Chapter 12
“Inael, come over here and sit.”
Ruban plopped down onto the bed stuffed with cotton and feathers, pressing down on the sheets as if to test how soft they were.
Inael, who had been standing awkwardly in the middle of the large room, hesitated before approaching his side.
“Is it really okay for me to stay in this room?”
“Of course. It was prepared for you.”
He pulled her hand and made her sit beside him.
“Do you not like the room?”
“It’s not that… Even a small room would be more than enough for me. And if it wouldn’t be a bother, I’d like to help with the work around the manor while I’m here.”
“…You want to work?”
“Yes. I’ll try my best at anything you ask me to do.”
Inael nodded firmly.
In truth, she had never even done simple housework with her own hands, so she wasn’t sure she would do well—but she was prepared to stay up all night practicing if needed.
After all she had already received from Ruban, how could she continue to rely on him without giving anything back?
Having finally said what she had resolved during the journey to Blayer, her heart felt lighter.
“Inael, did you forget the confession I made?”
Ruban’s low voice fell quietly as he stared at her.
There was no way she could forget the confession that had been sweet enough to erase the despair of being lost in an unfamiliar land.
Did I say something wrong? Is he angry?
Perhaps because she had grown used to Ruban’s constant kindness, the cool tone in his voice made her shoulders shrink instinctively.
“I can’t just keep receiving help forever…”
As Inael’s voice trailed off, Ruban let out a short sigh and rubbed his mouth with one hand.
They hadn’t even been at the manor for a few hours, yet she already looked dejected again. It weighed on him.
After clearing his throat lightly, he spoke more gently than before.
“I didn’t bring you here to make you work.”
“…I know.”
“I brought you because I fell for you. Because I wanted you.”
“If someone heard that, they’d think you dragged me here against my will.”
Such a strong word—want.
Startled by his blunt phrasing, Inael met his eyes as he tilted his head slightly, silently urging her to continue.
In a small voice, she muttered,
Acknowledging that he had gotten the answer he wanted, Ruban’s cheek dimpled deeply with satisfaction.
“Well done.”
As if praising her, he gently rubbed the back of her round head.
When his upper body suddenly leaned closer, Inael instinctively held her breath.
Excited, then shrinking back, then fluttering again—
realizing how wildly her heart was swinging in just a few minutes made her face burn.
She was being swept along by the direction Ruban set, unable to regain her composure.
What on earth is this man? How does he make my emotions stop obeying me every time?
Watching Inael spiral into confusion, Ruban finally burst out laughing.
What could possibly be going through that small head of hers?
Her reddened face and serious expression were so adorable that he couldn’t hold it in.
“W-Why are you laughing? Don’t laugh.”
“Sorry. I tried to hold it in, but I failed.”
Embarrassed, Inael bit her protruding lower lip.
After barely suppressing his laughter, Ruban fiddled with her hand and spoke in a low voice.
“I never understood people who couldn’t control their emotions. I even looked down on them.”
“……”
“But after meeting you, that’s exactly what I’ve become. They’re my emotions, yet not a single one of them does what I want.”
Inael’s eyes widened when she realized he was thinking the same thing as she was.
At the same time, hearing the self-mocking tone in his voice made fear grip her heart.
Does he regret meeting me?
I… I, after meeting you…
She swallowed the words that rose to her throat.
As trembling breath brushed against her, she lifted her lowered gaze.
Ruban was still facing her, just as before.
His smile wasn’t merely pleased—it looked almost excited.
Her reflection wavered clearly in his dark gray eyes, as if she were staring into a mirror.
“I like this unfamiliar, foolish version of myself.”
Before she could respond, he continued,
“I like the me that is changing because of you.”
I like myself. I like you.
Every word he spoke, centered on himself, was a confession to Inael.
“Let’s stay together.”
“…Ruban.”
“Stay with me.”
Help me.
When he added it playfully, Inael finally let out a small laugh.
“If, after some time passes, you still feel like you owe me, then we can think about what you’d like to do. Something you can enjoy as a hobby.”
