CATBP~62

Chapter 62

“Choo-ang!”

Faye grinned brightly, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile.

With Lucas…?

Awkwardly rubbing my earlobe, I took a small step back.

“The bed looks a little cramped for three people, doesn’t it? I’ll just go back to my room. You two can sleep together tonight.”

I waved my hand to say goodnight and started to retreat, but Faye opened her arms wide.

“You’re really gonna go? Not even a goodnight kiss?”

“No! That, I have to do!”

I hurriedly ran back to Faye and planted kisses on both of her cheeks—smooch, smooch. Faye gave me matching kissy sounds in return.

“Goodnight, Faye.”

I was about to actually leave this time when her tiny hand caught mine.

“Uncle, your goodnight kiss?”

…Faye.

A silent scream echoed inside my head. I turned my head toward Lucas, as if pleading for help.

You don’t want this either, right? Right?

“Well, what about me?”

…Why is he making it worse?

I didn’t even need a mirror to know my pupils were trembling.

I glared at him with eyes that said, Didn’t we agree not to do things like this today? But Lucas didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow.

Even in this ridiculous situation, my brain couldn’t stop assigning meaning to every tiny thing he did—it was driving me insane.

I pinched my side hard.

‘…This is just because Faye’s watching. In front of a child, it’s important to look like affectionate guardians!’

I turned toward the Duke.

Looking at his calm, unbothered face made me want to scream. I glared, lifted my chin, and—

Peck.

I quickly pulled back.

“There. Satisfied?”

“The other side.”

“…”

Did he eat something wrong?

Clenching my teeth, I kissed his other cheek the same way and turned my head sharply away.

Faye’s expression of fascination was hastily hidden.

…If it’s for my favorite little one, I can pretend I didn’t see anything.

“Now I should return the favor, shouldn’t I?”

The moment Lucas stood, it was like a lion rising from a rock—graceful yet intimidating.

In other words…

‘I want to run.’

I instinctively backed away before remembering Faye was right behind me. I forced myself to stay still.

‘Don’t you dare run from this. It’s nothing. Just endure it.’

You’re going to see this man for another two years and a few months!

He’s not a Duke—he’s a brick.

A brick. A brick. The brick is coming closer. The brick just touched my cheek.

‘…Huh. That actually works.’

I let out a breath of relief. As long as I didn’t think about the soft warmth of his lips, my heart wouldn’t explode.

“I’m really going now!”

Like someone escaping a lion’s jaws, I bolted into the hallway.

The joy of regained freedom lasted only a second. I heard two sets of footsteps following me.

“Why are you following me?”

“Didn’t you say the bed was too small for three of us to sleep together? Faye looked disappointed.”

“Uncle’s bed is super big!”

…Oh no.

Dread crept up my spine as Lucas’s lips curved elegantly.

“More than enough room for three.”

“Together’s the best!”

Faye bounced happily into my arms.

“Uh-huh, yeah…”

I didn’t mind sleeping with Faye—but still…

In the end, Faye pulled me along, and before I knew it, we were in Lucas’s bedroom.

The bed was indeed huge—plenty of space for three. Faye was in the middle, with me and the Duke on either side.

When she pouted that she wasn’t sleepy yet, I suggested a pillow fight. Teaming up with Faye, we attacked Lucas mercilessly until she finally tired out, clutching her pillow and drifting into soft, even breaths.

“She’s finally asleep,” I whispered.

I tucked the blanket snugly around her small body, then turned toward Lucas, who was sitting on the bed. There was something I’d wanted to ask the moment I saw him.

“Lucas, what happened to the coachman?”

“He’s in the dungeon. Kept babbling about divine punishment or some nonsense, but he confessed everything.”

Lucas frowned.

“Seems there’s someone behind it. Whoever it was, they must’ve approached him knowing about his financial trouble.”

I straightened up at that.

“Did you find out who’s behind it?”

After a moment of silence, Lucas shook his head.

“…Not yet.”

His half-lowered eyes darkened.

