FGFM 25

Chapter 25

It was the time when the sunset had nearly faded, and the sky had grown dim.

Colin, having dined with Fleur at the Valen Mansion, was leaving the estate under Dylan’s guidance.

“…….”
“…….”

Silence hung between them; neither felt like starting a conversation.

They walked forward, not paying much attention to each other.

“Was it the Barchel Count family?”

Colin spoke casually.

Yet it was enough to make Dylan stop in his tracks. Meanwhile, Colin leisurely passed and stood in front of Dylan.

“I never imagined your family would fall, and you’d end up working as an aide. And from a baronial family, no less.”

“…Since when did you know?”

“I didn’t know at first, but after the second time, I began to suspect. The way you protected Miss Fleur and spoke indirectly was typical of noble speech, so I did some research.”

Colin lifted his chin slightly to meet the taller Dylan’s gaze head-on.

“The family name immediately brought someone to mind.”

“…….”
“My father, who came to borrow money from me.”

Mention of his father caused Dylan’s hands to clench into fists automatically.

“The bright blond hair and blue eyes are identical.”

“…….”
“He adapted well to a commoner’s life and earned the master’s trust generously.”

When Fleur’s name came up, Dylan’s eyes sharpened with intensity.

Colin didn’t shy away, matching his gaze with narrowed eyes.

“No need to look at me that way. I won’t blab to anyone else.”

“You should be careful.”

“But someone like me can always recognize you. Your father committed such a big crime, after all.”

“The Barchel family has already fallen, so I have no honor left to lose. As long as nothing happens to Miss Fleur, that’s all that matters.”

“Wouldn’t you like to work under me?”

Dylan furrowed his brow.

“I can offer you a deputy aide position… not the main aide, though…”

“No.”

Before Colin could finish, Dylan rejected the offer.

“It’s unpleasant for someone to make such an offer to me, Miss Fleur’s aide. Moreover, if the person I partner with said such a thing, my mistress would be greatly disappointed.”

“She already knows.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I warned her in advance. I asked what she would do if the ladies at the party took a liking to you, and she said it didn’t matter.”

Colin had relayed the conversation he had with Fleur word for word.

“Do you want me to confirm? Whether your aide would leave at the first opportunity or stay?”

“Uh… no, that’s not necessary.”

“Why?”

“I’m fine even if Dylan leaves.”

Hearing this, Dylan’s expression stiffened.

“…Did Miss Fleur really say that?”

“That’s why I made the offer. I wanted to get to her before the other ladies. If she comes with me, at least she’d get a proper rank instead of just night service.”

His tone was casual, but his expression was a poker face, making it hard to discern whether Colin was truthful. Dylan’s mind grew more complicated.

“Miss Fleur thinks you are replaceable.”

“…….”

“In that case, the Martin family would be better. They could pay more, and you could quickly get your younger sister out of the convent.”

It was a hard-to-refuse offer.

“I won’t go.”

Dylan refused immediately again.

“No matter how many times you offer better conditions, I won’t leave the Valen family. So please, leave now.”

He motioned toward the gate, signaling the farewell was over.

But Colin came closer and lightly tapped Dylan’s shoulder.

“You already know. Nobles are the most ruthless in casting aside their people in the empire.”

With that, he walked away. Dylan bit his lower lip and turned to look at the mansion.

Specifically, the bedroom Fleur used.

He stood there for a long moment, mulling over Colin’s words.

System Notification:

This is a big problem.
Dylan’s favorability has dropped without a quest.
Current Dylan Favorability: 12% → 7%

“Eh?”

A status window suddenly appeared before Fleur’s eyes as she tried to sleep.

“I wasn’t even with Dylan—why did his favorability drop?”

She checked repeatedly and realized it was correct.

Dylan’s base favorability has dropped below 10%.
A story progression error may occur.

The word “error” startled her awake.

“No! I didn’t do anything! He dropped it on his own—what do you expect me to do?!”

She rolled on the floor in frustration.

