CH 37

Turning her head toward the source of the tickle, Eleanor was immediately met by a pair of beautiful blue eyes. Kaidel smiled faintly. The way Eleanor does when she sees the children.

As if surprised, the eyes of the two widened slightly. Eleanor stared at Kaidel, missing the timing to naturally look at him. Because they had to go on a narrow road, the carriage was smaller than usual, and the distance between the two people sitting facing each other was not too far.

The sunlight pouring through the window was strong. The shadows on his face stood out. Eleanor watched as if she were appreciating the different impressions on his face as the light changed. Kaidel slowly closed and opened his eyes. At that moment, Eleanor was seized by her subtle feelings.

Then, suddenly, the feet of the two collided.

“Sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

Apologies burst out of their mouths at the same time. Eleanor jerked her head toward her window. As if looking out the window was the most important thing in the world.

‘Kaidel likes me.’

Eleanor recalled something she had momentarily forgotten, and her cheeks blushed. It was the first time she had been this close to him since the day he confessed to being jealous of Adrian.

As the carriage entered the narrow dirt road, the body of the carriage began to rattle little by little. Sienna looked at Eleanor and asked.

“Teacher, what do you do on a picnic?”

“We all see nice scenery, share food, play ball…”

“And what?”

Sienna asked again, her eyes twinkling. Eleanor winked at Sienna.

“It’s no fun if I tell you everything. Let’s keep the rest a secret for later.”

At that time, the carriage rattled greatly as if it had caught on a rock. Eleanor hastily grabbed Sienna with one of her arms.

“…Eleanor?”

Then Kaidel cautiously called Eleanor. There was a slight bewilderment in his voice.

“Yes?”

“No…”

Kaidel lowered his lashes slightly. Eleanor’s gaze fell to where his gaze was directed. At that moment, her face turned bright red. Her hand was on his thigh.

“Ah!”

Eleanor quickly withdrew and pulled her hand away from him.

“I’m sorry.”

“No need for that.”

“No. I’m really, really sorry.”

“It’s fine. Sorry.”

The two people, who were red-hot, exchanged apologies for a long time with gibberish. The air in the carriage became even more chilly.

She wanted to get there as soon as possible and get out of this confined space. She wiggled her fingers for a while as the sensation left in her palm was strangely evident.

***

Eleanor burst into admiration at the scenery unfolding before her eyes. The field, full of nameless wild flowers, was beautiful. The sky was blue without a single cloud, and a tall and beautiful willow tree stood tall on a low hill.

Lucas, who had arrived first, sprinted towards the carriage. Lucas’ cheeks flushed red, wearing a cute straw hat. After Kaidel put down Demian and Sienna in turn, they both started running toward Lucas.

“It’s Luke!”

“Why are you here so late?”

“You came a little early.”

The three children hopped ahead, and Eleanor kept her distance from Kaidel. Izmel, who noticed the two of them, lightly raised his hand.

“Hello, Your Highness. You’re here early.”

“Me and Luke were bored. I’m starving, how about we start from eating lunch?”

“Great. I brought it simple.”

At Eleanor’s words, Kaidel flinched as her hands were full, holding a heavy basket.

“Simple…?”

As Izmel spread a large cloth under the willow tree, Kaidel took food out of the basket and laid it out one by one. Eleanor brought the children and sat them down.

Lucas hugged the tree and groaned softly.

“I’m not hungry. Let us start with a ball game.”

“No can do, Luke.”

Izmel firmly stopped Lucas from doing so. As if he was used to this situation, he didn’t even look at Lucas. Eleanor asked, thoroughly wiping Lucas’ hands with a wet towel.

“You should wash your hands before eating.”

“Yes!”

The children were more excited than usual, and Eleanor’s words seemed to be halfway through their ears.

“Apples, bananas, cakes, orange juice, sandwiches…”

“Eat a lot, Emna.”

Sienna counted the food on the table one by one and made a surprised face. Eleanor laughed and left out some apples to hand to Adrian.

“So Eleanor, what are your plans for today?”

Izmel asked, picking up a sandwich.

“You two should eat well. You have a lot of work to do today.”

Eleanor continued with a light shrug of her shoulders.

“I thought about what to do on the picnic. I don’t know much about picnics, but I thought of a few traditional ones.”

Kaidel, who had been listening silently, asked.

“What is that?”

“First of all, playing ball. Throw or kick, I’ll leave that up to you. Play to your heart’s content.”

Eleanor took a ball from the basket and passed it to Izmel. Izmel bounced the ball a few times.

“We aren’t even children…”

Even so, Izmel couldn’t take his hand off her ball. Kaidel, sitting with his long legs stretched out, looked at Eleanor and asked.

“Are you going to do it too?”

No. I will never.

Eleanor vigorously shook her head. If there’s one thing that hasn’t changed even now in her previous life, it’s that there isn’t even a speck of motor nerves.

Izmel and Kaidel laughed at Eleanor. Eleanor looked at them alternately and said with a serious expression.

“I’m not the main character of the day.”

“Then?”

Izmel smiled and tilted his head. Eleanor replied forcefully.

