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Chapter Text

"Have you checked their bedrooms one last time?"

"Yes, miss!" the maid nodded eagerly.

"What about the food? They're probably be here in a minute now."

A different maid tasked to manage the kitchen answered this time, "preparations are done, miss."

"Perfect. Tidy up this hallway one last time. We'll greet the guests altogether."

At the young lady's order, the servants in the vicinity inspected the hallway thoroughly before gathering themselves outside, where other workers were already waiting.

Eloise Serverton was one of them, along with the man who was temporarily occupying the mansion. Ryan Sunton previously served in the war and had come to the countryside for recuperation. He was currently residing in the Blissbury mansion, and now was hosting special guests in his temporary residence.

Eloise glanced at Ryan and noticed something amissed in his appearance. His tie was bit crooked, and she made it known to him, though quite aggressively. "Fix up your tie, will you!"

"Ah," Ryan was already used to Eloise's tendency to overreact on small matters. He straightened his tie immediately, and turned to Eloise for inspection. "Better now?"

"Yes. And a smile please."

Ryan pulled the corner of his lips for what's supposed to be a smile, but ended up making his expression more unwelcoming. Eloise had no time to get angry, and simply poked him on the side to elicit a laugh from him.

"Ah! Why did you do that all of a sudden?"

"Your smile is simply horrendous. You'll scare the guests away." Eloise said. She averted her gaze and continued to anticipate the guest's arrival. Her eyes squinted when she tried to make something out of small moving objects. It seemed to be their carriages. They're coming!

"I can see them now, Miss Eloise!" one maid announced.

"Yes. The guests are finally here. " Eloise's stomach churned with anxiety. She had done things like this before, but only as her father's assistant. It was her first time to host guests ever since assisting Ryan in the summer banquet that had only happened months ago. She was confident she would do just fine as long as everything goes well. This anxiety was just normal.

The carriages that seemed small from afar stopped on the porch one by one. They were actually big, even towering. Everyone held their breath in anticipation of these important guests, who were said to be one of the most prestigious families in Kaiserreich empire. The Neuschwanstein family. Their family name alone sounds prestigious, what more of their actual presence? Eloise was dying to know already.

It was then a beautiful young lady got off the carriage. Her unusual pink hair was the first thing Eloise noticed. Other guests soon got off the same carriage and stood next to her. They were yawning, stretching their limbs, and even fooling with each other. The pink-haired lady was the one who scolded them after noticing their behavior.

"Children, what did I tell you earlier!" she said.

"It's Elias' fault! He keeps teasing me and Leon!" the young girl said in defense.

"She's right, Mama! Do something about Elias!" the young boy seconded.

"For God's sake, why can't you be normal just for once." A seemingly mature boy said in turn.

The young lady who had scolded the kids turned to Eloise and smiled in apology, "please excuse us. We tend to get rowdy, especially the kids."

"No offense taken, ma'am. It's nice to see you all lively." Eloise smiled. "Ah, my belated greetings. I'm Eloise Serverton, and this is my co-manager."

"Ryan Sunton," the man extended his hand in offer.

The other person took moments to understand that it was another form of greeting. She shook his hand with delight. "I am Shuri von Neuschwanstein. Thank you for having us here. Are you family, by the way?"

"No."

"No."

Eloise and Ryan replied at the same time. Based on the rate of their response, the guest took it as a cue not to divulge in their background any further. "I see... I spoke out of turn."

"No worries, Madam. We get that a lot." Ryan said. "We shouldn't stay here any longer. Please come inside, the servants will help you with your luggages."

Eloise nodded, and led the guests inside along with Ryan. The moment these people entered the mansion, Eloise had been hearing their comments about its interior design. She couldn't help but nod in agreement, because she had the same comments as well when she first stepped inside.

"What splendid mansion, Mama!" the young girl exclaimed.

"Look, Rachel! The chandelier here is bigger than ones in our house!" the other twin said, pointing to the center chandelier.

"You totally sound like a country bumpkin right now, Leon." When the red-haired boy commented, he immediately earned a glare from Shuri who communicated words using her eyes, 'Hold your tongue for once!'

Elias only shrugged after understanding her message, then proceeded to look away. Shuri glanced around to see if someone got offended by Elias' remark, and thankfully there seemed to be none. Or they simply ignored his comment.

... Except the person walking in front of them. Ryan saw how Eloise's mouth twitched with displeasure upon the teenage boy's rude remark. It wasn't even about her, but Eloise must've felt as though the words were directed to her since she had the same reaction as the young boy. But for the sake of work, she didn't reprimand the teenage boy.

Ryan applauded her for such patience. Then, he took note of the teenage boy's face for later.

Arriving at the drawing room, Eloise gestured for snacks and tea to be immediately served at the guests. Food trays came in, bringing in delightful scents of various pastries. Eloise didn't know their preference, so she picked the ones she thinks are good.

"I'm not sure if these food are to your liking, but please do tell me if you prefer a different one. I'll try my best to suit your taste." Eloise said after all snacks were placed on the table.

"We're not particular with food, don't worry." Shuri replied. "All looks delicious. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Miss Eloise."

"And Mr. Ryan Sunton." She also thanked the man. "Is it okay if I call you Miss Eloise and Mr. Ryan?"

"Our pleasure. Please refer us by that name." Eloise said, and Ryan seconded with a nod.

They let the guests have their fill for now. They must be tired from trip, so hearty snacks and sufficient are a must. After they were done eating, Eloise led them to their respective rooms. Their rooms were just next to one another. One room for each adult, and a sharing room for twins. As for their chaperones, the maids will stay in the servant quarters while the knights will stay in the spare guest room. Eloise was the one who made these arrangements.

"I'll be downstairs if you need something, ma'am. I'll take my leave now so you can rest."

"Yes, thank you so much. See you later."

Eloise nodded and waited for the young lady to retreat to her room before she sighed. It was a sigh of relief. She was glad that their first meeting went without a hitch.

"Don't be relieved yet. We still have a week to survive." Ryan suddenly appeared next to her.

"Good heavens!" Eloise clutched her chest. "Don't surprise me like that. It's bad for my heart."

"I thought you said my steps are too loud, like I'm always marching? So how come you didn't hear me?"

"I have a busy mind, alright?" Eloise crossed her arms. "I'll be on my way now. The kitchen needs supervision for menu." She suddenly pointed her finger at him. "And you, Mr. Ryan Sunton, is responsible for itinerary this week. The guests might ask which places to go, so better come up with a good list... due tonight!"

"Wait a moment!" Ryan tried to bargain, but Eloise still walked away. He was still not yet familiar with this place. It hasn't been long since he arrived in this town! And he rarely stepped foot outside, other than running errands!

But alas, he was also a co-manager, so he should do at least this much. He should first ask around if anyone knows a good place.

***

The sun had already set when the guest family came down for dinner. Ryan was back by then. Meanwhile, Eloise was helping with dinner preparation. Everyone in the kitchen had their hands full on either cooking or plating, so she had to step in for help.

"I'm sorry I took so long. What can I help with?" Ryan asked after he arrived at the kitchen where Eloise and several others at.

Eloise pointed at the dishes with her lips. "Serve these first. I'll send others in later."

"Noted," with a curt nod, Ryan took away the dishes. A smile automatically appeared on his face as he put the dishes down on the long dining table. The whole family was already there, chatting while waiting for their food.

"My apologies for delay. Please help yourself with these for now." Ryan said.

"It's fine, we're not yet hungry." Shuri replied.

The two exchanged brief nods with each other. Ryan went back to the kitchen to fetch another dish when Eloise appeared with two more on her hand.

"Let me help you with that." Ryan didn't wait for Eloise's response and swiftly took the platters away from her. The platters were heavy with food, even Ryan found it a little heavy. What more to Eloise.

Unable to protest, Eloise simply walked to the dining table and greeted the family. "Did you have a good rest?"

"Yes, that's why when we woke up it's already afternoon." Shuri said, feeling a little embarrassed about it. "By the way Miss Eloise, have you eaten dinner already?"

"I haven't, but I'll eat soon."

"Perfect timing! You can sit down and eat with us." Shuri turned to the man arranging the dishes. "Please eat with us too, Mr. Ryan."

