Episode 11
“I don’t know exactly what you’re worried about… but still…”
Layla looked up at him with her silver lashes fluttering gently.
“I trust you.”
“Huh?”
“I said… I trust you.”
Easton smiled brightly and shrugged. It was the first time Layla had ever seen him smile like that.
Surprised, she blinked slowly, then turned around quickly, her cheeks slightly red.
“U-um… Would you like some tea?”
As she started walking to the kitchen to get something, she turned her head again.
“By the way, why did you come here?”
“Oh.”
Only then did Easton remember why he came.
“I remembered you said you liked honey wine.”
He carefully placed the bottle of honey wine on the table.
“Oh? It really is honey wine!”
Layla’s eyes widened and she rushed toward him, her eyes sparkling.
“Where did you get it? I heard it’s a specialty from the capital and hard to find in the countryside!”
“I just… got it from somewhere.”
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Easton looked away and coughed lightly.
“So, you brought it for me?”
Layla asked, her face excited as she looked directly into his eyes.
“Since you said you liked it… and I also wanted to ask for a favor.”
They were standing a little too close, so Easton took a small step back.
Layla smiled brightly at him.
“You’re really kind, Easton.”
“…No one’s ever said that to me before.”
“You remembered something I just said in passing and even took the time to bring it here yourself.”
She looked truly happy as she picked up the bottle.
Inside the clear bottle, the thick, golden-orange honey wine shimmered gently.
“Please drink with me.”
“Sorry?”
“I’ll make a little dish to go with it. Just wait here, okay?”
She gently pulled Easton by the hand and made him sit on the sofa.
“I’ll be right back.”
Easton sat down without knowing what to do, blinking in confusion as Layla twirled into the kitchen.
“…Hmm.”
Feeling awkward, Easton scratched the back of his neck. Soon, a delicious smell came from the kitchen.
Unlike the burnt smell from earlier, her cooking smelled pretty good.
As he waited, he slowly looked around the house again. It was still lovely and cozy.
Then, his eyes landed on a pile of books stacked on a small shelf.
He picked up the one on top — a book on advanced medicine. It was very detailed, too much for someone self-studying in the countryside.
There were many notes and underlined parts, where Layla had compared her own test results with what the book said.
“She’s really talented…”
No, it wasn’t just talent. It was real skill.
“Ah, that’s just something I’ve been studying on my own!”
Just then, Layla came out with a tray of food and drinks.
She placed it on the table by the window and waved at Easton.
“Let’s eat here together.”
The word “together” made Easton’s ears turn red as he walked over.
Layla opened the window wide. The sound of the rain was now clearer.
“Isn’t it peaceful?”
She smiled gently as she placed the dishes on the table.
On pretty plates were dried toast, salami, cream cheese, blueberry canapés, and marinated cherry tomatoes.
She had changed into a clean white dress.
“I’m so tired of this rain now.”
“For me, the rain is a good thing.”
She answered as she sat across from him.
“What do you mean?”
“The ground needs to be very wet for the ‘Aiola’ herb to bloom.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Yes. It’s rained enough now. It should stop soon…”
Now it was time to open the honey wine. Layla tried opening the cork but it was too tight.
As she struggled, Easton chuckled and reached out his hand.
“Let me help.”
With one smooth move, he opened the cork and poured the wine gently into their glasses.
He handed one to Layla.
“Thank you!”
Holding the glass with both hands, she smiled brightly.
“Shall we toast?”
“…Sure.”
Clink.
Their glasses touched and separated.
Layla took a sip. The sweet, thick liquid went down smoothly.
“Mmm! It’s really good!”
“Is it?”
“Yes! Even better than what I had before!”
Her eyes sparkled like stars. Even if someone gave him the rarest pink diamond, it wouldn’t shine brighter than those eyes.
Was he falling in love?
Everything she did looked so lovely, it was driving him crazy.
“Try the food too. I’m not the best cook, but I thought something salty would go well with the sweet wine.”
“Oh, right.”
He had been staring at her and hadn’t even touched the food or drink.
He quickly took a sip and popped a cherry tomato into his mouth.
“How is it?”
He didn’t say anything, just chewed slowly.
“It’s good.”
He finally smiled and answered.
“I like it too.”
Layla took another sip of wine and added,
“It’s been so long since I ate with someone at my house.”
“…Didn’t you say you had a nanny?”
“Yes, but her family lives in the capital. So she wasn’t always here.”
“Wait, she left a child alone here and went to the capital?”
He accidentally blurted out the question in surprise.
“Don’t be too harsh. She stayed away from her family because of me… and she’s not around anymore.”
“…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s okay.”
She smiled softly. Easton stared at her again.
Just looking at her made all his usual worries disappear.
‘If only things could stay like this…’
How nice it would be if he could live peacefully here.
But then he remembered the cruel face of Duke La Rose.
He hated and feared him at the same time.
Trying to act normal, he lifted his glass and spoke.
“You don’t seem like someone who’s scared of anything.”
“Oh no, I do get scared.”
She answered casually, but her face suddenly went pale.
“What scares you?”
“Hmm…”
She hesitated for a moment before whispering:
“…Horses.”
“Horses? Like, running horses?”
“Yes… I don’t really want to talk about it.”
With a sad smile, Layla looked out the window at the rain.
“It’s nice though.”
Her eyes slowly turned back to him.
“Sharing good food with someone like this.”
Their eyes met mid-air. Easton smiled without realizing it.
“Yeah… It really is.”
He had always been on edge, afraid of being poisoned, so he never imagined eating with someone like this.
“But it’s nice.”
Right now, he just felt comfortable.
Easton raised his glass with a soft smile.
He usually didn’t like sweet things, but this was different.
He finally understood how wonderful it was to share the same time, place, and thoughts with someone.
“Thank you, Easton. For the wine… and for thinking of me.”
“It’s nothing. I think I’m the one being treated well.”
Maybe dreaming of a life with her was too much, but enjoying a short peaceful moment… that was okay.
He smiled gently.
“But, um… if you ever feel uncomfortable…”
Layla looked a little awkward as she popped a cherry tomato into her mouth.
She didn’t have many friends her age, and she was very conscious of Easton.
They had grown a bit closer through recent events, but still, he was a stranger… and he would leave once he found the Aiola herb.
“I’m slow at noticing things, so if you don’t say it clearly, I might not get it.”
She didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.
“So, just in case…”
“…Layla.”
He called her name and looked straight into her eyes.
“I’m not uncomfortable.”
His heart began to pound like crazy.
Was it the honey wine, even though there was no alcohol?
Or maybe the delicious food?
Or the cozy atmosphere?
No — he felt like if he didn’t say it now, he’d regret it forever.
So Easton finally said,
“It’s strange, really.”
For the first time in his life, he forgot about logic, background, and worries.
“You don’t make me uncomfortable.”
His honest voice made her eyelashes tremble.
At that moment, the rain outside slowly began to stop.
The long rainy season had finally ended.
Through the window, raindrops slid off the roof.
And the two of them just looked at each other for a long, long time.
