Chapter 9
[In the nameless carriage. Along a quiet path beside a secluded arboretum on the outskirts of Sienne. Beneath a linden tree, its leaves rustling in the breeze.]
The soft scratch of a fountain pen spread gently across the surface of a small notebook.
Elaine’s face blossomed with joy as she recalled that day with Dominic.
“Elaine. That’s my name—not Lady Aiola.”
“Yes, Elaine.”
The way he whispered her name, his eyes sweetly curving with affection… Who would have thought her own name could sound so lovely from someone else’s lips?
And there, beneath that linden tree, they had shared their third kiss. That time, it had been Elaine who, bravely and bashfully, rose on tiptoe and leaned in first.
[Dominic. It was the first time I said his name aloud.]
“Can I call you Dominic, too?”
“It would be an honor… not for Lady Aiola, but for Elaine.”
When she’d narrowed her eyes in playful challenge, he returned her name right back to her with that deep, velvety laugh.
[Dominic, Dominic, Dominic… even his name is lovely. My Dominic…]
Regrettably, the arboretum they visited that day hadn’t had a single golden daffodil in bloom. But they made a promise—to return next spring, hand in hand, when the flowers were in full bloom.
“Ah… I miss you, Dominic…”
She dropped her notebook and collapsed dramatically onto the bed, letting out a long, aching sigh. She missed him so much she didn’t know what to do. And when she remembered that kiss…
“Kk… hehehe… hahahaha…!”
A strange little giggle escaped her lips, and before she knew it, she was rolling around on the bed, eventually burying her face in the pillows and pounding the white sheets with her fists.
“My lady has finally lost her mind.”
Anna, watching from the side, clucked her tongue at the lovesick young mistress.
“They say love can drive even the sanest person mad. Looking at you now, I can no longer doubt the wisdom of those old philosophers.”
“Yes, Anna! I’m mad! Completely mad! I’ve gone mad for Dominic!”
Instead of scolding her cheeky maid as she usually would, Elaine threw her head back and burst into peals of laughter.
“Dominic is all I think about! When I close my eyes, I see him. When I plug my ears, I still hear his voice. You wouldn’t understand, Anna. You don’t know how amazing his voice is!”
“Oh, I’ve heard all about it. Dozens of times. You said that when he speaks, it’s like—”
“—like a lonely shooting star cutting through the dark night sky! Like a blind soul suddenly struck by the first ray of light at dawn!”
“Yes, yes! I remember! Our one and only Lady Aiola has gone blind for love! If Master Fernando knew, how heartbroken he’d be!”
“Oh, Anna! Just now—I swear—I think I can even smell him!”
At last, Elaine dropped onto all fours like a dog, sniffing around the bed as if searching for traces of Dominic’s scent.
“She’s lost it. My lady’s truly gone off the deep end.”
Watching the scene unfold, Anna made a firm resolution then and there—she would never fall in love. One crazy woman in the Aiola household was enough.
“Why did no one ever tell me love was this terrifying?”
“When can I see Dominic again? Oh, this is unbearable!”
Ignoring Anna’s complaints, Elaine leapt up suddenly. Then, adopting the graceful air of a well-mannered lady, she sat primly at her desk and beckoned to Anna with all the poise of a duchess.
“I’m writing a letter, Anna. Bring me some paper and my fountain pen.”
“Yes, yes, as you wish.”
Just moments ago, she had been bouncing around like a wild foal, but now she sat upright, her back perfectly straight, a refined smile gracing her lips. With every movement of her hand, elegant calligraphy flowed across the page—she looked every bit the proper heiress of House Aiola.
But not for long.
Her lips twitched. Then, unable to contain it, she burst into laughter again. Just as Anna was shaking her head and tidying up the bed her lady had ruined…
“Kyaaa!”
Elaine suddenly screamed, hurling her pen across the room like a madwoman.
“The ink smudged! It smudged! Anna, bring me new paper—now!”
Though the smudge was barely visible, she acted as if the world had ended, shaking her poor maid—two years her junior—by the collar with the desperation of someone facing their doom.
“Good grief.”
Watching this emotional rollercoaster unfold, Anna could only sigh in defeat.
Dominic came to visit.
