C60
Zachary asked in surprise. His face was as white as a sheet. He didn't expect it to be a suggestion that would make him so reluctant... Bianca tried not to show her trembling and continued as if she didn't know anything.
"The inside of the carriage is so spacious... The Count sleeps outside, so what will the servants say if I sleep comfortably alone in the carriage?"
"That won't happen."
Zachary's response was firm.
Bianca's speech was interrupted for a moment by the answer as sharp as a knife. Written on her face was: "I will never sleep in this carriage."
If it had been the Bianca from one or two months ago, she would have felt hurt, but Bianca has grown a lot through her experiences. Despite Zachary's refusal, she had the courage to try again. Bianca spoke once more to convince Zachary.
"Still..."
"Madam, where will you eat? Shall I bring the food to the carriage?"
At that moment, without warning, Sauveur stuck his head into the carriage and asked. Because of that, the flow of the story was interrupted, and Bianca stared at Sauveur, unaware of it.
When Bianca's pale green eyes looked dissatisfied, Sauveur was startled, wondering what he had done wrong. Bianca sighed at the sight of Sauveur, who closed his mouth and rolled his eyes. It was annoying, but it wasn't his fault.
After all, Zachary said he wouldn't do it, so nothing would have changed. There was no room for him there, so it seemed that today wouldn't be fortunate. Bianca, who gave up, waved her hand as if she were tired.
"Yes, I will eat in the carriage."
If she ate outside, it would only increase her stomachache due to the piercing gazes, so why would she do that? Bianca's response was quick.
Yvonne, who had always wanted to do it, stood up from her seat.
"Then I'll bring it, madam."
"Yes, please, Yvonne."
Yvonne nodded and left the carriage. While silently listening to the conversation between the Count and the lady in the carriage, she quickly realized that it was time to get up from her seat. The countess openly asked him to lie down with her, but she was rejected. As someone in the middle, she shouldn't witness that.
Sauveur also left, and Bianca and Zachary were the only ones left in the carriage. Contrary to Yvonne's intention to leave them alone, Bianca knew that Zachary would also leave. It was because there was nothing more to talk about.
But Zachary stayed there without moving. His unmoving face seemed to have something to say. Now that she thinks about it, it seemed like he had something to say when he left. What did he want to say? Bianca held her breath silently and waited for Zachary to speak.
However, Bianca wasn't a very patient person to begin with. While waiting, she pondered for a long time where to put her hand, whether to blink or rub her numb feet. Finally, unable to wait for the words to come out of Zachary's mouth on his own initiative, she asked.
"If you say you don't want to sleep in the carriage, why are you staying?"
"It's not because I don't like you."
As if in a hurry to make excuses, Zachary closed his mouth again and ran his hands over his face. A deep sigh escaped him. As if he had made up his mind, Zachary clenched his fists and stared intently at Bianca. At that moment, Bianca became nervous too.
What does he want to talk about? But no matter how much she thought, she couldn't decipher it. Bianca held her breath as she shook her head blankly. However, the words that came out of Zachary were unexpected.
"Since when did you become so close to Sauveur?"
"Sir Sauveur?"
Bianca's eyes widened at the unexpected question. Why is Sir Sauveur coming up here? What did he do? But no matter how far back she looked, nothing happened. He just asked where she would like to eat, and this morning...
"We're not very close..."
Bianca, who had no idea what he was saying, weakly responded.
Bianca's face turned white with embarrassment. Looking at Bianca like that, Zachary felt frustrated. It was because he couldn't believe that Bianca and Sauveur weren't close after seeing them like that.
When did Sauveur become accustomed to talking with Bianca, when did he get close enough to fix her clothes, and why did Sauveur, who disliked troublesome tasks, replace Gaspard as the one handling trivial and cumbersome tasks like meals?
As the distance between them closed, it felt as if Zachary had been struck in the back with a hammer.
Bianca and Sauveur were a combination he never expected to get along. If he had gotten close to Gaspard, who was his escort, he would understand. As Bianca was a noisy, impolite woman who didn't like interference from others, Gaspard would have been as good as air without going against Bianca's mood.
Sauveur was the most frivolous man in Arno Castle. And the only one among the three commanders who was a commoner. Zachary didn't have many prejudices against him, although he knew Bianca might be reluctant towards him.
However, reality proved otherwise, and the friendship between Sauveur and Bianca hit him without warning.
Come to think of it, the last time the issue of succession was raised, Sauveur sided with Bianca along with Vincent. Upon reflection, the things he had dismissed without much thought at that time turned into unwanted hypotheses. Why should Bianca have a successor early? Why is Sauveur on her side...?
Zachary knew that nothing would ever happen between Sauveur and Bianca. He was simply curious about the friendship between the two people who didn't get along before. Zachary was merely trying to define the anxiety that disturbed his heart.
Unaware of Zachary's feelings, Bianca only tilted her head slightly like a bird struggling to eat.
"What's the matter? I've only spoken to Sir Sauveur a few times."
"...It's just that I didn't think the two of you would be so close."
"Ah, I went to the stable, and he guided me. We often run into each other while walking..."
"I know you're not the type of person who talks to everyone you meet while walking."
"But Sir Sauveur saw Sir Gaspard first and approached him... Wait, are you interrogating me now?"
"Interrogating? Me?"
Bianca asked abruptly. Surprised, Zachary responded with another question. He pondered his own words. It was a form of interrogation even if he thought about it. The instinct to hide it seemed to have emerged out of nowhere. A shadow cast over Zachary's eyes.
"I'm sorry if you felt that way."
Bianca rolled her eyes and looked at Zachary. She couldn't understand why he was so concerned about Sauveur. Is there any reason why Bianca shouldn't get along with Sauveur? Then she should just say, "They don't get along." In other words, shouldn't she warn Sauveur first? She twisted and turned, stifling what she wanted to say.
To be honest, the reason Bianca seems to get along with Sauveur is because, in the first place, she had low expectations for him. The reason she agreed with his rude behavior was because she didn't expect him to be polite, not because she was generous enough to understand his behavior well. But she doesn't have to tell him that. Bianca relaxed her sharp tone and smiled softly, and told a story that she thought Zachary would like to hear.
"He is your vassal. There's no need for me to be hostile to those who protect you."
"... Bianca."
She didn't know how much Zachary would believe in Bianca's words, but what she said seemed to suit his taste. His voice, calling out to Bianca, was lower than usual, and his black eyes shimmered beneath his silver-gray lashes.
Zachary's hand reached Bianca's cheek. It was a gentle touch, as if touching something fragile that would crumble at any moment if he applied too much pressure.
Bianca's spine stiffened at the warm touch from Zachary. She wasn't accustomed to this kind of contact. There was nothing she was accustomed to in the first place. So it couldn't be helped. No matter how ignorant Bianca was, she knew that this was a good opportunity not to be missed.
Perhaps today, she could break down even a little bit of his wall. Thinking about that, Bianca slowly closed her eyes. As if waiting for a kiss, no, longing for it.
Bianca lifted her head. She could feel Zachary's breath on her skin. When she opens her eyes, will she see his face close to hers? What kind of expression will be reflected in his black eyes? A look filled with anticipation? Or one of fear? Will he allow her to taste his lips today?
Tags:
TWB (Novel)