PHATFO 48

~Chapter 48~

He was holding me, and through his shoulder, I saw the dusk, dark and black. I must have dozed off in the carriage.

In the midst of darkness, a large mansion stood brightly lit.

“That’s…”

“Our home.”

Should I admire Armin for acting like lovers even now, or fear how careful and calculating he is?

“You still seem sleepy, rest your eyes. I’ll take you to the bedroom.”

His gentle, whispering voice tickled my ears and sounded very sweet.

“There’s no need… I have feet too… And wouldn’t it be troublesome for Your Highness?”

“It’s okay. We were going the same way anyway.”

“What?”

“Isn’t it natural for engaged couples to share a bedroom?”

That bombshell left my head spinning.

Wondering if I heard it wrong, Armin carried me up the stairs easily.

We arrived at the bedroom.

Maidservants opened the doors on both sides, and Armin entered with me.

Inside was a clean, well-made white bedding.

When I saw there was more than one pillow, I grabbed Armin’s neck and clung to him.

“We didn’t share the same bed, right?”

He stopped three steps away from the bed.

“Why do you think so?”

“Just a feeling.”

Armin set me down on the bed and looked at me.

His red eyes looked blurry, like shadows in the night.

“Why do you remember that?”

He stood up and slowly moved away.

As his scent faded, I took a deep breath.

“Yes, I was joking too much.”

“……”

“Relax. I won’t do anything if Bella doesn’t want me to.”

As if to prove his words, he left me and walked toward the door.

“Rest, then.”

“…Okay.”

The door closed with a thud, and footsteps faded away.

He deliberately made the noise to reassure me.

After the silence filled the room,

I confirmed I was alone and ran my hand over my neck and collarbone.

Still alive. Still attached to my body.

But even knowing that didn’t bring comfort.

I sighed deeply and curled up on the bed.

That restless night passed with uneasy thoughts.

“Lara.”

Knock knock knock.

“I’m coming in, okay?”

Knock.

Aisha knocked on the shop door and waited a long time.

But only silence answered.

“…Hey, you act like this just because I came after a long time?”

I wasn’t doing it on purpose, only thinking of her!

“Fine, I admit it. I was wrong. Leaving without a word was bad.”

“……”

“Waiting for you to get mad… what nonsense! Better to fight… huh?”

Aisha froze standing in the opened doorway.

The shop she expected to smell of herbs was empty.

Not only empty, but also cold, as if no one had been there for days.

“What?”

Did she come to the wrong place? No, this was it.

As Aisha looked around, she sensed movement behind her.

By habit, she clenched a fireball in her hand and turned.

The person behind her was so surprised he fell to the floor.

He looked so stunned he lost his will to fight.

Aisha blew out the fire, realizing the man was the owner of the next shop.

“Where is Lara?”

“Didn’t you know?”

“Know what?”

After exchanging looks several times,

“You really didn’t know.”

The man sighed and lowered his head.

“Lara was taken by His Grace the Duke.”

“What? Why?”

“I don’t know that much…”

After being pushed a bit, he got scared and stammered.

If he was usually timid, he wouldn’t try to save Lara or find out anything. So no useful information came from him.

Aisha motioned for him to leave.

Even though her tone was sharp with annoyance, the man was grateful and left.

Left alone, Aisha ran her hand through her hair and vented.

“This is ridiculous.”

She hadn’t left because she wanted to.

Lara had great magical talent.

She absorbed knowledge astonishingly fast.

Though Aisha met many geniuses, none were like Lara.

As her teacher, she wanted to see what kind of fruit Lara would bear.

So when she heard the Duke was coming, she stayed away.

The Duke had the skill to snatch talented people and send them to the battlefield. Many military achievements were not by chance.

His insight was sharp. If he stayed near, he would notice Lara’s talent for sure.

So Aisha left town for a while, holding back her desire to see Lara grow every day.

‘But he snatched her so quickly?’

Should I admire his insight or curse his bad luck?

What’s clear is, she can’t let her student be lost as a battlefield expendable.

Closing her shop door, Aisha heard merchants gathering.

“Aisha?”

“You’re back now?”

“Where are you going?”

“To get Lara.”

Aisha’s short reply was interrupted by the nosy shop owner across the street.

“Didn’t you hear? The Duke took Lara—”

“I know.”

“If you know, why do that? She’ll die there. Didn’t you hear the rumors? Better give up.”

“I told you.”

Aisha smirked.

“I have backup too.”

And that backup is meant for things like this.

Ignoring the stunned people, Aisha walked on.

“Did you cough?”

My head was fuzzy since morning.

“Sorry for the late greeting. I am Morgan, the head butler of this mansion.”

Hearing polite speech from someone who looked like a servant felt very unreal.

I blinked several times to focus.

The man’s face showed experience and dignity.

He was different from the Rohilton butler or the Ermel lord’s butler.

He was the butler of the Duke’s household.

“His master ordered me to treat the lady as precious.”

“I see…”

Armin gave such an order.

Even inside the mansion, he planned to keep up appearances.

“Who are those?”

I pointed to three maidservants behind the butler.

Morgan stepped back and gently pushed the maids forward.

“They are the young ladies who will serve you. Their names are, in order: Catherine, Marina, and Viola.”

Each maid kneeled when their name was called.

Catherine was the oldest and looked calm.

Marina had bright blonde hair styled like a mature woman but still looked youngest.

When our eyes met, she smiled shyly, cute and lovely.

Viola stood out most.

Her hair was braided with ornaments.

Unlike the others, she did not bow or avoid my gaze, but looked at me directly.

‘She seems to be watching me.’

Their personalities would become clearer over time.

“Nice to meet you.”

“We will serve you wholeheartedly.”

Catherine spoke first.

“We will make sure our guest is comfortable.”

Marina followed Catherine carefully.

Viola smiled, then looked me in the eyes and asked:

“Would you like to eat first? Or take a bath?”

“Bath first.”

I felt dirty, probably because I just fell asleep yesterday.

“I’ll prepare it right away.”

Catherine answered.

I thought the bedroom was large, but it had a big bathroom attached, with a bathtub big enough for several people.

‘A bathtub with always-hot water—how luxurious.’

Even Charlotte never enjoyed this luxury.

What would she think if the fake fiancée like me got this treatment?