WBWB | Chapter 16

From his office, he could clearly see the sea-breeze-driven, moisture-laden clouds rolling towards the courtyard. 

The tutor, leaning against a tree trunk on the hill in the garden, remained motionless. Her horse grazed nearby.

‘She must be asleep.’

If she got caught in the rain, she would catch a cold, which would disrupt her lessons.

‘She’s a lot of trouble.’

That was why Baldr had left his office and mounted his horse as soon as he saw the rain clouds.

But come to think of it, wouldn’t it have been more efficient to send a servant? 

The tutor remained fast asleep, oblivious to the world, until Baldr, without questioning his own actions, reached the shade of the poplar tree.

Seeing a book lying near her hand, he assumed she had fallen asleep while reading. He picked up the book and dusted it off. He had always been curious about what she was reading.

Checking the title, he raised an eyebrow.

‘I haven’t read this one.’

He had read most of the books in his library, but not all of them. The vast collection had been accumulated by generations of his family. He stood there, skimming the contents briefly, then tucked it into his back pocket.

Meanwhile, the clouds had drawn closer. Even if he woke her now, she would be caught in the rain before reaching the mansion. But strangely, looking at Jeanne’s sleeping face, Baldr didn’t want to wake her.

‘Did she always look like this?’

He preferred to simply watch her, like gazing into a clear lake.

Whenever she was in his presence, the tutor was always extremely timid. It was understandable, considering he held not only her livelihood but also her life in his hands. He was also aware of his own notoriety.

‘It’s natural for her to be afraid.’

Fear was a useful tool for a ruler. It was better to be feared than loved, both by enemies and allies. People might betray those they loved, but they wouldn’t dare harm those they feared. That’s why he had found his reputation so useful.

‘But I thought I was being considerate.’

However, he strangely disliked this tutor’s fear of him. Was it because she was so harmless that she couldn’t even harm a hair on his head, let alone stab him in the back? Baldr couldn’t imagine this woman harming him.

‘Could she harm me, unless it was through poison?’

It was a thought he could only entertain because he didn’t yet know that she would soon have the power to tear his heart to shreds.

In any case, the woman with her eyes closed was sleeping soundly. Her sleeping face showed none of the fear she displayed when she was awake, and she looked peaceful. 

So, he wished for her to remain asleep. Because that expression would vanish the moment she opened her eyes.

“…”

For a long time, Baldr silently gazed at Jeanne’s face. 

Her smooth, arched forehead, her dark, neatly shaped eyebrows and long eyelashes, the bridge of her nose extending from her forehead, the corners of her mouth twitching occasionally as if she were dreaming.

She shivered slightly in her sleep. His gaze shifted to her clothes. The tutor was wearing a dress with ornate embellishments on the bodice, much like his mother’s dresses from the past. He frowned.

‘Are these clothes still in fashion?’

The dress was too thin for this climate.

* * * 

‘Where could that book have gone?’

As time passed, my heart grew heavier and heavier, like a waterlogged sponge.

‘I really have to tell Madame Pauline now.’

Even on the day I made this resolution, I went for a ride on Brulee. 

Lost in thought, I rode aimlessly, and before I knew it, I had arrived at the apple orchard. The air was filled with the sweet, fresh scent of apples. The horse, attracted by the smell, perked up its ears at the sight of me.

“Come to think of it, you used to pull apple carts, didn’t you?”

I stroked Brulee’s mane. 

There were also wild apple trees outside the orchard fence, their branches laden with ripe apples, threatening to break under their weight. Small but appetizing apples were scattered everywhere, and Brulee happily munched on them. Deer and squirrels were also feasting on the apples.

‘Should I… take some?’

They weren’t orchard apples, and even the animals were eating them, so I thought it would be alright to take some back to my room as a snack. I dismounted Brulee. But the problem was, I had no pockets. While riding, I needed both hands to hold the reins. And I couldn’t stuff them in my cheeks like a squirrel. 

So, what should I do?

I hesitated and looked around. 

It was a secluded spot, and no one was in sight. I decided to gather some apples in the folds of my skirt. My plan was to tie the long hem of my skirt like a pouch, mount Brulee, and then carry the apples in my hands when I dismounted. It wasn’t very ladylike, but what did it matter? No one was watching.

Lifting my skirt naturally exposed my legs. I bent down, examining the fallen apples, selecting plump, undamaged ones and placing them in the folds of my skirt. I wasn’t planning to take many, but once I started gathering them, I became engrossed in the task.

‘Did I pick too many? Should I give some to Brulee?’

I was so focused on gathering apples that when I straightened my aching back, I saw someone.

It was him. 

Duke Baldr de Skadi.

‘Gasp!’

They say you meet your enemies everywhere. That was certainly the case for me. 

Startled by the sight of him, I loosened my grip on my skirt. The apples tumbled out, and our eyes met. It was the first time I felt the intensity of his green gaze. 

Did he see everything?

The Duke walked towards me without averting his gaze.

“You’re taking a walk in a rather secluded place.”

The Duke said pointedly.

“Yes…!”

“Have you ever been gored by a stag?”

“Pardon?”

“Wild animals, attracted by the scent of apples, often roam down from the hunting grounds, so stick to the paths closer to the mansion.”

“Yes.”

‘Is he… worried about me?’

His way of speaking was truly perplexing. I quickly lowered my head. Conversely, the reason he had come to this secluded, rarely visited place must have been to have some time alone.

‘I should leave quickly.’

I looked around for Brulee. She was under an apple tree, her nose buried in the fruit.

“Then I’ll be going.”

But then he said something completely unexpected.

“Shall we take a walk together?”

“Pardon?”

“It’s lonely walking alone.”

I thought, ‘I’m in trouble now.’

But what could I do? I ended up taking a walk with him.

This time, I didn’t commit the rudeness of remaining silent. I talked about Lady Ana’s daily life and the lessons we had been focusing on. After listening to me, the Duke said,

“I see.”

And then the conversation lulled. I tilted my stiff neck and looked up at the sky.

‘This is agonizing.’

I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

That’s when I suddenly remembered the lost book. Yes, this was the perfect opportunity. The perfect opportunity to confess to the owner of the book that I had lost it.

But as soon as I made up my mind, cold sweat trickled down my back.

‘Do I really have to? Wouldn’t it be better to just… tell Madame Pauline discreetly?’

It felt like I was walking with chestnuts in my hands. My conscience pricked me, urging me to confess. I clenched and unclenched my fists.

‘I should have told Madame Pauline yesterday.’

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. I considered telling Madame Pauline tonight. But the pangs of conscience were relentless, and I couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Um, Your Grace.”

When I addressed him hesitantly, he looked at me with a puzzled expression. His green eyes sparkled in the sunlight, as if emitting their own light. I swallowed hard.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

“I, well, I…”

I crumpled my skirt in my hands and closed my eyes tightly.

“I lost a book! I’m so sorry for using the library, meant for teaching materials, for personal use and then losing a book! I’ll compensate you for the book and return the library key! I’ll accept any other punishment, I’m truly sorry, Your Grace!”