I Belong to House Castielo

Chapter 2

“Estelle.”

I pronounced the name, letting it roll precisely off my tongue, and then stood. It meant “stars,” though I don’t know what my father saw in me to choose such a name.

He probably didn’t put much thought into it.

I hadn’t seen him since the day he bought me for twenty thousand gold. That brought me both relief and unease. What if the next time we met, he told me to work as a maid? Or what if he threw me out of the house? When I first arrived at this house, I thought I’d be fine even if I was made a maid. But after spending a few days in luxury, the thought of losing it scared me.

No, even being a maid here would be better than living on the streets.

I felt like it was the maids who should be called “miss,” not me. Even Annie, my lady-in-waiting, wore finer clothes than my mother did.

How was it possible that my mother slept with such a wealthy man? That was what I was wondering as I practically leaped down from the tall bed. The soft carpet felt good beneath my bare feet. Padding over to the balcony, I finally got the doors open after some effort. The cold dawn air rushed in as soon as I opened the doors.

The air is cool.

I took a deep breath, filling my lungs, and carefully stepped onto the balcony. Feeling the cold stone ground against my feet, I rested my head on the railings and gazed down at the garden, blanketed by early morning fog.

The garden right in front of the house was trimmed into geometric shapes, but beyond that, the field was wild and untouched. The garden was so vast that it seemed like you’d need a carriage or a horse to get through it.

I wish I could climb up and sit on the railing.

It wasn’t possible right now, but I planned to try it later when I found something suitable to step on. After making up my mind to do just that, I leaned against the railing again, watching as the dawn broke and the fog retreated.

In an instant, the house was filled with signs of life, and Annie’s voice came from behind me.

“Goodness, miss! What are you doing out here?”

“I was watching the sunrise.”

“You’ll catch a cold breathing in that chilly air in nothing but your sleep clothes.”

She ushered me back into the room and wrapped me in a blanket.

While I ate cookies with fresh warm milk, Annie brushed my hair and helped me change my clothes. My stomach felt like it had grown twice its size since coming here. I liked cookies and cake, but what I loved most was fruit. Just one bite of a big peach was enough to make all my worries disappear.

After I ordered breakfast, it was free time. Annie told me I could run and play in the garden or do whatever I liked. Clutching a large rabbit doll Annie had given me, I decided to explore the house. No matter how many I saw, the rooms in this house seemed endless. Each one was filled with extravagant things, so I never grew tired of them.

One room was full of chicken ornaments. It was an amusing place with chicken paintings, tapestries embroidered with chickens, and chicken sculptures. Another room was full of flower patterns, and yet another room had luxurious ornaments piled up like a mountain.

Today, I decided to focus on the southern part of the mansion. Passing through the usual corridor, I entered a new territory. Even as I went into room after room and frantically took a look around, the servants ignored me. Their insistence on pretending like they couldn’t see me had me wondering...

Who do they think I am? What do they think of me?

I carefully pushed open a large door.

Wow.

The room was bigger than any I’d seen before. Was no one here? I trotted around the room, inspecting every corner, but when I entered the bedchamber, I jumped in surprise.

The duke?!

My heart pounded so hard, I stood there like I’d been glued to the spot. The thought of running away didn’t even cross my mind. After a while, when I realized I hadn’t been caught and the person was making a faint moaning noise, I got on all fours and crawled stealthily toward the bed.

It’s not the duke.

Then who was it? This person had disheveled hair like black silk and flushed cheeks. When I saw that he was breathing shallowly, like he was in pain, I suddenly became afraid for him and reached out to touch his forehead.

It’s hot.

I quickly pulled my hand back and looked around. I wondered if I should ask the servants for help, but I wasn’t in a position to order them around.

But this kid is sick.

He looked young, maybe fourteen or fifteen.

When someone has a fever, they need a cold towel!

I darted out to the corridor and returned—first with a cloth, then a bowl of water. Even as I scurried around like a squirrel, the servants paid me no mind.

