Episode 17
Insects cried from every direction.
“Allow me to lend you my handkerchief.”
It was unnecessary kindness. No, to be precise, it was kindness that was a little troublesome.
It was only a handkerchief he likely had no intention of getting back, but it was more than enough to become a means of continuing their connection somehow. With an expressionless face, Sasha looked down at the handkerchief the lieutenant offered her. Perhaps because it had been dyed with expensive pigment, the pale green handkerchief looked quite costly at a glance. It was proof of just how much effort this lieutenant was putting into Sasha.
Since it had already been held out to her, refusing it would have been awkward, so Sasha smiled and accepted the handkerchief from him. Then, beneath her bonnet, she dabbed at the damp sweat gathered around her forehead.
“Are you especially close with the Major, Miss Grayson?”
“I’m staying at his private residence while I’m here. I’ve also become quite close with his wife.”
“Ah, I see.”
A humid wind blew in and gently stroked Whitcomb’s well-groomed hair.
“How much longer do you plan to stay here?”
“Mm… probably until the matter with Captain Pinscher is resolved?”
At Sasha’s answer, Whitcomb wore an ambiguous expression, as if he did not know whether to be pleased or not.
“He must have committed a greater discourtesy against you than I’d thought.”
“No. It’s quite the opposite, actually. Right now, I’m the one being rude to him.”
“…Pardon? Is the rumor true?”
“Hm? What rumor?”
The rumor that a woman like you is courting him.
Instead of saying it honestly, Whitcomb pressed his lips inward. He had already been ignoring proper courtesy toward a superior by a precariously wide margin, and if he went any further, he thought she might notice.
As if to make his belated attempt to cover it up meaningless, Sasha noticed, in that brief instant, all the resentment Whitcomb harbored toward Captain Pinscher. She drew herself slightly back, as though she wanted to end the conversation now.
“I should be going.”
“I’ll escort you.”
Thinking, Fine. I’ll just part with him somewhere up ahead, Sasha gave him a suitably grateful smile. Then, whether he followed or not, she began walking.
As Sasha watched Whitcomb desperately keep pace beside her, listening to the jokes he offered her steadfastly, as though he had practiced them many times, she thought of a man named Cedric Osmond. In terms of appearance, Cedric was far more beautiful, but when it came to being desperate enough not to hide an artificial affection, Whitcomb had the advantage.
‘Yes. Given my circumstances, for the time being, only men in such desperate situations will flock to me.’
If she looked carefully, among such men there would surely be someone who met the conditions Lady Rosalyn had set forth. The problem was that very desperation of theirs. After marrying Sasha, they would never give her up cleanly.
Sasha thought of the huge man who could not hide his discomfort every time he looked at her. She thought of Isaac Pinscher, who, despite clearly being in the wrong, had brazenly said everything he wanted instead of watching her reactions.
He met the superficial conditions Lady Rosalyn had presented, and his flaws of character were excellent as well. He was uncomfortable with her (perhaps even disliked her), and like her, he was in a position where he had to marry.
Most of all, Sasha liked that he was just appropriately shameless. If, someday, she had to lighten whatever guilt she might feel, it would be difficult to find a candidate as excellent as he.
Yes. That’s why I gave everything up cleanly and came here. Sasha stared vacantly beyond the road and murmured inwardly.
‘It has to be that man.’
While she was off guard, a lukewarm wind clawed rather fiercely over her bonnet. It shook the top of her head as if to say it knew full well she was thinking something wicked.
“The wind is rough.”
Sasha muttered as she caught the bonnet that flipped back.
“It’s because there are no mountains to block the wind. In winter, the gales are especially severe.”
Listening to Whitcomb, Sasha nodded.
When the wind blew hard once again, Sasha pressed down on the crown of her head. Whitcomb quickly stepped in front of her, as though trying to block the wind with his own body.
It was rather cute. His behavior, as if he truly meant to stop the wind with his body, was both amusing and endearing, and Sasha lifted the corners of her mouth in a smile. Whitcomb, who had been straining to win her favor somehow, flushed red at once. As though embarrassed, he smiled along with her.
Not bad. Whitcomb murmured inwardly. Then, gathering a little more courage, he took one step closer to her.
“Lieutenant.”
At that moment, a low voice from behind stabbed into him as if it had been thrust there.
＊＊＊
It was a sudden order to leave. No, an order to leave? He was not even the host in the first place. Whitcomb looked at Isaac, unable to hide his resistance, when Isaac appeared out of nowhere as if it were only natural and told him to go.
