SGC 27

CHAPTER 27

Translator: Rae

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As they ascended the central staircase together, the servants followed several paces behind.

Edmund addressed the servant without turning around.

“Would you prepare dinner at once?”

At the gentle command, the servant bowed promptly.

“Yes, Your Grace. I shall inform the dining room.”

When the servant turned and descended the stairs, only the two of them remained on the landing. Without slowing her steps, Rozella stole a quiet glance at him.

His manner of never losing respect even toward his subordinates was something she had witnessed countless times before. In the past, he had addressed even the humblest servant with courtesy.

At one point, Rozella had thought all nobles were as generous and kind as he. Saving a strange girl, allowing her a pet name, treating her without stiffness and letting her follow him about without complaint…

However, she had failed to realize for a long time that such qualities belonged to Edmund alone. The nobles she met at the academy bore no resemblance to him at all.

And she came to realize, again and again, just how specially he had treated her.

Suddenly, emotions she could not define tugged against one another within her heart.

Guilt and relief, fear and tranquility. Each feeling contradicted the other.

She wondered from when was it that she no longer felt uncomfortable at the sight of him.

Though she knew it was selfish to grow accustomed to his goodwill and lean upon his kindness.

Edmund suddenly slowed his steps. His gaze turned to her without warning. When their eyes met, Rozella flinched like someone caught staring in secret.

His attentive green eyes lingered on her, then curved faintly.

“How did you spend your day?”

She cleared her throat before answering.

“Several invitations arrived this morning. I spent rather a long time writing replies.”

They resumed walking. As they climbed the last step and entered the corridor, the glow of sunset spilled brilliantly between them.

"Was there any difficulties?" 

“No. Lady Wellen helped me with what I did not know.”

He nodded and met her eyes as if letting her to continue.

Though her day seemed too trivial to recount, she continued calmly.

“After lunch, I took a walk in the garden. It was my first time properly exploring it, and it was truly beautiful.”

She had heard it was modeled after the royal palace’s maze garden. The academy had possessed something similar, and the sight stirred faint memories of those days.

“Oh, and there were a few cats in the garden. They must have climbed over the fence from outside.”

At the sudden emerging idea, Rozella lifted her lashes as if seeking permission.

“The gardener tried to chase them away, so I asked him not to… Is that all right?”

“Yes. They must need somewhere to stay as well.”

At his tranquil answer, her heart felt as though it had been tickled lightly. She smiled in quiet gratitude.

She had dared to ask because she knew Edmund cared for small creatures as much as she did. Perhaps she might visit the garden often to tend to them.

“What about the afternoon?”

He seemed curiously attentive to her otherwise uneventful day.

“In the afternoon, I read in the study, and at Lady Wellen’s suggestion, we had tea.”

Lady Wellen proved an excellent instructor in etiquette, teaching her patiently without the slightest trace of disdain.

When Rozella grew comfortable enough to make idle remarks, however, she was met with brief replies delivered in a chillingly impassive face.

“After that, I rested quietly in the bedroom.”

They had reached the door to her room. Edmund paused in the corridor and looked down at her as if he wished to say something. She held her breath and waited.

Perhaps he found her days too monotonous. She wondered if she ought to at least pretend to occupy herself more properly as a duchess. Yet what he said was entirely different.

“The capital will soon grow somewhat busy.”

Rozella tilted her head. Was there to be some grand event in the city? She waited for him to elaborate, but Edmund merely opened the door for her.

“I will come for you when it is time for dinner.”

Stepping inside almost absentmindedly, she nodded. Since he offered no explanation, she let it pass as casual remark.

“Shall we go see the cats in the garden after dinner?”

At his thoughtful question, her eyes sparkled at once.

"I would love to." 

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In recent days, Edmund had begun returning home noticeably earlier.

As a result, time with him was naturally added to Rozella’s otherwise uneventful routine.

On the grass of the maze garden, where sunlight fell in straight beams, a cat lay stretched at ease. Its fur was a tawny yellow striped faintly along its body.

Even when she stroked and gently poked the warm, cheese colored fur, the cat did not so much as flick an irritated tail.

"Where's your friend?" 

The gray cat that had been beside it earlier had vanished without a trace. At her question, the yellow cat merely opened its mouth wide in a languid yawn.

As Rozella tapped its warm, soft haunches lightly, steady footsteps sounded from behind her.

When she turned her head, Edmund stood there with the gray cat.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“N-no…”

Rozella’s gaze dropped to his feet. The gray cat, which she had wondered about moments ago, was vigorously rubbing its head against the hem of Edmund’s black trousers.

“It is probably because of this.”

Unperturbed by the cat’s fervent affection, Edmund walked toward her and opened his palm to reveal pieces of dried fish.

“Did you bring that from the dining room?”

Rozella casually took one of the pieces from his hand.

Only minutes earlier, Edmund had been strolling through the garden with her before stepping away at his aide’s summons. She had not expected him to return with food for the cats.

"Yes. They said they knew the cats came and went, so they had prepared some in advance.”

As he spoke, his trouser legs were already covered in fur. Staring at the sight, Rozella could not restrain herself and lowered her head.

She tried to hide her laughter, but a soft breath escaped and betrayed her. Even so, Edmund showed not the slightest displeasure and bent one knee to sit.

Afternoon sunlight pooled within the green of his eyes as he looked at her.

“It has been a while since I have seen you laugh so freely.”

His tone was gentle, as though such a sight alone were worth it. Only after several moments did Rozella manage to calm herself and lift her head, meeting his gaze directly.

Looking at her flushed from laughter, Edmund asked softly.

“Have you settled down?”

“Ah, yes. I am sorry. But what shall we do? Your trousers happen to be black.”

“The servants in charge of the washing will have a bit of trouble.”

Acting like there was nothing he could do about it, Edmund offered a piece of dried fish to the gray cat that had so enthusiastically adorned him with fur.

Rozella hurried to feed her own portion to the cheese colored cat. Watching them nibble contentedly at the fish brought a curious sense of healing to her heart.

“...”

After a moment, Rozella shifted her eyes and looked at Edmund seated beside her. His smooth black hair fell across his broad forehead, brushing against his dark brows.

The line of his face, passing over a prominent brow bone and descending along a high straight nose, was sharply sculpted. His lips, faintly tinged with red, curved slightly.

Today he wore comparatively light attire, a pale gray vest over a white linen shirt. Beneath the firmly fastened cuffs, his forearms were defined, and the cat clung to them only to slip off again.

Suddenly, Rozella wondered whether she was truly allowed to enjoy such peace. The moment felt almost like a painting.

“My schedule is fairly loose this week.”

Edmund stroked the cat’s back and turned toward her. His long lashes lowered halfway, lending his face a languid air.

"Shall we go out together?"

***

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