Chapter 15

Today, I'm posting two episodes.

Edith woke up to the sound of birds chirping in the dimly lit room.

(Huh...?)

For a moment, Edith blinked in confusion at the unfamiliar room, but then she sat up and looked around, realizing she was in the room assigned to her at the Granville Manor. Outside the window, the sky was just beginning to turn light.

"I must have fallen asleep in this room after coming back... and slept through the night..."

Edith murmured to herself, walked to the window, and opened the large window, inhaling the cool, refreshing morning air.

Yesterday, after seeing Lionel fall asleep, Edith had talked with his father in the kitchen, returned to her room, and tidied up her belongings before lying down on the large, soft bed. It was still evening then, and the room was bathed in the light of the setting sun. She had only intended to rest for a moment, but she had fallen into a deep sleep.

(I hardly ever do this. Maybe I was more nervous and tired about the new environment than I thought...)

Edith, who usually maintained a strict daily routine, was surprised at herself. After taking a quick bath in the adjoining bathroom and hurriedly getting dressed, she looked out the window at the garden below, where the flowers were being illuminated by the rising sun. She couldn't help but gasp in admiration. Then, a figure waving at her from the window across the garden caught her eye.

"...Lord Lionel?"

Straining her eyes to see through the garden, Edith saw Lionel smiling warmly.

"Good morning, Edith. You're up early."

Hearing his voice, which sounded more energetic than yesterday, Edith smiled happily.

"Lord Lionel! Good morning. Did you sleep well last night?"

"Yes, thanks to you, I slept soundly. I slept through the night and just woke up a little while ago."

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel much better than yesterday. Your medicine and the herbal porridge seem to have worked well."

Relieved, Edith let out a sigh.

"I'm glad... I'm relieved to hear that."

Lionel, looking at Edith with a slight blush, asked hesitantly.

"It's early in the morning, but if it's not too much trouble, could I talk to you for a bit?"

"Of course, I'd be happy to. Since we're a bit far apart from here, shall I come to your room?"

"That would be a great help."

Edith immediately headed to Lionel's room. After knocking on the door and receiving his response, she opened the door and approached the bed where Lionel was sitting up. She was taken aback by his appearance.

(Oh...?)

When she had seen him across the garden, she hadn't noticed, but Lionel's complexion and skin tone had improved, and his gaunt face had become a bit fuller. His usually dull, purplish-blue eyes were now shining brightly, and he smiled at Edith.

"Edith, thank you for coming."

"Lord Lionel, you look much better."

"Yes, I haven't woken up feeling this refreshed in a long time. ...And to see your face this morning as well."

Looking at Lionel, who was smiling happily, Edith's cheeks also turned pink.

"I was surprised to see you so early this morning. Were you looking at the garden?"

"Yes. The Granville Manor's garden is beautifully maintained. The garden lit by the morning sun was so beautiful that I was captivated by it."

"Would you like to take a walk in the garden then?"

At Lionel's suggestion, Edith nodded happily.

"Is that alright? If it doesn't strain you, I'd be happy to join you."

"I'm fine. However, I'm in a wheelchair, so I'm afraid I'll be a bother to you..."

"Hehe, that's no problem at all."

Edith brought the wheelchair to the bed, and Lionel, with her help, moved from the bed to the wheelchair. Edith pushed the wheelchair through the door leading to the garden and squinted at the bright morning sun.

The quiet garden, with no one else in sight, was filled only with the high-pitched chirping of birds. Gazing at the colorful flowers in full bloom, Edith sighed in admiration.

"What a beautiful garden. It's really stunning..."

"The gardener takes good care of it. He changes the flowers frequently according to the season so that I can see them from my room."

"Oh, that's wonderful. And the scent is so lovely..."

As Edith gazed at the beautiful flowers in the garden, she suddenly felt Lionel's gaze and turned to look at him. He was smiling and looking at her instead of the flowers.

"...The flowers here are beautiful, but your smile as you look at them is even more beautiful."

"N-no, I'm not that..."

Edith, who had been called plain by her step-sister at the Oakridge Manor and had never been told she was beautiful, blushed deeply.

"...You don't have to flatter me, Lord Lionel."

"No, I mean it from the bottom of my heart. You are beautiful, Edith. And seeing your smile makes me feel brighter too."

Edith's face turned even redder at Lionel's words.