TCBCVF 100

~Chapter 100~

“…”

I swallowed hard.

That sounded almost like…

‘Spending time with me… is very important to him.’

I gripped the hem of my skirt tightly.

‘No, don’t jump to conclusions.’

Maybe I was overinterpreting because of the special feelings I had for the Duke.

Things between us were already fine as they were.

‘I don’t need to risk ruining this by rushing ahead.’

I was the close friend of his sister.

And he was the brother who cherished and loved his sister.

…That was enough.

For someone who’d been just a minor background character in the original story, I’d somehow formed a good relationship with the main characters of this world—the Claudius siblings.

That alone was already great progress.

Which reminded me—

‘Come to think of it, I never properly thanked him for the Gregory matter.’

And now he’d helped me again when we went down to the village.

I really had so much to be grateful for.

Hiding my bittersweet feelings, I spoke.

“I… haven’t had the chance to say it properly until now, but… I’m truly grateful to you, Your Grace.”

“To me?”

“Yes. Earlier, when I almost got in trouble with the vigilantes, you helped me…”

I hesitated, then continued.

“And also for the Gregory matter.”

“…”

Huh?

Did his eyes turn slightly colder at Gregory’s name?

Was I imagining it?

“If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been stuck in that mess with Gregory.”

I spoke with sincerity.

“Both today and with Gregory… I’ve been in your debt every time.”

He listened quietly without much reaction.

I gave a wry smile.

“Of course, I know you helped me because you were concerned for your sister, but even so, it was a great help to me—”

“No.”

He shook his head firmly.

“This has nothing to do with Eva.”

…Nothing to do with her?

I stared at him in confusion.

What did he mean?

“I helped because I wanted to help.”

Huh?

I blinked.

He seemed to search for the right words, then spoke clearly, drawing a sharp line.

“And I’m not a philanthropist.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“Simply being my sister’s friend, or because she asked me—”

He removed his glasses and set them down.

Blue eyes, like a winter sea, locked directly onto mine.

…That color seemed to capture me.

I couldn’t look away.

“What I mean is, that alone isn’t enough reason for me to feel compelled to help someone.”

He drove the point home.

My mind was a whirlwind.

‘What does he mean by that?’

He gave me a complicated look, then smoothly changed the subject with a smile.

“It’s late. Allow me to escort you to your room.”

I snapped out of it.

“That’s alright, I can go by myself.”

“Of course, it’s not as if you’d have much trouble finding your way in the same villa.”

He shrugged lightly and stood.

“I simply want to see you back.”

“…”

It was just a simple statement, yet…

My heart skipped wildly.

A short while later, the Duke and I walked side by side down the dark hallway.

Only the sound of our steps echoed in the stillness, where you could hear a pin drop.

Moonlight poured through the wide windows.

The Duke was right there beside me.

…It felt unreal, like walking through a dream.

At last, we reached my room.

“Good night, Your Grace.”

Feigning calm, I greeted him. He returned it with a faint smile.

“Good night to you as well, Lady Ansie.”

I stepped inside.

Click.

The door shut.

“Haa…”

I slumped against it, sliding down to the floor.

My heart was pounding.

‘Is it okay… to hope?’

Just as I had managed to twist the original story by becoming friends with his sister…

…Could I do the same with my relationship with the Duke?

I shut my eyes tight.

It felt like facing a hopelessly tangled ball of thread—I couldn’t unravel my emotions at all.

It didn’t seem like I’d be able to sleep tonight.

Click.

The door closed.

Laritte vanished like a dream beyond it.

Dietrich shut his eyes.

‘Was I… too familiar with her?’

But—

‘Brother, maybe you need to be more honest?’

His sister’s words popped into his mind.

Turning sharply, he walked down the moonlit corridor.

‘What does it even mean to be honest?’

Until now, he had never once wanted to grow close to someone.

He’d never had the time or the need.

He had the Claudius name and his sister, and just protecting them left no room in his heart.

And yet—

‘…This is the first time.’

Someone who slipped into that empty space in his heart.

He thought her smile was beautiful.

Her single tear made his chest ache.

Even earlier, when she was confronted by the vigilantes—

The instant he saw them threaten her, his mind had gone blank.

He couldn’t think rationally.

Whenever he faced her…

…Dietrich didn’t know how to act.

‘I feel like a fool.’

He never imagined he’d be this confused.

And yet, the most surprising thing was—

‘I… don’t dislike it.’

Even though he couldn’t get a grip on his actions,

He didn’t dislike it.

It wasn’t like him, who usually preferred clear, defined things—he even felt a sense of anticipation.

‘Lady Ansie…’

He unconsciously touched his lips.

It felt like the scent of her lip balm still lingered.

“…”

The moonlight softly illuminated the faint redness of his ears.

At the same time, Evangeline lay in bed, eyes blazing.

‘I’m not giving up like this!’

The “heart-pounding suspension bridge” plan may have failed today…

But she was still determined to make Laritte her sister-in-law.

‘In that case, it’s time for the next plan.’

She vowed resolutely.

The next morning.

Layering clotted cream and strawberry jam thickly onto soft white bread, Lady Evangeline rolled her eyes toward the Duke.

“Brother.”

What?

The Duke, sipping black coffee, glanced at her briefly.

(And seriously, coffee first thing in the morning? What if it ruins his stomach?)

Evangeline suddenly spoke.

“I think Lari’s going to be bored.”

“…”

Wait, me?!

I nearly choked on my fried egg at the sudden mention of my name.

Ignoring me, she smiled sweetly.

“Come to think of it, Lari said she wanted to go for a morning walk today.”

Excuse me, I never said that.

I bit back the words, deciding it was safer to swallow the egg in my mouth first.

By the time I’d managed that, it was too late.

“So, how about you go for a walk with her, brother?”

She dropped the suggestion just like that…

“By now you’ve finished most of your work, haven’t you? Hmm?”

“Uh, Eva?”

I called to her nervously.

“His Grace was working late yesterday. I think it’d be better for him to rest today—”

“No.”

Huh?

I turned sharply to see the Duke meeting my gaze calmly.

“I was just thinking I’d like some fresh air to wake me up.”

“But…”

My voice trailed off without thinking.

Even so, wouldn’t it be better for him to rest today?

He’d been up late just last night.

And besides—

‘I’m… not sure how to face him right now.’