Chapter 7
It was nearly a month since Noah had been brought to Somerset. Despite Daisy’s efforts to keep a hat on him, Noah’s face had become as rosy as freshly baked bread. As promised, Daisy applied grated potato packs and lay down beside her son.
Fortunately, unlike Daisy, Noah’s complexion didn’t peel white after turning red. His face, bright as he ran through the fields, seemed to have absorbed Somerset’s sun. Daisy thought this healthy glow looked better than his pallor in Paddington.
Noah had quickly befriended Peter. Though initially unimpressed, the boy now roamed the mountains and fields under Peter’s guidance whenever Daisy was busy with orchard work. It seemed they shared a child’s perspective that adults couldn’t reach.
While Daisy was glad Noah had made a friend, she felt a bittersweet twinge. She had loved when Noah followed her around like a chick. It was a longing that had grown during their time apart.
Meanwhile, Inanna consistently visited Somerset. Her claim about chartering a train wasn’t a joke. Though she only stayed for a day or two at a time, Daisy had prepared a guest room on the ground floor. She didn’t want Inanna, with her limited mobility, to struggle with stairs each visit.
In Paddington, there might be strong servants to assist her, but this was Somerset.
Inanna claimed this second guest room as her own. Despite lacking a dressing room or luxurious bedding, Inanna said she loved it. This was because Daisy, knowing Inanna well, had prepared it with thoughtful consideration.
Even when trying to maintain distance, their deep knowledge of each other posed its own problems.
Daisy wondered if Inanna might buy a mansion in Somerset. Money wasn’t an issue for Grand Duchess Inanna Briancet. Surprisingly, though, Inanna insisted on that small room.
Daisy awaited daily telegrams from the capital. She had hired a lawyer to secure Noah’s custody and was waiting for their court date.
After explaining the situation, Lilianna Yurel, one of Paddington’s most capable lawyers, warned that taking Noah from the Sinclair estate could be problematic. However, Daisy couldn’t bear sending Noah back to that cold mansion. She still got headaches remembering Elias’s triumphant smile and the Dowager Countess’s demand to leave the heir behind during the divorce.
Hadn’t they torn a child from his mother, only to neglect him?
Hearing this, the lawyer promised to do her best.
Of course, Daisy realized she had essentially kidnapped her son. Yet, the Sinclair family hadn’t attempted to reclaim their heir for a month, likely due to Inanna’s intervention.
It seemed Inanna’s promise in the contract – to help Daisy regain Noah in exchange for allowing her frequent visits to Somerset – wasn’t empty words.
Though her heart inclined towards trusting Inanna, Daisy struggled to let go of her doubts.
However, Inanna’s actions kept touching Daisy’s heart. Sometimes she even came to the orchard to help Noah with work.
At such times, Daisy felt concerned seeing Inanna’s delicate skin redden in the harsh sun. It was an uncharacteristic thought, given how she had described her son’s month-long tan as “freshly baked bread.”
This unsettled state led Daisy to the wine cellar. She had built it about a year after coming to Somerset. Initially used to store precious wines, it later became a place to ferment and store apple cider.
As golden apples didn’t naturally exist, Daisy was the first to use them for brewing. Cider-making was her hobby. The result was a flavorful, fragrant drink considered a secret delicacy among those in the know. Through learning brewing, Daisy had evolved from a mere farm owner into a true businesswoman.
When troubled or depressed, Daisy would hide here. Even without drinking, being enveloped in the cool air cleared her head.
After asking Marilyn and Dorset to look after Noah when he returned from playing with Peter, Daisy entered the wine cellar. She brought a wine glass, cheese and dried fruit for snacks, a blanket rolled under her arm in case of cold, and a lamp in hand.
Inside, Daisy walked deep into the cellar and placed the lamp on a box near the shelves. A warm light flickered in the dim interior. On these shelves, separate from the cider for sale, was cider stored for personal consumption.
Turning the tap on a wooden barrel filled her glass with golden liquid. Sitting on an empty box, Daisy smiled at the rich apple aroma rising from the glass.
“Cheers.”
To nothing but myself.
Nothing to celebrate, nothing to console. Just filling a glass because she wanted to drink.
The golden cider disappeared into Daisy’s mouth. A smooth swallow and clean finish. The unique, deep aroma of golden apples lingered.