Eloise and Ryan looked at each other as if they were trying to confirm the answer of one another. After only a second, Eloise who voiced out their unified answer. "We'll join in then. Thank you for inviting us, ma'am."

The two diligent co-managers joined the table and sat across from each other. Eloise chose a seat next to the twins, while Ryan took a sit next to the red-haired boy whom he gathered as Elias. The second son of Neuschwanstein family, and the boy with a rude mouth. Hah! He could finally have a moment with him. As for what he'll do, he's not so sure...

While Eloise tried to make a conversation with the twins, Ryan was planning how to get back at the boy in subtle ways. Since he couldn't afford to offend him openly, pulling a trick under-the-table might do.

"Why does this jar... won't open?" Elias muttered while trying to twist the lid of the jar. Ryan noticed his struggle. Of course he would. He was the one behind it.

"I can help you with that. Please give it here." Ryan offered.

"That's... no problem..." Elias insisted to do it by himself. His fingers were already turning red upon too much pressure. Yet no matter how he gripped the lid, it simply didn't budge. Elias put the jar down with frustration. "Forget it! I'm not eating it."

Ryan chuckled inwardly. He picked up the jar and thunk! The jar was easily opened.

"How did you do that?!" Elias took the jar from Ryan, marveling at it. Then, he glanced at him for reply.

"A country bumpkin like me can do that much," came Ryan's reply. He smiled at Elias like he really meant it. On the other hand, Elias wasn't even aware that it was his attempt to get back at him for offending Eloise.

Meanwhile, the other side of the table. Eloise had succeeded in befriending the adorable twins. They said they like her, because apparently, she's giving off the same vibe as their mom. Eloise couldn't understand the basis of their comparison. She couldn't see how she and the madam are similar.

Sure, she's younger than her, but she seemed to be mature for her actual age. It was pretty evident on the way she conducts herself... or was it also because she's educated? Eloise smiled uncertainly. "I'm just humble countrygirl. I can't be compared to your mother."

"You're really humble, Miss Eloise." The young girl who introduced herself as Rachel said. Then suddenly, she leaned over. "Want to know another thing?"

"What are you trying to say now, Rachel?" Leon was the name of her twin, and now he got curious when Rachel was getting secretive with Eloise. But Rachel didn't want him to know, and continued whispering to Eloise.

"See that man over there," Rachel pointed to Ryan, and Eloise followed with her eyes. "He likes you."

"Pardon me?" Eloise blinked in genuine surprise. She couldn't even bring herself to look at Ryan now.

"He. Likes. You! You, Miss Eloise!" Rachel thought putting more emphasis will help to make it clear to Eloise, who actually needed more than just emphasis of words.

She knew she had to refute Rachel's words even if these words were only said for casual purpose, yet she didn't. She went ahead with her curiosity. "Why do you say so..?"

Rachel sighed, feeling hopeless about Eloise's cluelessness. She still indulged her nevetheless. "He keeps glancing at you, like right now!"

Eloise paused. She almost turned to Ryan just now. But if she did, she would've definitely reacted in the way Rachel wanted. But why? Why would she?

There was only one explanation, and it was proven when she was trying to glance at Ryan. When their glances somehow timed with each other, Eloise finally experienced how her heart skipped a beat for another person. Ryan smiled after he caught her glancing at him, and Eloise was quick to turn away. She spent the rest of the dinner trying to argue with herself, no, he doesn't. He's only looking out for her, like a kind friend would!

Dinner was done and everyone seemed to be satisfied with it. Shuri thanked them again for hospitality before leaving with her children. While going upstairs, Rachel and Leon waved goodbye to Eloise, who waved goodbye in return. After that, Eloise went to the kitchen to help, but the servants didn't let her.

"You've helped us plenty, Miss Eloise. You should rest upstairs now. We can handle this." Eloise was turned away from the kitchen. She accepted their decision with a sigh. Then, she headed upstairs because there was absolutely nothing to do downstairs. And she was still avoiding a certain person.

Yet the moment she saw the rooms upstairs, Ryan was waiting in front of hers. Eloise tried to run away, but after she wrestled with her thoughts, she found herself a courage to step forward.

"Do you need something?" she asked as she came over.

Ryan handed her a piece of paper. "The list of places to visit. Finished it tonight, as you ordered." He was proud about it, evident on his expression.

"How wonderful! Thank you. Good night." After Eloise grabbed the paper, she headed inside in hurry. She didn't even hear him say good night. "What baffling behavior," said Ryan as he shook his head.

Chapter Text

The next day, Shuri asked for frequently visited places and Eloise readily handed her a list of places to go to.

"Looks like we'll be busy for the next few days!" said the young lady in spirits. "Thank you, Miss Eloise. We'll use this comprehensive guide well."

"I'll relay your thanks to Mr. Ryan. It's him who compiled the list." Eloise said.

"Please do. The children and I should get going now." Shuri thought of the time suddenly.

"Will you be needing a guide, Madam?"

"That is no need. We can navigate the places by ourselves."

"Is that so? Have a safe journey, then. We'll see you at the dinner."

"We'll be around that time. Have a good day, Miss Eloise, and see you later." Shuri immediately took off after that. A little later, she was going downstairs with her children. They waved goodbye before getting into the carriage, and left for the first place on the list.

With no one to look after, Eloise found herself plenty of free time. She didn't want to slack off, so she went through her list of work for this week. She decided it's best to buy something for the twins (and others too). Eloise could imagine their excitement when they received their gifts. Ah, she really should go!

"I'm off to market! I'll be back by noon." Eloise informed a handful of people just in case someone came looking for her. When they understood, Eloise left the premises by a single horse-drawn carriage. It would be a long walk if she didn't.

Not even a meter away from the mansion gates, Eloise noticed a woman waiting on the sidewalk. She was about to talk to her when the same woman walked towards her. "I'm sorry about coming without a notice, I'm Laura Sheldon." She bowed curtly. "I'm here to ask if you're still employing a governess?"

Did she see the Madam and her children leave? "I'm sorry Miss Sheldon, but the only children here are the temporary guests. I'm one of the caretakers of this house."

"Is that so..." Miss Sheldon was disappointed by the news. She tried not to appear dispirited with a smile. "Thank you for entertaining my questions. You should get going now, Miss."

Eloise nodded in return, but was unsure about leaving. She looked at the woman's luggage and it seemed heavy. She didn't want to leave her alone, so she eventually offered, "I can drive you down the town. I know a cozy rest place if you're interested."

Miss Sheldon turned around. "Really? Is it alright to impose this on you?"

"Absolutely, Miss Sheldon. We're off to the same way, anyway."

Laura Sheldon smiled. She carried her luggage into carriage and sat on the back. "Thank you very much." She wasn't the one to accept help easily, but Miss Caretaker simply felt dependable. Oh, she shouldn't refer her by the name. "May I know the name of my benefactor?"

"I'm Eloise Serverton," she glanced over her shoulder with a smile.

Serverton, Serverton. Laura heard of that name before. "Nice to meet you, Miss Eloise. Do you have relatives in London perhaps?" because that's where she met people with Serverton name.

Eloise deliberated her answer. She definitely knew about London because that's where she came from. "I was born in capital. I had relatives there, but we were no longer close after my family began residing in Feltham.

"I see, you're from Feltham. I heard of that place before." Laura recalled the name of the town after browsing places in the map, all in search for a family that needed a governess for their child.

"Are you from London?" Eloise asked in turn.

"Yes, I am from London," came Laura's quick reply. She felt the need to tell more. "I lived there before until my grandmother died. My uncle drove me out of the house ever since, so I had to jump from one place to another in search of a job." Laura don't usually tell the details of her circumstances to strangers, but it was different this time. Eloise wasn't from London, and she didn't feel judgmental toward her. She was just a passing traveler anyway, the young lady won't remember her story for long.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to dampen the mood." Laura realized her impoliteness.

"Don't worry about that. I genuinely hope you find a job soon. I'm rooting for you, Miss Laura." Eloise said.

Laura was right about her. She smiled, grateful for not taking pity on her. "Thank you for your kind wishes. I'll certainly do my best!"

The two then carried on a conversation about bits of everything. They found companionship in each other in just a matter of time. Unfortunately, they had to part ways now they reached the destination.

