IPTD 29

“Your Highness!”
Standing in front of the cabin, waiting for Zenos, was none other than the head steward, Karl. Perhaps it was only natural.
In truth, Karl himself wasn’t entirely sure that Zenos would be here.
Half in doubt, he couldn’t help but brighten up when he saw Zenos step out of the gate.
Though he was a seasoned steward who rarely showed his emotions, he cared enough for his master to rejoice at such an unexpected change.

“Your Highness! Did… you sleep well?”
Zenos simply nodded, still looking dazed.
He had clearly slept very deeply.
One side of his hair stuck up, forming a small nest-like tuft.
Even this small detail thrilled Karl.

“I searched the entire ducal castle, and when I didn’t find you, I came all the way here.”
Suppressing the emotion on his face, Karl handed Zenos the cloak and shoes he had neatly prepared in both hands.
While Zenos put on his shoes, Karl discreetly helped straighten his appearance.
Thanks to the steward’s skilled hands, Zenos’ usually unruly dark hair fell smoothly into place.
Lost in his thoughts, Zenos adjusted his outfit roughly and moved with heavy steps.
Thanks to Karl’s quick thinking, none of the servants had witnessed the duke’s appearance—but…
It was likely that every servant was already busy with their duties.
Given the odd factions forming among the servants around Katarina and Rene, Zenos’ presence would soon stir up commotion in the castle once again.

“I’m truly relieved that you’re not injured. It’s my fault I couldn’t prevent your mania, even knowing how severe it had become.”
“How could an old man like you stop a Swordmaster?”
“Haha. True enough. But your aggression isn’t as extreme, is it? Unlike the late duke, which is fortunate indeed.”
Even in response to Zenos’ gruff words, Karl chuckled lightly.
His somewhat elated reaction was only natural.
After Zenos’ encounter with the dragon, Karl had been the most delighted by the improvement in his mania.
‘And when it flared up again, making all our efforts seem in vain, Karl was the one who suffered the most.’

Zenos finally spoke, breaking his silence.
He felt clearer-headed than ever before, a sign of how deeply he had slept.

“Did I take the medicine you gave me yesterday?”
“No, Your Highness… I only brought you the herbal tea that promotes sleep. That’s all. You don’t… remember?”
“I see. I don’t remember falling asleep… or even coming to this cabin.”

Karl’s expression slowly grew serious as he listened.
He had already witnessed several instances of his master suffering from false hope and despair.
Yet, he couldn’t just sit by in fear.
Zenos’ mania hadn’t responded to any medicine, incense, or treatment.
This illness had claimed Zenos’ father, the former duke.
His father had suffered even more severely than Zenos.
A normally gentle man would become violently insane the moment he fell asleep—hence the term ‘mania.’
This mania ultimately consumed the former duke, ending in a tragic death.
Zenos’ weak-willed mother succumbed to grief shortly afterward.
The young boy, having lost both parents in an instant, became the duke, unaware that the burden of the crown was crushing him.
Karl had always felt sorrow over this.
Zenos was not the type to share his burdens with others.
Instead, he delved endlessly inward, consuming himself.
Karl sometimes felt partly responsible for this.
Likely, Diana, the former duchess who was absent now, felt the same.
After what felt like an unending nightmare, they had finally found a glimmer of hope.

Snapping out of his brief reflection, Karl refocused.
Whatever it was, it was undeniably good news.

“Does the Duchess know something?”
“Well…”
Even as he spoke, Zenos sounded uncertain.
But he didn’t want to disappoint his clearly overjoyed steward.
After a brief pause, Zenos finally spoke his reluctant conclusion.

“…Perhaps the act of sleeping while holding someone is a treatment for mania. Well… I slept really well, damn it.”

He naturally recalled Rene, who had been sleeping soundly in his arms.
The small woman with smooth, soft skin.
Her slightly parted pink lips revealed tiny bunny-like front teeth.
Her silver hair, scattered in tousled waves from sleepiness, shimmered like a silver tide.
She clung warmly to Zenos, as if transmitting her heat.

“….”
Zenos deliberately lifted his head and looked at the sky.
The bright midday sun seemed to scold him.
‘Get a grip. This marriage is just a formality. I never expected much from the duchess role.’

But… the peace of that night was so precious.
“Haah…”
His heart kept leaning that way.

“Your Highness, should I prepare the bedroom?”
Karl noticed his master’s thoughts immediately.
Zenos was silent for a long moment before finally nodding.
The tips of the ears of the tall man who moved ahead were flushed.

Some time later…
“…When did I fall asleep?”
Without anyone waking me, my eyes opened naturally.
A gentle breeze blew, and warm sunlight bathed me.
Chirp chirp. The distant sound of birds seemed to reach me.
Wait a minute. Such a strange, peaceful morning… I’m 100% late!

“Gah!”
I sat up abruptly, then flopped back down as I remembered.
‘Ah, right. I possessed someone.’
Some instinct of a graduate student… or assistant… still lingered deep inside me.
The simple fact that being late here meant nothing suddenly made me so happy!
Hehe, I lay back down, scratching my belly.
Being a legally unemployed—well, not technically illegal—person is wonderful!

“Wow, that was legendary sleep.”
I didn’t remember when I fell asleep, but I definitely slept in.
The view outside the window showed the sun already high in the sky.
Sleeping in this late?
I had been a morning person who woke at dawn, despite a few sleepless nights.
But to sleep in this late… well, I was weak and had nothing important to do, so maybe it was fine.
‘That must’ve been a dream last night.’

I glanced at the empty seat next to me and turned over.
Of course, that couldn’t have been reality.
It had been such a vivid dream, though.
‘Eh, whatever. Nothing really happened.’

While lounging comfortably, a thought suddenly struck me.
“Oh! Today’s the day we plant vegetable seedlings with the kids, isn’t it?!”
Being late isn’t… okay!
Damn! I’m in the professor role now, and the superior is late!
As a former grad student, I knew all too well how harshly students internally berate even slightly late professors.
I immediately jumped up.
Even in pajamas, performance came first.
Hurrying out the main gate, I ran into Marie, hanging the laundry.
Surprisingly peaceful.

“Milady! Did you sleep well?”
Marie even looked unusually cheerful.
I frowned and said,
“I overslept, didn’t I? Sorry!”
“Oh, don’t worry. Hoho! It’s natural to sleep in on such a day… oh my!”
She laughed, covering her face as if embarrassed by her own behavior.

“Huh?”
Why did her smile give me a strange feeling?
Among the servant women, Marie was the only married one, occasionally making spicy married-woman jokes.
“You finally spent a night without being lonely, so you must have slept so well!”
Just like now!
A shiver ran down my spine.
“A night without being lonely…? Wh-what?! What do you mean by that?!”
“Hohoho. The rumors have already spread throughout the ducal castle. Don’t play innocent.”

“So… what kind of rumors?”