TREV 21

Chapter : 21

“No, Carlos! It’s so pretty! I love it!”

Realizing too late what I had said, I shook my head hard.

“I’m going to keep it until it completely dries up!”

Only then did Carlos look up.

“Really!”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

Through the slight gap of those lips, his laughter seeped out.

“Huh? Your clothes…”

“Ah…”

It was only after seeing his smile that I noticed how dirty his clothes were.

“Your clothes are filthy.”

“Ah, this…”

Carlos awkwardly brushed the dirt from his shirt.

“And what happened to your hands?”

His small white hands had several red scratches.

“It’s fine. I just scratched myself a little picking the flowers.”

He tried to hide his hands behind his back, but it was too late—I had already seen them.

“You should be careful.”

“……”

“Come in. Let me disinfect them.”

I stepped back to let him enter.

Carlos hesitated outside the room for a moment, then finally stepped inside.

“Where did you pick these?”

“…It’s a secret.”

A secret.

For a moment, I worried that Carlos might have gone into someone else’s garden to pick the flowers.

But since he said it was a secret, I decided not to pry.

“I don’t have money right now, so I can only give you this, but if you wait a little, I’ll give you something better.”

As I rummaged through the drawer for a first-aid kit, Carlos spoke.

His serious little face was so cute I almost laughed, but I held it in so I wouldn’t hurt his feelings.

“How long do I have to wait?”

“…Five years? No—three?”

“Yeah? And what better things are you going to give me?”

“Whatever you want.”

“Tch. I’m really greedy. Are you sure you can handle that?”

Without hesitation, Carlos nodded.

“Of course. I’ll earn lots of money.”

“Okay then. I’ll look forward to it.”

Somehow, his words made me smile.

This time I didn’t need to hold it back—it came naturally.

“But did something happen?”

“Hmm? Why?”

“You look upset.”

Hearing the concern in his voice, I shook my head.

“I was having a hard time, but thanks to you, I’m okay now.”

I pointed at the flowers with my chin, and he glanced that way.

“Really?”

“Really.”

I felt better—well enough to forget that I had wanted to be alone.

Even smiling didn’t feel as awkward as before.

I couldn’t tell if he truly meant what he said,
but I was grateful enough that he noticed and cared.

“Tell me if something hurts.”

“Okay.”

Yes.

It had only been two months since I came here.

And yet, there was already someone worrying about me this much.

So it was alright.

I held Carlos’s small hand and carefully disinfected and bandaged it.

“Carlos.”

“Yes?”

“You have to keep your promise, okay? I’m already excited.”

And the person making that promise was none other than Carlos—

the boy who would become the empire’s greatest swordsman.

He promised he’d give me anything I wanted.

So really, it was as good as surviving already.

“Yes, I will.”

Carlos’s eyes widened briefly in surprise, then softened sweetly.

Hearing his laugh eased my heart a little.

Duke Gerhardt’s mansion.

Knock, knock.

Simon, who had gone to check Lawrence’s request, returned.

“Young Master. I asked the Herarilla family doctor about Lady Patricia’s medical records, but there are hardly any recent entries.”

“Hardly any?”

“Yes. She was examined about a month ago after a fall down the stairs, but it was only a minor bruise.”

“A month ago?”

Lawrence frowned and flipped through his calendar.

“Was it July 10th?”

Simon checked his notebook.

“Oh? Yes, that’s right.”

His eyes widened in shock.

“How did you know that?”

“Ha… So it started then.”

“Started what?”

“The first day Patricia stopped coming.”

“Ah…”

Simon grimaced slightly.

“Don’t tell me you kept track of all that?”

“Simon.”

Lawrence’s cold warning shut him up instantly.

“I didn’t keep track. I just remember because something else happened that day.”

“…I see.”

Simon didn’t look convinced, but neither of them pressed the matter.

“Are you sure the doctor isn’t hiding something?”

