Chapter 6

Morning broke. Daisy sprang up from her bed. She had shown Noah to the guest room, but she was worried about how the child had fared through the night. In the Sinclair Count’s mansion in Paddington, there would have been servants ready to attend to the young master at any time, but in the Somerset house, only Daisy was around, which made her more concerned.

 

If Inanna hadn’t appeared, she would have had time to check on Noah. However, the sudden appearance of her old acquaintance at the door had completely distracted Daisy.

 

She had accepted the contract and pushed Inanna out the door without even offering her a chance to rest. Inanna, as if expecting this, disappeared in a carriage she had waiting. With nothing much in Somerset besides Daisy’s apple orchard, she probably returned to Paddington.

 

‘Smile.’

 

Before leaving her room, Daisy stood in front of the mirror and composed her expression. There was so much she wanted to do with Noah.

 

“Did you sleep well?”

 

She knocked on the door of the guest room where her son was staying before entering. Noah, his eyes full of sleepiness, slowly got up from his bed at Daisy’s appearance.

 

“Ah, good morning. Did you sleep well?”

 

The boy, trying hard to swallow a yawn as he greeted her, looked like an angel descended to earth. The sunlight entering through the window scattered on his platinum blonde hair, leaving a sparkle. His flushed cheeks were radiant with the vitality unique to young children.

 

Daisy approached the bed with long strides and hugged Noah tightly. The boy blinked at the sudden embrace but soon smiled broadly and clung to Daisy.

 

“Shall we eat breakfast first?”

 

“Breakfast?”

 

Noah blinked. Come to think of it, he was starting to feel hungry. Daisy lifted him up and rose from the bed.

 

“Am I not too heavy?”

 

“We’ll need to feed you a lot more.”

 

With each step down the stairs, their bodies swayed. Finding this sensation somehow amusing, Noah giggled. In Paddington, in that vast mansion, no one had held Noah like this, carrying him around. Unlike the Count’s mansion that was cold even in midsummer, the cozy home in Somerset was full of warmth.

 

Daisy’s affection melted the boy’s heart.

 

‘I’m really glad I met Mom,’ Noah thought to himself.

 

From early morning, Daisy prepared a full table. Though she wasn’t particularly good at cooking, just laying out the food prepared by Marilyn and other farm workers made the table abundant. There were freshly picked apples from yesterday, soft-boiled eggs and lightly fried sausages, a salad with homemade mayonnaise dressing, freshly baked bread from the oven with golden butter, and apple jam.

 

“Of all things, we’re out of bacon.”

 

Finally, Daisy muttered as she set down a glass each of juice and milk in front of Noah. When she prepared meals for herself, she didn’t care whether there was bacon or not, but today, the table felt empty without that one thing. In reality, the table was so full of food that there was no room to put down another plate.

 

Daisy decided she should increase her food orders so the child could eat plenty and grow well. If she gave word to Peter, who ran various errands, he would deliver daily.

 

“Wow.”

 

An exclamation burst from Noah’s lips, followed closely by a rumbling sound.

 

“Let’s eat.”

 

Chuckling at his honest reaction, Daisy sliced the sausages and placed them on Noah’s plate. Despite his prim young master-like appearance, Noah ate the food diligently. It was enough to make one suspect whether they had been starving him at the Count’s mansion.

 

Noah’s cheeks puffed out as he filled them with food. Thinking she wanted to poke them, Daisy began her own meal.

 

“It’s really delicious.”

 

“More than the food at the Count’s house?”

 

It was a childish question, but Daisy couldn’t help asking. Knowing that whatever she prepared alone would be inferior to meals made by chefs in noble households, she felt unnecessarily anxious.

 

“Much more.”

 

“I’m glad.”

 

Relieved, Daisy pushed plates towards Noah, encouraging him to try this and that. As she watched the child chew thoroughly with a pleased expression, Daisy herself had only eaten bread with butter.

 

Surprisingly, she didn’t feel hungry. The sense of fullness when eating alone versus when Noah sat across the table was entirely different.

 

“When we finish eating, let’s go take a look at the orchard.”

 

“The orchard?”

 

“Yes. The apples you’re eating now came from there. This jam is also made from apples from the orchard I own.”

 

“Wow, can we pick apples ourselves?”

 

“Of course. If you want, I’ll teach you how to pick apples and climb trees.”

 

Daisy nodded and lowered her voice as if about to whisper a great secret.

 

“This is a secret, but food tastes really delicious when you eat it after working hard.”

 

“Even more than now?”

 

Noah’s eyes widened at Daisy’s whisper.

 

“That’s right. Do you trust Mom?”

 

The boy hesitated for a moment before melting into a smile.

 

“Yes! I trust you!”

 

Daisy rummaged through the wardrobe to find a wide-brimmed hat and long-sleeved clothes. Both the hat and clothes were a bit big for Noah. Especially when he put on the brimmed hat, it came down to his eyes, making Noah giggle. His clear laughter could be heard echoing inside the hat.

 

Pushing the hat back and rolling up the sleeves made him look like a proper little farmer. Noah looked at Daisy quizzically and asked:

 

“Why do we dress like this?”

 

“The sun is actually quite mischievous, so it’s important to cover your skin well when working outside for a long time.”

 

“I see.”

 

As the boy nodded, the hat that had been pushed back fell forward again. Seeing Noah’s head swallowed by the hat, Daisy tried to suppress her laughter.

 

“Pfft, ahem. Ahem. We’ll need to find a hat that fits Noah perfectly soon.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Noah peeked out from under the brim, holding onto it, looking so cute that Daisy hugged him for a long while, rubbing her cheek against his.

 

Somerset was in the southern part of the kingdom and famous for its sunny weather. Paddington, where Daisy was born and raised, was relatively cloudier and often foggy.

 

Because of this, when Daisy first arrived in Somerset and started running around to set up an orchard, her face turned bright red. Thinking her face was just a bit warm all day, Daisy was shocked when she returned home and looked in the mirror. The reflection showed neither a noble lady nor a countess. It was just Daisy.

 

She realized she had truly left Paddington behind.

 

After that, Daisy struggled for a while. Not only was her face stinging, but she also had to endure the pain of her sunburned skin peeling off.

 

Still, thanks to that experience, she was grateful she could protect Noah’s face now.

 

“The hat keeps slipping down.”

 

“Well, keep wearing it for now. If your face gets sunburned, it’ll hurt later.”

 

“It hurts?”

 

“Yes. When I first came to Somerset, I was so fascinated by the sun that I wandered around and got terribly sunburned. I had to use grated potatoes on my face to draw out the heat.”

 

It was a method Marilyn had taught her.

 

“I want to try that too!”

 

It was unclear whether Noah wanted to get sunburned or put grated potatoes on his face.

 

“Shall we get some potatoes from the storage on our way back home?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Noah nodded. As they started walking side by side, the boy took her hand first and smiled brightly when his eyes met Daisy’s looking down at him.

 

Unlike when she first saw him on the streets of Paddington, he smiled readily now. It seemed Somerset was having a good influence on Noah, just as it had on her.

 

“Oh my, are you coming to work this early? I thought you were enjoying your late mornings these days?”

 

Marilyn, holding pruning shears, asked as she met Daisy’s eyes. Daisy made a slight sound of displeasure. No matter how frank Daisy usually was, she wanted to show only her best side to her newly reunited son.

