Chapter 6
“Vanessa, just listen to me—Elaine, of all people…!”
Fernando Aiola launched into his complaints in the most pitiful, sorrowful voice imaginable.
He was convinced that Elaine was seeing a man. Just look at those flowers! She could’ve handed them to Anna, but instead, she came in clutching them to her chest like some love-struck girl…
He hadn’t seen the man clearly, hidden as he was behind the carriage, but he was sure someone had escorted her. And that carriage—it didn’t even have a family crest. Without a doubt, this was a secret affair, a blatant attempt to deceive them.
Elaine had only just come of age, and yet she was acting like some full-grown adult. He implored Vanessa to scold her too, before that wild, stubborn filly strayed down an improper path and it was too late to bring her back.
As Fernando’s grievances dragged on and on, Elaine snorted derisively and crossed her arms, unimpressed. Vanessa, by contrast, listened patiently with an indulgent expression. Elaine was struck anew by how strong their bond really was. No one else would ever tolerate so much nonsense without interruption.
Before she knew it, the spot on the couch that Fernando had occupied was now Vanessa’s. He had dropped to his knees before her, resting his head on her lap while wrapping his arms around her waist.
Vanessa gently petted his hair as if soothing a child, occasionally murmuring a reply. She flicked a subtle glance toward Elaine, signaling her to head upstairs.
Catching the cue, Elaine quickly nodded and slipped away, careful to avoid Fernando’s line of sight as she ascended the stairs.
Once inside her room, Elaine threw herself onto the bed with an exhausted groan—then immediately sat up again. She walked over to the door, checked the lock, and seated herself at her desk.
She pulled out a tiny notebook, small enough to fit in her palm. After a moment of hesitation, she began to write:
Today, he was handsome again. They say if coincidences repeat, it’s fate. We’ve run into each other three times now, all unexpectedly.
Of course, their second meeting at the palace ball had been anything but a coincidence. Still, Elaine chose to label it that way.
Perhaps it was simply the wishful thinking of a girl hoping all of this might be destiny.
It’s so strange. Every time I see him, my heart…
Elaine had been scribbling down her thoughts about Dominic without much filter, but then she stopped mid-sentence.
She suddenly felt shy about what she had written. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Startled, she quickly shoved the notebook deep into a drawer.
“Who is it?”
The visitor turned out to be Bella, Vanessa’s maid.
“My lady, Lady Vanessa has sent a gift for you.”
The box was tied with a charming pink ribbon. When she carefully opened the lid, inside were a few small items—and a folded note.
Don’t worry—I’ll take care of that foolish Fernando. I just hope this marks the beginning of a beautiful love story for my precious, newly grown-up Elaine. –Always on your side, Vanessa
Elaine lifted the note and found the items beneath it.
A handkerchief made of the finest silk. A pair of gloves trimmed with delicate lace. The royal earrings she had once admired from afar. A bottle of sweet, fruit-scented perfume.
Each one was a gift to support a young woman’s first love.
Tucked into a corner of the box were… rather embarrassing items. A set of lacy undergarments, and even contraceptive pills.
When on earth did she prepare all this?
Elaine stared at them in stunned silence. Beside her, Bella added helpfully:
“These have been ready since before you came of age. Lady Vanessa said that when your first love began, she would gift them to you. She’s been looking forward to this.”
“Oh my gosh…”
Elaine covered her mouth in pretend shock, then burst into gleeful laughter.
“Tell Vanessa I love her so, so much! Way more than that foolish brother Fernando!”
Suppressing the urge to run straight to Vanessa’s room and smother her with kisses, Elaine blushed and cupped her cheeks.
Love…
Could it be that others saw her as someone in love now?
Like in the classic tales of Artmann—the kind of love that burned like fire yet chilled like frost, the most contradictory and yet the most beautiful thing in the world.
Was this love?
Thump, thump, thump, thump…
Elaine suddenly realized her heart was pounding. She pressed a palm to her chest.
She finally felt like she had truly become an adult—but at the same time, still knew so little about the world. Still just a child in many ways.
Dominic Cheshire…
She softly rolled his name on her tongue.
Does he know?
That someone he’s only met three times now finds herself so shaken every time she thinks of him?
That maybe—just maybe—I might be starting to…
“Congratulations, my lady. It looks like you’re finally in love.”
