🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 55
“Does this Jeffrey have any noticeable features?”
“Features? Ah! He does have a red spot shaped like a butterfly on the inside of his wrist.”
“A butterfly-shaped spot?”
Was it just a coincidence?
One person immediately popped into his mind.
“Got it. I’ll look for this Jeffrey myself. You focus on your research.”
“Yes, yes!”
Piril, who had experienced the chill of Killian’s aura piercing through her flesh, clutched her medical bag as if it were protective armor.
“And make sure you get some sleep.”
“Yes…?”
Today as well, Piril, who had been about to flee the room like a frightened beaver, froze in an awkward pose.
“Eat properly, and sleep. If you collapse before discovering a cure, that would be far worse. As I said before, if you need anything, tell Mark immediately.”
“…! Your Highness, Duke…!”
“…?”
Seeing Piril looking somewhat moved, Killian’s eyebrows curved like bows.
“Not leaving?”
“I-I have to go! I… Your Highness, don’t worry. I will definitely find a way to cure Lady Letrisha!”
“Of course.”
Piril, who had looked like burnt-out ash just moments ago, suddenly burst into fervor, made a resolute vow, and dashed out of the room.
Where did all that energy come from? It seemed she ran straight to the laboratory without resting.
“Her condition doesn’t seem great, but being passionate isn’t a bad thing.”
Listening to Piril’s running footsteps, Killian leaned back against the window.
The cold glass sent a chill creeping from the back of his head down to his neck.
“A wandering doctor, huh.”
If no one knew his whereabouts, he would search the empire upside down if he had to, just to find this Jeffrey.
“No matter what it takes, as long as I find him.”
Feeling the invigorating chill, he closed his eyes for a while. Letrisha, having finished getting ready, returned to the room.
“Your Highness, what do you think? Isn’t it beautiful?”
Letrisha, fully dressed, and Marsha, who came back with her, lifted their chins confidently. A sense of immense satisfaction radiated from them.
Mia, standing beside them, nervously pressed her clasped hands to her lips, watching Killian’s reaction.
Yet Killian’s lips did not move. He still leaned against the window, eyes half-lowered.
“……”
“……”
Unable to withstand the suffocatingly awkward atmosphere, Letrisha was the first to speak.
“I-It’s still too flashy, isn’t it? I’ve never worn anything like this before.”
Seeing her reflection in the window made her feel as if she had stolen someone else’s clothes, and she reached up to adjust her headpiece.
“I’m sorry for dressing you up. I think I’m more comfortable in what I normally wear. I should change.”
The headband, decorated with real flowers carefully chosen by Mia, slipped out gently.
Then Killian, with a strangely stiff voice, reacted half a beat late.
“Why are you taking it off? It suited you.”
“Oh, Your Highness! That’s not it!”
Marsha, frustrated at Killian’s lukewarm response, widened her eyes.
Sighing at the awkwardness, Killian took Letrisha’s hand and guided her closer to him.
Because of Killian’s large build, even leaning slightly, their eye levels aligned fairly well.
Under the unwavering gaze of Marsha and Mia, Killian carefully replaced the headband on Letrisha’s hair.
“It’s beautiful. So you don’t have to change…”
Repeating her words like reading from a textbook, Killian’s hand slipped in midair while making eye contact with Letrisha.
“You don’t have to change…”
The same words repeated foolishly. He couldn’t think of what to say next.
Even though they had exchanged glances before, his mouth felt unusually dry.
Was it because the color she wore for the first time suited her unexpectedly well? Or her cheeks, a little more flushed than usual due to makeup? Or maybe the embarrassment from her round, warm ears made him flustered?
“So what I’m trying to say is…”
Trying to find excuses for his strange state, Killian gave up and hid his face with his large hands, averting his eyes.
What followed was completely different from the emotionless words he had spoken earlier.
“…You’re beautiful. Really.”
“Then, both of you, take care.”
“Letrisha, make sure your cloak is fastened!”
Surrounded by the seemingly satisfied servants, Killian and Letrisha began their first outing together.
“Letrisha, lean back comfortably. Why are you so stiff?”
“I-I’m comfortable like this…!”
Letrisha, riding together with Killian, sat unnaturally straight.
She regretted not learning to ride properly, thinking of what Isis might have said. Ever since Killian had touched her hair, the back of her neck felt hot and tense, causing her body to stiffen naturally.
Sitting like this was already uncomfortable; she couldn’t even rest her back against Killian.
“If you ride like this, you’ll definitely have sore muscles later.”
Though grateful for his concern, Letrisha tensed even more as Killian’s breath brushed against the back of her neck from behind.
She was now confused about what “sitting naturally” even meant.
Was she really making such a fuss over a single compliment? She felt embarrassed even thinking about it.
‘But Killian doesn’t seem to care at all.’
The hint of embarrassment had already faded, and Killian’s expression returned to stone-like stillness.
Though her eyes couldn’t reach Killian’s neck, she could see that the skin there was as red as someone standing under the summer sun, yet she had no idea that Killian might be in a similar state.
Not wanting to reveal her odd condition, Letrisha looked around.
Fortunately, Mark was riding leisurely just a little behind them.
“You know, Killian, can I ride with Sir Davis instead?”
“…Do you think that’s possible?”
Killian felt an unusual pang of irritation at her innocent question. For some reason, he felt like he had lost to Mark.
As he gripped the reins tighter, the horse stopped and lifted its front hoof slightly.
Though the movements were smooth, they were enough to push Letrisha slightly backward.
“This is our first outing together, and you want me to watch my wife travel comfortably with someone else? That hurts my pride a bit.”
“Um… sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”
“There’s no need to apologize…”
No, that’s not right.
Killian looked at Letrisha, who was leaning awkwardly due to her balance. He hadn’t asked for an apology, but seeing her like this made him a bit petty.
“If you really feel sorry, instead of saying it, just lean on me.”
“It’s not like I’m that sorry…”
Laughing softly at Letrisha, who always spoke her mind, Killian gently pushed her forehead back with his black-gloved hand.
Once Letrisha was fully leaning on him, Killian finally let go of the reins with satisfaction.
“You’re really not easy. Even the first time we met, you didn’t want to rely on me.”
He recalled a similar situation at the victory banquet.
Back then, they argued about whether she would lean on him while riding the same horse…
“Back then you were a stranger, but now we’re married. I wish you would treat me more comfortably.”
Whether he meant only in this situation or toward him as a person, it was a vague request.
Letrisha fidgeted slightly in the fur gloves worn at Piril’s insistence but didn’t change her posture.
Contrary to her concerns, the stability from leaning against Killian’s solid back was significant.
“…I feel comfortable.”
Letrisha’s answer, leaving out the object just like his words, made Killian shake his head in defeat.
“By the way, after the inspection, there should be some free time. Is there anywhere you’d like to visit?”
“There are many places I’ve wanted to go…”
Recalling a scenery she had watched from the window every morning, Letrisha pointed with her finger.
Her neatly manicured fingernail pointed to none other than Stuten’s clock tower.
“If I had to choose one place, I’d like to visit the clock tower.”
“…Why there?”
“It’s very noticeable, and the young duke told me something fascinating about the tower. If you make a wish, it comes true, or so he said. I wanted to see it up close out of curiosity.”
