I glanced at Edmund’s bandaged ankle.
“Your ankle, does it still hurt?”
“It’s fine.”
I narrowed my eyes and looked at him skeptically. The healing mage had said he would feel pain every time he walked for a few days, so he was obviously lying.
‘He must be saying that so I don’t feel guilty.’
Feeling even more sorry, I suddenly felt mischievous and decided to tease him.
“When my uncle told you to leave the Mipedian Duchy earlier, you seemed disappointed. Do you want to live with me forever?”
“…Don’t you?”
Edmund’s clear, glass-like eyes wavered.
As always, I was ready to smirk if he got annoyed or blushed, but instead, I was the one caught off guard.
“I-I feel the same way. It was just a joke.”
“I see. That’s a relief.”
Seeing Edmund visibly relax with a slight smile, my playful mood disappeared.
Feeling awkward for failing to tease him, I scratched my neck with my index finger. He seemed to have caught on to my feelings.
“I don’t mind your teasing anymore.”
Hearing his sudden words, I turned my eyes from the empty space I had been staring at to meet his gaze.
“To be exact, I’ve come to not mind it. Because it’s a kind of attention.”
I was momentarily speechless. Well, he wasn’t wrong…
“Was suspicion also a kind of attention?”
“It was. I didn’t want you out of my sight.”
He blinked once and then spoke in a slightly lower voice, almost whispering in the confined space of the carriage.
“Am I wrong?”
His voice was not only pleasant to hear but also strangely captivating. Enough to make me agree with anything.
“It… was attention.”
Satisfied with my answer, he let out a small, pleased chuckle.
‘Come to think of it, he smiles more often now.’
Almost dying must have changed something in him.
I turned my head down to hide my blushing face.
I had warned him before. That man still didn’t seem to realize how powerful his looks were.
He had already made so many women in the empire suffer from lovesickness. Was he now unconsciously trying to seduce me too?
‘What a sinful man.’
I tried to calm my pounding heart and blamed everything on his looks.
Soon, we reached the entrance of the portal, and a bluish light seeped into the carriage.
I closed my eyes against the glow and leaned my head against the wall. Thinking about traveling a long distance while facing him made me want to escape into sleep.
“Young Duke, I’ll take a nap. Wake me when we arrive.”
“Understood.”
Shortly after he answered, the blue light that had disturbed my sleep disappeared. Instead, I sensed a shadow over my eyes, realizing without opening them that Edmund was shielding me from the light with his hand.
My toes, collarbone, and neck felt a vague ticklish sensation, making me bite my lip. At this rate, I wouldn’t be able to sleep; my heartbeat would scare sleep away.
‘Are you telling me to sleep or not?’
In the end, I couldn’t sleep at all until we reached the Mipedian Duchy.
Edmund gazed at Etricia, who was desperately pretending to be asleep.
She was quite skilled at it. Though her eyelids twitched occasionally, she remained still, breathing evenly.
But after years of camping in the wild, his instincts told him she was awake.
A faint bluish glow from his hand flickered over her lips as the carriage moved, casting alternating shadows and light.
Suppressing a groan, Edmund averted his gaze. She was too defenseless in front of a man who had feelings for her.
‘Now, what should I do?’
He had realized his feelings. He wanted her to feel the same.
Lowering his gaze, he let out a weak chuckle.
For the first time, he felt such a desire. Since childhood, wanting something had been a luxury, and his future had always been about revenge.
But Etricia had shown him a world beyond revenge. He wanted to approach her without hiding his feelings, but… she was wary and quick-witted.
She would notice his feelings immediately and start distancing herself.
She had even avoided arranged meetings with a troubled smile.
Moreover, she had recently ended her marriage. He didn’t want to burden her by pushing his feelings onto her. He never wanted to see her troubled expression.
Edmund decided to move at her pace, keeping his emotions in check.
“Mm.”
At that moment, perhaps sensing his gaze, Etricia stirred slightly.
Edmund smirked as he noticed her ears twitch like a startled puppy.
She was still awake. How adorable.
Yawning awkwardly, I pretended to wake up just as the carriage passed through the gates of the Mipedian Duchy.
Since I had forced myself to act, my entire body ached.
