Chapter 67
How long had he been standing there?
No—that wasn’t the important part.
What mattered was that Claudio was clearly displeased.
No… this feels like more than simple displeasure.
Urian froze where he sat, like prey caught before a predator.
Marsha, puzzled by his sudden stiffness, followed his gaze.
Ah.
Claudio stood there, brows knitted as though the sunlight itself offended him.
Since when has he been standing there?
If he had come, why hadn’t he stepped up onto the terrace or called out instead of just standing there like that?
Still, Marsha couldn’t help feeling glad to see him, and her lips curved upward without her realizing.
But then Claudio’s eyes widened in surprise.
Only then did Marsha realize she was smiling at him, and she quickly forced her lips back down.
Am I crazy? Why did I do that?
With long, powerful strides, Claudio entered the house.
Marsha felt as though she were being chased and wanted to hide—but she couldn’t.
The mansion was vast, like something out of a dream, but to her it was an unfamiliar maze.
She had no idea where to run.
Before the heat in her cheeks had even cooled, Claudio appeared before them.
Urian leapt to his feet like a startled cat.
Marsha, too, tried to rise, but Claudio raised his hand, stopping her.
“Today, I heard something shocking while I was out.”
His sigh was heavy.
“But what I’m seeing now is far more shocking.”
“W-what do you mean?” Marsha’s voice trembled. Does he mean my smile was that shocking? she thought anxiously.
“I spent the whole day working, and my subordinate was here enjoying himself.”
Ah… so it was about Urian.
Exhaling in relief, Marsha ventured cautiously,
“Perhaps it isn’t my place to say this, but… Urian was only trying to let me rest—”
“Wait.”
Claudio shook his head, frowning.
Marsha flinched, bracing for him to scold her for overstepping.
But instead, his words startled her.
“Did you just call him ‘Urian ’?”
“…Yes,” she answered, caught off guard.
Claudio’s expression darkened as he jerked his chin at Urian.
“And are you planning to keep calling this bastard that way?”
“Well, of course. What else would I call him but Urian—”
Halfway through, she realized her mistake.
“Oh heavens, forgive me. Count Seltos! I’ve been so rude, calling you by name.”
Her face went pale, and she clapped a hand over her mouth.
Urian’s eyes wavered.
I never thought she’d be scolded for calling me by name…
Why was Claudio making an issue of this?
“Ha. I told you to call me by name, and yet every word from your mouth is ‘Your Grace, Your Grace.’ But when it comes to Urian, calling him by name seems to come so easily?”
So that’s what this is about.
Urian felt a flicker of shame for not realizing sooner.
“It’s not that it comes easily—it was a mistake!” Marsha protested.
“A mistake born of comfort, isn’t it?”
“What kind of twisted logic is that?”
She had been so careful to call Claudio Your Grace because she feared slipping and using his name—or worse, an endearment—in public.
Surely he knew that.
Then why was he picking a fight?
“I’ve said this before. You’re strangely soft when it comes to Urian. Wiping dust off his hair, taking care of him like that.”
“How is that being soft? Anyone would have done the same!”
“Really? And what about whispering secrets with your hand at his mouth when no one else was around?”
Marsha scowled.
Claudio rested his hand on his hip and tilted his head.
“So, what exactly did you two talk about?”
She couldn’t very well admit it had been about him.
Her lips pressed shut.
Claudio’s eyes lingered on her troubled gaze before turning sharply to Urian.
“Then you answer.”
“Well…”
Urian hesitated.
He hadn’t spoken ill of his lord, but could he admit they had been discussing him?
No, wait—maybe that was ill talk… What answer will let me keep my head on my shoulders?
Sweat pricked his brow.
“It was today,” Marsha blurted out suddenly.
Claudio’s cold gaze swung to her, still filled with displeasure—but the icy edge softened.
“He only said that I’d done well today,” she explained.
“You needed to whisper that like a secret?”
“I was nervous, so he teased me. That’s all.”
“So you’ve grown close enough to tease each other now?”
“Count Seltos is simply kind.”
Claudio let out a short, incredulous laugh.
She barely ever smiles at my words… but at his? She lights up.
Still, he could have sworn—earlier—he’d seen her smile at him too.
For a moment, anyway.
Should I ask her?
His mouth opened, then shut again.
She would only deny it, and if she claimed she hadn’t smiled at him, that would sting far worse.
Meanwhile, Urian watched this strange scene unfold, thoughts swirling.
Maybe this isn’t my place to think, but…
These two were very close.
Their bickering only proved it; such exchanges were only possible between people who were comfortable with each other.
I thought His Grace’s feelings were one-sided, but maybe… maybe she feels something too.
It was a relief, if so.
He had feared his lord would fall into the same doomed, consuming love his mother once had—unable to let go of unreturned feelings until they destroyed her.
But Claudio was far more dangerous than his mother.
With his power, he could lock Marsha away in Gloria or this very estate, manipulating her with the unresolved case of Count Emelide, chaining her with guilt or obligation.
Yet now, watching them… they didn’t seem bad together at all.
“…What are you grinning at?”
Claudio’s sharp voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
He looked up to find both Claudio and Marsha frowning at him.
“Ah—no, nothing.”
“Nothing, what?”
Sweat dampened Urian ’s palms. If I don’t answer right, my youth will end under piles of endless reports… or worse, my lifespan itself will be cut short.
“It’s just… you two seem very close.”
The words tumbled out—his honest impression, though delivered like flattery.
Claudio ran a hand slowly through his hair.
So, he noticed after all.
He had always suspected Urian knew more than he let on.
The man could be frustratingly oblivious, yet at certain moments, unnervingly perceptive.
And yes, Claudio understood why urian showed Marsha such consideration.
It was for his sake, of course.
He knew that in his head.
“Yurian.”
“Yes, my lord?”
“That report I was supposed to receive in three days… I think I’ll need it by tomorrow morning.”
“…What?”
Urian’s face drained of color.
He stumbled for words, but Claudio only crossed his arms, a faint smile curving his lips.
“Doesn’t look like you’ll have much time to be standing around here.”
“I… I’ll take my leave then.”
He bowed deeply to Claudio, then to Marsha.
She waved her hands in alarm, trying to tell him not to bow to her, but he didn’t even see it—he was already hurrying out of the room.
What a strange thing to say before running off…
Marsha sighed at the empty space he left behind.
Because of her, Urian always seemed to suffer undeserved hardships.
No, that’s not fair.
He did say something odd…
Close? Us?
How could he think that, when they’d been quarreling so openly?
No wonder Claudio looked even more displeased after hearing it.
He had probably been in a foul mood already, returning from work only to find his subordinate lounging here.
Marsha rose with a soft sigh—just as Claudio dropped into the chair Urian had vacated.
“…?”
She blinked at him, puzzled.
Claudio rested his chin on his hand, staring at her.
“Well? Sit.”
