IDTRAFTML 20

~Chapter 20~

“Where are the Viscount and Madam now?”

Surely they hadn’t gone out for work already?
I never expected to meet the Garnet couple like this, but this was the best chance to see what kind of people they were.

“They’re both in their offices.”

“Oh, they’re both here? Perfect. Help me get ready to visit them.”

“What? No, milady, you can’t. The doctor said you must rest in bed today.”

Sophia stopped me and pushed me back onto the mattress.
But I was worried they might leave the mansion, so I sat up again.

“They need to know what happened to their daughter, right? I fainted—because of them!”

It seemed my guess was right about Amelie’s relationship with the Viscount couple. Even though their daughter fainted, they didn’t stay by her side.

But more important than that was whether these two had the potential to be the hidden villains.

“They’re staying away for your sake. But they said to tell them the moment you woke up, so I’ll bring them here.”

“Alright, please do.”

When Sophia left, I braced myself.
If those scary faces from last night really belonged to them, meeting them now was terrifying.

Don’t panic. They won’t cut off my head today… probably.

I tried to calm my pounding heart with nonsense rationalizations.

Knock, knock, knock—

The door opened slowly.

“Gasp.”

The Viscount and Madam entered, and I froze.

‘So it wasn’t because it was dark…?’

Even in the light, their faces were just as stern as last night.
And tall, with a heavy, intimidating presence.

“Hrmm.”

The Viscount coughed once and sat. His wife sat beside him near my bed.
Sophia quietly slipped away.

“Sophia, where are you going?”

She avoided my eyes.

“I’ll bring the tea the Viscount ordered.”

And she left me—alone with them.

‘Sophia, how could you…’

Now I had to face the Garnet couple by myself.

“What kind of daughter faints when she sees her parents?!”

The Viscount’s booming voice broke the silence.

“S-sorry. Last night it was dark, and I only had a candle, so…”

I quickly apologized with a pitiful look.

“Didn’t I tell you to keep the corridor lights on, even at night?!”

“…Right. Sorry.”

I had never heard that before, but somehow it made me apologize anyway.

“Why are you saying sorry when you did nothing wrong?!”

“…Huh?”

“I told you to stop bowing your head for nothing! What’s so lacking in you that you keep shrinking? How will you survive this world if you’re so timid?!”

Wait… what was this?

It sounded like scolding, but the meaning was basically: stop apologizing when it’s not your fault, and be stronger. Almost like… encouragement?

“And what were you doing up so late at night? Do you want to get sick again and make everyone suffer, like last time?”

Once the Viscount started, he wouldn’t stop. His thundering voice felt oddly familiar.

What do they call this kind of person again? Someone who pretends to be harsh but actually cares…

“Oh. I remember.”

He was a tsundere, wasn’t he?

“So… you were worried about me, right?”

“…Don’t ask obvious things.”

He turned his head away. That sealed it—this man was a hardcore tsundere who doted on his daughter.

“Does your head still hurt?”

The Madam spoke softly.

“No, I’m fine. Just a bump. Nothing serious, they said.”

“…I’m…”

“…Sorry?”

Her voice was so tiny I couldn’t hear. I leaned closer.

“I couldn’t catch that, Madam. Please say it again.”

“…I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“Ah… you must have been very worried. Sorry about that.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to apologize!”

The Viscount roared again.

The two of them—one thundering at volume 100, the other whispering at volume 1—were so extreme it almost made me laugh.

How could these two be married? And how did this family produce Amelie’s face? Truly a mystery.

“Why did you reduce your guards to only one?”

“Because it’s uncomfortable having too many follow me. I only go to the training grounds or the market. Eric is enough.”

Thanks to my odd thoughts, I felt less nervous now. I could answer him without flinching.

“Enough? I heard a filthy brat threatened you at the training grounds. And you still say one guard is enough?”

He even called the duke’s son “filthy brat.” Bold.

“Even with more guards, it wouldn’t change. Eric handled it quickly.”

“Fine, this time I’ll let it go since he was punished. But if anyone dares be rude again, tell me. I won’t let it pass.”

He clenched his fist tightly, his voice heavy with menace.

“Lysa already gave him a lesson, so I doubt it’ll happen again.”

“Still, increase your guards! Who knows what kind of scum could appear?”

“Alright, alright.”

“And… do you still chase after that prince—hm, I mean, His Highness?”

Did he just call Richard “that prince brat”?!

He looked at me carefully. He already knew Amelie used to like Richard.

“No, I don’t like Richard anymore.”

“…You really mean that?”

“Yes, I mean it.”

“Then why do you keep going to the imperial knights’ training ground?”

“To cheer for Lysa. And I made some friends there too.”

His face brightened instantly.

Of course. What father would like his daughter chasing a prince out of her league? His relief showed how much he cared for her.

“In that case, I’ll allow it. And since you prepare things whenever you visit, tell the butler to assign servants. Use them.”

“Thank you, I will.”

“But never give your heart to the prince again!”

“Yes, yes, don’t worry.”

“Be careful—his face is dangerous! Don’t get fooled by that handsome look again!”

He scolded me louder and louder, repeating the warning.
I could imagine exactly how much Amelie must have gushed about Richard at home before.

“Really, I’m used to him now. His face doesn’t bother me anymore.”

“Used to it? As if you could ever get tired of such a face! Don’t trust yourself. Keep your guard up!”

His words slammed into me like thunder.

It felt… ominous.

The more he warned me, the more uneasy I became.