As I lightly tapped my lips, I pretended to notice him just then.
“Oh. Sorry, I slept so soundly. You must have been bored.”
“I didn’t notice time passing.”
“…?”
The carriage stopped, and as the door opened, Edmund stood, glanced at me, and chuckled.
“Watching the Count pretend to sleep.”
“Wha—”
I turned red with embarrassment. As I froze, he casually stepped out of the carriage.
“Take my hand.”
Acting as if nothing had happened, he offered his hand.
‘That man. He knew the whole time.’
With narrowed eyes, I grabbed his hand, almost snatching it, and got off.
As we walked to the mansion, I spoke grumpily.
“You should have told me. I would have stopped.”
“I was going to.”
Edmund suddenly stopped and looked down at me with an unreadable expression.
When I slowly blinked up at him, he gave a wry smile.
“But you seem uncomfortable being alone with me.”
My eyes widened.
‘…How did he know?’
But what was uncomfortable was my physical reaction, not him himself.
While I was thinking, he brushed under my eye with his fingers. I froze in surprise at the sudden action.
“Still, don’t be so defenseless in front of me.”
“……”
“…That makes things hard for me.”
He left those words behind, pulled his hand away quickly, and walked ahead. I stood there blankly before finally coming back to my senses.
It sounded like something someone with rational feelings would say. It was almost like a warning that he might take advantage of my defenseless moments if given the chance.
‘Was this innocent man saying that without realizing it… or did he know?’
This time, it felt like the latter. Should I ask?
“Lady Etricia!”
My confusing thoughts disappeared when I saw Lilien running out of the mansion.
“Lilien?”
Lilien pushed past the servants and ran to me in tears, hugging me tightly. She had heard the news of the accident at the Buell estate. Sniffling, she quickly pulled back and turned me around to check my body carefully.
“Let me see. Are you hurt anywhere? You look fine on the outside, but…”
I relaxed my body and let her check as much as she needed until she felt safe. But Lilien still wasn’t reassured and looked like she would check each strand of my hair next, so I quickly grabbed her hands to stop her.
“I came back safely without a single scratch, so don’t worry.”
Lilien sniffled and nodded several times.
“That’s a relief… really, I’m so glad…”
My heart also softened, and I gently wiped the reddish corners of her eyes.
“You were really scared, weren’t you? Thank you for coming to meet me.”
“When I heard the news, I thought my heart was going to drop.”
“It’s okay now. I’m fine.”
I glanced toward Edmund behind me. I felt strangely self-conscious.
“Shouldn’t we be more worried about Duke Mipedian than me? He was really in danger. His ankle still hasn’t healed.”
Lilien sniffed and quietly turned to look at Edmund. She looked him up and down and let out a cute sigh.
“I’m glad you look okay, Edmund.”
“Seems like you finally noticed me.”
“Ugh.”
“Not that I mind.”
Edmund lifted and dropped his thick silver eyebrows. He seemed used to his sister’s one-sided affection now.
Lilien looked a little embarrassed and wiped her red nose with the back of her hand.
“A-at first, I really was worried about you. It’s just that I calmed down after getting a report from Lady Etricia that you were okay.”
She grumbled like she felt unfairly treated.
“A report?”
Edmund turned his puzzled eyes toward me.
I smiled awkwardly and shrugged.
“While your brother was asleep, I gave Lilien an update. It’s better that she hears it from me than through rumors or news articles.”
“…I see.”
Edmund let out a small groan and rubbed his wrinkled forehead, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Rail, who had been watching nearby, seemed to confirm that everything had settled down.
He came over and said he was glad we were safe.
Then Rail leaned in and whispered something to Edmund. With a stiff face, Edmund nodded and gave me a short look before walking away.
I found myself following him with my eyes without thinking. Then Lilien came up beside me and linked her arm with mine.
“Lady Etricia, you must be tired. Let’s go.”
“Yes, let’s unpack and talk about everything we haven’t been able to.”
Lilien nodded quickly with a soft smile. As I walked back into the mansion next to her, I looked once more at Edmund as he moved farther away. I should have asked what he meant earlier. I missed the timing, and it felt a little disappointing.
