Huey left for the capital and entered the palace in a carriage.
Count Kirchner’s manor was far from the outskirts of the capital, so he had to hurry to arrive on time.
It was unusual for him to run late, but Shada enjoyed the sight of him looking at her hungrily all night long as he embraced her and kissed her until dawn as if he was reluctant to leave her.
He left traces of lovemaking all over her white body as if stamping a seal. His low voice murmured as he chewed and sucked the nape of her neck.
“Ha. It would be great if I could mark somewhere that you belong to me.”
“…….”
Days later, Shada was dazly watching the horizon where his carriage had disappeared, forgetting to clean the window.
She shook her head. What was she thinking of when she should be working?
She deliberately worked hard forcing her mind to clear and wiped the window. Even though there was no stain she urged herself to work hard and bury herself in her work; so she could ignore her blushing face reflected in the glass.
It had been a week since he left.
Shada’s daily life went on without change or incident.
It was peaceful except when she saw the Count’s study, office, chair, and bed were empty.
And as time went on, Shada spent more time thinking about Huey.
She should have slept comfortably at night since she wasn’t kept up with ‘activities’ but for some reason she felt empty and had trouble falling asleep. Often she had barely napped when it was time for her to get up again.
Did she really become this dependent on him?
It was as if she had become a leashed, obedient puppy. Shada was not only stressed out by this realization but also rather depressed.
As usual, when she was distressed it was her habit to bite her fingernails so she was about to do that when she suddenly heistated and stopped.
‘Don’t do that. Doesn’t it hurt?’
Huey seemed to be more concerned about her self-harming and the pain it caused her than it being an unsightly habit.
She loved those attentive, watchful eyes.
She had never tasted such a heart-fluttering, warm, and solid affection before.
Even though, due to her strange fate, she had received a few confessions before, she had never felt particularly moved or felt them to be reliable. Indeed, none of those confessions felt as deep, attractive or as strong as Huey’s attachment.
At first, Shada was embarrassed and flustered by it and strived to not get hurt, but now she only vaguely thought of her previous reluctance.
Even if she lived a whole lifetime, would there ever come a day when she would be treated so lovingly and passionately from such a great man again?
Probably not.
Shada—herself, was not a lucky person.
Strangely, things always became weirdly twisted when it came to love and friendships. There was a mixture of jealousy and envy, and disastrous events always seemed to pile up and happen all at the same time.
Yes. Shada had first tried to run away, but these days she now felt that being with Huey was the luckiest thing that had ever happened in her life.
If not now then when would she ever feel so alive and when was she allowed or should feel such a sense of exaltation and excitement?
“Miss Shada.”
She glanced around and realized that it was the butler Franc who had called her. She was deeply disappointed.
Then she was surprised.
Because now she knew it without a doubt: Shada had been waiting for Huey since he left.
“A letter for you has arrived.”
“A letter?”
There had never been a letter addressed to her before. She tilted her head, confused.
Additionally, there was not one—but there were two letters addressed to her.
She accepted them carefully and studied them one by one, when her eyes widened with surprise. Because the name of Huey von Kirchner was written in the sender column. And the date was just yesterday.
“A person coming soon even wrote a letter?”
Franc said to himself, but Shada was so caught up in the letter that she didn’t hear him.
Such passion was why even religion and country couldn’t stop the young from courting.
The butler laughed and left.
Shada had already carefully opened the envelope and was reading the letter.
It wasn’t long. But even those few sentences were enough to make her heart, which had been gloomily calm, now pound with fervor.
[I’ll be there soon. Will you come to meet me?]
Of course. A maid should go out to meet and greet her master. Shada’s heart leapt, but she calmly and carefully folded the stationery and put it in her pocket.
It was because she considered every single of his wonderful writings a treasure.
Her throat felt thick and hot with emotion, so she rubbed it to ease the pressure.
He was coming soon. He had written from the royal palace, so maybe he would arrive the day after tomorrow?
Unwittingly, Shada’s face brightened and picked up the remaining envelope.
There is now one letter left.
This time it wasn’t from an individual. It was from The Royal Palace Ministry of Interior Affairs?
It was simply a notice from the Ministry of Interior Affairs that her severance pay for working at the royal palace for several years was delayed.
As she read the last line telling her to go to a nearby bank, she suddenly remembered that she had yet to file a tax return.
Wasn’t there two days left?
Suddenly, she grew anxious. By the time Huey returned, she wanted to be able to stay in the mansion all day.
“I should go to the bank before sunset.”
Shada took off her apron, put on her coat, and hurriedly left the mansion.
The friendly Count’s coachman offered to take her, but she regretfully refused.
It may have been pure kindness, but she didn’t want to receive excess favors by the mansion’s employees. Shada wondered if she was being too cautious and overly conscious.
As she pondered such thoughts Shada diligently walked to the village and finished filing her taxes that she had postponed.
It felt good to have money that she hadn’t expected.
More excited than usual, Shada bought one of her favorite licorice candies, sucked it up, and watched the peaceful townscape.
It was a nice day, so there were many street vendors.
One of the vendors stopped walking and set up a stall selling plain handkerchiefs.
Suddenly, Shada remembered Princess Julia attempting to embroider a handkerchief, which she was not good at, saying she was going to give it to her fiancé.
Before long, she became annoyed and stabbed the back of the hand of a maid who was a better embroiderer than herself with a needle.
Regardless, the princess’ handkerchief would have been delivered to Huey. Shada had overheard her bragging to ladies her age about the handkerchief.
Shada made an impulse purchase after looking at the white folded handkerchiefs.
It was very unusual and spontaneous of her. Shada was one who only bought things that were absolutely necessary.
She carefully put the handkerchief in her pocket and sucked on the candy.
She was exhilarated. She thought of Huey’s initials on the letter she received.
His handwriting is pretty, so it would be nice to embroider it.
‘Let’s go and do some sewing after a long time…….’
She didn’t even have to embroider his name. Shada quickly walked into the alley, taking a shortcut to get home faster.
“Long time no see, Shada.”
Shada flinched. She turned her head.
A man was standing in the shadows. He was tall enough to make Shada’s head look up. She stumbled and stepped back—a terrifying chill rolling through her.
She remembered belatedly where she had heard that voice before. And that moment she recalled that memory, the blood drained out of her face.
[Memory:] ‘You fucking bitch! Do you think you’re something because I confessed to you?’