MLCP 08

Chapter – 08

Eleanor was teaching Olivia as usual. But the trouble began when Olivia, excited that she had gotten a calculation right, burst the door open to show off. She ran straight into Usher, who happened to be outside.

In itself, that wasn’t a big problem—Olivia was always like that. The real problem was that Eleanor had been teaching Olivia math while removing buttons from her blouse.

The proof lay on the table: four buttons scattered prominently.

“I-I’m sorry…”

Usher apologized hurriedly. His purple eyes, unsure whether to look at the person or the table, wandered helplessly into empty space.

“Here, at least take this.”

Twisting his head as far away as he could, Usher handed Eleanor his jacket. Eleanor, unable to say it was fine, used his jacket to cover herself. Her heart was racing.

“I-I didn’t mean to… I wasn’t trying to look…”

As Usher stumbled over his words, Eleanor caught his gaze. The moment their eyes met, he jumped as if someone had kicked him in the behind.

“I’m sorry!”

Once again apologizing for something that wasn’t even his fault, Usher turned to face the wall. Eleanor took the opportunity to dash out of Olivia’s room, intending to go change into proper clothes.

But her steps faltered. Her mind had gone completely blank from the unexpected incident, and she stumbled in panic. She only thought, Next time, I absolutely must teach Olivia not to dash out in the middle of a lesson.

“Miss Hudson?”

When Eleanor lifted her head at the call, she met Logan’s gaze as he climbed the stairs. Seeing her pale, ashen face, he tilted his head in curiosity.

“What on earth…?”

Only then did he fully register Eleanor’s appearance: the tattered front of her blouse, her hands pale as if clutching a lifeline, and a man’s jacket draped over her shoulders.

It didn’t take long for him to realize that the jacket had just been worn by Usher, who had been fussing with his own tail feathers like a peacock moments before.

A creak sounded from Logan’s hand gripping the railing.

“…Usher Fitzman.”

The voice was calm, yet thunderous; cold, yet burning with anger.

“Sorry.”

Eleanor sat cautiously beside Usher and apologized. Usher, who had buried his face in his hands and sighed, lifted his head slowly. The incident had turned the mansion upside down. The household staff shivered in fright at Logan’s angry voice, and Usher was misunderstood by Logan for something he didn’t even do. Even the servants looked at him as if he were immoral.

He seemed fine, but maybe he’s a spoiled brat after all…

It’s not Usher’s fault!

For Eleanor, it was a relief that she could explain the situation to Logan right then. If she hadn’t, Usher would have certainly been chased out and banned from the Clavern estate.

“It’s not Eleanor’s fault.”

Usher carefully turned his head toward Eleanor and said this. Yet the moment their eyes met, he bowed his head deeply. Eleanor briefly wondered if he was angry at her.

“I was just trying, foolishly, to have a chance encounter, and got punished for it.”

“….”

“Actually, I wasn’t going to see Olivia at all—I was coming to see you.”

So his “crime” was merely disrupting the lesson. As he spoke, he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

Eleanor’s gaze slowly traced his earlobe and neck, which peeked out nervously. Even the red tip of his tongue that slipped out briefly could not go unnoticed. Usher wasn’t angry that he had been misunderstood because of Eleanor; he was embarrassed that he had accidentally seen a glimpse of her flesh.

“I see.”

Usher was the same age as Logan—twenty-four this year. Not exactly a boy anymore, he would surely have met at least one woman by now, maybe even been intimately involved.

Yet, in front of Eleanor, he was flustered as if still a boy, unsure of what to do. Eleanor felt strangely amused, as if she had seduced an innocent young boy unknowingly.

“Eleanor.”

Usher’s eyes were wide with disbelief. Seeing that gaze, Eleanor felt almost like the one who had voyeuristically seen someone’s private parts.

“How could you say something like that…”

Usher buried his face in his hands again and washed the awkwardness away with a dry laugh.

“Pfft…”

Eleanor couldn’t help covering her mouth, laughter spilling out. Her bright laughter spread across the darkened summer night sky. Usher blinked, dazed, aware of her laughter, yet couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

“Look at the situation. It looks like I was the one peeking at your naked body, not you.”

Usher moved his lips wordlessly, apparently unsure what to say. Even Eleanor found his handsome, flustered face endearingly clumsy.

Watching him, Eleanor recalled four years ago, on the day she had forced herself through both her coming-of-age ceremony and her social debut. Her mother’s shoes pinched her heels, the borrowed dress was outdated, yet she had tried to please her father, Charles.

In the end, all she got was the humiliating title of “Wallflower of the South.”

“What a metaphor…”

Usher sighed quietly, dumbfounded by the absurdity of the situation.

“Ah… really…”

Usher closed his eyes and let out a weak laugh. If Eleanor was okay, there was no reason for him not to be.

“I feel like I’m the only weird one here…”

His mumble carried a trace of humor. Eleanor, noticing this, continued to tease him, unable to stop herself from laughing.

“No matter what, I feel like I’ve sullied such a pure person.”

“Eleanor, don’t say that…”

Usher stopped himself, knowing it wasn’t true. In his dull, gray eyes, a hint of color appeared—his own little hint of life.

“I want to punish you.”

“Punish?” Eleanor blinked slowly.

“You broke the innocence of young Usher Fitzman and made him a man.”

“….”

“You have to take responsibility.”

This time, Eleanor was lost for words. Responsibility? It sounded almost like assault.

“I won’t make you take responsibility for life, don’t worry.”

Usher winked playfully, the mischievous glint reminding Eleanor of his younger self. No doubt, he had been a troublemaker even his nanny couldn’t control.

“Just for tomorrow. It’s the weekend.”

Clear as day, it was a date proposal. Eleanor hesitated, unable to respond immediately.

“I have to teach Olivia. I’m just her tutor…”

The rules of their world still dictated boundaries.

Four years ago, a commoner had confessed to Eleanor right after she became an adult. His heartfelt but threadbare bouquet was crushed by Charles, leaving him to wander away heartbroken.

How dare a commoner look down on me!

Eleanor knew reality all too well. This wasn’t the time for frivolous romance, and even if she wanted, Usher’s situation wouldn’t allow it.

“Sunday is a holiday, isn’t it?”

But there was no way to resist Usher, who blocked her path and pressed forward without hesitation.

“Just one day.”

“….”

“If Logan says no, I’ll make a scene to get permission anyway.”

Eleanor shut her mouth, caught by the intensity of Usher’s unwavering gaze. The gentle breeze, the star-filled night sky—all beautiful, and she thought, perhaps one day wouldn’t hurt.

“Just for one day.”

It was only a fleeting impulse—a single day of indulgence.