This fabric is way too luxurious to use as a towel, but oh well... Now, pardon me...

After wringing the towel as much as I could, I placed it on his forehead and kept swapping it out for a fresh one. I wasn’t sure if it was helping, but I stayed by his side until lunchtime, when I returned to my room.

“Did you have fun?” Annie asked as I walked in.

“Yes.”

“Then come here.”

She sat me down at a table for my next etiquette lesson, which she always conducted at mealtimes. After she went over the order of the tableware and how to use them, again and again, I dug in. If I were just Pink Eyes, learning all this would have been very difficult. But thankfully, I had Seoyoung.

“Good job!”

I grinned at Annie’s compliment and quickly ate my pancakes with a fork. They were piled high with preserved peaches and dripping with syrup.

Between bites of the pancakes and savory sausage, I asked, “Is there any medicine for fevers?”

“Are you ill?”

She quickly placed a hand on my forehead, but I shook my head.

“No, I was just curious.”

She studied me for a moment before getting up from her seat.

Retrieving a medicine bottle from a drawer, she said, “This will help reduce fevers. It’s made for children and can be mixed with water or swallowed whole. Usually, girls only need half a pill and boys can take a whole pill.”

“I see.”

When I nodded, staring at the brown bottle, she placed it in a lower drawer than before.

After I finished lunch and Annie left, I stretched my hand toward the drawer with some effort. Unlike before, it was now within reach of my fingers, and I managed to grab the medicine bottle.

I pulled off the cork, shook a few tablets into my palm, replaced the cork, and gave the bottle a shake before putting it back in the drawer. Afraid the tablets might melt in my hand, I quickly slipped them into my pocket and hurried to the boy’s room.

There was still no one else in the room except for the boy lying on the bed. I soaked the cloth in the bowl again and placed it on his forehead, then I pulled out one of the tablets.

How do I give this to him?

I had two options—give it to him whole or mix it with water.

It’s probably better to mix it with water.

But what if the water went into his airway?

I decided to mix the tablet in a very small amount of water and give it to him slowly. After leaving the room again and returning with a small cup of water, I stirred the tablet into it. It seemed it would take more water than I’d anticipated for it to completely dissolve.

I think it will be very bitter.

I stared at the water, now an indistinct shade of brown.

Here goes nothing.

Climbing onto the bed, I carefully began pouring the water into the boy’s mouth. I thought I had managed to get all the water in without disturbing him, but then he began coughing harshly and opened his eyes.

“Eep!”

Startled, I jumped off the bed and then flattened myself face-down on the ground. The boy continued to cough and pant for a while before finally drifting back to sleep.

His eyes are red.

It was an unforgettable, beautiful ruby red—the same color as the duke’s.

Are they related? I wondered while lying on the carpet.

Then I stood up and retrieved the cloth that had fallen next to the pillow. After soaking it in the bowl again to cool it, I placed it back on his forehead. I was anxious that he might wake up again, but fortunately, he didn’t.

Was there a sleeping aid in that medicine?

After all, medicines for colds usually made you drowsy.

By dinnertime, his breathing seemed more comfortable. I smiled in satisfaction and returned to my room. Once I had some milk and cookies after dinner, I went to bed.

Early the next morning, while it was still dark, I climbed out of bed as quietly as I could and headed straight to his room.

Why do I care so much about him?

I tilted my head in confusion as I dashed quietly through the dark corridors.

It makes me feel useful, I concluded as I carefully opened his door.

Everyone in this house either showed me indifference or kindness, both of which must be because the duke had commanded it. Their treatment of me could completely change overnight, and I wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

But this is different.

I was helping someone entirely of my own will. When I snuck toward the bed, I saw that the bowl and cloth were still there.

Does nobody come into this room? I wondered as I reached out to touch his forehead.

Suddenly, he snatched my wrist as fast as lightning and pressed it down.

“I ordered everyone to stay out of this room―” he growled, pausing mid-sentence.

