Sarah’s roughly gasping, flushed face was quite unfamiliar.

Even when embarrassed or on the rare occasions she was angry, only a light color would tint her cheeks.

Before she knew it, Sarah had approached and handed Eloise a small velvet bundle she held in her arms.

“Eloise, take care. Be careful…”

Although those watching the sisters had puzzled expressions on their faces, Eloise knew well what was inside.

Her straight chestnut eyebrows drooped weakly.

“No, Sister. I can’t accept it.”

“You’ll need it. So please take it.”

“…”

“Do it. Okay?”

Her heart felt heavy as if she had tripped over a stone.

But unable to turn away her beloved sister’s heart, Eloise hesitantly accepted the small bundle after much deliberation.

Her receiving hand trembled.

Sarah’s gaze fell on Archibald standing by the door, and as she quietly greeted him with her eyes, he opened his mouth as if feeling ashamed.

“Miss Bailey, I’m sorry but it would be troublesome to miss the carriage. There isn’t time to take the next one…”

“Yes, I understand.”

Sarah, who answered kindly, looked around at her family.

Her parents, the housekeeper, the cook, and the coachman. The simple and affectionate Bailey family all had reddened eyes.

Their brimming eyes told her it was now her turn.

With a poignant smile, Sarah hugged her precious younger sister tightly.

In her sister’s fragrant embrace, Eloise whispered.

“Take care, Sally.”

A two-wheeled carriage pulled by a single horse busily ran along the path over the grass.

Eloise, who was staring blankly at Archibald skillfully driving the carriage, opened her mouth.

“Thank you for seeing me off on purpose, Arch.”

“Save your thanks for the Earl. He willingly lent the horse and carriage.”

“…”

“You don’t need to thank me. I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do.”

The carriage carrying the two had already entered a road lined with tall trees on both sides. The refreshing smell of trees wafted strongly.

“I’m the one who’s grateful, Elcy. For letting me know you’re going to the capital.”

“You’re my friend, after all.”

If they were acquaintances who met at church every week to exchange greetings, the people of Maybury, Longfield, and Fairmont House were by no means few.

However, Archibald was the only one Eloise had informed that she was going to the capital.

Amidst the Earl’s grandson’s upcoming wedding in the village being the talk of the town, she decided to keep quiet so as not to create unnecessary gossip, but somehow she was worried about him being left alone.

Because once Ansel and Sarah became husband and wife, and she too left for the capital, there would be no one to share occasional silly old stories with.

“And it’s not like it’s some big deal. I won’t be there for that long anyway.”

When Eloise said that and closed her eyes, filling her lungs with fresh forest air, Archibald spoke.

“Are you leaving because of the young master and Miss Bailey’s marriage?”

“…”

“You’re not thinking of not coming to the wedding, are you?”

At the serious tone, Eloise opened her closed eyes. In the shade, her two pupils shone with a mellow color.

“How could that be? I would have left home someday anyway. It’s just been brought forward a bit.”

“So you’re saying you’ll come back before the wedding?”

It was a peculiar question with the premise that she wouldn’t return.

“Of course, Arch. How long do you think I’d stay in the capital by myself?”

“I’m worried.”

A breeze blew, full of the scent of the forest. Archibald’s brick-colored hair fluttered lightly.

“If I weren’t a servant of the mansion, I would have gone with you.”

“…What? Eyes on the road, Archibald!”

As she flustered in a startled voice, her old friend’s gaze hurriedly turned forward.

Phew, Eloise let out a sigh of relief and covered her flushed face with her gloved hand.

“Why would you follow me all that way?”

The blue veins on the back of Archibald’s hand holding the reins protruded. His voice that followed was somehow deep and low.

“Because we’re friends.”

“Friends don’t go that far.”

Even as she scolded him, Eloise suddenly had this thought.

He must be lonely after all. He may have colleagues, but I’m probably the only one he can call a friend. Thinking that way, she somehow felt sorry.

“Thank you, anyway.”

“…”

After that, no particular conversation was exchanged.

Although Eloise usually felt completely at ease with Archibald even without talking, it seemed like the first time his presence beside her felt this awkward.

At least the sound of the wind rustling the trees and the lively sound of horse hooves filled the silence, for which she was ever so grateful.

It was also fortunate that the Earl’s steed brought the two to the point where the stagecoach stopped earlier than expected.

Of course, the silence after getting off the carriage was something they had to endure.

“…Ah! Here it comes.”

Eloise, who had been sitting under the shade of a tree, got to her feet. Then the Earl’s servant also quickly rose from his spot and brushed off the dirt.

The stagecoach stopped just past the two of them.

A tired-looking man got off from inside and approached. Judging by his attire, he seemed to be the conductor of this carriage.

“Brightnum bound, two passengers?”

“No, just me alone.”

“Yes, one lady.”

Eloise took out money from her handbag and held it out to the conductor.

