Chapter 28
“Didn’t you learn all this from your tutor?”
Roil looked genuinely baffled that she didn’t know, while Ellen turned her head away, embarrassed, and muttered in a tiny voice.
“…I did.”
“What? Didn’t hear you.”
“I said I thought that part was obvious, so I didn’t really pay attention. It was boring, sitting through stuff meant for little kids, so I tuned it out.”
“And you still didn’t know it until now?”
Ellen shot him a glare, answering defensively as if it was no big deal.
“It didn’t get in the way of living.”
Roil glanced sideways at her, suppressing a laugh, then deliberately changed the subject.
“But hey, Hye-seo.”
“What?”
The fact that she answered so readily showed she wasn’t actually all that upset.
“You’re from a noble family and you’ve learned all the proper etiquette. So why do you still call your mother ‘Mom’ instead of ‘Mother’?”
“I thought it’d help me adjust faster, get closer to her. I’m putting off saying ‘Mother’ as long as possible. She and Father like it too. But what about you, Eun-ho? You used to call your mom ‘Mom,’ but here you say ‘Mother.’ Why?”
“I feel like I need to be polite. Otherwise it feels disrespectful.”
Ellen knew very well why he felt guilty.
“That’s true.”
She nodded, her chin lowering with the weight of unspoken thoughts.
Roil scratched the back of his head. He had tried to change the mood, but somehow he’d only made it heavier.
Good thing he had brought the chocolate cake. Balanced on the saddle, it had been a hassle to carry here—he couldn’t even gallop for fear of ruining it. But if Ellen really was Hye-seo, then it wasn’t for Ellen the noble lady, but for Hye-seo, his old friend, that he had wanted to bring it. And now, he was glad he had.
At the edge of the forest, Ellen suddenly pulled Jenny’s reins. Roil did the same, glancing at her with a silent Why?
“From now on, let’s go back to being Roil and Ellie. No more Eun-ho or Hye-seo.”
“Right. We should.”
She gave him a fresh, measuring look.
“What? Why’re you looking at me like that?”
“It’s just weird. You look exactly like Roil Letten, but knowing Eun-ho’s inside you makes it strange.”
“Well, same here. Seeing you as a blonde little girl named Hye-seo feels just as weird.”
Roil made a face that clearly said pot calling the kettle black. She caught it and laughed.
“But you know, from the start, Roil Letten always kind of smelled like Eun-ho. At first it was only now and then, but after a while, it was constant. You always smelled like you.”
“Like, ‘He always smells like soap’ or something?”
“No. Nothing romantic or heart-fluttering like that.”
Ellen cut him off sharply.
“Ah, so it was romantic. Okay, okay, don’t get so serious. You’re scary when you do that.”
Roil nudged his horse with his heel, grumbling with his whole body. Ellen chuckled silently.
“Let’s go, Jenny.”
They soon reached the grand gates of the Quinter estate.
“Anyway, let’s get along this life too, Roil.”
“Of course, Ellie.”
✿ ✿ ✿
Ellen and Roil went up to the second floor, to Ellen’s reception room.
After she had grown a little, the playroom next to her bedroom had been turned into a study, and the study into a reception room.
Roil flopped onto the sofa like he owned the place. He’d been here countless times before, but today it somehow felt different, almost new.
Without a word, they sprawled across from each other on opposite sofas, then burst into quiet laughter.
They had always known they were childhood friends, but they’d never lounged around like this before—both of them had always been conscious of noble decorum. But now that they knew each other’s true identities, their old habits slipped out naturally.
“Man, having a friend really is the best. I’ve never felt this relaxed here.” Ellen hugged a cushion to her stomach.
“Same. I feel like I can finally let my guard down.”
Roil gave a huge yawn. The exhaustion from yesterday seemed to come crashing down all at once.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
Startled, Ellen sat up straight in an instant, and Roil also straightened his back.
The door opened with a soft click, and Gloria entered, followed by a maid carrying a tray with cake and tea.
“Mom?”
“Auntie.”
Both Ellen and Roil rose to greet her, but Gloria waved them down.
“Stay seated. I’m just dropping this off.”
True to her word, she only stayed long enough to watch the maid set the cake on the table and pour tea into the cups. Ellen dismissed the maid with a gesture, and the woman left with a bow.
“What was that about?”
As soon as the door shut, Roil lifted his teacup.
“Probably to check up on me. Thinking back, I must’ve looked really strange earlier.”
Ellen answered casually as she picked up a fork.
