maid chapter 23

Just then, the church doors opened as the service ended, and people poured out. As the crowd thinned, Ellie and Daniel stepped inside. Stained-glass windows instantly captivated Ellie.

“Wow…”

Craning her neck, Ellie gazed around the chapel. While the exterior appeared weathered and old, the interior was surprisingly spacious and clean. Daniel tugged her arm, gently guiding her forward as she stood mesmerized.

“This way.”

“Oh, oh.”

Led by Daniel, Ellie settled onto a hard pew. Although most seats were already taken, people continued to squeeze in. Ellie, captivated by the church and its occupants, spent a good while observing her surroundings.

Familiar faces dotted the crowd – the Stoner family’s staff, scattered amongst the pews, each in their preferred spots. As Ellie scanned the room, her gaze landed on the man seated beside Daniel.

Dark hair, a refined face. Involuntarily, a gasp escaped Ellie’s lips.

“Ah!”

Ian offered a slight smile and a nod. Ellie’s cheeks flushed. It wasn’t that she felt an inappropriate attraction to her friend’s lover—though, in truth, neither of them were.

Daniel and Ian, side-by-side. Could this be a secret rendezvous? In this sacred space, stealing furtive touches, hidden from prying eyes? The thought thrilled her as if it were her own secret.

Despite Daniel’s assurances, Ian felt a flicker of unease. He murmured softly,

「Is this really alright?」

「It’s fine. She’s an idiot, anyway.」

Ellie’s ears perked up. A foreign language she’d never heard before. Completely lost, she blinked in confusion. Daniel, as if sending a signal, winked at her. Ellie covered her mouth with her hand.

“Oh!”

A secret date! A secret language! Ellie exhaled sharply through her nose. She nodded vigorously.

“Yes, I understand! I won’t tell anyone.”

“Thanks.”

Daniel gestured towards Ian, as if to say, “See?” Ian, slightly embarrassed, rubbed the back of his neck. While “idiot” seemed a bit harsh, perhaps it wasn’t entirely inaccurate.

「I don’t know whether to be relieved or not…」

「Enough of that. Tell me what happened. Did you get a reply?」

「Not yet… But ‘Goat’ told me something unexpected the other day.」

「What was it?」

Just in case, Daniel covered his mouth as he continued speaking. Not wanting to interrupt, Ellie quickly opened her Bible. A yellow flower, tucked inside with a letter, sprang out.

Ellie glanced at Daniel. The two men were conversing quietly. She gently tapped Daniel’s hand.

“What?”

“This.”

Ellie shyly offered the flower. Confused, Daniel looked back and forth between her face and the flower. Ellie, with a bent index finger, subtly pointed at Ian.

Daniel let out a disbelieving chuckle. Ellie’s eyes sparkled with expectation. He could guess her intentions. She wanted him to give the flower to Ian. Because, in her fantasy, Diana and Ian were deeply in love.

Daniel was already taking advantage of her misconception, but he had no desire to encourage it further. The mere thought made him nauseous. Brushing Ellie’s hand aside, he said,

“You keep it. It’s yours.”

“Oh…”

Disappointed, Ellie tucked the flower back into her Bible. Haughtiness was attractive, but perhaps a bit of sweetness towards her lover wouldn’t go amiss.

Her thoughts were clearly written on her face. Daniel clenched his jaw to suppress his irritation. Ian, observing Daniel’s uncharacteristic behavior, simply smiled silently.

The service began. Hymns and prayers led into the sermon. While Ellie was relieved to be free from the endless lyrics, she couldn’t bring herself to be interested in the priest’s words. Soon, she began to nod off.

This allowed Daniel to continue his clandestine conversation undisturbed. He conveyed his message using a mix of scribbled code and hand signals. Ian tapped his finger on the pages of his Bible. Daniel mouthed the word,

‘What?’

Instead of answering, Ian pointed over Daniel’s shoulder. Daniel’s gaze followed.