I Taught You Carefully, So Why Are You Obsessed?

Although my body had already recovered, I ended up staying two more days at the secondary palace due to the excessive concern of those around me, especially Vivi. It was only after that that I was finally able to return to the Grand Duke’s residence.

After returning, I thought I might finally be free from all the nursing care, but that was just wishful thinking.

Perhaps the news had spread widely, even reaching the Grand Duke’s household, because the remaining servants were fussing over me, eager to look after me.

Thanks to that, I had been stuck in bed for three days, being treated with utmost care. The problem was that Ian, who would normally have complained about all this fuss, had been unusually quiet.

In fact, he seemed even more serious, encouraging the servants’ overly careful behavior.

‘Was he more shocked than I thought?’

He did seem shaken, but…

‘If they’re making such a fuss over a mere collarbone injury, imagine if I’d been hurt worse…’

I shuddered at the thought. It was a situation I didn’t want to imagine.

“Oh my, Your Grace the Grand Duchess. Are you cold?”

“No, it’s nothing like that.”

Kyle, who had been sitting in a chair beside the bed, drawing a complex magic formula in the air, peeked up.

“When will that magic circle be completed?”

“Soon. It would have been better to prepare it beforehand, but since it’s a spell that needs to be inscribed directly onto the body, I have to adjust it based on the target’s condition. Just a bit more patience, Your Grace.”

“…Very well.”

The moment I had regained my strength, Kyle had insisted that protective and tracking magic be cast on me. For the past three hours, he’d been glued to my side, carefully crafting the complex spell.

“The Grand Duke said that if I don’t get this done as soon as possible, he’ll deduct my salary for every day of delay. I mean, my salary is treated like a commodity, fluctuating every quarter based on the market value!”

‘Market-value salary…?’

I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

Honestly, under normal circumstances, I would have sent Kyle away, using the excuse that his presence was bothersome. But this time, I was keeping him close, watching intently.

‘Because there’s something I want to confirm…’

As I glanced over at Kyle, who was focused on the magic circle, I reached for the Aria newspaper on the bedside table. It was this week’s edition, shown to me by the princess.

The article on the front page had stirred quite a buzz, and although several days had passed since its publication, comments were still trickling into the opinion section.

As I flipped through the pages absentmindedly, I remarked casually, “The *Aria* newspaper was the first to report on the recent attack.”

“Yes, the capital is abuzz because of it. The Grand Duke has dealt with many assassination threats quietly in the past, but this is the first time you, Your Grace, were caught up in one.”

“That’s true.”

“Everyone’s talking about it.”

Kyle wasn’t wrong. The opinion section was in an uproar. People were arguing about whether it was safe to go on holiday, how it was unthinkable to follow someone all the way to harm them, or debating whether the Grand Duke was indeed a threat to the empire.

The same people who usually gossiped about trivial matters were now subtly revealing their political stances, turning the section into a battleground.

I sighed at the chaos of the comments and redirected my attention to the article.

The main reason for the heated debate in the comments was largely due to the tone of the article itself. The Aria newspaper wasn’t known for objective reporting, but this time, the article clearly leaned in favor of the Grand Duke, starting from the headline.

There were certainly nobles who supported the Imperial faction among the readers of Aria, and seeing this endorsement of Ian following the attack must have really rubbed them the wrong way.

‘Well, they shouldn’t have attacked someone who was minding their own business, should they?’

It was ridiculous. But that wasn’t what mattered right now.

I tapped my index finger on the first page of the newspaper as I spoke.

“The writer of the Aria article has quite a way with words.”

“Of course. Almost every noble in the empire reads that paper, so the writing has to be top-notch.”

“Hmm, yes, I thought so.”

With a sly hum, I scanned the second paragraph of the article, which detailed the dates Ian and I had supposedly gone on over the past week.

It was shockingly detailed, so much so that you wouldn’t know unless you had been right next to us. I muttered in sudden admiration.

“Impressive.”

“Well, it’s only natural that it’s impressive.”

“Your writing skills are as good as your words, Kyle.”

“Yes, I’m quite good at wri—what?!”

