WBESFL 36

Chapter 36

At dinner, Eleanor also greeted the Maxeil siblings and Vanessa.

They were a bit surprised to hear that a commoner’s ward lived at the castle just like Eleanor, but they quickly erased that impression and treated Vanessa normally.

Eleanor was grateful for that. If anyone had shown discomfort, the atmosphere would have turned cold in an instant.

In fact, people with strong noble pride would not have easily accepted Vanessa’s presence.

However, the Maxeil siblings were not that kind, and the dinner proceeded in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Especially Cain, who, despite his young age, had risen to vice-captain of the Royal Knights and had to deal with people older than himself, displayed natural eloquence even in front of the baron.

He actually seemed more comfortable and familiar speaking with the baron than he did in front of Eleanor.

“If Eleanor were my daughter, I’d want her to meet someone like Sir Cain,”

the baron said with a friendly smile.

Considering her usual personality, it was a very unexpected compliment.

Still, Eleanor didn’t feel bad at all.

Middle-aged nobles with children often give such compliments.

The fact that her aunt spoke that way about Eleanor clearly meant she thought of her as the heir, which made Eleanor feel good.

“…I’m honored.”

Cain looked a bit uncomfortable, perhaps not used to such words.

His usually cheerful smile stiffened slightly.

Eleanor thought to herself that if such words came up again, she’d have to tell him it was just a joke and let the situation pass.

After dinner, they chatted a bit more but soon parted early, considering the Maxeil siblings’ fatigue.

Instead of going straight to her room, Eleanor walked into the garden.

It was still too early to prepare for bed.

She felt sorry to bother her tired friends and decided to enjoy herself alone in the garden.

True to Oaklama’s reputation for its natural beauty, the lord’s castle garden was filled with colorful flowers.

Since it was her first time visiting the garden in the evening, Eleanor felt strangely excited.

She reached out and touched the flowers as she walked. The petals felt soft against her fingertips.

Breaking through the tall hedges, the central fountain of the garden appeared.

Eleanor took off her shoes, dipped her feet into the fountain, and sat down.

Small pebbles at the bottom gently pressed against her soles without hurting.

The water, clean and shimmering in the moonlight, was clear—probably well-maintained daily.

“The moon is really bright tonight.”

Wiggling her pale feet, Eleanor looked up at the sky, startled by a rustling sound behind her.

“It’s me, it’s me.”

It was Cain.

Wearing only a thin summer shirt, he raised both hands.

Eleanor’s tension instantly eased, and she gave a disappointed smile.

“Ah, it’s Cain.”

“Sorry, did I scare you?”

“No, it’s okay.”

She shook her head and looked back up at the sky.

The unusually white moon hung perfectly round, as if it might fall.

“You can see the moon well from here.”

Without turning around, Eleanor spoke, aware of Cain awkwardly standing behind her.

He hesitated, then came closer.

“It really is.”

“Right?”

“Yeah.”

He sat next to Eleanor but facing the opposite direction.

She didn’t stop him.

Their shoulders nearly brushed, leaving only about the width of a palm between them.

“What are you doing here?”

Cain asked as he glanced at her dipping her feet in the fountain, watching the moon.

“Just bored.”

“Bored?”

His eyes curved warmly.

Eleanor stared at his smiling face.

He really looked a lot like Stella.

Especially when he smiled, their mouths were almost identical.

Eleanor wasn’t very much like Lydia, so she found it fascinating that siblings could look so alike.

“…Why are you staring at me like that?”

Seeing Eleanor watching his smiling face so closely, Cain’s facial muscles tightened quickly.

Worried he might look ridiculous, he hastily touched his cheek, trying to hide his face.

“I thought you looked a lot like Stella.”

“Stella? I’m much bigger than her.”

“Yeah, judging by height, we look more like siblings.”

Eleanor replied with a casual smile.

Stella was unusually small even in their big family, while Eleanor was unusually tall in her small family.

Stella was probably just a little bigger than Vanessa.

“We don’t look much like siblings, though.”

Cain’s voice grew a little curt, as if refusing to be linked as siblings with Eleanor.

Noticing this, he hurriedly added softly,

“…We’d just look like a man and a woman.”

His inner thoughts screamed. What he really wanted to say was that they’d look like a couple, but his stiff lips moved awkwardly and blurted out something strange.

What’s with looking like a man and a woman?!

Unaware of Cain’s silent outcry, Eleanor shrugged.

“True, since we don’t look alike, it’s unlikely we’d be seen as siblings.”

Her tone ended lightly.

Cain racked his brain for something to say.

Opportunities to be alone together didn’t come often.

Having just been scolded by his younger sister to behave properly, he was trying hard to keep the moment going.

Ah, I should ask if she’s healed from her injury.

He heard she was fine now but hadn’t heard it directly.

Before Cain could ask about the injury, Eleanor interrupted with a soft “Ah.”

“Can I ask why you came to Oaklama? I heard you whined to Stella about it.”

Oaklama wasn’t a famous tourist spot, so why bother whining to your sister to come here?

It seemed like Cain followed along rather than Stella specifically bringing him.

He flinched noticeably at the word “whined.”

His little sister even chose that word carefully.

He felt embarrassed, like a childish older brother.

“Just because I was worried about you.”

Instead of the most honest answer — that he came because he missed her — he gave the second most honest one.

“Me? Oh, about the injury in the mountains? As you can see, I’m healed and healthy.”

