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~Chapter 55~
My gaze was suddenly pulled upward.
In Armin’s bright red eyes, I saw myself—wearing a foolish, unsure expression I disliked. I lowered my head, but Armin let go of my hand and slowly stood up.
“Shall I bring tea? Yes… it would be a bit stingy to not serve anything to a guest who came to see me.”
Feeling that eating or drinking something might ease the awkwardness, I barely nodded.
Only later did I realize—
I shouldn’t have drunk that tea.
Already tense, the warmth of the drink made my body relax, and I drifted off to sleep.
“You must be tired. Sleep for a while.”
Unable to resist the pull of drowsiness, I closed my eyes without thinking.
“Ah, I’m so sorry!”
When I opened them, it was already very late.
It was embarrassing—something you could simply sum up with the word “inconsiderate.”
“Um… are you Lady Rohilton?”
“Yes? That’s right…”
“Ah, I should introduce myself. I’m Halter. Halter Abris.”
“Oh, you’re one of the Grand Duke’s retainers.”
“‘Retainer’? No, no, it’s not that grand! Just call me like you would anyone else—wait, no! That’s not important right now.”
Why were the retainers here to see me?
“Aren’t you going to the office today?”
“…What?”
Instead of mocking my pitiful behavior yesterday—
“Please, I beg you! Could you stay with the master for just one more day?”
“No, better yet—a whole week!”
“Um…?”
“Move aside. A week isn’t enough. Why not make her a seat in the office permanently? We’ll convince the master.”
“That’s an excellent idea. Let’s do that right away.”
Why were they kneeling and begging like this?
“I’d like to hear the full story before deciding.”
It took about an hour to understand their plea.
“So… normally, His Highness often loses his temper?”
“That’s correct.”
“And yesterday, he held it in because I was asleep beside him?”
“Yes!”
Every time I said something, all the retainers nodded together.
It was a little scary, but also pitiful.
I could understand—they had to constantly read their superior’s mood, so it made sense they’d cling to anything that might keep him calm.
However—
“I’m sorry to crush your hopes, but if I’m not asleep, won’t His Highness act the same as usual?”
The idea that Armin would change because of me didn’t make sense.
Then a man named Gellion suddenly bowed low and shouted:
“Absolutely not!”
I flinched in surprise, and another retainer stepped forward.
“The master thinks very highly of you, madam.”
“….”
“Even if our lord is stern and doesn’t show much emotion—his heart is warm! Truly, he’s just a shy man in love!”
His passionate voice was almost moving—if I weren’t involved, I might have nodded in agreement.
“I don’t know where this misunderstanding started, but there’s nothing between His Highness and me. I’m only staying here because he invited me.”
“But…”
“And shy? I can’t agree with that at all. Haven’t you known him much longer than I have?”
“….”
They suddenly fell silent, which made the atmosphere even more uncomfortable.
“I’m tired from hearing strange things so early in the morning. If you have nothing else to say, please leave.”
Then I realized—
Their eyes weren’t on me, but on something behind me.
When I turned my head without thinking, I was startled to see someone I hadn’t expected.
“Your Highness?”
“Did they tire you out, Bella?”
“Uh… when did you get here?”
“Not long ago.”
Armin strode up to me and pressed his hand to my forehead. His touch was brief, followed by a tsking sound.
“Didn’t I tell you not to overexert yourself in the morning? You have a fever.”
He glared at the retainers as if blaming them.
One of them moved their lips to protest—but that was a mistake. Armin’s brows shot up.
“You’re being ridiculous. Your documents were rejected because they had faults, not because of Bella.”
“….”
“And yet you harass someone who’s unwell to get what you want easily? Did I seem that soft last night?”
“That’s not—”
“Do you want to run laps at the training ground?”
“No, sir!”
“Good. Just 10 laps, then.”
“We’re sorry, my lord! We won’t bother the young lady again—”
“Make it 20.”
Armin showed no mercy.
The retainers realized staying would only increase their punishment, so they hurried out to run.
When it was just Armin and me—
“With all respect, Your Highness, I don’t actually have a fever.”
“I know. But saying that will keep those fools from bothering you again.”
They’d also run their laps obediently. He muttered quietly.
“….”
So he had used my fake illness to his advantage.
Since I’d been the one to try to send them away first, I couldn’t complain.
“Today, they’ll be running outside, so a walk might be hard… how about visiting the library instead?”
A few days ago, the butler had shown me inside. It was huge and spacious, filled with books in every field—like a small public library.
It was a fully enclosed space, unlike the garden, with no flowers—only antique furniture and old books.
Looking at the neatly arranged volumes made me think the years spent in this mansion were just as neatly stored.
It offered a different kind of satisfaction from the garden.
So—
“Alright.”
I gladly agreed.
Lately, a new rumor was spreading among the retainers:
[If the Grand Duke looks like he’s going to get angry, stand near Bella!]
Though Armin ground his teeth whenever they tried it, the fact remained—if Bella was there, he lowered his voice and calmed down.
This kept happening, and Bella’s position in the mansion grew stronger. Those who’d been spared by this method spread the word:
“It’s obvious—Lady Bella has the Grand Duke completely under control!”
“Damn it…”
Viola bit her nails.
If she hadn’t pushed Bella to go to the office, none of this would have happened.
‘I didn’t become a maid for this!’
Catherine and Marina seemed proud just to work here, but Viola was different.
She had never needed to work as a maid—in her own home, she had people like Catherine serving her. She was a noblewoman.
‘I started from a different place than you. Do you think I’d be satisfied with a maid’s wages?’
A year ago, at the Emperor’s birthday celebration, she had seen the Grand Duke.
[Lady Maole, is it?]
His indifferent gaze—
[I refuse to dance. I’ll be leaving soon for a campaign.]
His uninterested voice—
[Uh… excuse me…?]
And his unhesitating steps away.
Those things had scraped her pride raw, but she couldn’t stop watching him.
He was unpleasant—but desirable. That was the Grand Duke.
Even as a maid, when he never looked at her, she endured it—because he was indifferent to everyone.
But now—
‘Why…!’
Why did he look at her like that? What was so special about that woman?
‘She’s not better than me at anything!’
The more she thought, the less she could accept it.
‘He’s definitely obsessed with her.’
Whether Bella had seduced him or his tastes were strange, one thing was clear—he loved her.
In that case, Viola decided she needed to strip away the illusion.
And she already had a plan.
‘Let’s see if he still loves her after she’s accused of being a spy.’
