"W-What's going on?" Mia asked cautiously.
"I'm going to help you wash your face," Arthur replied with a smile, sitting down beside her.
"H-Help me?" Mia froze for a moment, then shook her head in refusal. "No, no, no, I can do it myself!"
"No way! Habits can be changed. You just need to stick with it. Besides, I've already decided—starting today, I'll come every morning to help you wash your face," Arthur said, his gentle smile carrying an undeniable firmness that left no room for argument.
"W-What?!" Every day?
Mia's eyes widened as she stared at the man before her, her heart caught between joy and worry. She was thrilled at the thought of seeing Arthur every day, but the idea of him—the head of the Moore family—personally washing her face every morning… If anyone found out that he was doing this for a former maid…
"No way!" Mia refused adamantly.
"I say yes." His smile carried more authority than her serious expression.
"Ugh…" Mia was momentarily speechless.
Taking advantage of her silence, Arthur signaled to Tina to prepare hot water.
Seeing this, Mia tried to persuade Arthur to change his mind, adopting a negotiating tone. "Um, Arthur, how about this? I promise I won't fetch water to wash my face anymore. I'll let Tina and the others handle it. You don't have to come every day to help me…" She trailed off, unable to finish the last two words.
Arthur looked at Mia with an indulgent expression, watching her futile attempts to wriggle out of the situation. But his words shattered her hopes. "No, Mia. I've made up my mind."
Mia froze again. She had thought Arthur was easy to talk to, but she hadn't expected him to be so unyielding.
"But, but…" Mia tried to protest, but Arthur gently placed his hand over her mouth, silencing her.
"Enough, Mia. I understand what you're trying to say, but you don't need to worry about these things. All you need to do is be happy and safe. I'm doing this because I want to, not because I'm forced to."
The tenderness in Arthur's deep blue eyes was almost overwhelming, filling Mia with both warmth and fear. She was touched, but she couldn't shake the worry that all this kindness might be fleeting—that once she grew accustomed to his care, she might lose him.
Her eyes betrayed her emotions, but she deliberately hid her unease. Arthur, with a charming smile, turned slightly to take the warm towel Tina handed him. He carefully and gently wiped Mia's cheeks.
His touch was soft, the temperature of the towel just right. After he finished, Mia's skin, exposed to the slightly chilly air, felt no discomfort—only a refreshing clarity. No wonder nobles preferred washing with warm water—it was so comfortable!
Or perhaps… it felt so good because it was Arthur washing her face?
Arthur switched out three towels, gently wiping Mia's cheeks, behind her ears, and her neck. Just when Mia thought this touching yet bittersweet moment was finally over, Arthur picked up another towel, intending to wipe her arms.
"Tch, I can do this myself," Mia said, pulling her hand back in an attempt to refuse.
Arthur silently took her hand, rolling up the sleeve of her right arm. Before he began, his gaze fell on the birthmark on her arm. Noticing Arthur staring at it, Mia said with a hint of embarrassment, "This birthmark is strange, isn't it? It looks like bite marks from something. My mother used to say it might be from a bite I got in a past life."
"Strange? Is that what you think?" Arthur's eyes held a mysterious depth as he looked at her.
Meeting his gaze, Mia wondered if she'd said something wrong. A little nervously, she replied, "A lot of people think so. But… I don't mind it. In fact, I feel like this birthmark might help me find something very important to me."
"Really?" Arthur's smile remained, but Mia could sense he was much happier than before.
The face-washing ritual finally came to an end, and Tina carried the basin out of the room. At that moment, Jenny, with her cute, youthful face, entered and bowed to Arthur before softly saying, "Master, breakfast is ready."
So that's where Jenny had been—preparing breakfast.
Arthur nodded and turned to Mia with a smile. "Mia, is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"Something I'd like to eat?" Mia was caught off guard by the question and paused. "No, no, anything is fine. I'm not picky." Breakfast was already prepared, so why was he asking?
"Mia, if there's something you want, just say it. You don't need to hold back," Arthur said, clearly seeing through her hesitation. "What, are you going to wait until I guess what you want?" Mia felt a sense of déjà vu, as if this exchange had just happened moments ago.
"Exactly," Arthur chuckled. "You're figuring me out pretty quickly, Mia!"
So domineering! The thought flashed through Mia's mind. She had initially thought he was a gentle, easygoing man, but behind that handsome, ever-smiling face was an unexpectedly commanding personality.
But upon reflection, she realized his domineering nature stemmed from genuine care for her. Since she was old enough to understand the world, no one had ever treated her with such tenderness or valued her opinions. Even her own mother had been indifferent, always prioritizing Mrs. Ivan over her, leaving Mia to fend for herself in the cold, uncaring environment of the Ivan household.
"Alright, I'll say it then. You asked me to!" Fine, if he insisted, she wouldn't hold back.
"Go ahead!" Arthur's smiling face carried an unwavering determination—he'd go to any lengths to get her whatever she wanted to eat.
"I want corn porridge, stir-fried bamboo shoots, pickled vegetables, meat-filled buns, scallion pancakes…" Mia happily counted off a long list of foods on her fingers.