Chapter 27
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding.
Episode 27
"What is this?"
Julie asked with a puzzled expression.
Elia shook her head briefly, signaling her to play ignorant.
"Shh. Tell the young lady—she'll understand when she sees it."
Julie glanced back and only then noticed Butler Thomas watching them from beyond the lobby.
Julie quickly nodded with a bright, carefree smile, as though she knew nothing at all.
"Understood. I'll be going now. The young lady should be awake by now."
Elia let out a soft laugh at how seamlessly Julie shifted her expression.
Her instincts were truly remarkable.
Elia hurried to open the carriage door, personally ushering Julie inside before closing it shut.
"Go, and try not to cause any trouble. Contact me if anything happens."
"Yes! I'm going! Don't worry if I don't return for a while—just assume I've grown so fond of the General's mansion that I've decided to stay!"
Elia let out a soft laugh as she watched Julie wave playfully.
"Yes, please go and never come back. At least you—"
—could escape this wretched Oellin Marquessate.
* * *
Grace, who had fallen asleep in the late hours of dawn, ended up sleeping far longer than intended.
Though she had tried to wake, her body felt heavy and drowsiness clung to her relentlessly.
The fact that no one had disturbed her sleep was partly to blame for her oversleeping.
"Good heavens... just how long have I been asleep?"
Grace stared blankly at the white sunlight flickering beneath the curtains before suddenly bolting upright.
Her face burned at the realization that she had overslept in someone else's home.
And in Lucas Black's mansion, no less!
"I need to hurry, hurry."
It was already far too late. Father and my brother might very well have my head.
"Julie!"
Grace slipped on her slippers and pulled the bell cord to summon Julie.
In that moment, as her sleeve rode up, a faintly luminous marking became visible on her exposed skin.
She froze.
Grace stared at the marking on her forearm, which gleamed even more brilliantly in the sunlight.
"It wasn't a dream, then."
When she brushed her other hand across the marking, it glowed with a pale luminescence.
"What on earth is this? A curse of some kind? Or perhaps... magic?"
Grace vaguely speculated that it might be one of those mysterious powers said to have been used in the distant past.
As she examined the marked wrist, the door opened and a maid entered.
"You're awake, Miss. I've prepared your washing water. It's rose-scented."
It was not Julie, but a maid who worked at Lucas Black's mansion.
"Where did Julie go...?"
"Ah, the maid you brought, Miss, stepped out to the Oellin Marquess Residence for a brief errand. She left an hour ago, so she should be returning soon."
"The Marquessate? Why did she go alone without waking me...?"
"Well, it seems she mentioned needing to fetch something...."
At the maid's words, Grace tilted her head in confusion.
She had planned to go the moment she woke—why would she need to fetch something...?
As Grace pondered this, Lucas Black suddenly came to mind.
Had he sent her?
"Your Excellency? Has he awakened?"
"Yes? Ah.... Haem did enter His Excellency's chambers earlier...."
Grace quickly washed with the water the maid had brought, hastily dressed, and hurried outside.
Even if Lucas Black had sent a messenger, her father was not one to obey his summons without question.
She feared the two of them might clash, and that fear drove her forward.
'And I need to ask him about this emblem too. I want to know if that voice I heard yesterday truly was his.'
She moved quickly toward his chambers.
But when she reached his door, she hesitated and stopped.
Her heart had raced as she ran here without thinking, but now, facing the door to open it, she felt a slight, slight....
Fear. Yes, fear. That was it. Fear had grown.
'That's right, I'm... probably just so frightened my heart is pounding.'
Grace steadied herself with a deep breath and raised her hand to knock.
Just before her fist touched the door,
"No, that's exactly why I'm telling you to calm down...!"
The door burst open and Haem tumbled out.
Because he was looking back into the room as he opened the door, he missed the timing to notice Grace standing directly in front of him.
Caught off guard, the two collided head-on and tumbled to the ground.
"Oof!"
"Ack!"
With a heavy thud, both bodies fell hard in opposite directions.
"Ow, ow, ow."
Grace couldn't help but groan.
She had fallen quite hard backward, and her rear end throbbed painfully.
Startled, Haem quickly got to his feet and helped Grace up.
"Oh! Are you alright, Miss? I'm so sorry, truly. I wasn't paying attention when I opened the door."