“The children. Oh, and you guys too.”

“That’s right.”

“Exactly.”

The voices of Izmel and Caidel as they exchanged glances with each other and answered were full of laughter. Eleanor, with her hands firmly on her waist, straightened her shoulders and said proudly.

“I mean Highness should get closer to Luke and Kaidel and Demi. Adrian gets along well, but…”

“I get along well with Luke too. It’s Kaidel who’s creaking.”

Izmel pointed at Kaidel and said, as if it was unfair.

“Get along better than you do now. Kaidel is also working hard.”

Kaidel. Izmel quietly muttered, letting out a disgruntled voice. She said that it would be difficult for her to be called ‘Izmel’ because it was uncomfortable, but why did she mean by ‘Kaidel’?

As Izmel’s insides burned black, Kaidel scratched his back with his benign face.

“I’m trying, but it’s not as easy as I thought.”

“After hanging out together today and sweating, you’ll get a little closer again. Don’t worry too much.”

Eleanor soothed him with a sweet voice. Kaidel gave her a small nod as Eleanor spoke of how bright Demian had become.

As Izmel watched the two of them, who seemed to be lost in their own world, grumpiness welled up inside him. He interrupted the conversation, abruptly passing the ball to Caidel.

“That’s why you’re going to fall for it.”

“It’s not like I’m falling for it… I just want to act as a supervisor.”

Kaidel immediately continued the conversation.

“After the ball game, then?”

Eleanor glanced at the children, covered her mouth and whispered.

“I’m going to do a treasure hunt.”

“What treasure are they looking for?”

Izmel lowered his voice as well.

“Once again, today’s star isn’t me. It’s up to you to decide.”

Eleanor continued her words, making eye contact with Izmel’s.

“Think of a gift or two that is moderately nice and pleasant to receive. While you play ball, I will write it down on a piece of paper and hide it here and there.”

“Something like candy?”

“Something nicer than that. It has meaning…”

What kind of gift would be good. Caidel, who had been thinking hard about it, suddenly suggested it.

“About the treasure hunt, Eleanor, how about you join us?”

“Me too?”

Eleanor widened her eyes. After thinking about it, she thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give the children a small present.

“Great. But I don’t have anything nice to hang as a prize.”

Then Izmel said.

“It’s fine if it’s a wish ticket.”

Kaidel nodded his head in agreement.

“That’s enough.”

“What would the kids do with the wish ticket?”

Eleanor tilted her head, but Izmel and Kaidel seemed to be thinking about something else.

“Then is that all for today?”

Izmel, who shook off his thoughts, raised his body and asked in a bright voice. Eleanor replied with a stoic face.

“Yes. The goal is to get the kids to sleep well at night when they’re moderately tired.”

“I will actively cooperate.”

At that time, Lucas, who was rolling around on the grass, pointed his finger at a distant place and said,

“Sienna, your uncle is here.”

Adrian had arrived. Eleanor was also delighted and raised her body. Adrian was the only comfortable opponent here.

Adrian approached then politely greeted Izmel and Kaidel.

“Your Highness, Your Grace.”

Izmel nodded his head lightly to greet him.

“Forgive me for being late. I have to go down to the manor for a while.”

“It’s not too late. Rather, it was a little early. Isn’t that right, Kaidel?”

“Yes, that’s right. If you were busy, we would have taken care of Sienna even if you didn’t have to come.”

Eleanor asked, scrubbing a ripe red apple with the hem of her skirt.

“Rian, have you had lunch?”

“No. I’m not hungry though.”

“Eat an apple. Maybe you’ll sweat a bit today.”

“It’s fine. Thanks.”

Eleanor, who handed Adrian an apple, pricked up her ears. The sound of flowing water was carried by the wind. Eleanor lifted her heels and looked down the hill, she said.

“I think I heard the sound of water somewhere.”

“There is a small stream not far away. The water will still be too full to dip your feet in.”

Izmel naturally came and stood by Eleanor’s side. Then, Kaidel immediately grabbed Izmel’s shoulder as if to hold him in check.

“Go away. The kids look bored.”

Izmel asked, taking the ball from Kaidel.

“What about the sport?”

Kaidel shrugged his shoulders.

“It doesn’t matter. Either kick or throw.”

“What is the opinion of the Young Marquis?”

“I’m fine with both.”

Somehow, a strange tension flowed between the three men. Sensing that, Eleanor quickly intervened between the three and said,

“Then I will decide. I play dodgeball.”

“Dodgeball?”

“It’s simple. Divide sides and throw the ball to hit the opponent. If you dodge or catch it, it’s invalid.”

At Eleanor’s words, the men thought for a moment. Throw the ball and hit the opponent… Their fighting spirit boiled to the point of being strange.

“Great.”

“Good idea, Ellen.”

“We’ll do that.”

The words of acceptance came out of the three men’s mouths at the same time. As they turned and approached the children, the eyes of the three twinkled with enthusiasm.

Seeing that, strangely, a chill went down her spine. Eleanor exclaimed urgently.

“Of course you have to be gentle, got it?”