The Hated Young Lady, Hilda Fields, Puts an End to It - Chapter 2

Since the incident at the lake, Hilda and Rudolph had gradually become closer. Rudolph would often come to chat with Hilda after school, saying he was helping his father, who worked at the Fields family stables. He even started waving to her when he encountered her carriage on his way to school in the mornings.

This made Hilda very happy.

And this morning, too…

Hilda’s carriage and Rudolph’s group happened to meet.

“Oh, Lady Hilda, good morning,” Rudolph greeted Hilda with a smile.

“G-good morning, Rudolph,” Hilda replied, peeking her head out of the carriage, her cheeks faintly flushed. It was just that much—the carriage quickly passed by but Hilda was content.

After seeing the carriage off, the young people resumed walking. The large, red-haired boy among them spoke to Rudolph.

“Rudolph…you seem to be getting along quite well with that young lady lately. Don’t tell me you have feelings for her?”

“It’s nothing like that, Ivan. It’s just that I’ve had more opportunities to talk to her lately,” Rudolph replied with a smile.

The boy with his hair tied back said, “That’s right, Ivan. Don’t say such strange things. Nobles like them look down on commoners like us.”

“Tom… Hilda isn’t like that…” Rudolph said, looking at the boy with a wry smile.

“That’s right, Tom. Please don’t say strange things, especially in front of Grace,” Nora said angrily.

“N-no, Nora. It’s not like that…” Grace hurriedly grabbed Nora’s right arm. Nora winked and said, “Look, Ivan, Tom. You two are on duty today, right? I’ll help you, so let’s hurry!”

“Oh, that’s right!”

“I forgot!”

Ivan and Tom exclaimed in a fluster.

“Sorry, we’ll go ahead, Rudolph. Grace!” Tom called out to the two of them.

“See you at school!” Ivan said, and ran off with Nora. Only Rudolph and Grace remained.

“Those three are energetic this morning,” Rudolph said, watching the three run off. Grace, on the other hand, fidgeted as if she had something to say.

“What’s wrong, Grace?” Rudolph asked. Grace looked up as if startled and said,

“Um…Rudolph, lately…you haven’t been coming home from school with us after class…why?”

“Oh, that’s because I’ve been helping my father with his work lately,” Rudolph replied with a smile,

“…That’s a lie.” Grace said with sad eyes,

“Huh? It’s not a lie. I really am going to my father’s place.”

“It’s true that you’re helping your father with his work, but…isn’t the real reason different? Aren’t you going to see Lady Hilda…?”

Tears welled up in Grace’s eyes. She looked at Rudolph with serious eyes and said, “Rudolph…I…have something important to tell you…”

“Something important…?”

Rudolph tilted his head.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

“Hilda, you seem to be in a good mood this morning. Did you see him again?”

Shirley greeted Hilda as she entered the classroom.

“Yes, I did. But how did you know?” Hilda said happily.

“I can tell just by looking at you. But Hilda… I wouldn’t say this if it wasn’t important. You should give up on Rudolph. He’s a commoner, isn’t he? Your parents will never approve.”

Shirley spoke to Hilda with unusually serious eyes.

“I-I know. Besides, it’s just me who has feelings for Rudolph. I’m sure my father will find a suitable marriage partner for me soon enough. But… I wanted to dream, just for a little while longer…”

Hilda blushed.

However, from that day on, Rudolph completely stopped appearing before Hilda.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

Two weeks had passed since Rudolph vanished from Hilda’s sight.

“Rudolph… I didn’t see you this morning either…” Hilda sighed sadly in the carriage. A short while ago, she had passed Rudolph’s friends, but Rudolph himself wasn’t among them, nor were the two girls. When the carriage passed, the large, red-haired boy had looked at Hilda’s carriage with a meaningful glance, which bothered her. But having never spoken to them directly, Hilda couldn’t bring herself to ask about Rudolph.

(I’ve decided… When I get back from school, I’ll ask his father about him today.)

Hilda made up her mind.

“Good morning, Hilda. Didn’t you see Rudolph this morning either?”

As Hilda got out of the carriage and walked towards the school building, her friend Shirley caught up and called out to her.

“Good morning, Shirley. No… I didn’t. That’s why I’m thinking of asking Rudolph’s father about him today.”

Shirley became worried about Hilda’s downcast demeanor.

(I have a bad feeling about this… I can’t tell Hilda, but… I wonder if this Rudolph is intentionally avoiding her…?)

However, she couldn’t bring herself to say such a thing to Hilda, who was in love with Rudolph.

After school, Hilda returned home and immediately went to the stables where Rudolph’s father, Marco, worked.

“Good afternoon, Marco.”

Marco, who was tending the horses in the stable, was surprised.

“Lady Hilda…! I never imagined you would come to such a place. What brings you here today?”

“Um… is Rudolph well?” Hilda asked Marco, blushing and lowering her gaze.

“Yes, he’s doing well.”

“Is that so? I haven’t seen him lately, coming or going from school, and he hasn’t been coming here either…”

“I’m sorry. I haven’t heard anything from Rudolph. Come to think of it, he has been going to school earlier than usual recently. My wife told me he’s also been coming home later than before.”

“Do you… know why?”

“No, I don’t know anything,” Marco replied, shaking his head. Hilda realized she probably wouldn’t get any more answers from him.

“I understand. Thank you.”

Hilda bowed her head and left the stables. She wandered through the mansion’s courtyard and, spotting a gazebo in the garden, sat down with a sigh, thinking of Rudolph.

(Come to think of it, I still pass Rudolph’s friends every day at the same time… Could it be that he’s avoiding me…? Is that why he changed his schedule? But why…?)

Hilda had no idea why Rudolph might be avoiding her. If there was a possibility…

“Could it be…that he realized I like him…?”

That was the only possibility Hilda could think of. She sighed, stood up, and was about to return to her room when she saw Rudolph heading towards the stables.

(Rudolph!)

She almost called out to him, but stopped herself.

(No… He’s avoiding me… I can’t call out to him…)

Seeing Rudolph after so long brought tears to her eyes. Hilda quickly turned her back on him and was about to leave when Rudolph called out.

“Oh? Isn’t that Lady Hilda?”

Hilda stiffened, then slowly turned towards Rudolph. There he stood, a gentle smile gracing his face…