Chapter 94. The Youngest Maid Riri's Home Visit
The Youngest Maid Riri's Home Visit
Lucian smiled warmly at Riri's flustered expression and asked,
"Where is your hometown?"
"It's Rosen Village, just a little north of here."
"Rosen Village? That's within my territory, isn't it?"
Seeing Lucian's delighted reaction, Ella chimed in.
"Oh my, then we can go today! Let's leave right after dinner. Your family will be so surprised."
"But... if we leave now, we won't arrive until late at night. It's a bit far to walk..."
As Riri hesitated, Lucian stood up from his seat.
"I'll take you there myself."
"Huh?!"
Everyone was stunned. The Count, despite his busy schedule, was personally offering to escort a maid—not for any urgent matter—on horseback through the night.
"It won't take long on horseback. Let's go while we're at it."
Lucian pretended to be stern, but his eyes were gentle.
"My lord... Are you really... sure about this?"
Riri tried to decline out of politeness, but I-seo and Ella nudged her forward.
"Go on, Riri. The roads at night can be dangerous, and the Count is an excellent rider. It won't take long."
"That's right. Go and spend some time with your family. Don't worry about us."
Ella had already calculated the rest of the evening's plans.
She had already received more than enough (perhaps even an excessive amount) of the Count's affection during the day. Her body was pleasantly languid, and she figured she might as well enjoy a drink with I-seo while she had the chance.
After dinner, outside the dining hall.
"Well... we'll stay here a bit longer and enjoy ourselves."
Ella linked arms with I-seo and winked.
"I-seo and I are heading to that tavern for another drink. My lord, please take good care of Riri, and we'll see you back at the estate."
"Alright. Don't drink too much."
Lucian watched the two women leave before extending his hand to Riri.
"Let's go, Riri."
"Yes... Thank you, my lord."
Lucian effortlessly lifted Riri by the waist and seated her in front of the saddle before mounting the horse himself.
Her small, warm frame nestled snugly against him.
The sweet scent of cream bread and the delicate fragrance of a young woman.
'Hmm... Time to set off.'
Lucian nudged the horse's flank.
With the sound of hooves, the two rode off into the darkened forest path, while Ella and I-seo disappeared into the lively glow of the tavern, exchanging knowing smiles.
[Rosen Village]
The place they arrived at after their ride was Riri's hometown, Rosen Village.
Despite its name meaning "rose," the village was anything but vibrant. Located on the outskirts of the territory, the scattered houses were old and dilapidated, with not a single torch lighting the desolate streets.
"This... is my home."
Riri pointed to what looked like the most precarious shack among them.
Though it had been hastily repaired after last year's record-breaking downpour, the roof looked ready to collapse at any moment. The cramped space consisted of just two rooms and a combined living area and kitchen. The thought that three people—Riri's family—lived here left Lucian speechless.
"Sis! Big sis is here!"
The door burst open as a young boy ran out—Riri's youngest brother. Barely eight years old, he leaped into his sister's arms, bouncing excitedly.
As they stepped inside, a girl greeted them.
Riri's younger sister, Lisa.
"Welcome back, sis. And... who is this?"
Lisa's eyes, though happy to see her sister, were wary as they flicked to the unfamiliar nobleman.
Lucian studied the sisters with interest.
If Riri was small, round-faced, and puppy-like—someone you instinctively wanted to protect—
Lisa was taller than her sister, with a noticeably more developed figure. Her waist was slender, while her chest and hips had a mature fullness, giving her a far more womanly presence. Most striking were her sharp, upturned eyes, which gave her the proud, aloof air of a haughty cat.
"Count Eckhart, it's an honor. I'm Lisa, Riri's younger sister. Welcome to our home. It's humble, but please make yourself comfortable."
Lisa's greeting was crisp and proper.
Seated side by side at the table, the two sisters drew Lucian's gaze with their contrasting charms—similar yet distinctly different.
"Where's Mother?"
At Riri's question, Lisa sighed.
"Still not back. She'll probably be late again today."
"Hmm... This late?"
Lucian interjected.
What he learned from Lisa was shocking.
Their mother worked as a kitchen assistant at another one of the Eckhart family's castle restoration sites, preparing meals for the laborers.
'She's working at one of my castles?'
Lucian felt a pang of guilt.
