CATBP~64

Chapter 64

Dion couldn’t understand.

How could someone keep what the woman’s double had given them?

‘As if it were something precious.’

The thought sent chills down his spine.

That woman had tormented Lucas during his life, leaving a trauma that would never disappear.

Dion refused to believe it was possible.

There was no time to waste. He had to act before the Duke returned.

“My aunt probably turned me into a tomato.”

“Why? Didn’t your uncle say before that he never once hated you? Did I hear it wrong?”

“Exactly.”

“See? You’re such a spoiled kid.”

He bit his lip, trembling as he looked at the dagger. He had to stab, but his body wouldn’t obey.

He thought the small body, not yet fully grown, could really be Lucas’s ‘happiness.’

The thought that it shouldn’t exist clashed violently with the possibility that it might.

<The previous Duke and Faye are different.>

A devilish whisper.

While Dion froze in indecision, the knights seized the opportunity and struck the dagger away.

Annie quickly threw it out of sight.

Dion stood up as if accepting reality, and Faye looked up at him.

“Is your head okay now?”

“…I think so.”

“That’s a relief!”

The smiling child’s eyes lit up when she saw Inyoung approaching behind Helen, and she ran toward him.

“Uncle! You’re back?”

“Yes.”

As Lucas stroked her hair, Faye remembered something and exclaimed, “Ah! Right!”

“This is yours, uncle!”

Lucas was handed a pair of a four-leaf clover and a three-leaf clover.

“Thank you.”

“I’ll definitely give it to my aunt next time!”

“I’ll look forward to it. Shall we go to the room now?”

“Yeah!”

Helen held Faye’s hand tightly. The rest, she thought, would be handled by Lucas. She glanced at the Duke, silently asking him to take care of things, and headed toward the mansion.

Lucas approached Dion, who was restrained by the knights, once their presence was gone.

Grego followed as support, but avoided eye contact when it met Dion’s gaze. Lucas’s eyes were cold, leaving no room for error.

“You left traces of the bank transactions untouched.”

Dion bitterly smiled.

“…You really kept everything Faye gave you?”

“Yes.”

“Are you happy with him around?”

“Of course.”

He had truly almost stolen the Duke’s happiness.

The guilty lowered his head.

Faye was informed that Dion had left. The servants were also warned, so everyone kept quiet in the mansion.

However, the whispers at the dormitories still reached Sally.

There was no stopping that, so she let it be.

Among the whispers, some commented on the Duke’s harsh punishments, considering them too strict. Even the servants who had cared for him since childhood weren’t spared.

Sally cautiously mentioned that even if stabbed, not a drop of blood would come out.

I looked at Lucas.

‘Really, it looks like not a drop of blood would come out?’

…Really?

He was thinner than before and kept pressing around his temples. Sometimes he even seemed dazed!

Someone must be watching him closely. Otherwise, such an assessment would be impossible.

“Why are you staring like that?”

“Well… nothing.”

He was really making me nervous. How could I not stare? I worried myself sick. Was he sleeping well?

I turned my head, keeping the thoughts unspoken.

If it wasn’t about Faye, I decided not to act like a married couple.

But even at night, my heart felt heavy, so sleep wouldn’t come.

I quietly stared in the direction of the Duke’s bedroom, eventually pulling at my hair.

‘I’m going to get insomnia like this!’

Ugh!

‘If I don’t sleep well, my condition will deteriorate. If my condition deteriorates, spending happy time with Faye will be uncomfortable, and achieving my goals will become harder.’

…Alright. Time to get up.

When I entered the adjoining bedroom, Lucas was leaning against the sofa, reviewing documents. Our eyes met.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“I was worried you weren’t asleep.”

“Was it that obvious?”

“I’m afraid Faye will notice if I keep acting like this.”

“That much, huh.”

Lucas gave a faint smile.

“I should be fine thinking about Faye… but it’s not working out.”

“People’s hearts don’t work that way. It can’t be helped.”

Besides, Dion was someone Lucas had entrusted his back to longer than anyone, including Grego.

“That’s true.”

A faint smile lingered at the corner of the Duke’s lips. I lightly patted the table in front of his tired face and stood.

