Chapter 9
The next day, around lunchtime, Aria entered Eric’s bedroom and realized he was already gone.
“Where are you going again?
Because he is a completely different person from Edward, who always told Aria everything about himself. Aria suddenly recalled Eric’s figure.
The owner of blue irises that shine eerily, sometimes pitifully, amidst jet-black hair. Perhaps Eric was never a person who suited Bailey with emerald-green pupils from the beginning.
For a moment, she felt a strange sense of alienation from the new owner, whose inner thoughts she couldn’t even begin to guess. Aria soon naturally began tidying up the bedroom.
Opening the suffocating black curtains and the window, the cold air refreshingly seeped in.
“Ah, beautiful.”
Aria let out a deep sigh as she watched the garden being neatly trimmed to the sound of the gardener’s shears. As if shaking off the sorrow of not even being able to breathe properly at the Bailey house.
For a moment, she blankly basked in the sunlight, but soon found her task and began shaking out the bedspread.
At that moment, as I felt a damp foreign sensation at my fingertips, my gaze turned towards it.
A thick blanket soaked with sweat. Did I get too close to the fire all night? Or maybe I had a high fever all night.
What woke Aria from her reverie was the maid who had been outside coming in.
“Miss, you need to come out for a moment. Young Master Edward has come to see you.
At the maid’s words, a strange light flickered in Aria’s eyes for a moment. Edward, huh?
A reunion with someone I had barely forgotten, or rather, someone I had tried to forget.
When Aria dropped the blanket she was holding upon hearing that Edward had arrived, the maid hurriedly caught it for her.
“Are, are you okay?
Even while worrying, the maid looked at Aria’s trembling hand with a puzzled expression. As Aria barely managed to collect herself and nodded calmly, the maid relayed the message again.
“I’ll finish tidying up the bedroom, so please hurry and go to the first floor. The young master is waiting for you in the reception room.
Aria nodded and stepped out of the bedroom with the most natural stride possible. Only then did a long sigh escape through the gaps in Aria’s teeth.
I wonder what it is. At that moment, the words Edward had said to her on their engagement day came to mind.
“Will you be my dedicated maid for life?
A promise I didn’t want to keep But it was a promise I had to keep for the one I love.
Did they come to enforce it? Or is it to say goodbye, thanking you for your hard work, and letting you know that a good maid has already been found, so there’s no place for you to return to?
Vague thoughts swirled in her mind. Aria clasped her trembling hands and slowly moved her feet.
The grand reception room at the end of the corridor on the first floor of the annex, prepared for guests. Inside, there were enormous portraits depicting the history of the Bailey family lined up along the walls.
In the middle of the reception room, Edward was sitting on a walnut chair with a gold-trimmed edge, waiting for Aria.
At the sound of someone’s presence, Edward stood up as if he had been waiting.
Edward’s face began to light up with vitality as soon as he saw Aria, unlike just a moment ago.
Standing in front of Aria, he was as bright and gentle as always, like sunlight. That warm gaze, perhaps unknowingly, made the Aria before him even more miserable.
“Aria, have you been well? I felt lonely and it was tough while you were gone.
The words that I felt lonely and it was hard. Even though I knew it was just a simple inquiry about well-being, I felt deeply that his heart was no longer mine.
In response to Edward’s sweet voice, which carried a hint of subtle disappointment, Aria couldn’t bring herself to face it and lowered her head.
Soon, a sweet yet bittersweet voice reached her ears.
“Yeah. You’ve probably resented me all this time. Who would like an incompetent master who can’t even protect their own people?”
“At first, I had no choice but to follow my father’s wishes. Because I couldn’t defy the lord’s command. But it was only after you went to the annex that I finally realized. I realized that I can’t be without you. Today, I went to my mother and earnestly asked her to bring you back to me.
At Edward’s words that he would win back the Countess’s heart and bring her back to him, Aria was momentarily speechless.
“Keep an eye on Eric. Monitor his every move meticulously.
The naive Edward had no idea of the Countess’s true intentions in sending him here as a spy to drive Eric away.
Unaware of Aria’s true feelings, Edward spoke with a bright smile.
“Eric will soon return to the imperial court, so just hold on until then. Soon, when I marry Isabella, I will proudly make you my personal maid. If that happens, no one in the family will be able to touch you.
