CHAPTER 93….
“…Idris?”
“Ah, Sir Hildes, you’re here too.”
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Idris came to stand beside me.
His gaze toward Michael was even colder than usual.
“The banquet’s still in full swing, and yet the two of you are here alone… Someone might get the wrong idea.”
Only then did a sharp thought cross my mind.
Even if it hadn’t been my intention, it was entirely possible for someone to misunderstand.
“If rumors start, it’s always the woman who takes the hit. A gentleman should take care to prevent that. Don’t you agree?”
There was a crooked smile on Idris’s lips, but his eyes weren’t smiling at all.
He was clearly rebuking Michael.
Even if public opinion had turned in my favor for now, it could easily turn against me again.
Idris knew that—and that was why he was worried about me.
Feeling responsible for the situation, I opened my mouth to smooth things over before any unnecessary sparks could fly.
But Michael was slightly faster.
“My apologies. I was foolish and did not think that far.”
Then he lowered his head toward me.
His stiff, frozen expression stabbed at my eyes.
Wanting to keep Michael from getting into any further trouble, I quickly stepped in.
“It’s fine. I didn’t think about it either. Idris, thank you for worrying about me.”
Though Idris still didn’t look entirely pleased, he seemed a little more at ease than before as he held out his hand to me.
“If you’re done talking, let’s go back.”
The moment I reflexively took his hand, I remembered that I hadn’t given Michael an answer to his confession.
I turned my gaze belatedly, but he had already looked away—as though he already knew my answer.
In the end, I obediently let Idris lead me out of the balcony.
But at that moment, Idris suddenly swept me up into his arms.
Startled, I stared at him.
“W–what are you doing? Put me down.”
“I’ve been watching you limp since earlier.”
Only then did I notice the pair of indoor slippers in his hand.
So that’s what he went to get.
As he said, my heels had been rubbed raw even before I went to see His Majesty the Emperor.
I had been secretly stepping on the backs of my shoes, but he must have noticed.
The embarrassment and sudden feeling of safety made my body relax.
By then, Idris had carried me into a nearby lounge and set me down on a sofa.
“Thank you.”
I removed my shoes and reached for the slippers he was holding.
But instead of handing them over, Idris knelt on one knee in front of me.
“Pardon me for a moment.”
His hand slipped under my dress and gently grasped my ankle.
Though his touch was careful rather than rough, the warmth of his palm made me shiver involuntarily.
“W–wait! I can do the rest—”
Ignoring me, Idris tied a handkerchief around my scraped heel.
My foot, cradled in his large hand, suddenly looked so small.
…It tickles.
The brush of his hand against my ankle made me feel strangely self-conscious, and I averted my gaze, sneaking glances at him instead.
After all, something had been bothering me for a while.
Could he have overheard my conversation with Michael earlier?
Normally, he would have teased me or asked what I had talked about with His Majesty.
The fact that he was being quiet felt strange.
I should probably be honest about what happened with Michael.
Even though we were only contract lovers, it would still be inconvenient for Idris if I got caught up in such rumors during our arrangement.
And more than that…
I don’t want him to misunderstand.
After watching his expression for a moment, I carefully spoke up.
“The truth is… Sir Hildes confessed to me earlier.”
Idris’s hand froze just as he was about to slip the slipper onto my foot.
He looked up at me.
When our eyes met—his golden irises cool and still—I unconsciously held my breath.
Our locked gaze.
The heat of his hand around my foot.
All of it felt far too intense in that moment.
He was the one who broke the sharp silence.
“…And?”
“That’s it. He just said he wanted me to know I was that good of a person.”
His expression seemed to soften slightly at my words.
“And how did you feel?”
“Hmm…”
Recalling the situation and the emotions I’d felt, I gave a bitter smile.
“This might sound strange, but… I think I was scared.”
Of course, Michael was a good man—
Principled in his work, kind to the weak, and deeply considerate.
Part of why he didn’t expect an answer to his confession must have been because of my relationship with Idris.
But we were in a contract relationship, and once my divorce was finalized and our arrangement ended, there would be no real reason I couldn’t meet Michael again.
Still…
“Setting aside how I feel about him… the idea of being close to someone again.”
I had thought it would be fine now, that it wasn’t a big deal anymore.
But when Michael confessed, I realized—
It wasn’t fine.
Even if my feelings of betrayal and anger toward Phaidan faded someday,
the wound I’d received would remain as a scar for a long time.
A scar that would make me hesitate whenever I wanted to trust someone… maybe even forever.
“I guess I’m just not ready to trust and love someone yet.”
“…I see.”
“Anyway, that’s all there was to it. I just wanted you to know it won’t affect our contract.”
I spoke in as flat a tone as I could manage—desperate not to let this seem like a weakness.
Of course Idris was a good person, but…
I didn’t want to trust him.
“Thanks for the slippers. Now, let’s get back to the banquet—”
Just as I was about to wrap things up and rise, Idris—who had been silently watching me—spoke.
“…It’s okay.”
“…?”
“Someone who truly loves you will wait. No matter how long it takes.”
For some reason, the sadness in his eyes held me captive, and I couldn’t look away for a long time.
Late morning, approaching noon.
Viscountess Chloel, Rosanna Chloel, was seated at her vanity, diligently perfecting her appearance as usual.
She had no particular plans and expected no visitors, but maintaining beauty at all times was a lady’s virtue.
As she selected her final earrings, Rosanna let out an irritated sigh.
“How many months have I been wearing these same earrings…”
Normally, she bought new jewelry every two weeks, or at least once a month.
But ever since her husband, Viscount Chloel, had gone to another continent to start a new business, that joy had been cut off.
If only that brat Leticia would listen to me…
She could still be swayed by a single word of praise or scolding from her father, but—
she never so much as pretended to hear her stepmother.
I am her mother in the eyes of the law, and yet she’s so insolent.
Not that Rosanna had any desire to fawn over a girl who resembled her husband’s first wife.
And more than anything…
I don’t even know what stance I should take right now.
Leticia’s falling out with Phaidan, the scandal with Idris—
Things that normally would never involve Leticia were happening one after another.
She was aware of every rumor in the capital, but she was unsure what attitude to take in this situation.
So she had simply been waiting impatiently for her husband’s return.
He had promised big results from this venture and told her to wait with high expectations…
But after that last letter, there had been no word.
Don’t tell me he’s fallen for another woman…?
If he had made a fortune, perhaps a younger woman had caught his eye.
The thought made her heart sink.
Without him, how was she supposed to live?
Their only son had already racked up mountains of debt from gambling.
Her anxious imagination was running wild when—
“M–my lady!”
Just as she was about to leave her room, a maid came rushing in with urgent news.
“The master has returned!”
