Chapter 20
Somehow, Suspicious People (5)
“Please hurry, Saintess.”
“I don’t wanna go.”
“But you must, the priests are waiting.”
“Ugh, I don’t care. Forget being Saintess, I just want to keep learning magic from Teacher.”
It was Wednesday—the day Lynette went to the temple once a week.
And I was supposed to just escort her politely… but instead—
“Sorry, Saintess, but His Grace can hear everything you’re saying.”
—for some reason Lynette was clinging tightly to both my hands, refusing to leave.
And right next to us was…
“……”
Eclipse. Watching Lynette with an unusually dark expression.
Stuck between them, I couldn’t push Lynette away and just kept sweating nervously.
Then Lynette leaned closer, whispering in my ear.
“Don’t worry, he won’t say anything. He just broods silently. Our Archduke is famously stoic, you know.”
At that moment, I knew.
They fought!
That sarcastic tone, the icy expression, the way she clutched my hands like a challenge—
This was clearly some sort of sibling standoff. Okay, more like one-sided pressure from her, but still.
“Want to come with me?”
Lynette tilted her head toward Eclipse and asked me sweetly.
“Me? To the temple?”
“Mm-hm.”
She was doing this on purpose, wasn’t she?
That’s not just throwing oil on the fire—that’s dumping an entire barrel of kerosene!
There are so many eyes on us, please don’t do this!
I could feel dozens of stares drilling into me. Not only Eclipse and Silbern, but Penny and half the household staff were watching us. At least twenty people.
‘No way, I’ve got to fix this fast.’
Alright, everyone. Watch closely. I, Elsie Bloomhire, will sacrifice myself to smooth this over.
You don’t have to clap, just remember: “Oh, that Elsie girl actually handles herself well.”
“You know I can’t, Saintess. Please just go and come back quickly, alright?”
I plastered on a smile, desperately trying to calm the situation.
…It lasted all of five seconds before Lynette stomped on it.
“No. What if something happens while I’m gone?”
“Nothing will happen, really.”
“What if some evil witch shows up and burns the mansion down?”
“…Excuse me?”
“What if a dragon destroys our house and kidnaps Teacher?”
…What?
Why would a dragon kidnap me?!
If anything, it’d take Eclipse or Lynette. Why me?!
Her absurd imagination made me snort a laugh before I could stop myself.
“That won’t happen, Saintess. And even if it did, His Grace would handle it all. Don’t worry.”
“……”
“And if it really happened, I’d help His Grace defeat the evil witch too.”
(There’s already one witch in this house. Me. That’s enough.)
“That said… if a dragon ever did kidnap me…”
I looked Lynette square in the eyes.
“…it won’t happen, but I’d find a way back. Because I’m your teacher. No teacher would abandon their student.”
Don’t forget, Saintess—this is my lifetime job. I haven’t even gotten that permanent contract yet!
A dragon won’t ruin my career plans. Never!
(Unless it’s a Gold Dragon made entirely of real gold. That might tempt me…)
My confident answer softened her pout.
“So please, go without worry. You need to visit the temple so I can prepare for tomorrow’s lesson.”
“…Ah.”
“It’s only once a week, right? Surely you didn’t forget?”
“Of course not… obviously.”
Still grumbling, she reluctantly nodded.
“…Fine. I’ll go.”
“Yes! Have a good trip, Saintess.”
I bowed politely as Lynette finally left for the temple.
When the carriage carrying her disappeared down the road, I exhaled in relief.
“Phew.”
For all her grand titles, Lynette was still only fifteen. The way she came up with ridiculous excuses to avoid things proved it.
‘But… why is it so quiet all of a sudden?’
Dozens of people here, yet silence filled the courtyard.
I glanced around—and froze. Everyone was staring at me with shock. Some even exchanged secretive looks with each other.
‘Wait. Why are you all looking at me like that?’
Honestly? This was even more unnerving than Lynette clinging to me.
‘What’s with this atmosphere?!’
I was still panicking when—
“Bloomhire.”
Eclipse called my name.
Thank you, Your Grace, for rescuing me from this unbearable silence!
I turned toward him gratefully.
“Yes, Archduke?”
“Have you eaten yet?”
“No, not yet.”
Of course not. I’d been dragged out of bed by Penny before breakfast.
‘Ah… I’m starving.’
Maybe it was from talking so much this morning, but my stomach suddenly felt empty.
‘As soon as this is over, I’m going back to eat. I wonder what’s for breakfast today…’
Meals at the Ledaire estate were heavenly. Since coming here, I hadn’t missed a single one.
‘Yesterday’s bacon sandwich was so good. Crispy lettuce, thick bacon, and that sweet white sauce inside…’
After years of rock-hard bread and watery soup, this was paradise.
As I daydreamed about food—
“Join me for breakfast.”
“Yes! …Wait, what?”
The offer hit me like a lightning strike. My jaw dropped open, flapping uselessly.
By the time I gathered myself, Eclipse was already walking away.
‘Did he just… invite me? To breakfast? With him?’
I only knew “breakfast invitation” as something nobles did formally.
From Eclipse’s perspective, maybe it was no different than saying, “Hey, I skipped breakfast—want to grab something at the corner store?”
But still.
Why me?!
Flustered beyond reason, my face heated up, my heart thundered, and I thought I might actually keel over.
“The dining room is this way.”
Silbern, ever efficient, guided me forward.
I stumbled after him, still dazed.
‘I can’t believe this. Breakfast… just the two of us? With Eclipse?!’
This wasn’t in my plan!
Clutching my chest, I stepped into the dining hall.
A long table draped in white linen, countless velvet chairs… it looked exactly like something out of a novel.
“Wow…”
The admiration slipped out before I could stop it.
Already seated at the head of the table, Eclipse gestured toward me.
“This way.”
“Yes, sir!”
I hurried forward, praying my heart wouldn’t leap out of my throat.
Naturally, I went to sit at the very end of the table—clearly the place for someone like me.
‘Stay humble, Elsie. Know your place.’
But just as I reached for the chair—
“Not there.”
Eclipse’s low voice stopped me. Startled, I looked where he was pointing.
“Here.”
He indicated a seat right beside his own.
In other words—the place of honor.
“…Excuse me?”
“Sit here.”
Dear God, is this really happening? Surely I’m misunderstanding—
“Please, sit.”
Nope. Not a misunderstanding. Silbern himself pulled out the chair for me.
