DLV 14

Chapter 14

“You visit the garden often. Do you like flowers?”

“Not particularly.”

“Do you go to the greenhouse, then?”

“I’m not interested in that.”

“Then what kind of flowers do you like?”

Lucion’s voice, asking question after question while brewing tea, made it nearly impossible to turn a page. She just couldn’t concentrate.

It had been about three days since he arrived. From the very first day, Lucion had bombarded Sophia with endless questions.

From her favorite color to everything she disliked. It was an excessive amount of questions, but she never criticized him for it.

— ‘Miss Lorei said the young lady spends a lot of time alone and might get lonely, so she hoped I’d keep you company.’

— ‘I’m quite talkative. I’m confident I can keep you from getting bored!’

Because his actions, and his cheerful voice, weren’t entirely unpleasant. She figured having a chatty little bird by her side wouldn’t be so bad.

But now, it was becoming headache-inducing.

Sophia, unable to finish even the first line of her book, placed her hand on the page and called out to him.

“Lucion.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t like noise.”

With a warning glare telling him to hush, the questions stopped instantly.

The sweet-scented tea filled her cup as Lucion silently put the teapot down.

He looked like a puppy who’d been wagging his tail happily, only to drop his ears and tail at a scolding from his master. Seeing that, Sophia quietly murmured as she lifted her cup.

“It smells nice.”

The dimmed light in Lucion’s eyes began to shine again as he looked at Sophia.

“I like the tea you make the best.”

“…Thank you.”

Lucion, beaming brightly, regained his energy, though he took care not to raise his voice again after hearing she disliked noise.

He was simple. A single compliment, and he bounced back, even humming quietly.

Still, nothing matched her tastes as well as the tea Lucion brewed. Lorei’s had a slightly bitter taste, needing lots of sugar, and the others… not good at all.

In contrast, Lucion’s tea was magical—good enough to make her want to open a tea shop for him.

A man from the Count Aros family, recommended by Duke Roash. He truly had the talent for it.

Besides brewing tea, he handled all sorts of chores with swift precision, and treated everyone with kindness. His smile was as bright as sunlight, capable of transforming any gloomy mood.

No wonder he caught Lorei’s eye.

“You…”

Sophia reached out and touched Lucion’s bangs. A bit of dust had gotten stuck in the pale blue strands of hair that glistened in the sunlight.

She easily brushed it off and continued.

“Always stay by my side.”

This familiar feeling, one that so easily broke down her walls—was it a blessing or a curse?

“I heard you’ve decided to keep Lucion by your side?”

Lorei asked while helping Sophia change into her nightgown.

It was almost unheard of for Sophia to personally choose someone to keep by her side. She generally disliked people getting too close, even if they were servants. Most kept their distance.

Only Lorei, who had been with her since childhood, was the exception. And now, that exception included Lucion, who had only just joined her service.

So Lorei had every reason to ask.

“Yes.”

“He must’ve really left an impression.”

He had. A deep one.

He had the kind of comfort and familiarity that made it feel like they’d known each other since childhood. That’s what broke down Sophia’s guard.

“…He’s similar to you.”

“Do I talk that much?”

“Not your personality. It’s something else. He just makes people feel at ease.”

Hiding her true feelings, she gave a vague explanation by naming one of Lucion’s traits. Being “bright” was a compliment anyway, and she didn’t have a better excuse.

Lorei let out a soft laugh and asked teasingly.

“Like the lanterns you love?”

“Yeah.”

Lorei knew very well that Sophia often compared those who comforted her to lanterns, so she mentioned it knowingly.

“I thought I was the only one you compared to a lantern…”

Lorei mumbled, sounding unexpectedly wistful, which made Sophia turn her head in surprise.

She never imagined such words could come from Lorei, and it showed on her rarely shaken face.

“Lorei?”

“Oh my.”

Lorei, surprised at Sophia’s reaction, quickly shook her head and dismissed her own words.

“No, no, it’s nothing, my lady.”

“…What’s nothing?”

“What I said earlier. I was just joking. I don’t actually feel that way.”

“Really?”

“Of course. If the lady gains another precious person, that just means she’s growing. That’s a joyful thing for me.”

