CHAPTER 73……………………
Anna pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away the cold sweat.
Facing Anna’s worried expression, Linaria gave a faint smile and said,
“We’ll be there soon. I’ll try to hold out a little longer.”
She couldn’t close her eyes, afraid she might dream the same dream again.
It was a little uncomfortable, receiving both Anna’s and Kaas’s anxious gazes, but thankfully they arrived at their destination before long.
“Lady Ovel. The Duke informed us of your coming.”
With Kaas’s escort, Linaria stepped down from the carriage, where the servants—already informed of her arrival—were waiting to greet her.
Among them, the head butler stepped forward and offered a deep, respectful bow.
She was a middle-aged woman, her clear violet eyes leaving a strong impression.
“If there is anything at all that troubles you during your stay, please tell me freely. I will serve you to the very best of my ability.”
Linaria glanced behind the butler.
Ricardo was nowhere to be seen.
“By the way… I don’t see my brother Ricardo.”
“Ah, Lord Ovel’s schedule is very tight, so he said he could not come greet you in person right away.”
“I see.”
That’s a flimsy excuse if I’ve ever heard one.
She swallowed her true thoughts.
She couldn’t exactly drag out someone who claimed to be busy, so she pretended to accept it and moved to head inside the manor.
But just then, she felt someone’s gaze.
Linaria lifted her head.
Shff—
As soon as she looked up, curtains were hastily drawn shut, as though startled.
Before the window was completely covered, she thought she caught a glimpse of dark hair.
Ricardo had black hair too, didn’t he?
Looking back, the Ricardo in her memory was still a boy.
After all, she hadn’t seen him once since he came of age.
Recalling that younger Ricardo, Linaria quickly turned her head away with indifference.
In the end, she was bedridden for an entire day.
Even though there was no further traveling, Linaria’s condition failed to improve.
“What about dinner?”
“…I don’t feel like eating.”
The motion sickness seemed to have passed, but perhaps because she had slept for so long, her head throbbed dully.
Barely propping herself up, she sat blankly on the bed and muttered.
Anna, brushing Linaria’s hair with a worried tone, said,
“You haven’t eaten all day. It would be better to have something light, at least.”
If Dante had been there, he would have made sure his daughter ate at least a bite, even by force.
And Linaria, in the end, would have yielded.
But Dante wasn’t here.
And the maids of this house, if Linaria said no, simply agreed without argument.
So Anna had no choice but to press her more firmly.
“Hm…”
Even aside from today’s illness, Linaria was always at her weakest right after waking.
She sat in silence, eyes cast down, as Anna’s hands moved through her hair.
It was only after a long pause that she spoke.
“I’ll at least have some soup.”
“You’ll go to the dining hall?”
“Yes. I should get up, get some fresh air. I can’t just lie in bed forever.”
As her mind grew clearer, she realized how stifling it felt to stay put.
With Anna’s help, Linaria changed clothes and stepped outside her room—
Only to meet Kaas’s eyes directly, standing guard at her door.
“What are you doing here?”
The answer came not from Kaas but from Anna, who had followed her out.
“The knight insisted on waiting since you hadn’t given him any orders. I tried persuading him, but he said he’d even stand night watch!”
Anna’s tone was tinged with mockery, clearly annoyed at Kaas’s stubbornness that bordered on suffocating.
“Even if the surroundings have changed, this is still your home, my lady. He doesn’t seem able to accept that. Please say something to him.”
Anna seemed to expect Linaria to scold Kaas sharply.
But Linaria raised her hand—
“Well done.”
And patted Kaas on the head.
“But from now on, unless I give specific orders, act freely as usual. You can train in the practice yard, or…”
Linaria stopped short.
“…I’ll tell the butler about using the training grounds.”
With a traitor in this house, she couldn’t feel at ease. So instead of reproaching Kaas, she was thankful.
“From now on, Anna, you rest. Kaas, go get some sleep. Sleep through tomorrow if you like.”
