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Chapter 48
“But even if what happened that day was a misunderstanding, it’s true that I’ve been harsh to you all until now. I want to apologize for that first. I… I’m really sorry.”
Though the voice trembled, the sincerity behind the words came through clearly. A brief silence fell among the servants. I glanced sideways at Katarina. Then, I gently took the hand of the young lady, now covered in dirt.
“!”
Had she gained a little courage? Katarina softly touched my hand once, then let go. She looked at the young girl in front of her and continued cautiously.
“I’ve thought a lot about this incident. I know very well that I was wrong until now, Genie.”
“!”
The girl, who had been filled with nothing but anger, opened her mouth in surprise.
“You must have suffered a lot because of me, right?”
“You… you knew my name?” Genie’s voice trembled helplessly. Everyone present could feel the complex emotions contained within it.
“To be honest, I only recently found out. Even then, I feel sorry about it.”
Wearing ridiculous trousers and completely covered in dirt, the noble young lady somehow looked more graceful than ever.
Katarina… you’ve grown!
Somehow, seeing my friend’s growth made my heart flutter with joy. I feel oddly touched… proud of her.
Afterward, Katarina turned and apologized to the three young ladies who had been observing the situation.
“Lilian, Julie, Serena… I’m really sorry. I hope you can forget everything I said before. And, if possible… I sincerely want to become your friend.”
She bit her lip tightly, summoned courage, and bowed deeply.
“Ah… my…”
“Everyone… I truly apologize for everything…”
Her heartfelt apology left an awkward silence in its wake. Everyone seemed to be cautiously gauging Katarina’s sincerity. Today, this much was enough.
“Now, it’s time for your punishment again, Katarina!”
I grinned and handed her the hoe again. Without a word, Katarina took it and sat back down on the garden plot with a bitter expression. She probably understood that this wasn’t the end of lingering resentment.
So all we can do is keep clashing until all the hatred toward me melts away.
All that was needed now was time—time to flow while everyone did their own work in their own places.
“Hmph-hmph~”
I felt oddly cheerful! I happily resumed digging in the garden with my hoe, while the servants hesitated, glancing at each other nervously.
“Lord Karl will want to find you. Let’s start heading back.”
“Mm…”
“Genie, aren’t you coming?”
“Ah, I-I’ll go.”
Eventually, the crowd that had swarmed like clouds returned to their places as if nothing had happened.
“We… we should head back too.”
“Yes…”
The young ladies standing awkwardly fanned themselves and started moving back toward the Grand Duke’s residence.
“I should host a tea party in the garden tomorrow. This time, I’ll organize it.”
Watching her leave, Katarina let out a small laugh. But it was brief. She soon composed herself and spoke again in a serious tone, her gaze still fixed on the furrows of the garden.
“Viscount… I apologized to everyone, but the person I feel most sorry to is you. I truly am sorry.”
“Your apology today might be more than all the apologies you’ve made in your life.”
“Th-That’s… true.”
“What? Really?”
“D-Don’t tease me! I truly regret it too!”
“Hahaha! Yes, that feeling is what matters.”
I laughed aloud, and a smile gradually appeared on Katarina’s face, who had been staring at me.
The beautiful young lady hesitated for a moment, then shyly asked,
“Viscount… if it’s alright, may I call you Rene from now on?”
Gasp! My heart! Whether intentional or not, it was a deadly attack on my heart. I struggled to keep my lips from twitching as I replied:
“Of course! It’s natural! Last time, you even called me Rene without the honorific.”
“You… remembered that?”
“Of course! I was happy. It felt like we were friends.”
Ha! My bright laughter seemed to move Katarina. She let go of the hoe and grasped my hands tightly, almost tearfully.
“…I will truly become your loyal maid, Viscount. I promise.”
She spoke with more sincerity than ever before.
“Well, being a maid is fine, but be my friend. I prefer the word ‘friend’ to any title.”
“Of… of course…”
Katarina, tears in her eyes, was smiling happier than anything. That made me genuinely happy.
“Hehe!”
We laughed together for a long while.
A few weeks later
“Lord Rene! I’ll write a letter! So will Katarina!”
“We’ll see you at the royal banquet next time!”
“Take care of yourself!”
“Yes, young ladies, take care! Come visit again!”
Lilian, Julie, and Serena, wiping away tears, climbed into their carriages to return home. Seeing the little sparrows off after a few days of constant chatter left an odd emptiness in my heart.
But only for a moment.
“Lord Rene, now that the young ladies are sent off, shall we have tea in the garden?”
After seeing them off at the main gate, Katarina linked arms with me and asked sweetly.
“Of course, just the two of us.”
The beautiful young lady shyly rested her head against mine. Since we decided to become friends, Katarina had clung to me like glue, never wanting to leave my side. I thought it would settle in a few days, but it only grew stronger.
Why does she have separation anxiety…?
I didn’t fully understand it, but it wasn’t unpleasant! Her clinginess was cute~ But today, I desperately needed some alone time, so I had no choice but to refuse.
“Ah, sorry. I have something to do today.”
“What is it? Can’t I help? I’ll assist you!”
Sorry, Katarina. It’s better to borrow the hands of a cat than yours. I couldn’t say that outright, so I awkwardly made an excuse.
“Hmm… that might be difficult. Instead, let’s go to the village together tomorrow.”
“Chee. Alright.”
I wiped the cold sweat from my brow, sent Katarina off, and finally headed to my well-kept room. Even after a few weeks here, I couldn’t help but admire the room every time I saw it. I collapsed onto the bed to rest.
Ah… how much time have I spent alone in the past few weeks?
Barely any. It was the opposite of when no one looked for me at first. How did it come to this?
The biggest change was…
“Hmm, as a married couple, we should share the same bedroom.”
“Now?”
“‘From now on’ would be more accurate, wouldn’t it?”
That night, after a dramatic reconciliation with Katarina, the Grand Duke confidently knocked on my door, insisting we sleep together. Absurdly, with a pillow tucked under his arm!
What’s with that pillow? Trying to be cute!
Despite his size, he was acting rather adorable. My heart softened, so I let him in. I finally learned the truth about the so-called ‘madness’ that ran in the Celeste family.
“It’s a condition so obscure that it has no name. Some might even call it a curse. For my father, it manifested as violence, but for me, it was insomnia. Strangely, though, being with you made it feel… cured.”
“I see…”
“It’s a bold request, but… could you help me? I’ll make sure to reward you properly.”
The Grand Duke, unusually humble, confessed the truth in a low voice.
So that’s why he acted like a different person that night.
I suspected something was off, but now I knew it was due to his condition. And it was a sleeplessness disorder?! Terrifying.
During my graduate school years, I had learned the value of sleep from disrupted patterns. I couldn’t refuse him. He just wanted to sleep next to me.
“No need for a reward. But we’re only sleeping. Don’t even think about touching me!”
At first, I wondered what kind of nonsense this was, but seeing the Grand Duke’s consistent seriousness convinced me it was genuine.
“Fine. Agreed.”
Despite my sharp reply, he simply smiled and kept his word. Though a bit awkward at first, the Grand Duke literally only slept—without any other intentions. He even slept soundly!
Madness? Didn’t you say you can’t sleep?
He looked healthier each day. Should I be happy about this…? I was unsure, but better than people dying around me.
Anyway! After nearly a month of being constantly busy, this alone time was precious. Who knew when the next clingy visitor would arrive!
I got up, went to my tidy desk, and began scribbling down my thoughts. But the peace didn’t last long.
“Hey.”
One unlucky voice shattered it all.
