CATBP~47

Chapter 47

“I heard Madam called for me.”

“Yes. I was told you were looking for me.”

Surely, she’s not trying to find something suspicious about me through the doctor now—after the mage and the priest, right?

What if it’s to check whether I keep poison in my mouth in case my identity gets exposed?!

…Okay, maybe that’s too far-fetched.

Anyway, what exactly are the Duke’s instructions this time?

I looked at Wendy, the attending physician, eagerly waiting for her to open her mouth.

“The Duke said Madam seems a bit weak lately and asked me to take very good care of you.”

Wendy’s eyes softened with the fond look of someone watching a deeply-in-love newlywed couple.

“He also purchased a large quantity of various medicinal herbs to help strengthen your vitality.”

Right—the butler had that same look earlier too.

“He mentioned that Madam had a nosebleed and wasn’t feeling well a few days ago, and he seemed quite worried.”

…That nephew-obsessed man is really doing everything to make people misunderstand.

I shook my head slightly.

I understood him, though. I couldn’t bear to see Fey sad if the Duke ever got sick either—that’s why I was still here.

But… do I really look that fragile?

As I tucked my unkempt hair behind my ear after coming back from outside—

<“You’re unwell just because of a nightmare? As expected, you’re delicate.”>

The low, husky voice that tickled my ear came back to me. The careful gesture that had brushed my hair aside as if it were something precious.

And the faint sensation that had hovered around my lips.

I froze mid-movement, my hand still at my hair.

My mind kept blanking out as Wendy examined me and explained about the herbs, but somehow, I managed to sit through it.

Now, standing before the Duke’s office, I bit my lower lip.

…That stupid thought just won’t leave my head.

Back then, I hadn’t thought much of it when the Duke brushed my hair aside.

I’d been so convinced that he disliked me that I didn’t dare attach meaning to his actions.

But now that everything aligns a certain way, even that almost-forgotten moment starts to feel different.

Don’t get ahead of yourself. If you don’t want to be disappointed again, keep your head straight.

To snap myself out of it, I slapped both my cheeks.

Three deep breaths, and then go in.

I took a deep breath—

And just then, the door opened, and his golden eyes locked onto me.

“Stop lingering and come in. How long are you going to loiter out there?”

…Ah. A divine beast indeed.

I ended up entering the office before I could even complete those three breaths.

When I sat on the sofa, something felt off. The sensation was… different—awkward and uncomfortable, almost like it was a brand-new sofa.

But it was the same sofa as always.

The tea Dion served tasted different too, and even the familiar scenery of the office seemed oddly unfamiliar.

Yet nothing had actually changed.

“When are you planning to tell me why you came to see me?”

“Ah! Right now.”

I flinched at his voice and quickly gathered my thoughts to explain my purpose here.

“I met with the physician. She said you bought a large amount of medicinal herbs for me.”

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

Or is it that you’re worried Fey might get sad?

“Just make sure you actually take them.”

“Yes.”

I know—it’s ridiculous. I told myself Wendy was just misunderstanding things, but the memory of how gently he brushed my hair that time keeps replaying, and my thoughts keep wandering somewhere they shouldn’t.

Am I just imagining things?

“Ah, but one of the herbs she mentioned is supposed to only work on people with weak constitutions.”

I carefully picked my words, afraid that any slip-up would reveal my excitement.

“But I’m not that frail, really.”

“You?”

“Yes, me. Wendy even said that kind of tonic wouldn’t work on my body.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s true. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Wendy yourself.”

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously, resting his chin on one hand.

“I’m sure it’s true. You’re not foolish enough to tell such an easy-to-expose lie.”

How weak does he think I am?

Is he that worried about me?

That thought crossed my mind, and I quickly pinched my thigh. No—he’s worried about Fey, not me.

“Anyway, there’s a child I know who’s very frail.”

Herbs typically last six months to a year if well-preserved.

I’d been wondering what to do with them when Michael’s daughter came to mind.

“I was thinking of donating those herbs to that child. But I thought I should get your permission first.”

