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Chapter 60
A few more days passed.
Lorea still had not woken up Carlos.
After about a week, worry slowly rose in my heart, but every time Sion visited my room, he calmed me down. Because of him, I could endure the anxiety.
There was someone else who came to my room almost as often as Sion.
It was Damian.
After I woke up, he skipped training and spent almost every day sitting in my room before leaving.
At first, I thought it was surveillance. But his actions didn’t seem like that.
He brought flowers. He brought snacks. Sometimes he brought books from the library or board games, saying I would be bored.
Today, there was a plate with apples in his hand.
“Open your mouth.”
“…Young Master, I can eat by myself.”
“Your arm is like that. If you move, the wound will only worsen.”
Damian poked a slice of apple with a fork and held it toward me.
“You must eat quickly to recover. Fruits are good for anemia.”
His face was expressionless, but his actions were gentle.
The apple entered my mouth. It was sweet. The crunchy texture was nice.
Damian picked up the next slice.
“Young Master, really, I—”
“Next.”
I opened my mouth again.
Damian did not stop until I finished eating. One piece, two pieces, three pieces.
“…I really don’t understand why you are doing this. Young Master, don’t you have work? I think you are not training much these days.”
“Do you really need to ask?”
Why are you raising your voice again?
I covered one ear and frowned. Damian clicked his tongue softly.
“I was not trying to get angry.”
“Yes, I’m sure. You are a princess after all. Do you think I would dare be angry at you?”
“You are already registered as my guardian, but you still talk about being a princess?”
“Being a ward doesn’t make me lose my status, right?”
Actually, I didn’t even plan to act like a princess anymore.
But somehow, I wanted to push him back like this.
Damian muttered unhappily, looking dissatisfied.
“I said it before. I thought my heart stopped. The Tower Master suddenly appeared carrying the two of you. Both of you were covered in blood. My father was unconscious, and the princess was lying pale and collapsed.”
“…I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
“Who said it was the princess’s fault? If you are going to apologize for nothing, then finish eating first.”
Damian frowned and shoved the remaining apple into my mouth.
I wish he would either worry or bully me. Not both.
I’m already full now.
“Next time… please be more careful. I told you to take care of yourself and return safely.”
“I’m really sorry I couldn’t keep the promise.”
“That apology is acceptable. I’m glad you understand.”
Damian’s voice trembled slightly as he took my fork and started poking the apple.
Two people who left the duchy returned covered in blood. He must have been very scared.
“…I will be more careful in the future.”
I said sincerely.
Damian nodded silently.
After a moment of silence, Damian spoke as if he suddenly remembered something.
“…Oh, a document came from the temple.”
“A document?”
He handed me a paper sealed with the temple emblem.
I took it and blinked. The document felt heavy in my hand.
“…This is—”
“Yes. It is the official confirmation that the guardian registration has been completed. Now, legally, the princess is a ward of the Carter Grand Duke’s family. Even if the Emperor says something, he cannot take you away.”
I looked down at the document.
It felt meaningful. The result of a life-risking journey.
After being attacked by assassins, after Carlos collapsed, after going through all those events, this was the document I received.
‘Just to get this….’
I shook off the shallow thought.
“It arrived faster than I expected. I thought they would delay it.”
“It seems the eastern temple handled it quickly.”
So it was the cardinal’s influence.
It must have been shocking that the Emperor had hidden records.
Who told him to swear loyalty to the Emperor anyway? For someone his age, he was really naive.
“…So, about that.”
While I was lost in thought, Damian’s voice came from beside me.
“Yes?”
He hesitated, looking like he found it hard to speak.
After rolling his eyes for a while, he finally spoke.
“How long are you going to call me Young Master?”
“…Pardon?”
It was an unexpected question.
Damian cleared his throat and looked straight at me.
His face was expressionless, but his ears were slightly red.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Damian said.
“How long are you going to keep calling me Young Master? Are you going to stay in the duchy and act like a princess forever?”
“That’s not it… Then what should I call you?”
I asked honestly because I really didn’t know.
If not Young Master, then what? Sir Carter? That felt strange too.
Damian’s face twisted.
“Do you not know my name?”
“I do know your name.”
…Did he mean he wanted me to call him Damian?
Not Young Master. Not Sir Carter. Just Damian.
‘Between us, by first name?’
It felt like something was stuck in my throat.
Even if I became a ward, I was not really becoming their family. It was only a legal protection relationship, not real family.
It made me feel like I had become something special.
Awkward and ticklish.
After I stayed silent for a long time, Damian narrowed his eyes again.
“What are you thinking about now?”
“Nothing.”
I fidgeted my hands. I avoided his gaze. I touched the edge of the blanket.
“…Just thinking it feels a little awkward?”
Why did his expression turn sulky again?
“You have many things to feel awkward about.”
“But, a relationship where the Young Master and I can call each other’s names kindly—”
“Ha. Do you think I’m asking for some special meaning?”
His voice suddenly grew louder again.
Why are you raising your voice again?
“At least until the princess becomes an adult, we will live in the same mansion. If you keep calling me ‘Princess’ or ‘Young Master’, it feels like I am hosting a guest, and that makes me uncomfortable.”
He laughed awkwardly, saying it almost like shouting.
His ears were redder than before, and now even his neck was red.
His green eyes wandered aimlessly—looking out the window, then the floor.
‘He said it first, but now he feels awkward.’
He really had a cute side like this.
I couldn’t help but laugh softly.
“Okay. Then… Damian.”
At my careful call, Damian stopped moving and opened his mouth slightly as if he wanted to say something.
“You called me first?”
“Yes.”
“I will also call you by your name.”
“Okay.”
Damian opened and closed his mouth several times, like he wanted to say something but couldn’t.
Finally—
“…Let’s go slowly.”
He scratched his head awkwardly.
The sight was somehow funny.
“Go slowly. I will wait.”
“…Okay.”
Damian nodded.
His ears were still red, but his expression looked a little softer.
It was an awkward but not bad atmosphere.
At that moment, the door suddenly burst open and Mia ran in.
“Master, Princess! The Grand Duke has woken up!”
