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Chapter 8
They say effort never betrays you, but I seemed to be an exception.
“Finally, you succeeded.”
“Yeah. It really took a long time.”
People said they could adapt well just by observing, but I had spent over a week struggling to make a single pot of tea, hearing “Shall we try again?” dozens of times.
I even thought I might not die a natural death, but from overwork instead.
“Thank you, Cordelia. This is all thanks to you not giving up on me and teaching me so diligently.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. This is the result of your hard work, my lady.”
Thankfully, I survived overwork and, not only that, I could finally make tea properly.
I could finally make the medicine with my own hands. That thought alone was a great comfort.
“Oh, by the way, Cordelia, take this. I received it from the Duke yesterday, but I thought it would be better to give it to someone who might appreciate it more than I would.”
Since she had helped me master making tea, I decided to give her a small gift.
“This… is for me?”
“Yes. I thought you’d like it more than I would.”
As expected, Cordelia received the gift politely with both hands, her eyes sparkling.
The gift was a miniature set, currently trending in another region.
It was a gift that could captivate both children and adults, but for me, it meant nothing.
“A gift given without knowing my tastes has no meaning to me.”
She probably bought a famous gift because she couldn’t come empty-handed, without bothering to ask me first.
‘I can’t be happy with something like this.’
Even so… really. My “hands” were more like cursed hands than golden ones. I could barely make tea; how could I be good at crafts?
Just as I sighed internally, Cordelia quietly opened her mouth.
“My lady, I won’t be able to stay with you from tomorrow until the weekend.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t bring some items I needed, so I have to return to the mansion. I’ve already gotten permission to go out.”
Then this room would be quiet again for a while.
‘I liked having someone to chat with nearby.’
I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
“Then I suppose there’s nothing I can do. Have a good trip.”
“Yes, my lady.”
As I thought I would face a slightly different daily routine starting tomorrow, Cordelia spoke again, somewhat belatedly.
“Oh, but my lady…”
“Yes?”
“There’s actually one thing I haven’t told you yet.”
Her amethyst-colored eyes wavered.
‘What is she trying to say?’
It seemed more important than the outing, so I instinctively focused on her words.
“The real reason I became your companion maid is separate. I lost my memory in an accident, and I came here, where things seem lively, hoping it might be easier to recover it.”
“……”
“To understand what kind of life I lived, who I loved, I needed to leave the count’s house.”
I had forgotten one thing.
Even though Cordelia had been assigned as my companion maid, she was the heroine in the original story.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“It’s alright, Cordelia. I’m actually thankful you told me now.”
Cordelia would, as planned, embark on a long journey to find the one she loves, even if death awaited at the end.
‘Since I’m changing my life’s ending, might as well play matchmaker a little.’
Although it was a lot for me to meddle in, I could at least give a hint.
“Then I should go now. I need to prepare to return to the mansion.”
“Alright. Go ahead, Cordelia.”
With that, she stood and left.
‘It’s so quiet.’
It didn’t take long for Cordelia to disappear from my room.
‘Since it’s come to this, should I try asking to go out too?’
Seeing her go out made staying in the mansion feel tedious.
‘I could go for a day trip. Just quietly, on my own. Visit famous places.’
I preferred traveling alone to traveling in groups, so I wanted a quiet solo trip to the capital.
‘I’m not some animal locked in a zoo. If I’m just going for a night, I should be allowed to visit the capital.’
Just getting permission would let me go and experience something new.
Feeling excited, the first thing I did was call one of the nearby maids.
“Where is the Duke?”
My mind was immediately filled with guesses about where he might be.
[Searching for the target.]
It felt like narrowing down where he could be in this house.
“He’s in the first-floor study, my lady.”
The target was in the study.
Stay put, Duke! When I come, you better let me catch you. You understand my feelings, right?
“What brings you here, my lady?”
He set down the quill he was holding and asked.
‘The glasses suit him well.’
Even the slightly crooked glasses frame looked perfect.
‘…No, that’s not important. Stay calm. Stay calm.’
I pushed those thoughts aside and answered him honestly.
“I came to speak with you.”