The wedding where my beloved is marrying another woman. I didn’t want to break up like this, but I thought I had finally escaped.
Aria was overwhelmed with darkness at the thought of having to watch the two of them together for the rest of her life.
It was the most cruel punishment that could befall someone like her, a mere maid, for daring to love her master.
Whether Edward knew of Aria’s feelings or not, he was merely observing her reaction.
Aria quietly lifted her eyes and looked at Edward. Today, the black suit draped over his broad shoulders and sturdy physique suited him perfectly.
No, from the moment I first laid eyes on him, Edward was a dazzling man. Daringly, he was someone who didn’t even suit me.
“Looks like I’ve got something on my face again.”
Edward lifted his head and lightly curled the corners of his mouth. At that smile, Aria hurriedly directed her gaze to the floor.
He was someone I wanted so much, but now wanting him has become a difficult task. Aria had to accept this.
Edward lowered his body and somehow made eye contact with Aria as she kept avoiding him.
“Aria, why do you keep avoiding me? Is Eric giving you a hard time here or something?
Aria immediately waved her hands. She gestured that it wasn’t true, but Edward only spoke more firmly.
“Aria, listen to me carefully. No matter what anyone says, you’re my personal maid. Whether I get engaged or married, you just have to serve me for life. Don’t take other words to heart for no reason. Got it?
“Why aren’t you even nodding your head? I am the eldest son who will carry on the Bailey family. I can easily do whatever I want with just you.
At that moment, a note that Aria handed over abruptly cut off Edward’s words.
[Young master, Please do as the Count says. That would be comfortable for me too.
Edward’s brow furrowed slightly. He finally let out a deep sigh.
“Let’s stop. You’re making me really angry now.
Edward took something out from his pocket and handed it to Aria. Aria’s gaze turned towards the small box.
“This is a kind of bribe to ask for your favor in the future.”
As I opened the small box, a familiar ring began to appear inside. It was the heart-shaped diamond ring she had tried on at the jewelry store just a little while ago.
Edward took out the ring and placed it on the fourth finger of Aria’s left hand. For the first time today, he spoke with a relaxed expression.
“You’re still pretty. It suits you well.
Aria was breathless. I barely managed to turn away from my feelings for him, and even though I tried to forget, why does Edward keep shaking me up like this?
The cruel man was making it impossible for her to shake off her foolish love.
Aria hurriedly took the ring off her finger and returned it to him.
It’s something that doesn’t even suit me. Bribe, you say? As a servant, it was only natural for me to assist you, young master.
Edward just fiddled with the small box in his hand. With a face that seemed eager to keep the conversation going.
Aria looked at the box that was being tossed around in Edward’s hands with a complicated expression.
Why did Edward give himself a ring? Could it really have come from a place of genuine gratitude? Or maybe…….
As Aria watched him, lost in her own anguish, an unexpected presence was heard from behind.
“What kind of sight is this?”
Looking back, Eric in a light white shirt was leaning against the wall at an angle.
Since when has she been here? Before any questions could arise, Aria’s entire body froze at the fierce gaze directed at her.
Edward barely managed to maintain his composure and greeted Eric.
“It’s been a while. I was hoping we could talk a bit more during dinner, but it’s been hard to see each other every time. Still, we’re siblings, so it would be nice to get a bit closer.
Eric looked at Edward’s outstretched hand and instead clenched his teeth tightly. His subdued voice roughly pushed Edward away.
“Why should I have to do that?”
“Why is that? As soon as we return to the palace, it will be hard to see each other again. Before that, we should at least clear up our misunderstandings…
“You think I’m leaving here soon? Well?
When a crooked smirk appeared on Eric’s lips, Edward’s eyes lost their way and blinked.
“Your Majesty, weren’t you going back to the palace soon? Wasn’t he supposed to return to the palace soon?”
“If I was going to back down this easily, I wouldn’t have come to this hell on my own in the first place.”
“What…?”
Eric gave a subtle smile, as if mocking the flustered Edward.
The malicious smile on Eric’s face was filled with more exhilaration than ever before since coming here.
Soon, a deep and firm voice echoed through the still air.
“So, instead of trying to seduce the maid, you should focus on solidifying your position as the esteemed eldest son. If you don’t want to lose even to this younger sibling whom you looked down on because of their lowly status.
At those words, Edward’s face began to gradually contort.
The sound of dry swallowing in his throat came through very heavily.