When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 44



Only Noblemtl

#44. Fragment of Memory
2024.02.13.

Enrico, who was about to eat, stopped what he was doing and looked at her. He didn’t say anything, but he suddenly gave her a look that said, “Why?

” “I think I’ll have to look for it until dinner tomorrow. If I have to go for a walk along the beach, I think today would be the best day.”

“… … Do whatever you want.”

“Yes.”

Enrico stared at Emilia for a moment and then turned his attention to the table.

For a while, the only sound was the sound of dishes being cut. The food that was served seemed simpler than the food he had eaten at the downtown restaurant yesterday, but it was much tastier.

Emilia ate all the remaining food without fail, realizing the taste of the main chef of the duke’s residence that she had not known before.

No matter how much she worked hard all day doing ballet, she rarely ate this much, but today, her appetite was surprisingly good. Emilia made a strange expression when she saw the empty dessert plate.

‘Is it because of the location?’

Enrico finished his meal in the same way, and the two got up from their seats. Emilia looked at him once, for some reason not drinking wine, and immediately looked away without any regrets.

The two met again 30 minutes later. Emilia, as before, was wearing a shawl as if she was trying to keep herself warm from the cold.

“Let’s take the carriage to the beach.”

It was a good thing since she had to go to the beach and take a walk anyway, but it was too much of a hassle to walk from here. Emilia smiled slightly and got into the carriage with his escort.

There was not a single building on the way to the beach. It was a very quiet scenery, completely different from Deshiro, where lights always twinkled even when there weren’t many people. The carriage ran along the forest path as if the moonlight was guiding them.

It was quiet inside the carriage, as it wasn’t a day with a strong wind. She could clearly hear the ticking of his watch.

She glanced at his wrist, which never took off its watch no matter what.

“Why? Do you want it?”

“No!”

Emilia denied it in shock. A faint smile crossed Enrico’s lips.

“I was going to give you a lot of rewards if you showed me a stage that you liked, but I didn’t get a chance.”

“… … The reward is enough information.”

“But you haven’t been on stage for that long. It’s been so long since I last saw you.”

“I’ll get ready when I get back.”

“That’s right. It was okay to watch you on a big stage, but I like it better when I watch you alone.”

He once mentioned a big stage and told me to get a leading role. He really was a man who was hard to figure out.

Emilia vaguely answered that she understood and looked out the window. The dark bushes continued to block her view, but suddenly the sky opened up and the sea appeared. It was a breathtaking sight.

Enrico had asked her to go, but for some reason Emilia thought it was a good idea to come today. The white sand made it harder to get in, so the coachman stopped the carriage on one side of the road and let the two of them off.

Emilia, wearing low-heeled shoes that were easy to walk in, stepped on the white sand. The soft white sand that touched her ankles and the tops of her feet felt good.

‘Should I just take off my shoes?’

Emilia hesitated for a moment, thinking that it would be nice if her soles touched it, and then she saw Enrico standing still, looking out at the sea. His black hair, tousled by the wind, and his deep eyes sparkled in the moonlight.

Emilia hesitated and looked down at her feet. Although they were hidden by her shoes, her bumpy toes and rough soles were bothering her.

“… … This won’t do.”

Even though these were feet she was proud of and liked, she felt shabby when she stood in front of him. In his eyes, which always valued beauty, these feet would only be seen as flaws.

Emilia held onto her skirt slightly to keep them from dragging on the sand and timidly played with her feet. The feeling she felt after such a long time brought back memories she had forgotten.

The image of them happily walking on the white sand beach, each holding their hands, the image of them carrying me when I complained that I was sleepy, the image of them lovingly kissing my cheek as I carried them. All of my memories were filled with overflowing affection.

Now that I think about it, I remember dancing on the sand on a day when no one was around because I liked the feel of the white sand beach. I had just started learning ballet and didn’t have a single proper movement, but my parents clapped their hands as if they were so amazing, and I was even more excited and moved around in my own way.

“What are you going to do when you find the culprit?”

Enrico, who had been looking at the sea, suddenly turned his gaze to Emilia. She quietly blinked her eyes and made a bitter expression.

