DHDF 20

chapter 20

The smile was clearly pure—so why did it feel possessive? It puzzled me, though I decided there was no need to dig too deeply into it.

“People this age tend to get attached easily anyway.”

It was simpler to think he just enjoyed sharing the cherry pie with me.
Or maybe I was just overreacting.

Either way, it didn’t matter to me, so I nodded lightly.

“Sure. Sounds good.”

We finished the rest of the cherry pie together.
Sweetness really did help lift my mood.

“I think Berge must be worried about something.”

Litema brushed the crumbs from the corner of my mouth as he said it.
He looked like he genuinely wanted to help, but I didn’t know what to tell him.

“What would I even say? That your brother looks like he’s planning to kill me quietly in my sleep?”

He’d think I’d lost my mind.

Knowing Litema, he’d probably even ask what exactly I meant by “get rid of.”
And really—what could he possibly do about it?

“Don’t want to tell me?”

“It’s not that.”

I hesitated for a moment, then sighed and gave him a condition.

“But you have to keep it secret. Just between us.”

“Got it.”

“…His Grace assigned Aethe as my etiquette tutor.”

It felt oddly like I was badmouthing a family member behind his back.

“But… he’s kind of hard to deal with. It’s been difficult to attend the lessons.”

Litema laughed brightly, a dimple appearing on one cheek.

“I know what you mean. I get it—my brother’s standards are ridiculously high.”

So he was strict with others too. That surprised me.
He didn’t seem that way at first glance, but appearances could deceive.

“Still, he always compliments me.”

“I see.”

“Guess that doesn’t help you much though, huh?”

Of course not.

Words like “difficult” and “tiring” were polite, carefully polished ways to avoid sounding bitter.

“What does his promise of a ‘reward’ have to do with me anyway?”

I didn’t answer, and Litema gazed absently at the ceiling before suddenly flopping onto his back.

“Hmm, that’s tricky. Did you ask Father to change your tutor?”

“I don’t think he plans to.”

He let out a groan.

He probably felt obligated to offer a solution since I’d confided in him.

I hadn’t said it expecting an answer anyway.

I lay down beside him, staring up at the ceiling as well.

Just when I was about to drift off to sleep, Litema spoke again.

“I’ve got a good idea.”

“…What is it?”

“I’ll come visit you. Not too often—if I show up all the time, I’ll get kicked out.”

He turned toward me.

“That might make things easier, don’t you think?”

This time, it was my turn to smile.

He was right. If Litema was there, I probably wouldn’t faint from nerves again.

The presence of a friend really was powerful. Just knowing someone would stay by your side made you feel braver.

“How often will you come?”

“When are your lessons?”

“They were on Wednesdays and Fridays, but they might increase soon.”

“I can promise once a week. I think my brother will allow that much.”

Maybe Litema was my insurance policy.
A reason they couldn’t simply throw me out.
He wasn’t exactly a shield, but at least he’d give me some leverage.

Even when I said I was just tired, Litema ended up sleeping next to me again that night.

✦ ✦ ✦

“I hope the tea suits your taste.”

My stomach churned violently, like I was seasick.
The cause sat right in front of me—Aethe, smiling pleasantly.

“My tastes aren’t refined enough to judge tea properly.”

The words spilled out before I could filter them.

I quickly added, “But it’s nice. Thank you for preparing it. I’ll be sure to drink it often.”

Aethe had come by to share some of the tea leaves he’d been gifted.

“It’s good for your health too—it should help.”

Even if someone was oblivious, his meaning was hard to miss.
He was referring to the time I fainted.

Maybe it was because I was still on guard, but I couldn’t quite accept his concern as genuine.

“So it has that kind of benefit too?”

“Would you like more milk?”

“Ah, yes, please.”

The tea turned a little cloudy from the milk—but at least it had flavor now.

As I took a slow sip, I glanced at Aethe.
Even though we sat at the same table, sharing the same teapot, he still felt… distant.

Not in an elegant way—more in a strange way.

“Is that why I feel so uncomfortable around him?”

I pretended to drink as I glanced quickly around the room—but there was no sign of Litema’s red hair.

“I heard something,” Aethe said suddenly.

Our eyes met.

“That I make you uncomfortable.”

My jaw snapped shut as I bit my tongue hard.

I stared blankly at him.

So—had the Duke told him what I said? Or was it Litema?

Aethe sipped his tea leisurely, waiting for my shock to settle in.

For a fleeting moment, I almost wished I’d faint again—but my mind only grew sharper.

“So, you asked to have me replaced.”

“…I didn’t mean to offend you, Sir Aethe.”

Not that I had any idea how to escape this situation.

Aethe chuckled softly at my weak reply.

“Oh dear. Seems I made you misunderstand. I wasn’t offended.”

No—he definitely was.
That flash on his face had been unmistakable irritation.
He hadn’t even tried to hide it.

“It just made me curious. It’s rare for anyone to feel comfortable around me, but it’s also the first time someone’s actually rejected me outright.”

And though it faded quickly, there’d been a flicker of contempt too…

He reached out and brushed my cheek lightly with his fingers before pulling back.

“Let’s not have you faint again.”

My face must’ve gone pale; he sounded almost amused.

“I haven’t even done anything, yet if people think I’ve been cruel to you, it’s a little unfair, don’t you think?”

“…”

“Or is it true? Have I been hurting you without realizing it?”

Aethe’s tone was light—almost teasing. But the contradiction was real.

I wanted to scream, You already know the answer! and storm out of the room.

If only the Duke had granted my request to change tutors, maybe I could have.

“I’m not going to faint.”

That curt reply was all I could manage.

“Then I can ask—what exactly about me do you dislike?”

There was determination in his voice; he clearly wasn’t letting this go.
Why did I keep facing these trials…?

Unlike with the Duke or Litema, there was no way to laugh this one off.
He wasn’t just asking why I was uncomfortable—he wanted to know why I wanted to replace him.

“Being honest will make things easier for both of us,” he said lightly. “Having two younger siblings trains you to spot lies easily.”

I stared down into my teacup.

But how could I possibly tell him that I thought he might kill me someday?
That might actually become true.

“Don’t think about running. You can’t leave this mansion anyway.”

I instinctively started to shift one foot outward—but then pulled it back.

“No one’s going to interrupt us either.”

I stopped glancing around.

When I stayed silent, Aethe tapped the table with his fingers, then finally spoke again.

“I’m simply trying to get along with my fiancée.”

Fiancée. The word alone made my whole body flush with embarrassment.

I traced the handle of my teacup, watching his expression carefully.

He was suddenly engaged to a young, poor, nobody of a girl who had just fallen into his life—
But he didn’t look resentful about it.

“If it were me, I’d probably hate it.”

Was he really that unaffected? Or just pretending?

Still, I didn’t care enough to pry further.

“My father entrusted you to me,” he continued. “I intend to fulfill that duty properly.”

“R-right…”

“So tell me. If you explain what makes you uncomfortable, I can adjust.”

I hesitated—then slammed my forehead against the table.

Thud!

“Because,” I muttered into the wood, “I don’t trust you.”