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Chapter 20
What did it mean to move houses?
Inside Clémen’s mind, the house she was currently living in suddenly poofed into the middle of the Grand Ducal residence.
…That obviously can’t be what he means.
When Clémen tilted her head in confusion, Zephyrus added,
“You won’t need your belongings either. I’ll provide most things, so you can come with just yourself.”
Clémen understood what he meant only a moment later.
“W-whaaat?”
Her eyes grew so wide they looked like they might pop out.
Zephyrus continued speaking as if telling her not to say anything unnecessary.
“If you truly intend to study, it would be more convenient to live and work inside the castle.”
“Is it because you want to be with me all day?”
“Wouldn’t it also benefit you? If you’re reading a book and don’t understand something, you can ask me.”
“W-why are you reacting like it’s nothing…?”
For some reason, a ticklish feeling crept over her, and Clémen’s fingers twitched.
Zephyrus remained perfectly upright and calm, coolly listing the advantages of her moving into the Grand Ducal castle.
Clémen also grew serious.
“I’ve received the report about the herb business. If it succeeds, you may become so busy that you won’t even have time to go home. In many ways, it would be better for you to stay here.”
“Hmm, that’s true. I think so too.”
However, she couldn’t just accept it outright.
“Then… how much will the rent be?”
“Hah.”
Zephyrus let out a snort. It was an entirely unexpected remark.
“Why would I charge rent? The furniture is already there. Just bring yourself.”
“What about meals?”
“All the servants receive meals for free.”
“But… what if I want a late-night snack…?”
Clémen’s voice gradually shrank.
Even she knew she was clinging to ridiculous excuses.
“If you need something, tell me.”
Zephyrus answered calmly, which only made her feel more embarrassed.
After thinking for a moment, Clémen spoke honestly.
“If I move in here… I won’t be able to leave. I won’t leave!”
Zephyrus might need her, but Clémen also needed him.
When she was near him, she didn’t have to struggle to regulate her body temperature—she felt almost like a normal person.
“So you came to the same conclusion as I did.”
I was going to say it once you moved in.
Zephyrus said it casually while flipping through documents.
Clémen grinned.
“Alright then. Let’s greet each other properly this time!”
Their first meeting had been messy.
They had never even properly introduced themselves.
Thinking back on it, Clémen extended her hand.
Zephyrus looked at it quietly before taking it.
Their bare hands touched.
Cool and warm.
“There’s something I’m curious about,” he said.
“What is it?”
“Why did you hesitate? Was there a reason you couldn’t move into the castle?”
“Oh, no. That’s not it.”
The problem was that the job conditions were too good.
A good person, good salary, excellent benefits.
And even a special environment.
“I was taught that if something seems too good, you should be suspicious…”
“Was that suspicion?”
“It was.”
“It seems you don’t know what suspicion really is.”
“Oh? Then you must know?”
“At first, I was suspicious of you.”
He had gathered every possible doubt and tried to view her with suspicion.
After all, someone who was immune to his curse had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
He couldn’t simply welcome her happily.
If he fell into danger, the entire North would be at risk.
As the lord, suspicion was only natural.
But it didn’t last long.
It couldn’t.
Clémen had saved his mother.
She had even allowed him to see his mother’s face again.
“Wow, what is there about me to suspect!”
“You said yourself that when something is too good, you should be suspicious.”
Clémen rolled her eyes as she realized what he meant.
Suddenly she clamped her hands over her mouth and let out a muffled cry.
Interesting reaction.
The corner of Zephyrus’s lips twitched.
“And yet you made it impossible for me to doubt you. Now you’ve even turned my mother to your side.”
He waved a letter in his hand.
“The letter my mother sent is filled entirely with stories about you.”
“I like Mother too. Ah—about calling her that—”
“I know. I heard she was the one who suggested it first.”
“Ahem. That’s right. But if you don’t like it, tell me. I won’t call her that in front of you.”
“Does that mean I’m more important to you than my mother?”
Clémen’s sullen gaze drifted to his lips.
They kept moving—clearly he was enjoying teasing her.
She couldn’t just sit there and take it.
Clémen moved beside him and lightly brushed his hair aside.
“It’s natural for a friend to be more important than a friend’s mother.”
“As expected. Isn’t that right?”
Zephyrus tilted his head slightly, resting his face against Clémen’s fingers as he looked up.
His silver-gray eyes held a faint smile.
“W-wow…”
Clémen let out a short gasp and froze.
She hadn’t fully realized it before.
Well—she had known it, of course!
But when Zephyrus deliberately smiled, the effect was devastating.
His translucent pale skin, small face, and delicate, perfectly balanced features—
It was beauty powerful enough to ruin the world.
“Clémen?”
“Master, when you go outside… doing that… that… anyway, you shouldn’t do that in public.”
She couldn’t find the right word, but she knew she was right.
If he acted like that in front of people, the Grand Duchy might be flooded with requests to build him a harem, just like the former king of the desert.
“Are you teasing me? As if I can go outside anywhere.”
“You said you’d go walking with Mother. Of course you can go outside. Don’t talk weakly again.”
“…How can you be so sure?”
“Because I’m here. And we said we’d go on a picnic and read books! I’ll make sure you get outside somehow.”
Clémen puffed out her chest confidently.
Zephyrus shook his head.
“Alright. I’ll trust only you.”
“Of course. In that case, should we increase the time today?”
Clémen held out both hands.
When Zephyrus placed his hands on top of hers, he suddenly frowned slightly and pulled her toward him.
“W-what are you doing all of a sudden?!”
“I think this will be more effective.”
Zephyrus pulled Clémen onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her.
Then he said calmly,
“This way I can still work while doing it. What do you think, teacher?”
“But holding me like this—”
“Is it uncomfortable?”
Clémen’s body suddenly spun.
The face that had been looking behind Zephyrus was now facing forward.
“No, that’s not it!”
“It’s much more stable than holding hands. It also saves time. What’s the problem?”
He clearly had no intention of listening.
Clémen covered her face with her hands.
“If we do this, I feel like we might be able to go outside sooner.”
What was the problem?
The problem was that her body liked being pressed against Zephyrus’s cold body.
It wasn’t only Zephyrus who felt comfortable.
He never even goes outside, so why are his shoulders so broad and why is he so tall…
Why was leaning back against him so comfortable?!
Clémen shuddered.
Then she sighed deeply as the arm around her shoulders tightened, telling her not to move.
“Fine. I’ll bring a book too. I’ll save time as well.”
“Not now. Bring a book tomorrow.”
“Wow. Why are you suddenly doing things you’ve never done before?”
Zephyrus gently rested his chin on her shoulder.
“Because starting today, you’re my personal maid.”
“…So?”
“I want us to become closer. Once we become closer…”
Clémen leaned her ear in to listen.
But the words didn’t continue.
“Closer… and then?”
She urged him, but Zephyrus’s lips remained tightly shut.
Just as she tried to turn around in confusion, Zephyrus lifted his arm slightly and held her neck in place so she couldn’t move.
“Hey! Let go!”
“If you’re bored, read the documents in front of you.”
Zephyrus said that—
But his entire face was bright red.
His neck and ears too.
Zephyrus Frouina… what are you doing right now?
All of this had started because of his mother’s letter.
After countless sentences telling him to treat Clémen well, the letter ended with a message worrying about Zephyrus’s health.
That part was fine.
The real problem began with the postscript.
The part where his mother gave Clémen permission to call her “Mother.”
