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Chapter 8
Could it be… I didn’t sleep in the same bed as Duke Cassiar, did I?
Holding my breath, I slowly pulled back the blanket.
Thankfully, I was the only one in the bed.
“Whew… I almost ended up completely trapped by Duke Cassiar.”
“So the first thing on your mind after waking up is figuring out how to run away from me?”
I had just let out a sigh of relief that nothing had happened when Duke Cassiar, who had somehow appeared without my noticing, was leaning against the doorway watching me.
How long had he been standing there?
If he’d been watching me ever since I woke up, I was embarrassed enough that I wanted to run straight out of the ducal estate.
“Couldn’t you at least make some noise if you’re there?”
“I considered it, but you seemed rather busy.”
The corners of Duke Cassiar’s lips curved into a gentle smile.
So he’d seen everything from the beginning?
I awkwardly laughed as I remembered myself frantically messing up my hair and turning the bed upside down like a lunatic just moments ago.
“Don’t even think about running away. You saw it with your own eyes last night. Your power is still effective.”
“It’s not like I was planning to run away. Besides, is that all you have to say? I stayed up all night taking care of you.”
As the situation turned against me, I pulled out my trump card.
“It would be an exaggeration to say you stayed up all night. You were sleeping so soundly you didn’t even notice when I carried you to the bed.”
He carried me to the bed?
My embarrassment increased another level.
Wasn’t this the same man who had looked like he was on the verge of death just yesterday?
How could someone recover so completely overnight?
The Duke looked so healthy that no one would believe he had coughed up blood only a day ago.
“Duke, were you putting on an act yesterday?”
“An act?”
“Last night you were coughing up blood and looked like you were about to leave this world, but now your skin is practically glowing.”
When I looked at him suspiciously, Duke Cassiar nodded as if acknowledging the point.
“Normally, I would have been bedridden for at least a week.”
Which meant…
“It seems my unusually quick recovery is thanks to you as well. Your gift is probably even greater than I realized. Congratulations. You have officially become a valuable talent recognized by the ducal estate.”
Keeping a solemn expression, Duke Cassiar applauded.
It was an excessively formal congratulation.
“I don’t want that kind of congratulations.”
“More importantly, shouldn’t you head back now? Since you unexpectedly stayed out overnight, the Marquis’s estate must be worried.”
I’d forgotten.
I’d really spent my first night away from home here at the ducal estate.
Considering how strict my family was about curfews, Mother would definitely give me at least ten solid smacks on the back.
Just imagining the terrifying force behind her hands sent a chill down my spine.
Should I just live here at the ducal estate?
After seriously considering it for a moment, I decided to postpone returning to the Marquis’s estate.
“I can’t go back without accomplishing anything. There’s still something I haven’t tried.”
“Is that so? I wouldn’t mind if you toned down that enthusiasm a little.”
Perhaps still haunted by the meal consisting entirely of romaine lettuce, Duke Cassiar didn’t seem very pleased by my eagerness.
“I’ll have Fanny prepare some clothes for you. Go wash up first.”
“Wait.”
I stopped Duke Cassiar as he turned to leave.
He halted and looked back at me.
“Why did you grant my request? About wanting to spend time with my family.”
Duke Cassiar looked at me with an unreadable expression.
Only then did I wonder if I had overstepped my boundaries, but I still wanted to know what he was thinking.
“While I’m gone, you’ll have to take the sleeping medicine. That means you might cough up blood or collapse again like you did yesterday.”
“The people at the Marquis’s estate are precious to you, aren’t they? Think of it as basic courtesy in return for the sacrifices you’ve made for me.”
He gave a reasonable explanation in his usual indifferent tone, but it still felt like he was showing consideration in his own way.
It would have been easier if he’d just been more cruel.
Then I could have acted selfishly without worrying about him.
I’d learned too much about the Duke to treat him coldly anymore.
“I’m not going on the family trip. From now on, I’m coming to the ducal estate every single day.”
“If this is because of what happened yesterday, don’t trouble yourself. As you can see, my condition has improved thanks to you.”
I pressed my index finger against Duke Cassiar’s lips, cutting him off.
“Shh! Quiet! I’ve already decided I’m not going. I’m going to find a way to make you fall asleep as soon as possible and escape from this estate!”
As I burned with determination, Duke Cassiar muttered through his covered lips,
“Please… just go home.”
I feel so refreshed!
After taking a bath, I headed downstairs in a wonderful mood to eat breakfast.
The clothes Fanny had prepared fit me perfectly.
Honestly, since they had been prepared in such a hurry, I hadn’t expected a high-quality dress.
But it looked so luxurious that I found myself being extra careful while wearing it.
“My lady, you’re awake? Oh my, that new dress looks wonderful on you. You look beautiful.”
Seeing me, Fanny clasped her hands together in admiration.
Embarrassed by the compliment, I smiled shyly.
“I was wondering why it didn’t look worn. So it’s brand new?”
“Of course. His Grace prepared that dress in advance just for you, my lady.”
Duke Cassiar prepared it for me?
“Besides that one, there are dozens of dresses waiting for you in the wardrobe of your room.”
“I already have my own room?”
“Of course! His Grace instructed us to prepare everything to welcome you immediately.”