However, because he was conscious of Sasha watching the two of them in turn, he had no choice but to barely compose himself, wearing only a displeased expression.
“Miss Grayson. Then, next time we—”
“Did you not hear me? I told you to leave. Now.”
Now it was an unmistakable “get lost.” Whitcomb smiled like a gentleman and spoke steadfastly to Sasha.
“I sincerely hope the matter between you two is resolved amicably.”
After offering Isaac a proper bow with an expressionless face, Whitcomb strode away from them.
Sasha looked blankly at Isaac and asked,
“Are you feeling a little better?”
“……”
Isaac did not answer.
“Are you on your way back? Come with me.”
Instead of replying, he passed her as if it were only natural and walked ahead. Then he unilaterally walked four paces in front of her before looking back at Sasha, as if asking why she was not hurrying along.
Even in the midst of that, when he spotted officers loitering nearby, he glared in their direction. Damn flock of vultures.
“Did you come out on purpose because of me? When you’re not even feeling well?”
Sasha followed him at a pace so relaxed it was maddening, asking persistently. Isaac furrowed his brows.
“I’d like you to stop talking about that.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I was worried. I wondered if perhaps you were stressed because of me. Stomachaches can be caused by stress, so…”
“……”
“…I’ll stop. But…”
Sasha silently lowered her gaze. His fingertips were black, as though he had come out in a rush; anyone could see it. Not only his fingertips, but his entire body reeked of oil.
“Did you, because of me…”
She was just about to ask whether he had thrown aside what he had been doing to come out.
“Did you say that to Whitcomb as well?”
Isaac did not even listen to the rest of her words and asked, somewhat roughly, as though hurling the question.
When Sasha raised her brows as if to ask, What? Isaac’s gaze quickly, uneasily scattered, and he spat out the words through clenched teeth.
“…What you said to me.”
“That? Good heavens. Of course not.”
“……”
“Of course not… No, why are you looking at me like that?”
Sasha laughed as if she found it rather absurd.
“Did you come running here in a panic because you thought I might have proposed to your subordinate? And are you escorting me on purpose because you’re afraid I’ll propose to those officers as well?”
“What? No, …it’s similar, but what I mean is…”
Isaac was clumsy at this sort of thing. He showed that clumsiness openly, leaving behind enough suggestive room for the other person to be certain.
Then, seeing Sasha’s face twist in disbelief, he gave a pointless cough and looked off into the distance.
“…In truth, yes. I would prefer that you not put strange ideas in those men’s heads.”
“…Ideas?”
“That kind of vain hope that things could work out with a woman like you. That sort of thing…”
“…Pardon?”
Sasha could not hide her displeasure and ended up laughing sharply.
Ah, this man was even ruder than expected.
“Did the offer I made you sound that light to you, Captain? It is by no means a light subject, and I was only trying to brighten the mood because I thought it might be burdensome to you. After all, our first meeting was hardly pleasant…”
Sasha poured the words out in irritation, then belatedly stopped.
Damn it. Whenever she stood in front of this man, perhaps because she felt so stifled inside, it was terribly difficult to put on her usual mask and behave smoothly.
“I’m not talking about your conduct.”
“You just told me not to put strange ideas in their heads.”
“You may be able to talk to them and smile at them without thinking anything of it, but those bastards misunderstand from their side. That was what I wanted to say. I know you aren’t the kind of person to make that insane proposal to just anyone.”
A brief silence passed.
“…Insane proposal.”
Isaac flinched, but he did not avoid her gaze as he had before. Even while showing that he was uncomfortable, he did not look away from her eyes and said everything he had to say.
“Wouldn’t anyone think that if they heard something like that from someone they’d only just met?”
Sasha forced herself to listen to the words he spat out and found them somewhat understandable. Thanks to her habitual self-censorship, she nodded without much resentment.
‘Well, I expected that. It must have looked as though I wasn’t in my right mind.’
Before they knew it, they were still walking toward the exit, paying no attention to the officers watching them while smoking in a corner.
“You don’t even know much about me.”
“…I can get to know you gradually. And in truth, I did look into you to some extent, Captain.”
Did you really think I made such an offer to you without any preparation at all? Sasha said with a cynical expression, then swept past him and walked on.
Isaac came to an abrupt stop and stared at her blankly.
“What did you say?”