“He said the person kept their face covered and only communicated through letters. The papers were taken by the other party. Could be lies—we’re still interrogating him.”

I clenched the blanket in my hands. Who could it be…? The thought alone made anger simmer inside me.

Could it be the same person who told Faye about what the late Duke did to Lucas?

Speculation stacked upon speculation, questions piling endlessly.

Then—

A finger lightly tapped the tip of my nose.

I flinched and lifted my chin.

“The culprit will be caught. We’ll protect Faye. So don’t worry so much. You’ll get wrinkles.”

“…I’ll worry about my own wrinkles, thanks.”

Still rubbing my nose, I slipped my feet into the slippers under the bed.

“I’m going back to my room.”

“What if Faye wakes up in the middle of the night?”

I froze mid-motion.

After a moment’s hesitation, I lay back down. Lucas turned off the light and lay beside us.

I rolled onto my side, facing the wall, and peeked my eyes open slightly.

Taking a deep breath that puffed up my chest, I exhaled slowly.

‘This time… Faye’s here, after all.’

My fingers brushed the tip of my nose again before I closed my eyes.

The next morning, Lucas left early without even eating breakfast.

After finishing breakfast with Faye, I escorted her back to her room.

“Listen to Teacher Peridot today, okay? I’ll see you later.”

“Mm-hmm! See you later!”

“Annie, please look after her.”

“Of course, Madam.”

After waving goodbye to Faye, I stepped out into the hallway. The guards stationed by the door bowed politely.

Lucas had assigned two knights to Faye for protection, just in case.

A wise decision.

Even though Faye was a direct descendant of Igaluk, capable of divine beast transformation, she was still a child with poor judgment.

And the thought of her ever being forced to use that power to protect herself… was heartbreaking.

Back in my room, I called for Sally and quickly prepared to go out.

When I had returned earlier that morning to wash up, Michael’s carrier pigeon had been pecking at the window.

I replayed the message in my mind as Sally and I made our way to the carriage.

On the opposite side of the corridor, I saw Dion approaching.

I’d assumed he’d gone out with Lucas, but apparently not.

“Did you sleep well, Madam?”

“Yes. And you?”

“Thanks to your concern, quite well. But may I ask—where are you headed?”

“I have some business to take care of.”

“The Duke is away, and the young master may feel lonely alone. When do you think you’ll return?”

“I’m not sure. It might take some time. But Annie’s there, and Peridot will arrive soon, so Faye will be fine.”

Dion nodded, checked his wristwatch, and said,

“Then I shall take my leave to carry out the Duke’s orders. Please have a safe trip.”

“Thank you.”

I passed him and climbed into the carriage.

The carriage rolled swiftly down the streets of Ganashe. Near the outer wall, houses stood close together. Leaning back against the seat, I gripped the note I’d been fiddling with all morning.

“Madam, we’ve arrived.”

I stepped out and checked the address written on the note before knocking on the door.

“Who is it?”

The familiar voice made my hand clench into a fist. A moment later, the door opened, revealing a woman with a hooked nose.

Her wrinkled eyes widened, the brown within them trembling.

“It’s been a while, Belle.”

Belle looked almost the same as in my memory—perhaps a bit thinner.

“…What are you doing here?”

She seemed momentarily speechless, then composed herself.

“Please, come inside.”

While I sat on the sofa, Belle served tea.

“It won’t taste as fine as what you drink at the Duke’s manor, but it’s the best quality tea I could find in the market.”

She sat across from me, back straight as a rod.

“May I ask what brings you here?”

There was a time when I’d liked Belle simply because she had been the closest maid to my favorite character—the woman who had given birth to Faye. But after learning the truth I hadn’t known as a reader, facing her now felt uncomfortable.

But my feelings don’t matter right now.

When I finished explaining everything, Belle finally lifted her gaze from the teacup.

“I see. So you came to me to find out who told the young master about the Duke’s trauma.”

“Do you know who it was?”

“Yes. Of course I do.”

Deep lines creased her face as a faint, bitter smile spread across her lips.

“How could I ever forget that hateful person?”