Initially a hobby, her first attempts at cider were nearly vinegar. It took over a decade for that sharp taste to evolve into this smooth, sweet flavor.
She faced repeated failures and trials. But Daisy didn’t give up. Even poorly made, sour cider that stung her tongue wasn’t painful. The gossip about her divorce and betrayal by her closest friend stung her heart, not her head. When she wanted to collapse and cry, this brewing hobby substituted.
This failure must mean something too. While failure doesn’t always make a person stronger, maybe next time…
The cider went down smoothly with cheese. Dried figs and cheese had long been Daisy’s favorite snack.
When she realized she’d exceeded her usual limit, Daisy saw someone who shouldn’t be there.
Slightly disheveled platinum hair, always perfect attire, and deepened violet eyes. A face growing more inhumanly beautiful with age, adding maturity and sophistication.
“Daisy?”
The illusion of Inanna, summoned by alcohol, moved its lips. Those well-shaped, red lips…
Daisy reached out.
“You must be quite drunk. Your illusions are tangible.”
“…”
“How did you know I was here? I thought I was completely hidden away.”
“You like secluded places.”
True. Daisy liked tucking herself into room corners. Bringing a chair to such spots and reading gave her a sense of security. She sought such places when she needed to think.
The real Inanna wouldn’t know this. That beautiful, selfish girl probably never spared a thought for Daisy. She likely valued herself most, carelessly discarding the “stable life” Daisy had built.
Remembering her desperate attempts to gather those shattered pieces to fill the void in her heart, resentment welled up stronger than longing. So Daisy sometimes wished Inanna had been a bad person, that it would explain everything that had happened.
“Daisy?”
The illusion of Inanna, summoned by alcohol, moved its lips. Those well-shaped, red lips…
Daisy reached out.
“You must be quite drunk. Your illusions are tangible.”
“…”
“How did you know I was here? I thought I was completely hidden away.”
“You like secluded places.”
True. Daisy liked tucking herself into room corners. Bringing a chair to such spots and reading gave her a sense of security. She sought such places when she needed to think.
The real Inanna wouldn’t know this. That beautiful, selfish girl probably never spared a thought for Daisy. She likely valued herself most, carelessly discarding the “stable life” Daisy had built.
Remembering her desperate attempts to gather those shattered pieces to fill the void in her heart, resentment welled up stronger than longing. So Daisy sometimes wished Inanna had been a bad person, that it would explain everything that had happened.
If only Inanna had told her, if only she had said Elias Sinclair was hers, how much better it would have been.
That man was nothing compared to Inanna.
She couldn’t regret more the choice she had made to fulfill her duty and escape from the emotions that had begun to nestle in her heart at some point.
“Hey, Inanna, remember? The first time we drank together.”
“I remember.”
The fake Inanna nodded kindly in response. Daisy grinned. Even knowing her companion was just an alcohol-induced illusion, she wanted to ramble on.
“Maybe it’s the drink, but I’m thinking of that time.”
It was the dead of winter when they left the cold Paddington for a respite at the Briancet Grand Duke’s villa.
* * *
It was around the time Inanna’s depression was starting to improve. A century’s worst cold snap hit Paddington. Inanna, always weak to cold, received a notice from the Grand Duke. It was too cold in Paddington, so she was instructed to stay at the southern villa for a while. Taken at face value, it seemed to be out of concern for Inanna’s health.
At least that’s what Daisy and the annex staff, including Ginger Hamilton, thought.
But not Inanna.
As trains weren’t yet commonplace, they embarked on a carriage journey. Sue Magnolia allowed her daughter’s extended trip. This was because the Briancet Grand Duke himself had sent a handwritten letter requesting that Daisy, Inanna’s best friend, be by her ailing daughter’s side.
Daisy, excited about her first southern trip, sensed Inanna’s low spirits. She couldn’t understand why. However, as Inanna’s moods were often unpredictable, Daisy didn’t pry.
The Briancet Grand Duke owned several villas. The annex in the south, warm even in midwinter, was famous for its excellence.
Upon arrival, Daisy had to struggle to contain her exclamation. While not comparable to the Grand Duke’s residence in Paddington, it was too large and luxurious to be called a villa.
