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Chapter 8…
Pant, pant.
With the steady sound of breathing and the faint weight on his chest, Zervant slowly lifted his eyelids.
Normally, whenever he ran a fever, his condition afterward was wretched—sickly and unpleasant. But this time was different. He didn’t feel sticky or drained; on the contrary, he’d slept soundly, and his head felt refreshed. His body felt cool, as if the fever had vanished completely.
Reaching for the glasses lying beside him, he instinctively stretched out his hand and grasped the soft, fluffy something that was resting on his chest.
“Mmnn…”
Titia stirred in her sleep, making him freeze for a moment. His grip loosened slightly from her hair.
When he lowered his gaze, he found her leaning against him in an uncomfortable position, as though his chest were a pillow. She clutched a piece of cloth tightly, as if she had dozed off while wiping him down.
Her damp hair clung to the back of her neck, sticky with sweat. Almost without thinking, Zervant’s hand reached for her throat.
His fingertips brushed away the cool sweat beading there. He suddenly felt as though he had done something improper, and bit his lip hard.
Just as he was about to get up and shake off the thought, a voice he’d heard before falling asleep flashed across his mind.
“I’m working so hard… I wish the boss would praise me.”
“Hah.”
A chuckle-laced sigh slipped from his lips.
“Praise? As if… barging in like that, without permission.”
Muttering under his breath, he gently supported her neck and lifted her upper body. He considered leaving her on the floor, then decided instead to carefully scoop her up. Zervant was about to lay her on his own bed when he hesitated.
Can’t let myself mistake this for something else.
He turned to leave the room—only to stop dead in his tracks.
The endless, darkened hallway loomed before him. His knees buckled, and he staggered with his eyes shut tight. His breath grew ragged. Unable to bear it, he ended up tossing Titia onto his bed and collapsing beside her.
His face quickly drenched in cold sweat, he exhaled in rough bursts.
Where was I planning to go, anyway…?
He couldn’t even step outside.
His gaze darkened as he realized again how meaningless it all was. Forcing himself up, he muttered,
“Make sure you’re gone before I finish washing up…”
He tapped the beauty mark beneath her lips with his finger, then headed into the bathroom. His hand still tingled hotly where it had touched her skin, and he clenched it tight, opening and closing his fist as if to ease the tension.
There’s definitely some kind of aura around her…
He could faintly sense it again. At first, he’d mistaken it for mana and assumed she was a mage. That was why the word “magician” had slipped out of his mouth—yet she’d gone on babbling about being a “laughter magician” or some nonsense.
“Hah… ha ha…”
He couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
“I really must be insane.”
Closing his eyes, he drenched himself under the freezing water.
When he finally stepped out of the bath, Titia was gone—everything tidied up neatly, save for the wrinkled spot on the bed where she had lain. Zervant stared at it for a moment, then looked away.
Phew, that was close.
I can’t believe I actually fell asleep on the boss’s bed.
“What excuse do I even give…?”
I was just checking if there was something on the bed, maybe?
The last thing I remembered was wiping him down. After that, nothing. And yet, instead of collapsing in some corner, I’d climbed right onto his bed and dozed off.
Even then, I picked the most comfortable spot?
It was just… so soft.
I hope the boss just pretends not to notice. He already ate all my peaches anyway, so maybe he’ll show some mercy.
“Haa…”
“Why the long sigh?”
Oh, Sir Danny—curious now, are we?
He’d been treating me like I was invisible, but the moment something piqued his interest, he scurried right over to ask.
“I may have done something absolutely terrible to the boss.”
“What did you do?”
“Want to know?”
“Yeah.”
“I can’t tell you for free.”
“This enough?”
He handed me a gold coin.
I received it with both hands like a sacred offering.
“…I slept in the boss’s bed.”
“I’ll have to tell Veilt.”
And just like that, he snatched the coin back.
I reached out desperately.
“Lies! I was kidding!”
Danny held the coin aloft, just out of reach, and replied,
“I know you’re telling the truth.”
“Even if I did, I’m forgiven.”
“Probably.”
I had been ready to argue, but surprisingly, he agreed without fuss.
“If your intentions had been impure, the twins would never have let you off.”
Flicking the coin with his finger, he walked away from me.
Stop acting all cool.
“So, as long as the twins stay quiet, I won’t get fired?”
What a relief. I almost lost my chance to smack William on the head.
