TMDFC 20

Chapter 20

Lauren looked up at the shadow of the man standing in front of her as if protecting her. The tall man’s back was like a massive rock, enough to completely hide her from Delania’s eyes.

Aster.

Lauren rolled his name silently in her mind.

Why is he here?

Her eyes blinked slowly. Her vacant gaze met his sunken green eyes. Even through her blurry vision, she could see Aster frown.

“What… what is this?!”

At Delania’s harsh voice, Lauren instinctively shrank her shoulders.

She had tried not to show weakness.

But perhaps because of the shock of being slapped, that resolve had vanished without a trace. She didn’t even have the luxury to think.

“I asked. If Lauren isn’t truly the Duchess, then what exactly is she?”

At the low growl that seemed to vibrate in the air, Delania took a step back.

The emotionless green eyes looking down at her felt threatening.

The Murderer.

She had forgotten because he’d been quietly staying by Lauren’s side, but that had always been his nickname.

His dark green eyes, deep as poisonous weeds growing in the shadows, sent a chill down her spine.

“W-well…”

“That damn newspaper article must’ve made people think I’m a joke. Strange pests keep crawling out.”

Aster curled one corner of his mouth and laughed softly.

His smiling face was handsome enough to make anyone stare if they met him on the street, but the temperature in his eyes wasn’t warm at all.

His gaze looked violent enough to strangle someone at any moment, and Delania’s eyes widened.

“You dare… strike the Duchess of Lilliwood?”

Aster stepped closer.

His shadow fell over Delania’s face.

Her body trembled violently.

Her brown eyes filled with fear.

The closer Aster approached, the more Delania retreated, until she finally stumbled into a long sofa and fell.

A small gasp escaped her throat.

“M-move!”

As if sensing danger to her life, Delania sprang up and shoved at Aster—

Or tried to.

Aster simply stepped aside and avoided her desperate attempt.

Delania staggered and eventually collapsed to the floor.

Crash.

A loud noise echoed.

Oh dear.

Aster’s gaze shifted toward Lauren.

Her eyes were tightly shut.

Maybe because of the noise, her shoulders had curled inward even more.

Tch.

Aster clicked his tongue.

Even that sound was fierce.

Whatever crossed Delania’s mind, she suddenly screamed and ran out of the room.

Aster watched her retreating figure.

Well, leave her alone. She’ll run off on her own.

Something else was more important.

“Lauren.”

Lauren didn’t answer.

Aster carefully approached and sat beside her.

Even from next to her, he could feel her trembling.

He took her hand and gently patted the back of it.

At the unfamiliar touch, Lauren lifted her pale face.

Her light violet eyes stared blankly at him.

“It’s alright, Lauren. The guest has gone home.”

Lauren blinked as though she didn’t understand his words.

Then her body trembled.

“S-she left?”

“Yes. She left.”

As if trying to confirm it, Lauren repeated the question.

At her shaking voice, Aster answered again.

Only then did Lauren let out a long breath.

Even her exhale trembled faintly.

His gaze landed on Lauren’s swollen red cheek.

How hard had she been hit?

Her puffed-up cheek looked painful.

Without thinking, Aster reached out and touched her cheek.

The heat burning beneath her skin reached his fingertips, and Lauren turned her head away.

“…I’m sorry. It must’ve hurt.”

“N-no, it’s alright.”

Lauren’s eyes became slightly clearer.

She recovered from shock quickly.

Does that mean she’s used to situations like this?

A bit unpleasant to think about.

Frowning, Aster checked her injuries.

There was blood gathering at the corner of her split lip.

He needed to find out what happened, but first—

Medicine.

Rest.

That would be better.

To his eyes, Lauren looked utterly exhausted.

“The injuries…”

Lauren let out a small sound.

“Ah…”

Only then did the pain in her frozen cheek crash over her.

Her brows furrowed from the throbbing ache.

She bit her lip and tried to stand—

But her legs gave out, and she collapsed again.

Aster clicked his tongue inwardly and lifted her into his arms.

“Put me down, Aster. I can walk by myself.”

“Stay still.”

Holding her, Aster began walking.

Lauren tried resisting in her own way, but stopped moving after Aster told her to behave unless she wanted to struggle and fall.

He wasn’t as tall as Letty, but he was still tall.

Falling from this height would definitely hurt.

Aster Lilliwood.

A famous war hero.

And she had wanted to appear strong enough to suit his family.

But she couldn’t.

She was still weak, just like when she was a child, and had frozen before Delania.

Because of that—

She had ruined everything.

Lauren looked up at Aster as he carried her without hesitation.

His sharply sculpted jaw looked strong.

For some reason, envy welled inside her.

Swallowing a sigh, Lauren quietly rested her head against his chest.

“Milady!”

Still carrying Lauren, Aster skillfully opened the door.

Lize and Anna hurried over.

