Chapter 56
My blurred vision slowly came back into focus.
Light seeped through my eyelids, outlining the faintly familiar contours of a room—
and right beside me, I could feel a vivid, unmistakable presence.
“Are you awake?”
Denok asked urgently.
Had he been by my side this whole time?
“What… happened?”
I managed to open my dry lips to ask.
My memories were hazy. I was sure I had been on my way to the study…
but everything after that was gone, as if wiped clean.
“The physician said it was a mild fever and cold, but your temperature stayed high for quite a while. I think you’ve been overworking yourself,” Denok replied, his voice heavy with concern.
A feverish cold, huh… it had been ages since I’d been this sick.
Still—
Even with my head foggy, the thought of all the tasks left undone made me frown.
I really don’t have time to be lying here like this…
Since Rachel had left, I needed to prepare for what came next.
As head maid, she’d left a vacancy I needed to fill.
And since I’d been bedridden, Denok had no doubt taken on all my work.
But if he stayed here with me like this, the work would only pile up more.
“Ah… I have to go…”
Maybe because my thoughts were fuzzy,
the words I meant to keep inside slipped out loud.
“Go? Go where?”
Denok’s tone turned firm.
The lukewarm towel on my forehead was lifted away,
only for a cool, refreshing touch to replace it almost instantly.
He had wrapped his hand in chilled magic and placed it on my forehead.
“You’re not going anywhere until you’re fully recovered.”
“But the work…”
“I can handle it.”
“…Then go do it now.”
“You’re telling me to stop taking care of you and get back to work?”
“….”
I didn’t answer. He gave me a look that said he couldn’t believe me.
Then, after a short silence, he said quietly,
“…I can’t focus on work when I’m worried about you.
So I brought some of it here to do while I stay with you. Don’t worry.”
I shifted my eyes and saw—sure enough—a stack of documents piled beside the bed.
“You were… worried about me?”
My feverish, hazy head made me blurt out things I would’ve normally kept to myself.
No one had ever worried about me before.
That’s why I tried so hard not to get sick.
“Yes. I was.”
So being sick… can have good sides too.
My chest filled with a warm, bubbling feeling—
ticklish, soft, and soothing.
Without meaning to, I smiled faintly and leaned my head against his hand.
“Your hand feels nice and cool…”
“….”
He didn’t reply,
but I could feel his hand grow even colder.
His cool touch brushed over the sweat beading on my forehead.
I couldn’t help but laugh quietly—
a light, ticklish kind of laugh.
Have I ever smiled this freely before?
Probably not. In the Duke’s mansion, I had to smile like a noble lady,
and if not that, then there was no reason to smile at all.
As I sat there thinking vaguely, I could feel Denok’s gaze on me.
Was I smiling too foolishly?
But before I could dwell on it,
my mind, once clear, began to sink again—heavy, like soaked cotton.
Sleepiness washed over me.
Blinking slowly, I murmured without thinking,
“You’ll… stay with me, right?”
“Yes, I will.”
“That’s a relief…”
I took his hand from my forehead and pulled it into my arms.
It felt cool—comforting.
And just as my drifting mind was about to fade away—
The door burst open with a loud crash.
My half-dreaming mind snapped awake like it had been doused in cold water.
“How is Madam doing?!”
That voice—
I lifted my head to see Melissa at the doorway,
struggling to drag someone behind her.
“I already checked earlier,” the person protested.
“Check again! What if she’s gotten worse since then?”
Melissa was hauling what looked like a physician.
Then, right after, Gerald burst into the room,
holding a cup filled with some unknown liquid.
“Your Grace! I brewed this medicine myself—!”
Steam rose from the cup, along with a stench so strong
it made me want to gag just from the smell.
“You brought that for Madam to drink?!”
Melissa looked horrified.
“Give me that! You’re not a knight, you’re an assassin!”
She lunged for the cup,
but couldn’t reach, so she jumped in place, flailing to snatch it away.
The room instantly descended into chaos.
“Haa… I’ll throw them out at once,” Denok muttered, narrowing his eyes.
But I stopped him.
“No… it’s fine. I feel… happy.”
“…What?”
I knew he was worried. But even stronger than that worry was—
A laugh bubbled up as I looked toward the doorway,
my cheeks flushed with fever.
“Ahaha… you all came because of me?”
“Madam!”
“Here! Please drink this—!”
The relief of not being alone—
it was enough to make me forget the pain,
forget the dizziness.
All I felt was warmth—
and a sweet, ticklish joy.
Meanwhile, at the Duke of Sertia’s estate,
where roses bloomed in full.
The Duke of Sertia sat in his study, quietly reading a letter.
The sender: Rachel.
Her sharp, striking handwriting reflected her personality.
Every phrase seemed to shout from the page.
“Cast Rachel aside… and made the Grand Duke fall in love, hmm?”
A faint, amused hum left his throat.
His crimson eyes gleamed, filled with intrigue.
“…You’re playing quite the game, aren’t you.”
Was she trying to defy him—
or was this ambition, like the letter she had once sent?
He couldn’t yet decide her true intent.
But one thing was clear—
the innocent girl who once lowered her eyes so meekly
had been hiding sharp claws all along.
A hazy smile crossed his lips.
He folded the letter neatly and set it aside.
Then, opening his desk drawer,
he took out a fresh sheet of paper
and began to write with elegant precision.
After pressing a firm period at the end,
he stared at the letter for a while,
then let a slow grin spread across his face.
“Dreaming is fine…” he murmured.
“But overstepping your role—
that’s troublesome.”
Hot red wax dripped onto the folded envelope.
He pressed his seal into it, leaving behind a crisp rose emblem.
“This time, the flower truly must bloom,” he said softly.
At his signal, the butler who had been waiting stepped forward,
took the letter from him, and bowed.
“Deliver this to the Imperial Palace.”
A few noisy days later—
A peaceful morning finally dawned over the Grand Duke’s estate.
Whether it was Denok’s devoted nursing
or Gerald’s terrible medicine—(which he somehow made me drink)—
I had finally shaken off that dreadful fever.
Much had changed in the mansion while I was ill.
First, the empty head maid’s position had been filled by Chelsea, Emile’s wife.
She insisted my sickness might have been caused by the mansion itself
and cleaned every corner of the place.
The maids, chanting strange slogans like
“Since Lady Rachel’s gone, we’ll do it for Madam!”
had obediently scrubbed everything spotless.
So when I finally stepped out of my room,
the halls gleamed so brightly I could see my reflection in the floor.
I thought so, even at tea time… she really is capable.
I recalled Chelsea’s calm face and shook my head with a faint smile.
Now, I wouldn’t need to worry about the mansion anymore.
It seemed the perfect person had finally taken over.
That meant I could now focus solely on my duties as Grand Duchess.
Then, once that was done,
I could leave this place with peace of mind—or so I thought.
“That won’t do,” came Denok’s firm voice.
“Huh?”
I blinked at him, dumbfounded.
Wait… you can look that stern?
Unlock soon!~