Translator: Nox

16 - Chapter 16

Ryan accepted the pie plate that Eloise offered with a somewhat reluctant expression.

The plate was covered in traces of her enthusiastic consumption. Finely scattered pie crumbs and dripping apple filling.

It was only natural to refuse something that someone else had been eating from, but Ryan felt even hungrier at the sight of her enthusiastic consumption.

He picked up a cut piece. Then he opened his mouth wide and took a bite of the pie.

The sweet and savory pie taste he had imagined spread throughout his mouth. Beside him, Eloise stared at him eating the pie with a surprised look.

'You said you weren't going to eat anything?'

If the news I heard was true, there must be another Ryan living in Blissbury besides this Ryan.

Otherwise, there was no way that the man who had swallowed a piece of apple pie in exactly five bites was the one who wasn't eating anything.

He finished one piece in the blink of an eye and picked up another piece next to it. Good heavens. This time, he swallowed it all in four bites.

Then again. And again after that.

He ate the pie Eloise offered without stopping, as if he was eating apple pie for the first time in his life.

And when he swallowed the last piece, Eloise thought she should applaud.

"Thank you for the meal."

Ryan said that and returned the plate. Then he asked.

"I'm glad that what Mrs. Serverton sent found its rightful owner."

Eloise didn't understand what he was saying. And after a moment.

"...Where did you hear that from?"

She said to him in a sighing voice.

Sergeant Thornton already knew that this apple pie that she had offered so generously was originally his.

"From when the carriage stopped."

Eloise was speechless at his nonchalant answer that he had been listening from the beginning.

"To hear all the sounds from that far away without making a sound, you have a great talent. Did you make use of that talent in the military?"

"Yes. It's quite a proud talent. Thanks to it, I received a medal and great trust from above."

It was a sarcastic remark meant to embarrass him, but Eloise was speechless again because he immediately acknowledged it and said he had even received a medal for it.

Then, unable to suppress her curiosity at the words that he had received trust from above, she asked.

"Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave too?"

In fact, Eloise regretted the last dinner.

If she had had a normal first meeting with this man, or if she hadn't met him at all.

So, if she had had a so-so boring dinner, although the food was delicious, like when other guests visited.

Then she would have been able to ask about Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave naturally.

Of course, Sergeant Thornton seemed to dislike him, but he wouldn't have openly said bad things about him in front of people he had just met.

Maybe she could have heard a word about Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave's favorite tea in a better atmosphere.

Eloise, who was wondering if she shouldn't have defended the Lieutenant Colonel against him that day, soon changed her mind.

No, she still didn't want the Lieutenant Colonel to be misunderstood by people.

While Eloise's thoughts were jumping around busily, Ryan shook off the pie crumbs remaining on his hand.

The moment the military story came up, Eloise's green eyes lit up.

Is it because it's a common color? He kept looking at her, but when it sparkled and became lively, he was even more drawn to her.

Sure enough. Unable to bear it, she fidgeted and couldn't keep her hands still, and finally opened her mouth again about Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave.

Ryan felt mixed emotions at the story of himself coming from Eloise's mouth.

Eloise perfectly understood the Ingon Battle, as if she had been there with him on the battlefield.

When she told him that his judgment had ultimately saved the 57th Infantry Battalion, Ryan felt an unknown sense of relief and gratitude.

Until now, many people had comforted him that it was unavoidable, that Ryan had done nothing wrong.

While gaining strength from their comfort, dark thoughts crawled out of the darkness inside him at night and whispered to him.

Do you really think they sincerely comforted you?

Could there be someone among them who filed a complaint without you knowing?

As if to prove his dark thoughts, when he hid his face and went into a bar in the city, everyone poured out words criticizing him.

Then he discovered a subordinate soldier who had comforted him in front of him, saying he was not at fault. He was criticizing Ryan more fiercely than anyone else in the bar.

That Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave had tarnished their honor. That it was shameful to say they were from the 57th Infantry Battalion.

After that, Ryan felt even deeper depression. He thought everyone would criticize him where he wasn't.

As such thoughts did not leave his head all day, his personality also became more and more cynical.

But in this rural village, someone who had no connection to him was defending him more fiercely than anyone else in front of the people who were criticizing him.

He wondered.

If he told Eloise now that he was the man she so admired and considered perfect, what expression would she make?

She would be surprised.

Would she be happy next? Or would she be disappointed that the person she hadn't had a pleasant first meeting with was Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave?

After considering various possibilities, he soon organized all his thoughts.

What did it matter? He would be leaving this place again soon anyway, and he would have few opportunities to meet Eloise again.

Maybe this was the last meeting.

Ryan looked at Eloise, who was waiting for his answer. He had thought so since the first time he met her, but her face was always full of color.

Eyes sparkling with anticipation and cheeks flushed with excitement. And even slightly parted red lips.

He couldn't believe that such a vibrant woman had come to stay here for treatment because she was sick.

"Sergeant Thornton?"

Had he been staring too intently? Eloise frowned slightly and called him.

Ryan was embarrassed and turned his head. He didn't even think about sending her back quickly, and he didn't know what he was looking at this woman for and what he was thinking about.

"So, did Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave also commend you for your achievements? Directly?"

Had she become impatient because he didn't answer? The moment the words Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave came out of Eloise's mouth, Ryan came to his senses.

That's right. This woman was one of his followers who were overflowing in the capital. She might be taking his side because she was still in this rural area and didn't know the atmosphere of the capital. Maybe she thought that she alone was the true understander of Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave, unlike others.

His dark heart crawled out again, even though it wasn't night.

He got up, shook off the pie crumbs on his hands, and said to Eloise. He wanted to send this woman back quickly and go back to Blissbury and shut himself in.

"So, is this pie the only reason you came here? If so, you can go straight back without taking the troublesome trip to Blissbury."

Ryan said that and turned around.

Eloise closed her mouth at his actions.

Because she realized that he wasn't going to tell her anything about Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave.

'Why is he doing this after thanking me for taking Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave's side?'

Were the words she had heard from her father just lip service to ease the ambiguous atmosphere?

Eloise's mood also sank as she thought that he still hated Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave.

"No, there's still something left to do."

Eloise got up and went to the carriage. Then she took out a bundle of books that she had put under the seat and placed it in front of him.

"These are the books that my father borrowed from the library in Blissbury. I'm telling you this just in case, but I received permission from Lord Stanford to borrow them anytime. But I came to return them all in case you misunderstood that the books were missing after looking around the mansion."

Eloise, who had spoken quickly as if pouring out her words, deliberately greeted him politely according to perfect etiquette.

"I hope you have a peaceful time in Blissbury until the day you return to the capital. Sergeant Thornton. Then, goodbye."

After finishing her greeting, Eloise immediately turned her back on him and got into the carriage. Then she hurriedly urged the horse to turn around and head towards Feltham.

Sergeant Thornton, who was vaguely visible to the side, looked dazed as if he didn't know what to say.

'I'm never coming back until that man leaves Blissbury!'

Eloise whipped the horse with that determination.

A cloud of dust rose behind her as she moved away from Blissbury.