HLM 06

Chapter 6

Martin emerged, his hands practically dripping wet. He glanced cautiously at me before tentatively speaking up.

“L-Lindsay… I-I tried my best to w-wash it out, but… i-it’s white, so the ink w-won’t fade… C-could I buy you a new o-one next week…?”

Seeing him hold out the sodden, ruined handkerchief, his fingertips flushed red from frantic scrubbing, I couldn’t help but feel absolutely exasperated.

“Wait, so you weren’t late because you were washing your hands… it was because of the handkerchief…”

What was even more ridiculous was that when I actually looked at his hand, it was obvious he had only done a half-hearted job of cleaning himself; there were still streaks of black ink clinging to his skin.

Frustrated by his misplaced priorities, I lightly thumped my fist against his chest. Martin reached up and softly caught my wrist, lowering my hand.

“D-don’t hit me… I-it hurts…”

“No, that’s not the point! This handkerchief is literally nothing…”

When I looked down and saw his pale, elegant fingers now stained an angry red from scrubbing the cloth, I frowned, on the verge of tears. Seeing my distress, Martin immediately looked even more devastated, as if he were the one who had caused me trouble.

“B-but… I was j-just trying to h-help you… A-and it felt t-too precious to j-just throw away…”

He assured me he would dry it properly, claiming that with the warm weather, it would be perfectly fine in no time. Seeing him offer that soft, reassuring smile completely stole the words from my mouth.

He truly was a boy you couldn’t help but adore the more you looked at him.

‘Why does everyone pick on him so relentlessly? He’s so sweet and pure…’

Was it because he smiled too easily? Because he yielded too quickly?

I couldn’t fathom the exact reason, but the more I learned about Martin, the less the academy’s cruel treatment of him made any sense to me.

We were walking side by side down the corridor, heading back to the library. Suddenly, as if a thought had just struck him, Martin let out a small, troubled sound and looked at me.

“L-Lindsay.”

“Hm? What is it, Martin?”

At my response, Martin fiddled with the damp handkerchief, an awkward, strained smile forming on his lips.

“I-I don’t think I’ll be a-able to speak to you… w-when the other s-students are around…”

Won’t be able to speak to me? What does that mean?

I matched his pace and turned to face him. Through an open window, a breeze thick with the warmth of summer drifted in. It lifted my black hair and playfully ruffled Martin’s blonde locks. As his bangs shifted, his clear, emerald eyes met mine perfectly, holding my reflection in their depths.

“W-we are f-friends… right…?”

“I certainly thought we were. But what do you mean you won’t be able to speak to me, Martin?”

“T-thank you… for b-being my f-friend. I-I really enjoy… s-studying and t-talking with you like this. But…”

Martin stopped walking entirely and looked me straight in the eyes.

“I-I don’t w-want you to suffer… b-because of me. If I s-speak to you… the others will s-start bullying you t-too. S-so…”

Dropping his gaze, Martin picked anxiously at his thumbnail, looking deeply apologetic for even having to say it out loud.

“L-let’s just meet like t-this… a-after classes end, when the a-academy is quiet. L-like today…”

I couldn’t give him an immediate answer. My chest swelled with all the things I desperately wanted to say, the words rising sharply to my throat.

I don’t care. I want to talk to you normally, like it’s nothing. I don’t care about any of that.

‘And… if I don’t have you, I’ll be completely alone too…’

I desperately wanted to convince him that it didn’t matter, but looking at his face, it was clear this was a decision he had agonized over before finally bringing it up.

In the end, I could only quietly turn my head and resume walking.

Ultimately, we didn’t write a single word of our report today.

Instead, we had to spend our time on our hands and knees, scrubbing furiously at the faint ink stain that had seeped into the library floorboards. We were still diligently working at it when the librarian eventually approached, informing us that the library was closing and it was time to leave.

Stealing glances at each other, both filled with an unnamable sense of reluctance and lingering awkwardness, Martin and I quietly packed our bags and stepped out onto the campus grounds together.

“Martin. Did your carriage arrive?”

“H-huh? I-I’m…”

The dilapidated black carriage that usually waited near the academy gates was nowhere to be seen. Instead, parked in front of my family’s crest-bearing carriage, Bill was already enthusiastically waving at me.

