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Chapter 17……………………………..
To think she had said “let’s live together” to Jerden, intoxicated by a moment of comfort.
That sounded almost like a marriage proposal.
Of course, even if she truly proposed to Jerden, there was no way he would accept—but she didn’t want things to become awkward between them because of it.
They had only just become friends.
“Could you bring more ice this time?”
She felt like her mind was still a little shaken from the shock of seeing Aria and Hasedian, so she needed to drink ice water to clear her head.
That way, she wouldn’t say anything strange to Jerden.
“Pardon?”
The maid tilted her eyes in confusion, unsure what was going on.
“And next time, instead of pouring that tea on my thigh, just pour it over my head.”
She needed to cool her head with cold water.
Lubelia spoke with complete sincerity.
“My lady…?”
Unable to understand her words, the maid looked flustered.
“I don’t think that would be a very good idea.”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t want to see you soaked in tea.”
Jerden spoke in a casual tone.
Because she was such an odd person, he didn’t particularly question what she had said to the maid. But separately, just imagining the maid pouring tea over Lubelia’s head made him feel rather unpleasant.
No matter that it was Lubelia’s request, the maid would never dare do such a thing.
“Then… of course I should listen to Jerden.”
Lubelia quickly changed her mind and waved her hand, telling the maid to ignore what she had just said.
“And you.”
Jerden called out to the maid, who was about to leave the room to bring fresh tea. She was already extremely tense because of his presence, and she looked like she might faint at any moment as she trembled.
“Be more careful from now on.”
With that, Jerden turned his gaze away.
Lubelia had let the maid’s mistake slide generously, but he felt a need to warn her.
The maid nodded desperately, her expression pleading that she would never make such a mistake again, and hurried out of the room.
Watching her leave, Lubelia cautiously glanced at Jerden’s expression.
“Um, also, Jerden…”
At her words, Jerden looked at her quietly.
“What I said earlier… just pretend you didn’t hear it.”
“I’m afraid I already heard it.”
Jerden replied with a light shrug.
“That was a mistake, a mistake!”
“So you make marriage proposals by mistake?”
“Eek!”
Lubelia was thrown into panic at his words.
She had already worried that he might misunderstand it as a proposal—and now it seemed he really had taken it that way.
What do I do?
If she denied it, he might feel offended. But if she said it really was a proposal, that would also make him uncomfortable.
“I just want to be friends! Friends!”
“…Is that so?”
Jerden replied, his tone carrying a faint hint of displeasure.
“Of course! I want to be very close friends with Jerden. I’m confident—friends!”
So please believe it was absolutely not a proposal.
Lubelia looked at him pleadingly.
Jerden met her gaze in silence.
Earlier, he had been momentarily flustered when she suggested living together at the marquis’s estate. But her eyes had been so innocent that he quickly dismissed the thought of it being a proposal.
And yet, now that she was so firmly denying it, insisting it was definitely not a proposal, he felt strangely unpleasant.
“…Do you dislike it that much?”
Jerden, frowning as he tried to understand his own feelings, asked abruptly.
“Huh? Dislike what?”
“Marrying me.”
“Oh, no, Jerden and I are friends. Just friends.”
As if to reassure him, Lubelia smiled awkwardly.
She meant to show she had no interest in anything like that.
But Jerden’s expression darkened further. He disliked how she kept emphasizing “just friends” as if drawing a line.
“…She would be fine.”
It was a thought he had never had before.
For the first time, Jerden felt that the only person he had ever taken an interest in seemed to be keeping her distance.
“W-wait… Jerden, are you upset?”
Lubelia panicked.
Because I misunderstood it as a proposal?
He thinks I’m just like other women after all?
That thought made her flustered.
“Why would you think that?”
Jerden asked indifferently, hiding his feelings.
“Well, um… I was wrong. The truth is, I like Jerden a lot, and I said that because I wanted us to always be together.”
“You like me?”
“Of course. We’re friends.”
Lubelia nodded brightly, smiling as if to say, so please don’t worry.
At that, Jerden suppressed the emotions rising within him.
Whether she knew it or not, what she had just said was essentially no different from a proposal.
Even if that wasn’t her intention.
“…Keep liking me.”
Jerden said, turning his head slightly to look out the window.
Though he felt a bit disappointed, just hearing that she liked him made his sour mood ease.
“Yes. I never abandon people first.”
Lubelia said confidently.
“I believe you.”
Because he felt he could trust her.
Especially since she had been injured trying to save him today—how could he not trust her?
“I trust Jerden too.”
Lubelia met his gaze firmly.
“Make sure your injury doesn’t get wet for a while, and keep applying ointment regularly.”
Trying to shift the atmosphere, Jerden changed the subject, as a warm, itchy feeling welled up inside him.
“Okay. But you mustn’t get hurt either.”
“That’s…”
“No. You must promise me.”
If possible, not only should he avoid injury—he shouldn’t die either.
“Very well.”
At Lubelia’s firm insistence, Jerden nodded slightly.
“You’re so good.”
Satisfied with his answer, Lubelia unconsciously reached out and patted his head.
Only after doing it did she stiffen, realizing what she had done. Jerden also froze slightly.
“I, I wasn’t trying to pat you or anything. There was just something on your head…”
Lubelia hastily tried to explain.
“It’s fine.”
Jerden had been surprised, but it didn’t feel bad.
No—perhaps it even felt a little good.
“Then that’s a relief.”
Lubelia smiled in relief.
Jerden said nothing and quietly looked at her face.
Perhaps because she had just patted his head, her small, round head stood out to him. It looked like it would feel nice to touch.
What a pointless thought.
Jerden inwardly scoffed at himself.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“Yes, please be careful—very careful on your way.”
“I’m not so weak that you need to worry this much.”
Glancing at her, Jerden said calmly.
“Why do you think only weak people deserve concern? Worry depends on how precious someone is, not strength.”
Lubelia shook her head slightly and said proudly.
“…Is that so.”
Jerden murmured, then quietly studied her as if measuring how much she truly worried about him.
“Jerden?”
Seeing him staring at her, Lubelia tilted her head.
“Nothing.”
Jerden stood up and began walking out.
Outside, the marquis was waiting for them.
“So you’re finally leaving?”
The marquis asked with an unusually bright expression.
“That sounds like a face hoping I’d leave quickly.”
“How could you say such a thing, Your Excellency?”
The marquis denied it firmly—but Jerden didn’t look convinced.
“It’s not ‘please leave soon.’ It’s more like ‘please don’t come back.’”
“What?”
Jerden looked annoyed.
He had thought only Lubelia was so honest—but apparently the marquis was no different.
“Very well. Your wish will remain just a wish.”
“…What does that mean?”
Without answering, Jerden left the estate.
Only Lubelia, unaware of the tension, cheerfully waved goodbye.
After parting with Jerden, Lubelia lay in bed, lost in thought.
She had hoped that learning the reason behind Jerden’s rebellion might help prevent it—but it had only made things more complicated.
If assassins continued targeting Jerden, even if she somehow stopped his rebellion, there was no telling what would happen to him afterward.
If the worst happened and he was seriously endangered…
She had managed to save him so far thanks to the special ability given to her by the god—but she couldn’t rely on that forever.
At any rate, she needed to stop the assassination attempts on Jerden—but that was easier said than done.
“The crown prince already dislikes me…”
She couldn’t just go and tell him not to kill Jerden.
And she wasn’t even sure whether the mastermind was the crown prince or a noble faction under him.
Everything was tangled and complicated.