 

“Did the young master sleep well?”

 

Marilyn noticed Noah hiding behind Daisy and asked. The boy nodded.

 

“I wanted to show him the orchard, so I brought him along.”

 

At Daisy’s introduction, Marilyn’s face brightened. It seemed Daisy wouldn’t be slacking off anymore with her son watching. For Marilyn, who had been desperately trying to catch the constantly escaping farm owner, this was truly welcome news. Marilyn lowered herself to Noah’s eye level and greeted him kindly.

 

“Somerset’s apple orchard is very large, so stay close to your mother.”

 

“…Okay.”

 

Though Noah wasn’t usually shy, he seemed a bit reserved with strangers, only nodding in response to Marilyn’s words. This was only their second meeting after being introduced yesterday. Daisy didn’t push Noah. She could wait until he felt like talking to others.

 

With the change in environment, Noah would need time to adapt.

 

Marilyn, not minding the young master’s reticence, gave a gentle smile and walked away. With harvest season approaching, she had a lot to do as the supervisor.

 

Daisy walked into the orchard, parting the tree branches. The shadows of the sunlit leaves appeared bright green. Noah looked around constantly. She could see his eyes taking in the sound of wind rustling through the trees, the faint scent of grass, and the green apples hanging a bit higher up.

 

The boy let out a series of exclamations.

 

“Wow, all the trees are taller than you, Mom.”

 

“Most of these trees are about the same age as you, Noah.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Daisy lifted Noah and sat him on a sturdy, thick branch.

 

“It’s really high.”

 

Surprised at first by the change in perspective, Noah soon boldly patted the branch he was sitting on.

 

“How does it feel to be taller than Mom?”

 

“It’s great! But it’s also a bit scary because I don’t think I can get down by myself.”

 

“Should I help you down if you’re scared?”

 

“No. I think I’ll be fine as long as you’re here with me, Mom.”

 

Noah spoke in a mature tone.

 

“Can you turn your head to the right?”

 

“Like this?”

 

Following Daisy’s instruction, Noah turned and saw a green apple.

 

“That’s an apple. Try bringing your nose closer.”

 

“It smells a bit sweet, and a little like grass.”

 

“That’s because it’s not ripe yet. As time passes, the apples will gradually turn yellow, then golden, and then they’ll have a strong sweet scent.”

 

“Wow.”

 

“We start harvesting before the fruit turns completely yellow. Workers like me and Marilyn, whom you saw earlier, roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

 

“Why do you pick them before they’re fully ripe?”

 

“If we pick them when they’re fully ripe, they might get too soft during transportation.”

 

“Transportation?”

 

“Remember the train you rode from Paddington to Somerset? Apples also ride trains like you did, or sometimes carriages, to be sold all over the kingdom. The apples I grow are very popular, you know.”

 

“Ah, I see.”

 

“You’ve probably eaten them at the Count’s mansion too.”

 

The golden apples were more than just famous. The Dowager Countess Sinclair, Elias’s mother, couldn’t stand falling behind on social trends, so she likely bought them even knowing they were grown by Daisy.

 

“Yes, Lady Inanna would give them to me sometimes.”

 

Daisy flinched at the unexpected mention of that name.

 

“Inanna did?”

 

“At the Count’s mansion, Lady Inanna looked after me more often than the nanny.”

 

Daisy felt strange. The Inanna she knew wasn’t particularly fond of children. Rather, she tended to keep her distance. When asked why, she said children were difficult to deal with.

 

To hear that this same Inanna had been kind to Noah felt odd. It was hard to gauge whether this behavior stemmed from guilt or because she saw Noah as the heir.

 

“I’m glad that at least one person in that vast mansion was kind to you.”

 

Daisy smiled, meeting Noah’s eyes. Regardless of her relationship with Inanna, knowing that someone had been looking after Noah lightened her heavy heart considerably.

 

“The apple jam we ate this morning was made from windfall apples.”

 

“Windfall apples?”

 

“Sometimes apples fall from the branches before people can pick them. We call those windfall apples. Apples that have fallen to the ground often get bruised or damaged, so we can’t sell them. But since their sweetness is similar, we add sugar and boil them down to make jam.”

 

Noah listened attentively to Daisy’s gentle explanation. Although he had received various lessons at the mansion in Paddington, he had never heard the stories Daisy was telling him now.

 

“I see. Even the fallen apples that no one buys have a use.”

 

“It’s fascinating, isn’t it? Mom learned this after coming to Somerset. I’ve learned a lot of other things too.”

 

The boy’s eyes sparkled at those words.

 

“I want to know more.”

 

“You’re so curious, just like my son should be.”

 

Daisy lifted Noah down from the tree with an “Oof!” and took his hand.

 

“Let’s go. Since we’re in the orchard, I’ll show you one of Mom’s secret places.”

 

The mention of a secret place made the boy’s eyes shine brightly.

 

“Okay!”

 

Daisy led Noah to a clearing in the center of the orchard. If there was something unexpected, it was the child’s gait. Being young, his stride was naturally shorter. So their pace was slower, taking twice as long as when Daisy moved alone.

 

Walking through the orchard with a child was truly special. It was fortunate that the paths within the orchard were well-maintained for transporting apples.

 

“Wow. This is…”

 

Noah finally exclaimed as they reached the clearing. Even without Daisy saying so, he could tell this was her secret place.

 

The orchard trees were planted at regular intervals, so entering the treeless clearing suddenly flooded them with sunlight. It was almost blinding, but the radiant light made the grass appear golden. Daisy’s brown hair rippled like waves in the sunlight as she beckoned Noah to the center, as if welcoming him.

 

Noah’s eyes sparkled. He remembered Inanna’s words.

 

She had said she had never seen anyone as beautiful as Daisy in her entire life…

 

Noah, who had always been clever, knew that Inanna herself was considered one of the most beautiful women in the kingdom, so he had thought her words were an exaggeration. But now, the mother before his eyes was overflowing with vitality.

 

She was a type of person he had never seen in the cold, chilly Sinclair mansion.

 

‘Mom is shining,’ Noah thought, his face flushed with excitement.

 

As Noah approached, Daisy gestured to him. In the center of the clearing was a patch of bare earth with no grass. Tapping it lightly, it didn’t seem too hard, and looked like it could be dug with bare hands.

 

Having a good idea, she led Noah closer.

 

“Want to try digging?”

 

Daisy asked casually.

 

“The dirt? Won’t it be dirty?”

 

“It’s not exactly clean, but playing in the dirt can be fun. And we can wash our hands well when we’re done.”

 

“Well…”

 

Noah hesitated before touching the soil. After poking it a few times with his fingers, he boldly started digging into the middle. His small hand couldn’t cover much area, but it was cute to see him diligently lifting the soil, using his hand like a shovel.

 

His clothes quickly got dirty, and his hands were covered in soil, but it was pleasant to see those green eyes, so much like her own, sparkling with curiosity.

 

“It’s not such an unpleasant feeling, is it?”

 

Noah nodded at Daisy’s question.

 

“Yes. It’s rough, but the particles are small, so it feels interesting on the skin.”

 

“And?”

 

“The top layer is warm, as if it’s soaked up the sunlight.”