"That's where you'll go, Miss Laura." Eloise pointed to a small inn surrounded by other small establishments. Laura got off the carriage with her luggage and sincerely bowed. "I can't thank you enough for your kindness and good company. I hope to see you again, Miss Eloise."

"I have a feeling we'll meet each other again, Miss Laura." Eloise also bowed.

After dropping off Laura Sheldon at the traveler's inn, Eloise was finally heading to the original destination. She was parking the carriage nearby when she heard a familiar voice. "Miss Eloiseeeee!"

"Rachel..!" Eloise waved excitedly after she recognized the kid. The Neuschwanstein family was also venturing the town. They were also accompanied by people that are new to her. A foreigner woman with golden hair, and a foreigner man with silver hair. Are they her friends?

"Hello again, Miss Eloise. We've visited the first place on the list. It was wonderful!" Shuri said. "Ah, meet my friends first. They're also here for vacation." She gave the opportunity for the two to introduce themselves.

"I'm Rudbeckia van Omerta, and this is my husband Iske van Omerta." The young lady curtsied at Eloise while her husband nodded his greetings. "Lady Neuschwantsein has mentioned about you. You're the lovely host of the place they're staying in."

"You flatter me, milady." Eloise smiled. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. I'm Eloise Serverton. Nice to meet you, Lady Rudbeckia and Lord Iske." She bent her knee to curtsy.

"Nice to meet you too. Did you come here by yourself?" Lady Rudbeckia asked.

"Yes, I came here by driving a carriage." Eloise stroked the horse's face inadvertently. She was suddenly reminded of the time. Madam Neuschwanstein and her friends had places to go and she had an errand to run, so she took the liberty to cut the conversation short. "Ah, I shouldn't keep you any longer! It's best if you all get going now."

Eloise turned to Lady Rudbeckia once again. "If you have spare time, please come visit us in the house. We'll serve you our best tea."

Lady Rudbeckia was happy about her offer. "I'll certainly make time for that! I'll visit you one of these days."

"We'll expect you soon then." Eloise smiled. After that, Shuri and her company left for the next destination. It was good that she had friends to accompany her and her family on these places. Deserters have been coming around this area, and there's no telling when they will attack. Madam Neuschwanstein's knights will protect them for sure, but it's also assuring to have one more fighter in their company. The man with silver hair looks tough.

Anyway, she should get going now too. She must find a shop the Neuschwansteins haven't visited yet. The gifts must be something new to their eyes. In line with that thought, Eloise thought of a place she frequented when she was young. There's a shop tucked away in a quiet alley that sells various things. Mostly locals know about it because it's not advertised as much. Even so, its products were made of high quality.

Eloise did a five-minute walk to get to the place. When she arrived, the old lady she knew back then was still well and alive greeted her. "Oh Eloise, is that you already?"

An old man turned around to take a look. He beamed when he recognized the little girl from before. "Come here, you little girl!" He opened his arms for a hug.

"It's nice to see you again, Grandpa!" Eloise said as she sank in a familiar embrace. She hugged the old lady too afterwards. "I miss you so much, Granny."

"I miss you too. It's been so long since I last saw you. You're a lady now."

"I'm sorry for not coming by often... and yes, I'm a grown-up woman now!" Eloise smiled proudly, which reminded the old lady of her smile before. She was missing a tooth back then, but she's still carrying the same cheekiness till now.

"What brings you here anyway? Are you looking for trinkets to give as a gift?"

"Not exactly trinkets, but I'm buying anything for gifts. I'm hosting guests from afar, and I wanted to give them something special from our town. Can you recommend me something for children and adult?"

"I have few in the back. While I fetch them from the storage, take a look around. Maybe something catches your fancy." The old lady said and brought along her husband to help her with carrying stuff.

Eloise did so and checked out the items on display. She tried to remember Neuschwanstein's family members and think of what they might like. The eldest, Jeremy, seemed interested about weapons. She caught him staring at the sword display yesterday. The second oldest, Elias, might like about paintings because Eloise saw him inspecting the wall paintings a couple of times. The twins, Leon and Rachel, should probably want something fun. As for Madam Neuschwanstein, Eloise wasn't sure. The madam seemed as though she was okay with everything, but every person should naturally have fondness for a thing or two, right?

As Eloise browsed the items on display, she suddenly felt a tug on her skirt. She turned around but found no one until she looked down. A girl was pointing to the doll, "it looks pretty, Mama. Can we get that?"

Whose child is this? Eloise looked around. Then she crouched down, careful not to spook the child. "You've got the wrong person, but yes, I think it's pretty too." She smiled.

The child immediately put her hand back on her chest after she saw Eloise. "You're not mommy! I'm sorry!"

"It's alright. Want me to help you find your mommy?"

"That..." the girl's words trailed off. Coincidentally, a heaving woman came over and instantly frightened the girl with her presence. She spoke once and frightened the girl even more. "Lila Precious Hayworth. What did I tell you earlier?"

"M-mommy, I-I'm sorryyyyy..." the girl ran to her mother's arms and cried. The woman, who turned out to be the girl's mother, sighed and put her worries off.

"Don't cry now... I'm not angry at you. Mommy was just worried." The woman turned to Eloise. "I'm sorry for troubling you, Miss."

"It wasn't a trouble for me, ma'am." Eloise shook her head. While they were standing, a man came over and sighed in relief after seeing the girl with her mother. He must be the husband, Eloise said in her mind.

"Lila, you naughty girl. Don't run off next time," he said. The girl had finally stopped crying by then. She nodded with tears on her eyes, "Sorry, Daddy. I won't do it again."

The worried father pinched her cheek then wiped her tears. He looked at Eloise to thank her for her help. "Thank you for helping us find her, Miss."

"I didn't do anything." Eloise felt as though she had been receiving too much misguided gratitude lately. Not wanting to drag this conversation, she asked about them. "Are you perhaps visiting the town?"

"Yes, we're visitors. A friend of ours suggested this place for vacation." The woman answered. "I'm Dillon Hayworth, by the way. My husband, Cedric Hayworth. And my child, Lila Hayworth."

Eloise took note of their names and their faces as the woman named Lady Dillon introduced theirselves. When it's her turn, Eloise bowed, "I'm Eloise Serverton. I live around the town."

"How lovely to meet you, Miss Eloise."

The owners of the shop came back by then. Taking it as cue to leave, the family bade their farewells to Eloise before finally taking off. "We'll better get going now. Say goodbye to Miss Eloise, Lila."

The girl in her father's arms smiled tootily. "Bye bye, Miss Eloise!"

"Bye, bye, Lila! Have a good day." Eloise waved back.

The family also thanked the elderly shop owners. They were smiling at each other as they exited through creaky doors. Granny naturally asked her about them. "Are they your friends, Eloise?"

Eloise shook her head. "They're visitors, Granny. I've only met them now."

"I see, I see." Granny took the items out of the boxes to put it on view. While Granny emptied other boxes, Eloise took this moment to pick something for the twins first. Their gifts were relatively easy to look for compared to other Neuschwanstein members. True to her thoughts, Eloise soon found a lovely miniature dollhouse for Rachel and puzzle blocks for Leon.

Elias was next. Finding a gift for him felt as though she was shopping for herself. Eloise was fond of paintings and even made it into a hobby, so she was familiar with the tools and the materials for it. While she wasn't sure about the depth of Elias' interest for paintings or if he was fond of it in the first place, Eloise still bought tools and materials for him anyway.

The eldest was next. Since she couldn't possibly give him a dangerous object such as sword, Eloise had to think of a proper substitute for it. How about a wooden sword? Grandpa crafted practice swords for the army before. They were sturdy and reliable, safe for a young lad's use. "Grandpa, do you still have practice swords in stock?" asked Eloise after not finding it anywhere.

"Yes, I kept it in the back for safety. Kids were coming here lately and they might use it for fun." He explained. "Is it also a gift for your guest?"

"Yes, I'm giving it as a gift."

"Alright then. I'll take them out." Grandpa went inside to fetch Eloise's wooden sword. Eloise decided to find a gift for Madam Neuschwanstein while she was waiting for Grandpa. With no certain idea in mind, she decided it's best to browse the entire display until she finds something that may catch the noblewoman's fancy. She found a few candidates until she narrowed it down to two.

