Chapter 14
It was a strange feeling.
“……”
It was as if all the brilliant light in the world was shining on Eleanor alone.
It was the kind of absurd praise only fools would say. Logan scoffed at himself and blinked. As before, the garden was well maintained, and as always, the ordinary Eleanor stood there.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, Your Grace.”
Logan asked casually. Eleanor, who had once shown fear and wariness upon first meeting him, now had a serene face, as if all that had disappeared.
“For that, you looked like you had trouble walking.”
Though his sentence ended flatly, he was subtly asking if she had hurt herself running around looking for Olivia.
“Ah…”
Eleanor blinked in surprise. Her face turned slightly red with a look of embarrassment. Logan patiently waited for her answer.
“If you’re not feeling well, I can tell Olivia in advance for you today…”
“No, I’m fine!”
Eleanor hurriedly declined Logan’s offer. Thinking it was just a polite refusal, Logan raised an eyebrow.
“Miss Hudson.”
“I-I had a hangover!”
Unable to lie, Eleanor blurted out the truth. Even the insects buzzing around fell silent in the quiet garden. Only the wind teased her skirt before rushing away.
“…I’m sorry.”
Logan quickly apologized. Eleanor, her face now crimson with shame, lowered her head. As Logan reflected on their recent exchange, he quietly raised a hand to his lips, veins protruding slightly. His broad shoulders beneath the shirt trembled ever so slightly.
“Would you come upstairs for a moment?”
After a while, Logan asked gently.
“Let’s head to the Duke of Claven’s estate.”
Usher gave the order in a soft voice. Eleanor’s pale face from yesterday, after learning Olivia had suddenly disappeared, still lingered in his mind.
He hadn’t been able to sleep, worried about what kind of scolding Logan might have given her. Even if Logan hadn’t rebuked her, his imposing presence alone could’ve been frightening. His blank face and sharp tone would scare anyone.
Even after finding Olivia, Eleanor had tried hard not to cry, likely not wanting to startle the girl.
She probably thought Usher hadn’t noticed, but he had seen it all.
“Could you speed up a bit?”
At Usher’s request, the driver nodded and picked up the pace. Before long, the car arrived at the duke’s estate, gliding smoothly down the front path lined with tall summer plane trees.
“You’ve been around a lot lately, George.”
“The weather’s been nice, after all.”
George chuckled as he greeted the visiting Usher. Being around the same age as Logan and Usher’s father, he assumed the visit was for romantic reasons.
“Shall I bring you tea?”
“Just a glass of water will do.”
Logan replied indifferently, clearly not thrilled about the visitor. Even so, Usher smiled as if none of it bothered him.
“I’m just a cover, after all.”
Logan, the master of the house and seemingly the reason for Usher’s visit, knew what was going on. Usher couldn’t be seen openly meeting a servant, so Logan had to act as the excuse. And Usher knew Logan understood that all too well.
“I’ve been wondering—what did you want to talk about yesterday when you sent me away?”
Once the maid left after placing the water on the desk, Usher asked quietly. This was why he’d come rushing over early.
“Judging by how early you’re here, you must’ve been pretty anxious.”
Logan’s tone was a bit sharp, but Usher just grinned like usual.
“You didn’t bully the young lady, did you, Your Grace?”
He didn’t think Logan, a gentleman, would threaten Eleanor—but not having seen it with his own eyes still left him worried. Logan’s stoic face and decisive tone could be overwhelming, especially for someone like Eleanor.
“I only sent you out because I didn’t want to scold Olivia in front of you. Aside from reducing her pay, I didn’t say anything particular to Miss Hudson.”
Logan took a cigar from a drawer and lit it. Smoke began curling up from the end.
“If you’re that concerned, why didn’t you go see Miss Hudson first?”
Usher frowned slightly. He didn’t particularly enjoy cigars or alcohol.
“I already know she’d just say she’s fine.”
“Sounds like this unrequited love has no hope of coming true.”