 

“This spot gets a lot of sun. If you dig deeper, it’ll be cooler there.”

 

Noah said “Oh!” and dug further. He seemed to want to verify it himself.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Eek!”

 

Noah suddenly jumped back in surprise and fell on his behind. Daisy, who supported his head before it hit the ground, looked at the pile of dug-up soil, wondering what had made her son fall backward.

 

She saw a green caterpillar wriggling. It seemed to have been sitting on nearby grass and fallen into the dug area.

 

“It’s a caterpillar.”

 

“A bug?”

 

Noah made a face of disgust. Being a well-raised young master, how could he be familiar with insects?

 

“Is it gross?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“But this little one eats grass diligently, becomes a chrysalis, and then turns into a butterfly after a season. Then it flies from flower to flower, helping delicious apples to grow.”

 

“A butterfly?”

 

Noah asked in amazement at Daisy’s explanation. It was hard to believe that something that looked so disgusting could become a pretty butterfly.

 

“Yes. It might be off-putting because it looks different from us, but that’s not all there is to it. This little friend helps the orchard, so shall we help it too?”

 

Noah’s expression became peculiar. He was curious about how they would help, but it was difficult to immediately discard the thought of it being gross, even after hearing that bugs could sometimes be helpful.

 

Amused by his honest reaction, Daisy chuckled and brought a long twig. She used it to lift the caterpillar and tossed it into a distant patch of grass.

 

“Marilyn can grab these with her bare hands, but Mom still can’t do that.”

 

“She touches bugs with her bare hands?”

 

Noah’s eyes widened. He probably would have been less surprised to hear about dragon slayers from fairy tales. Those were fake, but Marilyn, whom he had just greeted, was a real person, which made it even more amazing.

 

“Yes. Isn’t that cool?”

 

Noah nodded vigorously at Daisy’s words.

 

After spending time in the secret place, the journey back was easier than the way there. Noah hesitated to hold her with his dirt-covered hands. However, Daisy grabbed her son’s hand first. A smile bloomed on Noah’s face.

 

As they were leaving the orchard, the boy was humming a tune while swinging his hand joined with Daisy’s back and forth. Unlike the popular songs that Peter, the errand boy, often whistled, this was classical music that one might hear at a concert.

 

But even that seemed adorable to Daisy.

 

“Oh, you’re coming out now,” Marilyn, who had been busy going back and forth with the workers, greeted Daisy and Noah as she spotted them.

 

“Where’s Dorset?”

“He went to eat. He left a while ago, so he should be back soon.”

 

At those words, Daisy looked up to check the sun’s position and realized it was well past lunchtime. It was fortunate that she had fed him a hearty breakfast; otherwise, the child would have been starving.

 

“Oh my, look at me. I didn’t even bring any food.”

“Oh dear, you must be hungry. And with the young master too…”

 

Marilyn exclaimed, covering her mouth in surprise. She bent down to meet Noah’s eyes and asked,

 

“Young master, aren’t you hungry?”

“I want to wash my hands first.”

 

Hearing this, Marilyn checked Noah’s clothes and hands, then shot Daisy a reproachful look. It was a gaze that seemed to chide her for not bringing even a single snack after playing so enthusiastically with the child. Daisy had no excuse and discreetly turned her head away.

 

Her profile couldn’t have felt more uncomfortable.

 

“I was about to go for a meal myself, so let’s go together.”

“Really? How about it, Noah? Do you want to go have lunch with Marilyn?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

 

Noah nodded. Marilyn led the two to a building next to the orchard. It was slightly larger than an average home and served as a rest area and dining hall for the workers.

 

While Daisy took Noah to wash their hands, Marilyn went straight to the kitchen and began whipping up food. Marilyn’s portions were much larger than Daisy’s. She brought out a large pot to make stew and grilled a piece of meat that would take three adults to finish.

 

Watching her hands move deftly even while preparing just a salad made one’s mouth water. She casually shook off the water from the romaine lettuce, chopped plenty of olives to add, and scooped generous portions of her homemade milk cheese. After tearing up some smoked chicken and mixing it in, she finished it off with tart berries.

 

Daisy unconsciously reached out with her fork, salivating at the sight, only to have her hand swatted away by Marilyn.

 

“You can eat when it’s all ready.”

“I just wanted a taste, just a taste.”

“Last time you said that and ended up picking out all the meat.”

 

Noah watched with interest as Daisy and Marilyn bickered. Though Marilyn was clearly Daisy’s subordinate, there was a sense of intimacy rather than hierarchy between them. It was quite different from how his father, Earl Sinclair, treated the butler or other servants.

 

Although there wasn’t a separate kitchen, and dishes were prepared right at the dining table, there was a warm, cozy atmosphere.

 

Noah fidgeted with his hands hidden under the table.

 

“Marilyn, you’re the best, as always.”

 

Daisy exclaimed in admiration as the food gradually filled the table. She then began serving small portions of the dishes Noah wanted onto his plate.

 

“It’s delicious,” Noah said after taking a spoonful of stew.

 

“Right? If it weren’t for Marilyn, Mom would have starved to death.”

 

It seemed endless no matter how much they ate. The boy, who had initially been using his fork elegantly, was now grabbing chicken legs with his hands, not minding the grease. Daisy was secretly impressed by how neatly he picked the meat off the bone.

 

Marilyn, scooping up some mashed potatoes, said with a satisfied expression,

 

“The mother and son look just alike.”

“Really?” Daisy’s eyes lit up. Noah’s eyes, busy enjoying his meal, also rounded in surprise.

 

“Of course. You both eat so delightfully, it’s a pleasure to watch.”

 

Noah smiled at Marilyn’s words. With a sheen of grease around his mouth, he looked like a baby angel descended to earth.

 

Once they were somewhat full, Daisy wiped her hands on a napkin and said,

 

“Shall we go to bed soon?”

“But I’m not sleepy…” Noah blinked his eyes. While waiting for the food and then devouring it, the sun had already begun to set outside.

 

“If you want to grow big and strong, you need to sleep early.”

 

Daisy got up with Noah and bid Marilyn goodnight.

 

“It was such a fantastic meal that I forgot my manners and licked my fingers clean.”

“Oh, it was nothing. I just took out two more plates than usual.”

“Marilyn, you’re the best. See you tomorrow.”

“Yes, have a good night.”

 

Marilyn waved. Daisy clasped Noah’s hands together and made him bow from the waist.

 

“Thank you for the meal.”

 

Born a nobleman and educated in their ways, he didn’t use honorifics, but his manner had become quite polite. Marilyn noticed how the young master, who had seemed prickly at first, had softened considerably.

 

“It was my pleasure. I’ll cook for you again next time.”

 

After parting with Marilyn, Daisy returned home with her son. The place that often felt lonely despite its cozy size emanated a warm atmosphere today, with yellow light flickering.

 

Daisy took Noah to his room and changed him into his pajamas. As the boy crawled onto the bed, she pulled up the covers and asked a question.

 

“Shall we go fishing tomorrow?”

“Fishing?”

“Do you like seafood dishes?”

“Yes.”

“Fishing is catching the fish that become ingredients for those dishes.”

“Mom, you know how to do that too?”

 

Noah asked with curiosity. Of course, as a young master from a noble family, Noah would know nothing about procuring food ingredients. Perhaps if he were older, it might be different.

