Chapter 47

When I returned to the Gyl-Ganzena Castle, it had become quite cool. That’s good.

I hope he has forgotten about that disgraceful incident.

Here we go again.

My hands don’t move as they should on the piano after such a long break.

My skills decline with each journey. I really don’t like this.

I need to train hard after the shrine maiden tour.

If I continue like this, I’ll lose one of my means of making a living after I quit being a priestess.

If I’m going abroad, becoming a performer is the quickest way, but with skills like these, I’m not confident at all. Besides, it might still affect the arrangement work I receive.

One more time.

I placed my hands on the keyboard.

Knock knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

At this hour?

“Who is it? Belle? Lucy?”

Only two people knock on my door. But this knock is different from theirs. They only knock twice.

It’s already midnight outside.

I’ve already prepared for bed and sent the maid back to her room.

I stayed in a room inside the castle yesterday because I returned a bit late, but I told the maid I would return to my usual cottage today.

I was so focused on being able to play the piano late into the night after a long break that it might have gotten quite late.

There was no reply from outside.

What should I do?

I’m afraid to open the door.

This is the first time something like this has happened.

Only the two maids and messengers from the castle ever come here, and they never visit at such a late hour.

I slowly got up and went to the window. The window is a casement and is half-open because it’s still warm.

What if someone tries to come in through here?

Thinking that, I went to close it without making a sound.

Just as I reached the stick holding the window open,

“Arietty.”

“Aaah!!”

Lord Joshua! Don’t scare me like that!

The cottage is built a step higher than the ground.

Lord Joshua’s face was right at the part of the window that was open.

“What are you doing?”

Oh, I was so startled.

What are you doing here! You should have announced yourself when you knocked!

“I was just about to go to bed.”

Lord Joshua sighed again.

What is it this time? You’ve been sighing a lot lately.

“Let me in. I need to talk to you.”

“Eh? Now?”

“Yes. Just put on some clothes and open the door.”

Saying that, he walked to the door with quick steps.

Eh? It’s already night. Entering a woman’s room at this hour is suspicious. You’re the most suspicious one.

Reluctantly, I put on a robe and quietly opened the door.

Lord Joshua instructed his attendant to wait outside and quickly closed the door.

Am I going to be scolded again?

I don’t want to.

I’m sure he’s going to scold me for practicing so late.

But there was no need for Lord Joshua to come all the way here.

This is a woman’s room? And asking to enter at such a late hour is improper.

Lord Joshua stood with a stern face, saying nothing, looking past the bed.

I can tell he’s quite angry. He’s usually nagging, so his silence is even more frightening.

A handsome man’s anger is terrifying, as if it can strip away your personality.

“...Um, my lord. Was the piano too loud? I’m sorry.”

I’ll apologize first. From tomorrow, even though it’s a bit hot, I’ll practice with the window closed.

“Why are you dressed like this? I thought I forbade you from sleeping here.”

Eh? Here?

“But it’s cooler now.”

“Even so, you shouldn’t sleep here. What about the maid?”

“I sent her back to her room.”

“Her room? Then bring her. We’ll go to the castle together.”

“Oh. The maid’s room is in the castle.”

Eh?

Stop it. Don’t look at me with such a scary face!

Lord Joshua turned to look at me sharply, with a gaze that seemed to see an enemy.

“What?”

Finally, he met my eyes.

But this is the scariest I’ve ever seen him. His face is expressionless, but his eyes are filled with intense anger. I can’t see it, but something burning seems to be emanating from his entire body.

My back teeth trembled from the intensity.

I recognize this feeling. It’s been since Wilhelm hit me.

“Why is the maid in the castle?”

“This place is small. There’s no room for the maid. She comes here every day.”

I instinctively defended them, afraid his anger might reach them.

“Since when? Have you been sleeping alone all this time?”

“Eh? Yes. From the beginning.”

What? Now?

Why am I being scolded for this?

I’m scared. Please leave quickly.