“Shall we have a glass of wine?”

“You’re teaching me well.”

“It’s nice to do this sometimes. Don’t you think?”

“No. I like it. I’ll bring it. You stay seated.”

I had wanted to get it myself, but there was no reason to refuse, so I sat back down.

Soon, Lucas returned with wine and two glasses, accompanied by dried fruits.

The deep red wine filled the transparent glasses. We lightly clinked them together.

‘We can be wine companions to this extent.’

We drank in silence, occasionally exchanging a few words but never discussing Dion directly.

The night deepened, and we finished two bottles of wine.

“Hmm…”

My head felt floaty. I shouldn’t drink any more.

“I’ll go to bed now.”

As I stood, Lucas followed, his steps unsteady until he finally collapsed.

I gasped and caught him, falling onto the sofa. Fortunately, the Duke was holding my waist, so I wasn’t hurt badly.

Almost injured my back.

Cold sweat ran down my back.

‘He can’t handle alcohol, huh.’

Now that I think about it, I’d only ever seen him sip champagne lightly at the National Foundation Festival.

Unsure what to do, I gently tapped his shoulder.

“Let’s go to bed. You’re tired from drinking.”

His drowsy gaze met mine, and he clutched my waist tightly as if crushing it.

“Lu…cas?”

I panicked, checking his face. His eyelids were tightly shut.

“Are you really going to sleep like this?”

His eyelids didn’t move at all.

‘…Goodness.’

How am I supposed to get back to my bed?

I looked at him and tried calling again.

“Even in summer, you’ll catch a cold sleeping like this. Wake up, okay?”

“……”

“Lucas.”

“……”

“Lucas. How long are you going to regret this?”

Eventually, I gave up waking him and tried to push him away.

‘Wait. If I do that, he might fall to the floor.’

I finally relaxed my arms.

All I could do was sleep like this.

Every breath brought the sweet scent of wine from Lucas.

I vowed not to let him drink again.

I openly examined his face.

His sharp forehead, thick eyebrows, dense lashes. His flushed cheeks from drinking, pointed nose, and red lips.

Even in the dark, he looked perfect.

‘No wonder he looks like my favorite.’

I knew my favorite resembled Lucas.

‘That’s why I…’

No. Don’t think about it.

I freed one arm with effort.

After hesitating, I pressed my finger gently against his cheek.

‘He’s still not waking up.’

I boldly placed my hand on his forehead. Following the curve of his sharp nose, I slowly moved downward.

Gently tracing his rounded nose tip, I hesitated at his red lips.

Finally, I lightly touched them with my fingertip.

Feeling the softness and warmth, I quickly withdrew my hand.

Regret hit me like a tidal wave.

No point trying to taste something inedible!

I bit my lip hard.

‘…Let’s just sleep.’

Ignoring the heartbeat that felt like it would tear my eardrums, I closed my eyelids tightly.

Peridot approached her mother, who was elegantly enjoying tea in the garden.

“Mother.”

Madame Balze laughed heartily with the young lady of the Lawrence family, her natal family, before turning to Peridot.

“You’re here?”

The contrast with how she treated the indifferent young lady of the Lawrence family was stark.

Their relationship had soured since Peridot had accompanied Helen to the costume shop. Since then, Madame Balze increasingly invited the Lawrence young lady to the mansion.

“You said you called me, so why is Count Ansen here? And marriage? That wasn’t the agreement.”

Peridot clenched her skirt tightly, recalling how Count Ansen had suggested marriage despite having divorced three times before.

“You promised that if I became Faye’s tutor, I wouldn’t be forced into marriage.”

Her voice, full of anger, was still upright and calm.

Madame Balze, who had been forced in her youth, seemed to recognize a kindred spirit. She pursed her lips slightly.

“Girl… instead of properly tempting someone, you became the Duke’s wife’s handmaiden, and now you want to talk about promises?”

“Mother.”

“Count Ansen’s family is reputable and not bad at all. Isn’t that right, Hailey?”

When the Lawrence young lady politely agreed, Madame Balze’s eyes twitched with approval.

“Obediently marry. This is my final chance for you.”