Logan said flatly, almost as if teasing. Usher flinched at the unexpected jab, his lips twitching.
“How about helping me a bit instead of saying things like that?”
“No need.”
Logan clearly had zero interest in his friend’s romantic affairs. He’d been against it from the start anyway. Usher wrinkled his nose.
“Just help me have lunch with her today.”
“You should be grateful I’m not stopping your visit altogether.”
Well, what did he expect from a man made of stone? Usher sighed and shook his head.
“I have one wish.”
Out of nowhere? Logan looked at him with mild confusion.
“I hope one day you fall deeply in love. Maybe then you’ll understand how I feel.”
“…Ridiculous.”
Logan pierced him with a look of disdain.
“Prepare lunch. Let Miss Olivia and Miss Hudson know they’re invited as well.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Still, it seemed Logan understood just how earnest Usher’s feelings were—enough to grant such a strange wish. He called a servant and instructed that Eleanor be included in the lunch.
“Eat, then leave.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Usher grinned like a mischievous boy.
Of course, that cheeky grin didn’t last long. At the lunch table, Usher was as stiff as a rusty metal hinge.
“Sir Usher.”
All it took was Eleanor’s cheerful voice calling his name. Even as Logan looked at him as if he were the most pitiful creature alive, Usher couldn’t help it. Something about Eleanor turned him into a fool, like he’d never met a woman in his life.
“I thought the two of you might’ve had a hard time finding Olivia yesterday, so I arranged this meal. Please, make yourselves comfortable.”
Logan’s calm demeanor was enviable. Usher wanted to look cool but was terrified of looking like an idiot.
“Olivia, move your utensils to the other side.”
Whether fortunately or not, Eleanor was too busy teaching Olivia table manners to pay Usher much attention. It was disappointing, sure—but it gave him time to think about how to approach her.
As he nibbled on food, barely tasting it, he recalled his conversation with his mother that morning.
“Where are you going so early?”
Usher had paused while adjusting his clothes.
“To the Duke of Claven’s.”
“You’ve been going there a lot. And you dressed up just to go there?”
His mother, Jane Fitzman, had asked with a disappointed expression, suspecting he was courting someone. Compared to his already-married brothers, Usher had no fiancée, making her more worried.
“The Duke still has no plans to marry?”
To her question, Usher just shrugged, as if saying, How would I know what Logan’s thinking?
“Even the marriage talks with the Marquis of Persis got ruined by the king, didn’t they?”
Jane nodded. It was no secret that the king was trying to keep Logan in check.
“But once Princess Daphne gets married, things might ease up a bit. No more chance of him marrying into the royal family.”
“Princess Daphne is getting married?”
“The invitation came this morning.”
Usher recalled the time when the princess had come to the academy to boldly propose in front of everyone. It was the one time Logan—who rarely showed emotion beyond disdain or annoyance—had looked visibly flustered.
“That’ll make things easier.”
Logan had rejected the proposal. The king, upset by Daphne’s rejection, had taken it out on Logan in petty ways ever since. The king’s inferiority complex toward Logan was baffling.
“Forget the duke—worry about your own marriage.”
“Why are you so worried? I’m still young.”
Jane sighed, smiling faintly.
“I just want to see a grandchild, Usher.”
“You already have five.”
“Your child. I meant your child.”
Usher smiled at her affectionate glare.
“It’s not like I want some highborn girl. Just someone around your age, healthy, who’ll have kids and live happily.”
“I’d love to give you good news too.”
“Usher… you?”
She widened her eyes. Normally he would’ve said he still wanted to enjoy freedom, but today his expression was different.
“It’s one-sided right now.”
“You’re tall and handsome—what’ve you been doing until now!”
She slapped his back in mock frustration. Of course, she didn’t have enough strength to hurt him.
“Then it’s settled. You’re going to Princess Daphne’s wedding.”
“What?”
As he blinked in confusion, Jane’s face turned resolute.
“You’ll represent the Fitzman family. And ask that young lady to go with you as your date!”
Yes! That will be oodles of fun!