 

“Of course. I’ve even caught fish as thick as my forearm before,” Daisy said, rolling up her sleeve. Unlike her Paddington days when she had never lifted anything heavier than a teacup, her arm now had some muscle and flesh on it.

 

“Wow!” Noah exclaimed, trying to imagine how big a fish that size would be. Daisy intuitively realized that she must be quite an impressive and cool person in her child’s world.

 

She felt both joyful and burdened by this.

 

“I really enjoyed today,” Noah said, yawning despite claiming he wasn’t sleepy at all. His eyes were heavy with fatigue. After wandering around the orchard for a long time, playing in the dirt, and filling his stomach to the brim with food, it was natural for drowsiness to set in.

 

“Tomorrow will be another wonderful day.”

“I’m looking forward to it…” Noah’s voice trailed off drowsily.

 

Daisy gently stroked Noah’s head as his voice became muffled. His forehead, revealed as his hair was pushed back, looked round and pretty. The sound of the child’s peaceful breathing tickled her senses. Unlike Daisy, who had rather rough sleeping habits, Noah slept quietly without tossing and turning.

 

The more Daisy looked at Noah, the more beautiful he seemed. It made her feel wistful. She even felt anxious that she might have missed too much of her son’s growth.

 

Only after confirming that the child was sound asleep did Daisy place a soft kiss on Noah’s forehead.

 

“Sleep well,” she whispered, careful not to wake him as she stood up and left the room.

 

* * *

 

As morning broke, Daisy began preparations for their fishing trip early. She packed a bait box and prepared the fishing rods that had been gathering dust.

 

While having breakfast, she made five sandwiches for lunch. Noah had quite an appetite, so she wanted to ensure there was enough food.

 

She created sandwiches that anyone would fall in love with: fluffy scrambled eggs, cucumbers mixed with mayonnaise and pepper, and apple slices nestled between slices of white bread, lightly spread with mustard. This was a recipe she had learned from Dorset.

 

Daisy’s heart was already filled with joy at the thought of Noah enjoying these sandwiches during their fishing trip.

 

Just as she was finishing the preparations, Noah appeared, rubbing his eyes.

 

“Good morning,” he said.

 

Seeing his face, much more relaxed than when they first met, Daisy smiled brightly. After wiping her hands on her apron, she approached Noah and gently smoothed his messy hair back. Though using her fingers instead of a comb made it somewhat rough, it successfully cleared the hair from his eyes.

 

“Good morning,” she replied.

 

Although it was only the second time they had exchanged morning greetings, there was an added intimacy in the air between them. Daisy watched contentedly as Noah sat at the table and ate his breakfast enthusiastically.

 

“Today, as we promised before bed last night, we’re going fishing.”

“Where are we going?” Noah asked.

 

“If you go west along the orchard, there’s quite a large lake. People in Somerset who fancy themselves good at fishing go there.”

“You’re good at fishing too, right, Mom?”

“That’s right. Remember I told you yesterday about catching a fish as big as this forearm? Today, I’ll catch some fish and grill them for you deliciously.”

“Wow!”

 

Noah’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Although he had tried various seafood dishes before, this would be the first time someone caught and cooked fish for him personally.

 

Since coming to Somerset, his world kept expanding.

 

Daisy and Noah headed towards the lake along the forest path. As the place didn’t have an official name, people called it differently. Dorset called it the Big Lake, while Marilyn referred to it as the Orchard Lake. Daisy, who preferred simplicity, called it Somerset Lake.

 

“Here, this is a fishing rod. There’s a hook at the end of the fishing line to catch fish, so be careful.”

 

Noah listened attentively to his mother’s explanation. Daisy patiently explained how to use the fishing rod.

 

Finally, it was time for the much-anticipated bait box.

 

“Sometimes we use dough balls, but the most common bait is worms.”

“Worms?” Noah recoiled slightly. Although he had seen butterfly larvae yesterday, it was impossible to develop a liking for insects overnight.

 

“Yes, we use things like earthworms or larvae. We thread them onto the fishing hook like this and cast it into the water.”

 

Daisy demonstrated herself. She handled the fishing hook as skillfully as other veteran anglers. Her fishing hobby wasn’t something she had picked up in Somerset, but had been with her since her girlhood days.

 

In fact, it was Inanna who had first got her interested in fishing. They had tried it while looking for activities they could enjoy together. There was a large lake near the Briancet Grand Duke’s villa, and they would spend hours talking while gazing at the water surface with their fishing rods cast.

 

The girl who had once been terrified at the sight of bait worms had now become an adult threading bait onto her son’s fishing hook.

 

Was it just her imagination, or had thoughts of Inanna become more frequent since meeting Noah?

 

“So when we cast this fishing rod, the fish will bite the bait?” Noah asked.

“That’s right,” Daisy nodded.

 

Noah seemed hesitant to handle the fishing rod that was slightly larger than himself, looking up at Daisy with sparkling eyes. Clearing her throat, Daisy stepped forward and swung the rod, sending the hook sailing in an arc before it settled into the water.

 

“Wow!” Noah’s eyes lit up at her smooth skill. He seemed to expect a fish to be caught immediately. But Daisy, knowing that fishing was a test of patience, had to suppress a smile at Noah’s eagerness.

 

Sunlight danced on the gentle ripples of the lake. The reflected light was similar to the shimmer of Noah’s platinum blonde hair. Daisy knew someone else with similar platinum blonde hair.

 

Inanna Briancet.

 

Although Noah’s hair was the delicate golden blonde characteristic of the Sinclair family, thinking about it now, it was quite similar to Inanna’s. She too had hair that looked as if it had been spun from fine platinum threads. Daisy could still remember the soft texture of Inanna’s hair from the times she had combed it for her.

 

They say humans long for even yesterday’s events after sleeping and waking, but Daisy suddenly thought how much of a loss Inanna was to her ex-husband.

 

What could have possibly made Inanna marry Elias Sinclair? Apart from being the heir to the earldom, he wasn’t particularly charming. Though considered handsome, she didn’t seem impressed by his physical attributes. It didn’t seem like a political marriage either, as the Sinclair family was far inferior to the Briancet Grand Ducal family.

 

The Briancet family was a founding noble house, occasionally intermarrying with the royal bloodline. Even those who didn’t become heirs in the Grand Ducal family often married foreign royalty.

 

Although the riding accident had changed many things, Inanna had been the most brilliant star of the Briancet family. For someone like her to marry someone like Elias, it must have been largely her own decision.

 

Was it love, after all?

 

Daisy smiled bitterly at the thought.

 

As she waited for a fish to bite, Daisy gazed at the lake’s surface. Noah, still finding it boring to just wait, was playing with the dirt as she had shown him yesterday.

 

It was truly a peaceful moment.

 

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound of grass being parted. Daisy turned her head instinctively and found herself face to face with an unexpected figure. Her lips parted in surprise.

 

“Inanna?”

 

There stood a breathtakingly beautiful woman. Having just been thinking about her, Daisy was startled by Inanna’s sudden appearance.

 

“The fishing rod!” Inanna exclaimed urgently, gesturing with her hand.

 

“Ah!” Daisy, who had been stunned by Inanna’s appearance, rushed to the fishing rod. The line had gone taut. Why did the fish have to bite now, of all moments, when it hadn’t shown any interest during their long wait?

