woke up chapter 16

Etheldred knew the looks people gave him.

Scorn and fear.

He knew that beneath the subservient politeness, there was always fear.

So, he thought things would be different with Ariel now that they were older.

She would know what his red eyes meant.

She would run away.

The image of Ariel recoiling from him was so vivid that Etheldred distanced himself.

He was used to it, but he didn’t want to experience it again.

Yet, his eyes always followed her. That was why he agreed to Iris’s request.

But today, he realized Ariel didn’t hate him, nor was she afraid of him.

‘What am I looking at? Your eyes?’

He thought she stared at him because she was afraid of his eyes.

‘They’re pretty, that’s why I’m looking! Go be ugly somewhere else!’

Etheldred’s cheeks flushed again, and he pressed his palm against them.

How could she say such a thing so casually? Was she a fool?

And asking to sleep together… She wasn’t a child anymore.

But her insistence was… a little cute.

No, actually, very cute.

Her sparkling eyes as she pleaded, her incessant chatter… No, what was he thinking, cute?

Etheldred shook his head, as if denying his own thoughts.

She was just a girl obsessed with food.

Well, maybe she hadn’t been eating well.

She hadn’t eaten dinner tonight either. He hoped she wouldn’t raid the kitchen in the middle of the night.

But knowing Ariel, it was entirely possible.

Well, I should tell them to make steak for breakfast…

Etheldred sighed, then mumbled defensively, as if realizing what he’d just said.

It’s just… proper hospitality.

“Your room is ready, Young Master.”

When Terry, the apprentice butler, approached, Etheldred nodded and headed towards his room. Terry, following behind, tilted his head.

“Young Master, did something good happen?”

“Not really.” Etheldred replied with an impassive face.

But his steps held an undeniable lightness.

“Is she staying at the main residence until Lady Iris returns? That, uh, Ariel Fay?”

Etheldred glanced at Rodbrill, wondering if his hesitation had been noticed.

However, Rodbrill, notoriously oblivious, simply replied, “I suppose so. I hope my aunt returns soon. If that demonic brat tries to threaten you, Young Master, just tell me! I’ll teach him a lesson.”

“Sir, you’ll end up rolling in the manure again…”

Rodbrill puffed out his chest proudly, but Terry’s words silenced him.

Etheldred’s lips curved into a smile. It wasn’t his usual polite facade.

It was so unusual that even his close aides exchanged puzzled glances.

But Etheldred’s thoughts were consumed by Ariel.

She’ll be staying at the main residence until Lady Iris returns, so I can see her starting tomorrow—well, no, I might just run into her.

The mere thought made him strangely excited.

But Father wouldn’t like it, so I shouldn’t let him see us together.

Marquis Steffen clearly disapproved of him being close to Ariel.

The look on his face when Ariel called him “Ethel.” His reaction when they sat close together.

Etheldred had observed it all and drawn his conclusion.

Until now, he had always obeyed Marquis Steffen without question, but for the first time, a rebellious feeling stirred within him.

He didn’t want Ariel to be far from him.

The thought that he was acting like a spoiled child made him blush.

But then Ariel’s voice echoed in his ears, and the embarrassment faded.

‘Such an old man.’

Terry, noticing Etheldred’s sudden stop, looked at him quizzically.

Etheldred hesitated, then quietly asked, “…Terry, do you know what ‘old man’ means?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. I’ve never heard that expression before.”

“Rodbrill?”

“Me neither.”

Rodbrill and Terry both pondered seriously. Then Terry answered thoughtfully, “Perhaps it means mature? The elderly have always been symbols of wisdom.”

“I suppose so.” Etheldred nodded, his cheeks slightly flushed, accepting Terry’s bookish explanation.

It aligned with what he had thought, giving him a sense of certainty.

But she would have said ‘elder’ if she meant that, not ‘old man’…

Rodbrill continued to think.

It sounded like something someone would say…

After much deliberation, he asked, “Who did you hear that from, by the way?”

“…Ariel Fay.”

“….”

Rodbrill fell silent.

It’s definitely an insult. It has to be.

But he couldn’t bring himself to say it. His master seemed unusually happy.

He decided to keep his mouth shut.