LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 10: Chapter 10: 3 Legged Race
Ethan felt the rush of panic but quickly composed himself. Clearing his throat, he proclaimed, "I'm already a butler here."
Lily tilted her head, her expression a mixture of doubt and amusement. "Really? A butler?" Her tone questioned every syllable of his claim.
"Yes," Ethan replied, forcing a smile. "Why would I lie about that?"
Lily stared for a moment, then shrugged. "I guess it's just... unexpected."
Before she could press further, Gregory appeared behind her, his steps so silent that Lily jumped when he spoke.
"There you are, miss. I've been looking all over for you," Gregory said, his polite tone laced with amusement.
Lily turned to face him, her surprise evident. "Oh, I'm sorry. I got a bit lost."
Gregory's gaze flicked to Ethan, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Ah, I see you've already met the—"
Ethan quickly cut him off. "Allow me, as a humble butler, to guide this young miss to her destination," he said, his voice carrying a forced confidence.
Gregory raised an eyebrow but quickly caught on, suppressing a smirk. "Very well."
Lily turned back to Ethan, crossing her arms. "You never mentioned you worked in a place like this."
Ethan hesitated for only a moment before replying, "Well, my family isn't exactly... well off. The young master was kind enough to give me an opportunity to work for him."
"Oh?" Lily's tone softened slightly, though her suspicion lingered.
"Yes," Ethan continued, growing bolder. "The young master is a man of unparalleled excellence. Handsome, tall, and incredibly generous."
Behind her, Gregory had to turn away to hide his grin, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.
Lily rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Right. Well, since you're so knowledgeable, why don't you show me where the competition is? I got separated from the other candidates."
"Of course," Gregory said, stepping forward. "Allow me to assist."
Ethan walked alongside them, his gaze flicking occasionally toward Lily as they approached the courtyard.
When they arrived, Ethan froze. The scene was overwhelming: rows of candidates stood lined up in neat formations, stretching across the massive courtyard. Their chatter filled the air, excitement and nerves mingling in every voice.
Lily looked around in awe, then glanced back at Ethan. "Wish me luck!" she said with a grin before hurrying off to join the others.
Gregory turned to Ethan, a sly smile on his face. "Time to get back to your post, Young Master."
Ethan sighed. "Don't go easy on her. She's the type to want everything fair and square."
Gregory chuckled. "As you wish."
Ethan sighed, nodding. Ethan was conflicted, he knew the risk. If Lily stayed on at the estate, it could jeopardize everything he'd worked to keep hidden. One wrong move, and his carefully constructed double life would crumble. But he also thought that this job would also pay very handsomely.
Gregory climbed onto the podium at the center of the courtyard and raised his voice, silencing the crowd. "Welcome! Our young master is a man of great need and precision. He values diligence and competence above all else. However, he also cherishes his privacy and dislikes unnecessary human interaction."
The crowd broke into whispers.
"Have you ever seen him?"
"Why does he hide all the time?"
"They say he's a tyrant, but apparently, he's ridiculously handsome."
Gregory raised his hand for silence. "Enough. This competition will last three days. Each day, candidates will face elimination until only two remain. Today is your orientation—familiarize yourselves with the estate. Tomorrow, the first challenge begins. You are now dismissed."
As the crowd began to disperse, a cheerful voice called out to Lily.
"Hi there!"
Lily turned to see a girl with a bright smile. "Oh, hi. What's your name?"
"Daisy," the girl said. "This place is huge, huh? Have you heard the rumors about the young master? They say he's a tyrant but absolutely gorgeous."
Lily chuckled lightly but found her thoughts drifting to Ethan.
The next morning, the familiar hum of chatter filled chemistry class. Jack greeted Lily with his usual enthusiasm. "Hey, Lily! You look different today—what's up?"
Lily took her seat, brushing off his comment. "I'm fine, just getting ready for a big day."
Ethan, sitting nearby, couldn't resist chiming in. "What happened to your old job?"
Lily turned to him, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Oh, I quit. The manager was rude as always, but I got a better opportunity."
She leaned in slightly, her gaze fixed on Ethan. "Got any advice, Butler Ethan?"
Ethan felt his face heat up, struggling to come up with a response. Before he could say anything, Jack tapped Lily on the shoulder.
"Hey, Lily, are you excited for gym class today?" Jack asked, completely missing the tension between the two.
Lily blinked, the question snapping her out of her teasing. "Gym class?" she repeated, her brow furrowing. Then her eyes widened in realization. "Oh no, the three-legged relay! I completely forgot."
Jack laughed. "Don't worry. With me as your partner, we're winning for sure."
Ethan felt a twinge of envy. Gym wasn't his favorite subject, but the idea of spending time with Lily—being her partner—was enough to make him wish he could trade places with Jack.
In gym class, students paired off to prepare for the relay. Jack crouched beside Lily, helping her tie the rope around their legs.
As she worked, Jack found himself staring at her, his face reddening.
"Jack?" Lily asked, glancing up.
He panicked, quickly looking away. "N-nothing! Let's go!"
The whistle blew, and the pairs took off. Jack and Lily quickly fell into sync, chanting "One, two—one, two" as they moved.
They gained speed, overtaking several teams until they were neck and neck with the leaders.
"Let's pick up the pace," Lily urged, determination in her voice.
Jack nodded. "I'm with you!"
With just ten meters to go, the boy from the rival team shoved Jack. The sudden push sent both Jack and Lily crashing to the ground.
"What the hell?!" Jack shouted, scrambling to his feet.
The boy smirked. "You tripped. Don't blame me."
Jack turned to Lily, his anger fading as he saw her lying on the ground. "Lily!" he exclaimed, kneeling beside her.
Lily winced, clutching her leg. Blood seeped through her gym shorts, staining the ground beneath her.
"I'm fine," she said weakly, trying to sit up.
Jack's eyes widened in panic. "You're not fine! Look at your leg!"
Lily struggled to sit up, wincing as she tried to put weight on her injured leg. Her determination was evident, but her body betrayed her.
"I can walk—" she started to protest, her voice strained.
Jack was already on it. Without hesitation, he crouched down and untied the ropes binding their legs. "Stay still," he said firmly, his usual carefree tone replaced with rare seriousness.
Before Lily could argue, Jack slipped one arm under her knees and the other around her back. In one swift motion, he lifted her off the ground.
"Jack!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing as she clutched his shirt for balance. "What are you doing?"
Jack didn't stop, his eyes focused on the path ahead. "What does it look like? You're hurt. Now stop squirming."
Lily's protests fell silent as she looked up at his face. His usual playful demeanor had been replaced by an intensity she hadn't seen before. The way he carried her, his arms steady and protective, sent a wave of unexpected admiration through her.
"Move!" Jack shouted, weaving through the crowd of gawking students. "She's hurt! Out of the way!"
The murmurs and stares from their classmates only grew louder, but Jack paid them no mind. All that mattered to him was getting Lily to the infirmary.
Lily, cradled in his arms, couldn't help but stare at his face. There was something different about him at that moment—a resolve she hadn't noticed before. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
Instead, she let herself rest against him, her head lightly leaning against his chest as they approached the infirmary doors.