It was as if she had witnessed a true miracle, Sylvia thought.
In fact, for her, the Eleonore County was a precious land where she was born and raised, but it was not a place filled only with good memories.
To the people of this land, she was both the daughter of the lord who ruled over them and, at the same time, a being they called a witch.
Because of this, at some point, she no longer preferred wandering around the county.
Whenever she walked through the city, the gazes she felt from all around and the whispers she heard from somewhere all seemed to be criticisms and reproaches directed at her, making her want to close her ears.
But that was only until recently.
“Lady! Take this with you on your way. It’s a new liquor we just introduced at our store, and it tastes really good.”
“Lady? What do you mean, lady? You should call her the lord now!”
“Oh my, I made a mistake. Haha!”
Seeing the smiling faces of the residents surrounding her, Sylvia couldn’t help but smile as well.
It wasn’t simply because they were treating her kindly.
Just watching these people happy and joyful filled a corner of her heart with warmth.
This must also be part of the new scenery he had shown her.
“…Lord Lyard, thank you.”
“I haven’t done anything worth thanking for. It’s all thanks to your virtue, my lady.”
“Honestly…”
Sometimes, it wouldn’t hurt to just accept a simple thank-you, but the way he dismissed even a single word so coldly made Sylvia pout.
It wasn’t just modesty.
Perhaps he truly didn’t realize how great his achievements were or how much he had given to her.
For someone so skilled at objectively analyzing everything, why did he become such a fool when it came to evaluating himself?
Finding that amusing yet endearing, Sylvia couldn’t erase her smile.
By now, every little thing he did just felt lovable.
“Well then, I’ll visit again next time. If you ever have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”
While conversing with the residents, she listened to their concerns and conveyed the Eleonore family’s stance, fostering communication.
Feeling that it was about time to return to the castle, she addressed the people around her.
Even at the very last moment before parting, her kindness toward the residents made them all exclaim in admiration.
“Oh, just hearing that is enough. Thank you, my lady.”
“How is she so kind? She should have become the lord much earlier.”
“Exactly. She’s young and wise, so the county will have nothing to worry about.”
Hearing such praise after just exchanging a few words made Sylvia feel a little embarrassed.
But since it meant the residents saw her positively, she decided to accept it gratefully and proceeded to board the carriage.
“By the way, my lady, before you leave, may I ask you something?”
“Yes, what is it? Please feel free to ask.”
At that moment, a woman cautiously raised her hand to request permission to speak, and Sylvia turned to her with a nod.
She wondered if there was an issue that hadn’t been mentioned yet, so she listened attentively with a serious expression.
However, the question that came next was the exact opposite of what she expected.
“I’ve been curious for a while… Is the gentleman beside you your lover? He doesn’t seem like a mere attendant.”
“Huh? Ah…!”
Only then did Sylvia realize that she had completely forgotten to introduce Kyle, who had been by her side the whole time.
Flustered, she blushed slightly.
Her lover?
Of course, in her heart, he was already more than that.
But announcing it in front of unfamiliar county residents felt a bit embarrassing.
Still, if she claimed him as hers here, there would be no room for doubt.
Just as she was about to carefully nod—
“No, I am not.”
“……?”
A deep, firm voice suddenly cut through the air, instantly cooling the atmosphere.
When Sylvia turned her head, she saw Kyle surveying the surrounding people with his usual impassive expression.
With an unmistakably resolute tone, as if drawing a clear line, he shook his head and spoke.
“I have no special relationship with Lady Eleonore. Please do not misunderstand.”
In that instant, it felt as if an arrow had struck her heart with a sharp thud.
Just moments ago, she had felt as if she were soaring through the sky, but now, a cold splash of reality drenched her completely.
For the entire carriage ride back to the castle, the two of them did not exchange a single word.
Clatter. Clatter.
No conversation was exchanged, and only the cold sound of silver utensils moving echoed in the dining hall.
Sitting at the head of the table, Marianne could feel the heavy silence pressing down on her skin, filling her mind with questions.
She had heard that they had toured the county together, but why had the atmosphere become so tense?
Did they get into an argument?
But it couldn’t be something so trivial that it led to such an icy silence.
“I’m sorry, Madam Marianne. May I be excused first?”
Fortunately, a voice broke the silence, bringing a brief moment of relief to Marianne’s expression—until she processed what was said.
