TVRC 18

Chapter  18

Floating in a pure white bathtub were red rose petals. The subtle scent of roses mingled with the faint steam, filling the bathroom.

Yet, despite soaking in the warm bath, Leblanc’s expression seemed gloomy. Next to her, Lily, who was tidying up the essential oils, asked in a cautious voice:

“Count, is something wrong? You look especially tired today.”

“Hmm, it’s nothing.”

But her voice betrayed her; it was drooping and subdued. Leblanc was still reeling from the shock of the earlier conversation with Shiesha. That she wasn’t close to Erkis—it was a problem she had never considered before.

“Actually, I have a worry… could you listen?”

“Of course! I’ll answer as best as I can. What’s bothering you?”

Instead of answering, Leblanc hugged her knees and sank deeper into the water. After a moment of contemplation with her jaw submerged, she surfaced carefully and spoke.

“How do you become close to someone you like…?”

“Someone you like?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Lily blinked. Seeing Leblanc’s unusually downcast expression, she assumed it had something to do with the estate, as usual.

But a love-related worry? Lily couldn’t help but find Leblanc in front of her utterly adorable.

The ever-mature-looking Leblanc was, for the first time, having a genuinely youthful concern. Thrilled by this, Lily’s eyes sparkled as she leaned closer.

“Is it about Erkis?”

“Mm…”

At the mention of his name, Leblanc’s ears flushed slightly. In all her years, she had never had such a concern.

She had closed herself off emotionally to most people, and those who showed her kindness had always approached first. Leblanc had never once taken the initiative to reach out to anyone.

Especially with Erkis, it had been the same. Reflecting on her memories, all she had ever felt toward him was a sense of indebtedness—he was the one who had shaped the Leblanc she was now.

“I thought you two were close.”

“We’re not on bad terms, but I think he still finds me a bit overwhelming. Maybe even awkward. According to Shiesha, we don’t seem very close.”

As she spoke, Leblanc secretly hoped Lily would contradict her, but Lily merely nodded subtly, empathizing with Shiesha’s perspective.

“Yeah, that makes sense. Count, you might have met Erkis during the founding festival, but he probably hasn’t. Even after marriage, you were busy with work, so there haven’t been many chances for you two to get close.”

“So I just need to get closer to Erkis, right? But… what if he doesn’t like becoming close to me?”

“Huh? Why would Erkis dislike you?”

Flustered, Lily asked, and Leblanc hesitated, then slowly replied:

“Because I’m from the Arnetio family…”

“Oh, that’s nonsense! Why would you link the Count with the Duke’s family just because of something you went through? Didn’t he clearly say he dislikes the Arnetios? Ancestors’ business is ancestors’ business. You weren’t even born then! It’s petty to hold that against you. And if that mattered, you shouldn’t have accepted the marriage in the first place!”

Lily’s face contorted with frustration as she spoke passionately. Leblanc, on one hand, agreed, but on the other, she understood Erkis.

“Even if I think that logically, I can’t help feeling uneasy… but before, in the past…”

Recalling her past life, Leblanc trailed off. In her memories, past-life Erkis had never shown such reluctance.

‘Or maybe I just didn’t notice?’

With a serious expression, Leblanc replayed memories from the early days of her marriage. Watching her, Lily asked as if to say it couldn’t be that simple:

“If Erkis really feels uncomfortable around you, couldn’t there be another reason? Maybe he’s just shy, or has personal matters… or maybe he finds you too beautiful and feels pressured? That’s entirely possible.”

“What?”

When Lily stared intently at her, Leblanc blushed and slowly sank back into the water. Clearly, the young Erkis before her differed in many ways from the Erkis she remembered.

“So, what should I do? I don’t want Erkis to feel uncomfortable around me…”

Leblanc found this unfamiliar feeling strange. Standing before Erkis always made her feel like someone else.

In any other situation, she would have ignored such a matter without concern. She was used to people avoiding or feeling uncomfortable around her.

But with Erkis, she became anxious and restless. Having never felt this way in her life, she was nearly burning with unease.

Then Lily, who had been pondering, spoke seriously:

“I think becoming close should come first. Once you talk more, you can solve any issues. Oh, how about going on a date? Experiencing something new might make things feel different.”

“A date?”

“Yes. The Snowflake Festival in the North is really popular these days. It’s not far, and the atmosphere is lovely. Plus, Count, you’ve been working nonstop for days. How about taking a little trip as a break?”

“The Snowflake Festival… sounds nice.”

Imagining going with Erkis, Leblanc blushed with anticipation. She secretly hoped this date would help him open his heart.

‘Meeting Erkis comes first, of course…’

Naturally, to ask him out, she had to face him. Resolute, Leblanc decided to use her final, long-saved strategy.

After finishing her bath, Leblanc boldly headed to the bedroom.

In fact, there was a door connecting their two adjacent bedrooms, but Leblanc had never touched it before.

Usually, opening this door between married couples carried a certain implication. A sort of signal—there was no need to knock or exchange awkward greetings.

Thinking this way, Erkis surely wouldn’t expect her to open it, especially at this late hour. Excuses like “I’m sick” or “I’m asleep” wouldn’t work.

Gripping the doorknob, Leblanc paused and exhaled deeply.

“Hoo…”

Her heart pounded with tension. It wasn’t the first time she had asked Erkis out, but nerves were inevitable.

‘What if Erkis refuses?’

Leblanc had never considered this before. Erkis, devoted as he was, had always nodded without question to her requests.

The possibility of rejection brought a strange, new feeling to Leblanc.

Although Erkis wouldn’t likely welcome a sudden visit, their relationship was already awkward, so there was little to lose. Determined, she swung the door open.

“Erkis!”

“C-Count!”

As expected, Erkis was completely off guard. Startled by her sudden visit, he glanced around to escape.

But Leblanc was quicker. Anticipating his attempt, she pressed him against the wall, blocking any route of escape.

“Where are you trying to run off to?”

“Run…? Well, Count, what brings you to my room at this hour…”

Erkis avoided her gaze, his lie obvious, and Leblanc silently looked down at him.

She had planned to scold him for avoiding her, but seeing his youthful face melted her disappointment instantly.

Staring at him, she muttered almost unconsciously:

“…I wanted to see you, Erkis.”

Her words, far too honest despite her practice, left her flustered. When she looked up, a blushing Erkis stared at her, wide-eyed.

“At this hour…?”