“What?”
Erin had no idea what I meant.
But that made one thing crystal clear—there wasn’t a shred of sincerity in any of the advice she’d given me about Raynan.
Was she actually hoping he’d drive me away?
I forced down the bitter feeling and put on a bright smile.
“You know, Erin, you told me once. That I should hang around the Duke as much as possible. I think you were really onto something. He actually seems to like it.”
“…Really?”
Her hesitant reply only confirmed what I was already thinking.
“Yeah. I mean, you know how I’ve been popping up around him a lot lately, and we’ve been talking about all sorts of things. I think he kind of likes it when I cling to him. Even if it’s a bit annoying.”
I did feel a bit sorry for Raynan—me chasing him around and being clingy? He’d probably be seriously annoyed just thinking about it.
But even if Erin took my words seriously and tried it herself, Raynan would have no problem brushing her off.
I guess I’d come to know him well enough by now. I could almost picture the exact expression he’d wear while pushing her away.
It’d be pretty humiliating for Erin and nothing at all for Raynan.
Erin looked thoughtful for a moment, then flashed a bright smile.
“I see! Please tell me more from time to time. There are so many rumors about you two, but hearing it directly is so much more exciting!”
“Sure. I will.”
I gave her a similar smile in return, and she left the room with light steps.
As soon as the door shut, Cecil came over with a sigh.
“I can’t tell if you’re just humoring her or taking her too seriously.”
Her words sounded a bit annoyed, but I could hear the worry behind them.
It was such a Cecil-like way of expressing concern, I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. A real one this time, not forced like before.
“Thanks for helping out. I had to say something to get Erin off my back.”
“Yeah. I figured. But saying the Duke likes being bothered… wow. Erin actually believed that nonsense.”
“Well, I did hang around him a lot. Enough for you to be concerned and give me advice about it.”
“Do you know how shocked I was back then?”
“Right? Looking back, I really was doing some risky stuff without realizing it. Good thing the Duke was so generous.”
“I didn’t expect things to turn out like this either.”
Cecil smiled faintly, like she was remembering something from the past.
“But… are you sure it’s okay to keep Erin around?”
Even Cecil seemed to think Erin’s behavior was getting suspicious.
“Yeah. I should probably talk it over with the Duke.”
She raised her eyebrows a bit at how easily I said that, but looked satisfied.
Raynan had said we could always change things if I felt uncomfortable. And now… Erin was starting to make me really uncomfortable.
So far, she didn’t seem to have gotten any orders or hints from Schneider. She clearly had no idea anything had been found out.
That alone told me Schneider didn’t see much value in using her.
But more than that, having her around was starting to feel too awkward. Ever since I found out she was connected to Schneider, I didn’t know how to act naturally around her anymore.
Anyway, Raynan did say I could change things if it got too uncomfortable, so soon…
“I do need to talk it over, but…”
“Is something wrong?”
“Huh? Oh, no.”
Just the thought of facing Raynan again made my heart start pounding.
No, no. This can’t be happening.
I was pressing my chest, trying to calm myself down, when Amelia and Roman entered the room.
“So you are feeling unwell.”
Amelia came straight to me, her voice full of certainty.
“It’s nothing. I was just feeling a bit stuffy, that’s all.”
She didn’t seem to believe me and looked over to Cecil for confirmation.
“Erin was bothering her,” Cecil said plainly.
That was all it took for Amelia to drop her suspicion.
“What brings you here, Roman?”
I asked, curious why he—always so busy—had come all the way here.
He studied my face for a moment, then replied.
“The Duke heard you called for Austin, and asked me to check on you.”
“Oh…”
“He had a lot to take care of, so I came in his place.”
“Wouldn’t it be more accurate if he just asked Austin directly?”
“He’s probably doing that right about now.”
So he was planning to check with both of us. That explained it.
“Is something going on?”
Roman looked slightly concerned too. I guess calling for Austin made it seem serious.
“No. I think I just got overwhelmed by how everything suddenly got so big. I’m okay now.”
“Hmm…”
He accepted that explanation easily enough. Maybe it didn’t matter much as long as I wasn’t sick.
“Lady Renee.”
Roman called out to me in a serious voice, and I straightened up without thinking.
“Yeah?”
“The Duke was in a very good mood earlier today.”
“Was he?”
Was that supposed to be some deep, dramatic statement?
“But the moment he heard you called for Austin, his good mood disappeared instantly.”
