Before I knew it, his face was suddenly very close.
So close that if either moved slightly, their noses or lips would touch.
“Gulp!”
Eugenia’s eyes widened, and she held her breath as if she had forgotten how to breathe.
Enrique’s gaze was sharp.
It was as if he wouldn’t allow even a flicker of her eyes to move or let her escape.
“Our…”
As he parted his lips, his gaze shifted.
His blue eyes slowly traced downward, as if trying to redraw the outline of Eugenia’s face with just his eyes.
For some reason, where his eyes briefly touched felt like her skin was heating up, becoming sensitive.
Eugenia swallowed dryly and thought,
“This man isn’t ordinary. He’s a noble.”
Just as the man scrutinized her, Eugenia naturally analyzed him.
Though he seemed comfortably dressed at a glance, it was not so.
High-quality leather suspenders, a sharply cut shirt and trousers.
“Both fabrics look expensive.”
His gait was precise, and when dealing with others, he naturally acted condescendingly.
At no moment did he seem like someone who had ever felt intimidated by anyone.
The thought that he might be a high-ranking noble made Eugenia instinctively hold her breath.
But unlike Eugenia, Enrique didn’t blink once.
Although his focus seemed to shift away from her eyes, she still felt like she was being watched by him.
His low, secretive voice continued quietly:
“I’m sure I’ve seen you somewhere before. Don’t you think so?”
His eyes slowly rose again, locking firmly with Eugenia’s.
“Miss Eugenia.”
Even though she hadn’t done anything wrong, her mouth suddenly felt parched.
Only then did she exhale deeply, a breath she had been holding without realizing it.
It must have been just a moment, but somehow it felt like an eternity.
“I’m so nervous.”
Yes. This man had that kind of skill, though he seemed unaware of it himself.
Eventually, Eugenia found it difficult to meet Enrique’s gaze any longer, so she lowered her eyes and spoke hesitantly:
“As far as I remember, there is no Enrique. So even if you ask me that, I’m afraid I can’t answer.”
“I suppose that makes sense.”
Compared to the forcefulness of his question, he nodded as if convinced easily.
Then he slowly bit his lip again.
Tap, tap. With long fingers, he lightly tapped her lower lip and murmured,
“You definitely look familiar.”
Enrique kept studying Eugenia.
Though she hadn’t done anything wrong, she felt a cold sweat trickle down her spine.
It was like being a rabbit thrown into a beast’s cage.
“Where on earth have you seen me before?”
Eugenia quietly took a breath.
She simply could not relax.
After a while, the sound of Enrique’s footsteps on the wooden floor suddenly stopped.
“Ah.”
It was Enrique. Though it was just a brief, low sigh, Eugenia could easily guess that he had just recalled something about her.
Because of that, she tensed her shoulders and neck.
“Right, that’s where I saw you.”
She swallowed hard, her Adam’s apple moving noticeably.
Enrique looked at her with a faint, deflated laugh, then said quietly,
“You were a child kidnapper.”
…?
What did I just hear?
Eugenia froze as if time had stopped, not moving at all for a while.
When Enrique slowly started walking again, she snapped back to reality and reflexively asked,
“What did you just say? What did you call me?”
Blink, blink.
Because she heard something so unexpected, her reaction was slower than usual, both physically and mentally.
“Who? Me? What did I do?”
Breaking down Enrique’s words piece by piece, she soon fully understood.
Her eyelids fluttered rapidly.
With eyebrows furrowed tightly, she looked up at Enrique.
“A kidnapper? Me…?”
She barely managed to squeeze out the words.
Thinking, No way, that can’t be true.
But her faint hope was dashed as Enrique nodded his head up and down all too easily.
“It seems the person involved doesn’t even know. That a warrant has been issued for you.”
“Th-that’s nonsense. Is that really… true?”
Eugenia muttered to herself in disbelief.
Enrique, who had been circling her like a predator, stopped and crossed his arms, looking down at her with a crooked gaze.
“My goodness…”
Her eyes widened and she covered her parted lips with both hands.
After a long moment, she regained her composure and looked up sharply.
Then, she demanded,
“Wh-what! What kind of absurd and ridiculous accusation is that? How could I be charged with such a disgraceful crime… ha! Ridiculous.”
She looked quite flustered.
Watching her reaction keenly, Enrique finally shrugged and spoke casually,
“Are you asking me that now?”
“Ah…”
Eugenia still looked bewildered and shook her head weakly.
Her trembling fingertips were clearly visible even in the dim light.
Momentarily thrown by Enrique’s question, she then bowed her head as if gathering herself.
“No, I wasn’t asking. That was just me talking to myself. Sorry about that.”
She slightly bowed her head toward him, apologizing.
She controls her emotions well.
Enrique’s mouth softened for a moment, then tightened again.
Eugenia raised her head again and looked at him steadily, saying firmly,
“But I swear, I have never done such a thing.”
Enrique’s eyes narrowed slightly at her attitude.
Hmm.
Not bad courage against me.
Quite useful.
He couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.
It’s unfortunate, but there’s no need to take risks here on this land.
The moment he recognized her, his decision was already made.
“The truth of the charges you bear isn’t for me to judge.”
But what was this bitter feeling?
At Enrique’s cold words, Eugenia bit her lower lip slightly.
“You are right.”
Though she agreed readily, Enrique sighed heavily for some reason.
“Your employment is canceled.”
“……”
Her small hands, resting on her thigh, clenched the fabric, making deep wrinkles visible.
Enrique felt uneasy.
Normally, he wouldn’t have said more and would have simply indicated the door as the end of the conversation.
But like a pebble caught on his toe, a tiny hesitation held him back.
In a displeased, uncomfortable mood, Enrique added, almost as an excuse,
“I think it would be easier if there’s no chance for trouble.”
“I fully understand what you mean, Enrique.”
Unlike him, Eugenia accepted the situation calmly.
Enrique pressed down on his uneasy feelings and spoke again.
“I’ll tell Alberie.”
Eugenia nodded mechanically and rose from her seat weakly.
She looked distinctly different from when she had entered the room.
She was probably distressed by the final cancellation of her employment and dizzy from the unexpected news of being wanted.
“Thank you for your time. And thank you for telling me something I didn’t know.”
Still, she folded her hands and maintained her courtesy toward Enrique until the end.
Even though she was flustered, such poise was natural to her.
A skill gained from dealing with nobles.
She must have been a maid serving high-ranking nobles.
Enrique, lost in thought, suddenly stopped.
His eyebrows slightly furrowed, realizing he had unconsciously been paying close attention to Eugenia’s strengths.
Huh… Stop thinking. After this, we’ll never meet again anyway.
Thinking that further attention would be a waste of time, Enrique consciously pushed away the branches of interest reaching out toward her.
Then Eugenia’s voice came.
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
Enrique nodded briefly without a word and allowed her to leave.
Eugenia’s shoulders sagged, and with a complicated expression, she headed toward the door.
Step, step.
But suddenly, her footsteps stopped without warning.
After a brief hesitation, as if she had something more to say, she slowly turned back toward Enrique.
Enrique, pushing back his black hair in frustration, looked at her with a questioning gaze.
Eugenia looked at him nervously, just like when she first entered the room.
“May I ask you one thing before I go?”
“What is it?”
Enrique nodded readily, signaling her to speak.
But despite being given permission, Eugenia hesitated to open her lips.
Her mouth seemed so dry she bit her lower lip several times before finally managing to speak in a somewhat hoarse voice.
“Um….”
She swallowed again, glanced at Enrique with slightly fearful eyes, then closed her eyes tightly and shouted her question:
“Are you… going to report me?”
