Chapter : 48
“You mean you weren’t thinking about anything?”
“Yeah.”
No. Is there really a man this insensitive?
He’s beautiful. Was I supposed to derive some deep thought from this?
If someone looks that good, shouldn’t you just look and feel it?
What is he even trying to do?
I felt like I wanted to bang my chest out of frustration.
“Look, all the other young masters were staring at you too. You were all tense, weren’t you?”
Lawrence still looked at me as if to say, ‘So what?’
“…Because you’re nervous?”
Lawrence thought for a long moment before speaking.
So he was implying I was nervous because of Arser.
“Sigh, fine.”
How could someone with such poor perception recognize a noble?
I felt stifled thinking about how the heroine and Lawrence’s future might unfold.
“I really can’t understand a word you’re saying.”
“Oh, I see how it is.”
“What?”
Lawrence frowned at the faint mumble I made.
He was a rather irritating person.
“I mean… I misspoke. I meant it’s natural that you wouldn’t understand.”
Step, step.
Lawrence, who had come closer with a quiet sigh, dropped the pure white object he had been holding onto my lap.
“Cover yourself.”
“It’s already warm, though.”
It seemed that’s what he had been rummaging through the room for.
But aside from gratitude, in a room where the fireplace already radiated warmth, the blanket he handed me wasn’t strictly necessary.
Yet Lawrence sighed softly and bent down to cover my legs with the blanket himself.
Just as the blanket was halfway slipping to the floor, he spoke.
“Take off your shoes and rest.”
“Pardon?”
“You’ve been uncomfortable for a while now.”
“Ah…”
I couldn’t tell exactly what time he meant, but it was true that my high heels with narrow toes were uncomfortable.
So that’s why he brought the blanket.
“Thank you.”
The more attentively Lawrence treated me, the more uneasy I felt.
“……”
Arser Rodriguez.
Knowing what she meant to Lawrence made it even more so.
Lawrence Gerhardt had not had a happy childhood.
His mother passed away early, and his father viewed him not as a son but as a tool to increase the family’s power, an experimental subject to augment his own strength.
The gift of the Black Dragon.
The power of the Black Dragon, which manifested again after several generations.
Naturally, Lawrence had been the center of attention from the moment he was born.
Although Lawrence was stronger and more capable than others, it was questionable whether he even wanted this power.
As far as I knew, he had spent a long time cursing his own abilities.
Because he believed he could never earn his father’s love.
The current Duke Gerhardt.
He envied and desired the power Lawrence possessed and, in the end, envied the son who had surpassed him.
He decided to take that power through Lawrence Gerhardt.
From that day, Lawrence underwent numerous experiments under the pretext of serving the family.
How far could his power manifest?
How could it be enhanced?
How could others obtain this power?
All of these experiments left scars on Lawrence.
The wounded male protagonist.
Ultimately, the one to comfort and heal him was the heroine, Arser.
Lawrence Gerhardt found stability and healing in the arms of Arser Rodriguez.
Not only that, the side effects from all the experiments also subsided when he was with Arser Rodriguez.
So this time, it had to be the same.
It was the fate dictated by the story and the right thing for Lawrence Gerhardt.
“……”
At first, the most important thing was surviving myself.
No, for me, that was the only thing that mattered.
I thought it didn’t matter what happened to Lawrence and Arser.
If they didn’t end up together, then it was just a shallow connection and it would end there—it had nothing to do with me.
But now, I could no longer think that way.
…I wanted Lawrence Gerhardt to be happy.
Of course, I also had to survive.
Feeling my gaze, Lawrence, who had his eyes closed, slowly opened them.
“Why? Do you need something?”
“…No.”
“You’re not in pain, are you?”
Lawrence leaned forward to check on me.
Those cold red eyes, in which warmth seemed impossible to find.
“I’m fine.”
And yet, those eyes filled with concern felt unbearably warm.
Rustle, rustle.
Unable to stay still, I fidgeted, and the thick, stiff blanket rustled through the dark room.
“Sigh.”
In the end, I couldn’t stay at the ball any longer and returned by carriage with Lawrence.
“Sigh…”
I wanted to leave the capital entirely.