She knew there was money inside the bundle she received from Sarah, but her hand wouldn’t reach for it.

Because she couldn’t spend the emergency fund her sister had preciously saved up right away like this.

Archibald silently waited, holding the luggage bag while Eloise paid the fare.

“We’re departing!”

Then the driver’s shout was heard, and the conductor held out his hand as if urging her to board.

“Aren’t you getting on?”

“I’m sorry. I’ll get on now.”

The moment Eloise was about to take his hand, Archibald held out the luggage bag. While the man had no choice but to load the bag into the luggage compartment, Archibald approached.

“Take my hand, Elcy.”

“Thank you.”

A hand wearing worn lace gloves gently rested on a rough and calloused palm.

It was suddenly unfamiliar that their once similar hands had changed so much, even though they were still friends.

It was right after that she realized it had been quite a long time since they held hands.

When they were young, they could hold hands and walk without any issue.

What it meant for time to pass, what it meant to be ladylike… Eloise felt a bit dizzy as her thoughts reached that point.

“Arch, now…”

But Archibald didn’t let go of her hand. It was an embarrassing situation. The carriage wouldn’t depart until she took her seat…

As the passengers behind her back began to whisper, she broke out in a cold sweat from the perplexity.

Eloise’s helpless gaze fell upon her old friend’s face.

“…What are you doing? Let go.”

Archibald’s face looking down at her was somewhat flushed for some reason.

His healthily tanned face in the sunlight was no different from usual, but it felt strangely unfamiliar.

‘Ah, surely not long ago…’

On that day when he made her heart drop with his words about not liking the young master, were his eyes just like this?

“Eloise, you’ll come back, right?”

Archibald asked then. Behind him, the conductor stood with his arms crossed.

Eloise twisted her captured hand to break free and answered.

“Of course! How could I not come back when my family is here?”

“…”

“Archibald, please let go of this hand.”

“Okay.”

Only then was the gripped hand released.

Archibald’s body temperature must have been so hot that a light chill was felt where his hand had let go.

“Now, let’s depart!”

Just then, as the conductor jumped onto the carriage, Eloise swayed slightly.

As the conductor reached out his arm to close the door, Eloise hurriedly called out.

“Goodbye, Arch! Thank you!”

I’ll wait for you. He whispered through the closing door.

The moment Eloise tried to say something, bang, the door closed.

“…”

The stagecoach, which could easily accommodate twelve people, had only an elderly couple and two young men as passengers, so there were many empty seats.

Of course, as they got closer to Brightnum, the number of passengers would increase, but for the time being, it seemed fortunate that they could travel without discomfort.

It was regrettable that there was a musty smell inside the carriage like old laundry, but…

“I apologize.”

Eloise, who apologized to the passengers with an awkward face, took a seat in the back corner.

The passengers glanced at the young woman who had boarded the capital-bound carriage alone for a while, but soon lost interest and closed their eyes to sleep.

As the carriage began to move, Eloise somehow felt nauseous.

It suddenly felt unbelievable that she had boarded a carriage going to the capital, not for worship or an outing.

And with strangers whose names she didn’t even know…

Then, the sound of rustling paper, presumably a route map, and the voices of the men were heard.

“You’re saying it’ll take more than a day and a half? The next stop is…”

“Don’t make a fuss. As if anyone here hasn’t been to the capital before, like some country bumpkin.”

At those words, startled Eloise held her breath with wide eyes.

She clearly knew that it was quite a distance from Maybury to the capital, but suddenly faced with the reality before her eyes, it felt extremely daunting.

Although she had been pretending to be fine in order to persuade her family, Eloise, who had never left her family’s embrace since birth, felt a belated fear in the swaying carriage.

Can I do well? Was it too reckless?

No matter how much she was known as the bold Eloise at home, she was just a twenty-two-year-old country woman.

The owner of a delicate sensibility like glass beads, she was also quite ignorant of the ways of the world.

Needless to say, even she herself had never thought that she would suddenly leave for the kingdom’s capital like this.

Everything started with that proposal. So she couldn’t help but think of that man again.

“Ha…”

Eloise, who was inevitably thinking of him while looking at the familiar scenery receding through the small window, let out an anguished sigh.

‘Don’t think about it. I’m leaving to forget that person.’

Eloise tightly grasped her deep indigo dress. Then, as if making a resolution, she repeated inwardly.

It’s okay. I’m going to a world that is incomparably larger and more splendid than ever before, unknown to me. So once I reach the capital, I won’t even have time to think of someone like you.

When this feeling subsides, I will return to my family with confidence. So that I can live happily in spite of your presence nearby.

As her thoughts reached that point, tension belatedly released and fatigue swept over her.

She had already stayed up all night worrying.

“It’ll be alright…”

Eloise, who whispered faintly like a mist, closed her eyes as she sank into the seat.