 

Swallowing a curse, Daisy grappled with the rod, wrestling with the fish for a while. The fish was so strong that she felt she might tumble forward and plunge into the lake as it tried to escape with the bait.

 

Noah watched nervously from the side. Daisy felt her shoulders tense involuntarily.

 

“Heave-ho!”

 

Splash, splash!

 

It was a big catch. The large fish hooked on the end of the line continued to flop around even after being brought ashore. It seemed to be one of the largest fish living in this lake.

 

Daisy, not expecting such a successful first catch, collapsed onto the ground. Normally, she would have been overjoyed, but the sudden chain of events left her feeling drained.

 

“Fish! It’s a fish!” Noah jumped up and down excitedly. He ran to Daisy and hugged her tightly. Then he tried to put the fish into the bucket they had prepared.

 

“No, no. We need to remove the hook first. That way we can keep fishing,” Daisy stopped her son. She was about to get up sluggishly to remove the hook, but Inanna was quicker, wheeling herself over.

 

Noah naturally stepped aside. As if she had been waiting for this moment, Inanna’s white, delicate hands confidently grasped the smelly fish and removed the hook. She tossed the fish into the bucket with a plop.

 

On fishing trips, it had always been Inanna’s job to put the caught fish in the bucket.

 

“It’s a big one.”

“Indeed. The biggest I’ve caught since coming to Somerset.”

 

Perhaps due to the events coinciding with her appearance, Daisy didn’t feel like questioning why Inanna had come. She simply nodded, just as she used to do in the past.

 

There was no dramatic resentment or blame. Daisy just turned her head casually, as if addressing a new breeze, and asked, “Did you come alone?”

 

“No. I told them to wait by the lakeside.”

 

“You can wheel yourself around now.”

“It’s much better than before when I needed someone to push me.”

 

It was Daisy who had coaxed Inanna out of her bedroom in the annex, where she had been confined after her riding accident, first to the reception room, then to a wheelchair, and finally outdoors. Back then, wheelchairs weren’t very common. Inanna, brought back into the world by Daisy’s guidance, discovered wheelchairs and invested her private funds in them.

 

Given that the surrounding area had unpaved roads and tall grass near the water, the fact that Inanna had managed to wheel herself here alone suggested there had been technological improvements. The spot where Daisy and Noah were fishing even had a slight slope. In the past, that wheelchair would have rolled uncontrollably into the water with Inanna.

 

After the wheelchair talk ended, Daisy suddenly found herself at a loss for the next topic. It had been too long since they’d met, and she wasn’t entirely free from old resentments. However, ignoring the heavy silence felt awkward with Noah watching them.

 

Daisy barely managed to think of something and parted her lips.

 

“Do you like cherries?”

“Cherries?”

 

A faint smile played around Inanna’s lips.

 

“There’s a cherry tree near this lake. I was planning to pick some for Noah today.”

 

Daisy rambled on with her explanation. Inanna noticed Daisy’s hands fidgeting with awkwardness.

 

“I do like them. You were the one who picked my first cherry, after all.”

“You remember such things?”

“Everything.”

 

Inanna closed her eyes briefly, then opened them. There was a nostalgic atmosphere, as if she had recalled an old memory.

 

“I remember everything.”

“…”

 

For a moment, Daisy’s face contorted slightly. It was hard to tell whether Inanna was being sincere in cherishing those old memories or if it was just pretense.

 

Trying not to be swayed by Inanna anymore, Daisy turned to Noah and asked, “Now that we’ve caught a fish, shall we go pick some cherries?”

 

Noah, who had been quietly observing the two adults, asked cautiously, “What are cherries?”

 

“They’re small black fruits, smaller than the tip of your finger. They’re sweet and delicious.”

“I’d like that.”

“Then let’s go.”

 

With the fish safely in the bucket, it seemed like a good idea to pick cherries and eat them with the sandwiches prepared for lunch. Originally, Daisy had planned to chat with Noah while fishing, but with Inanna’s appearance, prolonged silence would be uncomfortable.

 

Keeping her hands busy might reduce the time she had to talk with Inanna.

 

As much as she wanted to go home immediately, it was difficult to act on that impulse. She had made a promise in exchange for Inanna’s cooperation regarding Noah’s custody.

 

The cherry tree by the lake was quite large. Although the flowers had all fallen, when in full bloom, their beautiful pink shadows reflected on the water surface were a sight to behold.

 

Daisy took off her shoes, tied up her hair, and rolled up her skirt, securing it with clothes pins she had brought. Unlike her girlhood days, her sturdy arms and legs looked remarkably healthy.

 

“Are you going to climb the tree?” Noah asked, looking shocked.

 

“The village kids have picked all the low-hanging fruit. The remaining cherries are a bit higher up,” Daisy explained to Noah as she prepared to climb.

 

“Spread out this cloth and wait. I’ll drop the cherries down for you.”

 

Daisy pointed to a cloth she had packed in the picnic bag. Without someone holding it, the cherries might roll away, but Noah couldn’t hold all four corners of the cloth alone. It was also awkward to ask Inanna to help hold it, worried that cherry juice might stain her clothes. As always, Inanna was likely wearing a dress designed exclusively for her by the most expensive tailor in the capital. It would be a shame to ruin that beautiful silk with cherry stains.

 

At that moment, Inanna gestured to Noah.

 

“Let’s hold it together.”

 

Inanna moved her wheelchair slightly back from under the tree and voluntarily took hold of two corners of the cloth. With Noah holding the other end, it spread out nicely, forming a perfect concave shape for catching the cherries. Moreover, with Inanna sitting, her arm height was quite similar to young Noah’s.

 

“Be careful of your clothes,” Daisy cautioned.

“It’s alright if they get dirty,” Inanna replied.

 

That “It’s alright” likely meant she could just buy new ones. Having known Inanna for so long, Daisy saw through her thoughts and felt a pang in her stomach. Despite being from a noble family and now the owner of a golden apple orchard that raked in money, Daisy was quite modest.

 

Above all, keeping up with Inanna’s sense of money was difficult for her.

 

“Alright then,” Daisy nodded and began climbing the tree, using the knots as if they were steps on a staircase. Though not as quick as a squirrel, her careful ascent to the thick branches looked remarkably steady.

 

Inanna recalled their childhood. At the Briancet Grand Duke’s villa in a mild southern territory like Somerset, the two had run around excitedly. Even then, Daisy, in her flowing skirts, was quite energetic. When Inanna asked why Daisy wanted to learn to climb trees, she said she wanted to read books up there.

 

Inanna had flatly told her there would be many bugs. Daisy had pouted, telling her not to inject reality into her dreams. Inanna had loved even that reproachful voice.

 

All of that, not knowing it would slip through her fingers.

 

“Cherry drop!” Daisy called out cheerfully from her perch in the tree. Though likely for Noah’s benefit, that bright smile was as clear as before they were bound by adult circumstances, making Inanna purse her lips.

 

Cherries rained down. Despite Daisy’s aiming efforts, some inevitably went astray. Noah tried his best to catch them all by pulling the cloth this way and that, but Inanna’s fixed position limited their range.

 

Still, thanks to the tree’s size and Daisy’s efforts to aim for the cloth, they managed to salvage most of the cherries.

