“Don’t be stubborn. Please let me help you.”

Eloise trembled at the soft voice that seemed to melt into her ears. Her toes felt numb for no reason.

There was something about Ansel Blaine that she simply couldn’t resist.

How many women could refuse when he spoke in such a weak voice right in front of them?

“I…”

Eloise had to arrive at the factory first thing in the morning, and she had to pour buckets of water several times on the slaughterhouse floor caked with blood.

Then, without being able to ignore the unpleasant warmth and texture of the chickens hanging upside down, she had to grab them and pluck feathers all day long.

After just one day of work, she reeked of chicken all over her body, shocked the maid with her filthy appearance, and felt utterly small in front of Ansel.

Naturally, she had no confidence to continue this work with a happy heart.

“Eloise, listen to me.”

“…”

However… she couldn’t just grab Ansel’s hand. She already felt guilty about just following him to Royal Arch.

She couldn’t cross the line any further.

‘Get a grip. You can’t lose control. If you do…’

She would never be able to escape from this man. It wasn’t hard to imagine such a future for herself.

After a slow, deep breath, Eloise parted her lips.

“I appreciate your words, but-”

“Another rejection?”

“I hope you can understand my choice. So if you really like me…”

“Ha.”

Ansel let out a short laugh and picked up the utensils.

‘Like,’ she said.

In his still vivid memory, she chatted in a bright smile, singing that she liked summer, ducks, and pebbles.

But his feelings for her were incomparable to such cute affection.

Late at night, if he opened the door and climbed the steep stairs, she would be there.

He could embrace her as much as he wanted, taste her soft lips, as she slept vulnerably without her stubborn gaze or voice.

Such urges surged up every night like an unbearable thirst, making him toss and turn.

He had endured countless grueling training sessions that left him breathless. He had stoically passed moments when he couldn’t bear it without digging his nails into his palms.

But he didn’t know that the breeze that blew the moment he first felt love for that little girl in his distant childhood would return as an unstoppable storm.

At that moment, a crystal-clear voice shattered his thoughts.

“It’s not a women-only factory, but I only converse with women.”

Believe such a lie. Ansel’s straight eyebrows slowly rose and fell as if telling her to do so.

“They have a policy to avoid unnecessary conversations between the opposite sex. It’s true. I’m telling you in case you’re worried.”

“You’re definitely toying with me.”

“Pardon?”

Eloise, who didn’t hear Ansel’s mumbling, leaned forward with curiosity.

Despite her obvious curiosity, her delicate eyelashes fluttered with tension. Her face was so lovely that he wanted to swallow it in one bite.

“… What did you just say?”

“…”

Ansel realized that his patience was rapidly running out.

Now, even such trivial gestures made him feel a burning thirst in his throat.

“It seems the workplace isn’t as bad as I thought. But if any problems arise, don’t hide it and tell me. Like today.”

After answering like that, Ansel began to neatly slice the grilled eggplant.

Then, feeling a gaze, he raised his head and found her staring at him blankly.

When Ansel shrugged as if asking what she was doing, Eloise also grabbed a fork and knife.

Amidst the small noise of utensils and plates clinking, Ansel asked,

“Aren’t you tired?”

“I am tired.”

For some reason, her answer sounded like a complaint, making him laugh suddenly. It sounded as if she wanted to lean on him.

Even though he knew that wasn’t what she meant, Ansel’s mood easily fluctuated with her every action. It was truly unlike him.

Anyway, despite her answer that she was tired, Eloise’s face looked quite comfortable.

She must be feeling a sense of reward for safely finishing a tough day.

How could he roughly grab this spirited and lovely woman?

In the end, the only conclusion left was that it was best to just watch her like this. At least as long as his patience lasted.

Yes. For now.

It had already been several days since Eloise started working at the meat factory.

The past few days with Ansel had been peaceful without any incidents.

As if she had learned how to be a good conversational partner without provoking him.

The reason it had been difficult for Eloise to deal with Ansel Blaine, the maternal grandson of the Earl of Huntington and the only son of the Viscount Monmouth, was largely because she considered him a completely different being from herself.

In her eyes, Ansel always looked solid and noble.

