Chapter 48
The move, which lasted nearly ten days, was finally over.
“It’s gotten awfully noisy just because we added one more person.”
Felix clicked his tongue harshly and tapped the ground with his cane.
Erica, holding onto his arm as if supporting him, smiled sheepishly.
“Oh, Father. It’s not like only Lord Loren moved in.”
In truth, rather than supporting him, she looked more like a small butterfly or cicada clinging to a tree.
Yet Felix didn’t find Erica’s presence bothersome.
On the contrary, as if truly grateful, he would occasionally say things like, “Thank you,” or “It’s easier to walk thanks to you,” or “What should I do if our daughter-in-law is exhausted?” never failing to praise her efforts.
Every time he did, Erica’s shoulders would rise with pride.
After a short stroll through the greenhouse, the two sat at a small table set up on the side.
Instead of sitting across from him, Erica sat right beside Felix.
“You must be tired. I’ll give you a massage.”
She raised both hands naturally to begin massaging his left arm, but Felix lightly stopped her with his right hand and shook his head.
“Not today. Let’s just have some tea.”
Erica froze mid-air, slowly pulling back her fingers.
After a brief hesitation, she rolled her eyes around and carefully asked,
“Did I perhaps do something to make you uncomfortable?”
She had sensed it herself.
Felix hadn’t let her massage him at all lately.
At first, she thought she was imagining it.
But as he kept repeating, “No need for massages anymore,” she couldn’t help but notice.
Had she made a mistake without realizing it?
Such thoughts kept piling up until today, when she finally asked out loud.
Seeing her drooping shoulders and gloomy face, Felix quickly shook his head.
His long hair rustled gently with the motion.
“No, it’s nothing like that.”
“Then why…?”
“Don’t misunderstand. I just felt your little hands were working too hard.”
Felix smiled gently and brushed his long hair back.
“I’m fine now. I can move without much trouble. If I get worse, I’ll ask for help then.”
“……Will you really tell me?”
“Of course. Definitely.”
Felix gave her a playful grin.
“Didn’t I experience firsthand how magical your healing hands are?”
“Oh, Father…”
Felix’s teasing tone quickly lifted the cloud from Erica’s face.
She chuckled as if she couldn’t resist him and poured tea into his cup.
“Phew. The days are getting hotter, and this long hair is starting to feel like a burden.”
Maybe I should just chop it all off.
As Felix muttered without much thought, Erica’s eyes lit up.
“Father!”
“Hm?”
“I think long hair suits you very well!”
“……Hmm, is that so?”
Then maybe I won’t cut it.
Felix changed his mind all too easily.
After a moment of cautious hesitation, Erica spoke up again with newfound courage.
“If it’s alright with you… I have a ribbon.”
“Hm?”
Erica pulled out a green ribbon from the pouch she always carried.
As the summer sun grew stronger, the weather became unbearably hot.
She usually let her hair down in the morning, but after moving around even a little, sweat would gather at her nape—so she carried the ribbon to tie her hair when needed.
But now, it seemed Felix needed it more than she did.
“What if I tied your hair with this?”
“You? Me?”
“Yes…! If you don’t mind!”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
Felix nodded without hesitation.
Erica’s face brightened, and she stood up, walking behind him.
With her small, nimble hands, she gently gathered Felix’s long hair and loosely braided it.
“All done.”
After tying the ribbon tightly at the end, she carefully asked how it looked.
“This… isn’t bad at all.”
Felix thanked her, saying his head felt much cooler thanks to her.
And with that, their short teatime ended.
“Well then, Erica. I enjoyed today. You may go ahead.”
“Yes, Father.”
Perhaps he had more to discuss with Vincent, as Felix sent Erica out of the greenhouse first.
Just then, a beautifully blue bird, as if it had been waiting, flew over and perched proudly on Erica’s shoulder.
“Hello there. Where did you come from?”
As Erica giggled and tapped the bird’s beak with her finger, she sensed a shadow fall over her.
Only then did she realize someone was standing in her path and lifted her eyes.
Startled by the unfamiliar presence, the bird on her shoulder flapped its wings and flew away.
“Oh.”
Erica instantly recognized the person.
Although they had never been formally introduced, she hesitated, unsure whether to acknowledge the woman first.
Fortunately, the light-brown-haired woman approached Erica first and spoke.
“Hello. You must be the young madam of the Acliff ducal house?”
Erica nodded slightly.
“Hello.”
It was the woman who acted as both caregiver and secretary to Loren.
Looking a bit sheepish, she laughed as if embarrassed by the situation and continued.
“I’m not slacking off, I promise. I was just checking out the place where I’ll be living from now on. Trying to see what’s where and which paths are quickest… that sort of thing.”
“Of course. That makes sense.”
Erica remained calm, smiling gracefully and nodding.
Charlotte paused for a moment, surprised by Erica’s mature demeanor, which was unusual for someone so young.
A beat later, she seemed to realize she had spoken too familiarly and hadn’t even introduced herself.
She briefly covered her mouth, looking a bit alarmed, then lowered her gaze.
With a much softer voice, she said,
“Oh dear. Look at me. I should’ve introduced myself first.”
She stuck out her tongue slightly and winked playfully.
“Lord Loren always tells me to stop being so scatterbrained, but it’s a hard habit to break.”
Despite her casual attitude, Erica didn’t call her out.
While the woman’s behavior felt a bit strange, it wasn’t unpleasant.
Besides, Charlotte wasn’t just a ducal servant—she was also someone close to Loren, someone Erica wanted to get along with.
Charlotte gracefully spread her skirt and gave a small bow.
“I’m Charlotte Calder, now staying at the ducal estate with Lord Loren. My family, House Calder, is a barony in the capital.”
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Erica Acliff.”
Erica responded calmly and with elegance, introducing herself as well.
Though younger than Charlotte, Erica outranked her in status, so she didn’t go out of her way to be overly polite.
Taking a breath, Erica observed Charlotte with a composed gaze.
‘Did Lord Loren personally hire her?’
She kept her thoughts to herself, but frankly, she didn’t think Loren and Charlotte made a good match.
Loren was calm, rational, and meticulous. He didn’t like fuss or noise.
Erica had seen that herself, and both Felix and Lady Alma—who had known Loren since childhood—had said the same.
So Erica couldn’t shake the odd feeling.
From what she could tell, Charlotte wasn’t the type of person Loren would typically favor.
She was overly cheerful and had high energy.
If even a short encounter made that obvious, it likely meant she was always like that.
While Erica was lost in thought, Charlotte spoke up again.
“My father once received help from your family—House Blanche Marquis! More precisely, it was your father who helped him.”
