🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 12
“Oh? A four-leaf clover? Did you find it yourself?”
“No, Herwin gave it to me.”
“Really?”
A brief silence passed before Lucas spoke again.
“…But why did you suddenly say you liked Herwin? You never said anything like that before.”
Lucas felt uneasy about his sister liking someone. Still, since the boy in question was someone he knew well, it didn’t make him angry. More than anything, he was curious about his sister’s sudden change of heart.
“…Herwin saved me.”
“You mean when he rescued you from that dog?”
Lucia nodded. Her cheeks flushed red. The sight of her looking so genuinely smitten with Herwin shocked Lucas.
“Huh… well, this is…”
Lucia, however, paid no attention to her brother’s odd reaction and instead stared at the music box Henry was playing with.
When she looked at the four-leaf clover, Herwin’s figure appeared vividly in her mind, the way he had shown up like a hero.
‘Stay away from Lucia!’
The broad back that had shielded her, his face tense with resolve, and those burning red eyes filled with determination—
Now, just hearing Herwin’s name made her heart race wildly and her face grow hot.
Twisting in her seat with nervous energy, Lucia lifted her head. Herwin’s door was still firmly shut.
“I hope he’s not too sick…”
She couldn’t stop thinking about Herwin’s pale face after hearing her confession the previous day.
At first, she had been heartbroken at being rejected, to the point of tears. But more than the rejection itself, what stuck in her mind was his terrified expression.
Lucia wished with all her heart that he wasn’t suffering, and so she stayed where she was. Even after Lucas and Henry eventually left, she remained steadfast at her spot.
“…So that’s what happened.”
Inside Herwin’s restricted-access room.
Only the doctor, the duke and duchess, and Herwin were present.
After much coaxing, they finally got Herwin to talk about the trauma he had been carrying.
Even as he spoke, Herwin worried he might be scolded for it.
The reason he had kept his suffering hidden was that his tormentors had been the children of the family retainers.
Whether he liked it or not, he had no choice but to keep facing them. One day, he would inherit the dukedom, and those same children would follow their parents as Fenous retainers. He couldn’t risk worsening their relationship.
And now, they no longer behaved as they used to—if anything, they seemed intimidated by him.
Still, the memories that resurfaced at random tormented him unbearably.
But he had always pretended to be fine when facing them.
At most, his prickly attitude had slipped out—a defense mechanism born of instinct.
He thought as long as he endured it, the problem would be solved.
Herwin never thought anyone would understand.
If people—his parents included—found out he was suffering from “something so trivial,” they would accuse him of being unfit to lead the Fenous family in the future.
As the heir, he couldn’t afford to be weak. Hail and Scarlet had repeated that lesson countless times.
Bracing himself for harsh words, Herwin squeezed his eyes shut, his fragile shoulders trembling.
“You’ve suffered so much, all alone.”
Suddenly, he felt warmth. Opening his eyes, he saw black hair swaying right in front of him.
It was Hail, usually a stern father, pulling him into an embrace. Herwin was stunned. Then, a second weight pressed against him.
“I’m sorry your mother and I realized too late. You must have been in so much pain.”
It was Scarlet. Before he knew it, Herwin was caught between his parents.
A firm hand stroked his hair, another gently patted his back. With just that, Herwin felt comfort beyond words.
His face twisted, and tears began to stream down.
“Mom… Dad…”
Fat tears fell like raindrops. Hail and Scarlet’s hearts broke, realizing just how much their son had endured.
They held him tightly until his sobs quieted.
After calming down a little, Herwin agreed to the doctor’s proposal.
“This is a trauma that’s lasted a long time. It won’t disappear overnight. Through counseling with me, you’ll gradually overcome it.”
“…Okay.”
“How are you feeling physically? Any palpitations or nausea, like yesterday?”
“No, I feel fine now.”
“That’s good. Then… would you be all right meeting the Agnes children?”
“Uh…”
Herwin looked uneasy. He pictured Lucas and Lucia.
Lucas would be fine. But when he thought of Lucia, his heart thudded again.
Yet it was hard to simply say it was unpleasant.
It felt good, and yet strangely uncomfortable—something he couldn’t describe.
“I don’t know…”
“Does it feel as uncomfortable as yesterday?”
Herwin shook his head.
“Then, would it be all right to meet them?”
After some hesitation, he nodded faintly.
“Very well. For today, get plenty of rest. If you feel sudden anxiety, call for me.”
“…Okay.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
The doctor rose. Hail followed him into the corridor.
“Will he be all right?”
“Yes. The young master is strong. With steady counseling, he will overcome this soon.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“However, for now, it would be best if he avoids contact with the children he had conflict with.”
“I’ll handle that.”
“There is… one other issue.”
“What is it?”