Indeed, everything surrounding him was like that.

However, Eloise’s mindset had undergone considerable changes recently.

Unbeknownst to Ansel, a small happening had occurred on her way home from work some time ago.

That was the beginning of it all, when she encountered a familiar face on the main street while hurriedly walking with tired legs.

‘Huh?’

As Eloise stopped walking without realizing it, the other person also turned to her with an equally surprised face.

It took a little effort to recognize him because of his unfamiliar attire, but he was definitely Lieutenant Bruce, who had first brought Eloise to Royal Arch.

‘How are you here now…? Did you quit the military office?’

‘It’s my day off.’

‘Oh!’

When he grinned at her, Eloise naturally smiled back at him.

She thought he would frown and hold his nose because of the factory smell lingering on her body, but thanks to meeting in an open square with a refreshing breeze, such an unfortunate incident didn’t happen.

Perhaps because he wasn’t wearing his military uniform, or because it was a holiday, he just looked like an ordinary, hearty young man today.

Eloise was simply amazed at how distinctly different his atmosphere was from when he had a expressionless face.

His smiling face seemed to resemble Archibald a little.

‘How have you been?’

Then, the lieutenant asked a question with a hint of strange curiosity, as if checking on her well-being.

Eloise gave him a customary answer that she was doing well thanks to him, and he laughed, saying, ‘You look like it,’ upon seeing her hair sticking to her forehead with sweat and her dress with white feathers sparsely attached. It was a pleasant smile.

However, the following question made Eloise a little stiff.

‘Are you still staying at that house?’

‘Why do you ask…?’

‘You have nothing to worry about. I haven’t informed anyone, and I won’t in the future either. As a subordinate, I am simply grateful that the captain has looked much more at ease since the day I escorted you to the residence.’

‘… I see. Yes, I’m still staying there.’

When she answered, overcoming her shyness at his considerate words, the lieutenant smiled with genuine delight.

As Eloise only let out an awkward laugh without saying anything further, he asked again,

‘Do you have anything you’re curious about me? As the captain’s lover.’

‘What?’

The moment Eloise was startled, a few pigeons fluttered behind her back, but she, no longer afraid of pigeons, calmly clasped her hands and denied his words.

However, the lieutenant, who asked if it was really the case, showed no signs of believing that she wasn’t the captain’s lover.

‘Still, I think there must be something you’re curious about. What he’s like during work, what he eats, what he does… anything is fine, I’ll let you know. Of course, I won’t tell the captain.’

‘Hmm…’

Eloise hesitated for a moment.

If she didn’t hurry back, Ansel might see her in this state. But in fact, there was something she really wanted to know.

It was probably a question that could never be answered except for this chance encounter.

Eloise wanted to know exactly what situation Ansel was in after turning his back on his family and taking up the officer’s job as his livelihood.

It was a feeling that stemmed from being indebted to him.

After a long hesitation, she asked about Captain Blaine’s salary, and for the first time, a look of embarrassment crossed the lieutenant’s face.

‘Ah, that… of course, it’s a lot compared to me, but it’s probably a pittance compared to the wealth his family possesses. In the first place, being a soldier is a profession far from financial rewards. Like other officers, I believe Captain Blaine was commissioned for the sake of justice and honor.’

Only then did Eloise realize.

The military office doesn’t know that he turned his back on his family.

In that case, Ansel was now in a situation that was not very affluent.

He must have pooled his personal assets to obtain a house in Royal Arch, and he must be sustaining his current life with his salary from the military office.

He had even brought up the topic of livelihood himself…

Eloise’s heart sank for some reason because such an ordinarily hard life seemed so unlike him.

It was ridiculous who was worrying about whom, but wasn’t he an aristocrat? Moreover, the heir to the great Monmouth family.

But that glorious name was no longer draped behind him like a backdrop.

At least not now.

‘Two maids, a groom, and a cook. He has to prepare meals for my share too… Should he be paying rent after all? No, before that, shouldn’t he return to his family as soon as possible?’

How much longer would he have to live like this…?

The moment her thoughts reached that point, Eloise finally returned to reality.

In other words, to the dining room where dinner with him was in full swing.