Ever since then, Mirabelle dogged Kuhn’s footsteps constantly. Currently, Kuhn was resting in the shade after raking the garden, collecting branches and cutting firewood. It had been backbreaking work. He noticed Mirabelle approaching him, and he moved away to avoid her. He could lose her if he really wanted to, as she wasn’t a good runner.
” Kuhn~ Kuuhn~”
Mirabelle was on him again like a chick after its mother.
Kwadang!
She tripped over a stone and tumbled to the ground.
“Ah!”
Mirabelle glanced at Kuhn’s retreating figure before checking her knee. Her gaze on him felt so desperate that Kuhn stopped walking without even realizing it. Then he turned around and headed towards where Mirabelle had fallen.
“Huh?”
She looked up in surprise when she noticed that Kuhn was suddenly standing before her. Kuhn didn’t hide his speed, but Mirabelle thought she must have blinked. Kuhn reached out his hand and spoke in a dull monotone.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Mirabelle took his hand, and Kuhn lifted her up. The skirt of her dress had a smear of blood. Perhaps she had skinned her knee.
“Why do you keep coming after me?”
Mirabelle responded with a bright expression.
“Did you come back because I fell?”
“…”
Kuhn hesitated to answer. Mirabelle was the mistress, and Kuhn was the servant. It would be mutiny to say no. However, she spoke before he could reply.
“Thank goodness. You were still paying attention to me. I was afraid I was being a nuisance.”
Kuhn felt momentarily frustrated at Mirabelle’s remark. Of course she was a nuisance. She was a fool if she couldn’t pick up his cues, but she continued on, unabated.
“Next time you walk fast, I’ll just fall down. I realized I can’t catch up to you at my own pace.”
“Why do you want to catch me?”
“I want to talk with you like now, and eat meals with you—”
“Do it with the other servants.”
“I want to do it with Kuhn.”
“…Others would say it’s favoritism.”
“I don’t care.”
Mirabelle’s eyes were set. In contrast to her delicate appearance, she was extraordinarily stubborn. Kuhn stared at Mirabelle’s injured knee and then spoke.
“Is there not a wedding dress you have to work on?”
It was the only time Kuhn was free. Mirabelle was also very busy, and she had to hurry to complete the dress before the wedding date arrived.
“I do have to go back in a little while. I just had a moment to spare.”
“Just rest and don’t force yourself to go out. Why would you come here this when you’re weak?”
“If you’re worried about me, then don’t run away.”
“…Haaaa.”
Kuhn sighed. He didn’t have any other words to say. Suddenly, as they were walking along, Mirabelle grimaced as pain shot up her knee.
“Ouch.”
Kuhn glanced at Mirabelle.
“I’ll call the maid.”
“Oh, no. I’ll feel better after I sit down for a while. Where to sit….Ah! There’s a bench over there”
Mirabelle pointed towards a solid stone bench. It was ornamental, not made for sitting, but it would do in this situation. Mirabelle took a step towards it, when Kuhn stopped her.
“Please wait.”
“What?”
She soon understood what he meant. Kuhn walked towards the bench and easily lifted it, then walked back and deposited it in front of Mirabelle.
“Wow.”
Mirabelle’s mouth dropped. She knew how heavy it was, but the slender-figured Kuhn had carried it without any difficulty.
“You’re incredible.”
Despite Mirabelle’s praise, there was not a flicker of recognition across Kuhn’s face.
“Sit down and rest.”
Mirabelle rested herself on the chair. The stone was hard against her legs, but strangely, it felt warmer than any other chair. She looked up at Kuhn.
“You are very kind.”
Kuhn looked at her disbelievingly.
“Kind? No…do you mean me?”
“Is there anyone else here?”
Mirabelle smiled. Kuhn might try to run from her reach, but in the end he would always be caught by her. And so she kept chasing him more.
‘Do you know my feelings?’
She looked up, the clear blue sky coming into view behind him. Spring was coming soon. The lovely weather would be a perfect time for a picnic.
“Why don’t we go on a picnic after the wedding?”
“…”
Kuhn, unlike the sweet-minded Mirabelle, vowed to capture the mysterious person in Blaise mansion as soon as possible.
*
*
*
Time fled by quickly, until it was the day before Elena and Carlisle’s wedding. Elena woke up early in the morning and pushed herself out of bed.
‘It’s tomorrow.’
Only one more day. The long-awaited wedding would be here.