"No, no, it's fine, Haem. I'm alright. But is His Excellency inside?"
"H-His Excellency? No, he's not here right now...!"
"What? Weren't you just talking to someone inside? Oh, is Gabriel in there?"
As she tilted her head in confusion, the Butler passing through the corridor spotted them and hurried over.
"Did you fall? Are you injured anywhere?"
"...Gabriel is here. Then who was inside if not His Excellency?"
Haem looked flustered at the Butler, who merely shrugged as if to say he had no idea.
"Why are you stopping me, Haem? I have something to discuss with the Marquess. Surely I can go in?"
"No, that's not it. It's just that His Lordship isn't actually inside...."
Just as Grace tilted her head in confusion, the half-closed door creaked open.
She lifted her gaze to see what emerged from within.
"...!"
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
A massive horse stepped out with dignified bearing.
Grace's eyes widened involuntarily as she covered her mouth.
...Wait, why is this horse coming out of here?
"W-why is there a horse coming from His Lordship's chambers...."
And with such audacious confidence at that....
As Grace stood speechless, her lips parting in bewilderment, the black horse drew closer to her.
The black horse approached as if it were the most natural thing in the world, nuzzling its nose against her rosy cheek.
It was an affectionate gesture, almost like a greeting.
Despite her confusion, Grace found herself stroking the horse's muzzle.
"What on earth...?"
"Ah, well. His Lordship is quite fond of this horse, so he occasionally brings it into his chambers to sleep!"
"I beg your pardon?"
Even if one cherished a horse dearly, who in their right mind would let it sleep in their bedroom?
Grace found herself staring blankly at the black horse that had just emerged from Lucas Black's bedchamber.
The horse shook its head as if amused, baring its teeth in what resembled a grin.
Nothing made sense.
Just then, the sound of rapid footsteps thundering up the stairs echoed through the corridor, followed by a familiar voice calling out to Grace.
"Miss—! Huff, huff, there you are!"
"Julie."
Julie, who had rushed over from a distance, continued speaking without even catching her breath.
"I, I just returned from the Estate, and huff, huff, I heard the most shocking news! The young master was injured!"
"What? When?"
"Last night! Apparently, some enormous horse came charging into the Estate last night and completely shattered the young master's ribs!"
Julie's face brightened as she uttered the word "shattered."
"What are you talking about, Julie? At night? A horse? How could a horse possibly...?"
"I don't know the details myself! But apparently this dark, massive, and incredibly handsome... horse suddenly appeared and attacked the young master... wait? But there's also a dark, massive, and incredibly handsome horse here...? Huh?"
Julie's eyes, which had been excitedly relaying what the maids at the Estate had told her, froze as they focused over Grace's shoulder.
There stood the large, strikingly handsome black horse, its chin held high with unmistakable pride.
"Miss, is it... common to find horses this dark... and massive and incredibly handsome...?"
At Julie's question, Grace turned her head to look at the black horse.
"Neigh!"
The moment the black horse's eyes met Grace's, it shook its head with brazen innocence.
As if claiming complete ignorance, it buried its nose in her fragrant hair and nuzzled her cheek with gentle affection.
"Well, I've never seen a horse this handsome before either."
Odd as it was, I could have sworn I saw a smile on the horse's face.
At the gentle way the horse nuzzled against me, I couldn't help but duck my head and burst into laughter.
The horse showed no signs of stopping.
My laughter only grew louder and more uncontrollable as a result.
"That tickles! Stop it."
Snort—
Its warm breath rustled against my earlobe and hair.
As the tickling sensation persisted, I found myself giggling helplessly, unsure what to do.
"It tickles! Please, stop, stop!"
I pushed the black horse away with trembling shoulders, but my strength was hardly enough to budge such a creature.
The horse remained motionless, its nose buried in my soft hair, clearly pleased by my scent.
I scrunched my shoulders, unable to bear the ticklish sensation any longer.
Something felt strange, and my face grew warmer and warmer with each passing moment.
Just as I was squirming uncertainly and grasped the horse's neck, it happened.
Smack!
The sharp sound of a hand striking the horse's hindquarters rang out, followed by Haem's quiet voice.
"Behave yourself, truly."
...Snort.
The chastened black horse withdrew its head sheepishly, glaring at Haem with indignation.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org