Chapter 10
Book deliveries were suspended for a while, and during that time, Luirene diligently collected old books that the old lady would likely enjoy. Soon, a person from the Marquisate came. The old lady, who had regained consciousness, was asking for her, along with books. Luirene gathered the books she had prepared and headed to the Marquisate.
‘Luirene. I am sorry.’
‘Why do you say that, my lady?’
‘I can no longer read properly. What a terrible pity.’
‘Then I shall read to you instead.’
‘Would you?’
‘Yes. Do not worry. You can still hear. So you can still read.’
The old lady lay listening to Luirene’s voice with joy, like one dreaming. And that night, she called for her son, the Marquis, and requested that he hire Luirene as her caretaker and companion. From that day on, Luirene came to reside in the Glair Marquisate as a servant.
The servants of the Marquisate were hired anew every quarter. Luirene had entered at an odd time and never had the chance to properly acquaint herself with the other servants, but it didn’t matter. She could read all the books she wanted, and she could earn good money doing something she loved. The fortune she’d been given felt too great to even allow for loneliness.
As the old lady’s caretaker, her daily routine was far too simple compared to the pay she received. Though she was called a caretaker, there was a separate medical staff stationed at the Marquisate, so Luirene’s only therapeutic assistance was helping the old lady take her medicine on time.
Beyond her designated duties, helping the lady when she wanted to rise, bringing tea when she was thirsty, reading to her so she could fall asleep peacefully—it was a humble set of tasks for such a large sum.
Yet Luirene always gave her all. She tended to the old lady sincerely, in place of Hopper, the guardian she’d had to let go before she could properly try to do anything for him. When the old lady looked at her with clear eyes and smiled, Luirene would think of Hopper rubbing his mustache and chuckling, and her heart would ache for no reason.
‘There’s tea left.’
When she had read about half of 『The Garden of Elior』, the book she’d chosen today, the old lady fell into a deep sleep. As she tidied up, Luirene noticed the tea the lady had left unfinished.
Since the old lady’s tea was mixed with the potent medicine she took, Luirene couldn’t drink it. She looked for the water jug to pour out the leftover tea, but it must have been taken away to be emptied, as it was nowhere to be seen.
Wondering where to throw it instead, her eyes landed on the open window. Outside the old lady’s bedroom led directly to the garden, where grass lay. Luirene tossed the remaining tea water out the window.
“Ugh!”
A low sound erupted from where it shouldn’t have been heard. Startled, Luirene leaned out the window.
A man was sitting beneath it, leaning against the wall. The problem was that the man’s beautiful silver hair was now completely soaked with the tea water she’d just thrown.
“Who are you? Are you alright?”
The man shook his wet hair and rose. Once upright, his eye level jumped considerably, revealing him to be much taller than expected. His damp, heavy silver hair glistened even more enchantingly, saturated with moisture. Like moonlight risen in the daytime. Silver hair… silver hair?
“Surely… are you the young master Glair?”
“Yeah. I’m that young master.”
Unable to hide her surprise, Luirene took a step back. In the meantime, the young master of the Marquisate, Hitaon, who had calmly acknowledged the fact, wiped the tea water streaming down his temples with his fingers. Luirene’s mind snapped to attention.
“I’m so sorry. I was just throwing out the leftover tea and—”
“It’s fine. You couldn’t have known someone was out here.”
For someone saying it was fine, he looked a mess. Hitaon, perhaps realizing wiping with his hand wasn’t enough, glanced around inside the window.
“Grandmother. Is she awake?”
“No. She just fell asleep.”
“Yeah? Then could you move aside for a moment?”
“Pardon?”
Luirene stepped two paces to the left. Hitaon, sweeping his silver strands back from his forehead, gripped the windowsill and lightly vaulted inside. His movements were lean and fluid, like a wild horse.
“I need to borrow the bathroom.”
He strode toward it as confidently as if it were his own bedroom. Luirene, guilty as she was, couldn’t stop him and could only follow behind.
Drawing water that was still cold since it wasn’t bath time yet, Hitaon bent over and roughly rinsed his hair. Watching him do it alone without a servant, Luirene asked anxiously.
“Should I go outside and explain the situation to fetch someone?”
“No, it’s fine. Don’t tell anyone.”
“But…”
“It’s not that wet.”
Truly needing no help, Hitaon rinsed his hair a few more times, then took out a dry towel and rubbed it.
He straightened up. With the splashing water, his shirt was soaked, clinging tightly to his upper body. Through the thin fabric, the contours of his broad chest and the lines of his defined abs were clearly visible. Luirene instinctively turned her head away, avoiding her gaze.
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