LRVP Chapter 57

Chapter 57 

“Marquis Uncle, why are you following me?”

“I’m not following you. I’m going to see your aunt too.”

“That’s even worse!”

Lucian glared at Claude with eyes like an angry beast.

“You’re going to spread germs on my aunt again!”

“Germs? I’m not dirty.”

“You are! Saliva has lots and lots of germs!”

“If you say that, then you’re dirty too, Lucian…”

Claude tried to argue, but his voice suddenly stopped.

Lucian looked up at Claude’s face.

Claude was staring straight ahead, his eyes burning fiercely.

Soon, Lucian realized why.

“What?! Why is my aunt with Gillian?”

I hate Gillian…!

He was about to stomp his feet in anger when—

“Lucian,” Claude called in a low voice.

“Let’s go.”

The moment their eyes met, Lucian understood — they were on the same side.

“Okay!”

With that, Claude lifted Lucian up in his arms.

“Charge!”

He threw away his crutch and ran down the hallway with Lucian tucked under his arm.

“Miss!”

“Auntie!”

At their loud voices, Lucella, who was looking at Gillian, turned her head.

“Marquis, what are you doing?!”

Soon, her face was full of shock.

“If you run like that, what if your leg gets worse?”

“It’s all healed.”

“What?”

“My leg. It’s healed now.”

Claude swung his bandaged foot around and even jumped in place. He felt no pain at all.

Of course — his leg had healed a long time ago.

“Since when?”

“This morning. When I stood up, it felt great.”

“But the doctor said it would take at least two more months for the bone to fully heal.”

“I guess resting and eating well helped me recover faster.”

That was a lie. He just wanted to stay near Lucella longer, so he made a deal with the doctor.

He could feel Gillian looking at him, but Claude didn’t care.

“Is that even possible?”

“I’m known to heal quickly.”

“That’s true…”

Lucella looked suspicious for a moment but nodded. Thankfully, she didn’t ask more questions.

“But what brings you here? And with Lucian too?”

“Well…”

There was only one reason Claude had come to see Lucella.

Because he missed her.

Seeing her with another man made him lose his mind and run here.

But he couldn’t just say that.

“I wanted to show you this!”

Lucian answered instead of Claude.

He held up the doll he’d been carrying.

“Marquis Uncle made an eye for Luto!”

“An eye?”

Lucella looked at the button with messy stitching. Claude felt his face heat up.

He didn’t want Lucella to see how bad he was at sewing. He only wanted to show her his cool side.

“Did you really do this, Marquis?”

“Uh… yes, I did.”

“Then your hand…”

“Ah.”

Claude looked down at his scratched-up hands. He wanted to hide them, but he couldn’t — he was still holding Lucian.

“Well… sewing is harder than it looks.”

Embarrassed, Claude lowered his head.

What if Lucella laughs at me for not being able to do such a simple thing?

He was too worried to look up.

But what he feared didn’t happen.

“This is… so touching, Marquis.”

“Huh?”

Claude quickly lifted his head.

Lucella was covering her mouth with her hands, emotional.

“You put in so much care for Lucian…”

“It’s nothing. I’m just sorry I’m not good at sewing.”

“The fact that you tried so hard makes it more touching.”

What? How?

Claude couldn’t understand how being bad at something could be touching — but he didn’t ask.

As long as Lucella liked it, that was enough.

“You should go treat your hand now.”

“Alright.”

Claude followed Lucella as she led him to the infirmary.

“…I had a feeling,”

Gillian muttered as he watched them walk away.

“Bleh!”

Lucian stuck his tongue out at him.

***

After leaving the meeting room, Claude and I went to the infirmary, with Lucian still in his arms.

But unlike I expected, the doctor wasn’t there. He must’ve had an emergency.

“I’ll just go back. It’s not a deep wound.”

“We came all the way here. Let’s treat it properly. Lucian, get down now.”

I took Lucian from Claude and looked through the medicine shelf. Luckily, I found ointment and bandages easily.

“I’ll treat it for you. Please give me your hand.”

“Okay.”

Despite what he said earlier, Claude quickly held out his hand. Like a well-trained puppy giving its paw to its owner.

“Let’s see… oh wow, you got poked a lot.”

“Heh…”

Claude laughed awkwardly.

But I couldn’t laugh.

“Thank you so much. For taking care of Lucian.”

Claude’s efforts, even though he wasn’t skilled, were touching.

The least I could do was treat his hand carefully.

I applied ointment and stuck bandages on his scratched-up hand.

“I’ll be good to Amelia too.”

“You already are.”

“Do you think Amelia feels that way?”

“Of course. Actually, she’s been begging to bring you home with us.”

“Amelia? The mature one?”

“She acts mature outside, but with me, she’s just a kid.”

I burst out laughing. I could easily picture Amelia whining, and it made me giggle.

“Hahaha.”

Claude laughed too, watching me.

“Are you done? Let go of his hand already.”

A sharp voice cut through our laughter.

Lucian was pouting, staring at our joined hands.

“How long are you planning to hold it?”

“Oh!”

I quickly let go of Claude’s hand. I hadn’t even realized I was still holding it.

“Just because he helped doesn’t mean we’re on the same side. I’m not on his team.”

“I know.”

“Hmph.”

Lucian huffed and climbed into my lap.

“Same side? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s a secret.”

Lucian tugged on Luto’s ear as he spoke.

Looks like they shared a secret while I wasn’t looking. Claude must’ve really treated him well for Lucian to open up like this.

“It’s a shame… that we have to say goodbye like this.”

“Huh?”

Claude blinked.

“Goodbye?”

“Your leg’s healed. It’s time to return home.”

“….”

“Marquis?”

“Yes, I hear you.”

His face darkened. It seemed he didn’t want to leave either.

But now that he was better, he couldn’t stay here forever. A lord’s duties were important.

“I’ll tell the staff to start packing.”

“Alright…”

“I’ll also send word to the Agres Marquis estate, letting them know you’ll return soon.”

“I suppose… you should.”

Claude’s voice was weak.

“Auntie, is Marquis Uncle going back home?”

“Yes, his leg is better now.”

“Phew, good.”

I almost lost Auntie…

Lucian mumbled under his breath.

“Lucian, this isn’t the time to be happy.”

“Why not?”

“If Marquis goes home, Amelia has to leave too.”

“What?!”

Boom.

It was like Lucian’s sky had fallen outside the window.