I was just asking for permission to go out, so why was my heart racing?
It felt like lying about studying while I had been playing.
“I’d like to go to the capital tomorrow. May I have your permission?”
My heart pounded harder than ever as I clenched and unclenched my fists.
‘I did it! I actually said it!’
It felt as if I had achieved in one year what would have taken ten.
“Alone?”
“Yes. I want to go quietly by myself. I’ll return by tomorrow evening, of course.”
I emphasized tomorrow evening without thinking.
‘What if he says no?’
Only the asker worries.
‘I’m afraid I’ll hear “no” instead of “yes.”’
“As long as you go carefully, I see no reason not to permit it.”
“I’ll be careful!”
I responded quickly, fearing he might change his mind.
“Then go ahead.”
I widened my eyes, almost doubting what I heard.
‘He said I can go. He really said it.’
Looking into his eyes, it seemed he really meant it.
“Thank you.”
“As long as you don’t return too late, it’s fine, my lady.”
I’m not a child; I can manage that.
“Don’t worry. I’ll go and come back safely, Duke.”
“If you say so, then very well.”
He was trusting me.
Time, which felt like it would pass slowly, flew, and on the day of the outing, I woke up earlier than usual.
The maids nearby joked that maybe the sun would rise from the west today.
Everyone treated me like they’d seen a ghost just because I, usually late, had woken up early.
‘So this is why appearances matter.’
They were probably worried something bad might happen if I acted out of character.
“There are clouds, but at least the weather’s good.”
I reached toward the sky tinged with sunset.
‘I’ve almost spent all my money… maybe I’ll take a short rest.’
Lowering my hand, I sat on a nearby bench.
I had received some allowance for the trip to the capital and could use it well.
‘I even sent a gift, so it’s fine if I spend the rest.’
Feeling like I was getting something special, I had bought a popular gift set in the capital, addressed it to the Duke, and it should arrive soon.
“Has time never passed this slowly before?”
Even after buying the gift and spending money well, it felt dull.
It had been more fun back in the mansion, where my actions sparked conversation.
‘They say leaving home is hard, yet here I am enjoying it all and still bored.’
It was my choice to go to the capital and spend money lavishly, yet now it all felt unbearably dull.
‘Huh?’
As if the boring scenery had changed, something cold touched the bridge of my nose.
A raindrop.
‘I didn’t hear rain was coming.’
No, better said, I thought it wouldn’t rain. There’s no weather forecast here.
“Let’s head back to the carriage.”
The drizzle grew heavier, almost too thick to call a sunshower.
People around hurried to shelter, and I too rushed to return to the carriage.
‘…Ah!’
Almost at the carriage, I slipped on the wet path.
‘I didn’t say you wouldn’t slip in the rain—just that you could avoid getting wet.’
‘No wonder I felt lucky today. Shouldn’t have expected it.’
My excitement quickly fell, like the raindrops around me.
Then…
‘…?’
I lifted my head, surprised to be shielded from the rain by an umbrella.
Then I saw the person holding it.
“How did you get here?”
“Just as you visited me before, this time I came to meet you.”
A week of proper sleep, visiting me, the day I received a gift?
“And I thought you might be getting wet, so I came.”
His calm voice made me forget the rain, and I heard nothing else around us.
It felt like only the two of us remained in the world.
“Can you stand on your own?”
“I can.”
Without hesitation, I nodded.
‘I just slipped, that’s all.’
Using the last of my strength, I ignored my trembling legs and stood. He draped his coat over my shoulders.
Until we reached the carriage, neither of us spoke.
‘Huh?’
He, who had chosen silence, pressed his forehead to mine without a word.
“You have no fever.”
“Who checks fever like that?”
I’d be startled constantly that way.
“Is there another way?”
“Usually not like the Duke. People do it this way.”
Seizing the chance, I placed Adrian’s hand on my forehead.
This is the normal method.
“I see.”
Even after I removed my hand, Adrian kept his on my forehead.
I could clearly see his face, his hand, everything nearby.
“Do you know how we look right now?”
“……”
“Three seconds before a kiss.”
Too close, Duke.
