.
“I noticed you’ve rarely worn earrings or necklaces before.”
Before? Just how long have you been watching me?
Eleanor wondered, then answered.
“Yes. They’re uncomfortable, and honestly… I never really liked flashy or glittery things.”
“Then what do you like?”
The question left her speechless. Eleanor blinked, wide-eyed.
She could list the things she hated easily. But things she liked? Nothing came to mind. Her life had been too full of misery to ever pause and think about what she enjoyed.
After digging deep into her memories, she finally recalled one thing she used to love.
“…Potatoes?”
A single small potato, fought over with the other orphans. Dry, dirty, with children’s fingerprints still on it. Hardly delicious. Yet when she finally won one and shared it with Luke, she’d felt so happy.
“Potatoes…?”
Karsian repeated, puzzled.
Eleanor realized she had let her nostalgia slip out loud. Flustered, she corrected herself.
“No, that’s not what I meant. What I really like is…”
But no matter how hard she tried, her mind stayed blank. All she could see was that same dirt-stained potato.
Sighing, she confessed.
“…Honestly, I’m not sure. I don’t know what I like.”
She gave a sheepish laugh.
“I know plenty of things I dislike… but I never had the chance to think about what I actually like.”
For a moment she regretted being so serious. What if he thought she was strange? She nervously glanced at him.
But as always, Karsian didn’t judge her. He simply answered calmly, gently.
“In that case, discovering what you like will be part of the fun.”
Discovering what I like?
Eleanor had never even considered such an idea. Yet the timing, or maybe just the fact it came from him, made his words sink warmly into her heart.
“…You’re right.”
She nodded slowly, her face dazed.
“That’s what I’ll do.”
Once I leave Astria, I’ll live a life of learning myself. Discovering, one by one, the things I love, the things I want to keep close.
The thought made her laugh helplessly.
Her smile was bright and unguarded, like the morning sun sweeping away the gray of dawn.
Karsian drank in her face with trembling eyes. His strong jaw tensed.
Hold it together.
He clenched his fists, whispering the words he’d already repeated hundreds of times today.
Know your place, you filthy bastard.
He cursed himself, reminding himself again and again. The woman before him was the most precious, noble person in the world. And he — covered in the filth of blood — had no right to desire her.
But his restraint dissolved with just a few of her words.
“From now on, please teach me a lot.”
Her sweet voice spoke of a shared future. He knew it wasn’t meant the way he hoped, but for a brief moment, the fantasy melted his brain like honey.
“How… how could I dare…”
“Because it’s you, Karsian. That’s why I’m asking.”
She curved her long eyes in a loving smile, whispering softly. And in that instant, Karsian forgot himself.
His calloused hand reached out slowly.
Eleanor didn’t move away. She stayed still, watching as his thumb brushed her cheek, his long fingers cupping her face tenderly.
Their eyes locked in the heavy, charged silence.
Eleanor fluttered her lashes, then quietly closed her eyes.
It was permission.
She didn’t know what he intended, or how far he dared to go — only that she was willing to let him.
That trust drove Karsian mad.
In a flash, he felt something inside him snap. He leaned in, unable to hold back.
But the timing couldn’t have been worse.
“The packaging is complete. Shall we load it onto your carriage?”
The manager returned, breaking the moment.
Eleanor’s eyes flew open. Karsian turned his head and fixed the man with an icy stare.
The shopkeeper flinched, feeling a chill like a blade against his skin.
“It’s fine. I’ll carry it myself.”
Eleanor smiled sweetly, and the killing aura vanished at once.
She rose gracefully and walked out as though nothing had happened. Karsian followed behind her.
The manager, unnerved but convinced he’d imagined the danger, guided them to the entrance. For some reason, he felt oddly nostalgic watching them. It wasn’t just that important people had bought expensive jewelry. It was more like… seeing a memory from long ago.
And sure enough, he offered up a bite of information.
“…In fact, the Duke of Astria also bought a similar necklace here about twenty years ago. Back then, Juliana Campbell wasn’t so famous. Brings back memories.”
“…My father?”
Eleanor’s bright face immediately dimmed.
The manager, oblivious, went on with a smile.
“Yes. He said it was a gift for Lady Alcestis Meredith — your mother, the Duchess. I remember it was also a necklace with a blue emerald.”
Her father… Buying jewelry for love? She’d rather not hear such things.
Still, she had already heard enough of society ladies’ gossip about Caleb Astria and Meredith Alcestis’ “beautiful love story” that it wasn’t new.
“Please take care, then.”
The manager bowed deeply as he saw them off.
Eleanor forced her father’s story from her mind. She walked a few steps ahead, then spun around and held out her hand.
“Shall we go?”
The clear summer sunlight danced on her hair. Karsian took her hand, his heart tangled in confusion.
***
They continued their date with simple pleasures.
They bought sweets from a candy shop to bring back for Hilda, listened to a violinist play by a fountain, and laughed as they picked out hats for each other at a street stall.
Time flew, and the blue sky turned into a fiery orange.
Eleanor glanced at the hand still joined with hers.
“This should be enough, don’t you think? We must look very much like a mistress and her lover now.”
After walking hand in hand and smiling all day, the impression would surely be cemented.
Karsian nodded in agreement.
“Yes. More like lovers, in fact.”
Eleanor snorted, amused at his persistence. He just kept insisting on “lovers.”
She laughed softly and looked up at him.
They had achieved their goal — to spread the rumor. They could part ways now. But she didn’t want to. She didn’t want to let go of his hand.
No… more than that…
She wanted to continue what had almost happened in that shop.
Was he really going to kiss me?
Her heart pounded again at the thought. Her cheeks burned.
Is Karsian thinking the same thing?
She studied his face carefully, trying to read him.
But as always, his expression was unreadable. His red eyes wavered slightly, but that was all.
So Eleanor decided to ask directly.
“Then… sha
ll we take a break somewhere?”
Her voice was soft, suggestive. Karsian’s throat bobbed hard as he swallowed.
