TITULO: Ch. 58
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Chapter 58
“True… there’s really no way to prove it, so I suppose it’s hard to believe me…”
But that was just his assumption.
“Wait a second—where did you say?”
Eugenia’s eyes widened as she asked.
“Did you just say you work for the House of Duke Hereis?”
Her formerly indifferent attitude flipped over as quickly as turning one’s hand, and the man was just as surprised by her sudden change.
He looked as if he had no idea why Eugenia was reacting this way.
“Uh? Oh—yes, that’s correct!”
Bombarded by Eugenia’s questions like a sudden typhoon, the man nodded frantically, a bewildered expression on his face.
“I’m just a low-ranking servant, but I do work as a butler for House Hereis.”
“Oh, my goodness!”
Before she knew it, Eugenia clasped her hands tightly beneath her chin, eyes sparkling as she looked at him.
Heavens above… You haven’t abandoned me after all!
The thought that the door of opportunity hadn’t completely shut yet filled her heart with hope.
But her expression soon dimmed. Or rather, she began to watch the man’s reactions carefully.
There was still a problem.
Uh… but… how do I say this?
She had already told him he didn’t need to repay her for the help she’d given. To go back on that now felt unbearably awkward.
If I bring it up after hearing where he works, won’t I look way too obvious?
She glanced at him sideways.
But it seemed he had been watching her the whole time—because their eyes met head-on.
Ack—!
Startled, Eugenia quickly averted her gaze in an awkward way.
Anxious and impatient, she bit down lightly on her lower lip.
If only I could get him to insist just one more time on returning the favor…
Then she could pretend to give in and naturally bring up her request.
And then—
As if he had just stepped into her thoughts and read them, the man spoke again.
“They say in these lands, one does not lightly invoke the name of the House of Duke Hereis. It’s because every subject of the domain loves and respects their lord.”
Oh, so that’s a local custom.
I’d better remember that. No harm in knowing, since I’ll be staying here for a while.
It was new information, so Eugenia nodded and listened attentively.
The man’s voice grew even more earnest.
“So I hope you’ll allow me to repay you. I wouldn’t want to bring dishonor to the household I serve. If I were to simply return without doing anything, I’d feel deeply uncomfortable.”
For a moment, Eugenia thought his attitude was… odd.
Something feels off…
After all, the kindness she had shown him was no big deal.
Yet at some point, his manner had shifted—he seemed strangely determined to help her, almost to the point of desperation.
It might have been ever since we talked about accents…
It was as if he had been seized by a strong sense of duty to assist her no matter what.
Also… I swear I’ve seen this guy somewhere before…
Tilting her head, she studied his face more closely.
Their eyes met, and he quickly looked away, almost as if trying to hide his face, clearing his throat awkwardly.
Ah—did I stare too much?
Eugenia gave him a small, apologetic smile.
Well, whatever the reason, he’s practically setting the stage for me. I’d better grab the chance.
Her eyes slid sideways in thought.
“Since you put it that way… I suppose it would be hard to refuse.”
The man’s face lit up.
“In fact, there is something I was hoping you could help me with.”
“What might that be?”
He took the bait eagerly, asking in an active tone.
Intertwining her fingers, Eugenia spoke with quiet hesitation.
“I haven’t been in this domain for long. I’d like to settle down, but it’s hard to find any work.”
“Ah, I see.”
Clasping her hands tightly, she looked up at him with earnest eyes and voiced her request.
“Would you be willing to check if there’s any work I could do at House Hereis? Even just as a maid or errand-runner—anything I’m capable of.”
“A job, you say?”
It seemed the request had caught him off guard.
Surprise flickered across his face, soon replaced by a trace of pity.
What’s with that look?
Eugenia didn’t understand the change in his expression, but she kept her mouth shut—after all, she was the one who needed help more.
After a moment of thought, the man finally nodded, his gesture heavy with resolve.
“All right. I’ll look into it.”
“Really?”
This time he nodded firmly, as if to reassure her.
Hiring someone new into a duke’s household… I thought he might hesitate, since the process must be strict.
Even the employment bureau staff had said so. But he had agreed so quickly.
Eugenia looked up at him with mild surprise.
Though he’d said he was just a low-ranking servant, he was still a butler—meaning he probably held some status and influence among the duke’s retainers.
Well, in any case, there was no reason to refuse his offer.
“Thank you!”
Eugenia quickly bowed in gratitude, afraid he might change his mind.
She wasn’t hired yet, but having someone check for her felt like the first step up the ladder.
The man spoke again.
“I’ll look into it and get back to you. Where can I contact you?”
Instead of answering, Eugenia posed another question.
“How long do you think it’ll take to find out?”
He considered for a moment, then replied,
“Two days should be enough.”
Two days!
Hope flared in Eugenia’s eyes.
“Then let’s meet here again at noon, two days from now.”
She could feel her cheeks flush without even needing a mirror—heat was rising to her face.
And only the man standing before her could see just how lovely she looked in that moment.
He stared at her openly, without even realizing he might be overstepping, his gaze entirely different from before.
Eugenia lowered her eyes, feeling the heat of his look almost like a burn.
Clearing her throat lightly, she shifted the topic.
“By the way, what’s your name? I’m Eugenia—please, just call me Eugenia.”
“Ah.”
His pale blue lashes lowered slowly, then lifted again, a shadow briefly deepening in his irises.
“My name is…”
His tone slowed, voice low and weighted, as though sinking deep.
It felt like he was carefully choosing his words, even though it was just his name.
Eugenia briefly wondered if it really warranted so much thought—but she didn’t press him.
Patiently, she waited.
At last, his lips parted.
“My name is Zion.”
From far away, an owl hooted in the night.
“They’ve finally arrived.”
Two men on horseback appeared on the crest of a hill.
“Whoa.”
Enrique tugged lightly on the reins, bringing his horse to a halt.
The sky was clear, the moonlight spilling freely over the land.
From this high vantage point, they could see everything below.
A massive city encircled by towering walls like a suit of armor—that was Horn, the imperial capital of the Aesa Empire.
Enrique gazed quietly, not at the walls themselves, but at the green barley fields stretching all the way to the moat beneath the city gates.
Whoooosh—
The wind swept through, making the barley sway gently, as if it were a rippling sea.
So it’s that season.
Yes, that season—one that comes naturally.
Just like how this had come naturally, too: thinking of eyes the same color as those fields, and recalling a laugh as fresh as the rustle of leaves.
Enrique’s grip on the reins tightened.
He didn’t know how long he stood there like that.
Sensing that something was off, Albery cautiously asked,
“Captain, is something wrong?”
“…No. Nothing.”
His voice was dry, like he’d swallowed a mouthful of sand.
“Just…”
“Yes?”
“Just… a little tired.”
It wasn’t such a strange answer.
From slightly behind, Albery nodded vigorously.
“Well, I suppose we have been pushing ourselves lately.”
Then he glanced at Enrique’s set jaw and added,
“Still, it’s unusual to see you looking worn out, Captain.”
“…”
“But it’s all over now, isn’t it? So let’s just finish up and head home.”
Home—at least for Albery. But Enrique, too, had a place he needed to return to.
Without another word, both men spurred their horses forward.
The animals surged down the slope, hooves drumming against the earth.
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