TCBUP 23

Episode 23. I Forgot.

“Don’t bother looking at anything unpleasant.”

“But…”

“Once you’ve stepped into this world, you always have to be ready for things like this.”

Leon took the reins of a horse another subordinate had brought over.

“Now, Miss Sienna Hagrives, who wasn’t even there at the scene—let’s not worry about what you didn’t see. Let’s go back quickly.”

“……”

I didn’t know what to say.

Instead of continuing to worry, I grabbed the hand he offered.

My mind and body both felt like seaweed swaying at the bottom of the ocean—completely drained. I just wanted to go home quickly.

“Do you really live here?”

“Yes.”

Leon looked at my house in disbelief.

It was understandable. It wasn’t common for an unmarried noble lady to leave her family and live alone.

“I moved out. There were… circumstances.”

“Ah, I see. That’s good. Independence. Very grown-up.”

Thankfully, Leon didn’t ask further.

He jumped off his horse and held his arms out to me.

Unlike before, this time I didn’t hesitate to lean my upper body forward and let him support me.

Thanks to his help, I was able to step down steadily and safely.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Go on in.”

“Um… really, thank you for everything today.”

“No need to thank me again. Oh, and even if it’s a hassle, make sure to ice your neck and wrist before bed. Joshua is a doctor, you know.”

I nodded and turned to go.

But after a few steps, I turned back again.

Leon was stroking his horse and watching me enter.

“Do you want to come in for a bit?”

“You shouldn’t invite a man into your house so carelessly.”

He joked, but still tugged on the reins as if he might follow me.

His playful expression annoyed me, so I shot him a look, but he met it with an equally teasing smile.

“Don’t get any ideas. I just want to return your jacket.”

“You didn’t throw it away?”

“It’s supposed to be really expensive, isn’t it? That jacket.”

“Oh… was it?”

“It’s a waste to buy another one if you can avoid it, especially since making money’s not easy.”

There might not be many incidents like today, but it’s true that he’s in a dangerous line of work.

Better to spend that money where it’s really needed than on a pricey jacket you’ll hardly wear.

“And didn’t you say you might get fired because of today? You should save.”

“That’s true. Just a moment.”

I stepped aside as Leon tied his horse to the front gate.

While I quietly watched, the sound of galloping hooves and carriage wheels came clattering toward us from afar.

It was well past midnight—who would be riding through this quiet neighborhood in such a rush?

“Seems like it’s coming this way.”

“No way…”

I squinted in the direction Leon pointed and saw the carriage approaching.

A large, classically designed carriage, and a familiar coachman.

It was the Duke of Ortiz’s carriage.

“Sienna!”

Before the carriage even came to a full stop, someone flung the door open and leapt out, striding toward me.

His tightly shut mouth, stiff expression, and loosely knotted white tie said it all—he was furious.

Ahh… I completely forgot.

If I were in Damian’s shoes, I’d be just as angry.

I disappeared claiming I was going to the ladies’ room and never came back—no explanation, no word.

I knew I had to accept whatever anger Damian threw at me.

But maybe because of my past experiences as “Sienna,” my heart sank and my body involuntarily stepped back.

“Sienna. What the hell…!”

Damian’s low, strained voice and quick footsteps stopped when he saw Leon.

His eyes slowly traveled down—to my hand holding onto Leon’s arm.

“Long time no see, Duke Ortiz.”

“You’re… Leon of Aatrox.”

“So you remember. Has it been since the hunting tournament?”

“What are you doing with Sienna?”

“Ah.”

Leon glanced at me and then smiled lightly.

“There was an incident. I was on security duty and brought her home safely. I didn’t realize she was part of your group.”

“Incident? What incident?”

“It wasn’t anything serious. I’m sorry for leaving without a word. I was so out of it, I forgot.”

“So that ‘not serious’ incident was enough to make you forget about me?”

Damian frowned, clearly exasperated.

Right. Of course.

I avoided his gaze and placed my hand on the gate.

“Let’s not stand out here in the street in the middle of the night. Why don’t we go inside first?”

I forced an awkward smile as I undid the latch and opened the gate.

Just as I was about to step in, Damian grabbed my wrist and spun me around.

“What’s with your neck?”

“Ow, that hurts!”

Unfortunately, it was the injured wrist—his grip made me cry out unintentionally.

Startled, Damian quickly released me, then gently took my hand again.

After seeing the bruised and swollen neck and wrist, his face hardened instantly.

“What is this?”

He wasn’t stupid. He’d know it wasn’t just from a fall.

How could I explain this in a way that wouldn’t escalate things?

As I fumbled for words, Damian turned to Leon with a terrifying glare that demanded answers.

“Your Grace, let’s talk inside. Leon, I’m sorry, but…”

“You should head back now. Thank you for your help. If you’d like compensation, you can speak with me.”

“Why would you compensate me?”

“Just go inside, Sienna.”

As if he were my guardian, Damian brushed off my protests.

I looked back at Leon several times in frustration, but Damian paid no mind and pulled me through the gate I’d left open.

Then he suddenly stopped.

“……”

He stood silently, staring at the house.

I could guess what was going through his mind.

Compared to the countess’s mansion, which gets redecorated every year, this was shabby. And nothing like the old, elegant Ortiz manor.

“For the record, I like this house very much.”

“I wasn’t thinking anything weird. Just… it’s cozier than I imagined. That’s all the butler told me.”

Cozy, huh.

That was probably the nicest way Damian could put it.

He confidently headed toward the front door. I scowled behind him and then glanced back.

Leon was still standing outside the gate, watching.

I’d feel bad letting him leave like this.

I still had to return his jacket.

He knows where I live now… will he come looking for it?

Maybe I should at least tell him to come.

“Sienna. Open the door.”

“Oh, right.”

Just as I opened my mouth, Damian rushed me, and I instinctively opened the door.

He gently pushed me inside and followed right behind, closing the door firmly behind us.

“……”

Damian stood in the entryway and looked around.

The house was small enough that he could take it all in without even moving.

He stood still, saying nothing—lost in thought.

It’s clean enough, right?

The butler had picked me up early, so I didn’t have time to make a mess.

Of course, my bedroom’s a disaster from trying on outfits, but Damian wouldn’t go upstairs… hopefully.

I subtly picked up the shawl I had tossed over the little two-person couch and stuffed it into a corner.

“You live here alone?”

After a long silence, Damian finally spoke.

“No maid?”

“Merry comes often to help.”

A crease formed between his perfectly groomed brows.

He looked uncomfortable.

Well, it made sense. Had he ever stepped into a house this small before?

Even when the Ortiz family struggled financially, they’d rather die than leave the estate.

Damian sighed quietly and turned to face me.

“What about a doctor? Should I call the family physician?”

“I’ve already been checked. By a doctor Leon knows.”

He did say Joshua was a doctor.

I was examined and even received a treatment plan.

So technically, I wasn’t lying.

“Are you close with him?”

“Not really. I mean… we know each other.”

We’ve only met three times, but that counts, right?

Leon even said so himself.

Why is he asking that…

As I answered his question, my eyes kept drifting to his chest.

The silver pendant shaped like a lock—his crest—sparkled with a red four-leaf clover.

Damian’s rising affection shouldn’t mean anything to me, and yet… why was it blinking like that?

Now I was curious for no reason.