~Chapter 20~
Her fingertips were cold from clenching and unclenching her fists.
Sweat, born of nerves, dampened Hezenne’s palms, and she discreetly wiped them on her skirt.
Having slipped out of the baroness’s watchful eye in the early dawn, she had wandered a long while before hailing a carriage that brought her to the Clavendy estate.
Yet even as she stepped down, she stood hesitating outside for what felt like ages, scolding herself that to call so early in the morning was discourteous.
At some point, she began to think she must have lost her senses.
No matter that it was Isabel’s request, or even the last chance she might have to see him—how could she have dared to come here, of all places?
Should she turn back now?
She circled aimlessly in the same spot, torn with indecision. If she delayed too long, she would miss the one proper moment to meet Grand Duke Ian of House Clavendy.
As she fretted, she suddenly heard the sound of footsteps and quickly ducked behind the iron gate.
“I shall return before long. Do convey my gratitude once more to His Grace, the Grand Duke.”
“Yes, my lord. I will deliver your message.”
Hezenne peeked out and saw a dignified middle-aged noble conversing with what seemed to be an older butler.
The nobleman, dressed impeccably in pale, elegant garments, looked positively radiant with delight. He patted the butler’s shoulder heartily before climbing into the ornate carriage waiting for him.
The joy on his refined, kindly face was impossible to conceal. Hezenne watched him depart with a strange look, her gaze lingering until the carriage disappeared from sight.
Because of this, she failed to notice that the butler, having seen the nobleman off, had turned at the faint sound of movement—and was now approaching where she hid.
“Who are you?”
Startled by the sudden voice, Hezenne whipped her head around.
It was the butler she had just seen speaking with the nobleman, and he was staring fixedly at her.
Her breath caught. She could not answer at once, and the butler’s brow twitched with suspicion.
“I am the butler of House Clavendy. Might you be a guest come to call?”
Hezenne’s face flushed with panic.
“Ah, I… that is…”
Her faltering only deepened his doubt. His eyes narrowed slowly.
Realizing she could not remain silent, Hezenne forced out a trembling reply.
“…Yes. I… I am a maid, sent with a letter for His Grace.”
The butler’s gaze swept over her strange figure—swathed in a black robe pulled up to her chin—without expression. Hezenne swallowed hard, waiting for his judgment.
Unable to bear the heavy suspicion pressing down on her, she hurriedly added,
“It… it is a letter from Lady Isabel, daughter of Baron Padrick.”
At the mention of Isabel, the butler finally reacted.
“Hm.”
He made a brief sound, then spoke.
“Come with me.”
Relief washed through Hezenne at his words of assent.
There was no turning back now.
Gripping her trembling hands tightly together, she followed the butler into Clavendy House.
“Who is it?”
When the butler entered the study and announced the visitor, Ian’s expression twisted sharply.
For a moment, his face showed sheer incredulity at the unexpected news.
Unruffled by his master’s reaction, the butler calmly continued.
“A maid has come bearing a letter from Lady Isabel of House Padrick, and asks to see Your Grace.”
Ian let out a short, incredulous laugh at the flawless report.
“Well, well. It seems unexpected guests are determined to barge into my home today.”
“What are your orders?”
Though his tone was even, the butler had noticed his master’s displeasure.
Ian tapped his fingers idly on the table, eyes lowered in thought. After a moment, he looked up again.
“How did the maid look?”
“She wore a black robe drawn up beneath her chin, so I could not make out her features.”
“A black robe pulled up to the chin…”
One of Ian’s brows arched, and the butler tilted his head slightly in puzzlement.
It seemed his master’s interest lay less in the sender of the letter, and more in the one who had delivered it. Curious indeed.
Then, suddenly, Ian’s tapping stopped.
“Let her in.”
The butler caught the strange, catlike expression—like a predator toying with prey it might not even eat—but bowed without a word and left the room.
“Will I see that precious face today, I wonder…”
Ian’s lips curved into a crooked smile.
“This way.”
The butler returned and gestured forward. Hezenne’s hands clenched tighter around her skirt.
She nodded faintly and steadied her breathing before forcing her feet to follow.
Knock, knock—
At the massive door ahead, the butler lifted the handle and rapped twice. Receiving no answer, he waited a moment before opening it, as though well used to such silence.
Hezenne swallowed nervously, staring at his back. Her legs trembled so much she feared she might collapse, but she fought to place one foot after another.
When the butler halted, she also stopped.
“Your Grace, the maid with the letter is here.”
He announced her and stepped aside.
The protection of his back gone, Hezenne felt exposed.
The presence she had so longed to see—and dreaded at the same time—loomed clear before her.
Her shoulders twitched. Ian’s eyes curved with satisfaction.
“So it was you.”
His gaze glittered like a hunter pouncing on its prey, piercing her without sound.
Hezenne panicked, raising a hand inside her hood to make sure her face was still hidden.
“….”
It was. She breathed out in relief.
Did he… only guess?
Her suspicion drove her eyes to the floor, as though she could bore a hole through it.
Ian watched with amused fascination.
What sort of extraordinary beauty was she hiding under that hood, that she fretted so desperately at being revealed?
It was both ridiculous and strangely intriguing.
“You said you came with a letter from your mistress?”
“…Yes.”
Her first words quivered, betraying her nerves—something both she and Ian noticed.
“Then why do you stand there gaping? If you were sent on an errand, you ought to deliver it promptly.”
Though the words were nothing extraordinary, a chill ran down her spine.
Hesitantly, she stepped forward until she reached the table. From her robes she drew out Isabel’s letter and placed it down.
She had just begun to retreat when—
A large hand suddenly seized her wrist.
“—!”
Hezenne’s eyes flew wide in shock at the strong grip that bound her in place.