 

Some fruits burst upon impact, staining the cloth with splotches. The black fruit juice, tinged slightly red, gave off a sweet scent. Noah, gripping the cloth tightly to not miss a single cherry, swallowed hard at the aroma.

 

“That’s all of them,” Daisy announced, hopping down the tree much faster than she had climbed up.

 

“Wow, that must be quite heavy. You held it well. Noah, you’ve got strong arms, don’t you?” She ruffled Noah’s hair. The boy beamed, proud of his helpful contribution.

 

Noah’s face, not even a week since arriving in Somerset, was brighter than when they first met in Paddington. His smile came naturally, and his once-pale cheeks now had a healthy glow.

 

“Shall we try them now?” Daisy said as she gathered the cherries from Inanna and Noah. With the sandwiches she’d prepared that morning, they had quite a feast.

 

She had made five sandwiches to feed the child generously, which turned out to be a good decision.

 

“It’s nothing fancy, but it should be edible,” Daisy said.

 

With Daisy’s help, Inanna slowly moved from her wheelchair to sit down. Having been so close for so long, Daisy could intuitively understand and accommodate Inanna’s needs. It was like a habit etched into her skin.

 

A misty smile lingered on Inanna’s lips. Daisy, thinking it somewhat wistful, quickly shook off the thought. She had invested too much emotion in this one person. That’s why she found herself sinking into sentimentality at the slightest relaxation.

 

Trying to appear as nonchalant as possible, Daisy handed Inanna a sandwich. She then turned immediately to give Noah half of another sandwich. Despite moving less than yesterday, the boy’s appetite was impressive, likely due to his growing phase.

 

“I’ve brought plenty, so eat slowly,” Daisy said as she picked up a sandwich for herself. Though in the same space as Inanna, not knowing how to interact with her made Daisy focus more on Noah.

 

Glancing sideways, she saw Inanna chewing her food carefully. Daisy was secretly surprised to see her eating well, having worried about her picky palate.

 

“It’s delicious. What’s this soft yellow thing?” Noah asked.

“It’s egg yolk mixed with mayonnaise. I cook it well, mash it smoothly, and add pepper.”

 

While pepper was quite an expensive spice, Daisy could afford it. She didn’t use it often but had found and used it while rummaging through the pantry, wanting to give Noah something a bit more flavorful.

 

All five sandwiches were consumed. Noah ate two, while Daisy and Inanna each had one and a half.

 

“Now, shall we tackle the cherries?” Daisy pulled forward the black fruits she had climbed the tree to pick. Noah stretched out both hands eagerly.

 

“These black fruits are cherries. The riper they are, the blacker and sweeter they become. You can swallow the pit, but I prefer to spit it out.”

 

Noah, seemingly listening to the explanation, had already popped a cherry into his mouth. Unfortunately, he had chosen a red one, and as he rolled it around in his mouth, his shoulders visibly shuddered.

 

“Ugh, it’s sour!”

“I told you to pick only the ripe ones. Why did you go for the red ones that aren’t ripe yet?”

“The red ones looked ripe to me.”

“I said to choose the ones that have turned black. Otherwise, you might eat a sour one.”

 

Daisy tapped Noah’s nose bridge as she spoke. Just then, Inanna pushed something towards Noah.

 

She had selected only the well-ripened, black cherries. Suddenly, Daisy noticed Inanna’s lace gloves stained with cherry juice. Judging by the intricate pattern, they must have been a masterpiece crafted with great care by skilled lace makers. Yet Inanna seemed unbothered that such luxurious gloves were now ruined by fruit stains.

 

Noah quickly accepted the offering.

 

“Thank you, Lady Inanna.”

 

While polite, he didn’t seem particularly intimidated by Inanna. It appeared that Noah’s earlier claim about Inanna looking after him at the Sinclair estate had been true. Otherwise, his natural attitude towards Inanna now would be hard to explain.

 

Moreover, this was Inanna Briancet. Daisy was surprised to see Inanna, who had grown up as a Grand Duchess more accustomed to being served than breathing, and who now held even greater power, personally selecting ripe cherries for Noah.

 

The cherries kept disappearing into their mouths. They weren’t just sweet; occasional tangy notes made them even more irresistible. Their small size meant they didn’t fill you up quickly, making you want more and more.

 

“Ah, my stomach doesn’t even realize it’s eating,” Daisy muttered. The cherries in front of them were already showing the bottom of the container. The most amusing thing about cherries was that no matter how many you ate, you still felt hungry.

 

“We could have picked more,” Noah said, licking his lips and looking up at the treetop where many black fruits still remained. His lips had turned such a natural dark red that Daisy burst into laughter, holding her stomach.

 

“Did you enjoy them that much? Your lips have turned into cherries.”

“They’re not as sweet as the apple cookies I ate on my first day here, but the way they burst in your mouth is fun, and because they’re small, I want to keep eating more.”

“Is that so? Then let’s look for another cherry tree. We shouldn’t pick all of these.”

“Why not?”

“The treetop is dangerous for humans to climb, and birds need to eat too.”

“Birds eat cherries?”

“Of course. They eat all kinds of tree fruits.”

“Can’t they eat cherries from other trees?”

 

Noah asked. It sounded more like curiosity than greed for more food. Daisy thought for a moment before speaking.

 

“Remember we had five sandwiches earlier?”

“Yes.”

“Imagine a passing giant took all five sandwiches and ate them. Then he’d say, ‘This isn’t even enough to fill me up.'”

“…!”

“You’re satisfied with two sandwiches, but for the giant, five isn’t nearly enough. It’s the same with birds. If we leave just a few fruits, they can eat their fill, but if we, who are much bigger and eat much more than birds, pick all the cherries, they’ll have nothing to eat.”

“I see…”

“What if the giant didn’t eat all five sandwiches and left two for you? Then you could eat too, right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s why we’re being considerate of the birds.”

“I understand…”

“Especially in winter, in agricultural regions like Somerset, people leave some crops for birds and wild animals. In wheat fields, they don’t pick up every fallen grain, and in orchards, they don’t pick all the fruits at the top. We share this world, so we make small concessions. I hope you’ll become someone who understands this kind of consideration, Noah.”

“I’ll try my best.”

 

The boy nodded with a determined face. Daisy, proud of her son for not taking her words lightly, gently stroked his head.

 

“If you liked the cherries, shall I have some brought in specially?” Inanna spoke up. It was her way of being considerate.

 

“No, it’s okay,” Noah shook his head. He tried to look mature, but Daisy had to suppress a laugh. With black cherry stains on his fingertips and around his mouth, his attempt to act grown-up was adorably cute.

 

Daisy ruffled her son’s hair once more.

 

The fishing resumed after the meal and yielded a good catch. Though not as big as the first one, they caught three more fish about the size of Noah’s forearm. Seasoned with salt, topped with lemon, and wrapped in paper to be baked in the oven, they would make excellent papillotes.

 

Having decided on the evening meal, Daisy asked Inanna while packing up the fishing gear:

 

“I don’t know how long you’ll be in Somerset, but we’re grilling these fish for dinner tonight. What do you want to do?”

“What do you mean… what do I want to do?”

“Dinner. Are you joining us?”

 

Daisy asked, speaking in clipped sentences. Although she hesitated to extend such an invitation, there were things she wanted to know.

