Why did this man make the words I need you sound so significant?
Elysia suddenly realized once again that everything about Yulias was uncommon, from his appearance to his voice.
She had already known he was handsome at a glance, but someone with a perfect voice as well surely couldn’t be common.
“When you say you need me…”
“What Sheyla needs right now is someone like you.”
As expected.
What Yulias meant was that Elysia was the type of person his sister needed.
Then he could have just said that.
Was there really any need to make it sound so meaningful?
Elysia forced an awkward smile.
“Thank you for thinking so highly of me. I will do my best to make sure my actions do not damage Her Ladyship’s reputation—”
“For your one-month trial period, will one Belan be enough?”
“I’ll do everything I can to avoid tarnishing her reputation. Also, when should I begin work?”
Elysia silently praised herself for smoothly changing the subject.
Apparently satisfied with her answer, Yulias took out a Belan coin and handed it to her.
This was the job she had desperately wanted.
And she had been given a whole month to prove herself.
After all, worrying about appearances didn’t put food on the table, and hesitation certainly didn’t pay off debts.
And one Belan wasn’t just enough for a month’s living expenses.
It was enough to completely clear all of her debts.
The weight of the coin in her hands felt heavier than anything she had ever held.
“You’ll officially start tomorrow. Room and board will be provided at the estate, so don’t worry about that. As for your brother…”
As Yulias paused to think about Joshua, Elysia smiled brightly.
“Since this is my workplace, I obviously can’t bring my brother along.”
“…Is that so? If you’re working here, who will look after him?”
That wasn’t the response she expected.
She had assumed he would simply tell her to figure it out herself.
Is he actually worried about Joshua?
Thinking her employer was surprisingly considerate, Elysia carefully chose her words.
“I know some neighbors very well. They’ll be able to look after him. And Joshua will understand.”
She truly wasn’t worried.
Joshua always listened to her and was never stubborn.
“I don’t want to!”
But life rarely went the way people expected.
Elysia stared at Joshua in shock.
“Joshua, let’s talk.”
“No! I don’t want to be apart from you!”
Joshua shouted at the top of his lungs before slamming the door shut.
Behind Elysia, Yulias stood with his arms crossed, silently watching.
Joshua will understand.
For some reason, she felt as though Yulias’s gaze was saying exactly that.
Flustered, Elysia twisted the doorknob several times.
Naturally, it wouldn’t open.
“Joshua. Are you angry? Hmm?”
“I hate you, Noona!”
Hearing Joshua’s booming voice, Elysia forced a smile and squeezed her eyes shut.
After finishing their discussion, she and Yulias had gone straight to the room where Joshua and Sheyla were waiting.
Joshua had immediately thrown himself into her arms, delighted to see her.
Up to that point, everything had been perfect.
“Noona is going to work here for about a month, so we’ll have to stay apart for a little while. I’ll explain everything properly once we get home…”
She had wanted to share the good news.
Now they no longer had to worry about money.
But the moment Joshua heard it, his smile vanished.
He pushed her away.
Then he firmly refused and shut the door in her face.
Elysia knocked several times, trying to calm him down.
“Joshua, we still need to go home. Come on. Let’s go home together.”
“No! If we go home, you’ll leave!”
“I won’t. I promise. I’ll sleep at home with you tonight.”
“You’ll leave tomorrow anyway! I’m not going! You go home by yourself!”
His voice rang out from inside the room like an angry baby bird chirping loudly.
Cold sweat trickled down Elysia’s back.
Behind her stood Yulias, watching everything.
And inside the room was Sheyla.
Just knowing those two were observing made her nervous enough already.
“Joshua, why are you acting like this? You always listen to Noona.”
“You’re not listening to me right now! I hate you, Noona!”
Thankfully, Joshua seemed to be standing right by the door.
Even when Elysia spoke softly, he answered immediately.
After releasing the doorknob, she sighed.
For a moment, she wondered if she should ask Hylmaiton for a key.
“Let him stay at the estate tonight.”
Elysia spun around in surprise.
Yulias shrugged casually, his arms still crossed.
“If you force the door open, he’ll only resent you more.”
“Well…”
“Would that really be alright?”
Elysia shook her head.
She didn’t want to hurt Joshua by forcing her way in.
She understood why he had said he hated her.
If their parents were already gone…
And now his older sister disappeared too…
He must be terrified.
Lonely.
Elysia wanted to understand Joshua’s feelings.
But there was one thing she could do.
Knock knock.
“Joshua.”
“I’m not leaving!”
“Alright. Then don’t.”
“What?!”
The doorknob rattled in surprise.
Speaking calmly, Elysia continued.
“You don’t have to go home. His Grace said you can stay here tonight.”
“Really?!”
Joshua’s voice immediately brightened.
“Yes. So will you open the door? It’s late, and you shouldn’t be shouting. Let’s apologize and thank His Grace properly.”
“……”
Joshua fell silent.
Elysia waited patiently.
A moment later, the door clicked open.
Joshua peeked his head out.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Really, really? We’re not going home?”
“That’s right. You trust Noona, don’t you?”
Only then did Joshua swing the door open.
Elysia glanced inside.
Sheyla was sitting at the desk, quietly watching everything.
Before she could say anything, Joshua threw himself into her arms.
“Don’t leave me alone…”
Elysia gently stroked his head, hugged him briefly, then let him go.
“Come on. Let’s greet His Grace.”
Joshua stopped sulking and looked up.
Yulias was staring down at him without any particular expression.
“I’m sorry, Grand Duke.”
“Good. You’ll sleep in this room tonight.”
“Thank you!”
“Joshua.”
As his voice started rising with excitement again, Elysia placed a finger against her lips.
Recognizing the signal, Joshua immediately clamped his mouth shut.
“Ha!”
“It’s alright if you make some noise.”
“Really?!”
Joshua shouted in surprise.
Yulias nodded.
His gaze shifted toward the open room.
More specifically, toward Sheyla.
“Having two children together and expecting complete silence would be strange. Just don’t stay up too late.”
“Yes!!! We won’t stay up late! Thank you!!”
Joshua bowed deeply.
The contrast between him and Sheyla was so obvious that Yulias unconsciously uncrossed his arms.
Having somehow survived the situation, Elysia finally relaxed a little and turned to Joshua.
“Don’t stay up too late, okay? Noona will come check on you.”
“What about you? Sleep with me!”
Joshua tugged on her sleeve.
The truth was, even if Joshua could stay here, she still needed to return home.
She wanted to pay off her debts while she had the money.
And she needed to pack her belongings as quickly as possible.
“Umm, Joshua…”
“Sleep with me.”
“You should.”
“Huh?”
Elysia turned around in surprise.
It wasn’t Joshua who had spoken.
It was Yulias.
Looking straight at her, he repeated himself.
“Stay here tonight.”
For some reason, it felt as though Yulias’s eyes were fixed on her with unusual persistence.
