Chapter: 09
When he was abandoned at the mountain lodge, he was only seven years old.
The maid who had been consoling him, telling him to wait patiently, went out to get food on the morning of the seventh day—and never returned.
He ate the remaining bread, then biscuits. When the biscuits ran out, he went outside to pick berries from the trees.
It was then that he first learned that eating what insects eat wouldn’t upset his stomach.
When the drinking water ran out, he set out to find a stream. Even when he looked like a beggar, he returned to the lodge faithfully, to keep his promise to Elizabeth.
Unlike the runaway maid, he was a prince. Elizabeth had told him to wait for Count Boina.
The days grew colder. There were no more fallen berries to eat.
Even climbing the tree trunks, he couldn’t reach any fruit. Nights were terrifying.
On the day he resolved to descend the mountain alone, Ferdinand, the Count of Burk, appeared. He was not the person Elizabeth had mentioned.
He said that the Marquis and Marchioness Ermoli had been captured and, unable to endure hardship, had betrayed the location of Count Boina and the lodge. He urged them to run.
Caius didn’t trust him, but Ferdinand forcibly dragged him down the mountain.
Later, he saw the imperial army lined up at the foot of the mountain. He heard the orders clearly in his ears: if a child was found on the mountain, they were to be killed immediately.
If Ferdinand had been even slightly late, he would have died there without a chance.
Having sold himself to survive, he should have at least preserved his life to the very end. So that, as they wished, he could grow up and take revenge mercilessly.
He had intended to show the cowardly two the weight of oaths and promises clearly.
Who had allowed them to leave the world as they pleased, handing the royal heirloom to a daughter who knew nothing?
A bothersome headache arose, and he pressed his hand to his forehead.
Caius gave up on sleeping again and got up.
He tapped a small bell, and a servant entered with hunting clothes and a rifle. Perhaps today, they might finally catch a fox.
―Bang!
Louise jumped up at the distant sound of gunfire.
In her view were an antique desk, bookshelves only partially filled, and framed photos of unfamiliar landscapes.
For a moment, she was dazed as if dreaming, then regained her composure.
She had come to Burk for an interview and had been trapped there when the sun set. The room that the previous tutor had used was so luxurious.
―Bang, bang!
The gunfire rang out again, making her wonder if she had misheard it before.
Was there hunting nearby?
Perhaps it was military training, since there were soldiers in the estate. But she couldn’t help thinking of Miriam, who would be startled even by a knock, and felt uneasy.
As she tidied the bed, a soft knock came.
―Knock, knock.
The maid who had guided her since her arrival appeared, carrying a steaming basin.
“Did you sleep well overnight, Miss?”
Louise, unused to such attentive care, didn’t know how to respond.
“You didn’t have to go to so much trouble.”
The maid politely ignored Louise’s hesitation and asked,
“Shall I bring your meal?”
“Oh, um…”
Louise hesitated, then spoke carefully.
“Is the ailing old servant also in this estate? Count Ferdinand always dines alone, so I was wondering—who usually dines with Miss Miriam?”
The maid gave a slightly embarrassed answer.
“The master is recuperating in the nearby countryside. The young lady mostly dines alone, so you can also have your meal comfortably in your room.”
Louise felt a sting in her chest, as if being told she didn’t need to trouble herself to dine with Miriam. The maid quickly added:
“My name is Pauline Price. If you need any small errands done here, just let me know.”
“Thank you, Pauline. I think you already know, but I’m Louise. If Miss Miriam usually eats alone, would it be alright if I join her? I can ask her myself.”
Pauline’s jet-black eyes widened slightly in surprise, then she gave a hint.
“Miss Miriam doesn’t like knocking. Just ask outside her door. If there’s no answer, she’s either sleeping or refusing.”
“Doesn’t she have a personal maid? She was alone in her room yesterday…”
Pauline sighed deeply.
“Not at the moment. She did have a personal maid, but she followed her former teacher back home. That maid originally came with the teacher’s introduction. So for the past few days, the young lady has been tended by whichever servant is on duty in rotation.”
It was absurd. A shy, cautious girl losing both her trusted teacher and maid, now being served by a different attendant each day.
Pauline continued, almost as if to excuse it.
“I understand the head maid is still considering who will be her personal attendant. The position is very popular because the salary is high, though the young lady sometimes causes a commotion.”
―Bang!
Another shot rang out. Before Louise could ask, Pauline quickly answered her curiosity.
“The master enjoys hunting. You’ll soon see, but he tends to be sleepless, so you’ll often hear early morning gunfire.”
The forest nearby, alive with animal cries, was indeed ideal for hunting.
“But Miss Miriam—”
Pauline shrugged, as if the answer were obvious.
“Of course she’s startled. She jumps even at the knocks she hears daily.”
Louise felt some relief seeing Pauline’s dark eyes cloud with concern. At least one person cared about Miriam in this house.
Louise lowered her hand, which had gone up out of habit to knock. She spoke softly through the door.
“Did you sleep well, Miss Miriam?”
Her tone was as slow and gentle as Miriam’s own speech.
“I’m planning to go to Melk after breakfast to pack. I’ll probably return tomorrow.”
As expected, there was no answer.
“I was going to have breakfast before leaving. Would you like to join me? Eating alone feels awkward.”
Louise waited in silence.
After a few minutes, just as she was about to give up and say goodbye, the door opened slightly, and a small voice was heard:
“Not now.”
Louise didn’t immediately understand Miriam’s meaning. Just as she was about to ask again, Pauline interjected.
“Miss, the master will be returning soon. You can go to the dining room now. If there’s another gunshot, I’ll hold your hand.”
Through the door, Miriam nodded. Another maid quickly approached to drape a shawl around her shoulders.
Louise followed Miriam to the nearby small dining room.
In the center of the square table was a round platter decorated with yellow and red flowers, with a meal prepared for one person.
Louise was about to sit next to Miriam when the pungent scent of musk made her flinch. The maid who had followed from Miriam’s room noticed and quickly said, shrugging slightly:
“I’ll prepare your portion, Miss.”
There must be a reason. Perhaps Miriam didn’t like washing, or had a strong fondness for musk.
Miriam seemed unaffected.
She tried to eat the tail of a pink shrimp with her fingers, then, noticing Louise’s plate was empty, handed one over timidly.
Louise hesitated briefly, then picked up the plate and took the shrimp.
The plump shrimp were peeled except for the tails—a rare luxury for Louise, even without considering that Miriam had handed them to her barehanded.
She couldn’t recall the last time she’d had fresh shrimp.
The luxurious breakfast reminded her of her mother, who loved seafood.
After a moment’s thought, Louise picked up a shrimp like Miriam had and smiled.
“Thank you. You eat a lot too, Miriam.”
It would be better to teach table manners after they were more familiar.
Miriam ate a few shrimp, then began spreading butter on bread. She drank orange juice, leaving the coffee untouched.
Soon, Louise’s meal was ready.
She quietly observed Miriam eating without speaking, then asked:
“When I return, shall we start studying together the next day?”
Miriam flinched slightly, then continued eating as if she hadn’t heard. Perhaps she didn’t like studying.
