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Chapter 20
“I couldn’t sleep… so I went for a walk, and while wandering around I happened to hear groaning from your room. I thought you were hurt and rushed in. When I got here, you were thrashing like you were dying, so I tried to help, but…”
“…”
Cassel, who had been silently listening to Blair’s explanation, pressed his forehead as he tried to steady his uneven breathing. He looked just as shaken and confused by the situation as she was.
Blair, who had barely managed to push herself up to sit, looked at him. Her brows knit together. She hadn’t noticed earlier in her panic, but now she saw that his wrist—raised to his forehead—was wrapped in bandages. Blair quickly reached out and grabbed his hand.
“What happened here? Did you get hurt?”
“…Just a scratch. Don’t worry about it.”
He yanked his hand back as if her touch had dirtied him somehow. Blair’s chest tightened at the cold reaction she had never seen from him before.
“A scratch? The bandage is soaked with blood! Let me see the wound—”
“That’s enough.”
“You’re bleeding that much and you think you’re fine? What about the pain?”
“…The pain really has subsided. When morning comes, I’ll call my physician and get it treated, so stop worrying about it and go back to your room.”
“…Sigh.”
It was unbelievable. Anyone could see he desperately needed help, yet he was pushing her away with everything he had. But as a pharmacist, how could she just ignore a patient?
“Fine. Then I’ll just bring you some medicine from my room. That’s okay, right?”
Blair raised both hands as if promising she wouldn’t touch him. However—
“No.”
Cassel, who had been avoiding her eyes all this time, turned and fixed her with a sharp gaze. His eyes were darker than usual.
“I don’t need medicine.”
The look in his eyes felt like a warning—don’t get involved any further, in any way. Blair’s words caught in her throat.
“And from now on, do not enter my room without permission. No matter what noise you hear, no matter what happens, it’s my business. Just ignore it and walk away.”
“…What?”
Isn’t that too much?
Blair’s green eyes filled with tears. She bit down hard on her lip to stop them from falling.
She had saved him only to nearly be killed by him afterward, and now he was angry at her on top of that. Her neck still throbbed where he’d grabbed her. The unfairness and hurt washed over her in a suffocating wave.
“How can you say that? I was worried something had happened to you! And I’m a pharmacist! How am I supposed to just ignore someone who’s suffering?”
“Did you forget our contract? You only need to make the medicine I request. Other than that, whatever happens to me is none of your concern.”
He spoke coldly to the end. She couldn’t understand why he was being so stubborn, so harsh. Blair clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.
“…Fine! I get it. I was being meddlesome, sticking my nose where it didn’t belong. I’m truly sorry.”
She pushed herself off the bed and stormed out of his room.
Her footsteps echoed harshly down the corridor, then gradually slowed until they finally stopped. Leaning against the hallway wall, Blair slid down to the floor.
“Haa…”
She covered her face and took a deep, shaking breath. The tension in her body finally began to unravel. She still couldn’t make sense of what she’d seen or what had happened.
“Do not enter my room again. No matter what noise you hear, no matter what happens, ignore it.”
Cassel’s cold, razor-edged expression flashed in her mind. His words stabbed at her chest like shards of broken glass.
She had thought… that maybe… they had gotten a little closer.
“You can call me Cassel.”
“Focus only on me.”
“Isn’t dancing all about feeling?”
“The Marquis is a much better man than people say.”
“Hah…”
A bitter laugh escaped her.
Closer? What a joke. She tried not to expect anything from the faint smiles and small jokes he showed only her, but she had hoped—just a little—that some bond had formed.
I guess that was only me.
Her pride stung. The quiet hallway felt unbearably heavy.
Blair abruptly stood up, her eyes still glistening.
“Fine. If that’s what you want, I’ll stop caring from now on.”
***
“Is that the shameless commoner marchioness who bewitched the great Marquis Hermann?”
“How bold, acting like she belongs here.”
“I heard they made quite a spectacle at the last banquet. A love story for the ages, they said!”
“And I heard someone saw her chatting sweetly with Sir Edwin too?”
“Men are so naïve. They don’t know commoners can be more cunning than they look.”
“She needs to be put in her place during this archery contest.”
The Imperial hunting festival — a grand event hosted by the palace.
From a distance, noblewomen stared at one particular pair. Cassel and Blair stood side by side, greeting people politely, surrounded by attention as always.
From dukes to lowly barons, nobles of all ranks gathered here. The men participated in the hunt, while the women competed in a light archery contest.
The winner received a fine reward and a drink poured by the Emperor himself. Many nobles entered desperately, hoping to gain favor or find powerful patrons.
And, as always, people flocked to Cassel.
On any other day, Blair would have found it exhausting. But today… it was a relief.
Since that night, the relationship between her and Cassel had frozen over.
Meals passed in silence, each eating with eyes down. When they met, they exchanged only stiff greetings. With things like this, being surrounded by others was a blessing.
Never thought I’d be happy to see these people.
“By the way, my lord, I hear the temple is recruiting holy knights again?”
“I heard that too! It’s already their second round this year. Forgive me for worrying, but does that mean war might be coming?”
“Indeed. Have you heard anything about that, my lord?”
While Blair had drifted into thought, the conversation had shifted to something heavy.
“I’ll head over there for a bit. Please continue.”
Blair bowed politely and excused herself. Before she left, Cassel’s lips parted as if he meant to say something—but he let her go.
Blair walked away without looking back. Once she was far enough that Cassel’s voice couldn’t reach her, she stopped. She pulled her parasol low over her eyes and let her eyelids fall shut. A breeze lifted her light brown hair, brushing her cheek.
“Ha… I thought I was going to suffocate.”
A week of this awkward distance. Time felt painfully slow. The days when they laughed and joked felt like a memory from years ago.
“It’s even more exhausting losing the only ally I had…”
Just then—
“Madam? What are you doing out here alone?”
Blair opened her eyes. Sir Edwin was approaching from a short distance away, dressed in a white hunting outfit that suited him perfectly, a set of hunting arrows in one hand.
“Sir Edwin! You’re a bit late. Your outfit looks amazing today!”
“Father was nagging me endlessly. But hearing your compliment washes all that stress away. By the way, where’s Cassel? Why are you alone?”
“We were just together, but the men started talking business, so I stepped aside. I was heading toward the ladies.”
“I see. You’re participating in the archery contest, right? Should I look forward to seeing your skills?”
Edwin smiled gently—his smile was always charming.
“I only learned recently, so don’t expect too much. But I’ll try my best not to come in last. What about you, Sir Edwin? Confident about today’s hunt?”
“Me? I’m always ready.”