“Well, I mean, it’s not like I should just sit on it if something seems wrong…”
“Of course. Calling Austin or Carlson when something’s off is exactly the right thing to do.”
He really sounded like he was praising me, but… why did it feel like I was getting scolded?
“These days, how smoothly my work goes seems to depend entirely on you, Lady Renee.”
I suddenly had no idea what to say. Maybe he wasn’t trying to scold me but just needed to vent.
Then again, it’s not like I’m the reason Raynan would be that emotionally affected… right?
I briefly doubted myself, but Roman’s gaze—like he could read my thoughts—made me laugh awkwardly.
“You’re working hard…”
It was a clumsy attempt at comfort, and from the look on his face, it didn’t help much.
He looked like he was thinking, Did Lady Renee just try to comfort me?
And for once, his expression made it painfully clear.
“Then I’ll be heading back now.”
Roman turned his back, shoulders drooping.
“Everything was fine earlier, but now it’s going to be hell…”
I thought I heard him mutter something like that, but I couldn’t be sure.
Come to think of it, I should’ve asked him to pass on that I wanted to talk to Raynan about Erin.
“I think I’ll just rest today. I’m a little tired.”
Suddenly, everything felt exhausting and bothersome. It seemed best to just forget it all and sleep.
Since I had called for Austin and I looked visibly drained, no one said much and just helped prepare the bed.
Once I lay down, I fell asleep in an instant, without even having time to think.
How long had I slept? Something tickled, and I woke up.
Through my blurry vision, I saw Raynan’s face.
“Did I wake you?”
Was this a dream? I just blinked in a daze. Seeing me like that, Raynan gave a faint smile and brushed my hair back.
The moment his fingers touched me, I realized—it wasn’t a dream. It was real.
Still dazed, I slowly sat up, and he adjusted the pillow so I could lean back comfortably.
“I heard you slept all day. You must’ve been really tired. But you should eat something.”
As he spoke, he gestured. Erin, who had been waiting in the back, approached with a tray.
“Why isn’t it Cecil…?”
“Oh, Cecil was busy, so I thought I’d take care of this.”
Erin answered with a smile. Though her response was directed at me, her eyes never left Raynan.
“Then I’ll…”
“No.”
Raynan cut her off before she could finish. He took the tray from her hands.
“But this is really my job…”
Erin looked flustered, but once again, she didn’t get to finish her sentence.
“That’s enough. You may go.”
At Raynan’s firm dismissal, Erin looked like she wanted to say something but simply bowed her head and left the room.
“Austin said there’s nothing wrong with your health.”
“Yes. I think I just got so busy lately that all the fatigue hit me at once.”
“That’s a relief, but…”
Raynan sat beside me, carefully studying my face. His gentle gaze made me feel strangely emotional.
If I were actually sick, I probably wouldn’t be this sad—because at least someone would be there worrying about me.
I didn’t know why my feelings kept swinging so much.
“Anyway, since you’ve been sleeping all day, you should eat. I asked for something light.”
He placed the tray over my legs.
“I mean, I don’t really have to eat in bed…”
“Do you remember when I took care of you last time?”
“…Yes.”
“Back then, I said I learn quickly. This is a perfect chance to show how much I’ve improved.”
I only meant I was well enough to get up and eat—not that we had to go down this whole road.
While I was trying to make sense of the conversation, I noticed Raynan picking up a fork. It wasn’t hard to guess what he was about to do.
“I’ll eat! I can handle that much on my own.”
I quickly grabbed the fork from his hand. He stared at his now-empty hand for a moment as if he was a bit disappointed, then nodded.
“Alright. But make sure to finish everything. It’s not a lot.”
“Okay, then…”
I held the fork and stared at Raynan. He, in turn, stared right back at me.
After a few seconds of awkward eye contact, we both realized we were thinking completely different things.
“You can go now, you know.”
“I’ll stay until you finish eating.”
Before I could even respond, Raynan gestured again. Reflexively, I mirrored him and lifted my hand.
Seeing his satisfied expression, I reluctantly took a bite of the food.
Can I even eat properly like this?
…I swallowed that thought along with the food.
Raynan really seemed intent on staying by my side until I finished everything.
Thinking it might be better to just get it over with, I picked up the pace. That’s when Raynan suddenly grabbed my hand.
“Don’t eat too fast. You’ll get sick.”
His gentle tone froze me in place.
My heart only raced like this, my face only burned like this—when I was in front of Raynan.
Why did he keep making people misunderstand like this?
Was this all really just a misunderstanding? Or was it… something else?
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