Anna, now standing beside Bella on the second floor, beamed proudly as she made the announcement.
Elaine Aiola pouted in disbelief. Anna was two years younger than her, yet spoke with the tone of an older sister.
“Love? Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not like that.”
Even as Elaine denied it firmly, the impertinent maids only laughed.
Elaine Aiola had changed. Turner Herdian Bert noticed it after the royal ball that night.
When he said, “You’ve changed,” Elaine simply shrugged it off, claiming, “It’s because I’ve grown up.” But Turner couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more—something she wasn’t telling him.
Most of all, he couldn’t forget the look she had given Dominic Cheshire.
Elaine Aiola had worn the unmistakable expression of a girl freshly in love—and that memory kept unsettling Turner.
“What’s going on?”
Even now. She didn’t bother looking at him, just waved lazily in his direction from her bedroom, as though it were a chore to acknowledge his presence.
Still, Turner swallowed his hurt and approached her bedside. Though it was nearing noon, Elaine was still in her nightdress, lying face-down on her bed with a thick book open in front of her.
“Do I need a reason to visit you?”
“That’s only true when I have free time. I’m busy, Turner.”
Turner perched himself on the edge of the bed, glancing over her shoulder at the book. It was a dense philosophical volume packed with tiny print—definitely not the sort of thing Elaine typically read.
“Since when do you read stuff like this?”
His tone was clearly sulky, which finally prompted Elaine to glance at him. Her cheeks were puffed out in mock protest. Tch. Still such a child, she thought.
Turner’s feelings didn’t matter. What mattered was the book. It had been recommended—and lent—by Dominic. They were supposed to visit the botanical garden next time, and Elaine planned to finish the book and return it by then.
The thought of strolling through the shaded garden paths with him, chatting about its contents, made the corners of her mouth curl upward involuntarily.
As she bent her head again to focus on the book, Turner stubbornly sat closer, insisting on reading with her. Of course, to Elaine, he was nothing but a distraction.
“Go away.”
“No.”
“I said go.”
They elbowed each other, wrestling like squabbling siblings. Finally, Elaine, irritated, kneed Turner in the shin.
“Ow! That hurt!”
Clutching his leg, Turner slid off the bed like a defeated soldier. Elaine smirked with satisfaction as she watched him sulk.
“If you bother me again before I finish this book, I’ll throw you out of the house.”
“Fine. I’ll just sit quietly and do my own thing.”
Still pouting, Turner slumped onto the couch and picked up a random book. He flipped through the pages angrily—clearly not reading a word.
Having won that battle, Elaine happily returned her focus to the book Dominic had given her. As she turned a page—
Slide—
A small note slipped out from between the pages and landed on the bed.
To the beautiful Lady Aiola, follow the path of golden petals that suit you so well…
Even that short, cryptic line made Elaine’s heart flutter like a fish in water. On the new page, colorful little circles had been drawn around some letters, as if doodled by a child. Rather than messy, the page gave off the cozy, loving feel of a spring garden.
Elaine traced the yellow-colored letters—like daffodils—with her finger, trying to form the hidden message.
“You are…”
She spoke the first few words aloud without realizing it—then instantly blushed bright red and dropped the book. It landed softly on the comforter with a rustle.
Turner glanced over at her, but Elaine quickly masked her reaction, picking up the book again and burying her face in it.
The hidden message, now floating through her mind, read:
You make me feel like the most precious person in the world.
Elaine smiled shyly, her face still flushed, and used the thick book to hide her expression. She was embarrassed that Turner might somehow sense this secret message.
Just one line from Dominic. One line—and yet it was carved deep into her chest.
Elaine slowly lowered her gaze, a soft smile curling on her lips.
Me too.
When I’m with you, I feel like I’m the most special person in the world too, Lord Cheshire.
She repeated the words in her heart over and over again—whispers she wished she could share with him someday.
Why is she smiling like that?
Meanwhile, Turner—who hadn’t been reading at all and had spent the whole time sneaking glances at her—frowned as he watched her smile to herself.
Every time she smiles like that… it’s too damn pretty.
He wished she weren’t so pretty. It made his heart race for no reason. Turner scowled, silently grumbling, and felt his own cheeks grow warm.
A breeze from the open window swept gently through the room, quietly cooling the lingering warmth of the two lost in completely different thoughts.
