episode_0094

“If you don’t mind, would you like to take a walk for a bit?”

The voice that gently pressed against her chest.

Eleanor stared blankly at the man who appeared behind her for a long time.

The man looked different from usual.

Usually, he was a bit carefree.

To put it bluntly, he would casually pick up anything and wear it without much fuss, unlike today, where he seemed to have paid meticulous attention from head to toe.

More so than the debutante ball they first met at.

Even more so than the spring terrace where they enjoyed pastries and conversation, which was still chilly.

The black tailored jacket he was wearing was a far cry from the worn-out leather jacket he usually wore.

Eleanor could once again confirm with her own eyes how broad his shoulders were, how wide his chest was, as the black jacket perfectly fit along his sturdy frame.

Even his usually carelessly tossed black hair was neatly arranged today. Thanks to that, Dmitry, who usually seemed light-hearted, was now solemn, heavy, and even somewhat sensual.

From his hair color, eye color, to the jacket draped over his body, everything about him was filled with darkness, with the cravat around his neck serving as a refreshing touch to prevent his dark appearance from becoming too heavy.

“Eli?”

“Ah!”

It was clearly a fleeting moment, but it seemed different to others. Eleanor suddenly snapped out of her daze at the sound of her name being called. Dmitry’s expression, facing her distant sigh, showed traces of worry.

Eleanor took a deep breath.

Welcoming the pounding of her heart, she looked at Sophie and Ailey waiting for her in front of the mansion.

“Right, you two go in first.”

Fortunately, the two didn’t say anything else. Nodding in understanding, they slightly bowed their heads and made way for the lady. Supporting the still unsteady Ojenni, they entered the mansion.

Soon, only the shadows of the two remained under the long marble entrance stairs.

Eleanor turned around to look at Dmitry.

Under the blue moonstone lamp illuminating the dusky early summer night, Dmitry was still waiting for Eleanor in the same posture as before.

Taking a step forward, Eleanor walked towards him.

Approaching Eleanor, Dmitry gently raised the corners of his mouth and politely extended his hand.

Then, Eleanor’s small, white hand overlapped his rough and coarse hand.

Fluttering.

As the trembling of her loudly beating heart echoed, Eleanor raised her head to look at the man standing beside her.

“Eli. They say tonight, with the lack of moonlight, it’s perfect for watching fireworks.”

The man standing beside her looked no different from before. No, upon closer inspection, his tanned face was gradually turning red.

Thus, the black man and the white woman began to melt into the darkness of the night.

#.

Although it was her own mansion, Eleanor had never wandered around the garden at such a late hour. So, walking with Dmitry by her side felt somewhat refreshing.

Then, a sudden thought crossed her mind.

Ah… come to think of it, during her parents’ farewell ball, she walked around with a silver-haired man by her side…

No, no, why am I thinking like this now when Dmitry is right next to me…

As her thoughts reached that point, Eleanor shook her head vigorously.

The memory of the man that still lingered in her heart. With the addition of a woman’s perspective, indescribable emotions enveloped her.

In the midst of the tangled emotions, Eleanor let out a soft sigh.

And Dmitry, watching her from the side, unaware of the reason, simply smiled at Eleanor’s cute behavior.

“What, what is it! Why are you smiling like that!”

Noticing Eleanor’s slightly raised corners of her mouth, Dmitry looked at her with a silly expression.

“It’s nothing. Really.”

Despite his face turning so red, his silly expression made it all the more endearing. Dmitry pushed back the rising smile and gently lowered his head beyond his throat.

Her fair face flushed red as she touched his hand, then she bounced her shoulder back with a sigh, as if pondering deeply.

Seeing him look at her with a chubby expression, she wondered what thoughts were going through the mind of this cute young lady.

And those thoughts spilled out through her lips.

“But Eleanor, why are you thinking so hard about it?”

“Oh, no! It’s nothing….”

Despite trying to play it off confidently, Eleanor couldn’t help but bow her head again in response to his returning question.

Eleanor steadied her rising breath.

The gradually blushing face that had been heating up since earlier now revealed its state even without looking.

She wanted to cool her cheeks with her hand, but she couldn’t. She was holding onto his rough and firm hand.