Grandpa was back by then. Eloise had chosen stamps and postcards that feature landscapes in town for Madam Neuschwanstein, believing she would put it to good use in the future. The Madam seemed to be the type to put her thoughts into writing. When Eloise gathered everything she needed, she thanked the elderly couple and hugged them before she left.

She was finally done with buying gifts. She hoped that they'd like them. Now it's time to go back to Blissbury mansion for lunch.

Chapter Text

Why's Eloise not here yet? The maid said she's going to be back by noon. Did something happen on her way back? He recalled about the recent attacks and it only made him more worried. The more Ryan thought, the more he felt ominous about Eloise's delay. The maids watched him as he paced back and forth restlessly, unable to calm him down since earlier.

"Oh, here comes Miss Eloise!" the maid exclaimed as she spotted a carriage approaching the gates. Ryan turned around to confirm and heavens, it was really Eloise. He walked to the carriage eagerly. "You should've brought me along. You know it's dangerous to be out alone." Ryan said as he helped Eloise bring her things inside.

Eloise frowned then sighed. She didn't like to be nagged, but he got a point. "Fine, I'll bring you along next time. I just didn't want to bother you because you seemed busy earlier."

What could he possibly be busy about? "Even so... Just ask." And he'll drop whatever he's doing at once. Seeing her safe brought him relief, but it might feel uncomfortable for her if he kept looking her way. Ryan asked about the stuffs they're carrying for a change of topic. "What are these things you bought, by the way? Why a wooden sword?" the sword wrapped in paper was the first thing Ryan noticed among the things she bought.

"I'm giving these as gifts for the guests. " Eloise was thrilled at the idea of handing out gifts she had personally picked. She smiled. "Check these all out! I want to know your opinion."

They put it on the table and carefully opened them one by one. There were five items in total. Eloise arranged them in order of recipients' age, from oldest to youngest. Ryan picked up the stamps and postcards, flipping one after another. "Who are these for?"

"It's for Madam Neuschwanstein," Eloise replied.

Ryan picked up the wooden sword. "And this one?"

"For Young Master Jeremy."

Ryan nodded when he realized how the gifts were sorted. "This one must be for Young Master Elias." He recognized these tools are for painting and inspected them briefly.

"Yes, and these are for the twins!" Eloise showed him the miniature dollhouse for Rachel and the puzzle blocks for Leon. She looked at him with anticipation. "What do you think now?" Are they good? Did she pick out gifts well?

Ryan tried not to smile too much when Eloise tried to seek his approval. She looked so adorable that he wanted to squeeze her cheeks then and there. But first, he had to calm himself down. He had a job to do. "I think they're appropriate and great. You did an impressive job picking out gifts for the guests."

Eloise smiled as though the tip of her nose was stretching out because of proudness. "Guess it's already expected of me~"

"Alright, alright. Let's put the wraps back now and eat." Ryan initiated the clean up and Eloise followed his suit.

"Agreed. I'm starving already." Eloise complained.

It's been a while since they last shared a meal together alone, and that while being just two days ago. Perhaps because of her current excitement, Eloise somehow forgot what Rachel had told her last night about Ryan. Thanks to that, she was able to enjoy good food in his company.

The night eventually came. Just as promised, the Neuschwansteins were home by dinner. Everyone was tired from today's excursion. Thankfully, they came home with a hearty meal already served on the table. They all dug in with much delight. After they were done with dinner, Eloise asked Shuri about their plans tomorrow.

Shuri replied. "Since we've visited plenty of places today, I think we can take it a little easy tomorrow."

"That sounds a good plan, Madam. Well then, I wish you a goodnight." Eloise bowed curtly.

"Goodnight too, Miss Eloise." Shuri nodded back.

***

Unfortunately, Rachel came down with a fever the next morning. Leon was fine but he refused to leave his twin alone. Shuri had no choice but to let the older children go for today's excursion, because she couldn't possibly leave the twins alone.

"May I trouble you with a favor, Miss Eloise?" Shuri asked. "Please keep an eye on those boys for this day. I'm worried that they'll find themselves in trouble without someone looking after them."

"No problem at all, Madam. I'll ask Mr. Ryan to accompany us, if it will make you less worried."

"That will be very reassuring, Miss Eloise. Thank you so much." The young mother sighed in relief. "I should go back to the twins now."

"Please let the maids know if you need something."

"I will. Have a safe trip!"

"Take care, Madam." Eloise bowed curtly and proceeded to meet with Jeremy and Elias. Ryan was in the hallway so she talked with him first about looking after the older children together.

"Did the Madam say where the young masters are going?" Ryan asked.

"She didn't, but I suppose we'll follow the list of itinerary."

"We know where to go then." Ryan picked up his coat and went upstairs to fetch the young masters. Eloise had readied herself beforehand and waited on the porch. She talked with the Neuschwansteins' knights about today's plan, and thankfully they were already informed beforehand.

Soon after that, the young masters were walking out the main door. "Good morning, young masters. We will be joining your company today." Eloise bowed.

Jeremy greeted Eloise with a polite nod while Elias announced, "Wee! We can finally have some fun!"

"Behave yourself, Elias. You're not a kid anymore." Jeremy shot a look at his sibling who flinched at his sharp reminder. They got into the same carriage afterwards while Eloise and Ryan opted for horses.

"Before we head off, is there any place you want to be?" Eloise asked.

"Blacksmith."

"Park."

Jeremy and Elias spoke at the same time, but with different suggestions. Elias was the first to complain about his brother's suggestion. "There's nothing to see there. What's the point of going to such a boring place?"

Perhaps Jeremy was offended by his casual remark on the place he liked, he snapped. "Well, does that perfectly describe a park. You just want to dally with the young ladies."

"It isn't boring at all!!" Elias snapped back.

They were about to skin each other alive when Ryan suddenly opened the carriage door, smiling ominously, "Would you like to take your scuffle outside, gentlemen?"

Jeremy was the first to concede after he realized his behavior. "No, forget it. Just take us to where we're supposed to be."

Elias rolled his eyes and said nothing, but his head was nodding in agreement. Ryan smiled genuinely this time. "Perfect. We have an agreement now."

After he returned to the front, the knights looked at each other in disbelief. The caretaker was a tough man. He managed to get a rein on the young masters in just a short time.

Eloise and Ryan continued leading the company to the plaza. Without anything to do, Elias was bored and decided to look out the window. He inadvertently watched the two adults on horses until he only focused on Eloise. She's pretty cool. She can ride a horse by herself. "How old do you think is Miss Eloise?" He eventually voiced his curiosity.

Jeremy glanced at him. "I'm not sure. Are you interested in her?"

Elias didn't deny him quickly and found himself thinking about it. "It's not as though I like her... I just think she's pretty cool."

Well... Jeremy took a peek at Eloise. She was probably older than Shuri, but she was already responsible of managing a huge mansion. Just like Shuri. While it wasn't an astonishing fact, it was no easy feat. It only means she was skilled and always disciplined. "She seems a nice and responsible adult."

"You find her pretty too?"

"I never said anything about her appearance," Jeremy sighed, hopeless about his brother. He could've just said she's pretty and he likes her. But the way he sees it right now... "It's alright if you like her. I just don't think she will entertain you."

"But I never said I like her," Elias murmured. "Is it because of Mr. Ryan? It's obvious that they're together."

"Shuri says they aren't. But they might be, given where they are right now." Jeremy said, as he observed the two adults smiling at each other as they shared a casual conversation. He turned to Elias. "Just give her up, Elias."

"You're misunderstanding me again! I don't like Miss Eloise at all." Elias looked away and huffed. Jeremy tried not to laugh about it, but it was quite obvious that he admired Miss Eloise. Had she been younger, Elias would have definitely pursued her.

After that, they lounged on the carriage for a bit longer. They hadn't left this endless forest yet. The scenery remained the same old field of trees. It was relaxing at first, but it's gotten boring over time. They didn't even take this long yesterday. Were they taking a different road perhaps? Jeremy knocked on the window and a knight immediately responded to it.

"What is it, young master?" Everett asked.

"Are we taking a different road?"

"We are. Mr. Ryan said this path is safe from deserters attacking the area."

But isn't the forest considered a perfect place for crimes? Jeremy wanted to know the logic behind the decision of changing routes, but Everett wasn't the right person to ask. He should have a chat with Mr. Ryan later. "Alright. That's all."

