101.

When something significant involving the lord occurred, the capable staff of the McFoy estate had one primary response: seek out “Seymour.” Specifically, in matters where the lord’s anger was involved, no one was as effective as the calm and collected Aide Seymour.

Terrified by the situation unfolding, the servants promptly sought out Erika.

At the time, Erika remained in the office, unaware of the commotion. Although there were still a few documents to handle, she had already sent her lord away early to rest.

The morning had begun with a productive start, with Aisa diligently attending to her duties.

However, Erika’s day had taken an unusual turn when Aisa, after secretly encountering her husband in the library, seemed restless and distracted, like a puppy desperately needing to go outside. Watching her lord head off to the garden with her nephew, Erika couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

She had found it amusing that Aisa was stood up for tea. But as the minutes passed and Aisa began inquiring about Norma’s whereabouts every few minutes, Erika reconsidered. Perhaps it would have been better to endure the awkwardness of watching their tea time instead.

When the news came that the consort had returned, and Aisa bolted from her chair to greet him, practically running, Erika had been taken aback.

“She’s not even trying to deny it anymore, is she?”

But the surprise was fleeting.

Her master, true to form, quickly resumed her self-imposed battle to maintain her boundaries.

To Erika, it was a futile effort, though she refrained from commenting. Instead, she merely followed Aisa as she returned to the office with a resigned air, muttering “Of course, I should have known.”

Aisa dove back into her work with a vengeance, punishing herself for the brief lapse of focus. The sight was quintessentially McFoy: disciplined and unrelenting.

Still, Aisa finished her tasks earlier than usual, looking at Erika with a face that all but screamed, “Can I leave now?”

Confronted with her master’s pleading violet eyes, Erika had no choice but to tuck away the remaining documents and give her a reprieve.

‘What a capable aide I am. I ought to ask for a raise.’

Erika thought, congratulating herself as she lingered in the office a little longer than expected.

“This is the last of it. Take these to the archive, and then you’re free to leave,” she instructed, handing a bundle of parchment to her secretary.

As she began tidying up her desk, Erika’s thoughts drifted to Harry, whom she had seen briefly in the office earlier.

‘He didn’t look well.’

As the lead knight assigned to protect the McFoy estate, Harry’s failure to fulfill his duty earlier that day had resulted in a deduction in his wages—a decision made by Erika herself.

Erika was nothing if not fair, even when it came to her long-time lover. Harry, ever the stoic, wouldn’t have taken offense, but Erika still worried.

After all, she knew Harry better than anyone. Behind his cool demeanor lay a surprisingly sensitive soul, something only Erika and Glen knew.

‘Something must have happened to him beyond failing his duty. But what?’

Glancing at the clock, Erika realized Harry was likely stationed outside the young lord’s room. If she hurried, she might catch him before his shift ended.

Her concern for Harry outweighed her duties, and she found herself quickening her pace, muttering to herself.

‘I suppose I’m no better than my master after all.’

Erika locked the office door and prepared to leave when a familiar voice rang out from down the hall.

“Aide Seymour! There’s an emergency!”

‘That’s one of the maids from the private quarters, isn’t it?’

Erika recognized the voice of a young maid responsible for various errands near the private chambers.

“Dammit.”

Erika muttered, uncharacteristically scowling. If the maid was calling for her at this hour, it could only mean trouble.

“Aide Seymour! It’s the lord consort’s chamber—something has happened!”

‘I don’t care.’

Erika thought firmly. She was well aware of what transpired in the private chambers. Waving off the maid, she began walking in the opposite direction.

“I’m busy and uninterested in their private matters.”

“But, ma’am, the lady summoned Physician Jan in a rage! It’s really serious this time!”

Erika froze mid-step, then turned back to the maid.

“Tell me again. Did the Lord get hurt?”

The maid hurried to relay what she had seen:

1. The consort declared separate sleeping arrangements.
2. The Lord was furious upon hearing the news.
3. She stormed into his private chamber and began shouting.
4. Shortly after, she called for Jan.

“So another maid went to fetch Jan, and I was sent to find you,” the maid finished breathlessly.

This was no ordinary situation. Erika’s face hardened, and her pace quickened.

When Erika finally reached the lord consort’s chamber, cursing the estate’s vastness under her breath, she found something peculiar. A crowd of staff, including Jan, stood outside the door, staring at it in silence.

“Jan, why are you out here? How is the lady?”

