"Harriett, I've been thinking lately, can a person contract a disease if their heart suddenly beats faster than before? Don't you think that's abnormal? The way you just look at a person - you can already hear your heart making a drumbeat sound like it's deafening, like it's the only sound you hear and nothing else. Is that some kind of disease?"
Charlotte was in her room - she was inside with Harriett who was preparing a dress for her and even arranging everything for the lady's look.
Her movements only stopped the moment Charlotte decided to say those words to her. All in the room seems peaceful as Charlotte had kindly instructed the maids to take Harriett to her room instead.
That's what she had learned from Louis - never to start a fight with someone who never wronged her. However, at first the maids were genuinely surprised, on their faces - they don't even show it.
They were surprised only in their minds, but their faces showed so much deference to Charlotte as the mistress of the house. The maids didn't even bother to ask the lady as they all followed her will.
Back then, the moment the maids called Harriett, it was about time her eyes widened, her heart pounded for a beat as sweat formed on her forehead.
She doesn't even know why she was called until she remembered the day they got lost in the market. That's the time she thought - she's going to be punished.
However, when she entered the lady's room - she was not punished at all - she was instead greeted with a soft and sweet voice paired with the lady's sweet smile.
That was the time she had been helping the lady until Charlotte had asked her something that even she didn't know how to explain
'Is Milady saying, that her heart starts beating abnormally when she sees anyone? Like it's coming out of her chest? Like it's the only sound she hears? Even I don't know anything like that because I've never experienced these feelings before. But the moment the lady spoke about someone making her heartbeat abnormal, wouldn't that be called a crush? Like a slight admiration for the person? To me, I wouldn't even call it a disease - as it was normal for any woman to feel that. So maybe that was the right answer to what the lady wanted to know.'
"Milady, I think that is quite a normal thing for a lady."
"Normal? How can you even say normal Harriett - when your heart was already beating faster than before. Not only that - every time you see that person - you can't help but feel things like you've never felt before. Do you call that normal Harriett?"
The way the lady's tone sought answers to those questions that are difficult for her to find, and although she quickly had such answers - she never hesitated to ask the girl who was next to her for the time being, just about such Finding answers that were unexpected in her cup of tea.
The lady's voice sounded like a soft summer vibration with a hint of high notes at the end - not even realizing that Harriett's answer would make her doubt herself even more
Harriett, on the other hand, couldn't even stop herself from lifting either side of her lips. It was the lady who made her answer the question in a normal and non-provocative way.
In this case, she never has to surprise the lady when she found the answer. Taking a deep sigh – Harriett finally decided to tell the lady directly
'I think she has a right to know. Still, I hope I can only see her happy from afar when she feels that way. Because that person she could be talking about, I think, must be Sir Louis. it is because Lady Charlotte has changed since he entered the household. That's not all - she seems to be changing for the better and it continues as the day goes by. There was already no commotion in the household, so I guess the household was lucky to have Sir Louis for Lady Charlotte.'
"Milady, every lady has felt that way when she has someone she cares about."
"..."
At that moment Harriett expected an answer from the lady - but seconds later she heard none.
It wasn't until she saw the lady's face blush that even her neck and ears had turned the color of a tomato. Her eyes seemed to move back and forth and his eyebrows started to wrinkle, and that was all because of what Harriett had said
'Is my lady imagining something about the person at the moment? My goodness! I guess I have to explain this further!'
"I-I mean, my lady - if you really admire the person, then that wouldn't prevent your heart from feeling a certain sense of admiration. You like that person because he or she is like that and all of that person's qualities surprise you the most - then you already know that your heartbeat - which is unusual - is due to your devoted admiration for that person."
After saying those words, Charlotte somehow calmed down. The redness of her face and neck and ears had finally returned to its original color.
The way the lady's eyebrows were already connected to her eyes and the way her lips were already tightly sealed. In that moment – Harriett knew she had explained it correctly to the lady.
This only made Harriett sigh as she had already finished arranging the lady's hair. She was already done with her braids, which only made the lady more beautiful than ever
"My lady, I think I have an answer-"
Harriett couldn't finish, however, when Charlotte suddenly let out a long sigh and then looked at Harriett, who had only just finished arranging the lady's hair
"Harriett, don't forget that - never tell anyone. But how did you know I had feelings like that, Harriett?
"..."
Then, as if Harriett had been surprised - she just smiled genuinely at the lady until Charlotte saw how Harriett was acting, which raised one of her eyebrows
"Milady, these are called instincts - alright? Don't worry - I'll always be faithful to you, so I think it's safe to say you were talking about me."
After saying those words - the lady immediately turned around - she rose from her seat and gently held both of Harriett's hands as she began petting her.
Her eyes embodied such sincerity as they shone brightly, turning Harriett's cheeks red for a sudden second, until Charlotte's lips curled up as she had never been so enlightened as she was now
'The longest - why hadn't I asked Harriett about it then? Instead of keeping it inside me - knowing it could be a terminal illness - Louis will make me avoid myself! So it was just like that! Then I wouldn't have to worry about my health anymore!'
"T-Thanks, Harriett! You made me realize something!"
After saying those words - Harriett felt as if she had somehow enlightened the lady and even smiled at her - she returned that vibrancy of summer felt on the lady's lips.
'I suppose my lady had finally realized that she had already admired Sir Louis. I don't know when it started, as Milady never said in her question - but I think it will always happen. Who wouldn't when every servant in the household - except me - had already drooled over the splendor of the young man who was destined to be the lady's butler. His silver hair and hazel eyes fascinate most of the household and I wouldn't even be surprised if Milady wasn't fascinated by a beautiful young man.'
Little did Harriett know, however, that the way the lady had expressed her gratitude to her was the way she thought she had contracted an illness, when it was all just admiration.
But after a few seconds, Charlotte felt as if she had been bathed in cold water after processing the deeper meaning of what Harriett had said. At this point – Charlotte let go of Harriett immediately, her face seemed as if it had just taken in what Harriett had said, her eyebrows were already knitting and her eyes darted back and forth until her gaze landed on Harriett's wide eyes
'Why is Milady acting strange just now? Did I say something wrong?'
Those were the only words Harriett was thinking until Charlotte called out the words, which opened Harriett's mouth wide
"Wait, so I admire Louis?!"
Then, as if the door had been opened - suddenly the person outside was Louis himself, smiling at the lady
"Are you talking about me, my lady? Well, we should go now, it seems the carriage has already been prepared."
"Did he hear what I just said?! Gosh, is that why I feel this way? It's because of Louis?!'
'I think Milady only took in what I just said, that's why she's like this. Well, in no time - she would eventually be bound by such knowledge, and I think asking myself makes her knowledge even sharper and clearer. Well, I just hope what's best for her.'