TMC 08

CHAPTER :08

7. Your Eyes Are Sparkling

That had happened just a day ago.

Stella pressed her hands against her burning cheeks.

The more she replayed their conversation in her mind, the more her face flushed, driving her crazy.

‘When did I ever meet Lord Castillo?’

No matter how hard she racked her brain, she couldn’t recall ever meeting Adrian.

Since she had lost her memories, it was only natural, but it was still incredibly frustrating that she couldn’t remember.

‘I really can’t remember a thing.’

Stella pressed a hand to her forehead.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah, Jenna.”

“If you’re unwell, I will fetch a doctor right away.”

Jenna, who was kneeling before her, spoke with a tearful face.

She hadn’t expected a virtual stranger, whom she had only recently met, to worry about her this much.

Stella gently squeezed Jenna’s hands and shook her head.

“It’s nothing serious.”

“But you were holding your head.”

“I was just trying to remember something, but I couldn’t.”

Jenna’s eyes sparked with curiosity.

Wondering if it was alright to ask someone else about such matters, Stella hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly.

“Since I’ve lost my memory, I don’t remember how Lord Castillo knows me at all.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

“It’s such a shame.”

Even if she did have her memories, it wouldn’t change her current situation, yet she couldn’t help but feel terribly disappointed that she couldn’t recall any moments with him.

Seeing Stella look so downcast, Jenna thought for a moment before speaking up in an excited voice.

“Actually, I don’t know the details either, but could it be a recent thing? Lately, the young master’s gaze has been different from usual.”

“His gaze has changed?”

“Hmm, how should I put this?”

Jenna closed her eyes and tilted her head from side to side before clapping her hands as if she had suddenly remembered.

“Ah, right! Should I say his eyes have come to life? The young master has a handsome face, but he used to walk around with such a blank, expressionless face. But recently, his eyes have been sparkling.”

Stella couldn’t quite wrap her head around Jenna’s words.

To her, he had been nothing but warm and gentle from the very beginning.

“Especially when he looks at you, milady!”

“I’m sure you’re mistaken.”

As Jenna’s voice grew louder with excitement, Stella waved her hands dismissively.

“It’s true! If you look closely into the young master’s eyes later, you’ll see.”

Jenna, placing a hand over her heart as if making a solemn vow, stood up and guided Stella to the mirror.

“Oh, how should we style your hair? Since you are so beautiful, milady, anything would look good on you, but oh…”

In the mirror, Jenna gathered Stella’s loose hair into a single bunch, looking thoughtful, but upon spotting the burn scars, she hastily let the hair fall back down.

“Is it unsightly?”

“No, absolutely not!”

“There’s no way a burn scar isn’t unsightly.”

Stella smiled bitterly as she traced the burn scars winding around her neck like snakes.

“Oh, well… there are plenty of ways to cover up a burn. Ah, I think we can put your hair up and drape a shawl over your shoulders. What do you think?”

Hastily changing the subject, Jenna pulled out a thin, sky-blue shawl for Stella.

Draped over her shoulders, the shawl effectively hid the scars.

“That’s a wonderful idea.”

“Then I’ll have to put my skills to the test!”

As soon as Stella gave her approval, Jenna’s hands moved busily.

With Jenna’s deft touch, topped off with a final hairpin, an elegant updo was complete.

“All done. Do you like it?”

“Yes, I love it.”

Stella smiled brightly at her reflection.

Simply changing her hairstyle seemed to breathe life into her previously pale, sickly face.

Looking at her neatly swept-up hair made her want to go out and get some fresh air.

Or perhaps she simply wanted to show Adrian her hair put up for the first time.

‘Why am I acting so excited…?’

Stella tightly gripped the edges of her shawl to calm her wildly beating heart.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

“Milady, it is Owen.”

“Yes.”

“May I intrude for a moment?”

As Stella nodded, the door opened.

The butler’s gaze swept past Jenna and settled on Stella.

Upon seeing her, he made an unexpected request.

“The young master has asked me to inquire if you could spare him some time, milady. Of course, he added that you are entirely free to refuse if you feel uncomfortable in any way.”

Having neither the reason nor the desire to refuse, and secretly wishing to see Adrian, Stella smiled warmly without much hesitation.

“I’ll be down shortly.”

* * *

The sunlight filtered through the fresh greenery of early summer.

The garden, exuding a mysterious summer charm, carried a completely different atmosphere than it did at dusk.

The scent of grass and earth from the previous day’s rain lingered in the air, pleasantly tickling her nose.

“Milady.”

Owen approached her.

“I will escort you to the young master.”

The stout-looking butler carefully guided Stella to where Adrian was waiting.

As she moved, the gazes of the nearby maids locked onto her.

Stella’s hands, resting on her lap, clenched.

To them, she was likely nothing more than a woman the young duke had brought in from the outside, a troublemaker entangled with the imperial palace, and a runaway abandoned by the House of Bronte.

At that moment, a sharp voice pierced her mind.

‘Do not lower your head.’

Stella straightened her back at the scolding voice.

She felt as if someone had struck her spine with a ruler, forcing her to sit upright.

‘Keep your back straight and look forward. You must maintain an elegant posture, commanding everyone to bow their heads with your gaze alone.’

Stella had no intention of acting like the master of this estate.

If it were up to her, she wanted to live quietly like a ghost and then slip away.

‘The Empress is inherently the one who must stand out the most. If you are going to foolishly expose your weaknesses to others, do not take a single step outside.’

The voice echoing in her head would not let her off easily.

Even though she had no intention of becoming an Empress anymore.

Just as the phantom voice from her past grew increasingly stern, a real-world voice snapped Stella back to reality.

“Milady?”