 

How had Noah been all this time? If Inanna had been looking after him, why was he alone on the streets of Paddington?

 

These were matters that needed to be addressed.

 

Above all, Daisy found it difficult to keep putting up walls against Inanna. Hating someone only brought Daisy pain. Leaving Paddington in a rush was her attempt to put the past behind her. Unable to hate, unable to sever this overwhelming affection in one clean cut, she had chosen to turn away.

 

Many things had changed since coming to Somerset. She could smile again, and unlike before when she watched her family’s affairs unfold with her hands tied, she began managing the orchard.

 

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though.

 

A botanist hired to research golden apple seeds had run off with the capital, and once a typhoon swept through the orchard, uprooting all the young trees. During a drought year, she carried water buckets on both shoulders to water the trees across the vast orchard.

 

Living on her own, Daisy discovered she could be a resilient person. After slowly calming the initial turmoil of Inanna’s appearance, she resolved to confront what Inanna wanted and what she was thinking.

 

This was solely for Daisy herself, not for anyone else.

 

“Alright,” Inanna quietly replied, as if reading some determination in Daisy’s green eyes.

 

* * *

 

Back home with Noah, Daisy seated Inanna in a chair connected to the kitchen and dining area and finished preparing the meal. Inanna didn’t seem bored, silently watching Daisy work.

 

Despite playing all day and likely being tired, Noah, still full of energy, buzzed around trying to help Daisy. Eventually, Daisy gave him a small piece of dough to play with.

 

It was a peaceful moment.

 

She wrapped the fish they had caught in paper and baked it in the oven, sliced bread to go with it, and washed and prepared fruit. By the time she finished, darkness was slowly creeping in outside.

 

“Let’s eat,” Daisy said, placing the prepared food on the table. Noah’s new tableware had finally arrived. His eyes sparkled at the sight of cutlery that fit his hands, after using adult-sized forks until now.

 

Silence fell during the meal. Inanna wasn’t one to talk while eating, and Noah was ravenously devouring the fish. Daisy was busy removing fish bones and encouraging Noah to try various dishes.

 

Inanna took in every detail of this scene. Each moment felt like a blessing to her.

 

“Thank you for the meal,” Noah said maturely as he put down his fork. Daisy smiled and wiped off a small bread crumb stuck to his cheek.

 

“Did your face eat the bread?”

“Oh!”

 

The boy blushed. Raised as the young master of the Sinclair earldom, Noah rarely ate with food on his face. But since coming to Somerset, he had shed much of the strictness that usually constrained him.

 

This was all because Daisy was by his side. He was experiencing a freedom in Somerset that he never felt in the suffocating earl’s mansion.

 

That sense of liberation had restored a childlike innocence in Noah, similar to his peers.

 

“I thought I wiped it all off with the napkin…”

“It’s okay. We can just clean your face. Now, why don’t you go upstairs first to wash up and get ready for bed? I have some things to discuss with Inanna here.”

“Alright.”

 

Noah got down from his chair, bowed his head to Inanna, and trotted off to his room. Daisy turned to Inanna.

 

“We have some things to sort out, don’t we? We made a deal, but I have a few questions.”

“Go ahead.”

 

Inanna nodded readily.

 

“First, about Noah’s custody. I’m curious how you can return the sole heir of the Sinclair earldom to me. Elias might be one thing, but I doubt the Sinclair Dowager Countess would stay quiet about this?”

 

The Sinclair Dowager Countess referred to Daisy’s ex-husband Elias’s mother. She was ‘aristocratic’ in many ways and disapproved of Daisy. She had even said to Daisy’s face that she had no desire to accept a mere viscount’s daughter as her son’s wife. Even though they had made it to the capital, they were still just a viscount family, she said.

 

Daisy had once seen her fuming, claiming that when they had sent their son to associate with Inanna Briancet, Inanna’s playmate must have seduced Elias.

 

She wasn’t so much careless as she was a person who felt no need to hide her feelings. After the death of Magnolia and her husband, the Dowager Countess’s rejection became even more blatant.

 

It was the Dowager Countess who had tried to take Noah away from Daisy to raise him herself.

 

When Daisy had asked Elias, her husband and the head of the Sinclair family, to mediate the situation, he had been of no help. Although it was an arranged marriage and she had never given her heart to him, Daisy had thought he would at least fulfill his duties. Instead, she had to endure alone.

 

Around that time, rumors of Inanna and Elias began to spread… Daisy had no desire to endure that hell any longer. Her only concern was Noah, but how could she take care of her son when she couldn’t even protect herself?

 

However, Daisy also felt guilty for running away. She could tell everyone else it was unavoidable, but she couldn’t say that to Noah. She had tried to convince herself that the Sinclair earldom would have been a better environment, but it was becoming increasingly clear that Noah was better suited to the freshness of Somerset than the fog of Paddington.

 

“Of course, she won’t stay quiet. But she values her son more than her grandson, so she’ll end up keeping quiet,” Inanna said with a smile. Her smile was so beautiful it almost seemed kind, but it wasn’t enough to hide the significance of her words.

 

“Are you threatening them? Wait, are you saying you have leverage over Elias?”

“Earl Sinclair,” Inanna said sharply. “Call him Earl Sinclair.”

 

Daisy hesitated. She wondered if Inanna was claiming ownership over Elias’s name, but Inanna’s gaze was neither cold nor burning with jealousy.

 

In fact, Daisy had always found it strange that Inanna had chosen Elias in the first place. What could Inanna Briancet possibly lack?

 

She had thought it might be love, but if that were the case, Inanna wouldn’t use such a contemptuous tone when mentioning Sinclair.

 

“Alright, why did you get leverage over Earl Sinclair?”

“To give you custody of Noah.”

 

They had come full circle. Daisy’s head throbbed. The tangled situation and Inanna’s inscrutable actions kept complicating her thoughts.

 

“Why are you making this offer? Allowing me to take Noah, returning his custody to me. In exchange for letting you stay in Somerset…”

 

Confusion briefly showed on Daisy’s face.

 

“Do you want to go back to how things were? To play at being friends?”

“No,” Inanna flatly denied. “I have no desire to go back to that time. I’m not interested in playing friends.”

 

They had certainly enjoyed their time together once. So much so that they had wished it could last forever. But Inanna had become trapped by the label of ‘friend’. It was also why she had lost Daisy.

 

Since they couldn’t return to the past, it was impossible to make such assumptions. Inanna was envisioning a future with Daisy.

 

“Is it guilt?”

“I can’t say there isn’t any, but that’s not why I returned Noah. Nor why I want to stay together in Somerset. It’s difficult to explain the details right now.”

 

Inanna frankly revealed the truth. As much as Daisy was being honest, she wanted to hide as little as possible. As a result, she had no suitable answer and couldn’t even properly persuade Daisy.

 

Her shoulders slumped involuntarily. Her head tilted towards the ground. Nevertheless, Inanna tried hard to keep her gaze fixed on Daisy’s face.

 

Perhaps sensing something in Inanna’s unwavering gaze, Daisy was about to speak. However, Inanna beat her to it.

 

“I have a question too. Is that okay?”

“What is it?”

 

Daisy nodded. Inanna, her fingers twitching nervously, began to speak.

 

“At first, I thought you might not even open the door for me. I imagined I might be rejected several times.”

