“Are you okay? The healing mage said your fractured ankle and stretched ligament—”
“I’ve already heard about my ankle. I can walk, so don’t worry.”
I looked up at Edmund with a puzzled expression.
“Heard from whom?”
“From someone… a person who complains a lot in their sleep.”
I blushed for a few seconds at his joke.
‘Hmm, that must be me.’
I must have been so preoccupied that I spoke in my sleep.
Taking advantage of the moment, I decided to bring up something serious.
“Edmund, there’s something I need to say about what happened in the cave.”
“Go ahead.”
I put on a stern face and warned him.
“Next time, even if something similar happens, don’t ever risk yourself to save me. No matter how invincible and undefeated you are as the commander of the subjugation force, humans are mere mortals before nature…”
Oh, is he smiling?
I caught the slight upward curve of Edmund’s lips and frowned.
Seeing my disapproving look, he slowly wiped his mouth with his hand.
“Apologies. Please continue.”
“…Anyway. Life is about survival. If something like that happens again, I won’t blame you for ignoring me. I’ll just curse you enthusiastically from the afterlife.”
“So, you’ll curse me either way?”
“Of course. Even if you save me, I’d still be mad at you for not prioritizing yourself. That would be as good as saving no one…”
Wait, is he smiling again?
I swallowed my exasperation and replaced my disbelief with a firm, authoritative smile.
“Do you even realize how close you were to dying? Or do you just find it amusing that a mere woman is scolding you?”
At my sharp words, his gaze wavered in surprise. He straightened from where he had been leaning against the railing.
“It’s not that I take your words lightly. It’s just…”
Just what?
“I’m happy that you’re openly angry for my sake, when you usually keep your feelings hidden.”
“…”
“And, well… you’re kind of cute.”
…For a moment, my brain short-circuited.
‘C-Cute?!’
I hadn’t heard that word directed at me since childhood. When I called Edmund cute back then, did he feel as flustered as I do now?
A rational suspicion crossed my mind. Did he hit his head or something?
I shot him a doubtful look, but he just smiled again, as if he could read my thoughts.
A humid summer breeze swept past my neck, making my hair tickle my skin.
Unable to come up with a suitable response, I awkwardly shifted my gaze.
“Well… as long as I wasn’t ignored, that’s fine. I should get going. After all, you were the one who suffered the most.”
“I’m glad we cleared up the misunderstanding.”
Saying that, he smiled, his usually cold honey-colored eyes softening slightly.
The unexpected warmth in his expression made my heart feel oddly ticklish, and I quickly looked away.
After preparing to return to the capital, I walked out of the mansion with Edmund, feeling a bit dizzy.
A massive crowd of estate residents had gathered at a distance from the mansion.
It was no exaggeration to say that almost everyone in the territory had come to see him off.
I soon realized that the person they had come to see was none other than the Duke of Mipedian, standing beside me.
My uncle, who had been entrusted with managing the estate and business affairs following the resolution passed in this morning’s meeting, stepped forward as the representative.
He bowed deeply.
“My apologies, Your Grace. I had no idea we were dealing with someone so distinguished.”
My uncle shot me a reproachful glance, as if to ask why I hadn’t informed him.
But Edmund’s visit had been a secret. I could only offer a subtle squint in response.
At that moment, Edmund raised a hand.
“Don’t worry about it. I was the one who chose to remain undisclosed.”
“Still…”
My uncle hesitated before glancing at Edmund.
Reading the meaning behind that look, Edmund spoke again.
“What happened in the territory was a natural disaster. There’s no need to make an issue out of it or escalate the situation.”
Relieved, my uncle gave a sheepish smile.
“Please visit again sometime. Next time, we’ll make proper preparations to welcome you.”
Edmund nodded slightly but then paused. He glanced at me before adding,
“Next time, I’ll visit formally—with her.”
A strange silence fell. Then murmurs spread like wildfire.
My uncle turned to me with wide eyes, silently asking what Edmund meant.
I wanted to ask the same thing. It wasn’t just an invitation to visit the lord’s manor—it sounded like he was making a formal engagement visit.
‘Well, knowing Edmund, he probably didn’t mean anything by it.’
