Chapter 12

Leana was asleep, tired from the difficult journey. Elena checked on the child once more before leaving the room. Mrs. Greta said she had already finished talking with Hazel and had prepared a new room for Elena.

Elena and Leana now had their own rooms.

Hazel had also said she needed to rest for a while and had gone to sleep. Elena tried to sort out the current situation again.

Maxim is a prince.

And Maxim had asked Hazel to find her a suitable governess position. But Hazel had brought them here without even telling Maxim.

For Maxim, this was a bolt from the blue.

Elena couldn’t contain her anxiety and abruptly stood up.

Mrs. Greta was waiting for Elena as she rushed out of her room.

“Oh! Mrs. Greta…!”

Hazel had earnestly asked her to keep a good eye on Elena. This must be why.

“Where are you going?”

“I want to see Maxim. Do you know where Maxim is right now?”

“Ah, he should be in his study around this time. Shall I guide you?”

Mrs. Greta said readily. Hazel had said ‘she’s a proper child, not like modern ones,’ and she could understand why. Her clear eyes, like rippling water, sparkled with pure innocence.

“I would be grateful if you would, Mrs. Greta.”

“Follow me.”

As Elena walked, there wasn’t even the common sound of shoes dragging. Only the soft rustling sound of her dress filled the corridor.

And that wasn’t all.

Her upright posture and proper way of knocking. Mrs. Greta smiled with a pleased expression.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Elena.”

“…Come in.”

Mrs. Greta opened the door for the hesitating Elena. Mrs. Greta pushed Elena’s back gently and said:

“He won’t bite you. He may look like that, but he has many gentle sides. He’s kind and tender-hearted too.”

Where? Elena wanted to ask back but held it in. The door closed behind her.

“Sit.”

Maxim, who was already seated on the sofa, offered Elena the seat across from him. Elena swallowed nervously and sat in that spot.

“What brings you here?”

“…Well, I… I felt I should apologize for being rude.”

Elena mustered all her courage. A pretty blush rose on her white face. Elena gulped. These were words she had gone over several times while walking down the corridor.

‘Don’t make mistakes.’

Things couldn’t get any messier than this.

“First, I want to apologize for the rudeness I’ve committed, Your Imperial Highness. Even though I didn’t know Your Highness’s status, I shouldn’t have acted so carelessly…”

“Forget about that. Just call me Maxim as before.”

Maxim said with a frown.

[Your Imperial Highness…!]

That title someone had persistently called him was a phrase that caused Maxim anger and headaches. Elena flinched.

“Call you Maxim?”

“Yes. Just that is fine. Or Your Grace… no. Just call me Maxim.”

Calling him Your Grace now would seem ridiculous. Elena nodded calmly.

“Yes, Maxim. I’ll do as you wish.”

Of course, she almost hinted that she wouldn’t have made such mistakes if he had told her in advance, but she held back. Maxim had already gone through a lot because of her. There seemed no need to say such things.

“And I’m sorry for barging in like this today.”

Maxim tilted his head. Elena was apologizing for something Hazel hadn’t even apologized for. In fact, if anyone should apologize today, it should have been Hazel.

It was Hazel who didn’t contact them despite having their contact information. It was Hazel who brought someone who knew nothing to his house. It was Hazel who stuck Elena to him because of that damned superstition.

Everything was thanks to that noble and precious emperor’s daughter, so why was Elena apologizing?

Maxim clicked his tongue.

“You don’t need to apologize for that. No, you don’t need to apologize for the previous thing either.”

“But…”

“The one who caused trouble was my aunt, not you. So you don’t need to apologize.”

“Then may I express gratitude?”

Elena asked with wide eyes. He told her not to apologize.

“Thank you for accepting us like this, thank you for letting us stay in the same mansion… and thank you for saving me several times. Thank you for conveying my message to Lady Hazel.”

“…You have many things to be grateful for.”

It felt like he had heard a year’s worth of thanks all at once. It was rare for the indifferent and cold Maxim to do things for someone. Maxim believed that the best way of life was not to harm each other and not to cause trouble.

“I’m truly grateful.”

Elena smiled brightly.

“Maxim is really a good person.”

Anyone who heard this would fall backward in shock.

Maxim stared at Elena with strange eyes. What did she know about him to judge him as a good person? Seeing her smile so innocently without any malice made him a little worried.

How was she going to live in Andres being so naive?

Honestly, Maxim had no reason to receive thanks. Although he was providing the place, Hazel would solve the financial problems. By now, she was probably clutching her head and writing a letter to Levonto.

Lending money to Hazel wasn’t a problem, but it was just a small spite.

But seeing Elena apologize like this seemed to soften his heart. In fact, it was hard to harbor hostility toward Elena, who laughed easily and was just pure white like drawing paper.

“Come to think of it… I couldn’t even give proper greetings. Have you been well?”

Have you been well?

“Of course…”

I’ve been well. Maxim’s mouth, about to say those words, shut tight. It was because Camellia, who had recently come to curse him before leaving, came to mind. Had she said never to be happy, that she suited his unhappiness well?

According to her words, he shouldn’t have been doing well.

Maxim kept his mouth shut.

Fortunately, Elena, who didn’t notice anything strange, chattered away.

“I’ve been doing well too. When I was thinking about running away from home, I was scared and afraid… but thanks to gathering courage, I’m here now. I have a feeling that everything will work out well.”

“…”

“Maybe it’s because I’ve met so many good people. Maxim, meeting you on Cress Bridge was really lucky for me.”

“…That’s fortunate.”

It was strange that someone called the same Maxim lucky. They were completely opposite people. Elena and Camellia.

Maxim swallowed a sigh.

“What do you plan to do when you earn money as a governess?”

Maxim changed the subject.

“First, I want to find the best doctor. Leana is very sick. But even taking medicine doesn’t seem to help much.”

Elena made a sad expression.

“So I want to take her to see a good doctor. How wonderful it would be if Leana could get better?”

“…Don’t you have any other reason for earning money?”

“Well, I want to get a house for Leana and me to live in. It doesn’t matter if it’s small, but I hope it’s warm. And doesn’t leak rain.”

Elena’s dreams were small and modest.

“I found out that Andres pays governesses well. Maybe I can achieve my dream soon.”

“Then what will you do after that?”

“Hmm… I haven’t thought about what comes after yet. Maybe studying would be good…”

Elena tilted her head.

“My life has been too overwhelming to think about the distant future. I’ll tell you when I think of something someday.”

“…I support your dreams.”

By then, Hazel might stop her strange imaginings too. Elena talked about various other things before leaving. Who knew she was such a talkative woman?

Maxim leaned back on the sofa, feeling somewhat tired.

His body felt heavy like water-soaked cotton. Elena was completely different from the young ladies Maxim had encountered before. She was noble like a deer and white like snow. And she was like a moral education textbook.

Moreover, she was brave. According to her, if she hadn’t had courage, she wouldn’t have been able to come find him that time.

‘…A good person.’

Am I really a good person? I think of a certain woman who cursed and swore at me behind my back. Why did that woman hate me so much?

Enough to do such things in front of me.

Maxim bit his tongue.