“I want to rest,” Inanna said with a tired face as she got out of the carriage. Daisy, distracted by the novel sights of the south, startled.
“Oh, I should have taken care of you first.”
“It’s fine. Ginger was going to help me down, but you looked so cute turning your head this way and that like a squirrel, I just watched.”
Inanna teased as Daisy approached with an apologetic face. Daisy wrinkled her nose at the nasty squirrel comment, but Inanna just chuckled.
A wheelchair was prepared, and Inanna and Daisy were led to their prepared rooms in the villa. Daisy’s assigned bedroom was right next to Inanna’s and much larger than her room at home.
Even the villa was so impressive; truly befitting the wealth of the Briancet Grand Duchy.
The first few days at the villa were enjoyable. But as that time stretched to a week and then over a fortnight, Daisy began to feel restless.
As both Daisy and Inanna were young ladies of noble families, their outdoor activities were limited. They read books, played the piano, and sang. Even on the sunniest days, as they continued to stay indoors, Daisy gazed longingly out the window.
While Paddington would be in the midst of a snowy winter, the weather here was impeccably clear. They occasionally went out for garden walks, but that wasn’t enough.
‘I think I heard there’s a lakeside nearby…’
As Daisy’s thoughts drifted far away, Inanna noticed and closed her book. Startled by the sound, Daisy turned around.
“What is it?”
“You seem distracted.”
A special bond was forming between Inanna and Daisy. While Daisy had always admired the Briancet Grand Duchess, getting to know Inanna as a person gave that feeling a different depth. For Inanna too, it was the first time she had someone like Daisy by her side. Someone who approached her as an equal, without pretense, wanting nothing but to be near her.
Though they had come to the villa under the pretext of respite, Inanna felt it was essentially an exile. Her father clearly wanted to support her brother as heir instead of Inanna, who could no longer succeed. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent her away from the capital at such a time.
Unlike her life in the annex, buried in despair, here a new sense of helplessness found Inanna. She keenly felt that all the power she had wielded came from the Grand Duchy. It angered her that a single word from the family head had made her leave Paddington.
In Inanna’s heart, there was a breath of life Daisy had breathed into her. And because of that, the dying embers were coming back to life. The flames that had started to blaze brightly were still flickering, unsure of their direction.
“The weather’s so nice, it’s a shame to stay inside.”
“Can’t be helped.”
Inanna muttered self-deprecatingly. It was a half-resigned statement. Stuck in this rural estate where even sending a telegram to the capital was difficult, there wasn’t much Inanna could do. She felt bad that Daisy was also confined to this mansion because of her.
“You can go out alone if you want. After all, you’re stuck here because of me.”
“What do you mean?”
Daisy turned to Inanna and asked.
“Father probably wants to get rid of me from Paddington. He’s likely trying to solidify my brother’s position in the meantime.”
“…”
Daisy’s brow furrowed at those words. The self-deprecating tone revealed deep disappointment. Aware of Inanna’s distress, Daisy bit her lip.
She wanted to do something, anything, for Inanna. But Daisy couldn’t think of any good solutions.
Just then, as the clouds parted slightly, sunlight streamed through the window, tickling Daisy’s cheek. Her eyes sparkled as something suddenly occurred to her.
“Shall we go out?”
“Go out? To the garden?”
Inanna asked, as if it wasn’t a difficult suggestion. But Daisy shook her head.
“No, no. Not that. Yesterday, when I went to find a maid to ask for some snacks, I overheard them talking. They said the villa’s wine cellar is amazing?”
Daisy’s eyes sparkled more brilliantly than the stars in the night sky, hinting at some plan. Inanna nodded reluctantly.
“I know about that too.”
“Then how about this? We’ll have them prepare a picnic, and we’ll sneak a few bottles of wine. Then we’ll drink by the lake.”
“Drink?”
As nobles in a country where even minors could drink, their alcohol consumption was typically limited to a glass or two with meals, or champagne at special events.
So Daisy’s suggestion was bordering on rebellion. It was a rule neither Inanna nor Daisy had ever broken.
Though she should have felt aversion, Inanna strangely felt her heart pounding.
“Alright. I’ll have them prepare some wine.”
