* * *
“What?”
Lizelle thought there must be something wrong with her ears.
Otherwise, there would be no way she would have heard some gibberish about him picking it up from the ground on his way here.
Did she hear it wrong?
The words were so shocking that Wilhazelle thought her ears had stopped working for a moment due to her fever.
Those words were so messed up that she couldn’t even believe she had heard them.
“…”
Chaser was quick to notice.
He realized something was wrong.
Seeing Lizelle with a bewildered expression made him suspicious, and seeing Rohan diligently marking an X with his arms through the crack in the door made him sure.
“…Golden Wave flower tea is good for colds.”
He pretended like nothing had happened. However, his ears, which he could not hide, were burning red.
Embarrassment and humiliation swept over him at the same time.
Chaser wanted to run out of the room and grab Rohan by the collar.
All he wanted to do was demand to know how he’d made a fool of himself in front of her by what he’d said.
“Ah, thank you.”
Lizelle accepted flowers from Chaser.
When she saw Chaser holding out flowers, she had the uncharacteristic thought that flowers looked good on him.
Did they suit Chaser because he’s handsome?
She didn’t want to recall then, but even when they first met, he had such a handsome face that she unconsciously muttered that he was handsome.
She understood that flowers and handsome men went quite well together.
“It smells good.”
The flowers in her hand were yellow-gold, just like its name, Golden Wave.
The petals were all bright yellow in a lanceolate shape, but as they got closer to the flowers head, they took on a deep red color.
The overall appearance of the flower was similar to that of a sunflower, and its size was about the size of a magnolia.
The scent of the flowers was not strong but subtle and fresh, like the scent of sunlight.
“I heard that it’s effective even if you use it right away, without the need to dry it.”
“I’ll brew the tea so you can drink it right away.”
After Chaser’s explanation was over, Tia, like she’d been waiting, came into the room carrying a pot filled with hot water and a teacup.
“Ah…”
She was confused by the situation that was proceeding as if it had been planned.
Suddenly, she wondered why this man was taking such care of her, and a chill ran up her arm, goosebumps hidden beneath her dress.
She felt awkward and uncomfortable with the overkill.
‘Why are you doing this…?’
Was he that grateful that she took his side yesterday? Or was he just being careful not to let the cold spread to Raphel?
Oh yeah.
That was it. That was definitely it.
It was a threat not to give Raphel a cold.
Otherwise, there was no reason to be nice.
She dropped the bouquet she was holding onto the blanket.
A threat disguised as a favor.
‘Such a roundabout threat.’
He must have thought she wouldn’t notice, but he was wrong.
She was already trying not to give Rafael a cold.
She couldn’t hold him and comfort him when he cried because she was afraid he would get sick.
It felt like Chaser was nagging her to be careful, as he was taking care of her.
It’s like when you open a book to start studying and your mom nags you for not studying.
Lizelle felt wronged.
“I was already being careful not to transfer it to Raphel.”
Before anyone knew it, Wilhazelle’s attitude had become cold.
She assumed Chaser’s true intentions and now his favor was unwelcome.
“What…”
“You’re hinting for me to not spread my cold to Raphel.”
“…”
Chaser was speechless.
It felt like someone had slapped him hard on the back of the head.
He’d just stopped by to visit her and give her flowers, to check on her condition, but he couldn’t understand why the conversation was going this way.
He had no choice but to stand frozen like an idiot.
Her reaction just now was completely unexpected.
Chaser had completely forgotten his attitude towards Wilhazelle the first time they met.
“Thank you, Tia.”
Lizelle accepted the teacup handed to her by Tia without even a single glance in Chaser’s direction.
“Excuse me.”
Rohan had been watching everything from outside the door. He sighed deeply at his master and entered the room.
Rohan noticed something they had both overlooked.
The reason why Wilhazelle has no choice but to distort Chasers true intentions behind his favor and accept it.
Didn’t his master treat her like a fraud and was constantly wary of her? They were being too hasty.
“My Lord. There’s something I need you to check.”
“…”
“It’s urgent so I’d like to ask you now.”
Chaser, who had been frozen until now, turned around in a semicircle.
Then, he slumped his broad shoulders and headed for the door.
“Then let’s go. Rest well.”
Rohan said farewell to Lizelle and immediately followed his master.
“I think he just came to visit…”
Tia blurted out, catching Lizelle’s eye.
She’d watched everything, from Chaser preparing and delivering the flowers, and was able to quickly realize that Lizelle had misunderstood.
In addition, Chaser very kindly explained to Raphel why he should not be around Wilhazelle right now.
He didn’t want him to catch a cold, and that it was Wilhazelle, not Raphel, who was suffering the most at the moment.
Tia couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw Chaser smiling softly while saying Lizelle’s name.
It was a smile that she’d never seen before.
It hadn’t been long since she started working here, but the master she’d encountered had always been expressionless or frowning.
But that smile… She didn’t know he was capable of smiling with such kind eyes.
Today, for the first time, Tia learned through Lizelle that her master was also a person who could smile like that.
“No. It’s a threat.”
But Lizelle shook his head resolutely.
“Is that so…”
How many people would think it was a threat when they received flowers?
Tia remained silent.
Wilhazelle’s expression was so confident that she was right.
Even if she said anything else, it would have had the opposite effect. This was not a situation that Tia could do anything about.
It was a problem that Chaser had to solve.
* * *
“I won’t listen to you anymore.”
After leaving the room, Chaser came to his senses and glared at Rohan.
He’d trusted Rohan’s advice, since he was married to Melanie, and all he’d gotten in return was Wilhazelle’s icy stare.
“My lord.”
Rohan felt like crying.
Is there anyone who interprets words as they please and says the opposite of respect? What he said to Lizelle would be awkward for anyone to hear…
He didn’t know where to start or how to tell him, but first he had to clearly convey the one thing he was sure of.
“There is something you need to know. No matter how kind and affectionate you are now, the lady will misunderstand.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Chaser started walking away first, he didn’t want to hear any more.
He was a fool for believing what Rohan said.
He couldn’t forget the way her expression crumbled, as if she’d heard something she shouldn’t have.
When that image came to mind again, his shame and embarrassment that had subsided soared.
For the first time in his life, he felt like he wanted to hide somewhere.
“Master, didn’t you suspect the Lady of fraud the day you first saw her? Therefore, the lady will not be able to accept the master’s actions right now.”
As Rohan followed his master, he spoke his thoughts without hesitation, Chaser’s steps suddenly halted.
“Even now, you haven’t completely let go of your suspicions about the Lady.”
Chaser pursed his lips at the statement that caught him off guard.
It was an undeniable fact. He hadn’t confirmed yet whether Raphel is his nephew.
He just hoped in his heart that Lizelle wasn’t lying.
But, if she really tried to cheat him, what would he do then?
“First of all, I will urge them once more to send the antidote as quickly as possible.”
Rohan said, looking at his lord who was once again lost in thought.
“Hahh.”
Chaser leaned his back against the wall. His thoughts were a mess. His mind torn, he couldn’t think straight.
Even though he cared about her and wanted to trust her completely, unresolved issues were standing in the way.
“Tell them to prepare the antidote as soon as possible.”
First, he had to untangle the twisted web.
“Yes. All right.”
Rohan looked at Chaser and thought to himself that he was making a big deal out of his first love, but his expression never changed.