She spoke firmly, leaving no room for protest.
“I’ll go to the dining hall alone.”
“But still…”
“Kaas.”
Linaria lightly brushed her hand against his cheek.
“You’ve already done your duty well. So stop worrying, and go rest.”
Kaas bent slightly so she could touch him more easily, cheeks flushing red as he nodded.
Anna, watching a man who never listened to her acting as though he’d wag his tail off if he had one, made a gagging gesture.
Look at him—pressing his face into her hand so she won’t pull away. Just begging her to keep petting him.
Kaas was clearly playing coy.
“Anna, don’t forget you need to rest too.”
Linaria turned to her maid.
“Of course, my lady!”
Anna, eyes round and nodding eagerly, looked as though she’d never grimaced at Kaas a moment ago.
There wasn’t just one pretender—there were two.
After finally shaking free of the pair, Linaria headed to the dining hall.
And there, she encountered an unexpected figure.
Ricardo was already seated.
“It’s been a while.”
To leave now, after acknowledging each other, would only be stranger.
I have no reason to run away.
Looking into his violet eyes, Linaria clearly spoke his name.
“Brother Ricardo.”
“…I heard you were unwell.”
If not for Anna, she would have skipped dinner again tonight.
In fact, when a maid had asked earlier, she had answered that she had no appetite.
Perhaps that’s why Ricardo looked startled to see her appear so suddenly.
“It was just a bit of motion sickness. I’m fine now. I heard you were busy, but I guess you found time for dinner.”
Her tone wasn’t mocking—she had no intention of mocking him.
Ricardo hesitated before replying.
“I had a brief break. What will you eat?”
“Onion soup is enough.”
Sitting across from him, Linaria felt a flicker of regret.
I’ll get indigestion even without eating much.
The air between them was suffocatingly awkward.
Ricardo seemed to feel it too—he ate slowly, almost reluctantly.
Linaria was the first to break the silence.
“Madam Meril and Mia were cast out of the estate. It’s been some time now, but have you heard?”
“The Duke told me.”
“Mia said… that if you knew, you wouldn’t sit still.”
Ricardo’s brow furrowed faintly.
“Why would I?”
“Because you…”
Linaria quickly corrected herself.
Mia’s voice, calling him “oppa” so easily, had suddenly come to mind.
“I mean, Lord Ovel—you were very fond of Mia. Like a little sister.”
Linaria had often glimpsed Mia hanging on Ricardo’s arm, laughing brightly. Many times.
“I heard Madam Meril had been embezzling the family’s wealth. The Duke gave them the punishment they deserved.”
Ricardo’s tone was cold.
“That’s all.”
Just then, steaming onion soup was brought in.
The topic died there, the flow broken. Ricardo seemed to think he had said all that needed saying.
Linaria stirred the soup idly with a silver spoon—her manner clearly disinterested. Then she said casually,
“May I use the training grounds?”
“…You?”
“No, my knight. You heard Father appointed him, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“He’s my personal guard now. But here, it’s so peaceful and quiet. No one hates me or seeks my life.
So shouldn’t he at least keep his skills sharp in the training yard?”
Linaria deliberately met Ricardo’s gaze.
When did it start?
When did he decide to lick the boots of the man who branded Father a traitor?
Or had he always been that way?
Ricardo’s seal had awakened into a major crest only belatedly.
His training as heir began late, and with Father’s illness, he practically bore the household duties from childhood. Maybe he thought it unfair.
Or maybe he just grew greedy.
He’s always despised me. So he’d feel no pangs of conscience.
The question of why quickly reached its conclusion.
After a pause, Ricardo finally spoke.
“You don’t need my permission. Do as you please. This is your home.”
“Yes. My home.”
Not our home—mine.
Linaria lifted the spoon she had been pointlessly stirring with.
It wasn’t tarnished.
Only then did she begin to eat the soup, small spoonful by small spoonful.
