TM 06

Chapter 06…

An Angelic Person

Deep blue eyes were staring straight at her. Bathed in the morning sunlight pouring in from the east, those eyes shone like sapphires. Lorelia was reminded of her mother’s sapphire necklace. She couldn’t look away from those beautiful eyes.

Just as he had done with her mother, the man extended his right hand toward her. Though the gesture was nothing unfamiliar to a noblewoman, Lorelia’s fingertips trembled as she placed her hand in his. The man lightly held her hand, gave a faint smile, lowered his gaze, and bowed his head to place a kiss on it.

His lips touched the third knuckle of her right hand. Lorelia thought the kiss lingered a little longer than the one he had given her mother.

“Welcome to Tricen.”

When he raised his head, he gave her a light smile. His manner was elegant and composed. Even after he let go of her hand, Lorelia found herself gazing into his eyes for a few more moments.

Only belatedly remembering that she should return the greeting, she fumbled slightly with the hem of her dress.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord of Tricen.”

She curtsied, and he responded with a polite bow. He smiled at her again before turning back toward the breakfast table where he had been sitting. The two women were guided to their seats, and Lorelia’s eyes followed the tall figure of the young lord.

Theobald Ferbrante.

He was tall with long, slender legs. He wore a black doublet and black trousers tucked into knee-high boots. The doublet was embroidered with gold thread, and the crisp white tunic collar peeked neatly above the neckline. Even without a cloak, his shoulders were broad and well-built.

“I hope the ladies slept comfortably through the night. It must have been a bit unsettling in an unfamiliar place.”

“Not at all. Thanks to your care, we were able to rest very well.”

The round breakfast table was just the right size for four people. Her father sat to the lord’s right, her mother to his left, and Lorelia directly across from him.

“Lord Hays told me this is the first time his wife and daughter have visited the South.”

“I’m originally from Rasello, and my daughter was born in Lorelaia. Women born and raised in the Central region rarely have reason to travel this far south. Unlike the men, you see.”

“You’re quite right, Lady Hays. I myself was born here in the South and have never left it. Whether man or woman, it takes courage to venture beyond one’s homeland — like Lord Hays here.”

“When I was your age, I hadn’t crossed the southern border either. You’re young; there will be plenty of opportunities ahead.”

“Your words are kind, Lord Hays.”

The young lord led the conversation with practiced ease and warmth. It was hard to imagine him as some frightened, pitiful boy. The rumors about him being a one-eyed hunchback were so absurd she couldn’t even laugh at them. It seemed that rumors were not always rooted in truth.

Lorelia cut into the omelet on her plate with her fork and put a piece into her mouth, though she couldn’t taste a thing.

“I’m curious, Lady Hays — what do you think of this place?”

The lord, who had been speaking with her parents, suddenly addressed her. Lorelia startled and lifted her head. The man seated at the head of the table, high-backed chair framing him, was looking at her. She quickly sorted through the jumble of thoughts in her mouth for something appropriate to say.

For years she had imagined Tricen as a place sealed off like a cliff, where one could hear the cries of a boy lord by the sea at night and where a dark sorcerer commanded ghostly servants. But such thoughts were best kept secret forever.

“It’s a truly beautiful place. I’ve only spent one night here, but everywhere I look is beautiful.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“And… I have a question.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“The bathtub in my room was gold-colored… Is it pure gold?”

Her sudden question made the lord’s expression turn briefly amused.

“I’m afraid to disappoint you, but it’s gilded.”

He answered with a bright, cheerful smile, as if her innocent question was too adorable to resist. It was indeed such a charming question that everyone, including the Hays couple, burst into laughter. Even the usually solemn head butler quietly smiled.

“Oh, I thought as much, but I couldn’t help wondering.”

“I wasn’t disappointed, truly,” Lorelia added awkwardly, embarrassed — and yet, she couldn’t help but think how beautiful his radiant laughter was.

“There’s a lot of gold ornamentation in the mansion. The exterior is pure white, but the interior gleams like gold. It’s stunning.”

“The South has revered gold since ancient times. We believe it brings blessings. Gold reminds us of the sun and light.”

Just like you, Lorelia answered inwardly.

“They say bathing in a gilded tub relieves fatigue easily. I hope it had the same effect on our guests.”

He added with a smile. Lorelia, in spite of herself, imagined him nude in that golden bathtub. The image was so vivid that she quickly averted her eyes, feeling heat rush to her face.

“I hope you’ll enjoy your stay while you’re here. We may lack the brave knights of the North or the fine armies of the Central region, but the South has many things worth showing, too.”

