Chapter 28
Cecilia’s face was filled with confusion.
“Being threatened by Cardinand? What in the world is he talking about?”
Her head grew more tangled with thoughts, but perhaps Leo interpreted her expression differently, because he spoke with eyes that had turned serious.
“I did think it was odd. You, taking etiquette lessons at the Grand Duke’s estate. The way you talk, the formality—it just doesn’t suit you.”
“……”
Hearing that, she felt strangely awkward. It was common for any noble lady of the empire to be immersed in such things.
Of course, Cecilia hadn’t been like that… but was it really such a shocking thing to learn proper manners that it warranted this much concern?
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Cecilia scratched the back of her head, but Leo’s expression remained unusually grave.
She had almost forgotten—Leo had always taken things very seriously, ever since he was a child.
Once, as a joke, she had told him that she had lost her beloved teddy bear. But Leo took it so seriously that he spent the whole night searching every inch of the mountain where they used to play.
The next morning, when she saw him covered in dirt, Cecilia couldn’t help but burst into tears.
“Leo, I’m sorry. I lied… because of me, you…”
While she hiccupped and apologized in guilt, Leo looked at her and smiled gently.
“It’s fine. Since it’s not really lost, there’s no problem. So stop crying.”
As he said that, Leo had wiped her tears instead.
Recalling that moment, Cecilia let out a small sigh and rested her forehead in her hand. She should have explained things a little to Leo too, not just her father.
As she hesitated, wondering how much she should say, Leo was quicker to speak.
“Milady.”
“Huh? Oh.”
“Whether it’s etiquette classes or anything else, if you’re okay with it, then I can bear with it too. But…”
Leo’s gaze shifted to Cecilia’s legs.
“Please don’t push yourself to the point of getting hurt.”
“……”
His red eyes were serious. He always kept his bangs long to cover those eyes, a natural trait he had been hiding since birth.
It was a long-standing habit, a means of protecting himself.
So it had been a long time since Cecilia had looked him in the eyes like this. Even as a close friend, whenever she jokingly tried to lift his bangs, he would always run away. But now, here he was, brushing back his own hair.
Cecilia knew very well how much courage it had taken for him to come here, and why he had mustered it.
Leo let out a deep sigh and asked worriedly,
“You’re not hurt anywhere else, are you?”
Cecilia smiled gently and replied,
“It’s just a blister from wearing high heels I’m not used to. Everything else is perfectly fine, really!”
She spun once on the spot to prove it and flashed a big smile.
Leo, seeing that, let a faint smile spread over his previously serious face. Confirming that he’d finally relaxed a little, Cecilia continued.
“Um, Leo, you probably don’t understand why I’m doing all this here, right? I can’t tell you everything honestly, but…”
She looked up at him with eyes full of sincerity.
“I’ve been thinking lately… I’ve lived too selfishly, doing only what I wanted.”
“……”
“Sometimes, you have to do things for your family, for the people you love, right? So please, trust me and wait.”
Cecilia vowed to herself that she would clear her family’s name and protect them no matter what.
Leo, seeing Cecilia’s eyes shine with more clarity than ever before, nodded as if his heart had been swayed.
“…I understand, Milady. I’m sorry for coming unannounced.”
“Why are you acting all formal now?”
Cecilia smiled brightly and lightly tapped his shoulder, but just then, a voice called from outside her bedroom door.
“Milady, is everything all right in there?”
Cecilia’s eyes widened.
“I heard voices from inside. May I come in for a moment?”
Panicked, Cecilia began to fidget and looked between Leo and the door.
It was obvious—if Leo were found here now, things would get messy. Sensing her distress, Leo tried to head for the terrace, but just at that moment, a patrol guard passed below.
He moved to climb a tree in haste, but Cecilia quickly grabbed his shoulder.
“Where do you think you’re going? That’s dangerous.”
“But if I stay, you’ll be in trouble.”
“Just—just hide under the table for now!”
“What?”
“Hurry!”
Without giving him time to protest, Cecilia shoved Leo beneath a table draped in lace.
The guard briefly inspected the room, and Cecilia made up a story about how she was talking to herself out of boredom. The guard, though suspicious, eventually left, and Leo also quietly slipped away.
Cecilia thought she’d dodged trouble just fine—at least until she met Pierre the next day.
* * *
“A young mercenary, huh…”
Of all things, Cecilia’s room had an open-style terrace, and the moon had been especially bright that night.
Thanks to that, Pierre had witnessed, from a distance, Cecilia urgently grabbing Leo’s arm and pulling him into her room.
He had only gone out for a walk to clear his mind, but that scene made him chuckle dryly.
“Didn’t think she had it in her.”
* * *
Cecilia stretched and got out of bed.
After Leo left last night, she had been so fired up with renewed motivation that she barely slept.
Though her body felt tired, her spirits were high. Determined to give her best again today, she marched forward. Like the day before, she planned to focus on dance practice.
If Pierre gave her a few more tips like yesterday, she was sure she’d improve quickly. Hoping he might show up again, she headed toward the manor—just as she spotted Pierre walking into the main building.
Her face lit up as she approached him.
“Good morning, Your Grace.”
She greeted him with as much formality as she could muster. Normally, she’d expect him to comment on how awkward her speech still sounded.
But since he had helped her with dancing yesterday, she figured she could tolerate a little nitpicking.
Yet Pierre, who turned to her upon hearing her greeting, wore an unreadable expression.
He had never been a particularly expressive man, but his face now seemed void of all emotion.
“Yes.”
That was all he said before continuing on his way. Cecilia was left standing with her mouth agape.
“That’s it? Just ‘yes’?”
This was the same man who constantly nagged her about etiquette and noble speech. Yet now, his reaction was… distant. It was baffling, but in this mansion, Pierre was the one in power, and she had no choice but to play nice.
Cecilia swallowed her frustration and quickly walked alongside him.
“Thanks to your help with the dance practice yesterday, I’ve gained a bit more confidence. Having a partner really helps me focus.”
Pierre offered no response. Cecilia silently cursed him.
“What an ass.”
But right now, she needed him. So she swallowed her pride and continued.
“So… I was wondering if maybe you could help me practice again today?”
She asked carefully, and Pierre abruptly stopped walking. Cecilia halted beside him just as quickly.
He turned to look at her, and his expression was unreadable. The tension in the air made Cecilia swallow hard.
She stared up at him without blinking, and finally, Pierre opened his mouth.
“You look tired.”
The unexpected remark made Cecilia blink. She touched her cheek and replied,
“Oh, I just went to bed late.”
“Do I look that worn out?”
She braced herself for what would surely follow—another lecture about how a lady should manage her appearance.
But instead, Pierre asked with an odd look,
“Doing what?”
“Pardon?”
Pierre didn’t ask again with his usual cold tone. And Cecilia hadn’t repeated the word because she hadn’t heard—it was just that… she never expected him to be curious.
He was the type to scold, not to ask personal questions.
It felt strange. “Doing what?” he had said.
The truth was she’d gotten fired up and, unable to stay still, had worn herself out doing sit-ups.
But she couldn’t say that, so she gave a vague answer.
“…Just used my body a bit.”
“…Used your body?”
Pierre’s expression twisted strangely. His brows furrowed, and his lips pressed into a hard line.