I sneaked a glance up at him, only to find him already looking at me. Startled, I realized that we had been making eye contact more often lately.
‘Cute and proud.’
His voice echoed in my mind again, making me rub my ears. The buzzing inside my head wouldn’t go away.
I straightened my posture and spoke nonchalantly.
“Ahem, Baron Totair, has the cave incident been resolved?”
Baron Totair, who had been eyeing us suspiciously, responded stiffly.
“We’ve stationed guards near the cave and halted work for two days in case of monster appearances or earthquakes. We’ve also requested the Magic Tower to investigate the cause.”
“Good work, Baron Totair.”
Just as I was about to end the conversation, something occurred to me.
“Oh, by the way, why haven’t I received the Magic Tower’s invoice?”
The baron’s expression twisted slightly as he glanced between me and Edmund.
“You two seem close, yet your communication is lacking. The Duke of Mipedian has already covered the cost.”
“What?!”
Shocked, I turned to Edmund.
The cave monster incident had been a natural disaster, but it had happened within the Buell estate. Moreover, he had been an unwilling victim caught in the chaos…
Seeing my disbelief, Edmund met my gaze with a calm, indifferent look, as if he didn’t understand what the issue was.
‘I’ll let it go for now and talk to him later.’
There were too many eyes on us at the moment.
With a grand farewell from my uncle, the estate officials, and the residents, we finally boarded the carriage.
Before I got in, the son of the merchant guild leader approached, looking worried.
“Countess, I heard about the incident. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”
As I turned to enter the carriage, I heard Edmund’s low, cool voice behind me.
“I hope you and your lover find happiness.”
“It’s only been a few days since I got to know you, but I’m truly glad you’re safe, Count… Ahem.”
At that moment, the merchant lord’s son, who had been looking behind me, suddenly turned pale and lowered his eyes.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
Feeling a chill for some reason, I rubbed the back of my neck. The merchant lord’s son let out a stiff laugh.
“D-the Duke must be waiting, so you should go now.”
“Alright. While you’re staying in our land, don’t mind the merchant lord’s gaze. Just feel comfortable.”
I smiled brightly and took Edmund’s hand to get into the carriage. Before getting in himself, Edmund looked down at the merchant lord’s son and said in a cold, calm voice,
“I hope you and your lover end up well together.”
“Y-yes, Sir—no, Your Grace, you as well…”
The merchant lord’s son was sweating nervously, clearly uneasy around Edmund. Honestly, I completely understood. I was also intimidated when I first met him.
But what surprised me was that Edmund was offering a blessing. It didn’t suit him at all.
‘He’s not the type to care about others.’
While I tilted my head in confusion, Edmund quickly got in and sat across from me. Just before departure, my uncle stood by the window and gave a farewell.
“Take care of yourself.”
“Yes, you too, Uncle.”
“And we should hurry with the mansion’s expansion. We can’t keep relying on others forever. You’re still young. Before strange rumors start—”
“Shouldn’t we get going now?”
Before he could finish, a cold voice cut in. I turned to look at Edmund.
He was sitting elegantly, legs crossed, hands folded on his knee, giving my uncle a cool glance.
The faint line between his brows made it clear he was displeased.
It must’ve been because of what my uncle said—about how it was time to leave the Duke of Mipedian’s estate.
Well, he had risked his life and sworn an oath so I could stay safely. It would be a little hollow if I left now just because the rebuilding was done.
I quietly swallowed my smile and gave my uncle one last goodbye.
With a warm farewell, the carriage began to move.
I leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, and looked at Edmund sitting across from me.
“We still have something to settle—our payment, little brother.”
“I only paid the price for my own life.”
“If a report comes out saying that the victim of the Buell estate incident paid for their own treatment, people will say we’re shameless.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll say the Count of Buell paid for it.”
“…”
I narrowed my eyes at him as if to challenge his firm response, but he just deflected like a wall of steel.
In the end, it was me who gave in.
“Fine. If you insist.”
I did feel a bit guilty for letting him take the burden, but he was the direct heir of the prestigious Mipedian dukedom, and the wealthiest one in history with a huge inheritance. What was there to worry about?
