My husbands first love

Chapter || 40

Elizabeth silently walked back home. She dragged her feet along the busy road, tightly holding onto the strap of her bag that was hanging off her shoulder. She won't ever see him again right? Just the thought of seeing him again sent electric chills down her spine that she couldn't shake off.

She saw a stall that was selling cinnamon buns, Elizabeth's favorite. She needed to get some of them and eat them on the way home. "Excuse me, can I get 4 cinnamon buns to go." She asks the seller. He gladly packs up 4 buns, puts them in a little bag for her, and gives it back to her with a tender smile on his face.

Elizabeth returned that smile, and took the bag. She first ate one bun on the way back to the manor. The richness of the cinnamon melted in her mouth with the very first bite she took, leaving a sweet taste behind craving for more of that sweet taste. She let out a pleasurable sound after each bite. These buns would never get old for her.

When she entered the manor, a servant came over quickly and took her bag to take off her burden. She continued eating her second cinnamon bun and looked around the halls for the Count and Countess. Where could they be?

She asked the head butler after not seeing them anywhere in the entire manor. "Butler, where are the count and countess? Did they go somewhere?"

"No, my lady. They are outside drinking some tea with a guest."

"I see. I will go see them there then." Elizabeth made her way to the garden. She wondered who the guest was. They haven't had a guest in a very long time, actually long enough that she can't even remember when the last time was. She spotted the count and countess both sitting at the tiny tea table along with one other person. It looked like a man.

He was entirely covered up that she can't see who he was, but maybe if she moves a little closer she can see. Elizabeth didn't know if she wanted to interrupt the moment and walk in or if she should spy from afar and not interrupt them.

But since when was Elizabeth scared of anything or of talking to people? She can do this easily. She strides confidently now towards the table, but everything slowed down as she neared and spotted who the guest was. Maximilian.

Her face dropped, smile fell, she almost tripped over nothing. What the hell? What was he doing here? Maximilian glanced at Elizabeth as he saw her approaching figure, but he didn't seem to be surprised to see her. It's like he knew she would be here.

The Count and countess also looked back. "Oh, Elizabeth dear. Come over here. Let me introduce you to our guest." The countess beckons Elizabeth forward with a welcoming gesture, but her eyes stay glued to Maximillian, wide and full of fear.

"This is Maximillian, the General of the army. And this is-" The countess didn't know what to introduce Elizabeth. She thought for a long while. "I am their daughter, Elizabeth." Elizabeth said firmly, eyes locked on Maximillian. She placed a gentle hand over the countesss' to soothe her dilemma.

Maximilian silently watches Elizabeth, he hasn't said a word or anything about their past, so that's good. "Yes, that's right. This is our daughter. If you need anything, you may ask her or our head butler." The Countess smiled.

After what felt like eternity of them battling each other with their eyes, Maximilian looked away and spoke.

"Thank you very much for allowing me to stay here. I would've been struggling to find a place if it weren't for you. I will only stay here for a week and after that return to the empire."

All four of them stand up at once, and the count speaks to Elizabeth. "Will you please take the sir to the guest room Elizabeth?" As if this couldn't get any worse. Elizabeth agreed gladly, but she wasn't glad at all. When only the both of them are left alone, she whips herself around eyes blazing with anger.