IDTRAFTML 37

~Chapter 37~

Even though it was past midnight, I stayed awake, guarding Viscount Garnet’s office.

“Last time was one thing, but why are you setting the mood like this today?”

Eric, who was also waiting for the viscount, was once again unhappy that I hadn’t lit the lamps.

“Because when you want to get something, the first move is important.”

“Do you really think Viscount Garnet would be intimidated by this? All you’ll do is ruin your eyesight.”

Seriously, was he some kind of ambassador for eye health?

Eric’s obsession with protecting his eyes never ended—like someone who once lost a fortune because of bad vision.

But oh, my dear knight, you don’t know everything.

“Eric, did you know? When you’re not looking at anything, it’s actually healthier for your eyes if there’s no light.”

“….”

“It’s true. I read it in a book recently. It said you have to let your eyes rest.”

I emphasized my words again when he looked at me suspiciously.

Finally, Eric stopped his steps toward the lamp and gave up his nagging.

Good—at least he wasn’t stubborn.

“Anyway, Eric. How are things with Sophia these days?”

“…I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“I mean, since you two went out the other day, did you get closer?”

“Nothing much has changed.”

Lie.

Earlier today, I saw them bumping around each other awkwardly. Sophia’s face had gone red like a tomato as she tried to talk to him.

Her affection for Eric was now 77%! Nearly triple what it was at the start.

“Sophia seemed to really enjoy that outing, though.”

“She… said that?”

“Well, something like that.”

Now he was casually saying her name—what was he even trying to hide?

I knew it was hard for him to approach Sophia, who had only just broken off her engagement.

But Sophia was already showing clear signs that she liked him!

“You know Sophia’s really popular, right? After the broken engagement, her popularity’s at its peak.”

“…I know.”

“If you just stand around doing nothing, you’re going to lose your chance. You need to act while you can.”

I had helped him enough at this point.

Eric fell silent, deep in thought. Hopefully, those thoughts led somewhere good.

I had done my best—now it was up to him.

“Viscount is coming.”

A moment later, Eric spoke, warning that Viscount Garnet was approaching the office.

I clasped my hands and placed them on the desk, straightening my posture to prepare.

Click.

The viscount entered at last, but he didn’t notice me sitting in the dark corner.

“Good evening.”

“Wahh!”

Startled, he cried out as soon as I greeted him.

“Amelie! What on earth are you doing here?!”

“What else? I was waiting for Father.”

I lit a nearby candle, enjoying the sight of his surprised face.

Nothing compared to the shocks he’d given me before, but it was still satisfying.

“Why were you waiting for me all of a sudden?!”

“Well… to be honest, I need to talk to you directly.”

“Hmph. I can guess, but say it.”

The viscount coughed, annoyed, and sat down on the sofa.

Time to get to the point.

“Please lift my ban on going out.”

“Absolutely not.”

His firm answer came before I even finished.

“I knew it! The other day, you—”

“That day, you didn’t let me go out, remember?”

I quickly cut him off before he exposed the day I had secretly followed Eric and Sophia.

Luckily, Eric hadn’t noticed, and the viscount realized his slip, nodding awkwardly.

“Anyway, no. You’re still under restriction.”

I had expected this.

“Even if you say no, it doesn’t matter. Mother already gave me permission.”

I proudly showed him Lady Garnet’s signed letter of approval.

The viscount froze. As a well-known doting husband, he couldn’t just ignore his wife’s word.

“Even if your mother said yes, I refuse! I can’t let you go and risk something happening again!”

“Nothing will happen. Johann Gezzir was expelled from his family—no one would dare touch me now.”

“If only the world was full of reasonable men!”

“So you’re going to keep me locked up my whole life because I’m weak?”

I hadn’t planned on saying that, but it slipped out.

“…Not forever. But until you’re completely healthy, yes.”

He looked at me with both worry and determination.

I didn’t fully understand his feelings, since I had no memories of parents in this world.

Still, his concern felt both warm and suffocating.

“I am healthy now. Truly, I’ve gotten stronger.”

I spoke the words I would have said if he were truly my father.

“Since I started training with the knights, my stamina has improved—you’ve heard it from Eric too. And I enjoy spending time with them.”

The viscount stayed quiet, listening carefully.

That gave me the chance to continue.

“They’re good people—like Lyssa. We laugh, share meals, and I feel happy with them. Can’t I keep going if it makes me this happy?”

“…You’ve become close with the others too, not just Lyssa?”

“Yes, of course!”

He was almost convinced—I could feel it.

“Not just the others. Richard—”

Eric nudged me sharply.

‘Oh, right…’

The viscount had strictly warned me to keep away from Richard.

But what was wrong with being friends?

“Did you just say Richard?”

His voice turned low and dangerous, his eyes glowing in the dark.

“Y-you misheard.”

“Misheard?! You’ve already fallen for him!”

“What? No! I was just saying I became friends, like with Lyssa!”

“There’s no such thing as friendship between men and women!”

Our voices rose again.

So much for calm conversation.

Both of us had fiery tempers—there was no avoiding it.

“Don’t bring this up again! Better to ruin a business than let that happen. Tsk.”

“How is that better?!”

This man was unbelievable. Clearly too rich to care about failed ventures.

Fine then. If he wanted me to start a business instead—

“Then I’ll start one.”