The knight bowed and returned to the back immediately. Just as Jeremy was about to rest, the carriage staggered suddenly, shaking them off their seats. He looked at Elias and he seemed alright.

"What's happening!?" Elias asked, trying to return to his seat. It prompted Jeremy to look outside. He was about to call a knight when someone already came over to explain the situation.

"Are you alright, young masters?" Alberon asked about them first. Jeremy nodded, and gestured him to get to the explanation. The knight heeded right away. "The carriage wheel was broken. We have a spare wheel, but it might take a moment to install the new one."

The news disappointed Jeremy, but he didn't express it openly. "We will wait outside. Come, get off the carriage, Elias."

When they stepped out the carriage, Eloise hurriedly checked in on them. "Were you two alright? Didn't get hurt?"

"I'm fine. Elias is fine," Jeremy replied in a matter-of-factly tone. He then walked to a near distance and crouched. Elias soon arrived on his side and waited along with him. He was sighing from time to time, possibly from boredom.

While Ryan helped the knights change the wheel, Eloise stayed with the young masters. She was deliberating a topic for conversation, but further observation told her not to even attempt one. They were both frustrated about getting stuck in this place. She should remain quiet as respect.

... But few moments in, Eloise was already regretting the silence. She decided to walk away for personal space. While she looked at the trees to relax, she unexpectedly found something interesting. A river from afar! She recalled splashing in one around the town, but she hadn't expected it to stretch out into the woods. Eloise immediately thought of a plan. "Young masters, do you want some distraction?"

Jeremy didn't bother to glance, but he responded, "What do you suggest?"

Eloise was more than happy to tell. "There's a river nearby. We can play stone skipping, or dip in the water! Perhaps catch some fish while we're at it!"

"That's your suggestion...?" Her suggestions were clearly benefitted to one people— herself. "Thank you for the kind offer, but I will pass on this one. I'll just wait here," said Jeremy.

"What a pooper!" Elias got up from his place. He turned to Eloise and smiled, "Forget about him. I'm coming with you, Miss Eloise!"

"You're not leaving alone." Jeremy grabbed his shoulder that prevented him from walking away. "I'll go with you now." Because it's a bad idea to leave Miss Eloise alone with you.

"You changed your mind easily?" Just stay behind and let me have some alone time with Miss Eloise!

Unaware of their thoughts and intentions, Eloise watched them bicker with a smile on her face. Afterwards, they went back to the carriage to inform others of their destination. Alberon was the first to agree, but with a condition. "You can take Mr. Ryan and Everett with you."

"That will only slow down the repair. We can go by ourselves. Isn't this place free from deserters?" Jeremy argued his point.

Alberon sighed. They will always be looking out for them, despite the guarantee of safety. However, pulling out men to guard them will truly slow down the progress. They had to finish the repair as soon as possible. "Take Mr. Ryan with you. We can still work on this quickly."

"Fine. Let's get going now." Jeremy said, heading off in the direction where Eloise had seen the river. Ryan did not refuse and walked with them.

"How did you find this river?" Ryan leaned over to whisper. When his breath suddenly brushed her ear, Eloise flinched, but she did not shout.

"Why are you whispering?" she whispered back from a distance. A faint blush was already creeping up her cheeks.

Ryan chuckled, unaware of Eloise's reaction because he was looking away. "I don't know. I just feel like it. What's your answer now?"

"I found it by chance, alright?" She sighed as if to release the tension in her chest. "I'm not sure if it's the same river I've swum in before."

When her childhood memories were brought up, Eloise couldn't help but tell some tales until they reached their destination. The river was long, and it was hard to tell where it ended. Taking off her shoes, Eloise dipped her toes in it. The water was cool, but not cold. She turned around. "The water feels nice!"

Elias nodded excitedly and took off his shoes to join Eloise. Jeremy settled down on a rock and watched Elias pull out his socks. "Are you seriously going?" he asked.

"There's no reason not to go," Elias finally took off his shoes and socks. "If you don't want to go, then just watch."

"Don't tell me what to do," Jeremy grumbled. Without someone stopping him, Elias ran into the river until his ankles were soaked with water. The stones were smooth, so it didn't hurt stepping on them. He was absolutely having fun! "A fish! I saw a fish!" Elias exclaimed, pointing to the freshwater fish in the shallow water.

"Where is it? Where did it go?" Eloise looked around the area, her eyes scanning the shallow water. Ryan was also trying to help from a distance, but he remained on dry land for convenience. "Try tapping your foot," he suggested. "You need to see them move."

"Got it!" Eloise tapped her foot, and to her surprise, the fish moved. It blended with the stones so well so she hadn't noticed it was only a few inches away from her feet. Crouching down, she aimed to catch it with her bare hands.

Splash! The fish got away on her first attempt. Seeing Eloise aim for the fish, Elias followed her and also looked around carefully as well. While the two were busy searching for the fish, Jeremy found himself staring at the water's surface. The water was clear and sparkly as the sunlight reflected off it, bringing a sense of calm. How long had it been since he last passed the time without purpose?

Wait, something moved in the water. Jeremy would have called the two over if they were only nearby. But Miss Eloise and Elias had gotten far already in the river. They were searching the wrong area. Jeremy sighed and decided to catch the fish by himself.

He rolled up his sleeves carefully and took off his shoes and socks. The fish remained in its place, unaware that its predator was right in front of it. After that, Jeremy crouched down and lunged his arms into the water suddenly. He beamed triumphantly as he held up the fish in his hand. "I got the fish!"

"How did you do that!?" Elias gaped at his catch.

"Wow, you're amazing!" Eloise clapped her hands.

"Impressive, young master." Ryan also clapped his hands.

Jeremy smiled and shrugged. He supposed it was alright to have fun for now. They tried to catch more fish in the river, and Ryan finally joined in. They also splashed water on each other as part of fun. They ended up miserably wet but satisfied. The knights were surprised when they found them dripping wet, with fish in a makeshift basket.

Chapter Text

Nevertheless, they visited the places they had to be. It was already afternoon when they returned home. Shuri was surprised to see the boys drenched in clothes. "What happened to the both of you?"

"Apologies, Madam, it was my idea to take them to the river." Eloise stepped forward and sincerely bowed for apology. Ryan also bowed his head, "I also took part in this. Please don't scold the boys for this."

Shuri waved her hands, not meaning to place the blame on the two adults. "Please don't apologize. I won't scold them now that I've heard the story. If anything, I must thank you for looking after them." She glanced at the children. "What do you have to say now, boys?"

"Thank you for looking after us." Both Jeremy and Elias thanked with a bow. Eloise and Ryan smiled, and the former replied, "You're most welcome, young masters. I hope you had fun today."

"Quite fun, thanks to Miss Eloise and Mr. Ryan." Jeremy smiled alternately at the two, while Elias squinted his eyes at him suspiciously. He also said something, not wanting to be left out. "I had so much fun! Let's catch more fish next time!"

Eloise nodded in agreement. "We will see about that."

After that, the two went upstairs to dry themselves and change their clothes. Shuri remained downstairs to discuss something with the hosts. "Miss Eloise, a letter came in earlier about Lady Rudbeckia's visit tomorrow. Can I trouble you with her and her husband's accommodations?"

Ryan handed her a towel which Eloise used to wrap around her body. She thanked him silently before responding to Shuri's request. "That is no trouble, Madam. Lady Rudbeckia and Lord Iske are also my guests."

"Thank you, Miss Eloise." Shuri smiled. "I must leave now, although I wanted to ask you about your excursions today. Rachel has still a slight fever, but she might fully recover soon with rest."

"I will pray for that, Madam. I miss Rachel and Leon around." Eloise said.

"I will let the twins know. They will be surely happy about that." After finishing her discussion with the hosts, Shuri returned to the twins. Eloise was about to leave her seat as well, when Ryan came over with a tray of hot drink.

He naturally sat next to her. "It's milk. I warmed it up."

Eloise still nodded in awe, although his consideration towards her was nothing new. "Thanks."

She took a mouthful of milk. It was mellow and warm. It tasted even more delicious at the perfect temperature. Just as she was enjoying the milk, she heard a laughter from Ryan.

Eloise frowned. "What is so funny?"

To her surprise, he brushed the sides of her mouth with his thumb. She was so stunned she couldn't move at first. She let him wipe the foam around her mouth for a bit longer.

