TCBCVF 121

~Chapter 121~

Without realizing it, I admitted humbly to myself.

‘Wow… I really am blinded by love.’

Now, I could kind of understand why Lady Eva always got so annoyed.

“By the way, Eva, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask you.”

At the same time, the Duke narrowed his eyes at me and Eva’s wrists.

“What is that bracelet?”

“This?”

Eva, who had just been glaring at him earlier, now proudly raised my wrist to show him the bracelet.

“Lari and I got matching ones.”

“What? Matching ones?”

“Yeah. To celebrate Saint Laila’s holiday, we gave them to each other. Pretty, right?”

The Duke’s brows furrowed deeply.

But Eva, completely excited, didn’t care about his reaction.

“Look, see this heart-shaped pendant?”

She pressed close to me and placed our wrists side by side.

“These two pendants make a full heart when you put them together!”

The line between the Duke’s brows grew even deeper…

A moment later, with a very displeased expression, the Duke spoke.

“Isn’t that… too intimate of an accessory for just friends?”

“Why? What’s wrong with it?” Eva asked sharply.

“If you’re jealous, just say so. Pretending to be serious only makes you look worse.”

The Duke fell silent.
He knew that saying anything more meant losing this round.

Just then, a maid arrived and placed cups of chamomile tea before us.

‘I asked for chamomile on purpose, since it helps with fatigue and sleeplessness…’

I glanced sideways at the Duke.

‘I hope it helps him, even a little.’

At that moment, Eva scolded him.

“Brother, do you really have to work even today?”

“Ah, sorry.”

Looking a bit awkward, the Duke set down the papers in his hand.

My eyes widened when I saw the title written on the very first page:

<Feasibility Study on Establishing a Childcare Foundation>

“Are you planning to establish a childcare foundation?”

As far as I knew, he was already donating regularly to the temple.

“Yes, that’s what I intend to do,” he replied without hesitation.

“I thought you left that in the temple’s hands?”

Instead of answering, he simply smiled faintly.
But somehow, that smile felt cold.

At the same time, Eva crossed her arms and nodded firmly.

“I agree.”

“What?” I blinked.

“You see, childcare projects fall under High Priest Evans’s control.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“To be honest, I don’t like how that Evans priest has been flaunting around thanks to Claudius’s donations. Bringing the project under our name instead wouldn’t be bad.”

She then glanced at her brother.

“Before, you said there was no need to clash with the temple… but now?”

So now it was fine to clash? Why suddenly?

Confused, I flinched when Eva looked at me with a meaningful gaze—
as if the reason for the foundation had something to do with me.

Smiling slyly, she picked up another report.

“Oh, Brother, the Claudius Medical Research Institute has a new researcher.”

Because it was year-end, many places Claudius invested in had sent reports.

Eva frowned as she read the name.

“Simon? No family name… must be a commoner.”

My eyes widened again.

Simon—I remembered meeting him back at the Wilson University year-end party.

“A commoner, yet he graduated second in the class? Impressive! He must be really smart.”

Eva looked genuinely amazed.

“Most students there are nobles. He must have suffered a lot.”

“Well, only talent like that deserves Claudius’s support,” the Duke said with a shrug.

Eva flipped through the papers, then let out a bitter laugh.

“Still… the research seems slow.”

Ah. It must be about the disease that caused the death of the late Duke and Duchess.

The Duke spoke softly, as if to comfort.

“Well, if he keeps at it, results will come someday.”

“True. Wow, Brother, you actually said something reasonable for once.”

Eva answered cheerfully, trying to lighten the heavy mood.

Then—

“Excuse me, my lady,” the butler called politely.

“If you’re not too busy, may I discuss the budget for the kitchen repairs?”

Eva lifted her chin and looked at me with a proud gaze that clearly said:
See? Now they come to me directly, just like a proper hostess.

Indeed, she no longer needed to go through her brother for such matters.

“Alright,” she nodded and rose gracefully.

Turning to me, she smiled brightly.

“I’ll be back.”

“Yes, see you soon.”

She left with her shoulders straight, pride radiating from her back.

Watching her go, I suddenly felt uneasy.

‘Wait… is it normal for the butler to bring this up when the family is resting? Kitchen repairs don’t sound urgent.’

From what I had observed, the Claudius butler wasn’t the type to lack tact.

At that moment—

“Phew…”

The Duke sighed deeply and let his head drop gently onto my shoulder.

Then he tilted his gaze up at me.

“Honestly, it’s really hard to be alone with you.”

A satisfied smile curved his lips.

“But the butler timed it just right.”

My eyes widened as realization hit.

“Wait… don’t tell me you ordered him to do that?”

The Duke’s shoulders stiffened.

Silence.

I stared at him persistently, and finally he slumped his shoulders.

“…Still, sometimes Eva should give Lady Ansie up to me.”

His voice was low and sulky.

“We are lovers, after all.”

That word—lovers—tickled my heart.

The Duke pouted again.

“But then you went and made friendship bracelets with Eva…”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Feeling like I had done something wrong, I awkwardly apologized.

But the Duke suddenly raised his head with a serious look.

“Don’t apologize.”

“What?”

“You didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t apologize for nothing.”

His eyes, more serious than ever, locked on mine.

“I don’t like it… when you lower yourself as if it’s only natural.”