Jan hesitated, his expression awkward. “Well, you see…”

Just then, laughter rang out from beyond the heavy door—light, carefree laughter that echoed unmistakably through the corridor.

‘Is that… giggling?’

Erika blinked, unsure if she had misheard. But as she pieced things together, the reality became clear.

Turning slowly, she fixed a terrifying glare on the young maid who had fetched her. The maid, still struggling to process what was happening, shrank under the intensity of Erika’s gaze.

A senior maid, more attuned to the situation, cautiously spoke up.

“Aide Seymour, it seems the lord and consort are… well, laughing together now. It doesn’t seem serious after all.”

“…So there’s no emergency.”

“Correct. We apologize for troubling you, ma’am. We didn’t observe closely enough and jumped to conclusions.”

The staff bowed deeply, embarrassed.

Erika, who had been glaring at the door moments ago, exhaled sharply and muttered, “It seems they’re getting along… too well. Don’t call me for matters involving their chambers again.”

She smiled brightly at the staff—a rare and unnerving sight—and added, “Let them handle their own affairs. After all, who could forget the time they broke the headboard?”

With that icy remark, she turned on her heel and strode away without a second thought.

Now in a hurry to find Harry, Erika broke into a run, her mind on the knight. Unfortunately, by the time she reached the usual spot where she waited for him, Harry had already passed by.

“…Damn it! This job is impossible!”

Under the starlit sky, Erika let out a rare, frustrated yell, her voice echoing into the night.

* * *

Erika stood early the next morning in front of the lord consort’s chamber, her expression one of grim determination. With a deep breath, she raised her fist and knocked firmly on the door.

“My lord, wake up!”

She called out in a sharp, no-nonsense voice.

This was not an unusual occurrence. As the aide to the perpetually busy McFoy lord, Erika often took it upon herself to personally ensure her master started the day on time. However, today her tone carried an edge of mischief.

She was just about to raise her voice for another round when the heavy door creaked open. Standing in the doorway, clad in nothing but a robe, was Norma.

“Good morning, Your Grace.”

Erika greeted formally, bowing slightly.

“I heard you weren’t feeling well last night. Are you alright?”

Norma, who had fully recovered by dawn, had already risen to change out of his sweat-soaked clothes, unaware that news of his condition had spread like wildfire among the staff. Rumors were quickly embellished.

“Oh my, so they finally had a lovers’ quarrel? Just like the aying—fighting between married couples is like cutting water with a knife!”

The household staff relished these dramatic additions to the already lively tales of the newlyweds’ chaotic married life.

“I’m fine now.”

Norma replied, his voice calm and gentle. “But Aisa must be exhausted from taking care of me all night. Could you come back later?”

As he spoke, a honey-sweet warmth filled his gaze as he glanced over his shoulder.

Erika, unable to resist, followed his line of sight. Her eyes landed on the bed, where the lord lay cocooned in white blankets, only her feet peeking out from the covers.

‘What’s there to smile about when all you can see are her feet?’Erika thought incredulously.

“She’s fast asleep. I’ve never seen her sleep so soundly.”

Norma murmured to himself, his voice tinged with amusement.

Erika fought to maintain her composure but felt her expression slip. Seeing her perpetually sleep-deprived master finally resting deeply was unexpected enough, but witnessing Norma’s unabashed adoration for her was even more jarring.

Her earlier plan to tease her master had backfired, leaving Erika in a sour mood.

Just then, Norma’s face lit up with an idea, and he broke into a radiant smile. The suddenness of it made Erika flinch involuntarily.

“I’ll wake her soon myself. In the meantime, why don’t you check on Sir Forn?” Norma suggested cheerfully.

Erika froze, thunderstruck by the casual remark. Her mind raced.

‘Why is Harry Forn being mentioned here? Did I ever tell him about us? No, that’s impossible. Then… was it the lord?’

The idea seemed absurd. Her master was far too self-centered to bother discussing Erika’s private life.

Maintaining a carefully neutral expression, Erika feigned ignorance. “Why would you suggest that, Your Grace?”

“Young Master Archie seems upset that he’s taken to Sir Von so easily. I thought you might want to check on him,” Norma continued, his voice clear and pleasant.

“….”

“No one told me; I simply noticed. There’s no need to worry,” he added, smiling gently.

‘Ha.’

Erika raised an eyebrow.

‘So he’s not just a harmless little pup after all. Beneath that fluffy exterior, the lord consort is a sharp-eyed fox.’

Still reeling, Erika realized she had underestimated him. It seemed there was more to Norma Diazi than met the eye.