"All done. Don't forget to wipe your mouth later after you finished up the milk." He dried his thumb with handkerchief.

"....."

As Eloise wasn't responding as usual, he instinctively looked at her face for an answer. This time, it was his turn to be stunned after he saw how red Eloise's face was.

Goodness! What did he do? "I... I..." Ryan tried to say "I'm sorry," but all that ever came were incoherent attempts at speech.

Eloise shook her head, inhaled sharply, then sighed determinedly. She was able to pull herself together and avoided embarrassing herself any longer. "It's fine! Milk is just hot!" she said robotically. She then rose from her seat and brought the tray of empty cup to the kitchen.

Ryan was left alone, staring at the retreating figure. Then, he stared at his thumb. He couldn't help but blush too. He realized how forward he had been. But what exactly had Eloise blushed about? Was she offended, embarrassed, or simply conscious of his touch?

***

The next day, they met downstairs to prepare for the guests' arrival. Still awkward from yesterday's encounter, Eloise avoided being alone with Ryan. Even so, she remained dutiful in her tasks for the day. A few moments later, an unfamiliar carriage stopped on the porch.

"Lady Rudbeckia, Lord Iske," Eloise curtsied. "We're glad to have you here."

Ryan also echoed her sentiments with a curt nod. The guests were also glad about their visit here. "Thank you for the invite, Miss Eloise." Rudbeckia said with a smile. She took notice of the man beside Eloise. "Could you be the other host?"

"Yes, I am Ryan Sunton. Welcome to Blissbury Mansion, milady."

"So it is Mr. Ryan Sunton," Rudbeckia nodded in understanding. "I have presents for you and Miss Eloise. I can't come empty-handed." At her gesture, Iske handed the fruits basket to Ryan who received it with a thankful nod.

"Thank you, Lady Rudbeckia. Please come in," Eloise urged and led the guests into the drawing room. A tray of snacks and refreshments was already set out, and the maids served them to the newly arrived guests.

Thankfully, Shuri had gone downstairs by then. She was apologetic about her tardiness. "I should be greeting you in the entrance, but I find myself unable to prepare the twins in time."

"Why? Did something happen at the twins?" Rudbeckia asked.

"Rachel got a fever, but fortunately not a serious one." Shuri sighed. "She's resting upstairs now. Her brothers are looking after her."

"That is good to hear."

They made a few more brief exchanges afterward. Sensing the inevitable awkwardness at the end of each exchange, Eloise decided to suggest a different activity. "Madams, would you like a tour around the house for a change of pace?"

Shuri consulted Rudbeckia through a look, and they eventually arrived at the same answer. "We would love that. I've been curious about the mansion's interior ever since I saw the mansion from the outside." Rudbeckia explained, her excitement evident.

Eloise understood her excitement well. She had once been enthusiastic about both the inside and the outside of Blissbury mansion, and still remained so until now. She began the tour on ground floor, where rooms for social functions were located. Among the rooms they viewed, the ballroom stood out the most. It was both exquisite and excellent, with paintings by popular painters from around the world hung on the walls. The large centerpiece was hard to miss as well. It made the room bright and sparkly when crystals were hit by the light.

Rudbeckia couldn't help but say. "Dancing here makes me feel like a princess. This ballroom is right out of fairytale!"

"Shall we dance here, then?" Eloise took her simple comment as suggestion. "I will play the music, and you four may pair up."

"Is it alright to intrude this far?" Rudbeckia asked, and Eloise nodded readily. "We are more than happy to host a dance for our guests." She said reassuringly.

Rudbeckia found no more reason to refuse and accepted her kind offer. Naturally, she paired up with her husband, while Shuri was paired up with Mr. Ryan. Eloise soon settled down in front of the piano. "I will play a song with mellow beats first, and we gradually pick up the pace. Is everyone good with this plan?" she asked.

"That will be nice," Shuri said, and everyone nodded in agreement. The pairs faced each other before the first beat of the music piece. Shuri was considerably shorter when she stood against Ryan. She had to raise her head to meet his gaze.

"Is it alright if I hold your hand and put my hand on your waist, Madam?" Ryan asked first. Shuri appreciated his respect towards her, which reminded her of a certain someone.

"Of course," she nodded, thinking of Norra back in the Kaiserreich Empire. Meeting Mr. Ryan's eyes, she couldn't shake off the growing similarities between the two. At first, it was just about their respect toward women. The second thing she had already noticed was that they shared the same hair and eye colors. They could pass off as siblings at this point.

Eloise was playing the piano by then. The pairs had already taken their first steps and were now dancing across the spacious room. Rudbeckia and Iske were quite comfortable with each other as they turned and galloped, while Shuri and Ryan tried to remain respectful toward each other as they navigated the dance.

Occasionally, Ryan looked in Eloise's direction. She was looking at the piano keys most of the time. There were times she looked away, but her gaze seldom landed on him. He found himself disappointed and eventually regretful of his careless action from yesterday. She was avoiding him until now. He must have startled her with his sudden touch. He shouldn't have done that, no matter how close they were.

After a while of playing mellow beats, the music began to quicken up. Their steps became lively and upbeat and they effortfully maintained it throughout the whole song. Although they had danced with each other for so many times, Rudbeckia still stepped on Iske's foot that made her laugh in embarrassment. Shuri and Ryan were steady with their movements, so they did not make a mistake at all. Ryan was a good and considerate partner who adjusted his pace to match his partner, which allowed Shuri to relax and have fun.

Eloise was drawn into the fun atmosphere and watched them with a smile on her face. Among the dancers, her gaze fell on Ryan, who was currently having an interesting chat with Madam Neuschwanstein. It was rare to see him smile, so he must be really having fun.

When the music came to an end, the partners bowed at each other. Shuri complimented Ryan on his dancing skills and thanked him for making the dance enjoyable. Ryan also commended her for being able to keep up the same energy throughout the whole dance, and thanked her for letting him dance with her.

After that, the four went over to Eloise. Rudbeckia praised her for playing the piano skillfully. "You're awfully good at playing piano, Miss Eloise. Where did you learn it from?"

Eloise smiled and did not shy away from the compliment. "My music teacher taught me how to play the piano in my childhood until I went to the countryside. I'm practicing by myself ever since."

"Even more amazing!" Rudbeckia exclaimed. "Now, it makes me curious if you're also good at dancing. You're surprisingly good at everything."

"I think so too," Shuri seconded. "Could you show us your dancing skills?"

Pressured by their expectations, Eloise eventually agreed to their request and got up from her seat. Shuri took over the piano while Rudbeckia stood next to it. She was going to accompany Shuri with her singing.

"You can choose Iske as your partner!" Rudbeckia casually reminded. Normally, she would pick Ryan as her partner for everything — but not until recently. Ever since Rachel teased her about Ryan, she often found herself filled with thoughts of him. It eventually caused her to feel conscious of his presence every time.

But when Eloise glanced in Lord Iske's direction, she instantly got frightened by his face. She took it as a cue not to even try. She ended up walking over to Ryan. She sighed. "Can you dance one more time?"

Ryan had never been happier. Of course he could, even if they danced all day long. "How little did you think of me."

He stretched out his hand and smiled.

"Much obliged," Eloise took his hand without looking at his face. The other three were ready for their start. Shuri was ready to play the piano and Rudbeckia was also ready to sing. Meanwhile, Iske was closely observing the pair of dance partners. He sensed that something was going on between the two, even though they hadn't started yet.

Eloise put away her reluctance and focused on the task at hand. Placing her hand on his hand and her other hand on his shoulder, she steeled herself for his touch and for his gaze. She soon felt his hands on different parts of her body, which made her feel warm with embarrassment. Shuri took it as a cue to begin playing the piano. The beats were already mellow, but sounded even more mellow when Rudbeckia began to sing.

Eloise's breath hitched when she finally looked into his eyes. Ryan had been looking at her ever since the beginning of the dance. His gaze was usual, yet it felt uncomfortable to her. Eloise was pretty certain she was turning red with embarrassment now. She knew that he liked her, but she was too cowardly to face the truth. She liked him too, but her mind kept refusing to accept the truth. It was frustrating to be this conflicted when the answer was already obvious.