After a moment of hesitation, knowing I couldn’t possibly leave Martin here alone, I spoke up.

“If it hasn’t arrived yet, do you want me to wait with you? Or we could just share my carriage today.”

“N-no… I-it’s fine if I w-wait alone… I-it’s almost dinner t-time anyway…”

“That goes for you too. Honestly, isn’t your driver being a bit negligent? How can he leave the young master waiting on the street like this! He should have been here exactly when classes ended.”

“I-it’s probably because… I d-didn’t tell him exactly w-when I’d be done studying… I-I’m really fine, s-so you should g-go ahead.”

Well, that practically meant he had no idea when the carriage would actually show up.

When I stared flatly at him in response to his weak excuse, Martin nervously scuffed the toe of his shoe against the cobblestones. Unable to watch him squirm any longer, I practically dragged him toward my carriage.

“L-Lindsay…!”

“Just share my carriage for today. It’s going to get dark soon… and my conscience won’t let me just abandon you here. Ah, but…”

Realizing I was forcefully gripping his arm, I subtly let go and looked up at him.

“If you’re genuinely uncomfortable, it’s okay to refuse. Do whatever makes you comfortable.”

At my words, Martin repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists. He chewed on his lip for a moment before quietly conceding.

“T-then… I’ll impose on you… j-just for today…”

“Great! Just for today is fine, and any other day we finish this late is fine too. Let’s get in.”

When I enthusiastically grabbed his arm again, I felt him flinch slightly. I offered him a small, reassuring smile and guided him toward where Bill was waiting.

“My Lady, did you study diligently today as well? It is a truly lovely afternoon. But who might this young gentleman be…?”

“Ah, he’s my friend. Bill, could I possibly ask you to drop him off at his estate today?”

“You do not even need to ask, My Lady. It is my duty. Please, step inside.”

With a warm smile, Bill smoothly pulled open the rear door. Martin and I expressed our gratitude before sliding into the comfortable leather seats.

“Thank you, Bill. Martin! By any chance, is your estate…”

“A-ah, W-Western Wood Street, p-please…”

At Martin’s stammered reply, Bill, who was buckling his seatbelt, glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

“Western Wood Street? Does the young master happen to employ a driver named Nelson?”

“Y-yes, Nelson! I-I know him… b-but he quit a few days a-ago.”

Bill’s expression, usually so bright and cheerful, suddenly dropped.

“Haha, that man is a dear friend of mine. He mentioned that his mother’s illness had suddenly worsened, so he was moving back to his hometown. I see… To think the young master Nelson served was a friend of our lady. However…”

Bill tilted his head, a contemplative look crossing his features, as he repeatedly glanced at Martin through the mirror. Sensing a strange tension, I silently observed the exchange.

“Excuse my presumption, but… what might the young master’s esteemed name be…?”

“I-I’m Martin. J-just Martin…”

That wasn’t what Bill meant. He had clearly been asking for Martin’s family name. But Martin, seemingly unwilling to divulge it, deliberately avoided his gaze and stared out the window instead.

Noticing Martin’s reluctance, Bill let out a hearty, somewhat awkward laugh.

“Haha, it seems I have committed a minor faux pas. I shall have you home straight away.”

Once the conversation died down, an awkward silence filled the cabin. Lost in his own thoughts, Martin kept his eyes fixed on the scenery blurring past the window.

Watching him, I lightly tapped the toe of my shoe against the floorboards before breaking the silence.

“Oh, right. Martin! What brand was the fountain pen you dropped earlier? I’m the one who caused it, so I’d like to replace it for you.”

“O-oh, that… I-it’s f-fine. It was my m-mistake for l-leaving it on the e-edge, anyway…”

“Even if it was on the edge, it fell because I startled you. I genuinely want to gift you a new one. Please, just tell me.”

“I-it’s really o-okay, though…”

After agonizing over it for a moment, Martin slowly turned his head toward me and spoke cautiously.

“I-it’s from Meister. B-but the p-price is…”

“Don’t worry about that! Meister, got it. Black is best, right?”

“R-right… I-it doesn’t show s-stains as easily, so you c-can use it for a long t-time…”

Martin offered a subtle, grateful smile and shyly scratched the back of his head. Seeing that familiar, endearing gesture, I couldn’t help but smile back.