Kyle, who had been answering me absentmindedly, suddenly jumped up.

I took my eyes off the paper and glanced at him, leaning slightly to the side.

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

“…What are you talking about?”

Kyle tried to play it cool, but his trembling hands betrayed him, the magic circle he was drawing flickering unsteadily.

I clicked my tongue and tossed the paper down in front of him.

“Here, in the second paragraph, third sentence. It says the Grand Duke and I took a midnight stroll on the beach.”

“Wh-what about it?”

“The only person who knew about that stroll was you.”

At my words, Kyle froze for a moment before shaking his head vigorously.

“Oh, come on! Aria often reports hidden news from all over the empire. Maybe someone was observing from afar?”

“You must have been too sleepy to notice that day, but that beach is royal property.”

There was only one thing Aria, a gossip paper reporting all sorts of scandals and issues of the empire’s nobility, wouldn’t touch: matters happening within the imperial palace.

The security within the royal grounds was impenetrable, and not even the editor of Aria could bypass that.

‘Most people probably wouldn’t realize that.’

With my experience, I could figure out as much just by skimming through. If Aria reported something that happened inside the royal property, it was obvious.

At my words, Kyle looked like he’d just been hit on the head with a tray. He seemed to be thinking, ‘How did I make such a mistake?’

“A well-written opinion section, articles oddly favorable towards the Grand Duke’s household, and the fact that the only witness to what happened that day in the royal property is you… Still going to deny it?”

“W-Well, I mean, people can trespass on royal property, right…?”

He was sweating profusely, desperately trying to come up with excuses. It was a bit pitiful.

I had thought he was as sly as a hundred-year-old snake, but it seemed he couldn’t lie to save his life, just like his master, Ian.

Birds of a feather flock together, I guess.

“Hm, is that so? Then I suppose I have no choice. I’ll report this to His Majesty the Emperor, suggesting he investigate the intruder and punish them to the fullest extent of the law…”

“Your Grace, please!”

Kyle urgently grabbed my arm, his expression filled with desperation.

“Is there really a need to go that far?”

“Why? You said it wasn’t your doing.”

“If this gets out, I’m finished…”

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Kyle finally gave in and started to confess, on the verge of tears.

So, he’s scared of royal authority too, huh?

“The employment contract with the Grand Duke’s household forbids side jobs. If I’m caught, I’ll really get fired… and this quarter’s paycheck comes with a hefty bonus!”

That’s what you’re worried about?

I couldn’t believe it. Was he really more scared of losing his bonus than the wrath of the royal family? Is he really just a penny-pincher?

“Kyle…?”

“Your Grace, please! Just this once, turn a blind eye.”

Now that he knew there was no hiding it, Kyle pulled out all the stops, pouring his heart into emotional pleas and excuses.

At first, it was just supposed to be a little side hustle, he said. A social gossip paper like that would be useful, wouldn’t it? But the idea caught on, and it spread quickly, leading to this situation. It’s all because I’m too competent, he claimed. Wouldn’t Your Grace be sad if Aria stopped publishing? Please, just this once, I swear my loyalty!

As expected from Aria’s writer—his plea was so tear-jerking it was hard not to listen.

“And haven’t I been helping push your romance along too? From the season party onwards, I made sure to feature it on the front page!”

With a sly grin, he rubbed his hands together, looking every bit the scheming courtier.

‘Well, it’s true that Aria has been somewhat helpful…’

That’s why I had thought of using the paper in the first place.

Seeing that I wasn’t reacting negatively, Kyle seized the moment, continuing to pour out his flattery.

“It’s not so bad to let things be, is it? After all, everything I’ve done has been for the benefit of the Cloud Grand Duchy!”

“Oh? For the Duchy’s benefit? Not for your own profit?”

“Of course! Profit? How could you say such a thing? I would never do something so dishonorable! Did you read the latest article? I played the political game perfectly!”

“Kyle, let me ask you one thing.”

“Yes! Anything!”

I asked, looking at Kyle’s fawning smile.

“Why did you write about me and Duke Roger?”

“…Hiccup.”

“Was that out of loyalty too?”

All the color drained from Kyle’s face.

♧♧♧

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