"I'm sorry for touching you yesterday." Ryan murmured in the middle of their dance. Eloise looked at him and he was smiling sadly. It made her heart ache with guilt. She shook her head, "no, you didn't offend me in any way. If anything..."

Eloise gulped. "... I like it."

She suddenly found the courage to confess the truth, and it might have been due to the dance that gave her a momentum to find strength.

Ryan blinked, hardly believing his ears. No, he heard it right. He was simply taken aback by how honest she was. He hadn't offended her— in fact, she even liked his touch. It made him want to ask her a question, but he was afraid it might ultimately cause a permanent distance between them. However, if he passed up this opportunity to confess, they would go back to being estranged friends. He had to set things straight for once and for all.

Ryan gulped. Here comes the start of his confession. "Is it safe... to assume that you find me interesting?"

The dance suddenly required them to make a turn, so Ryan pulled Eloise closer to make that turn in time. They became closer than ever. Eloise heard his frantic heartbeat through their closeness. She was scared to look up and confirm the cause of his frantic heartbeat once more. But... But she had to do it, despite being scared. She should clear things up once and for all.

"Yes, I do," her voice trembling. "I like you, Ryan Sunton."

Ryan hiccuped and eventually stopped dancing. Eloise naturally followed suit. The other three immediately noticed it too. They were about to find out why the two had stopped, but Ryan suddenly lifted Eloise into the air.

"Oh, Eloise! My Eloise!" he exclaimed ecstatically. He turned her round and round until her hair was flying in the air. Messy, but free — just like its owner.

Eloise sensed that they had already attracted attention. She was already embarrassed, and this only made her so. "Put me down at once!!" she begged.

Ryan came to his senses and bowed, "Sorry, I was just too happy... " He tried to catch his breath before continuing, "I like you, Eloise Serverton. I like you more than you know." He finally poured his heart out. His eyes no longer hid his affections toward Eloise. His smile was no longer restrained into a polite one. Ryan could finally look like a man madly in love.

Eloise looked at him with heart fully on display. It was her first time she saw him look at her fondly, and she was likely mirroring his feelings. They laughed when they realized how silly they were right now. They could finally see how much they loved each other.

Chapter Text

After they danced in the ballroom, they toured the succeeding floors. It was awkward to walk with each other and other guests at first, but they eventually slipped back into their usual composure. At the end of the tour, Eloise thanked Lady Rudbeckia and Lord Iske for visiting Blissbury mansion.

"This is late, but you sing well, Lady Rudbeckia. You dance well too." Eloise said.

"If you exclude the fact that I tripped for a couple of times, then I think so too." Rudbeckia joked. "Anyway, thank you for letting us look around and have fun. I appreciate your hospitality for someone you've only met a few days ago."

"My wife was as pleased as I was. Thank you, Miss Eloise and Mr. Ryan." Iske stretched out his hand for the two hosts to shake. Eloise smiled and exchanged a few words of courtesy with Iske. Then, Iske turned to Ryan.

"I wish for your happiness, Mr. Ryan." He whispered as he patted Ryan's shoulder. Hearing his encouragement, Ryan naturally smiled. "Thank you for your kind wishes, my lord. I wish the same to you and your wife as well."

Iske bowed gratefully before turning to his wife. Shuri had also finished exchanging words with her friend Rudbeckia, who returned to her husband's side to make a final farewell.

"I would love to spend time with you all again. Let's meet each other soon." Rudbeckia said with a melancholic smile. Those in the mansion shared the same hope because they had enjoyed their company. The farewell might have gotten longer, so the couple decided to get into the carriage and ride off.

When night arrived, they had dinner altogether. Thankfully, Rachel had recovered by then. She was still being taken care of by her twin, Leon, who was worried she was too frail to eat on her own. Meanwhile, Jeremy was starting to make small conversations now with the hosts. Elias was still bummed about not being invited to dance in the ballroom earlier. But with few words from Eloise, Elias decided not to sulk anymore.

Neuschwansteins had only three days left in the Blissbury mansion. Within four days, they had done so many things they couldn't have done yet back in their homeland. They had traveled to places and had met new wonders— things they had also experienced in their homeland. Yet, this trip was remarkable because everyone genuinely enjoyed some moments of their stay in the humble town called Feltham.

***

The Neuschwansteins decided to spend their second-to-last day at the Blissbury mansion. Since Rachel had just recovered from a fever, Shuri decided it was best not to strain her with tiring activities such as traveling from place to place. Instead, she opted for a simple picnic in the yard this morning and a light stroll around the garden she had seen a few days earlier.

Shuri informed Eloise of her plan and she agreed to prepare the necessary things for it. She was joined by Ryan in the kitchen while she was sharing the list of food they had to prepare this morning.

"Good morning," Ryan smiled at Eloise.

"Good morning," Eloise smiled back.

The cook watched their interaction closely and suspected that something was going on between the two. He had been observing them ever since they started working together, so he knew how they usually interacted. But out of respect, the cook pretended he hadn't noticed anything unusual.

After she confirmed the menu, Eloise walked out of the kitchen with Ryan. Their pinky fingers playfully brushed against each other as if they wanted to hold each other's hand. Today was their first day as a couple. He finally asked her out yesterday. Naturally, they wanted to spend time with each other alone.

Since the food was yet to be prepared, Eloise and Ryan took advantage of their free time. They were about to head somewhere quiet and alone when Rachel suddenly called out to Eloise from the second floor. "Hello, Miss Eloise!" she waved energetically.

Eloise was glad that she had recovered completely. She waved back excitedly. "Hello, Rachel! Are you feeling well now?"

"Much better than yesterday!" Rachel shouted back. Leon appeared from the second floor and waved at her as well. Then, they finally went downstairs to talk with Eloise face-to-face. The couple's plan to get away was naturally foiled. Eloise glanced at Ryan and reassured him they would spend time together some other time.

Soon after, the other three members of the family went downstairs and gathered around the dining table. A little later, the cook brought out the food they would eat at the picnic later. It was carefully placed in a woven basket.

With everyone in attendance, Eloise and Ryan were asked to lead the company to the garden. They decided to bring the family to the garden where various kinds of flowers were planted. It was located at the back of the mansion, approximately a three-minute walk from the inside. Hence, it didn't take long for them to arrive and amaze everyone with flowers and views from the garden.

"What beautiful view!" Rachel clutched Shuri's arm with obvious excitement. There were familiar flowers and unfamiliar flowers all over the garden. The unfamiliar flowers, of course, were likely natives to this place. Some flowers had petals falling off the ground. Some were blooming and even exuding a fragrant scent that permeated the air. It was a lovely place for a picnic and sightseeing.

While children busied themselves with sightseeing, the three adults took care of setting the table. Inside the garden, there was an four-seater table located under the shade of pink bougainvillea. It was a surprise to see this kind of flower since it mostly thrived in places with a tropical climate. Feltham must have been sunny enough in the past few months to allow this flower to grow, or it must have been to the hard work of a gardener who planted and cultivated this flower patiently. As Shuri looked around longer, she became more curious about the flowers planted in the garden.

"Are the flowers to your liking, Madam?" Eloise asked after she noticed Shuri observing the place with fascination.

"Absolutely, Miss Eloise. There are some kinds of flowers I haven't seen before." She leaned over to observe the marigold carefully. It was a flower with a vibrant color of yellow and a scent of earth. There were other colors of marigold lined in the same row of pots — yellow, golden yellow, and orange — reminded her of the approaching autumn.

Eloise would like to tell more about the flowers if possible, but her knowledge was only limited. Then, she remembered about the gardener's logbook, which recorded details of what to plant, when to plant, and how to plant over 12 months. It was a shame that the gardener wasn't around yet, or else he would have been the one to teach these things to the Madam. She excused herself for a moment to procure the said book, which was likely kept in one of the greenhouses.

While Eloise was away, Rachel asked about her since she wasn't seeing her anywhere. "Where did Miss Eloise go?"

"She's gone to fetch a book, Rachel." Shuri replied.

"I see," her shoulders slumped from disappointment. "I was going to ask if we could pick flowers over there including you, Mom. I want to make something for the both of you!"

"We'll do that once she's back." Shuri smiled reassuringly.

