“It’s over!”
Ruella stretched as she placed the neatly organized stack of documents on the desk.
She still had plenty of work today, but she had finished it quickly with practiced efficiency.
“Shall I head home now?”
She intended to return quickly and take care of her sister.
Melissa had a slight fever, as if she were coming down with something. Ruella had seen her walking around in the cold wind yesterday—this was bound to happen.
Unlike her disheveled state in the morning, Ruella had returned to her neat appearance and even hummed a tune as she stood up.
“Ruella.”
At that moment, Kaileas entered the office.
“Yes, my lord.”
“Where are you going?”
“I was planning to go home and prepare for the banquet in two weeks.”
She intended to take care of Melissa at home while also drafting her plans in earnest. It would be the first step in advancing Kaileas’s one-sided love.
“Good. You need to prepare anyway. Then you can go right now?”
“Pardon? Go where?”
“The dressmaker. You should get your dress fitted first.”
Kaileas looked at her as if it were obvious. Had she forgotten their conversation from the morning?
Ruella’s eyes suddenly sparkled with realization.
A thought about something she could do for the Duke immediately came to her.
“I—I’ve always wanted to visit a particular dress shop!”
Ruella’s face turned bright red with excitement.
Kaileas stared at her flushed cheeks for a moment. Then, an immediate thought crossed his mind that she should probably see a doctor.
‘Her condition is poor.’
There must be something wrong with her heart.
But earlier, the physician had only praised her.
Said her upper body, lower body, and even her heart were all flawless—he had never seen anyone healthier in the Empire. If anything, she was too healthy.
“What’s the name of the shop you want to visit?”
“Lucillus, the largest dress shop in the commercial district.”
Ruella’s voice, which had been shrinking under his tone, came out timidly without her realizing it.
When people had hidden motives, they tended to feel guilty for no reason—even if their intentions were good.
“Seems you saw something you liked.”
“I saw it while passing by. Their dresses looked the most refined.”
It would surely satisfy even the Duke.
“Fine. We’ll go there.”
“Before that… may I stop by home for a moment?”
“Why?”
“I noticed my sister had a slight fever when I left this morning. She seems to be catching a cold.”
“Is your sister still often ill?”
Kaileas, who had lived a life of perfect health, couldn’t understand how someone’s illness could persist despite treatment. At least, he hadn’t until yesterday.
But after seeing the physician’s behavior today, he understood.
There were many illnesses in the world even doctors couldn’t explain. Or perhaps the doctors were simply incompetent and greedy for money.
“She’s better than before. Thanks to your support, my lord, I’ve been able to afford better medicine for her.”
“I’m glad.”
“Thank you, as always, my lord.”
At her words of gratitude, Kaileas finally relaxed.
It seemed what his subordinates had said wasn’t entirely false.
The matter of the resignation letter—it was probably a misunderstanding.
He did not intend to question it further. There was no need to stir unnecessary trouble.
“Then I’ll have the carriage prepared. Get ready.”
Ruella, listening to his indifferent voice, had many thoughts.
She knew better than anyone the true nature behind his detached tone.
A good person. Someone who would never take on the role of a villain.
If possible, she wanted to remain in the ducal household for a long time—serving someone she respected. Not forever, like the knights had joked, but until some point in the future when she could return home with Melissa.
“Yes, my lord.”
Her judgment had always been correct so far.
And she intended not to lose that confidence.
* * *
After getting off the carriage, Ruella went straight to Melissa’s room on the second floor.
“Melissa! I knew it!”
Melissa lay weakly on the bed, sweat dampening her forehead.
“I’m not sick.”
“You are!”
“I’m really not. I’m just… tired. A bit of a… cold… maybe.”
Her cheeks were slightly flushed again, as if her fever was returning.
With Ruella’s support, Melissa slowly sat up and leaned against the headboard.
Ruella immediately brought out warm soup prepared by the ducal household’s chef and placed it on a tray.
Kaileas had kindly instructed the chef to prepare it while arranging the carriage.
“This was prepared by the Duke.”
Ruella said proudly, almost showing off.
“I’m fine. I already ate.”
“Why did you cook when you’re sick? I told you I’d come back early—just wait.”
Ruella scolded her stubborn sister.
Melissa gave a faint, tired smile.
“Eat this. It’ll be more nourishing. After you finish, take your medicine and rest.”
“You’re going back out?”
“Yes. I have to go to the dress shop with the Duke.”
She explained the banquet.
Bragged a little about her previous achievements, and praised her excellent employer.
“And next week, my salary is going up too.”
Melissa’s eyes sparkled, then dimmed slightly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just… find it strange. Someone as high as the Duke treating you so well.”
It didn’t sound like simple curiosity.
Ruella stared at her sister, puzzled, but Melissa smiled again.
“I mean… if the Duke treats you that well, what if you fall for him? People like us are only ever allowed to be mistresses to nobles. Don’t give your heart away.”
For some reason, Melissa’s warning felt unusually serious.
But that was nonsense.
“Don’t worry about that at all.”
Ruella brushed it off lightly.
“But…”
“The Duke has someone he loves already. He would never take me as anything like that.”
She was certain.
A man who loved only one woman, who would abandon even friendship and honor for her—such a man would never keep another woman by his side.
That would be far too unbecoming.
Ruella could testify: the Duke was a man of pure, unwavering devotion.
“Then you?”
“He’s my benefactor and my superior. I know my place. If I ever choose a partner, it would be someone of similar status.”
“I see… that’s good then.”
Melissa’s voice lacked energy.
She looked sad, or perhaps simply exhausted from her fever.
Ruella watched her worriedly, but Melissa quickly composed herself.
“Go on. The Duke is waiting.”
“Right.”
“Oh—and from now on, the knights will be assigned to protect both you and me.”
Melissa’s eyes widened.
“That… isn’t that a bit much? Do we really deserve that kind of protection?”
“I know too many secrets of the ducal household. And you’re someone I would risk my life for.”
“I… see. I understand.”
Melissa reluctantly accepted it.
Being protected could bring comfort—but also discomfort. It could feel like surveillance.
“Sorry. I only ended up in the ducal household because of me.”
“If you had stayed with the Bellona Trading Company, you’d have faced the same threats but without any protection.”
“But… they’re not reporting my private life to the Duke or anything, right? That would be a bit…”
“That won’t happen. I promise.”
It was Ruella’s personal request, not an order from above. There would be no reporting chain involved.
Probably…
Honestly, why would the Duke care about Melissa’s private life? She wasn’t connected to any enemies of the House of Avere.
“Alright, I trust you. Now go. You’ll be late—won’t the Duke get angry? I heard he’s strict, even the Imperial Court worries about him.”
“He’s not that bad. More like a hedgehog than a blade.”
He looked prickly and sharp to others, but knew how to hide his thorns for those who belonged to him.
