Red Tape

The small cabin, where Liam had lived for the past five years, had now become the foundation of his life.

He was half-lying on his bed, reading a book he had borrowed from a rental bookstore in town. There were many words he didn’t know, but he stubbornly skipped over them and kept reading.

Just then, there was an urgent knock, followed by Mary’s voice, high and sharp like a bird’s cry. Maybe she was small in stature, her voice was naturally high-pitched.

“Liam!”

“Come in.”

“You’re not undressed, are you?”

“Would I have told you to come in if I were?”

Mary giggled and swung the door open. She came and went from Liam’s cabin as if it were her own.

At first, other servants had given them curious looks, but now everyone knew that they were like siblings.

Some even joked that when Mary got married, Liam should walk her down the aisle like a father.

Liam returned his attention to his book while Mary pulled out a chair and sat down.

“Do you even understand what you’re reading?”

“About half of it.”

“Then why are you reading it?”

“Just because.”

“Just because? Are you trying to impress the young master?”

Mary narrowed her eyes knowingly. She wasn’t entirely wrong, so Liam said nothing.

Lately, he had been borrowing books again, reading diligently. He worried that if he fell too far behind Erwin, who had studied abroad, their conversations might become difficult.

The general store’s owner, Johns, once said that physical pleasure is fleeting, but a good partner is someone with whom you can easily communicate.

Mary flipped through the books on Liam’s desk, but quickly lost interest and put them down, then began complaining.

“I’m so fed up. That maid who’s always following Lady Motier around keeps giving me these side-eyes.”

“Why?”

“How should I know? She keeps her eyes like that, glancing at me from time to time, then quickly looks away when our eyes meet!”

Mary pulled at the corners of her eyes with her fingers, imitating the maid’s expression. Liam chuckled and reassured her.

“Maybe it’s just a coincidence.”

“Let her mess with me one more time. I’ll yank out every single strand of her hair.”

“You?”

“You have no idea how strong my hands are. You know why my relatives kicked me out? Their daughter kept accusing me of stealing, so I pulled out all her hair.”

Mary made Liam laugh as she proudly displayed her hands, as if they were gold. He turned back to his book, pretending to ask casually,

“What’s the young master doing?”

Mary’s face instantly lit up like a mischievous child.

“You’ve been dying to ask that, haven’t you?”

“I- told you, I just admire him…”

“Yeah, yeah. Admiration and respect, right? Got it.”

“…”

“I understand. There are more than one who would like to be held in the young master’s arms.You’re a little too big to be carried, though.”

Liam unconsciously clicked his tongue.

“I overheard him talking to Mr. Jeffrey. He asked for Emma to be saddled.”

“Emma? That sounds familiar…”

“Idiot. That’s his horse.”

“Oh… He’s going riding?”

Mary looked utterly shocked.

“You’ve never seen the young master ride a horse? Oh, right, you arrived just before he left for Saint-Bernoulli, and he hasn’t ridden since he came back.”

“Why is that such a big deal?”

Mary jumped up from her chair and snatched Liam’s book away.

“You fool! Do you know what’s as famous as the young master’s waltz? His horseback riding!”

Mary threw Liam’s book down on the desk and explained excitedly.

“He wears bright clothes when riding in the woods so hunters don’t accidentally shoot him. One time, he wore all white and rode a white horse with a flowing mane—I almost clasped my hands in prayer!”

“He must’ve looked like an…angel.”

“Yes! He was so dazzling. His golden hair fluttered as the horse galloped… Ahh, if only my hair were that color, I’d have so many hairpins to match.”

“You’re already pretty.”

Mary pretended to gag and made a vomiting gesture. Then, as if a brilliant idea struck her, she clapped her hands.

“Wait! We can go see him now!”

“Now?”

“Yes! I know where the master is going!”

Mary enthusiastically traced an imaginary map in the air, explaining the location. Liam watched her, slightly puzzled.

“Why are you helping me so much? Aren’t you weirded out by me?”

“Because it’s sad.”

“…Sad?”

“Your love has no future.”

“…”

Mary, who hid romance novels under her bed and read them every night, sighed.

“In the stories I read, maids fall in love with princes and nobles, and they live happily ever after. But that’s fiction. In real life, that doesn’t happen.”

“…”

“If a servant becomes pregnant, she is usually kicked out with no place to go, unable to find work while pregnant and ending up in the slums.”

Mary’s face darkened as reality sank in.

“But dreaming is nice, isn’t it? At least until you wake up.”

“You sound like a poet, Mary.”

Mary felt a sense of duty since Liam’s love had no chance, at least she can help him see Erwin whom he loves as much as possible. Like wanting to give everything to a terminally ill person.

“You should hurry if you want to see him ride!”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, Liam! Mind if I stay here for a while? I finished all my work, and I don’t want to be caught and sent on errands.”

“Sure, stay as long as you like.”

Liam sprang up from his chair, rushed outside, then suddenly turned back, poking his head through the door.

“Thanks, Mary!”

Lying on the bed, Mary grinned and waved.

***

Liam also knew exactly where to go. Back when he did odd jobs around the estate, he had helped Kyle, the stable boy, lead horses to the pasture.

This was because it is an important policy to allow the Duke’s horse to roam freely in a pasture and eat fresh grass.

Now, he knew the estate’s geography well enough to draw a map. The forest where he works has quick access to a meadow where Erwin would be.

He sprinted through the woods, branches scratching his face, but he didn’t slow down.

After more than ten minutes of running, he reached the pasture. There, standing atop a gentle waving grass hill, was Erwin.

The scene was like a dream.

The towering cedar trees swayed like waves in the wind, and the village’s orange rooftops could be seen here and there.

At the hill’s highest point stood a white horse with an ivory mane and a flowing tail, swaying in the breeze. Sitting atop it, Erwin looked like the ruler of this world. It seemed as if massive wings might sprout from the horse’s sides at any moment.

Liam stood frozen, mesmerized.Sensing his gaze, Erwin turned around absentmindedly and found Liam standing blankly in the distance.

“Liam!”

His voice, full of delight, was like a child reuniting with a long-lost friend. He tugged the reins and galloped toward Liam.

He was going so fast that Liam feared he might fall.

“Slow down! You’ll fall down!”

Hearing that, Erwin burst into laughter. His clear, bright laugh shattered like sunlight. His waist moves flexibly, his slender body bouncing lightly with the horse’s motion.

“Emma would never throw me off.”

He rode in circles around Liam in the middle.

Liam kept turning around to look at Erwin, unwilling to take his gaze away from him for a moment.

They both feel tenderness in each other’s eyes.