Now that I thought about it, if Veilt heard I’d snuck into the boss’s bed, he’d probably clap me on the back for my boldness.
“Titia.”
“Veilt! Long time no see—I was starting to forget your face.”
“Likewise. Here, this is a reply for Miss Hannah.”
I hadn’t expected one to come back.
I was too nervous to open it. I had vanished without a word—of course she’d been worried, and probably furious, too.
When Hannah got mad, she cursed like a firecracker, spewing foul words nonstop.
This letter could very well be filled with nothing but swearing.
…And I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.
I’ll read it later.
I tucked it carefully against my chest.
“Titia, would you like to meet the Saintess?”
“What? Uh, no?”
I’d seen enough of her in the papers. I had no particular interest, even if she was supposed to be the heroine of this world.
It wasn’t like I had a “favorite character” the way other fans did. I’d simply liked the personality of a certain villainous sub-male lead—not in an obsessive way, just enough that when the same type popped up in another story, I’d move on to them.
“Congratulations. You’ll be meeting her soon.”
I said I didn’t want to.
“What do you mean? I thought the Saintess was away on her engagement trip.”
“She’ll be returning shortly. Before she goes back to the temple, she requested to meet with the boss. Tch.”
Did he just… click his tongue?
His expression was perfectly composed, so I couldn’t be sure.
“Then the male lead—I mean, the Crown Prince—will be with her too?”
I wouldn’t mind seeing them together, just once. But Veilt shook his head.
“His Highness is far too busy. Only the Saintess will come.”
“Isn’t she busy too?”
“The empire has stabilized somewhat, so not as much as he is. It would have been better if she were.”
“…Do you dislike the Saintess?”
“Yes.”
“…Excuse me?”
I had only asked as a throwaway question, but his blunt answer left me speechless. Then he turned it back on me.
“Just because everyone else likes her, must I as well?”
“Well… no.”
The sharpness in his tone made it clear—he genuinely disliked her.
So when he had once said “because of the Saintess”, it hadn’t been a slip of the tongue after all.
“If you dislike her so much, why not stop her from coming?”
“We’ll let her meet the boss once more, just in case. If it doesn’t work this time, there won’t be another chance.”
“Did you sneak some tiny clause into the confidentiality contract I signed? Why are you being so honest with me?”
It was unnerving.
“Because I can handle it.”
His confidence was unshakable, so I simply nodded.
Anyway, if the heroine was coming to meet the boss, then I had no reason to be anywhere near him that day.
“What should I do when she comes? Wouldn’t it be better if I weren’t there?”
“Hm… yes, that may be for the best. Unfortunately, you’ll have to watch from afar.”
Not unfortunate at all.
Why was he trying to make me sound like some fangirl?
“So I don’t need to prepare anything?”
“No. Just watch from a distance and praise the Saintess.”
Didn’t he just say he hated her? Why make me sing her praises?
“Fine. Maybe I’ll pray to her up close to help me get rich. If anyone could sway the gods, it’d be her.”
“Remarkable. I should try it myself.”
Honestly, Veilt seemed far stranger than me.
“Now that I think about it, maybe I shouldn’t show myself at all. Is it even safe for me to be seen by the Saintess?”
After all, William was still searching for me, and I knew I didn’t exactly look ordinary.
The Marquis of Kennedy had gone so far as to ignore deadlines just to make me his wife. Anyone could see my looks weren’t exactly average.
Inside this mansion, I was safe. Outside, though, being spotted might be dangerous.
“I doubt the Saintess even knows of William’s existence, but I thought it best to be cautious.”
My worries, however, were brushed aside.
“No, it doesn’t matter. No one—not even the Saintess—could claim you from here. This is the Duke of Destine’s estate, where the Eclipse Guildmaster resides.”
“But legally, William is still my guardian. If he invoked that authority—”
“William Angela wouldn’t dare use the law to challenge us.”
“For the first time, you sound truly reliable, Veilt.”
“Don’t expect it often.”
He almost seemed proud.
“By the way, did you really sleep in the boss’s bed?”
Danny’s mouth was lighter than a feather—and twice as quick.
“I didn’t mean to…”
I deliberately left out the fact that the boss had been sick. As his attendant, guarding his condition was the least I could do.
I’ll have to ask the boss whether to tell Veilt the truth or not.
He stared at me intently, and I didn’t look away.
“Didn’t mean to?”
“It’s strange… I just get so tired when I’m around him.”
“Then why did you take cold water and cloth into his room?”