That day, by pure coincidence—or perhaps not—the master and mistress of House Aiola were away from the estate. And clever Anna? She realized at once: this was absolutely her lady’s doing.
“You sly young lady!”
Anna raised her voice at Elaine, who was standing in front of the vanity, holding up two different pairs of earrings and trying to decide which to wear.
“How can you be so shameless? Luring a man into the house the moment the master and mistress are away? If Lord Fernando finds out, I’ll tell him everything!”
“Go right ahead. The moment you do, I’ll have you thrown out of this estate.”
Elaine finally picked a pair and hurriedly put them on. She draped a white lace shawl over her shoulders, then swept past Anna as if the maid didn’t even exist, practically running toward the first floor—where Dominic was waiting.
“This scandalous girl! Only a proper scolding from the master will set her straight!”
Anna hurled a barrage of curses under her breath, but none of it reached Elaine. Her heart was entirely consumed by one thought: Dominic had come all the way to the Aiola estate to escort her himself.
Clutching the bannister, Elaine started descending the stairs—only to freeze halfway down as her eyes landed on him.
“Dominic!”
Her voice, clear and sweet like a canary’s song, echoed through the hall. The tall man standing in the drawing room turned slowly. His jet-black hair, like strands of night sky, shifted with the motion and settled gracefully back in place.
“…Elaine.”
When her name fell from his lips in that low, honeyed tone, Elaine’s face lit up with the pure joy of a woman in love.
“I missed you, Dominic!”
She all but ran down the stairs, nearly leaping from step to step in her haste. Her excitement made her reckless—it wouldn’t be surprising if she tripped and fell.
And of course, she did.
On the last step, her foot slipped slightly.
“Ah…!”
Her vibrant green eyes flashed with panic—at the same moment, Dominic’s dark eyes widened with alarm.
“Elaine!”
Dominic surged forward, catching her around the waist before she could fall. Her slender frame fell neatly into his chest.
“Are you all right?”
His voice, usually calm and deep like a midnight sea, now surged with unexpected waves. In his arms, Elaine let out a soft, breathy laugh.
“Thank you.”
“…”
Dominic frowned, genuinely puzzled by her laughter.
“Don’t frown, Dominic.”
Her pale fingers gently brushed the crease between his brows.
“You could’ve been seriously hurt.”
“I’m sorry. Did I scare you?”
“This really isn’t the time for you to be apologizing to me—”
“Are you angry, Dominic?”
She tilted her head, her tone curious. Dominic paused, realizing only now that he had been angry—and just like that, fell silent. Elaine giggled again at the sight.
“Why aren’t you scolding me more?”
“…Forgive me. I was out of line.”
“Out of line? Don’t be ridiculous. I liked it. It felt like you were truly worried about me.”
Then, she suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist and nuzzled her nose into his chest like a little animal sniffing for comfort.
Ah. Dominic’s scent.
Yes. This was it. That familiar, calming scent—like the sharp chill of early morning air brushing against her face after a long nightmare.
Then she noticed something—he was still frozen.
Elaine slowly looked up and found his face slightly flushed, a hand raised to cover his mouth.
“Dominic?”
“…Ah.”
He responded a moment too late. There was something oddly off about him, and Elaine narrowed her eyes.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m… fine.”
He said it in a voice that sounded anything but fine. But by the time he finished, his face had returned to its usual composed and elegant expression—Dominic Cheshire, as perfect as ever.
“I’m sorry, Elaine. I thought you were going to get hurt. I panicked.”
His breath brushed over the crown of her head like a warm breeze.
“That’s why I raised my voice at you.”
His tone implied: Someone like me—a lowly Cheshire—had no right to.
Elaine’s lips formed a small pout. She poked his chest with her finger.
“Don’t say things like ‘someone like me.’”
Her tone was lightly scolding, and Dominic responded with a quiet smile. But Elaine wasn’t done. She reached up and cradled his face gently between her hands.
“You’re the only one who makes me feel special.”
She looked up at him and pronounced each word clearly and deliberately. Her sincerity was so pure, so full of affection, it nearly disarmed him.
Dominic stared down at her for a long moment… then slowly leaned in.
“And you are my only joy.”
