TCBCVF 120

~Chapter 120~

Why am I even thinking like this?!

Lady Eva looked at me with concern.

“Lari, your face is red. Are you okay?”

“Y-yes, of course. Maybe it’s just warm inside the department store.”

“That’s strange, it’s not that warm though?”

She tilted her head in confusion.

But my face only grew hotter and hotter…

“Let’s go out for now. Maybe something other than clothes would be better.”

I felt like my face might explode.

So I hurriedly pulled Lady Eva outside.

And then—

“Ah.”

I stopped in my tracks.

Behind the glass display, I saw a wristwatch.

It was a classic design with a silver metal band, and its dial was a soft sky blue—just like the Duke’s eyes.

‘Now that I think about it… the Duke always wore a wristwatch, didn’t he?’

Since he was always pressed for time, he often checked it.

And more than that, if it was a wristwatch…

‘He could wear it every day. And every time he looked at it, even for just a moment, he might think of me.’

The thought made my heart tremble.

“….”

I made up my mind.

“Eva, let’s stop by that watch shop for a bit.”

I stepped inside.

That evening.

“Stay over at our house tonight.”

Lady Eva grabbed me as I was about to return to the Ansie townhouse.

“Tomorrow morning is Saint Laila’s holiday—we should spend it together, right?”

I couldn’t win against her sparkling eyes, so I agreed to stay one night at Duke Claudius’s mansion.

Besides, I also had to prepare the Duke’s gift.

Lady Eva was thrilled.

“Actually, there’s something I really wanted to do with you.”

“What is it?”

She pointed to a large, undecorated fir tree set up in the living room.

“That tree. Let’s decorate it together, okay?”

So that was her plan from the start.

On the floor was a big box full of ornaments—stars, glass balls, wreaths, and more.

Lady Eva picked up a shiny glass ball and smiled faintly.

“When I was little, every Saint Laila’s holiday, we all decorated the tree together.”

The word little and her dim smile made me realize—

She was remembering the past, when the former Duke and Duchess were still alive.

“…I see.”

“Yes. But after my parents passed away, my brother was always so busy.”

She hung the ornament on the tree, shrugging her shoulders.

Though her voice was low, the ornament shone brightly as if to cheer her up.

“So I had to decorate it all by myself…”

Then she turned and smiled at me.

“This holiday, I’m so happy I can do it with you, Lari.”

Her words made me suddenly recall the portrait I had once seen of her as a child.

That small, angel-like girl, hanging ornaments with a sad face…

“….”

Ah, what should I do?

She looks so pitiful.

My heart ached so badly it felt like it was tearing apart.

“I’m happy too, Eva, that I can spend the holiday with you.”

I answered as brightly as I could.

At my reply, her ears flushed red.

“A-and, at the top of the tree…”

She quickly turned her head as if to hide her shyness.

“You have to put a star there. That’s the most important part.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Some people don’t use stars anymore, but I still think the star is the prettiest.”

We chatted while busy decorating the tree.

By the time the sun was setting—

The Duke finally came home.

“Brother, you’re back!”

“You’re here, my lord?”

Lady Eva and I, both holding ornaments, greeted him together.

He handed his coat to a servant, then spotted me.

And, as always, his eyes softened when he saw me.

“Ah, Lady Ansie.”

After the charity party, the Duke and I became lovers.

But in truth, not much had changed.

He was still busy with work.

And I still spent most of my time with Lady Eva.

If anything had changed…

‘That gaze.’

No matter where I was, or what I was doing…

Whenever I lifted my head, I would find him looking at me, his eyes gently curved.

And every time, he would smile.

That single brief smile—

It made my heart race so much I seriously worried for my health these days.

“Brother, come here!”

Lady Eva pulled at his arm, dragging him toward the living room.

She proudly pointed to the big tree we had decorated together.

“Look! Isn’t it pretty?”

She lifted her chin.

“Lari and I decorated it!”

The tree, covered in ornaments, looked splendid indeed.

But the Duke’s gaze didn’t linger on the tree.

Instead, he looked quietly at me.

“…Yes, it’s pretty.”

He smiled faintly.

My face heated up instantly, and I quickly pretended to adjust the ornaments.

“….”

Lady Eva, seeing us, frowned.

“Alright, that’s enough.”

She shook her head.

“Let’s go eat dinner.”

She marched off toward the dining room.

“Eva, wait a moment!”

“Th-that, I wasn’t looking at Lady Ansie! I mean, I was, but still…!”

The Duke and I hurried after her with embarrassed faces.

Dinner was excellent.

Especially the Saint Laila holiday dish—a roasted chicken stuffed with nuts and fruits.

It melted in my mouth, so soft it didn’t even feel like meat but like cotton candy.

After the meal, we sat in the living room with tea and coffee.

“Just one more cup of coffee.”

As usual, the Duke had papers in hand while asking a maid.

I narrowed my eyes.

“You’re drinking coffee again?”

He froze at my sharp tone and turned to me.

“I’ve noticed for a while—you drink far too much coffee. It’s bad for your health.”

“Lady Ansie…?”

“You even collapsed last time from overwork, and now you’re doing it again…”

I rattled on before realizing I sounded too harsh.

‘Ah… maybe I went too far?’

But then, the Duke’s eyes softened.

“Are you… worrying about me?”

“……”

I swallowed hard.

Ah… what should I do?

Every time he looked at me like that, my heart trembled.

“Ugh, seriously!”

Lady Eva suddenly shouted.

“There are other people here, you know! Have some shame!”

The Duke and I quickly jumped apart.

She raised her voice again.

“Being lovey-dovey, fine! But do it when I’m not here!”

She glared fiercely at her brother.

“And especially you, Brother! Don’t look at Lari with those eyes!”

“What kind of eyes?”

“The kind that looks like you just ate a hundred sticks of butter!”

Lady Eva even shivered dramatically in disgust.

But honestly, I disagreed.

‘That’s not it.’

The Duke’s gaze wasn’t greasy or heavy.

It was warm, gentle, and comforting…