VSBO 05

Chapter: 05

“What is it?”

I grew anxious.

Should I get up and step out into the corridor even now?

I couldn’t tell what Lia was about to say to Kairon. There was a chance something unfavorable to me might come out of her mouth.

“Master.”

Lia’s voice, calling for Kairon, trembled faintly. She was extremely nervous.

My heart trembled along with hers. I clutched the blanket tightly, ready to throw it off and rush out at any moment—prepared to stop her if she said anything strange.

But what she said next surprised me. She hadn’t come to report my faults or voice complaints to Kairon. It was the opposite.

“Please… please, just once, look at my lady. Just once, hold her.”

Hearing her words, the strength drained from my hands that had been gripping the blanket. It was so unexpected.

“Hold her…?”

Was it just my imagination that Kairon’s questioning voice sounded sharp?

“My lady is a thoughtful and kind person. All of us servants like her.”

For a moment, my chest welled up, growing warm.

I hadn’t expected Lia to stand up for me—especially not in front of that cold Kairon.

Before I knew it, I was holding my breath, focusing on their conversation as if someone might hear me breathing. Even though they wouldn’t know I was listening inside.

“I don’t have the time to leisurely listen to your feelings about my wife.”

Kairon’s voice was so cold it made Lia’s courage feel futile.

“Th-that’s not it!”

Lia hurriedly tried to stop him.

Then I heard a soft thud. Did Lia just drop to her knees?

“Before the meal earlier, my lady collapsed with a nosebleed!”

Oh dear. I despaired. My husband had already found out that I was so ill I had collapsed twice. Kairon definitely wouldn’t be pleased to hear this.

“What did you say?”

As expected, his voice became even sharper.

“I think my lady’s health has worsened.”

“Ha… That sounds similar to what the doctor said earlier.”

Wasn’t that basically telling her to step aside since he didn’t want to hear the same thing twice?

But surprisingly, Lia was not easily deterred. She continued pleading.

“I-if Master would just look at my lady kindly even once, it would h-help her recover.”

Her voice trembled so much that I almost wanted to run out and stop her myself.

“I believe that if she receives warm care during her illness, she may recover at least a little faster.”

“So you’re asking me to take care of her?”

Kairon remained cold.

“While Master was away, my lady protected this large mansion all alone. She doesn’t show it, but she must have been lonely inside. I think the pain in her heart may have turned into illness. If she’s left alone even at a time like this, she’ll feel very lonely.”

“So what is it that you want me to do?”

Lia’s words were practically saying that my worsening condition was Kairon’s fault.

To dare say such a thing in front of her master—it would require being prepared to die.

From this conversation, I realized two things.

Thankfully, Lia cared about me a lot—and even in her eyes, I was pitifully unloved by my husband.

“A few months ago, when Master left on a journey for over a month, my lady caught a cold.”

“And?”

“At that time, aside from us servants, she received no care from anyone and endured it alone. I still vividly remember how she suffered.”

“It seems the servants’ care would have been sufficient.”

In contrast to Lia’s passionate plea, Kairon’s tone remained indifferent. It felt like no one could break through his icy demeanor.

“But we couldn’t relieve the loneliness in her heart.”

“And you think I could?”

There was even a hint of annoyance in his voice.

For a moment, the conversation stopped, and nothing could be heard. After a short silence, Lia spoke again.

“…Even when Master was away from the estate, my lady never once resented you.”

Even if she said that, would Kairon even recognize his own coldness?

“Just this once… please stay by my lady’s side. At least until she wakes up… please stay with her….”

Her voice was no longer trembling from nervousness. She was on the verge of tears, desperately hoping her plea would be accepted.

“Your Grace, if you don’t depart now, it will be difficult to arrive as planned.”

The aide’s voice cut in, as if he couldn’t wait any longer.

But Kairon ignored him, perhaps angered by Lia.

“Do you servants lack the confidence to properly care for my wife?”

“Th-that’s not it… There are things only Master can provide.”

“You mean the ‘loneliness in her heart’ you mentioned?”

His voice now carried clear irritation at the repetition.

“Y-yes….”

I grew worried that Lia might be punished.

“M-my lady would be happy just knowing that Master took the time to stay by her side.”

“But we don’t know when she will wake. It could take a day, three days, even ten.”

The aide interrupted again.

He did have a point.

Since I had read the original story, I knew what journey Kairon was about to embark on.

According to the original, this trip was to persuade Marquis Meladin of the West.

Marquis Meladin held great power over the West, where many supporters of the temple resided. They could become obstacles to the plan, so Kairon intended to win over the Marquis first.

The meeting had already been arranged. If his departure was delayed, the meeting itself might fall through.

Naturally, I assumed Kairon would leave as planned. However…

“…The cause of Eket’s collapse hasn’t been clearly identified yet.”

What he said next was unexpected.

“The doctor said it wasn’t poison, but we still can’t completely rule out the possibility that someone tampered with the food. We can’t rely solely on the judgment of one old doctor.”

Kairon was still considering the possibility that this wasn’t just a simple health issue.

“If someone deliberately did this, it’s not something to take lightly. It’s a threat.”

The “threat” he spoke of was directed at himself. In other words, it could be a scheme targeting the Duke.

“Th-that may be true, but still….”

“I’ll investigate everyone who entered the kitchen and the dining room today before I leave.”

Well, if it was something that threatened him, there was no way he would overlook it. Targeting the Duchess was the same as targeting the Duke.

Knowing full well that my illness had nothing to do with any scheme, I found his suspicion almost laughable.

Don’t waste time on pointless things—just leave already.

But I didn’t want to confirm my frailty with my own words, so I decided to pretend ignorance.

“That will take time, Your Grace.”

“Delaying the schedule is inevitable, then.”

Kairon was a decisive man. Now that he sensed danger, he wouldn’t change his mind.

Seizing the opportunity, Lia pleaded once more.

“Th-then, until my lady wakes… no, even for a moment, please stay by her side.”

Her desperation almost brought tears to my eyes.

Kairon let out a small sigh.

“I’ll think about it.”

It sounded like an answer forced out by Lia’s persistence. Even so, I didn’t expect him to actually stay by my side.

With that, the conversation finally ended. Soon after, I heard Kairon’s footsteps growing distant.

A little while later, silence fell outside my room as the people gathered there left one by one.

Still, it was a relief that Lia didn’t seem like she would be punished for blocking Kairon’s path.

Since she cared for me so much, it was only natural that I worried about her getting hurt.

I could endure my husband ignoring me, but I didn’t think I could tolerate him harming someone dear to me.

I didn’t expect him to cherish me—but at the very least, I wished he wouldn’t touch those I cared about.

That was the only thing I wanted from him as a wife.

With those thoughts, perhaps due to the medicine, I slowly drifted back to sleep.