System check: Favorability dropped in a situation unrelated to conversation with Fleur.
Raise favorability to over 10% within an hour to remove the error.

One hour to recover favorability that had dropped on its own? Fleur suspected the system was lying to force her to raise it.

She glared at the status window, but time passed without any change.

‘It won’t stop just because you want it to,’ she sighed, getting up.

“Ha… better to apologize and raise favorability while I’m at it.”

She draped a shawl over her shoulders and headed out of the bedroom.

She walked to the room at the end of the opposite hallway.

Before becoming an aide, Dylan had used the same dormitory building as the servants. But he had moved closer to respond quickly to Fleur’s summons.

Arriving at the door, she didn’t knock immediately and just stared at it.

Why did favorability drop all of a sudden?

“Is he cursing me in there? Hitting his pillow while yelling my name… Ugh!”

As she muttered, the door suddenly swung open. Fleur was startled, stepping back awkwardly.

“What is it?”
“How did you know I was coming?”
“You make a lot of noise moving around.”

Seeing her attire, he averted his gaze slightly.

“What are you doing at this hour?”
“I came because I have something to say.”
“If it’s not urgent, say it tomorrow.”
“No, it has to be now.”

She only had 55 minutes left.

Seeing Fleur unwilling to step back, Dylan raised an eyebrow. After a brief pause, he stayed at the doorway, half-turned.

“Then say it.”
“I want to talk inside…”
“No.”

He refused before she could finish.

Seeing his clear boundary, Fleur didn’t push further.

“Fine, we’ll do it here.”
“As you wish.”
“Look into my eyes first.”

It was more of a request than a command. Dylan, seeing her in a thin inner dress with just a shawl, bit his lip and chose to end it quickly, meeting her blue eyes squarely.

Finally, Fleur spoke.

“I’m sorry.”
“…Excuse me?”

He seemed completely unprepared for an apology.

“About the night I stayed out. Not returning to the mansion without a word was clearly my fault.”
“…….”
“I didn’t consider the servants who work hard for me enough. I’ll pay more attention to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

She poured out the words she had kept inside.

“Dylan, seeing how many people worried that day, I felt truly ashamed. I really reflected on it. So… shall we make up?”

She hesitantly extended her hand.

“I don’t want to be a mistress who doesn’t trust her aide.”
“…….”
“I also heard how much you struggled to find me. I’m sorry for speaking carelessly without knowing that.”

Dylan quietly looked at his hand before speaking.

“…A mistress making up with her aide? I serve Miss Fleur, so there’s no need for an apology. I would follow orders anyway.”
“I don’t want to command by orders.”
“Pfft.”

He laughed, quickly covering his mouth with a fist and turning his head.

Fleur had already seen it.

“You laughed just now. That means we’re making up, right?”

She took a few steps closer, signaling him to catch her hand.

Dylan showed his palms, signaling her not to come closer.

“Enough, return to the bedroom.”
“But we haven’t shaken hands yet.”
“That’s unnecessary.”
“No, I want to.”
“Go back.”
“Catch me quickly, it’s an order.”
“Didn’t you just say you don’t like commanding by orders?”
“This is different… Ugh!”

Despite his repeated refusals, he suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her entirely toward him.

His strength carried her lightly into his bedroom. Unlike her surprise, Dylan naturally hid her behind his broad back.

“Aide?”

At that moment, the butler’s voice came from the hallway.

“I heard voices and came to see. Is something the matter?”
“I thought of something for the party and called a maid to help.”
“I see. I mistook your voice for Miss Fleur’s. You may rest, then.”
“Yes. You too, butler.”

Once he left, Dylan closed the bedroom door.

He turned around and looked down at Fleur, her eyes wide open.

“Wait here briefly, then leave.”
“Why?”
“Others might misunderstand seeing you come to my room at night.”
“What? The staff won’t think that way.”
“…Why do you think so?”
“Because we’re a mistress and her aide.”
“That too, but…”

As he moved quickly, her shawl slipped, revealing her left shoulder slightly. He lightly touched it with his fingertips.

“We are also a man and a woman.”