Chapter 26. Rival
“I don’t have even a speck of thought about getting back together with Duke Ortiz. I’m sure he feels the same.”
“Really?”
“I probably want Duke Ortiz and Miss Lily to work out more than anyone else does.”
Please stop reaching for Nox and just focus on Damian already.
With that wish in mind, I firmly emphasized it to Lily once more.
“So don’t worry, and I hope you and Damian have a beautiful ending soon.”
Lily’s expression turned strange.
She stared at me as if unsure whether to believe me or not, then lowered her eyes and peeked up at me, watching for my reaction.
Sure, I’d been a bit harsh to her, but did she really have to look that scared?
Anyone watching would think I was bullying her.
Like those young ladies standing behind Lily, for instance.
“Now that we’re on the subject, let me ask you something too.”
“What is it?”
“What’s your relationship with Teacher Nox?”
Truthfully, I’d been wondering about that for a while.
I’d been going in and out of Nox’s office so much lately that even if I didn’t want to, I kept spotting traces left behind by someone else.
Like a teacup with a lipstick stain, or a vase full of flowers—even though Nox has zero interest in things like that.
And most of all, the faint lingering scent of perfume—clearly a woman’s—that I’d sometimes catch in his office, even if we never ran into each other.
The same scent I could smell coming from Lily now.
“…Huh?”
Lily blinked in shock, as if she had just heard something completely unexpected.
“I thought you were doing well with the Duke, but you seem close to the teacher too. So I wondered, maybe…”
“What are you accusing me of?”
“Oh, right? I must be mistaken. I mean, why would you go after Teacher Nox when you already have the Duke, right?”
“R-right…”
No matter what Lily was thinking, I got the answer I wanted.
Satisfied, I turned my gaze toward the carriage waiting nearby.
The coachman, who had been waiting a while, was glaring at me in annoyance.
“Well, I’ll be going first.”
I hurriedly left and ran to the carriage.
After apologizing sweetly to the coachman for making him wait, I quickly climbed inside.
The carriage moved forward in the direction of Lily and the other ladies, so I couldn’t help but see them again through the window.
“Was I too harsh?”
I mumbled to myself while watching the young ladies comfort a deflated Lily.
If no one had heard our conversation, it really could look like I’d said something terrible.
Just as a faint tinge of regret passed over me, our eyes suddenly met—Lily’s and mine.
“I can’t pretend I imagined that…”
Her blue eyes glinted slyly.
The moment I recalled that look, an old question surfaced in my mind:
Does Lily know that I’m her rival when it comes to the male leads?
By the time I returned home, the sky outside had darkened into dusk.
After spending the entire day on a hard chair, my back, shoulders, and neck were aching. I collapsed onto the sofa like a puppet with its strings cut.
Even now, that look in Lily’s eyes made me uneasy.
Listlessly, I untied my scarf and tossed it aside, then stared blankly at the darkening ceiling.
It was so quiet, it felt less like silence and more like isolation. The only sound in the house was the ticking of the clock.
All of a sudden, the fact that I was alone hit me hard.
“……”
Once that awareness of loneliness set in, it wrapped around me without mercy.
This house, which I used to navigate with my eyes closed, now felt strangely unfamiliar. The ticking of the clock echoed so loudly in the stillness, it only added to the desolation.
Tick, tick, tick.
The rhythmic sound seemed to slow down. Then suddenly—I felt a chill.
Goosebumps erupted all over me, a cold sensation spreading down the back of my neck as my hair stood on end.
“Kyaaa!”
The doorbell rang out of nowhere, and I screamed without meaning to.
My heart was pounding so violently it felt like it might jump right out of my chest.
“Siena? Siena! Are you alright?!”
That voice.
The heavy thudding on the front door matched the voice’s urgency.
Hearing him arrive at the perfect time made me feel so relieved that tears welled up in my eyes.
“Why aren’t you answering? Is something wrong?!”
“Break it down.”
“Ah, wait! I’m here!”
As if I wasn’t already scared enough—if he broke down the door on top of that, I’d be doomed.
I didn’t have anywhere to go, and most of all, I didn’t have the money to get it fixed.
I rushed to open the door.
“Ah!”
The moment it opened, an arm grabbed me and yanked me outside.
Someone caught me tightly, while a black, shadow-like figure slipped past me into the house.
“Are you okay, my lady?”
“Joshua?”
Joshua moved me behind him, shielding me protectively.
His usually gentle eyes narrowed as he stared sharply toward the inside of the house where Leon had just entered.
Moments later, Leon reappeared and fully opened the door.
“It’s clear. Come in.”
I guess my scream had put them both on high alert.
Embarrassed, I hesitated despite it being my own home and practically let them push me inside.
“Why the hell did you scream like that? You scared us.”
“Well, I was zoning out and the doorbell just… startled me…”
I avoided Leon’s gaze, feeling sheepish, and gave a small, awkward laugh.
“But why are you here? Both of you?”
“Oh, right—the injury…”
“I came to treat your wound, my lady.”
Joshua jumped in cheerfully before Leon could finish.
I glimpsed Leon’s disgruntled expression behind Joshua’s sunny smile.
The contrast between their expressions nearly made me laugh.
“You didn’t have to go this far… I feel bad.”
“It’s alright. I’ve got plenty of free time anyway.”
Joshua looked around the house.
His eyes stopped at the cold, empty kitchen.
“Have you eaten yet?”
“Not yet. I haven’t had much of an appetite…”
“Oh dear. You should eat, especially when you’re unwell. Joshua, go buy something.”
“I need to tend to the patient. Why don’t you go, Captain?”
“……”
Leon glared at him, but Joshua scurried over and stood next to me.
Then he pointed to my neck, which was still covered in dark bruises.
“See this? I’m the doctor here to treat this pitiful wound—practically tear-inducing. And you, Captain? What can you do here?”
Besides breathing?
Joshua sighed and shook his head in mock dismay.
Then, folding his arms, he gave Leon a teasing smile, looking like a mischievous boy.
“If you want to be helpful to the lady, the best thing to do would be bringing her some food.”
“……Fine. I’ll be back soon. Make sure the treatment’s done properly.”
“Got it.”
Leon didn’t look any less annoyed, but he left obediently.
Joshua had a point—when it came to treatment, there wasn’t much Leon could do.
“Siena, anything you feel like eating?”
“Not really…”
“Pumpkin soup, beef steak, and some oranges for dessert would be perfect.”
“……”
“Great for reducing bruising. The ideal recovery meal for an injured patient.”
Joshua, standing behind me, confidently placed the order and even added a cheeky smile.
‘You little… I’ll get you later,’ Leon seemed to say with his glare, but he still walked out without protest.
By the time Leon returned, Joshua and I were sitting at the table chatting about everyday things.
The treatment was already done, and I’d listened to all the instructions. I’d started to worry it might get awkward with just the two of us, but thankfully, Joshua’s cheerful personality made it easy.
Even though we were alone, the conversation never felt awkward.
“You’re back?”
“Looks like you were having fun without me.”
Leon’s tone was a little sulky, but he plopped the heavy bags down on the table.
A delicious smell wafted up, and I couldn’t help but peek inside.
“…This is way too much.”
“Eat it over time. The more you eat when you’re sick, the better.”
“It’s just a bruise… I wouldn’t say I’m sick…”
“How is that just a bruise?”
It was so black and red, anyone would believe it was a corpse.
Leon frowned deeply.
He reached out, as if to touch the bruise Joshua had carefully wrapped, but stopped himself and withdrew his hand.