“You’re too modest. Everyone knows Tricen’s culture is the finest across the continent and the archipelago.”

“The craftsmanship of your jewelers is famous. This necklace was made here — it’s still the most beautiful one I own, even after all these years.”

“We Southerners love things like that: beautiful, splendid, and harmless.”

The Lord of Tricen laughed joyfully. It was a beautiful, dazzling, kind smile — one that made Lorelia feel an inexplicable urge.

A sudden surge of courage welled up inside her, born of an emotion she couldn’t explain.

Before she could stop herself, the words came tumbling out:

“I’d like to see the entire mansion — every corner of it.”

The thought came after. I want to spend more time with you. I want to talk with you alone. I want to know what you like, and I want you to know what I like.

I want to grow closer to you.

“Of course, if you permit it, my lord.”

Lorelia met his gaze. His blue eyes and platinum hair were directed solely at her. She suddenly felt as though the two of them were the only ones in the room.

Her parents had vanished from her awareness. She saw only him.

“I’d be delighted, Lady Lorelia.”

He answered with a smile — soft and radiant like sunlight. Lady Lorelia. He said my name.

Realizing that, her face flushed hot. Flustered and shy, Lorelia once again averted her gaze.

Thump, thump, thump. Her heart pounded loudly.

Breakfast was leisurely. They said the South had long days and mild winters, which made people unhurried — and it really seemed to be true.

The Lord of Tricen appeared to enjoy delicately colored fruit wine. He kept having small, sealed bottles opened one after another, explaining what fruits they were made from and which regions they came from, offering them to his guests. He said the wine was so light one could drink endlessly without getting drunk. Marilyn, who couldn’t handle strong alcohol, especially liked it, and the young lord was pleased by her praise.

He himself didn’t eat or drink much. He ate slowly, leisurely, chatting with his guests without a hint of hurry, as if he had no other appointments that day. Tricen’s lands were much larger than Lorelaia’s, so surely he had more responsibilities. Lorelia found it curious, thinking of her father’s constantly busy schedule.

But she was grateful for it — it allowed her to observe him at length.

The elegant way he handled the utensils, his long slender fingers holding the glass, the movement of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed wine — Lorelia tried not to stare rudely, but she couldn’t stop her gaze from drifting toward him again and again.

Theobald’s skin was very pale. Lorelia thought his face was as fair as Sir Cedric’s, her father’s old friend. It made his platinum hair and blue eyes stand out even more.

“So, what did you think of him? The Lord of Tricen, I mean. Daniel said he’s as handsome as Sir Redder.”

At Alicia’s question, Lorelia let out a small laugh. Daniel was her father’s guard knight and a distant relative of Alicia’s. It was kind of him to speak highly of the lord’s son, but to say he was “as handsome as her brother” was a bit…

“No, that’s not it.”

“I knew it, that guy was exaggerating again.”

“It’s not exaggeration, it’s just that…”

She couldn’t say that the lord was far, far more handsome than her brother. Redderhart was indeed a handsome man, and Lorelia loved her only brother dearly.

“Lord Ferbrante can’t be compared to my brother. He’s… how should I say it… he’s like an angel.”

“An angel?” Alicia looked at her with a bewildered expression.

“Do you mean like the angels in the paintings at the temple?”

“Yes! No, well… not exactly, but something like that…”

Lorelia shook her head lightly and sighed. The afternoon sunlight gleamed on Alicia’s glossy reddish-brown hair as the two girls strolled through the mansion’s hedge garden overlooking the sea.

“You know, when our eyes met for the first time, I couldn’t breathe.”

“You couldn’t breathe?”

“Uh-huh. He looked at me like this, and I honestly didn’t know what to do.”

Lorelia mimicked the man’s downward gaze with her chin lifted slightly. Alicia burst into giggles.

“I was so flustered I couldn’t breathe. You know that feeling when you can’t move because you’re afraid of making a mistake? My hands were trembling in front of him! Trembling — at nineteen! He must’ve thought I was such a simpleton.”

Ugh. Just remembering it made her squeeze her eyes shut in embarrassment. She pressed the back of her hand to her flushed face and looked out toward the distant sea. Beyond the white castle walls stretched a calm blue ocean like a lake. The sky was so clear it felt as if she could reach out and touch the horizon.

The sunlight shimmered on the water’s surface like silver scales. Lorelia stared at it for a moment, then thought how that deep blue looked just like Lord Ferbrante’s eyes. With that, she recalled the flustered girl at breakfast and let out a long sigh.