Episode 54
As we walked into the mansion, Lloydin kept talking to me, but his words didn’t register in my mind. My focus was solely on the points of contact between us.
Due to some inexplicable tension, I didn’t listen properly and just automatically responded, until we arrived in front of the bedroom on the second floor.
As his body, which had been touching mine, moved away, the tension in my body loosened, and I regained some clarity.
“Take a rest for a moment. I’ll finish up work and come back.”
“Huh? Oh, sure. Take care.”
Just before turning away, Lloydin’s dark eyes stared at me as if piercing through me.
“Did something happen today?”
“No? Nothing happened.”
My heart sank momentarily at the unexpected question. I reflexively blurted out a denial. I hadn’t sorted out how to talk about today’s events yet.
While secretly exhaling a sigh of relief, I tried to maintain a calm exterior. Yet, sensing something odd, Lloydin kept staring at me, prompting me to ask him this time.
“Why are you acting like this?”
“It’s nothing. Just rest.”
“Okay.”
I was worried he might pry further, but Lloydin easily relented.
Watching him leave, I quickly entered the room and ran my hands over my chest.
How did I manage to brush off what happened today?
Is there anything showing on my face?
There shouldn’t be…
While I was with Lloydin just now, I hadn’t thought about Ian at all.
What I had been thinking about was…
How large and warm his body felt against mine.
Moreover, not just yesterday when we hugged, but even when we held hands, the energy transmitted was much stronger.
‘Of course.’
Being closer to him than just through holding hands seemed to have a far greater therapeutic effect.
So perhaps, every night, I unconsciously sought refuge in Lloydin’s embrace.
‘If we were to kiss or engage in further intimacy…’
My inappropriate thoughts about him were spiraling out of control without brakes.
Even though I’d never kissed him before, in my imagination, I fervently responded to Lloydin’s kiss and desperately clung to his neck.
I, too, longed for him to hold me, as if fearing I’d die if even a moment passed without him.
It was strange.
There’s no way he could have looked at me with eyes as if seeing the most beloved person in the world.
But I didn’t dislike it.
No, it was rather euphoric.
As my heart fluttered, I felt a pounding in my chest.
Lost in my own world, I was startled by the sound of the door opening.
‘Oh my goodness, what am I…?’
Quickly regaining my composure, I looked at the somewhat different but oddly similar man before me and spoke.
“Is everything finished?”
“Yes, all done.”
In that short time, did he manage to take a shower? His hair tips were damp.
Lloydin gradually approached me.
While quietly observing him, my gaze unknowingly fell on his lips.
“They seem redder now…”
His lips, contrasting against his fair skin, constantly captivated my attention.
“Madam?”
As he came closer to my face, I snapped out of my daze.
What am I even thinking right now?
I’m afraid that if I look at his face, I’ll once again get lost in strange fantasies, so I tried my best not to meet his gaze and opened my mouth.
“You must be tired, aren’t you? I also feel tired after going out today.”
Then intentionally yawning and turning away, Lloydin grabbed my wrist.
Our eyes, filled with curiosity and penetrating each other like before, collided.
“Duke?”
“Did nothing happen today?”
“Huh?”
Why does he keep asking if something happened?
But his expression gradually soured, as if he was convinced that I was hiding something.
Seeing his reaction, I couldn’t postpone it any longer and finally confessed what happened today.
“Actually, there’s something I need to tell you.”
As if he had expected it, Lloydin looked at me with an air that wouldn’t allow any lies.
“You’re talking about Ian?”
Lloydin asked me with a surprised expression.
“Yes. I went to the bookstore, and there, an altercation occurred with a child.”
“An altercation? Hmm.”
Lloydin sighed deeply with a shocked expression.
“What on earth happened?”
“I wanted a certain book, and it turns out there was only one copy left. So, as we both wanted it, there was a conflict, and since Ian wouldn’t give it up, it led to a physical altercation.”
“How did that happen…”
“That’s right. After hitting him, that child and his mother were incredibly shameless.”
As the incident from earlier came back to mind, the unresolved anger surged again.
“I couldn’t forgive their unapologetic behavior. So, I plan to submit a petition to the academy regarding this incident.”
“A petition?”
“Yes. Since I acted inappropriately, I intend to request punishment.”
After hearing my words, Lloydin fell into thought for a moment.
I waited for him in silence without saying anything.
“Has Ian experienced anything like this before?”
Lloydin asked me with a grim expression.
“Well, I’m not sure about that.”
Even though I knew, I intentionally didn’t answer him.
All I could talk about regarding Ian’s matter was what I saw and experienced today. Other than that, I thought it was a matter for the two of them to discuss directly.
“I think it’s better if you ask him about that issue directly.”
“Alright.”
“Then, as soon as it’s daylight, I’ll submit the petition to the academy.”
Lloydin nodded slowly.
The atmosphere in the room became heavy.
Naturally, Lloydin seemed quite shocked by the fact that his brother was involved.
Of course.
For him, Ian was not only a beloved brother but also his only family.
Knowing his feelings, I pondered what to do and decided to change the atmosphere by asking him a question.
“By the way, what was the urgent matter that made you go to the palace today? It seemed quite urgent, but is it something difficult for you to tell me?”
“It’s not that. But…”
However, his expression worsened more than before.
The question I asked to change the mood ended up making the situation worse.
“I think it’s better not to speak hastily about uncertain matters. I don’t think I can tell you about it today.”
“Okay. Then please let me know later.”
Seeing that he didn’t show any signs of hiding anything, and it didn’t seem appropriate to ask further, I quickly dropped my curiosity.
“Oh, by the way, are you going to the palace tomorrow as well?”
“I plan to work at the mansion tomorrow. Why do you ask?”
I thought he might go to the palace again, so this was an opportunity.
With a glint in my eyes, I immediately spoke up.
“Then, how about doing what we couldn’t do today because of the palace visit tomorrow?”
“Are you talking about going to the downtown area together?”
“Yes, Ian was very upset because you couldn’t go with us. We couldn’t finish visiting the places we planned to go today because of what happened, so I was going to take Ian again tomorrow. But if you go with us, he’ll definitely be very happy.”
“I see. If nothing urgent comes up suddenly like today, then I should be able to go.”
“Really? Wow, that’s great.”
When I heard Lloydin’s easily affirmative answer, I clapped my hands with joy like a child.
“I’ll tell Ian at breakfast tomorrow. Oh no, maybe it’s better to tell him when we’re about to leave. Just as you said, if something sudden happens again, Ian will be very sad.”
As the image of Ian smiling happily formed in my mind, a smile appeared on my lips, then momentarily faded.