To think someone would say something that only made the atmosphere even colder.
“Huh? Oh. Well, sure. I just hope the food was to your liking.”
“It was very delicious. I felt the same way last time I was here—the chefs are truly skilled.”
“I’m glad to hear that. You must be tired from the outing, so please rest well.”
“Thank you, then if you’ll excuse me.”
As Kyle quietly stood up, Sylvia, who had stopped eating without realizing it, hurriedly followed suit with a panicked expression.
“Uh, Mother…! I’m sorry. I’ll be excusing myself too.”
“Uh, oh? Alright. But, by the way, could it be that… Oh.”
Marianne was about to ask what had happened, but before she could even finish her sentence, Sylvia had already rushed out of the dining hall.
Left alone, Marianne sighed and idly picked at the leftovers.
Then, recalling the subtle yet intense emotions that had passed between the two, she couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly.
Ah, young love always tends to be like this.
“L-Lord Lyard! Please wait a moment!”
“…Do you need something?”
Meanwhile, outside, Sylvia reached out and stopped Kyle as he was walking away.
When he turned to her with his usual impassive gaze and businesslike demeanor, she instinctively hesitated for a moment.
His attitude had often felt somewhat cold or prickly, but today was the first time it had felt this downright frigid.
“What exactly did you mean by what you said to the territory residents at the market earlier…? May I ask?”
“Are you referring to the fact that there is nothing between us, my lady?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“It means exactly what it sounds like. That explanation should be sufficient.”
“There’s no way that could be sufficient. I have a mountain of things I want to ask!”
For once, Sylvia raised her voice.
On the surface, the two of them were in a relationship.
Of course, with Creed Eleonore—the matchmaker of this contractual relationship—effectively gone, their bond had become nothing more than a nominal one.
Still, even so, how could he speak as if nothing had ever happened between them?
“Our relationship was originally a contract arranged by Lord Eleonore, was it not? Now that he is gone, it is only natural that there is nothing between us anymore.”
“I already know that much. But your attitude earlier didn’t seem like you were simply saying we weren’t in a relationship. Am I wrong?”
Please, tell me I’m wrong. Tell me I was just overreacting.
Silently pleading in her heart, Sylvia gazed at the man before her with desperate eyes.
But reality was cruel, refusing to grant her what she wished for.
“No, you’re not wrong. That is exactly what I meant.”
“…What?”
“Do not make me say it twice. That is exactly what I meant.”
Coldly—perhaps even more sharply than any words she had ever heard before—his response cut through her like a blade.
The moment she heard it, Sylvia felt as if time had stopped.
That’s what he meant?
So he was saying that, contract aside, everything they had built between them up until now had been meaningless?
“When I return to the capital tomorrow, you may consider our acquaintance to have never existed.”
“Wait, hold on, Lord Lyard. I don’t understand what you’re saying—”
“I am truly grateful for everything. From now on, as the head of the Eleonore family, I hope that only a brilliant path lies ahead of you, my lady.”
With utmost formality and not a trace of playfulness, he bowed deeply, as if treating her as nothing more than a stranger.
Sylvia could only open and close her lips wordlessly, unable to find a single thing to say.
It was as if he had taken a pair of scissors and severed the thread of fate that had once connected them.
He had started the conversation on his own, concluded it on his own, and then turned to leave.
Sylvia quickly reached out, grabbing his hand and forcing him to turn back.
“Wait, Lord Lyard! I haven’t finished talking—!”
“……”
But the moment she met his gaze, the strength in her grip vanished in an instant.
What was that expression?
It was he who had chosen to say goodbye.
It was he who had decided to end everything.
So why was he looking at her with such sorrowful eyes, as if begging her not to hold him back?
If he looked at her like that, how could she possibly let go?
If he stared at her as though he would shatter at the slightest touch, how could she not want to embrace him and pathetically beg him not to leave?
“…Excuse me.”
Sensing the loss of strength in her grasp, Kyle turned away.
“Ka… Kyle…”
Sylvia stood in the hallway for a long time, softly whispering his name.
But she did not despair.
She resolved to meet him again tomorrow.
She couldn’t just let him go like this.
However, the next morning, when Sylvia visited his room under the pretense of calling him for breakfast, she was greeted only by an empty bed, its sheets left in disarray.
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