At Inanna’s words, Daisy grabbed her wrist as she reached for the bell pull. Surprised by the sudden contact, Inanna’s purple eyes widened like a rabbit’s.
“No! The fun is in sneaking it out ourselves.”
“Sneaking?”
Inanna asked incredulously. But Daisy nodded with a serious face.
“Drinking in secret is the point. Isn’t it exciting to do something secretly, afraid of getting caught?”
“What a bad taste.”
Though clicking her tongue, Inanna slowly lowered her hand from the bell pull. Daisy grinned, realizing she had joined her plan.
“I know from sneaking into my family’s wine cellar that you’ll have a master key, so opening the cellar and taking wine will be easy. The problem is the servants. It’ll be troublesome if we meet them on the way to or from the cellar.”
“Leave scaring the annex staff to me.”
Inanna smiled crookedly. She had been meaning to discipline the annex servants anyway. Though they were careful to her face, she felt their pitying looks and knew some treated her as a has-been behind her back. Ginger had told her as much, and she had been planning to punish them all at once.
The only issue was avoiding Daisy’s gaze, but now she had a perfect opportunity.
They set a date for their operation.
“I’ll be going then.”
Daisy closed her book and fluttered out. A few minutes later, Inanna called for Ginger Hamilton.
“Summon all the villa’s staff.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Ginger nodded as if the moment had finally come. She glanced around, hoping Daisy might be nearby to calm Inanna’s anger. But the brown-haired girl who had been inseparable from Inanna since Paddington was nowhere to be seen.
This was because Daisy was currently sneaking into the wine cellar, her green eyes sparkling.
“Though this is a villa, I’ve never seen such lax discipline!”
All the staff were summoned because a maid hadn’t come after several pulls of the bell.
In reality, it was common for servants not to appear immediately when called. Despite being expected to always be on standby, they were often lazy. The relaxed southern temperament and rumors of Inanna’s fall from succession contributed to their lax attitude.
The pale-faced butler and head maid knelt before Inanna.
“We deeply apologize. It’s our fault for not properly supervising the staff.”
“We have no excuses. We should have been more vigilant.”
While senior maids might have hidden it better, the new ones couldn’t conceal their disgruntled faces, pouting their lips. Inanna’s lips curled into a crooked smile.
Judging by their reactions, it seemed they would buy enough time for Daisy to go to and from the wine cellar.
Daisy, having hidden an armful of wine bottles in her room, returned to Inanna’s room to find some servants leaving the annex in tears.
“What on earth happened?”
She had asked Inanna to buy some time, but it seemed she had really gone overboard.
Inside, Inanna was waiting with a satisfied expression like a cat who’d eaten cream. The pale-faced head maid and butler were withdrawing.
“What did you do?”
When the door closed and Daisy asked, Inanna shrugged.
“Nothing much.”
Daisy narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Inanna. But Inanna, whose poker face could rival even the most seasoned nobles, maintained a calm demeanor.
She didn’t want to tell Daisy what she had done. She hoped Daisy would only see her good side. What if she ran away, calling her a capricious and arrogant lady?
To divert Daisy’s attention, Inanna asked a question.
“So, did you achieve your goal?”
“Of course. Now we just need to set a date for the picnic.”
“Why wait? Let’s go this weekend.”
“Sounds good.”
Having achieved her goal, Daisy smiled brightly.
When the two young ladies suddenly insisted on going on a picnic, the butler was troubled. Not only did the Grand Duchess want to go alone with her close friend, but venturing outside the estate required many considerations.
Recently, due to the staff’s laxity, the Grand Duchess had severely reprimanded them and fired many. The butler and head maid bore responsibility for not properly managing their subordinates. No one knew if Inanna Briancet, who said she would be watching, would truly just observe.
Thus, as the villa’s butler, he had a duty to fulfill the Grand Duchess’s wishes to the best of his ability. He reached a dramatic compromise by arranging escorts at a distance and sending gardeners ahead to tidy the lakeside area. Though the lake’s scenery was perfect for boating, Inanna’s physical condition made that option impossible from the start.
On the day of the picnic, Daisy was busy from morning. Not only did she secretly pack wine bottles in a basket and cover them with books, but she also had other preparations to make.