I had no idea.
If I’d known I had my own room, I wouldn’t have stolen the Duke’s bed.
Then I wouldn’t have embarrassed myself in front of him this morning.
“His Grace may seem as stiff as an old tree and rather unapproachable, but when it comes to people he considers precious, he’s incredibly thoughtful.”
To the Duke, what was precious wasn’t me.
It was the power I possessed.
If I truly were precious to him, I might have been moved.
“My lady, are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere after last night?”
Fanny quietly approached me as I sat at the dining table and asked in a hushed voice.
“If you’re sore or aching anywhere, please tell me. I’ll take care of everything.”
By “last night,” did she mean taking care of Duke Cassiar?
“I’m fine. I didn’t stay awake the entire night, and after I fell asleep, His Grace carried me to the bed so I slept comfortably.”
“I see. Even while he was ill, His Grace waited until you fell asleep from exhaustion before carrying you to bed. At last, His Grace has finally acted like a proper man.”
I had only said that Duke Cassiar carried me to the bed after I fell asleep, yet Fanny’s face lit up.
Why was she suddenly talking about him acting like a proper man?
As I replayed our conversation in my head, I quickly realized that she had completely misunderstood the situation.
I had a feeling Fanny was under an enormous misunderstanding.
“Fanny, that’s not what I meant—”
“Is breakfast ready?”
Just as I was about to clear up the misunderstanding, Duke Cassiar walked into the room.
“Just the soup left to serve. Please wait a moment, my lady.”
Still beaming, Fanny gave Duke Cassiar a meaningful smile before disappearing into the kitchen to fetch the soup.
She had gone too far for me to clear up the misunderstanding now.
Watching her cheerful steps as she practically radiated happiness, I turned back toward the table.
I’ll eat first and think later.
Hunger had completely shut down my brain.
“What a surprise. His Grace is actually eating breakfast. This must all be thanks to you, my lady.”
Kyle, who had followed Duke Cassiar inside, stopped arranging the tableware and looked at the Duke with amazement as he sat across from me.
“Why is it strange that the Duke is eating breakfast?”
Wasn’t eating breakfast just something people naturally did?
Seeing my confusion, Kyle finished setting the table.
“His Grace usually skips breakfast because his stomach feels unsettled. But now that you’re here, isn’t he eating just to see your face a little longer?”
“Oh? Is that really true, Duke?”
“It’s only because someone made me eat nothing but romaine lettuce yesterday, so I’m hungry already.”
Duke Cassiar shot me a pointed look.
Come to think of it…
I really had fed him nothing but greens yesterday.
His lighthearted remark stabbed at my conscience.
“Duke, you’re just embarrassed.”
“Kyle, do you have that much free time?”
“Not at all. Please enjoy your meal, both of you. I have some business to attend to.”
No wonder Kyle had been in such high spirits.
After earning a scolding from Duke Cassiar, he hurried away as if fleeing.
I quietly watched Duke Cassiar as he ate.
Now that I looked closely, he did seem a little thin.
I felt guilty for making him eat romaine lettuce when it hadn’t even helped.
As I cut my steak, I suddenly remembered that the Duke liked meat.
“Duke, here.”
I speared a piece of meat with my fork and held it out toward his mouth.
He quietly stared at the piece of meat that had come all the way to him.
“I heard you like meat. I’m sorry I only made you eat tasteless greens yesterday. This is my apology, so please eat it.”
“That’s unnecessary. I’m not a child. I can feed myself.”
I’d expected him to refuse, so I naturally grabbed my own arm holding the fork.
“Are you really going to leave my hand hanging here? My arm’s starting to hurt.”
Unable to withstand my pleading gaze, Duke Cassiar finally opened his mouth.
“My goodness! I didn’t see anything! Please continue!”
At that exact moment, Fanny returned with the soup, covered her eyes with the plate she was carrying, and immediately ran away.
“Oh dear…”
The misunderstanding between Fanny and me had only grown even deeper.
“So, what exactly are you planning to do to me today?”
After breakfast, Duke Cassiar already looked exhausted before we’d even begun.
It was as though he’d completely given up.
Well, the sooner he surrendered, the better for me.
“Today, we’re going to try meditation.”
“Meditation? I’ve never heard of it. It won’t put my life in danger, will it?”
The Duke asked with complete seriousness.
Thanks to the romaine lettuce and chamomile, my credibility with Duke Cassiar had apparently fallen straight off a cliff.
“As if I’d ever try to hurt you.”
“One can never be too sure.”
“You need to concentrate, Duke.”
Ignoring his perfectly reasonable suspicion, I stubbornly pressed ahead.
“Meditation is a form of mental training that calms the mind. First, try focusing your thoughts.”
At my words, Duke Cassiar stared at me with terrifying intensity.
“Don’t focus on me. Close your eyes and focus on yourself.”
“That’s difficult.”
Only after confirming that he had finally closed his eyes did I close mine as well and continue.
“Now slowly release the tension from your body. Let all distracting thoughts drift away and relax.”
The Duke remained silent.
Maybe the meditation was actually working?
Curious about his condition, I cautiously opened one eye.
As my vision cleared, I saw Duke Cassiar sitting across from me…
…quietly gazing at me instead.
