“I need to create an opportunity to make use of it.”

“Miss!”

Eliza was startled by my request to convey a message to Kilian.

“You just need to deliver this letter.”

Eliza began to sweat profusely while avoiding my eyes.

“I f-forgot to bring the laundry……”

Then, she began to make excuses that wouldn’t work to slip away.

I firmly grabbed her arm before Eliza could escape.

“Eliza, please.”

“L-laundry……”

Eliza rolled her eyes desperately.
When my plea went unanswered, I let out a short sigh.

“I saw you taking the laundry this morning.”

“Gasp!”

Eliza jumped.

“You were definitely asleep!”

Although I was lying on the bed, I hadn’t slept a wink last night. I had chosen and rechosen the words I wanted to say to Kilian in my mind countless times.

But in the end, without reaching a proper conclusion, I had to write a letter.

There were no unhappy experiences in the duke’s house, and there were reasons for leaving—a feeble excuse. And an ambiguous ending, expressing a vague desire to continue getting along.

Thinking again, I had no idea what I really wanted to say. Nevertheless, I carefully crafted the letter, one character at a time.

“Can’t you look at it just once?”

Eliza looked at me with eyes like a startled deer and tears welled up.

“Why don’t you want to go?”

“I-it’s scary! I can’t see, so, since yesterday, just meeting eyes feels like my heart might stop.”

“What are you talking about?”

Remembering Kilian’s order not to talk about herself, Eliza shut her mouth like a clam.

“Anyway, you could really die!”

When I consoled Eliza, she looked at me with a deeply moved face.

“Miss… As expected, you care about my safety more than anyone else!”

“Don’t die, don’t die.”

With a gentle smile, I nodded.

“People don’t die from making eye contact.”

I forcefully put the letter into Eliza’s hand, even though it was horrible.

“Deliver only this and bring back the reply.”

When Eliza, trembling at the horrible thing she touched, started to withdraw, I firmly grasped her shoulders with both hands.

“I trust you, Eliza.”

It was a little embarrassing for Eliza, but I was desperate.

“I won’t appear in front of Noona again.”

I really hated that.

Eliza stood at the entrance of the training ground, holding the letter and taking a deep breath. The training ground resounded with terrifying explosions continuously, making it seem like a battlefield.

Eliza swallowed her saliva.

Stepping inside the training ground even once would turn her into dust immediately. She had overheard the servants talking about it when they cleaned the training ground yesterday.

All the practice targets and dummies had turned to dust, and there was nothing left to clean up.

Her legs trembled, and she wanted to run in the opposite direction right away.

But if she did that, the young lady would be greatly disappointed. In the end, when the explosions subsided a bit, Eliza cautiously peeked her head out.

“What are you doing here?”

Kilian with a cold expression was standing right in front of her.

“Eek!”

Eliza quickly covered her face with her hands. Surely, he wouldn’t suggest practicing together because there were no more targets left.

Kilian squinted his eyes.
I had noticed Eliza’s awkward presence in front of the training ground for a while, but when I heard the explosions, instead of running away like other servants, she continued to loiter around. So, I had to come over.

“I asked what you’re doing.”

“D-dust, dust only, not allowed!”

It was the umpteenth time I heard this today. Every servant who encountered me shouted “dust” and quickly fled. I didn’t know what was going on, but I didn’t care. Already in a gloomy mood, I had no spare capacity to pay attention to the peculiar behavior of the servants.

Ignoring Eliza, Kilian headed back to the training ground. It was only then that Eliza regained her senses.

“Mas… Master!”

Kilian didn’t bother to turn around.

“The lady sent a letter today!”

Only now did Kilian abruptly stop. Eliza then boldly thrust the crumpled letter into Kilian’s hand and took a few steps back.

Kilian glanced down at the letter crumpled in his hand. In Kilian’s indifferent gaze, Eliza squeezed her voice, fearing he might discard the letter.

“P-p-please read it.”

Fortunately, Kilian tore open the letter and quickly read it. After Kilian folded the letter and put it back into the envelope, Eliza protested again with a squeaky voice.

“W-we need to get a reply too.”

“No need to do that, tell her.”

Kilian handed the letter back to Eliza.

“It’s already tough enough.”

The letter returned poorly crumpled.

“Haha, maybe because I was so nervous, I ended up crumpling the letter a bit.”

Eliza tried to comfort me.

“Still, I’m so relieved that I don’t have to send another letter.”

Eliza breathed a sigh of relief.

“Was there anything else?”

Worried that my hand might shake, I quickly hid the hand holding the letter behind my back.

“No.”

Eliza shook her head and imitated Kilian, narrowing her eyes threateningly.

“Tell her there’s no need for this. It’s already tough enough. Just like this.”

“That’s right…”

I forced a smile.

For some reason, Kilian’s smile, the last one I saw, came to mind.

“Got it. Thanks for delivering the message.”

I slumped back at the desk again.

“Are you planning to send another letter?”

I shook my head.

“No.”

And smiled again.

If letters wouldn’t work, then I would go in person.

“I won’t appear in front of Noona again.”

That was absolutely not allowed.