“Hmm… I don’t think so.”

“She fell down the stairs?”

“Yes.”

“No head injury or anything like that?”

“No, nothing like that was mentioned.”

But Lawrence still looked suspicious.

“Check with the servants at the Herarilla estate. Find out if anything changed—anything strange—after that day.”

“…You sound like you want her to be hurt. Must be my imagination.”

“Get out.”

Pointing at the door, Lawrence dismissed him curtly.

“Yes, sir.”

Simon bowed slightly and hurried out.

Click.

The door shut. Alone, Lawrence clicked his tongue.

“A fall down the stairs.”

After that accident, Patricia didn’t visit him for an entire month.
And when she finally came, it was only to return his necklace and say she wouldn’t bother him anymore.

Since then, unless he summoned her, she never showed up.

Patricia had changed after the accident.

Was that really a coincidence?

A bruise—something that small—wasn’t enough to keep Patricia away for a whole month.

A broken bone, maybe…

That would have been enough reason.

Or maybe something happened that changed her inside.

“Ha…”

He couldn’t shake the feeling—her mysterious change bothered him endlessly.

Bang!!

Someone threw the door open so hard it slammed against the wall.

“Ack!”

Startled by the noise, my shoulders jerked up.

“Ha?”

The rude intruder who scared me didn’t look even the slightest bit apologetic.

It was Morgan, with Barber behind him.

“How dare you ignore our family and enjoy a peaceful time alone?”

Looks like he came to complain about what happened in the dining room earlier.

Morgan’s gaze spotted Carlos.

“Who the hell is that brat?”

“Don’t start something. Say what you came to say and leave.”

“Tch. You insolent wench. Ordering me around again?”

Morgan stomped toward us, furious.

In an instant, he grabbed Carlos by the back of his neck.

“Ha, what, playing house together?”

He glanced between Carlos’s face and the medical supplies on the table and sneered.

Carlos, small as he was, dangled helplessly in Morgan’s grip.

“What are you doing? Put him down.”

“Pretty face on him…”

Morgan ignored me and lifted Carlos’s chin to look at him.

“Is he one of our servants?”

His lips curled into a nasty grin.

“He suits you perfectly. Patricia.”

Morgan laughed and shook Carlos deliberately.

The boy wheezed, choking.

“You bastard!”

Thud!

I shoved Morgan’s shoulder.
Carlos slipped from his grip and fell to the floor.

“You came for me, right? Talk to me.”

Carlos’s eyes glistened with tears.

“Don’t pick on someone weaker.”

“Hah? Another order. Fine—have it your way.”

Morgan grabbed me by the collar.

I wanted to grab his messy hair and yank back, but that would only make things worse.

I had no allies here—I could only endure it.

“My lady!!”

If I made a scene, Carlos might get dragged into it too.

Whack!

Morgan swung his fist, but someone intervened.

At the same time, I was thrown to the floor.

“What are you doing!?”

“My lady!”

Carlos had clung to Morgan’s leg, and now he rushed to my side.

“How can you strike someone!?”

“What? Butler, why are you interfering?”

The butler had blocked the punch—so I wasn’t hit.

“Young master, that’s enough.”

“Ha! Taking her side? I’m not done teaching her a lesson! Mind your own business!”

Morgan fumed, frustrated at being stopped.

But the butler stood firm, hand still on Morgan’s shoulder.

“……”

“The duke has summoned the young lady.”

“Tch.”

At that, Morgan clicked his tongue and turned away.

“We’ll finish this later.”

He stormed out.

“Ha…”

The butler let out a sigh and rubbed his left shoulder—the one that had taken Morgan’s blow in my place.

“…Are you okay?”

Carlos ignored the butler completely and turned to me, scared and trembling, his voice wobbling.

I nodded to reassure him.

“My lady, please stand.”

“Ah, yes.”

I scrambled up at the butler’s words.

“Um…”

“The duke awaits. Please come with me.”