"You are very strange. Do you know that?" Adrian said suddenly.
Look who's talking
"Strange?" she echoed.
"I've never met someone like you."
"…Is that a good thing?"
"It is."
"…"
The silence between them softened,
calm, warm, and strangely comfortable.
The silence stretched.
Irene opened her mouth, then shut it again.
Adrian watched her closely.
"…You're staring again,"
"I told you. I've never met someone like you."
Adrian stood up first, brushing dirt from his clothes.
"I should go," he said quietly.
"Will you comback sometimes… for another chat?"
Adrian paused, eyes softening just a little.
"…Maybe."
Adrian looked at her bandaged arm one last time.
"I'll bring something next time."
"Something?"
He didn't answer what
As Adrian stood up to leave, sunlight caught his eyes
scarlet, calm, no longer wild.
Irene watched quietly, holding her breath.
He didn't look back once.
Closer to the boy, Irene realized something:
She wasn't afraid of him anymore. Or atleast, not that much.
"Irene!"
She suddenly shouted her own name.
Adrian paused mid-step, confused.
He turned back toward her, eyes questioning
huh?
He stared at her, waiting for an explanation.
"I thought you might forget it," she said.
"Forget?"
"You haven't called me by my name yet. Only I did."
"You want me to?"
"I just want to make sure you won't forget," Irene admitted, giving a bright smile
We aren't that close, Adrian thought.
Not yet.
Not enough for her to worry about something like that.
But still…
"…Irene," Adrian said softly.
"I remember your name."
Hearing that, Irene gave him one last gentle smile.
And somehow, that smile stayed with him.
It would be totally fine if he never came back
why would he?
He had no reason to.
But Irene didn't think about that.
She had fun today.
It had been so long since she'd had a real conversation with someone her age
someone who wasn't cruel, or mocking, or avoiding her.
Maybe she really did make a new friend today.
Thinking about it made her truly happy.
Adrian returned to the manor.
It was still noon
quiet, still, the manor as silent as it always was.
The entire place felt frozen in time, as if noise itself was forbidden inside its walls.
Eleanor was out of her room today.
She had wandered into the family library, flipping through books with her usual calm curiosity.
As always, Eleanor seemed to have a habit of reading.
She wasn't talkative, not with servants, not with nobles, not with anyone.
To most people, Eleanor felt like a ghost drifting through the halls,
silent, pale, and unreachable.
Some servants whispered that stumbling upon her reading in the parlor
felt like witnessing a sacred ritual they weren't supposed to interrupt.
Her beauty was undeniable, even at such a young age.
Elegance.
Composure.
A quiet grace that never broke.
She had all of it.
Yet strangely, Eleanor never sought attention.
She made no effort to show herself in society, to gather admirers, or display her talents.
She kept to herself.
No one really knew what went on inside her head.
Not the servants.
Not the nobles.
Not even her brothers.
Adrian stumbled across the sight of his sister as he passed by the library.
Eleanor was seated by the tall window, sunlight spilling over her as she turned a page in her book.
Amused by the peaceful scene, Adrian leaned against the doorframe.
"Are you mad at Charles?"
Normally, Eleanor would cling to Charles the moment he came home.
As he had always favored her.
So it was strange that she was keeping her distance recently.
Eleanor clearly heard him.
But she didn't answer.
Her eyes remained fixed on the book as if he wasn't even there.
Adrian looked up at the ceiling, searching for words, then lowered his gaze back to her.
"I heard he'll be leaving again soon," he said. "You better make up."
This time, Eleanor finally reacted.
She closed the book with a soft clap, both hands still resting on its covers.
Without looking up at him, she spoke:
"If your goal is to annoy me today, then you've succeeded."
"You're such a child," Adrian replied calmly.
That one hit her.
Eleanor's expression tightened; her face shifted just a little, her annoyance now fully visible.
"Don't you have anything to do?"
"Actually," Adrian said, unfazed, "I have a favor to ask."
"I'm busy."
"Busy doing nothing?"
She finally turned toward him with a face full of irritation.
"…What do you want?"
Adrian hesitated.
Just a little.
As if his tongue suddenly froze.
Eleanor waited, brows slightly raised, expecting his words.
"…Do you know about sweets?" Adrian finally asked.
"What kind of question is that?" Eleanor replied sharply.
"Maybe because… you don't look like you do."
"…What am I in your eyes?"
Adrian stiffened, then repeated quietly:
"…So do you?"
"I do," she said flatly. "I heard sweets are a comfort to anyone."
Adrian's face twisted in confusion.
Eleanor noticed.
And it irritated her even more.
"If you have something to say," she snapped, "say it quickly or get lost."
"…Where can I get them? Sweets," Adrian asked, regaining his focus.
"Where else? The kitchen?"
"Ah… right."
This guy acts like a child, yet he calls me one, Eleanor thought with a silent sigh as she returned to her book.
Just as Adrian turned to leave, he spoke again:
"…What is good?"
"What?"
"Sweets."
Eleanor stared at him, puzzled.
"How would I know?"
"Oh yeah, right"
Annoyed again, but giving in anyway, Eleanor answered:
"Chocolate. I heard everyone loves chocolate?"
"Chocolate?" he echoed.
"People like you wouldn't know," she teased.
"What do you mean by that?"
Eleanor didn't bother answering.
She simply gave him a faint, knowing smile before adding:
"Anything else?"
"…Nothing. I'll be on my way."
Finally satisfied with whatever puzzle was forming in his mind, Adrian left the library.
Eleanor was once again alone with her books.