“They’re yours. Do as you like.”

He agreed without hesitation.

“As long as you take what the doctor gives you.”

…This is driving me insane.

Every word out of his mouth makes my thoughts spiral in the weirdest directions.

If I stayed any longer, I was afraid something inside me would just break.

“Thank you for the permission. I’ll take the medicine just as Wendy tells me.”

I quickly stood, bowed, and escaped the office.

“Master Fey, it’s dangerous to run ahead like that.”

Fey’s new nanny, Annie, hurried after him, voice full of concern.

Given what had happened before, the process of hiring a new nanny had been very strict. The Duke himself had even attended the final interview.

That’s how Annie was hired.

Before marriage, she’d worked as a nanny for years.

After her own child grew up, she wanted to return to work—and thanks to a good recommendation from her previous employer, she applied to be Fey’s nanny.

“Hehe, I wanna see the evening primroses I planted with Auntie and Uncle!”

“Oh, right. It should be just about time for them to bud.”

“Yeah!”

Fey’s golden eyes sparkled with excitement, and Annie covered her mouth, smiling softly.

“Then hold my hand, Master Fey.”

“’Kay!”

Just as he reached out his hand, Fey suddenly stopped.

“Master Fey?”

What’s wrong?

Following the boy’s gaze, Annie looked up.

A small yellow bird was fluttering toward Helen’s room.

Fey, with his sharp eyesight, noticed something tied to its leg.

“…Whenever that chirpy bird comes, Auntie goes out alone.”

She would go somewhere without telling him where or who she was meeting.

Helen’s first secret from him.

Fey’s lips jutted out in a pout.

“Hmph.”

His golden eyes lingered on Helen’s door for a long moment, as if deep in thought.

I walked into a quiet café.

I hadn’t expected to meet Michael in a place like this.

He probably hadn’t expected it either.

I never thought Michael’s daughter would want to meet me.

In her letter, she had thanked me for the medicinal herbs and mentioned that her daughter wanted to meet me in person.

Michael’s daughter, Raphael, didn’t know that her father ran the guild.

So we decided to meet at a small, discreet dessert café frequented only by acquaintances.

“Helen, over here.”

At the sound of his voice, I turned to see a man with white hair and light-blue eyes waving at me.

Wait… that’s Michael? The voice matches, but—

My eyes widened in surprise.

Even in the novel, Michael’s appearance had never been described. Every time I’d met him before, he’d worn a cloak that hid his face.

I’d often wondered what he looked like beneath it.

A sharp jawline, gentle eyes, milky skin, and white hair that gleamed in the sunlight—

He really did look like his name, Michael—like an angel.

I couldn’t help but admire his looks as I walked closer, and then I noticed the little girl beside him, with the same white hair and bright pink eyes.

That must be Raphael.

“Hello, Raphael. I’m Helen. I heard you wanted to meet me—was that true?”

Raphael quickly stood up from her seat.

“Yes! I really wanted to thank you in person! I hope I’m not bothering you?”

“No, not at all. I’m happy you wanted to meet me.”

The child’s worried expression instantly brightened.

“Thank goodness! I was worried I might be bothering you—I’ve been nervous since last night!”

She giggled and placed a hand on her stomach.

“Thank you for giving my dad those herbs! They worked even better than the ones he got before! This is the first time I’ve gone so long without coughing!”

Looking at Raphael, full of life like a newly blossomed flower, I felt a deep sense of relief.

Unlike in “Silent Night”, where her future had been cut short because of adult greed, this time she would live—ten years, twenty years, or more.

Thank goodness.

Not only Raphael—other victims had managed to obtain the antidote herbs too.

In the original story, they’d spent years being scammed by a fake doctor until all their fortunes were gone. But this time, the truth had come out early.

Michael’s gaze lingered fondly on his daughter.

The way he looked at her, with pure love and pride, made his lips twitch slightly.

I know that feeling well.

We ordered some desserts and drinks that the child might like and waited for them to arrive.

Just then—

Ding.

The bell above the café door rang brightly as a new customer entered.