Chapter 31
It had been about a year and a half since Logan left. During that time, Olivia would burst into tears whenever she encountered any trace of Logan. And not just light sobs—she cried sorrowfully.
Even if he was only her stepson, Logan had gone off to war. Cindy, who had once vowed not to attend any social events or tea parties, was so exhausted by Olivia’s weeping that she nearly stormed out of the mansion two months later. While she no longer went out as frequently as before, once she did, it was rare for her to return promptly.
“Olivia, did you sleep well…? Oh no, did you cry again?”
So the task of comforting Olivia fell solely to Eleanor, the head maid handled all household affairs, and the butler George and secretary Jeffrey managed any guests or visitors from outside.
“I miss Logan, Ellie.”
“It’ll still take some time before he returns.”
“How much?”
Olivia asked insistently. Eleanor had thought Olivia had forgotten about Logan, given how much she had clung to her recently, but her obsession with him hadn’t gone away. When Logan was around, she constantly clung to Eleanor. Now that he was gone, all she did was call for him.
Eleanor was troubled by the question—one she couldn’t answer because she herself had no idea. Olivia could now count fairly well, so giving an inaccurate number might only end up teasing her.
“I don’t know.”
When Eleanor admitted honestly that she didn’t know, Olivia’s face immediately crumpled with tears.
“You’re not going anywhere, are you, Ellie?”
She clung desperately to Eleanor’s blouse sleeve. Instead of answering, Eleanor gently brushed Olivia’s forehead.
“Eleanor, I think our wedding will be postponed until after the war.”
“After the war?”
“My father said it wouldn’t be appropriate to hold a celebration while the Duke of Claven, who’s been such a help to the Fitzman family, is out fighting.”
Naturally, with the outbreak of war, Eleanor and Usher’s wedding had been postponed. They had become secretly engaged, but they weren’t married yet. As such, the still-legally unrelated Lady Fitzman couldn’t make decisions about Eleanor’s situation, and Usher respected Eleanor’s wishes.
“I’m fine with it. It didn’t seem right to hold a wedding when we don’t even know the duke’s condition. And… I’m also worried about Olivia.”
Eleanor couldn’t leave Olivia, who was virtually alone. She had already planned to stay on and teach Olivia as an honorary position even after she married, without accepting payment.
“You can’t go anywhere, Ellie. Don’t leave Olive behind…”
A child who had lost her father before she could even form coherent thoughts. Her mother was barely present, and now even her brother, who had been like a father figure, had been taken by the country. Eleanor welcomed Olivia’s clinging with warmth.
“Shall we read the letter His Grace sent you before breakfast today?”
Olivia nodded. Even while away at war, Logan managed to send a letter to Olivia once a month. He knew she wasn’t used to reading yet, but still sent them.
Perhaps it was his way of saying he needed someone to confide in. Even though she knew Logan was strong, Eleanor couldn’t help but worry.
“Here! A new letter came yesterday!”
“A new letter?”
Olivia retrieved Logan’s letter, which she had hidden in a special drawer, and eagerly handed it to Eleanor. She never even showed these to her own mother, Cindy, but had no reservations with Eleanor.
“Now, what does this word say?”
“Olivia!”
Olivia pointed at her name and giggled brightly. She had worked hard to be able to read Logan’s letters. While she hadn’t even started etiquette lessons yet, her reading skills had improved tremendously.
“Olivia, the weather is lovely today.”
Eleanor smiled affectionately and quickly read the letter aloud.
“I’m not hurt, and everything is the same as before.”
She’d recently heard that Logan’s unit was in a deadlock with the enemy forces of Kielle. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to be injured.
“The border near Louen is cool, and I think it would make a great summer vacation spot for someone like you who doesn’t like the heat. I thought it would be nice to bring you here once all this is over.
Being far apart makes it hard to know how you’re doing. Are you feeling unwell at all? If anything feels off, let Miss Hudson know and get a doctor to check you right away.
Never forget that I love you. Be confident in yourself today as well.
With love, your brother, Logan.”