The moment Lize saw Lauren’s swollen cheek, she cried out.

Anna stood frozen, forgetting even to make a sound.

Her face was pale, as if she’d seen a ghost.

“The bedroom?”

At Aster’s low voice, Lize quickly opened the bedroom door.

Aster strode over to the bed and carefully set Lauren down.

Then he ordered them to bring ice and a first-aid kit.

Anna ran out.

Lize began helping Lauren change clothes.

Lauren thought he would leave afterward—

But the one who returned carrying the first-aid kit wasn’t Anna.

It was Aster.

Sitting on the bed, Lauren smiled bitterly.

She felt sorry for making him worry.

Waiting until he sat beside her, she spoke.

“…I’m sorry, Aster.”

If you don’t say things aloud, feelings don’t get conveyed.

Lauren lowered her head and apologized.

His earlier words to Delania—“People must think I’m a joke.”—lingered in her chest.

Because of her.

Because she suggested the newspaper article—

No.

Because she proposed the marriage—

He’d been dragged into things he never should have experienced.

No apology would ever be enough.

“Give me your hand.”

Aster let out a small sigh.

He didn’t respond to her apology and only said that.

“My hand?”

Not her cheek?

Lauren looked down.

On her pale palm, deep crescent marks from her fingernails remained red, with blood seeping out.

No wonder it stung while washing up.

She hadn’t realized she’d been injured.

Her eyes shifted to Aster.

“There’s no resident physician in the estate. I’ll call a military doctor tomorrow. For now, disinfect it and treat the wound.”

There was something impossible to refuse in Aster’s voice.

Lauren quietly held out her hand.

“There’s no need to call a military doctor over injuries like this. I’m not a soldier…”

Aster, pressing cotton soaked with disinfectant to her palm, glanced up at her.

His calm green eyes seemed to examine her.

Lauren forced a smile.

Her split lip hurt, and a small groan escaped.

“Then should I call one of the servants who has medical qualifications?”

“That much is…”

“Alright.”

He answered shortly and looked back down at her wound.

She had meant it wasn’t serious enough to call a doctor.

But Aster seemed to have understood the opposite.

Still—

Lauren couldn’t say anything more.

Just before lowering his gaze, she thought she saw him smile faintly in relief.

Was it her imagination?

It was different from his usual mocking smile or sharp grin directed at no one in particular.

Lauren quietly watched Aster as he treated her wounds.

Long blond hair falling below his shoulders.

His eyelashes, the same color as his hair, were longer than she’d thought.

Perhaps because he intended for her to sleep early, the room’s lighting was dim.

His hair and eyelashes shimmered beneath it.

He looks nice when he’s concentrating.

The thought crossed Lauren’s mind—

And startled her.

At that moment, after finishing the treatment and wrapping a bandage around her hand, Aster looked up.

Their eyes met.

Unsure where to look, Lauren lowered her head immediately.

Aster tilted his head.

“Raise your head, Lauren.”

His low voice instructed her.

Lauren slowly looked up.

He’s only treating your injuries.

Don’t be shaken.

She repeated to herself.

His hands disinfecting her split lip and bruised cheek were gentle—

So why did she keep becoming conscious of him?

She had promised herself not to.

Lauren forced her gaze away.

Yet she kept checking what expression he wore.

Just like—

That day long ago lingering in her memory.

* * *

Inside a dark room.

Streetlight spilled through the gap in half-open curtains.

The shadow of a man stretched across a long sofa and moved lazily.

The commotion outside had reached indoors.

The man set down the newspaper he’d been reading and approached the window.

The shrill screaming outside irritated his ears.

Brushing back his long golden hair, he looked down below the window.

A woman with dark brown hair, almost black in appearance, was being dragged away.

Her voice hurled curses like a storm.

The man pulled up one corner of his lips and laughed softly.

“Cursing the murderous Duke… How fearless.”

He muttered quietly.

Then he shut the curtains with a swift motion and turned away.

Returning to the sofa, he dropped onto it.

Stretching out across the empty space, a sharp, dangerous smile appeared at his lips.

“Something interesting seems to be happening.”

His voice was soft—

Unlike the blade-like glint in his bluish green eyes.

Lowering his head, he looked at his arm.

Beneath his rolled sleeve was a black thorn-chain mark engraved into his forearm.

“Hah…”

A dry laugh escaped him.

The man lay back fully on the sofa.

“Aster… what on earth are you thinking?”

He murmured with one corner of his mouth raised.

Resting his head against the armrest, he stared at the ceiling.

His bluish gaze drifted along its patterns—

Until his eyelids slowly closed.

“I truly don’t know anymore.”

His quiet voice dissolved into the darkness.

The faint light beyond the curtains fell over the newspaper he’d set aside.

Printed on the folded paper was a large photograph of Lauren and Aster—

Along with an interview featuring the two of them.