Stella lifted her head.

As the bright sunlight stung her eyes, Jenna held a pure white parasol over her head to block the glare.

Her vision instantly cleared, revealing a massive tree in the center of the garden.

Beneath its shade, a table with light desserts had been prepared, and softly scented lisianthus flowers added to the pleasant ambiance.

Adrian was there, conversing with someone with a serious expression.

Looking at them, Jenna’s words suddenly crossed her mind.

‘His eyes have been sparkling.’

Indeed, his gaze as he conversed with the other person was fierce.

Rather than expressionless, he exuded the aura of a sharp, unapproachable beast.

Those familiar with him probably euphemized that fierce glare as “expressionless.”

Intrigued by this gaze so different from the one he always showed her, she watched him intently.

In the middle of his conversation, Adrian sensed Stella’s presence and looked up.

Their eyes locked.

“It’s true.”

She now fully understood what Jenna had meant.

His gaze, which had been so cold and dry just moments ago, shone brilliantly, perhaps catching the sunlight.

It made her heart race furiously.

As if shielding her face with both hands wasn’t enough, Stella lowered her head to hide her flushing cheeks.

Before she could calm her racing heart, Jenna’s brisk pace kept the wheelchair wheels spinning without pause.

Time, which had seemed to drag slowly just a moment ago, now flew by as if someone had spun the clock’s hands forward.

Before she could hide her flushed face from the mercilessly spinning wheels, she arrived in front of him.

Adrian spotted her and took a step forward.

“You’ve arrived?”

His voice overflowed with warmth.

Bathed in a kindness that seemed to harbor the sunlight itself, Stella slowly lifted her head to look at Adrian.

A smile as bright as his voice painted itself right before her eyes.

Her heart showed no signs of stopping its frantic beating.

What if he heard it?

Stella, keeping her head low, pressed her hand tightly against her chest.

His tall, slender shadow fell over her lap.

Following the shadow, she looked up and met Adrian’s eyes.

“Should I return in a bit?”

“No.”

“So this is the rumored Lady Bronte.”

At Liam’s somewhat rude tone, Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

“Ahem, I am Liam Hartz. I assist the Commander with his duties.”

Sensing his superior’s sharp glare, Liam instantly changed his attitude and greeted Stella politely.

Stella parted her lips to greet him back but hesitated.

“I, I am…”

‘Is it alright to reveal that I am of the House of Bronte? Can I, a runaway who fled my family, proudly use the Bronte name?’

Even with her lost memories, the fact that she was a fugitive was something she could never forget.

Stella turned her gaze toward Adrian, who stood beside her.

Seeing Stella’s distress, Adrian spoke in a firm, cold voice.

“Stop bothering her and dismiss yourself.”

“I shall see you again, milady.”

“Yes.”

“What a nuisance.”

An awkward silence fell over them.

Stella, lost in thought, realized that she ought to remain a ghost here, while he simply stared at her as she bit her lower lip anxiously.

After a moment, unable to contain her worry, Stella was the first to speak.

“Have I put you in a difficult position?”

Adrian’s elegant fingers tapped the table lightly.

In truth, there was absolutely nothing that could put him in a difficult position here.

Even if he were to walk around naked, no one would dare say a word to him.

For he was the eldest son of Castillo, Adrian de Castillo.

Stella was the only one who seemed unaware of this and worried.

A ripple formed in the teacup he held.

“Under the name of Castillo, there is no one who can put me in a difficult position.”

“Ah…”

Her mouth parted slightly.

Who was she to worry? Stella felt embarrassed for having asked Adrian if he was in trouble.

Lifting her head, she bit her lip, a troubled expression on her face.

He frowned as he stared at her tucked-in lip.

“The same goes for you, Lady Bronte.”

At his firm voice, Stella squeezed her thighs tightly.

Unable to grasp the meaning behind his words, she could do nothing but wait for him to elaborate.

“If you wish, you may do whatever you please under the name of Castillo. If anyone dares to stand in your way, they will no longer be considered a member of Castillo.”

“That is…”

“Am I wrong?”

Adrian looked at Owen.

Owen offered Stella a warm smile.

“Has anyone in the Castillo household ever dared to criticize you, Lady Bronte?”

“No, never.”

Stella shook her head hurriedly.

If she didn’t, she feared Adrian might punish someone on the spot, making her feel frantic.

His face drew closer.

“Is that so?”

“…….”

“Did Liam commit any discourtesy?”

Had Liam, who had barely introduced himself, even had the chance to be discourteous?

Stella shook her head once more.

“No, really, he didn’t.”

“If there is anything you find displeasing, please speak up. For instance, if you do not like the way someone looks at you. I will punish them.”

At his gentle voice, Stella had no choice but to helplessly confess the emotions she had been harboring.

“I was just…”

“Just?”

“I was wondering if I should introduce myself.”

The midday heat felt rather intense.

“I was worried about whether I have the right to fully reveal my name, when I am nothing but a runaway who abandoned her family.”

The more the refreshing breeze tried to cool her down, the hotter her body flushed.

At the rustling sound of leaves, she looked up.

“Stella Bronte.”

Adrian called her name.

Hearing the name, which meant “star of the night sky,” roll off his tongue gave her a strange sensation.

Though he had merely spoken her name, his voice felt like a soothing hand, telling her that everything was alright.

“It is a name so beautiful that I wish to call it every day. To me, the name Stella Bronte brings only you to mind.”

A refreshing breeze blew, weaving through the leaves.

“Do as you wish.”

The pleasant shade beneath the tree shifted gently.

The name she had found so unwelcome just moments ago now sounded completely different, all because of his single word.

The verdant garden, echoing her heartbeat, seemed to blush a soft crimson.