My arm hurt from being twisted and tears leaked from my eyes.

“I-it hurts.”

“A child?” He loosened his grip on my arm, but still held on to my wrist. “Who are you? Why did you go against my orders?”

“I-I...”

I struggled to speak. I wasn’t sure if I could reveal who I was. He tightened his grip on my wrist.

“Ow!”

“I asked who you were.”

“I’m E-Estelle.”

“And who’s that?”

“Someone who doesn’t need to follow your orders,” I replied.

“There’s not a single person in this mansion who can refuse my orders.”

“I... I can refuse them... because I’m not an employee here,” I protested quietly.

He slowly let go of my wrist, his red eyes shining in the darkness.

“Not an employee...” he muttered thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, I hurried away from him immediately, bolting out the door. I fled through the dark corridors, trembling with fear that he would stop me or shout, but I didn’t hear anything.

I panted as I ran to my room and pushed my way onto the bed, trembling. I was afraid they’d light up the whole house and hunt me down right away, but no such commotion happened. Though I thought I’d never be able to sleep, at some point, I drifted off.

In the morning, Annie’s gentle hand and voice woke me up.

As she helped me change, she said, “Miss.”

“Yes?”

“Your older brother also lives here.”

I stiffened.

Older brother?

“He’s your only sibling. But since His Lordship hasn’t officially introduced you yet, it’s best to keep your distance for now.”

“M-my brother?” I repeated. Annie nodded as she buttoned the back of my dress. “Then does His Lordship also have a wife?”

My question made her hands falter before she answered, “No, his wife passed away when the young master was still very young.”

“I see...”

So the boy I had seen last night wasn’t just part of his extended family—he was his son. I suddenly felt drained.

What should I do? Should I go and apologize? But it’s true that I’m not an employee here.

There was, however, a chance that I could become one. If the duke told me to work as a maid, then that was what I’d be. If that happened, his son could start bullying me. Fear lodged itself in my heart.

I have to apologize, I decided, hugging the rabbit doll tightly.

I spent some time in the gardens in an anxious daze. Only when I started heading over to apologize did it occur to me that I should bring a gift. It might make him less upset. What was a good gift?

I should pick some flowers.

I figured no one would know if I picked a few flowers since there were so many in the garden, so I began gathering them in my apron. I’d only planned to pick one or two, but I ended up with so many that I hid them in my apron and put them in another room.

When evening came, and I assumed everyone had gone to sleep, I snuck out of my room barefoot. Taking the apron bundle I had hidden in the other room earlier, I crept quietly to his room.

Oh, maybe he’s sleeping since it’s nighttime.

The darkness of the room made me hesitate before I went in. My plan was to approach the bed while holding my breath and place the flowers in a vase. At least, that was my plan before he got up from the bed.

“Eek!”

When I jumped in surprise, he grabbed me again. The hand covering my mouth made my eyes widen.

With a cold expression, he asked, “Do you want everyone to come rushing over here because of your scream?”

I shook my head from side to side and he removed his hand. Having dropped the apron due to being surprised, the flowers were now scattered on the floor. I couldn’t even escape like last time because he didn’t let go of my wrist.

“I asked about you, but nobody gave me an answer. Who exactly are you?”

“I’m... Estelle.”

“Why are you here?”

I didn’t know how to respond. I moved my mouth silently for a moment before I answered, “His Lordship bought me.”

“What?”

“H-he... bought me...”

A low curse escaped his lips.

Did he just say, “That crazy man?” No, I must have misheard.

“Why is a prostitute sneaking into my room?”

His question made my cheeks burn. Prostitute. It wasn’t inaccurate. A prostitute’s daughter was also a prostitute.

“I just happened to find this room while exploring the house. You seemed ill. Ah!” As I bent down, I realized his hand was still gripping my wrist. “Please let me go,” I said.

He released me without protest. When I gathered the flowers and placed them on a table, he stared at them with his brow furrowed.

“I wanted to apologize. I’m sorry I entered your room without permission.”