Sophia, listening to her calm and reassuring words, smoothed her face and thought: Was I really that flustered? That anxious?

Still… it had genuinely startled her. She never expected Lorei to express sadness. And realizing she might be the cause—it clenched her heart.

Sophia had once experienced being abandoned by someone she trusted and loved, leading her into a dark emotional pit. That’s why she reacted so sensitively to such words.

Just a joke… just a joke…

“…I’m glad.”

Relieved that it was only a joke, she let out a small breath.

Lorei, aware that her words had dampened the mood, tried to shift the atmosphere.

“Speaking of lanterns, there’s a lovely lantern shop in Robeti City. I’ll bring you their catalog next time. Will you take a look?”

“Why?”

“I wanted to give a gift to the young lady I care for deeply.”

Lorei smiled warmly and moved the brush through Sophia’s lavender-colored hair. The gentle strokes were so soothing that her eyelids grew heavy even before lying down.

Such a tender touch, such a calm voice, words always spoken with care.

That was why, no matter what lies Lorei might tell, Sophia could never bring herself to hate her.

Lorei had given her all the affection she had been starved of for years, and always said exactly the words a child would long to hear.

“It’s fine.”

“Even though it’s from my heart?”

“It’s fine. You should take care of yourself first, Lorei.”

“I’m always healthier than you, my lady.”

“Sure, sure.”

Smiling at her relaxed response, Sophia smiled faintly. But it didn’t reach her heart.

Because a few years later, Lorei would die from a chronic illness.

I know you’re not healthy at all.

Swallowing the words she couldn’t bring herself to say, Sophia closed her eyes. Soon, Lorei’s hand, having finished brushing, lifted away.

When Sophia didn’t open her eyes right away, Lorei gently shook her shoulder.

“All done, my lady.”

“Ah…”

Realizing she had nearly fallen asleep, Sophia opened her eyes late. Lorei chuckled and said,

“Already sleepy?”

“Yeah… you brushing my hair made me sleepy.”

“It’s time for bed anyway. Come on, into bed.”

“Okay.”

After tucking Sophia in and straightening her bedding, Lorei finally stepped back.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams, my lady.”

“You too, Lorei. Sweet dreams.”

With their warm end-of-day exchange, Lorei stepped out of the room.

Standing alone in the dim hallway—lit only by moonlight through the window and the glow of hallway candles—she turned her gaze toward the night sky.

Under the bright full moon, her face no longer looked gentle or kind.

Her lips, once smiling, were cold. Her eyes, void of emotion, looked like a barren ruin.

Then, a shadow stepped closer to her.

“Lady Rona Lei.”

Though it was clearly not her current name, Lorei still turned toward the voice.

“It’s a letter.”

The hand delivering the letter came into the light—revealing none other than Lucion.

Smiling innocently, he pressed the letter into Lorei’s hand. His grip was forceful, loaded with the weight of the words to follow.

“Sophia Beni.”

“….”

“This time, you must do it properly. If not, like last time…”

“I know.”

Lorei brushed off his hand and skimmed the letter. There was no sender’s name, but it was obvious who it came from.

If Lucion was the messenger, there was only one person behind it.

Lucion, staring at the hand she had shaken free, looked up at her and added,

“Please, resolve this on your end, Lady Rona. I don’t want my identity exposed.”

“As long as nothing unexpected happens, it won’t. Your dear friend never fails to account for surprises, right?”

Lorei replied dryly, tearing open the top of the letter as she spoke to Lucion again.

“By the way, the young lady seems quite fond of you.”

“She’s fond of me? Hah… that’s an odd feeling.”

Lucion curled his lips into a bitter smile and tousled his hair.

“Being liked by someone you don’t like feels… strange.”

His expression, which had been full of light, darkened instantly. His eyes, as cold as the deep sea, stared into the dark without catching the light before closing tightly.

“…Did she really like me?”

The face that emerged when he opened his eyes again wasn’t that of someone disgusted by affection from someone they disliked. A faint happiness flickered there. He looked like someone who was ready to hold onto a fragile hope.

Perhaps realizing that himself, Lucion quickly waved his hand and spoke.

“No, never mind. Don’t say anything. I’ll go now. Handle the rest.”

Leaving his firm words behind, he blinked—and vanished into the shadows.