For someone who disliked cumbersome things, Daisy was dressed quite formally. Inanna raised a curious eyebrow at the puffed-up dress, which seemed to employ not just a pannier but a full crinoline.
“What’s the occasion?”
Realizing Inanna was asking about her elaborate dress, Daisy giggled and suddenly lifted her skirt.
“I prepared this specially for today.”
“W-what are you doing!”
Inanna involuntarily blushed and averted her gaze.
However, contrary to Inanna’s reaction, what was revealed was not skin, but a white petticoat and crinoline. Caught off guard, Inanna’s lips parted. A mix of shock, surprise, and strangely, a rising disappointment robbed her of words.
Meanwhile, oblivious to these inner feelings, Daisy gestured to the half-frozen Inanna.
“Don’t just stare. Come help me.”
“W-what are you trying to do?”
Inanna managed to ask, but found herself stuttering uncharacteristically.
“You need snacks with alcohol, right?”
Daisy smiled proudly as she removed the cloth covering a tray. It was filled with dried fruits and cheese. There was also a cloth pouch from an unknown source.
“You really planned this out.”
“Of course. I’m serious when it comes to having fun.”
Daisy shrugged at Inanna’s not-quite-admiration. Her face was full of satisfaction.
Daisy, who had also brought strings, hung dried figs and cheese all over her crinoline. Inanna helped her.
The sight of snacks dangling from the crinoline might have made Sue Magnolia click her tongue in disbelief if she’d seen what her daughter was doing. But for Inanna and Daisy, this moment couldn’t have been more fun. For Inanna especially, it was a form of rebellion she never imagined.
When they lowered the raised skirt back to its original position, the snack pouches were naturally hidden by the voluminous lace and decorations.
“Perfect.”
Daisy clapped her hands in delight. Inanna wondered why she was preparing so enthusiastically, but seeing that smiling face made her heart melt. At some point, she found herself smiling back.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
They left the villa when the afternoon sun was at its peak. In the carriage heading to the lakeside, Inanna counted the number of bottles Daisy discreetly showed her from under the book and was stunned. It seemed she had packed enough for a real drinking session.
Even when sitting in the carriage, Daisy adjusted her skirt carefully, worried about crushing the snacks. Inanna chuckled at this unusually meticulous behavior. At the sound of her stifled laughter, Daisy pretended to glare but soon found herself smiling when she met Inanna’s laughing face.
At some point, Daisy realized that Inanna had started to smile genuinely at her. Every time she became aware of this fact, Daisy’s heart melted helplessly.
“Wait by the carriage. Don’t come until we call for you.”
“Yes, my lady. But as it gets chilly when the sun sets, I’ll leave some blankets.”
After the villa’s servants set up parasols and picnic blankets, they withdrew. These were newly hired staff, all neat and quiet in their demeanor. While Daisy’s eyes darted curiously at the unfamiliar faces, Inanna was finally satisfied.
Daisy arranged the wine bottles disguised as juice bottles, then lifted her skirt again to untie each snack pouch. She then took out roast beef and salad from the picnic basket.
“The problem is we don’t have wine glasses. Should we use juice cups?”
Inanna nodded at Daisy’s question after she finished setting up.
“That sounds good.”
One glass, two glasses… and three.
As they passed the drinks back and forth, the first bottle was soon emptied. There were no fancy wine glasses, nor was it a raucous party atmosphere. They were simply gazing at the sun gradually setting and its light reflected on the lake’s waves.
Despite the simplicity of the moment, their cheeks naturally flushed, and joy sparkled in their eyes. Perhaps it was the effect of the alcohol. Without hesitation, Daisy opened the second bottle of wine.
“It smells wonderful. As expected of the Grand Duke’s villa, not a single bottle is wasted.”
“Indeed. Money and power are all we have.”
Inanna said with a laugh.
“Who says you only have money and power?”
Daisy asked.
“Well? What else is there?”
“You’re beautiful too.”
Daisy said, pointing at Inanna’s face.
The sun was setting. Inanna’s platinum blonde hair glowed faintly, bathed in the twilight. For a moment, Inanna’s eyes widened in confusion at Daisy’s words, then she chuckled.
“Am I that pretty?”
“Of course. It’s not common to have looks that dominate the social scene.”
Inanna’s violet eyes sparkled at Daisy’s glib response.
