“Hmm, I don’t know.”
Sion answered ambiguously, but it was an honest answer.
Cecile raised her eyebrows slightly, realizing that Sion wasn’t making excuses.
“What do you mean by ‘I don’t know’? Don’t you know whether you like her or not? How old are you, fifteen? Fourteen?”
Anyway, she continued with a prompt.
“You’re not a kid anymore, so you should know your own feelings, right?”
“I don’t know if it’s something that can be defined like that.”
Sion calmly told his only family member about the “monster” that resided within him.
“I don’t want to see her get hurt. I want to make her wishes come true.”
“…”
“I would do anything to see her achieve what she wants. Anything.”
“…”
“That’s all.”
Cecile was momentarily speechless, taken aback.
That’s all?
‘Of course, that’s all it is.’
Because that’s the greatest emotion. He could go to any lengths to fulfill that person’s wish.
She was sure that no one could like someone more than that.
Cecile mulled over Sion’s heartfelt confession.
There was something that bothered her.
“Sion, she’s a noble lady.”
“That’s right.”
“So, she’ll end up marrying a fellow noble someday?”
“…I suppose so.”
“What will you do then?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m asking what you’ll do when she becomes a noblewoman.”
“I don’t understand your question, Cecile.”
“I’m asking what you’ll do when she walks down the aisle to get married.”
“I won’t do anything.”
“You won’t do anything?”
“Yes.”
After answering, Sion fell into thought for a moment, and then his answer changed.
“No, I’d probably look around to see if there are any dangerous people or threats nearby.”
“…”
“I’d stay on guard until I’m sure she’s safe.”
“…Safe? You’d only feel satisfied if there are no dangers around her when she gets married?”
“Yes.”
Sion replied. Cecile, having relaxed her crossed legs, leaned forward and scrutinized him closely.
After a moment, a complex expression appeared on Cecile’s face.
‘He likes her, but maybe not in that way?’
He likes her enough to want to stay by her side and protect her, even if it means being treated like a slave, yet he’s willing to let her marry another man.
If that’s the case, then it’s more like familial love than romantic love…
At that moment, Cecile happened to notice Sion’s hand.
The hand gripping the armrest was as pale as her own gloved hand.
Before the thought that the armrest was somehow holding up without breaking could fully register, her mind snapped back to reality.
‘It seems like he does like her that way.’
Does that mean he just isn’t aware of it?
But why is he gripping the armrest so tightly?
Cecile suddenly recalled what she had said before Laila Hildergarde left the drawing room.
Whose child is she? After what Hildegarde did to us…
Could it be that he’s suppressing his desires and feelings because of that fact?
He likes Laila Hildergarde, but since she is “Hildegarde,” he doesn’t feel any inclination to pursue her.
“Sion.”
“Yes?”
“… It’s nothing.”
Cecile almost revealed her doubts but stopped herself.
She was afraid of provoking Sion, worried he might change his mind now. To be honest, Cecile didn’t want Laila and Sion to develop a romantic relationship.
She felt a sense of rejection and was more worried about Sion.
There would inevitably be moments in life when he would be reminded of her identity as Laila’ Hildegarde.’
If Sion were only there to protect her from the sidelines, he might regret it at those moments and step back.
But what if they had already promised each other a future?
Could Sion, with his personality, easily betray his promise and let her go?
Even if he saw Laila as a Hildegarde, the enemy who had killed his family and taken everything away, he wouldn’t be able to bring himself to let her go.
And so Sion would suffer alone, tormented by his love for her.
Cecile imagined the future in which she had previously told Sion: “You’ll be the one who suffers the most.”
Just imagining it made her heart ache. Cecile had only one wish.
She wanted Sion to be happy.
“Sure.”
“Let’s stop talking about what we were discussing earlier. I’ll respect your decision to stay here instead of coming with me.”
“Thank you.”
“Shall we talk about something else? Aren’t you curious about how I’ve been?”
“I am curious.”
Sion smiled faintly. It was a comfortable smile.
Cecile felt her heart lighten at that smile.
Cecile’s tone naturally became brighter.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
She had dozed off and was awakened by a knock on the door.
At the sound of the knock, Laila opened her mouth while lying on the bed.
“Come in.”
She answered, assuming it was Marie.
However, when the door opened, a completely different person appeared.
Laila sprang up.
“Sion?”
After closing the door, Sion approached the bed. As he sat on the edge, his movement was cautious but not awkward.
“I came after seeing her off.”
“…Oh.”
“In the reception room.”
Sion paused for a breath as if choosing his words, and then continued.
“Cecile said she was sorry.”
“…Sorry? The Countess apologized to me?”
“Yes.”
“What did she have to apologize for?”
It wasn’t said sarcastically. Laila spoke sincerely.
“She hasn’t done anything wrong to me. Pass that on when you contact her later.”
“…”
“…Sion.”
Sion silently met Laila’s gaze. Laila opened her mouth.
“Why did you say you wouldn’t go?”
“I made a promise.”
“What promise?”
“That I would help you achieve what you want.”
“…”
“I can only protect you if I’m by your side. I thought I made that promise that day; isn’t that right?”
“That’s right.”
Laila quickly replied. As if she was afraid that Sion would change his mind; no, she was actually afraid.
She knew it was a selfish thought but she hoped Sion wouldn’t leave.
If he left, she would rather he went with her instead of leaving her behind.
“Laila?”
Laila’s eyes widened, and she froze, causing Sion to look at her in confusion.
After a moment, Laila collected herself and slightly pulled the corners of her lips.
“I just had a sudden thought.”
Sion didn’t ask what she was thinking. Laila accepted the consideration and remained silent.
Her mind was unsettled.
What exactly does she want from Sion? Is her desire for him to stay really just because she wants him to protect her?
Even though questions arose, she didn’t want to find answers. It seemed like she shouldn’t.
“Shall we go for a walk?”
Laila added that she felt stiff after a short nap and got out of bed. Sion nodded.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
The villain had become strange.
No, Laila corrected herself.
The villain was always strange, but now he has become quite sensitive.
Marquis Hildegarde had been acting like someone suffering from a mild neurosis lately.
Laila could pinpoint the exact moment the marquis had changed.
On that day, the Countess paid a visit to the Marquisate.
He had been different since that day.
“I feel like I’m going to lose my mind every time I attend the Marquis.”
“You too? Ugh, me too. It feels like walking on thin ice that could break at any moment.”
“Is he really that sensitive?”
“I don’t know why he’s acting like this all of a sudden.”
Standing at the corner, Laila was about to turn back when she overheard the maids’ chatter.
And then she ran into Vilhel.
Vilhel was wearing a rather awkward expression. It seemed he had also heard the maids’ conversation.
After a moment, Vilhel opened his mouth with a determined expression.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
Then he turned the corner and approached the maids. The gathered maids exchanged a few words with Vilhel and then dispersed, looking pale.
Laila asked Vilhel as he returned after dismissing the maids.
“What did you say to them?”