Ryan didn't mean to eavesdrop on their conversation, but he was simply close enough to hear them from a distance. It looked like Rachel was going to surprise the ladies with a bouquet, or perhaps a flower wreath. He was interested in joining them. "May I take you there instead?" he offered. When Rachel wasn't convinced yet, he added, "I can swat the bugs and help you pick flowers."

Remembering the time she was bitten by a bee, Rachel instantly nodded. Leon also tagged along with them. Waving goodbye to Shuri, the twins ran off to the fields where wildflowers were planted haphazardly. Ryan caught up with them and began observing the environment.

"Look, look!!" Rachel pointed to the tree nearby. "Two squirrels are dating in the tree! I'm in love~!!" she clasped her hands together and squirmed like a worm.

Leon sighed about his twin's theatrics. "They're actually killing each other, Rachel." He began explaining his argument, not knowing it would spoil her mood. "They bite off each other until it result in a bloodbath. They commonly do this to assert dominance or simply because the other squirrel intrudes on the other one's territory—"

"Enough with your book knowledge, Leon!" Rachel turned to Ryan, who flinched at the sudden attention. "Let's go pick flowers by ourselves, Mr. Ryan! Don't you dare follow us!"

"Hey, wait for me!" Leon hurriedly followed when Rachel stormed off, dragging Ryan along with her. Eloise was back by then. She had found the gardener's logbook after searching two greenhouses. She showed it to Shuri, who immediately glanced through the systematic contents. Jeremy was intrigued and came over to see what they were busy with. Elias also followed, but he immediately got bored of looking at words with occasional drawings. He opted for sunbathing instead.

While the mother and son flipped through pages, Eloise was drawn to the laughter nearby. Ryan was over there, laughing along with Rachel and Leon. The twins were putting flowers in his hair, and Ryan only laughed helplessly. This sight warmed her heart as though she was being tickled. Suddenly, she imagined the twins as their own kids playing with their father, Ryan. Her cheeks warmed at the imagination, and Eloise tried to brush it off before they returned. Goodness, it's only been a day since they became a couple, yet she was already thinking ahead. But curiously, how many kids would they have?

Eloise giggled by herself. Not long after, Ryan and the twins came back with bouquets of freshly picked wildflowers. Rachel handed her one of those and smiled, "For the beautiful Miss Eloise!"

Eloise took the bouquet with a happy heart. Receiving things from kids was a different kind of satisfaction. She couldn't help but ruffle her hair affectionately. "Thank you so much, kind and beautiful Miss Rachel." Of course, Eloise didn't forget about Leon. She ruffled his hair with affection. "Also thank you very much, smart and handsome Sir Leon."

The twins blushed at her compliments and walked over to their mother's side to give her the last bouquet. Meanwhile, Ryan came up to Eloise and leaned over with his hands on his back. "What about me, Miss Eloise?"

He looked at her as though he was asking for the same compliment. Eloise instantly found this gesture adorable. She wanted to squeeze his cheeks and kiss him on the lips if possible! But out of respect for those who would see, Eloise channeled her urge into a big smile.

"What a big baby you are, Mr. Ryan." She clicked her tongue as if she was disappointed by his behavior. Nevertheless, she ruffled his hair, and small flowers fell off. "I'll kiss that big baby later, though." Eloise whispered with a wink.

Ryan almost kissed her then and there. His mind immediately went off like a bomb. The hands on his back turned red from balling his fists too hard. It might have been thanks to his training as a soldier that he quickly regained control of his emotions. He smiled as if he hadn't struggled. "It's a promise, Miss Eloise." He winked back, then offered her flowers from his shirt pocket.

After they finished sightseeing, they decided to eat their picnic food. The cook prepared simple snacks for easy consumption, and also because he hadn't had enough time to prepare better snacks. Nevertheless, they enjoyed the three-layered sandwich along with a pint of fresh orange juice. They sat on red plaid tablecloth, basking in the breeze under the bougainvillea's shade. They stayed outside a little longer until the sun felt hot on their skin. It was their cue to return to the mansion and entertain themselves with indoor activities instead.

Eloise showed them the parlor. It was their first time seeing this place since they hadn't explored some rooms in the mansion. The children were in awe of what they were seeing. The parlor was a spacious room dedicated to recreational activities like table games, card games, and board games. Every indoor game they could possibly think of was here. If they added more tables, this room would definitely look like a casino. Just how wealthy the mansion's owner was? The children thought, although they themselves also owned an astronomical amount of wealth, but forgot about it when they saw this room.

"Can we look around and play?" Elias asked. He was definitely interested in playing one of these games.

"As much as you can," Eloise smiled. At her permission, Elias immediately went to the billiard table and got himself a billiard stick. "Come on here, Jeremy!" he said as he threw the other billiard stick to his brother.

As these two gathered around the billiard table, their younger siblings were naturally drawn to their business. Rachel and Leon watched them for a bit, with Leon explaining to Rachel what the game was called and how it was played. Rachel got bored soon after and went to play pickup sticks instead.

Meanwhile, the three adults were sitting at the table engaging in a casual conversation. Over the past few days, Shuri had grown closer with the hosts. They were kind and easy to get along with. They were respectful too, but not to the point of being self-conscious about Neuschwanstein's title. They treated her family like good friends. It was truly a good decision to spend vacation in Feltham. Hopefully next time, they would bring her friend along to experience this remarkable vacation.

It was early in the afternoon when they retired to their rooms. The children played all afternoon, and eventually grew tired. Eloise and Ryan went to the kitchen to organize the menu before heading to Ryan's office. As soon as the doors closed, Ryan pulled Eloise into his arms and buried his face in her neck. He grumbled, "it's hard to keep my hands off you, all day..."

Eloise chuckled, but she understood his struggle. "It hasn't been a day, though?"

"It feels long already." Ryan hugged her even tighter. "I need my hourly recharge."

The ticklish feeling was there again. Eloise knew what it was, and acknowledged it openly. She put her hand on his cheek and kissed him while he was hugging her from behind.

She smiled. "I can't believe we can do things like this now."

"Right. And we can do more things." Before Eloise could react, Ryan turned her around and went for a kiss. His kiss wasn't like her gentle kiss. It was continuously hungry for more. Eloise was worried that someone might come in, but Ryan was one step ahead and had already closed the door when they first arrived in the office.

He panted, "just focus on me, Eloise." His eyes were hungry for her. She always imagined this feral look on Ryan, but she had never expected it to be this sexy and delectable. Eloise couldn't help but bite her lips. It's hotter than what she imagined...

Having known her so well he could guess her thoughts, Ryan smirked and pried her lips open with his fingers. "Shouldn't you bite mine instead?"

Eloise smirked when she realized what he meant, and immediately dived into it. Ryan returned her kiss with even greater fervor, eventually pushing her down the couch. His mouth no longer remained on her lips and went down her neck. He peppered it with ticklish kisses. There, he learned her scent after burying his nose in her neck. God, she smelled so divine. It made him want to nibble on it. Could he? He gulped at the thought of tasting her himself.

Ryan's hesitation only lasted a second and he eventually pressed his mouth to her pale white skin. His tongue felt hot on her neck as he traced patterns sensually. Eloise let out a moan as Ryan did things that were embarrassing yet pleasuring at the same time. It made her whole body feel burning hot, and she was confused about what to do with it.

In the back of her mind, she knew what they might end up doing if they kissed and touched each other more. She was ready to do it with him. There was fear, but there was thrill at the same time. She liked his touch, and she liked to be touched more. In fact, a single kiss was enough to make her tingle with exhilaration. What more if they did more than just a kiss? Her core throbbed at the thought.

Through smoldering gazes, they telepathically agreed on what they would do next. Eloise was the first to make a move and popped off the buttons of his shirt. Seeing her initiate things first, Ryan learned that she was willing to do it with him. It felt so much better to know that she wasn't feeling forced to do things with him. To be honest, he was even scared to touch her more than a kiss. He was trying to be careful with his desires toward her, but it was certainly not the thing happened.

He couldn't help but find her adorable constantly. His heart felt so full that he kissed her gently on her lips. She also deserved these gentle kisses. He wanted to say he loved her, but he feared it would be seen as words spoken in the heat of the moment. He suppressed the urge to confess with a smile.

'I love you so much, Eloise.' He said to himself.

Eloise sensed his gaze but didn't say anything about it. Instead, she expressed her thoughts with a kiss. Things eventually unfolded, and the rest was history.