“What a strange way to flatter. Is there something you want?”
“Tons of things.”
“Then tell me.”
Inanna asked, hugging her knees and resting her head on them. As she tilted her head slightly, her platinum blonde hair cascaded down her pale cheeks.
Although she asked this in a pleasant state of intoxication, it was something she had been thinking about even when sober. Inanna, who had come to rely quite a bit on Daisy, felt there was nothing she wouldn’t give her.
“It’s all here,” Daisy said, lifting a wine bottle.
“Eating cheese with dried figs and taking a sip of wine, what more do I need? Oh, I guess a drinking buddy is necessary.”
It was truly the statement of a dedicated drinker. Coming from someone just learning to appreciate alcohol, it was endearingly cute.
“But you’re here. My drinking buddy.”
Daisy reached out, grasping Inanna’s hand and intertwining their fingers as she whispered. The sudden waft of sweet wine was intoxicating.
Inanna, who had been pondering what to offer Daisy, smiled softly at her friend who made all those considerations meaningless.
It was such a mesmerizing moment that they didn’t even notice their surroundings growing dark.
It felt as if all the stars, moons, and the night sky would pour into their laps. Turning at the sound of a light laugh, Inanna was smiling. More clearly than ever before. Looking into her eyes, Daisy could see the moon, stars, and even herself reflected. She felt like diving into those eyes.
She sensed herself growing closer to Inanna. The fragrant scent of wine and alcohol captivated Daisy’s senses. As if by accident, their lips met. If it had been just a collision, they should have pulled apart immediately, but in that moment, she couldn’t move.
They lost track of time, and the world seemed to freeze around them.
For a split second, Daisy felt as if she would drown in that violet sea where starlight shattered. She couldn’t understand why she felt like she was sinking so slowly. The fear of the unknown approached, but it was a pleasant kind of fear. Inanna’s giggling voice flowed over her earlobes like a cheerful stream.
Daisy closed her eyes, savoring those soft lips. They were so sweet.
Sweet enough to make her wish she could stay intoxicated forever.
When the two young ladies hadn’t returned or called for anyone by nearly midnight, the panicked servants came to the lakeside. They found the two noble young women passed out, reeking of alcohol, and carried them back to the villa in the carriage.
Despite suffering from a hangover, Inanna instructed the servants to keep quiet. Fortunately for Daisy, news of their drinking under the guise of a picnic didn’t reach Sue Magnolia’s ears.
Though they made no promises, neither Daisy nor Inanna ever spoke of the memories of that day.
It was a confusing first kiss.
* * *
The moment when they pressed their lips together and shared breaths while drunk was still hard to distinguish as dream or reality. However, the sensation of Inanna’s lips remained vivid even after more than a decade.
Daisy absently touched her own lips.
Back then, they knew nothing and had no awareness of breaking a taboo. They simply felt it wasn’t something to be spoken of, so the two maintained their silence side by side.
“The day of our first kiss,” Daisy mumbled. She approached the alcohol-induced illusion of Inanna, clumsily reaching out her hand. Despite her slow movement, Inanna remained seated, her eyelashes fluttering gently.
The cool air of the wine cellar made Inanna’s warmth momentarily unfamiliar. Daisy rambled, wondering if illusions usually had body heat.
“We just glossed over it then, remember?”
“We did,” Inanna replied.
Daisy slowly slid her fingers across Inanna’s cheek and asked, “Want to try again…?”
Her voice had dropped strangely low. Inanna blinked. Daisy thought this illusion would refuse.
“It seems this wine cellar is filled with alcohol instead of air,” Inanna said as she leaned over Daisy. A shadow fell over the adorable drunk. Half-rising from her wheelchair and steadying herself on Daisy’s shoulders, Inanna whispered softly,
“I want to give in to even this clumsy seduction…”
Their lips met. Lips hot enough to make Daisy realize this wasn’t a dream or illusion, but reality.
Daisy’s eyes widened at the soft, plump sensation. A tongue carrying intense heat parted her teeth and explored inside. Inanna held Daisy captive in her arms, refusing to let go.
Their heavy breaths mingled repeatedly. Though Daisy thought she should push away, she absolutely didn’t want to. She began to indulge in the sweetness invading her senses, as if she had longed for this since long ago, from a time she couldn’t even remember.