“You made an offer I couldn’t refuse,” Daisy replied. With Noah’s custody at stake, she couldn’t simply push Inanna away.

 

“But if that were all, you would have shown your dislike.”

 

Just as Daisy knew Inanna well, Inanna also knew her old friend well. Daisy was a person honest with her emotions.

 

“Maybe I’ve grown up too. It’s been over a decade, hasn’t it?”

“You’re not asking why I did this, about my reasons. Asking for reasons means you want to understand somehow, doesn’t it?”

 

Sensing Daisy’s attempt to change the subject, Inanna persistently clung to the topic. At this point, it seemed unlikely that Inanna would give up on getting an answer.

 

Daisy, who had wanted to keep her true feelings to herself for as long as possible, hesitated before parting her lips.

 

“Because I believe you when you say you’ll let me raise Noah.”

 

At Daisy’s calm voice, Inanna’s purple eyes deepened. They held an exquisite beauty, as if a piece of the night sky had been placed there.

 

“But I’m curious about something.”

 

It was difficult to speak in roundabout ways. So Daisy chose to ask directly.

 

“Why are you suddenly acting like this? There’s no consistency in your behavior. I can’t understand what you’re thinking, and it’s difficult to follow your trajectory. Do you want to take something else from me again?”

 

“It’s not sudden. I don’t want to take anything from you.”

 

Inanna gave an unexpected answer. She blinked slowly. For a moment, her amethyst-like purple eyes seemed to fill with moisture.

 

*It must be my imagination,* Daisy thought to herself.

 

“I missed you.”

 

The words sounded blunt as they reached Daisy’s ears. But soon she realized that they sounded emotionless because Inanna had suppressed her overwhelming emotions, pushing them down again and again. If those words were a lie, Inanna’s eyes wouldn’t be wavering like this.

 

“Do you regret it now?”

“Regret…?”

 

Inanna chuckled. Daisy thought it might be mockery, but she soon realized it was self-deprecation when Inanna continued.

 

“I’ve been regretting it from the beginning.”

 

When was that beginning?

 

When she rejected Elias Sinclair’s confession? When she didn’t stop his marriage to Daisy? Or when she extended a seductive hand to the already married Elias?

 

Daisy’s feelings became complicated. But Inanna closed her mouth as if she had nothing more to say.

 

“I need an explanation too.”

“And I need time.”

 

Her platinum eyelashes fluttered. The flickering lamplight cast shadows on Inanna’s face, giving it a deep, melancholic hue.

 

“Wasn’t ten years enough?”

 

It was a pointed question. Inanna bit her lip nervously before answering.

 

“Just a little more, and then…”

 

As if gauging Daisy’s reaction, Inanna looked at her. Daisy couldn’t bring herself to avoid Inanna’s gaze.

 

From long ago, she had been weak to those eyes. Once captivated by the unfathomable depth of those purple eyes, Daisy wanted to grant any request Inanna made.

 

It seemed that would be the case this time as well.

 

“You know I’ve already let go of my expectations for you once, right?”

 

Daisy asked quietly. Inanna nodded.

 

“I know.”

 

How could she not know? Unable to decide her own feelings, wavering back and forth, she had let Daisy slip through her fingers. Inanna had been out of her mind for a while. She raged, denied, and finally sobbed. It felt like she had returned to the moment of her riding accident. To the time when she secluded herself in the darkness of the annex, deciding to just die.

 

But Inanna already knew Daisy’s existence. She was paying the price for her arrogance in believing that someone like Elias Sinclair couldn’t take Daisy away from her. So shouldn’t she pay back what she had received?

 

Just as Elias Sinclair had taken everything from Inanna Briancet, she intended to take everything from him in return.

 

The foolish man hadn’t given Daisy an ounce of sincerity, so he was easily led by Inanna’s extended hand.

 

But things took a turn for the worse. Daisy became pregnant with Noah. Although Inanna knew Elias was trash, she hadn’t thought he would touch Daisy, having married her not out of love but as bait to attract Inanna’s attention.

 

Or perhaps she just didn’t want to think that way.

 

Misfortunes piled up one after another. Viscount and Viscountess Magnolia passed away. According to the spy planted in the earldom, the Dowager Countess’s mental abuse towards Daisy was crossing the line. Daisy, who had just given birth, was falling apart. She wouldn’t even look at her child, nor respond to Inanna’s invitations.

 

Inanna, who was confident she could trap Elias in the most ingenious trap, was consumed by anger even greater than when she started. She had to get Daisy out of that house immediately.

 

Even if it meant using herself as bait.

 

However, there was one fact that Inanna, consumed by her desire for revenge, overlooked.

 

Even if she removed Elias Sinclair and the persecuting Dowager Countess, Daisy was already wounded beyond repair. And this wasn’t just because of the Sinclair family.

 

Rather, it was because of Inanna Briancet herself, who should have been Daisy’s best friend.

 

“I think anything I say now will sound like an excuse. In the end, I disregarded your will.”

 

They were so young then. Unable to control newly realized emotions, she gave in to vengeance and anger. But after a long separation, she now understood.

 

No matter how she packaged it, what Inanna had done would ultimately be nothing but an excuse.

 

“So for now, I promise. I’ll return what you and Noah rightfully deserve.”

“What are you thinking?”

 

Daisy asked, narrowing her eyes. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed Inanna had some ulterior motive. That strangely tired face, and the apology readily offered by someone she thought would never feel guilt.

 

Having resented Inanna for so long, in Daisy’s nightmares, Inanna often appeared as a demon-like figure. Seducing Elias, taking Noah away, a beautiful and cruel being drifting away forever.

 

But now, the Inanna standing before Daisy seemed like a worn-out human. Just like Daisy when she had fled to Somerset.

 

“I have something to do in Paddington tomorrow, so I should go now.”

 

Inanna said as she stood up. She still maintained her elegant and calm demeanor, but Daisy’s sharp eyes noticed that she seemed oddly flustered.

 

While swallowing a sigh at Inanna’s refusal to answer further, Daisy asked a concerned question.

 

“Isn’t it too late to take a carriage? Is there even a way to get to Paddington at this hour?”

“I chartered a train.”

 

Chartering a magic-powered train was an extravagance only Inanna could afford.

 

Seeing Daisy’s stunned expression, Inanna suppressed a smile.

 

In fact, Inanna was the major shareholder of that train company. It was the result of sparing no investment to secure the fastest route from Paddington to Somerset.

 

“It’s late, so be careful on your way.”

 

Daisy saw Inanna off with mixed feelings. Having received confirmation that she wouldn’t take Noah away, her wariness eased, and the old familiarity that had resided in its place rose up.

 

She was afraid of becoming too comfortable, but thought that perhaps it would be okay, just a little.

 

When she opened the door, a black carriage was waiting, though she didn’t know how long it had been there. A footman standing by bowed respectfully to Inanna.

 

Daisy, who had pushed the wheelchair to the front of the house, closed the door as she watched Inanna climb into the black carriage. The sound of carriage wheels rolling and horses’ hooves gradually faded away.

 

Thinking that Inanna wouldn’t come back for a while, Daisy turned off the lamp and headed to her bedroom.

 

However, Inanna returned almost daily.

 

To Somerset, to where Daisy was.