AFRPR 35

Episode 35

There had been a bit of commotion, but as always, Lennox still read Duren a fairy tale that night.

By the time he finished, it was late.

Lennox was about to go to the next room—like they had agreed—when Estelle suddenly dropped a bombshell.

“Let’s share a room.”

Lennox froze in place.

“W-what?”

The always-cold, always-composed Duke of Winterlen was now so flustered he stuttered.

“Did you just say… we should share a room?”
“Yes.”

Her short, firm answer made all kinds of thoughts rush into his head.

Why?

Hadn’t she said sharing a bed would be uncomfortable? Did she change her mind?

He couldn’t figure out her intentions at all.

When was the last time I washed my hands?

If they shared a bed, he might accidentally touch her… so now he started worrying.

No, not just my hands… I should wash my whole body again…

Estelle explained calmly:

“You were right. If we sleep in separate rooms, people might suspect something about our relationship. It’s better to give them no reason to doubt us at all.”

She had judged the situation rationally—so rationally that Lennox almost felt embarrassed for having other thoughts.

“It might be uncomfortable, but I’d appreciate it.”
“…Alright.”

What on earth had he been imagining just now?

Feeling foolish, Lennox covered his face and quickly escaped into the bedroom.

But the moment he entered, the heat in his face faded.

“What is all this?”

Boxes. Boxes everywhere. So many that the big room suddenly felt small.

“Ah, that’s the stuff I bought today,” Estelle said awkwardly.

Earlier, because of Roman, the mansion had been a mess, and she had sent the merchants away quickly.

[‘Just bring everything you have.’]
[‘Without even checking it?’]
[‘Yes.’]

She had planned to buy everything anyway, so this actually saved time.

“I told them I’d handle the organizing myself.”

Because it was all her secret money.

“I see.”
“I’ll sort it quickly.”
“No rush.”

Lennox started toward the sofa—then stopped.

“If I sleep on the sofa again tonight, will you tell me to leave?” he asked slyly.

Estelle rolled her eyes.

“Do whatever you want.”

She had to hide any sign that she’d been concerned about him the night before.

“If you think the bed feels smaller just because I’m in it, that’s your problem. I didn’t mind,” she said, teasing him.

With that, Lennox lay down on the bed.

Once again, they slept with their backs to each other—yet both were keenly aware of the other’s presence.

Of course I can’t completely ignore him…

Estelle shut her eyes tightly, hoping she would fall asleep quickly—so she wouldn’t have to hear her own heartbeat anymore.

Late at night.

Knock knock.

Lennox had just fallen into a light sleep when a soft knock and a servant’s voice woke him.

“My lord, Roman has escaped.”

It seemed Roman had regained consciousness and fled. Lennox had allowed the guards to be a little lax on purpose—so Roman would run to whoever was behind him.

Catching the mastermind would be more useful than torturing Roman.

“But…”
“Shh.”

The servant stopped mid-report.

“Keep your voice down.”
“…?”
“Estelle is sleeping.”

“Shall I report the rest in the morning?” the servant asked quietly, thinking the lady of the house shouldn’t hear this.

Lennox looked over at Estelle. Luckily, she was still asleep.

“Just keep your voice low.”

“Not long after escaping, Roman suddenly died—heart failure.”
“So they silenced him beforehand…”

Lennox immediately guessed who was responsible.

Helios Kreutzen.

Roman had been Helios’s shadow in Lennox’s past life.

And the target this time was obvious—Estelle.

That afternoon.

While reading documents about Roman, Lennox rubbed his stiff neck.

“You don’t look well today,” Pipin said.
“Ah.”

His neck, shoulders, and back all ached, stabbing him with pain whenever he moved.

I got sick just from worrying about Estelle’s sleeping comfort.

If someone had told him a month ago this would happen, his past self would have laughed at him.

“It’s nothing,” he said shortly.

Pipin reported,

“The temple replied. Roman had been excommunicated over a disgraceful incident—they claim no ties, but send condolences. They also want to collect the body for a funeral… and they suspect you killed him.”

“Helios is good at cutting off loose ends,” Lennox muttered.

Roman, the temple, Helios… and Estelle. Lennox pieced the differences from his past life together like a puzzle.

“Roman was close to Helios, right?”
“Yes. Strange pairing—Helios had no strong background.”

“He’s hiding holy power.”
“Helios?!”
“Yes.”

Helios was thought to be just another priest—but he was probably the next pope in waiting.

“He definitely sent Roman here… to do something to Estelle.”
“That sounds… like you’re a lovesick husband.”
“It’s logical reasoning.”
“Sure. Let’s call it attachment denial syndrome then.”

Pipin still wasn’t convinced, and there was no proof.

Just then,

“My lord, the lady and the young master are here.”

Estelle entered with Duren.

“Are you busy?”
“Not really.”

Though his desk was piled with papers, Lennox lied without hesitation.

Estelle peeked at the papers but pretended not to notice, letting Duren step forward.

“Mom drew this! I did too!”

The paper was covered in random black and pink lines—not resembling a person at all.

“Well done,” Lennox said, tactfully avoiding the truth.

Pleased, Duren’s shoulders lifted.

“Mister! Mister!” he said, holding up crayons.
“Draw with me!”

Thanks to the bedtime stories, Duren no longer treated Lennox with open hostility.

A chair was brought beside Lennox, but it was too low for Duren. They swapped it for a taller one so he could reach the desk.

Duren drew energetically—so energetically he went off the page and onto the desk.

“Ah—”
“It’s fine. Draw however you want.”

Lennox even offered him the whole desk as his canvas.

“Wow!”

But with more space came bigger messes—papers spilled, furniture toppled.

“Careful, you’ll get hurt,” both Lennox and Estelle warned.

Eventually, a masterpiece was complete.

“Done!” Duren said, running to Lennox with the drawing.
“Here.”
“For me?”
“Mm!”

Then Duren pulled him down by the ear and whispered something—making Lennox’s eyes widen.