* * *
Ruined.
That was Daisy’s first thought upon waking. She didn’t know how she’d returned to her room, but seeing sunlight through the window, she realized it was morning.
Though her body felt like a waterlogged sponge due to the hangover and she had a mild headache, she couldn’t shake the memory of what had happened in the wine cellar last night.
Inanna’s lips…
Recalling that soft sensation, Daisy grimaced and clutched her blanket tightly. Emotions she had long suppressed began to creep up. Feelings she had never once acknowledged or spoken aloud.
Why had Inanna come to the wine cellar? And if alcohol hadn’t muddled her memory, while Daisy had initiated it, it was clearly Inanna who had voluntarily kissed her.
A headache consumed her thoughts. She couldn’t tell if it was from the hangover or this complicated situation. Just as she gripped the blanket tightly, Noah entered the room, his golden curls bouncing.
“Mom!”
“Mmm. Noah. Did you sleep well?”
Her head throbbed as the child ran in shouting. Soon after, Marilyn appeared behind Noah. She set down a glass of honey water and said, “Here you go.”
“Thank you,” Daisy replied, her face pale as she drank the honey water. She felt her stomach settling a bit.
“A guest from the capital came looking for you, Daisy. I’ve taken care of young Master Noah’s breakfast, so don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ve made a tomato stew. Make sure to eat it when you’re able to get up later.”
“That’s perfect. By the way, where’s Inanna?”
Daisy asked, concerned that Inanna had asked for her to be taken care of but wasn’t showing herself. Marilyn gave her a puzzled look.
“Didn’t she say she had to return to the capital by late-night train? Didn’t you know?”
“Ah, right. Of course.”
She hadn’t known. How could she have?
But Daisy didn’t show this, nodding and smiling instead. However, the smile that appeared on her lips was somehow chilly.
Marilyn flinched at this unfamiliar expression. But the Daisy who immediately smiled with crinkled eyes was her usual bright self, as if she had never exuded such a cold atmosphere.
“If you’re not feeling well, shall I look after the young master?”
“Mom, are you sick?”
Noah looked at Daisy with his green eyes suddenly brimming with tears. Daisy gently stroked the child’s hair and replied,
“I’m not sick at all. I’m just a bit tired from all the work lately. Noah, would it be okay if you spent today with Marilyn here?”
“Yes, I can do that.”
Noah nodded obediently at his mother’s explanation. Daisy gestured to Noah, kissed both his cheeks, and then lay back down on the bed.
“Well then, rest well,” Marilyn said softly before leading Noah out.
Having known Daisy for quite some time, she recognized that Daisy had circumstances she couldn’t speak of.
To begin with, Daisy rarely drank to the point of intoxication. There must have been a significant change in her emotional state. Bringing her long-separated son here, and now with a visitor from Paddington who had never shown up before coming to Somerset, many changes were occurring in Daisy’s life.
Marilyn, who owed Daisy in many ways, could only quietly pray that she wouldn’t be swept away by these turbulent waves.
After Noah and Marilyn left the room, Daisy flopped back onto the bed. She stretched out her arms and legs and breathed with her eyes closed.
Though she was trying her best to calm down, it wasn’t as easy as she hoped.
“How can I pretend nothing happened again…” Daisy muttered, covering her eyes with one arm.
In truth, Daisy knew this was the best course of action. That it was far better to cover it up as if nothing had happened, just like in their girlhood days. But hearing that Inanna had stolen a kiss and immediately boarded a train to Paddington made her stomach churn.
Human emotions were truly unpredictable. Until she went to meet Noah, she had been afraid of encountering Inanna, but now the fact that Inanna had avoided her first gnawed at her insides.
The trembling of that moment lingered too strongly to dismiss it as a drunken mistake. Daisy let out a groan.
Her relationship with Inanna was becoming increasingly complicated, but it felt like she was the only one agonizing over it.
She thought that if things continued like this, she might spend another decade without finding any answers. The mere idea of this made Daisy shudder, wrapping her arms around herself.
She didn’t consider the past years to have been spent meaninglessly. But that time had been used to deeply bury her concerns, not resolve them.
There was no reason to remain curled up in Somerset any longer.