She couldn’t let go of the warm and gentle grip that enveloped her hand.

So, she…

Walking side by side with Dmitri, Eleanor gently leaned her head against his shoulder, slightly below his, as they walked together. Taking his sturdy arm, she brought her face close to it.

Feeling the weight, Dmitri carefully slowed his steps. Worried that Eleanor might be tired, he stopped walking and looked down at her with a concerned expression.

“Elli, shall we take a break?”

Having Eleanor’s arms wrapped around his, she only nodded her head up and down without saying anything else.

The two headed towards a small bench on top of the hill. The bench was in an open space with nothing obstructing the view.

As Eleanor sat down on the bench, Dmitri took off his jacket to wrap it around her shoulders as the night breeze grew colder.

Although a memory from the past came to mind, Eleanor did not resist Dmitri’s touch and accepted it.

Normally, she would have hesitated and rejected such a gesture, but who else would be in the garden at this late hour?

“He’s quite the smooth operator, this man.”

Thinking this, Eleanor was slightly intoxicated by Dmitri’s scent that surrounded her.

Looking at Eleanor, who was caressing her shoulder with her hand on the jacket’s collar, Dmitri took out a pocket watch from his vest pocket.

Dominic had mentioned that the fireworks display was scheduled for 10 p.m. The golden hour hand was nearing 10 between two numbers.

Silence returned. The only sound surrounding the two sitting on the bench was the chorus of crickets.

Breaking the uncomfortable yet comfortable silence, Dmitri, looking at the brightly lit pavilion in the distance, called out to Eleanor in a low voice.

“You remember, Elli.”

“Yes.”

Lowering her head, feeling Dmitri’s scent filling her, Eleanor looked up at his black eyes and gathered her courage.

Eleanor was no fool.

Even if she had lived as a recluse in her past life, she knew what Dmitri was trying to say by bringing her out in the middle of the night.

That’s why her heart was pounding so fast.

“Do you remember? When I first visited this mansion and we shared a meal together on the terrace.”

As Eleanor’s fair face, which had calmed down a bit in Dmitri’s scent, started to blush again.

How could she forget?

How she had impulsively snatched Dmitri’s jacket and ran to her room.

The only relief was that Dmitri was talking about the conversation they had just had, not that incident.

“Back then, you seemed very interested in my story on the terrace. Your big eyes sparkled, and you enjoyed the banter.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“To be honest, I’ve never seen anyone so interested in such a story before. I was actually a bit surprised.”

Dmitri continued the conversation with a smile, recalling that moment.

“I’m not sure if your feelings back then were the same as they are now. You’ve also been through a lot, after all.”

A sharp pang of longing. And more than that, the strong and warm embrace of Dmitri. The memory of that day when he held her close and rode through the night.

The faint throb of her heart as she remembered that moment.

“Anyway, contrary to what Elly may think, the North is not as interesting as she imagines.”

However, Dmitry’s voice as he relayed the story was remarkably indifferent.

“The land in the North is not a walk in the park. Even in the summer, the wind blowing from beyond the barrier is chilling. It’s a land where the ground remains frozen, making it impossible to cultivate any crops. Not even common wildflowers can be easily found.”

Even though it was surely his homeland, Dmitry continued the conversation calmly without any embellishment.

“After the short summer passes, what comes is a harsh winter. Sharp winds, freezing cold rising from the frozen ground. Creatures seeking warmth come down to the North, where the barrier has long been neglected and crumbled in places, allowing monsters to ravage the land.”

Dmitry bluntly stated the facts. His voice devoid of any emotion, leaving Eleanor to simply lower her gaze in response.

“Here is warm, beautiful, and safe, unlike that place.”

His voice continued.

“That’s why I’ve been pondering.”

“What have you been pondering about?”

Eleanor asked cautiously, lowering her head. Dmitry gently lifted her chin, then stood up from his seat.

“What should I do with this newfound emotion that has surfaced at some point?”

Dmitry carefully took out a small black velvet box from his pocket. As he opened it, revealing a pink-tinted interior adorned with golden embroidery, a small gasp escaped Eleanor’s lips.