C44
"...Madam?!"
"Oh, sorry for being noisy, madam. Please forgive us."
As soon as Bianca called them, the maids stood up in contemplation. Then, they bowed to apologize to Bianca and quickly escaped. It was as if Bianca would scold them if they showed even a small crack.
She knew they wouldn't welcome her, but still, Bianca, who was taken aback by the unexpected reaction, watched the maids disappear with a perplexed expression.
Bianca quickly set aside her embarrassment. She straightened her expression and sighed.
Yvonne, who was beside Bianca, panicked and looked at her anxiously. She couldn't say anything because she was contemplating whether to offer comfort or if it was the right thing to do.
Bianca tried to smile as if nothing happened and spoke to Yvonne to hide her discomfort.
"It's a big problem because I had something to ask them."
"W-What is it? I'll answer everything I know."
Yvonne also smiled awkwardly. The atmosphere, which had been tense for a while, seemed to disappear in an instant with her high-pitched voice.
"About the black-haired maid from earlier..."
"Bianca."
As soon as Bianca began to speak, her name was called from behind.
Bianca's body stiffened at the sudden call. There is only one person in this castle who can call Bianca by her given name. Bianca's efforts to pretend to be calm shattered in an instant.
He must have seen it. He probably saw it.
Thinking that Zachary had just seen the maids avoiding her, Bianca's face darkened. It was embarrassing that the lord's wife couldn't guide the maids.
Bianca groaned in distress, as she never wanted to be caught in such a way. At the very least, she felt the need to bury her flaming face in the snow piled up in the garden.
But instead of bowing her head, Bianca raised it even more rigidly. Breathing and pretending to be calm, she slowly looked back when she thought she had composed herself.
As she turned her body, her face returned to being as smooth and cold as porcelain. It was hard to believe that she had been trembling with embarrassment just a moment ago.
Bianca's eyes met Zachary, who was standing at the end of the hallway. He, who blocked her path like the guardian of the gates of hell, approached Bianca as soon as she turned around.
When Zachary approached, Bianca tensed up from the tension she felt. It was as if a huge beast was prowling towards her.
Her escort, Gaspard, was the largest man in the Arno castle. He was taller than Zachary, and no one could match the thick muscles in his shoulders and forearms.
Having dragged Gaspard from the corner of her eyes every day, she thought she had gotten used to big types, but when she saw Zachary in front of her, she realized that her thinking was wrong.
He had an intimidating presence that was enough to fill the gap in size with Gaspard.
The dignity as a lord and count flowed over him, so anyone could tell how much he had struggled to rise to such a position.
Bianca tried to remember the first time she and Zachary met. It had been a long time, so she didn't remember it well, but the way he dressed was uncomfortable and unattractive, so the feelings of dissatisfaction were clear.
She still remembers crying in the arms of her nanny Jean, saying that her father had sold her to someone poor.
Zachary approached Bianca. Bianca had to tilt her neck to the limit to make eye contact with him, as he was more than a head and a half taller. Bianca was annoyed because she felt like she was losing for nothing.
Zachary was dressed in a black doublet lined with dark red fabric over a silk shirt, covered with shiny black fur. He wore grayish-brown leather boots, and his white pants were densely adorned with black buttons made from animal teeth.
It was a sense of fashion that couldn't even be expected from the old Zachary, who wore a rough linen shirt and an outdated brown doublet. As he ascended in title, the sense of fashion seemed to have grown. That was quite positive.
Regardless, Bianca had to be with him, and the fact that her husband by her side wore shabby clothes like a farmer in the field was a loss of prestige for her.
Zachary's silver-gray hair, which was carefully arranged, swayed with the winter wind that permeated the hallways, but his direct gaze looking at Bianca remained the same. Well. He always stared at Bianca as if they were mortal enemies, as if he was going to devour her...
However, the sharp displeasure in his eyes was clearly evident. His face was as rigid as ever, as if a needle couldn't penetrate it, but the corners of his mouth subtly twisted, and his eyes revealed the thoughts he couldn't hide.
Bianca's heart pounded once again at seeing his clearly unhappy face. She really just wants to make a good impression on him, but why does she always cross paths with him when he's in a bad mood? And to make matters worse, she just showed how she was rejected by the maids.
They say it takes two to tango. Maybe it's because we're not meant to connect? Bianca smiled bitterly.
For example, if there's a conflict or problem between two people, it's often said that "it takes two to tango" to imply that both are at fault. Regardless of the circumstances, we usually can't solely blame one person.
Zachary, who approached Bianca, asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Nothing," Bianca lifted her chin and replied firmly. An attitude that exuded high self-esteem. With a shield of composure on her face as if she wouldn't easily show her weakness.
However, her heart, enlarged by tension, was pounding hard. With a dry mouth, Bianca swallowed saliva so that her voice wouldn't crack.
Since she didn't want to disclose what had happened, she changed the topic of conversation.
"What happened to what you said then?" Zachary asked.
On the first day she visited the stable, Bianca went straight to Zachary. Upon hearing Bianca's desire to learn horseback riding, he stared at her with his dark eyes.
"I think it would be difficult for you to ride a horse."
"It will be tough, but not impossible."
Zachary didn't like the idea of Bianca riding a horse. But Bianca didn't back down, unlike with Sauveur. Because she knew that nothing would happen if she didn't convince Zachary. And she was confident in breaking Zachary's stubbornness. In fact, Zachary has never stopped Bianca from making a decision.
Zachary and Bianca went through several battles. Zachary used the excuse that Bianca's health and endurance weren't good. Bianca, who didn't believe that Zachary was concerned about her, thought he had another reason, but Zachary didn't easily reveal it.
But in the end, it was Bianca's assumption. Zachary, who had expressed an unfamiliar reluctance, had no choice but to give the response that he would consider it positively. He would take care of it himself, so she shouldn't worry, and he put an end to the topic.
It was their first encounter since then. In response to Bianca's question, Zachary replied directly without loosening his rigid face.
"Even if you don't remind me, I won't forget. I ordered Vincent to find a pony that suits you. There aren't many available in the market because it's winter, but he's good at that, so we'll find one soon."
Zachary frowned and looked Bianca up and down. It was as if Bianca was being greedy despite not being in good physical condition. The disapproval hanging from his mouth grew stronger.
"Now it's winter, it's snowing, it's cold, and it's dangerous, so you can learn to ride when the buds start to bloom in early spring. Hopefully, you'll be able to ride in the capital."
"That's good news."
She said it was good news, but Bianca's face didn't appear bright.
As soon as the conversation was momentarily interrupted, Zachary gestured towards Yvonne and Gaspard, who were behind Bianca. It was an order for them to stay away.
Gaspard, who immediately understood his master's order, nodded his head and stepped back.
Yvonne hesitated, looking worriedly at Bianca, whose complexion seemed oddly tired. But she couldn't disobey her master's orders. Yvonne had no choice but to step back.
Tags:
TWB (Novel)