Eleanor tilted her head, then her face brightened with realization.

“That’s a relief. And also, um…”

“Also?”

Cain glanced sideways at Eleanor.

Her white face shining in the soft moonlight sparkled.

Sitting side by side but facing opposite directions, the roundness of her cheeks, the smoothness of her skin without blemishes, and the faint blush near her cheekbones were all clearly visible.

Seeing her long, thick eyelashes flutter as she blinked, Cain gathered all his courage.

“I… came because I missed you.”

“…?”

“I just came because I missed you.”

I missed you, so I cut my vacation short despite the criticism and came.

His heart felt like it would jump out.

No other words came out except for “I missed you.”

Cain’s tense Adam’s apple bobbed heavily.

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

Eleanor looked puzzled by the unexpected answer.

Cain shyly lowered his head. Through his purple hair, his ears were visibly flushed as if about to burst.

“Cain…”

Just as Eleanor was about to say something, seeing his red cheeks clearly in the moonlight,

“Miss,”

Vanessa appeared from the flower bushes.

Cain froze where he was, and Eleanor stood up from the fountain.

“Ah, Vanessa. What’s wrong?”

“The aide said he wants to speak with you.”

“Okay, I’ll be right there.”

Eleanor took her feet out of the fountain, roughly wiped them with a handkerchief, and put her shoes back on.

Luckily, there was no uncomfortable feeling.

While she got ready, Cain sat still like a statue beside her.

“I’ll be going now. Go inside and rest.”

“Ah, okay. Take care.”

Cain gave a creaky wave.

Eleanor wondered what he was going to say but worried whether Vanessa had overheard their conversation.

It wasn’t embarrassment but shyness.

She wondered if someone had noticed Cain’s feelings before she did.

After Eleanor and Vanessa left, Cain buried his face in his hands.

Still, he was glad he said he missed her, imagining Stella would call him stupid for it.

Walking across the castle lobby, Eleanor wore her usual expression.

Even glancing at her, she didn’t seem upset or displeased.

But Vanessa felt uneasy.

She recalled the strange atmosphere between the two by the fountain, especially Cain’s gaze toward Eleanor.

“Did I disturb them?”

She only came to inform Eleanor that Kenis was waiting but felt like the meddlesome youngest sibling who ruined a good moment.

Vanessa hesitated but caught Eleanor as she tried to go to her room.

“Miss.”

“Yes?”

“…Did I unintentionally interrupt earlier?”

Eleanor tilted her head.

Vanessa wondered why she would think that, considering she had been kind enough to tell her Kenis was waiting.

She couldn’t recall any real interruption.

“Interrupted? What do you mean?”

“I thought I might have ruined the mood.”

“What mood?”

Eleanor looked confused.

Vanessa grew more perplexed.

Wasn’t the mood… a bit off?

At least the knight sitting next to the lady had a strange vibe.

And sorry, but she had overheard some of their conversation.

Not intentionally—she just happened to hear it following Eleanor’s voice.

Maybe they were hiding it from her? She briefly thought, then dismissed it.

Because Eleanor’s face was genuinely full of innocent question marks.

“I’m worried I interrupted something important between Lord Maxeil and you…”

“We weren’t talking about anything important. Just exchanging greetings.”

Eleanor replied in a very casual tone.

Her calm blue eyes made Vanessa suddenly realize the difference in warmth between the knight’s and the lady’s eyes.

Aha. It wasn’t the lady she disturbed but Lord Maxeil.

Vanessa, who had been uneasy thinking she disturbed Eleanor, sighed something between relief and frustration.

“I guess I’m the one who’s clueless.”

“About what?”

“Never mind. Talk with the aide. I’ll leave now.”

Vanessa bowed and left.

Eleanor watched her small retreating figure, then approached Kenis, who was waiting.

Kenis straightened as he saw her.

“What is it, Kenis?”

“Miss, Yahin and Yasmin will be arriving at the castle the day after tomorrow.”

The signaled that the tension of avoiding crossing paths under one roof was about to begin.

Eleanor nodded seriously.

To avoid overlapping paths, the Maxeil siblings’ and Yahin siblings’ rooms were arranged separately.

If she knew Yahin siblings’ location, she could block Maxeil siblings from going there.

It would be easier if someone was in charge of Yahin siblings.

“Kenis, should we entrust Yahin and Yasmin to Vanessa?”

Eleanor thought Vanessa would be perfect for that.

Since the three knew each other and Vanessa had been the baron’s deputy before.

Being meticulous and perceptive, she would easily recognize Cain’s or Stella’s shadows.

But Kenis smiled awkwardly and shook his head slightly.

“This matter was told to be handled by you alone.”

“By Aunt? Why?”

“Because if you’re not the heir, you don’t need to get involved.”

That was a clear line drawn between Vanessa and Eleanor.

Since his words reflected the aunt’s, it meant the aunt wanted to keep Vanessa and Eleanor separate and consider only Eleanor as the heir.

Eleanor thought of Vanessa’s wish to be near their aunt and tried hard to suppress her sentimental feelings.

Anyway, it was best if the aunt openly showed she wanted Eleanor as the heir.

“Understood. Thanks for letting me know, Kenis.”

“Yes, Miss. Good night.”

Kenis bowed respectfully and left.

Eleanor entered her room.

In two days, the Haitar siblings would arrive at Oaklama Castle.