“As expected, it seems the young master fainted because of Lady Agnes’s confession.”
At the mention of Lucia, Hail’s brow twitched.
“Thankfully, he doesn’t seem to resent her, but to prevent this from happening again, it may be best to keep a careful eye.”
“…I see.”
“Why me?”
A clear, childlike voice cut into their conversation.
Looking down, they saw Lucia standing there, eyes wide.
“Is Herwin very sick?”
“When did you get here?”
Startled, the doctor stepped back, but Hail quickly regained his composure and asked.
“Just now. I went to the bathroom.”
Lucia innocently pointed in the direction she’d come from.
“Is Herwin very sick? Is that why he can’t see me?”
She clutched the music box tightly to her chest, her big blue eyes brimming with worry far too heavy for her age.
Hail looked down at her for a moment, then crouched to meet her gaze.
“Are you worried about Herwin?”
“Yes. His face didn’t look good yesterday… Was it because of me?”
Lucia’s eyes drooped. Deep down, she sensed this had happened because of her.
“No, it’s not that. Don’t worry. He’ll be healthy again tomorrow.”
“Really? That’s a relief…”
Her face brightened. Her emotions were written so plainly across her face that Hail couldn’t help but pat her small head.
“Lucia, can you make a promise with me?”
“A promise?”
“Yes. Yesterday, you confessed to Herwin in front of everyone, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like you not to do that again.”
“Why? Does Herwin hate me?”
Her face crumpled as though she might cry. Flustered, Hail quickly added:
“No, it’s not that. It’s just… how should I explain…”
“The young master dislikes being the center of attention,” the doctor explained on Hail’s behalf.
“Yesterday, many people saw you confessing. But the young master strongly dislikes being watched by a crowd. So even if you like him, please don’t show it so openly.”
“So… it’s not that Herwin hates me?”
“Of course not. Why would he hate you? You’re a precious friend.”
“Hmm… Then it’s okay if I confess when no one else is around, right?”
“…Huh?”
“Okay, from now on I’ll only do it where no one can see. Promise.”
Lucia hooked her pinky around Hail’s dangling finger, sealing the deal.
“Then, I’ll come again tomorrow. Please tell Herwin I said hello.”
She bowed politely, then skipped away.
“…That’s not what I meant,” Hail muttered, but the only person who needed to hear him was already gone.
“Brother! I missed you!”
The children who had been playing in the nursery cheered when Herwin finally appeared.
Henry was the first to throw himself into Herwin’s arms. Though startled, Herwin soon held his little brother easily.
“Did you have fun without me yesterday?”
“No! It was super boring without you!”
“What do you mean? We had fun with that puzzle yesterday.”
Lucas teased, earning a glare from Henry.
“How’s your health? Feeling better?”
“Yeah, I’m fine now.”
Herwin, acting like his usual self, froze when he noticed Lucia behind Lucas.
He was visibly shaken—enough that Henry noticed.
Lucia also faltered at his odd behavior, but then stepped forward.
“You’re okay now? Nothing hurts anymore?”
“Huh? Oh… y-yeah…”
Herwin avoided her eyes awkwardly.
While Lucas and Henry exchanged puzzled looks, Lucia suddenly grabbed Herwin’s hand.
“Come on! Let’s play something fun!”
“Wait, hold on—!”
Dragged away by Lucia, Herwin disappeared around the corner, leaving Lucas and Henry staring blankly after them.
“What’s up with those two?”
“Brother’s acting weird today.”
In the distance, they could see Lucia shoving her toys into Herwin’s hands.
Sharing a look, Lucas and Henry eventually went to join them.
It was slightly different from before, but otherwise, just another ordinary day.
“So this one is…”
Lucia chatted away beside Herwin, telling him amusing little stories.
Herwin listened quietly, then glanced at her profile.
Seeing her reminded him of the day he fainted. He was still confused, still on edge, afraid she might confess again.
Yet strangely, she acted as though nothing had happened—just like before.
And yet… something felt different.
“And then, if you do this…”
Lucia’s chatter suddenly stopped.
She turned her head, distracted by someone walking past.
Only after the person was gone did she resume her story.
That was the biggest change.
Whenever someone was nearby, Lucia clammed up or quietly put distance between them.
At first, Herwin had been anxious that people might see him with her. But since she herself seemed more cautious, his anxiety gradually faded.
Five days later, Herwin had regained his composure.
“…Herwin, are you listening to me?”
“Hm?”
“You weren’t, right?”
Lucia pouted, lips jutting out.
“…Why are you staring at me like that?”
When Herwin just looked at her silently, she turned away, flustered.
“It’s like you don’t like me anymore.”
Herwin chuckled softly in relief.
“Good. So that means what you said back then was just a lie…”
He couldn’t finish the sentence—because Lucia’s face had flushed bright red.
