YWDBH 10

Chapter 10 — An Unworthy Place for Someone Noble

“Ah… I see…”

Seeing Leonis hesitate, as if something inside him had broken and he did not know how to respond, Elodie continued.

“It all happened so suddenly… I am not ready to send my mother away yet.”

“Rather than holding the funeral right away, I think I need some time… would that be alright?”

“Ah… yes… that is understandable. Of course. As you wish. I will prepare a separate room for your mother. There are many empty rooms in the Rihart estate.”

Even though his face still showed that he did not fully understand, Leonis nodded seriously.

“Thank you. You are very considerate.”

When Elodie looked at him with a faint smile, his eyes wavered slightly.

“N-No, I just…”

He awkwardly scratched his cheek.

Seeing that, Elodie suddenly realized that this was the first time she had ever spoken to him kindly like this.

She had said similar words many times before—but only to flatter her other suitors, without any sincerity, just acting as her father told her to.

But now, it was different.

This time, it was genuine.

The air between them softened a little.

As Elodie lightly played with the fabric on her lap, something slightly bulged underneath her hand.

“That is a beautiful brooch.”

Leonis spoke as he looked at the ruby brooch she took out of her pocket.

It was probably just a polite remark.

But now Elodie understood how much effort even such politeness took from him, so she nodded.

“Yes. It is my mother’s brooch. She once had many precious jewels… but she used them all for her treatment. This is the only one left.”

“It was passed down from my grandmother… so my mother treasured it deeply. That is why I brought it with me.”

According to her father, her mother’s treatment required an enormous amount of money every month.

Even the wealth of the Castiel family was not enough.

Her mother’s dowry and wedding gifts had all been spent.

Only this brooch remained—because her mother had begged for it in tears.

Knowing how much it meant to her, Elodie had taken it before even her own clothes.

“The Duke’s household did not look that poor…”

Leonis muttered, tilting his head.

He remembered Gont Castiel always dressed in the finest clothes, covered in expensive jewels.

And according to rumors among men, Gont was a frequent visitor of Mirva Street—a place filled with high-class courtesans.

One night there cost 500,000 gold.

That was enough to buy many brooches like this.

“My mother was everything to me.”

“I… endured my past life—no, those difficult times—with only one thought… that I had to protect her.”

As she gently stroked the brooch, Elodie spoke softly.

Then suddenly, she bit her lip.

She had not meant to say that.

Just moments ago, she had thought she would never share her true feelings with him.

And she had almost made a mistake with her words.

Carefully, she looked at his reaction.

“…I see.”

Leonis lowered his gaze, lost in thought.

After a while, he looked out the window, then suddenly spoke.

“Earlier… you said ‘past life.’ May I ask what you meant by that? And before, in the drawing room… you asked why I brought you back to life.”

His tone sounded casual, but his eyes watching her were more serious than ever.

“Ah… that…”

So he did notice.

Elodie played with her fingers, thinking.

She could not tell him the truth—that she had died and returned twice.

Not yet.

She could not fully trust him.

And even if she told him, he would never believe her.

He would only think she was insane.

“Actually… last year, I was very sick and almost died.”

“After that, I decided to think of it as living a new life.”

She chose a simple lie.

As she glanced at him, their eyes met.

For a moment, she felt as if he could see right through her.

Still, she continued.

“My doctor was surprised that I survived… like a miracle. So I thought… maybe someone saved me with some mysterious power.”

“Is that strange? I still believe in magic… and fairies.”

She smiled innocently.

Like a foolish, dreamy girl.

It was her specialty—to act harmless and naive.

She clasped her hands and fluttered her long eyelashes softly.

After seeing such expressions, her suitors would always fall for her and shower her with gifts.

Would Leonis fall for it too?

She secretly glanced at him.

“Yes… it is a very strange and ridiculous thought.”

Leonis answered bluntly, turning his gaze back out the window.

The considerate man from before had disappeared.

He had returned to his usual self.

As expected… this does not work on Leonis.

Still smiling brightly, Elodie hid her thoughts.

“Ah… haha. I guess you are right. I can be a little strange.”

Her forced smile trembled slightly.

When Leonis kept looking outside, she slowly lowered her lips and turned her head away.

A faint bitterness showed on her face.

Leonis, who had turned back without her noticing, quietly watched her.

“Ah… is that Rihart Castle? It is beautiful.”

At the end of the barren land, a gray castle stood tall.

Elodie’s eyes sparkled.

“Well… compared to the Castiel estate, it is quite humble.”

“Are you sure someone as noble as you should come to such a poor place?”

His sarcastic tone made it sound as if she herself was the unworthy one.

He must have decided to stop pretending to be considerate after my strange words.

And this is the place where my father killed his father…

Elodie could not even imagine what Leonis felt, bringing the daughter of his enemy here.

The only thing she could do now was show proper respect.

“It is an honor that you would invite my mother and me to such a place.”

Her sincere and elegant words made Leonis look slightly awkward.

Soon, the carriage stopped.

Holding the pot of lily of the valley, Leonis jumped down first and reached out his hand.

Elodie stepped down—

“Ah—!”

She lost her balance as he pulled her too strongly and nearly fell into his arms.

He quickly steadied her.

“Why are you so weak? Do you not have any sense of balance?”

“That is not it… you are just too strong. Even earlier… I have never seen someone escort a lady so roughly.”

“…Too strong?”

Leonis blinked.

He had been trying his best to be gentle.

Are women really this fragile… or is she just especially weak?

“And… she says she has never been escorted like this before…”

How many men have escorted her before?

His expression darkened.

“Ah! Snow White!”

Leaving him behind, Elodie suddenly ran toward a tree with small white flowers.

“I have only seen it in books… it is so pretty!”

Something fell from beneath her dress.

Leonis walked over and picked it up.

It was the red brooch.

He was about to hand it to her—

But he paused.

Then quietly, he placed the brooch inside his jacket pocket.