“Hey. How is it that every cake you bring, here or there, is exactly my taste? It’s especially good today.”
She spoke between bites, barely setting her fork down. Roil slid his own slice over to her. Ellen gladly accepted, her eyes curving sweetly at him.
Even back when he was Eun-ho, he had always been generous like this. He loved sweets himself, but if she so much as looked longingly, he would hand them over without protest.
Ugh. How’s he going to survive if he keeps giving everything away? I’ll have to nag him about this in the future.
Stuffing her mouth happily, Hye-seo had often made that same vow.
This time, Ellen split her cake in half and pushed a piece back toward him.
Roil, lying back on the sofa again, placed Neshu the cat on his stomach and began playing rock-paper-scissors. Neshu only ever extended a paw, while Roil cycled through fist, scissors, and paper, grinning no matter the outcome.
He’s not even trying to win, is he?
Ellen thought, sipping her tea. Honestly, who would try to beat a cat at such a game?
As Roil laughed at the cat’s little paw swats, a thought suddenly struck him.
“Hey, Ellie.”
“What?”
“How did you know how to act like a little kid?”
“What do you mean?”
Her fork froze mid-bite.
“I mean, when you first came here, you acted just like a kid. Meanwhile, I had no idea how someone my age should behave. You seemed to do it so naturally.”
Ellen finally realized why Roil sometimes did childish things and then immediately scanned people’s reactions. He had been checking to see if it was convincing.
“Did you ever watch those parenting shows on TV when you were Eun-ho?” she whispered, though it was just the two of them in the room.
“Yeah, a few. You watched with me when dads took care of their kids or went on trips together. Ah!”
He let out a short exclamation, realizing.
“Exactly. I just copied the kids on those shows. I threw tantrums, acted out, sometimes played the perfect angel. I doodled on the backs of old papers, ran screaming through the house, refused food at mealtimes. Oh, and I used to break plates now and then while eating—just to keep it realistic.”
Roil stared at her in disbelief.
“On purpose? Regularly?”
“Yeah. About once or twice a year, usually spring or fall. The first year I broke three, but I cut back as I got older.”
“….”
“I even tried to make sure I picked ones that looked a little worn, so it wouldn’t seem suspicious.”
“Meticulous, aren’t you. Maybe I should break a cup when I get home.”
“Isn’t it a little late for you to be breaking cups now? That was five years ago.”
She chuckled softly, shaking Neshu’s paw in her hand.
✿ ✿ ✿
“Ria!”
“Gerald? What are you doing here?”
Leaving Ellen’s reception room with her maid, Gloria spotted Gerald waiting not far away, her eyes widening.
“I saw you go in, so I thought I’d wait, my lady.”
Gerald grinned playfully, kneading her shoulder with his hand.
“So, how’s Ellen?”
“She’s perfectly fine.”
“Mm?”
He seemed pleased with that answer, pressing a little harder on her shoulder.
“Ahh, that’s good. Right there, keep doing that.” Gloria smiled, clearly in a good mood.
“Gerald, do you think Ellen likes Roil?”
His hand paused for a moment before resuming.
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?”
Gloria looked briefly incredulous, though he couldn’t see her expression from behind. If he had, he might have felt quite wounded.
“But it’s obvious. She left the training hall in a mood, then went straight to the stables and galloped off. The one she met up with and came back with was Roil. And now, being with him, her mood has completely turned around.”
“Not just a little better?”
“Much better.”
“….”
Gerald had no reply.
At the training ground, Ellen had barely acknowledged her father. But after seeing Roil, she had returned in high spirits? Unthinkable. Unforgivable. Of course, when he was dating Gloria he’d felt the same countless times, but that was beside the point.
My daughter Ellen will never be given to anyone!
He echoed in his heart the very same words once spoken by His Majesty the Emperor. Gerald’s face sank into a sulk.
He’s pouting, isn’t he?
Noticing his silence, Gloria slipped his hand off her shoulder, turned, and faced him with a smile.
“I’ve never seen Ellen look so at ease before. Come to think of it—you’ve never once seen her like that, have you? I just did.”
Grinning mischievously, Gloria teased him. Gerald’s lips jutted out in a pout before he suddenly spun around.
“Then… then I’ll go see for myself!”
He started to step forward, but Gloria grabbed him firmly.
“Don’t interrupt the kids. Come with me instead. It’s too much fun teasing you.”
She tugged him by the wrist, and Gerald instantly brightened, trailing along behind his wife with a wide grin.