A place to stay would soon be arranged, and I felt I had resolved my entanglements with both Lawrence and Carlos.
I no longer had to worry about death.
So I thought leaving would be the end, but my heart was uneasy.
“Annoying.”
Why must his kindness make someone feel so unsettled?
If I left like this.
If Lawrence and Arser didn’t end up together.
Lawrence Gerhardt would never be able to open up to anyone.
Would he live a lonely and unhappy life forever?
And the side effects from the experiments would never be fixed.
“It bothers me.”
But, what could I possibly do?
I have no connection with Arser Rodriguez.
Well, technically, if I wanted, I could try to create one.
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. I can at least help someone like you.”
Not a single word of Lawrence Gerhardt’s concern for me was empty.
“I wanted to stay nearby and watch. To see if it’s really okay, just like you said.”
He was far more worried about me than I had guessed.
“Ugh, I don’t know!”
Thwack!
Frustrated, I hit the pillow.
“I don’t know, I don’t know! What, am I going to die? I’m already friends with Lawrence and Carlos. How could I possibly die?”
Being tied up with them like this didn’t make me comfortable, but maybe it was meant to be this way.
Even if their first meeting was awkward, the story had already destined them as a pair.
So if I just gave them a little chance, a passionate love would surely begin.
Then it would be a happy ending for everyone.
Being Cupid for love didn’t seem so bad.
“Sigh… but how do I become close to Arser Rodriguez?”
The night deepened, and I tossed and turned, thinking about this endlessly.
Yet, all my worries that night proved unnecessary, as things progressed far more easily than I had expected.
“Miss Rodriguez?”
Arser Rodriguez.
Why was she here?
“Princess Herarilla, hello. I am truly honored that you remember me.”
Why did I meet her at our front entrance?
“What brings you here…?”
“Miss Rodriguez, oh, it’s been a while. Was your journey safe?”
I didn’t hear much, but seeing Morgan clumsily descending the stairs, I roughly understood what was happening.
“Pfft. ‘A while’? We parted just a few hours ago, didn’t we?”
“Y-Yes, that’s true.”
Arser smiled faintly, and Morgan blushed and slightly lowered his head.
“Huh?”
It looked like he was flustered. I couldn’t help laughing at the sight.
I didn’t expect Morgan to show that expression.
Truly the worst.
“Ahem, then I will guide you to the reception room.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Arser’s gaze lingered on me for quite a while.
As if reluctant to part from me.
Morgan seemed to notice the meaning behind her gaze and hurriedly spoke.
“Patricia Herarilla. You have nothing else to do, right?”
“What?”
“…Come and have some tea too.”
A commanding, condescending tone, paired with a desperate-looking expression.
How can someone’s thoughts be so transparent?
Morgan seemed to want to act tough in front of Arser.
So his tone became arrogant.
Even commanding so arrogantly, his expression showed fear that I might refuse.
Normally, I wouldn’t listen to him, but today was different.
“Alright.”
I nodded obediently. Morgan frowned in surprise, and Arser smiled brightly.
Morgan, watching Arser, spoke again.
“By the way, you were very rude yesterday.”
“…What?”
“Was there any need to reject her kindness so coldly?”
Since I came out so obediently, Morgan seemed to want to show Arser that he could ‘win’ against me.
“Do you know how much your inconsiderate actions hurt her?”
Probably trying to look good in front of Arser.
Not a chance.
“I see. At that time, I was in too much pain to think about that.”
“Oh, no, it’s natural if you were in pain.”
Arser shook her hand lightly, surprised.
“By the way, brother, what you just said seems meant for the young duke, not me. I’ll deliver it for you.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll convey every word exactly as you said.”
Morgan’s face gradually paled.
“Y-You don’t have to deliver it to the young duke.”
Morgan glanced at Arser and shook his head.
“N-No need for that.”
“Why? I heard it clearly—it wasn’t for me, but for the young duke.”
“Ah, no! I said there’s no need!”
Morgan raised his voice, pretending not to be afraid, though he was stammering.
‘Why are you too scared to tell the young duke?’
I considered pushing him further but decided to stop here.
I still needed Morgan to become closer to Arser.