A woman from his own territory was toiling day and night to rebuild his castle, yet her own family lived in such poverty that she couldn't even care for them properly. A sense of responsibility and remorse weighed on him as the lord.
"I'm sorry. I... haven't been paying enough attention to the details."
When Lucian apologized sincerely, Lisa's eyes widened. A noble—a Count, no less—bowing his head to commoners?
"Come to the castle with your family sometime. I'll see about arranging a better position for your mother."
Lisa initially hesitated, but her little brother's excited cries of "Yay! We're going to the castle!" made her relent.
"Yahoo! This is awesome! Awesome!"
The boy bounced around the table until—
Clang!
"Ah! Hot!"
He knocked over Lucian's teacup, spilling scalding liquid onto the Count's trousers—specifically, his groin area.
"I-I'm so sorry, my lord! Are you alright?!"
Riri turned pale and rushed over, frantically dabbing at Lucian's thighs and crotch with a handkerchief.
"Hey! Are you crazy? The Count's clothes!"
Lisa scolded her brother, smacking his back.
But Lucian raised a hand to stop them.
"It's fine. No harm done. Don't scold him too harshly. The clothes will dry."
Though the wet trousers were embarrassing, Lucian smiled reassuringly to keep the boy from feeling worse. His unexpected leniency left Lisa with mixed emotions.
As Riri continued blotting the damp fabric, Lisa found herself staring at Lucian.
His looks were unlike anything she'd ever seen in their rural village.
His towering height and broad, powerful shoulders were evident even through his clothes. The black formal suit accentuated his muscular frame, and the wet fabric clinging to his thighs revealed their taut, sculpted strength.
But most striking was his face.
Sharp jawline, a straight nose, and intense crimson eyes beneath thick brows—eyes that held both the danger of a predator and an unfathomable melancholy.
'He's... handsome.'
Lisa's heart pounded.
The scruffy village boys couldn't compare.
He was more striking than the male lead on the theater poster she'd once seen in town—more three-dimensional, more overwhelmingly masculine. Was this what they meant by an alpha male?
'Sis... gets to be with a man like this every day?'
Her gaze lingered on Riri, who was still wiping Lucian's groin, and on Lucian himself, who had naturally spread his legs slightly.
Then, against her will, her eyes locked onto the faint but unmistakable outline of something thick and heavy beneath the wet fabric.
"Ah..."
Lisa turned away, her face burning, but the image of those red eyes and damp crotch was seared into her mind.
Lucian sat at the table, waiting for his trousers to dry.
Across from him, Riri and Lisa held hands, catching up on everything they hadn't been able to share.
"Sis, have you lost weight? Are they feeding you well at the castle?"
"Too well, honestly. I'm more worried about you and Mom..."
The sight of the sisters whispering was heartwarming. Like a gentle puppy and a haughty cat playing together in the same nest—peaceful and harmonious. A faint smile touched Lucian's lips.
"Mister! Sword fight with me!"
Just then, the youngest brother, Tommy, tugged at Lucian's thigh and brandished a wooden sword.
"Hey! Tommy! Don't be rude to the Count! And you should call him 'my lord'!"
Lisa glared, but the boy ignored her, pulling at Lucian's sleeve.
Lucian was at a loss. When it came to swords, he only knew how to cut people down. His only experience playing with children was a brief game of make-believe with the young Princess Catherine long ago.
'This... is awkward.'
Just watching the hyperactive boy exhausted him. Suddenly, the image of Sophia's unborn child flashed through his mind.
'If Sophia has a son... does that mean I'll have to raise a kid like this?'
Even the mighty Count Lucian sighed at the thought of parenting.
Flash—!Boom!!
Suddenly, the window lit up as if it were midday, and an ear-splitting thunderclap shook the shack.
Whoosh—!!
Then, rain poured down as if the sky had split open. The weather, clear when he'd been rolling in the forest with Ella, had turned stormy without warning. The downpour hammered against the old roof deafeningly.
"Goodness, we should leave before the roads turn to mud."
Lucian stood. But more than getting wet, he was worried whether this rickety house could withstand the storm.
'Once the rain stops, I'll send workers to fix this place properly.'
"My lord... I'm so sorry. Because of me, you have to go out in this..."
Riri wrung her hands, her face distraught.
"It's fine. We'll be back in no time on horseback."
After saying their goodbyes, Lucian opened the door.
Whoosh—!
A gust of wind and rain blasted inside.
[Images of the scene follow.]