“Alright.”
Ruban cupped one side of Inael’s still pink cheek with his large hand.
“I want you to live comfortably, without worrying about anything.”
At his warm touch, as gentle as his continued reassurance, Inael leaned her face lightly against his hand.
After pulling the bell cord, Ruban ordered the head maid to bring a personal attendant who would take exclusive care of Inael.
The head maid soon returned with a young woman about Inael’s age named Jeanne.
“If she does not suit your preferences, please inform me at any time.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll get along with her.”
Inael quickly answered, worried Jeanne might feel hurt.
Ruban rose from the bed and stood in front of Inael.
With his thumb, he gently brushed beneath her eyes, where faint shadows of fatigue lingered.
“You must be exhausted. Rest for now. If you need anything, tell anyone.”
“Okay. You should rest too, Ruban.”
“I’ll come back this evening.”
With a pleased expression, Ruban ruffled her hair and left the room.
“I will also take my leave. If you need anything, please shake the cord.”
The head maid bowed to Inael, gave Jeanne a few instructions, and left as well.
The door closed softly, and an awkward silence settled over the room.
Should I say something?
As Inael fidgeted with her fingers, Jeanne suddenly turned her head, and their eyes met.
In that moment, Inael froze as Jeanne’s cold gaze swept from her head to her toes.
Despite seeing Inael’s startled reaction, Jeanne repeated the scan once or twice more.
Then, withdrawing her gaze as if nothing had happened, she asked bluntly,
“Each room has a bathing chamber. Shall I prepare the water?”
“Ah, could you? Please.”
Jeanne nodded slightly in response and left the room with a curt bow.
Startled by the openly hostile attitude, Inael let out a deep sigh.
Of course… it wouldn’t be pleasant for everyone to see me, who suddenly appeared, being treated like an honored guest.
She replayed her actions upon arriving at Blayer several times in her mind.
The servants had probably been surprised to see her bowing to Oliver.
The sense of distance between herself and this world, which had been less noticeable among Ruban and the knights, now pressed against her whole body.
As her mood sank, she gazed quietly out the window.
Not long after, Jeanne returned.
“It’s ready. Follow me.”
Following her into the inner room, Inael found a spacious bathing chamber.
A large tub, wide enough to stretch out and kick her legs, stood beside a brazier used to heat the water. On the opposite wall was another door.
Several wooden buckets were lined up neatly—likely a passage for servants to bring in water.
Steam rose in soft clouds from the full tub.
With Jeanne’s help, Inael removed her dress and carefully stepped into the bath.
Submerging herself up to her chin in the hot water, fatigue bloomed through her body like fire.
After bathing and changing into a soft nightgown, drowsiness overwhelmed her.
Sending Jeanne away, Inael wriggled under the covers and fell into a deep sleep as if melting.
When her eyes finally opened again, more than half a day had already passed.
Stepping out of the warm bed, Inael stared blankly at the scenery outside the large window, now dyed orange by the setting sun.
After standing there for a while, she suddenly remembered Ruban saying he would come in the evening and hurried to the mirror.
As expected, her hair was in disarray, having fallen asleep while it was still damp.
Frantically brushing it down, Inael grabbed a large towel from the drawer and headed to the bath.
There was no way she could fix it like this, so she decided to wash it again.
Using the remaining water in the pot over the brazier, she quickly washed herself and her hair, then returned to the room.
When she opened the wardrobe to get changed, she sighed helplessly.
The beautiful dresses packed inside were impossible for her to put on by herself.
She was about to pull the bell cord when she paused and looked at the nightgown she had taken off.
She would have to undress anyway to change, but facing the maids with only a towel around her was far too embarrassing.
Just as she loosened the towel wrapped around her body and picked up the nightgown—
Inael startled violently at the sound of knocking and Ruban’s voice.
“Inael.”
Knock, knock.
“Inael, may I come in?”
Panicking, she was about to answer—
Click.
The door opened.
