Translator: Nox

59 - Chapter 59

Chapter 5: Summer Ball

Two days later, the day of the Summer Ball dawned. Unlike the Banquet, Blissbury was bustling with activity from morning.

Baggage wagons from Feltham filled the front of Blissbury even before noon.

They weren't elegant and splendid carriages like those at the Banquet.

There were public carriages that traveled between towns, and some still had straw that hadn't been completely cleared out in the corners.

In the back of those wagons, adults and children were all mixed together.

It was clear to anyone that the villagers had come all at once. But the expressions on the faces of those in the wagons were brighter than anyone else's.

"Eloise!"

Before the baggage wagon even stopped, the children in the back jumped out.

"I told you not to do anything dangerous!"

She scolded them sternly, but it was only for a moment. The children who clung to Eloise were soon marveling at Blissbury.

It was always possible to see it from afar, but it was a place they couldn't easily approach unless they were asked to run errands.

Besides, today was the day they could even enter the mansion.

The parents, who got out of the wagon late, warned their children with worried voices.

"Don't run around. Don't touch things carelessly."

"Yes!"

They answered energetically, but the parents' eyes were full of worry.

Then Eloise quietly approached and whispered to the parents.

"There won't be anything like last year. I've put all the fragile things in the display case this year."

"That's true... but last year, even though the eagle statue was placed high up, they still climbed up and pulled it down."

"That's true."

Eloise, remembering the commotion of last year, chuckled and took the children to a maid who had been hired in advance.

"If you want to run around, just play outside. I've baked plenty of cookies, so eat as much as you want."

At Eloise's words, the children cheered and entered Blissbury with the maid.

Meanwhile, everyone who arrived approached Ryan and greeted him.

"It's good to see you again, Sergeant Thornton. I greeted you last time, but I don't know if you remember me."

"Of course, I remember you, Mrs. Turner."

The woman, pleased that Ryan remembered her, smiled brightly.

Moreover, when Ryan even kissed the back of her hand, she was so flustered, like a girl who had received a bouquet of flowers, that the people around her burst into laughter.

Everyone from Feltham lined up in front of Ryan, waiting for their turn to greet him. The problem was that they hadn't come empty-handed.

"This is from our henhouse this morning. Our chickens are all strong and healthy, so many people are looking for them not only in Feltham but also in Cambon."

Mr. Reed, who ran a small henhouse over the hill, brought four large baskets full of eggs.

"This should be enough eggs for the banquet food."

Next, Mrs. Brooks, who was greeting him, held a large chunk of cheese.

"Our ranch started making cheese directly from last year. I brought the ones that were made for the first time and aged for a year, so I hope everyone can eat them together. Of course, I brought separate ones for Sergeant Thornton and the Blissbury employees."

Even though she said she wasn't confident because it was her first attempt, Mrs. Brooks' face was full of anticipation, hoping they would eat it soon.

Since she was originally a skilled woman, those cheeses must have been well-aged as well.

In that way, the things that people brought piled up behind Ryan.

Bacon, beans, flour...

Ryan, who looked back for a moment, burst into laughter.

"If we collect only what we received today, the people of Blissbury could eat for a year."

Seeing that everyone had brought the most carefully prepared of what they had harvested or produced, Ryan felt anew that Blissbury's summer festival was an event that these people truly loved.

While Ryan was greeting people, Eloise hurriedly moved the people's gifts to the kitchen with the maids.

During the Banquet, she also greeted guests, but the people who were coming today were the people of Feltham, with whom she had spent a long time.

There was no one who would find fault just because she didn't greet them directly.

"Eloise! I'll help too!"

Andrew, who had come with the neighborhood children and was excited, was already next to Eloise, holding an egg basket.

But because Mr. Reed had filled it to the brim, it was a little heavy for the young Andrew to carry.

Seeing Andrew staggering, Eloise thought it was dangerous and was about to reach out her hand.

"Oh, it looks like you need some help."

A large hand suddenly grabbed the basket that Andrew was holding.

Surprised, she turned her head and saw that Richard, who had approached, was holding the basket that Andrew was holding.

It would be right to say thank you in this situation, but rather, Andrew's lips stuck out. He wanted to help, but since he took it away, he seemed to think that his role had been taken away.

Then Richard handed Andrew one of the oil bottles he was holding.

"I can't carry this one, can you help me?"

"Yes! Of course!"

Andrew, who had a job to do, was already smiling brightly and ran to the underground kitchen as if he was excited.

Seeing that, Eloise smiled contentedly.

"You handle children well, Sergeant Cameron."

"Just call me Richard."

"But..."

"Somehow, when you call me by my military rank, it feels like I'm being scolded by my superiors."

Then he lowered his head slightly and whispered close to Eloise's face.

"There was never anything good when I was called that. Of course, I caused a lot of things to be called that."

"I'm worried I'll be called rude."

"Who would say anything when we've just become friends quickly?"

As he answered that way, Richard glanced behind him so that Eloise wouldn't notice.

'Just as I thought.'

Richard, who turned his head again, smiled.

Ryan, who had been greeting people, was already glaring at him as if he would kill him.

Richard had noticed from the moment he first arrived at Blissbury. The reason why Ryan didn't return to the capital and continued to stay in this countryside was because of Eloise.

And he learned something else after staying here for two more days.

'It's clear that Miss Eloise also has feelings for Ryan.'

But no matter how he looked at it, it was clear that the two of them hadn't said a word about their feelings for each other.

'So I have no choice but to intervene a little.'

Richard knew Ryan's past and his personality well.

Ryan Wilgrave confessing to a woman?

'It's not an easy thing.'

The pessimistic thoughts stemming from his birth are the biggest problem, and the fact that he hid his identity when he came here will make him hesitate once again.

Besides, he hasn't been interested in the opposite sex until now, so even if he has feelings, he probably doesn't know what to do or how to start.

And above all...

Richard looked back again. Ryan was still glaring at him fiercely. Without turning his head even when the villager who was greeting him in front called him.

Ignoring that gaze, Richard brazenly picked up another basket that Eloise was holding.

He didn't have the courage to look back, but he could guess what kind of expression Ryan was making.

'It would be better if Philip could help a little.'

Of course, he's not the type to help easily. He'll probably tell me not to interfere in Ryan's affairs and stay still.

But right now, Philip wasn't helping Richard for that reason.

He saw Philip, who was sitting in the reception room, heading to the kitchen with Eloise.

Philip is usually as expressionless as Ryan.

But he was sitting with a smile on his face, talking to someone.

With crutches placed next to the sofa, the person listening to Philip's story as if it was interesting was Abigail.

It couldn't be that they didn't hear the sound of footsteps, but the two of them were looking at each other as if they couldn't see anyone else around them, and they kept bursting into laughter as if they were having so much fun.

Seeing that, Richard, who was about to call Philip, shook his head lightly and followed Eloise down to the kitchen.

Thinking that he would see a lot of interesting sights this summer.