Chapter 17
“W-What are you doing, Eugene?”
Without hesitation, he removed my shoe. A sense of relief spread over my swollen foot.
“Ugh…”
As I frowned in pain, Eugene looked at me and let out a sigh. Then, with gentle hands, he began to massage my foot.
“Don’t, Eugene. It’s dirty!”
Startled, I tried to pull my foot away, but his large hand firmly grabbed my ankle.
He wouldn’t give me the chance to escape—the hard calluses pressed into the palm wrapped around me.
“Stay still.”
Eugene murmured in a warning tone. Yet his hands didn’t stop soothing my swollen foot.
“Huu…”
Eugene stared down at my foot and clenched his teeth. His jaw became rigid.
He kneaded my foot in silence for a while, as if struggling to contain his emotions. Then, he pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket and folded it into a strip.
With practiced movements, he wrapped the handkerchief around my heel and then put my shoe back on, completing the process.
He still looked angry as he gazed up at me.
“If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have let you go earlier.”
“…It’s just… It happened, that’s all…”
At my reply, Eugene swore again. It was behavior unbefitting the second son of a ducal house. A cold, sharp light flashed in his eyes.
“So, ‘it just happened’ that he left his wife and went after another woman first?”
“That’s because Chloe was really shocked…”
“Ha. And you think that’s alright?”
Eugene let out an incredulous sigh.
Even though I knew that the more I spoke, the more miserable I sounded, it was hard to stop. At the very least, I didn’t want to show Eugene this pathetic side of myself.
“Don’t be a fool, Winter.”
Eugene said harshly, almost as a warning. I was so taken aback by his bluntness that I stared at him blankly.
“When you act like a fool, I get really angry.”
“……”
A surge of emotion welled up inside me. I bit my lip and glared at Eugene.
Who are you to say that to me? Anger toward Eugene simmered from deep within me.
“What right do you have to be angry?”
“What?”
“Whether I act like a fool or not, what right do you have to be angry?”
“……”
Eugene’s gaze wavered as he looked up at me. I clenched my teeth and glared back at him.
‘My savior, who left me and ran away.’
“……”
Eugene’s eyebrows twitched.
“Mind your own business. Whether I act like a fool or my husband leaves me behind.”
After getting everything out, I let out a ragged breath, still glaring at Eugene.
He silently took my reproachful gaze, then stood up.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”
Then, as if nothing had happened, he grabbed my wrist again.
Unable to resist his grip, I followed him, helplessly.
* * *
Late at night, as I stepped into the silent house, I was greeted by Vidkun, who sensed my presence. His fingertips were stained with ink, perhaps from working until now.
“Welcome home, Madam.”
“Yes, Vidkun. You’re still up late.”
My voice was choked and barely above a whisper. The clock hands were pointing almost to midnight. Vidkun answered with his usual neat smile.
“And the Master…?”
Vidkun’s eyes glanced over my shoulder. I replied awkwardly, forcing a smile.
“Oh, Hayden had some work to do… He’ll be late. Don’t wait up, just go to bed first.”
I couldn’t bring myself to say I’d come home alone because my husband had gone to take another woman home.
Not wanting to continue the conversation, I gave a slight bow to Vidkun and went up the stairs to the second floor.
“Ah, Madam!”
Vidkun called after me in a flustered voice. When I turned to him curiously, he wore an unusually hesitant expression.
“Well… there should still be hot water. Would you like me to prepare a bath for you?”
“I’ll take care of it myself. Don’t worry.”
I replied with a gentle smile, grateful for his consideration. Vidkun nodded slowly.
As soon as I returned to my room, my precious little Mister Meow appeared to greet me.
“Meow—”
Mister Meow blinked her round eyes slowly, as if scolding me for being so late.
Finding her adorable, I scratched Mister Meow’s neck, and a purring sound rumbled out. Mister Meow raised her hindquarters, gazing at me.
“Mister Meow, just wait a little bit. I’ll wash up first.”
I wanted to just flop down and lie next to Mister Meow as I patted her, but I forced myself to get up.
“Ah.”
Standing barefoot, I noticed the handkerchief Eugene had wrapped around my foot.
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.