“I don’t know. First, I want to find you.”

“You don’t want to kill me?”

“Just, why did you do that? I want to ask that first. I wonder why you did that.”

While investigating, she had not ruled out the possibility that it might have been an accident, but at some point, as the fragments of truth gradually emerged, Emilia concluded that her parents’ deaths were intentional. Enrico must have thought the same, as he naturally mentioned the culprit first.

After all, he was the one who had told her from the beginning that there was something to this accident.

Emilia lifted her chin slightly and closed her eyes. She wished that the cool sea breeze would ease her complicated mind.

When she was young, there was nothing complicated about it, but she didn’t know if it was because she had become an adult or because of complicated circumstances. She

simply missed her childhood when she simply loved ballet. Sometimes, her parents would make her sit at her desk and tell her that she had to study theory in order to do ballet… … Theory?

“… …!”

Emilia’s eyes shot open. When she lowered her head, Enrico, who had come up to her side, was looking down at her with a puzzled look.

“I… … I think I remember.”

“Let’s go right away.”

Rather than ask questions, Enrico chose to get into the carriage right away. The carriage, which had been running leisurely when they left, was heading towards Estega at a fast speed.

“It must be the study. When I was young, I was very interested in ballet, so my parents bought me a lot of ballet-related books.”

Enrico listened silently to Emilia’s mumbling, as if she was organizing her thoughts.

“But when I was young, I wasn’t really curious about the theory. I just kept it in the playroom and didn’t look at it, so my father would put the books in the study and read them for me. There were so many ballet books that they took up a few spaces, and before leaving, my father would take out the books and press something. And… … . And again… … .”

“I get it. We’re almost there, so calm down.”

Her heart was pounding hard even as she sat down, excited about finding the last traces of her parents. The carriage quickly approached the mansion.

Emilia thought that if Enrico hadn’t held her hand, she might have fallen over in her haste. He didn’t let go of her hand even when they entered the house. Leaving the people who came out with surprised faces behind, the two headed to the study.

“I think it was here… … .”

Her fingertips were trembling. Her face was filled with impatience as she quickly scanned the bookshelf. Her

hands, which had been pulling them out one by one, were already dropping the books to the floor. Enrico’s eyebrows narrowed slightly as he watched the corners of the books dangerously tearing the floor.

“Are you sure it’s here, Your Majesty?”

“This space won’t disappear if you take it slow.”

Enrico stood close to her as if to stop her actions, grabbed her shoulder tightly and slid it down. Emilia remained still as his hand stroked her arm as if to soothe her. Enrico

felt a strange feeling at her attitude, which was so different from her usual appearance, as if she was relying on him. And his eyes, which had been indifferent, caught a glimpse of her obediently surrendering her body.

The red tongue that had been sticking out slightly to wet her dry lips went back in. His eyes lingered on her moist lips for a long time.

“Ah… … .”

Her closed mouth opened with a snap, revealing her even teeth. Her eyes, slightly raising her head, shone transparently. Her face, which had been blinking several times as if she had come to her senses, gradually became calmer.

“I’ve calmed down a little. Thank you.”

Emilia gently grabbed his hand and pushed it away. For some reason, he felt sorry for the soft feeling that had filled his palm, so he clenched his fist in the air.

Emilia took a deep breath and approached the bookshelf again. Instead of hastily pulling out the books like before, she slowly checked the names of the books and began pulling them out. The space on the bookshelf where the ballet theory books had been was gradually emptied, and when she could no longer see them, the five shelves at the bottom were empty.

‘I think my father touched something here… … .’

There had to be something in common in these five shelves. Emilia felt around inside the bookshelf and narrowed her brows.

“Huh?”

Enrico, who had been watching from one side, took a step closer to her as she noticed something.

“I think this is it… … .”

Emilia, who discovered a small hole inside the bookshelf, took out a thin pin that was stuck in her hair and inserted it through the gap. She heard a click, a sound of something going in. And after that, everything went smoothly. She

touched the side where the ballet theory books had been in the five compartments and there was a fine hole that could be felt. She immediately poked all five holes in turn and heard a click, a sound of something hitting, and the bookshelf shook.