It was a heartfelt letter. Even amidst the dangers of war, Logan’s only concern was Olivia’s well-being. Despite knowing she wouldn’t fully understand, he didn’t write a single word of complaint or hardship.
“You have a wonderful brother, Olivia.”
“Logan?”
“Yes.”
Eleanor answered with a smile, kissing Olivia gently on the forehead. Olivia nodded brightly.
“Logan is cool and handsome!”
Praising her brother made her giggle.
“I can give him to you, Ellie!”
Eleanor didn’t really need him—but she couldn’t bring herself to say that. She just smiled.
After reading the letter, they stepped out of Olivia’s room and saw Usher in the lobby. Since Logan left, Usher had taken over his business with Jeffrey, and was practically living at the Duke’s estate.
“Usher.”
Usher turned and smiled at Eleanor.
“You’re here early.”
“I thought we could have lunch together.”
“But the Duchess of Claven will be there…”
Eleanor trailed off. Though she now cared for Olivia full-time, Cindy no longer tried to throw her out—but that didn’t mean she liked her.
“I heard Olivia’s lessons won’t start for a little while. I thought we could step out for a quick meal.”
As Eleanor descended the stairs, Usher wrapped an arm around her waist and planted a kiss on her forehead.
“This is the Duke’s house.”
Eleanor chided his carelessness and stepped away slightly. Usher watched her like sand slipping through his fingers, then smiled weakly. My fiancée is shy—gotta accept that.
“Are you okay with that in public?”
“Behave, Usher.”
Eleanor replied with a teasing glare.
There was a new restaurant near the station, and it was pretty good. It was still too chilly to eat at the outside tables, but just watching the setup made for a pleasant sight.
“Is Olivia still anxious?”
“She gets nervous if I’m gone even for a moment. I’m the only one she relies on in the mansion…”
Eleanor set down her knife and fork as she answered. Knowing that, she felt uneasy eating with Usher, as if she needed to hurry back.
“Is this how it always feels when you have a child?”
Eleanor froze as she sipped water. Usher, also sipping water, met her gaze and smiled mischievously.
“I’ve heard of couples who can’t enjoy dates because of clingy daughters.”
“…That’s a bit early, don’t you think?”
They weren’t even married yet—and he was talking about children. A daughter. Eleanor felt her cheeks heat up. She set her cup down awkwardly and glanced around. Even though she was engaged to Usher, she always felt shy when he talked seriously about building a life together.
“We’ll get married right after the war, so we might as well start imagining it now.”
Usher’s lips twitched as he smiled, clearly enjoying her reaction.
“I want a daughter who takes after you.”
“…”
“I want to see what you looked like as a child. Holding that tiny hand, feeling her cling to me—I think it’d feel like heaven.”
“What if she takes after you?”
Usher flinched.
“She’d be your child too. Of course she could take after you. Did you not think of that?”
He groaned and scratched his forehead. From the look on his face, he really hadn’t considered that. Eleanor couldn’t help but laugh.
“I didn’t think of that.”
Usher finally admitted it—he’d forgotten about his own genes. Eleanor laughed so much, her father Charles would’ve said she had wind in her lungs. It had been a long time since she laughed this freely, even at something trivial.
The spring sunlight shone warmly on Eleanor’s golden hair. Usher watched her glow—more radiant than any tiara—with admiration.
“Extra! Extra!”
Just then, a newsboy on a bicycle appeared, shouting. People on the street turned to look. Thin sheets of newspaper fluttered into the air, and many rushed to grab one.
“It’s chaos.”
A waiter who had stepped outside returned with a paper, clucking his tongue after scanning it.
“What’s going on?” Usher asked.
Instead of answering, the waiter handed the newspaper to Usher.
“What is it, Usher?”
Usher’s eyes quickly scanned the article. Eleanor waited anxiously.
“Kielle has developed a new fighter plane that can shoot from farther away.”
“Then…”
“A lot of soldiers died. They’re even calling for boy soldiers to volunteer.”
Boy soldiers.
Eleanor stared blankly at the desperate handwriting on the paper laid across the table.
