No Time for Leisure
Lexion chuckled as he looked at the small lips that jutted out like a baby bird’s.
“Hey, little master. If you want to plan something, you should check your condition first. Strength comes before anything else.”
Ashdel, who had remained still since Lexion’s large hand—much bigger than his aunt’s—was stroking his head, suddenly widened his eyes at the next words.
“I know you’re neglecting your health on purpose because you want your aunt to worry about you.”
“That’s…!”
It was a secret. How did he know?
“Don’t get too worked up. You’ll get a fever.”
Lexion, once again in the guise of the knight ‘Hubert,’ pulled the blanket up to Ashdel’s chin. His touch was unexpectedly gentle.
“Are you going to tell my aunt?”
As he gazed at the round, pink eyes staring up at him, Lexion pressed a finger against the boy’s small forehead.
“Aren’t we allies? It’d be a betrayal of trust, wouldn’t it?”
“Hmph, as if I’d trust a womanizer.”
Ashdel didn’t trust Lexion at all, especially because he was wary that the man might make advances toward Milena. Pouting, the boy muttered,
“I heard you don’t even pick and choose women. Isn’t that why you became a public enemy among men in the capital? Don’t tell me… even married women…?!”
“Shh—”
A brat who still had milk on his lips, talking about women.
It was too inappropriate a topic for a child. Lexion reached out and covered Ashdel’s mouth with his fingers.
“Just get some sleep, little master. Your mana is leaking, and that’s why you’re feeling sick. Though Miss Milena seems to think it’s just a cold.”
At Lexion’s simple gesture, a wave of drowsiness washed over Ashdel as if by magic. The boy struggled to keep his drooping eyelids open.
“How… did you know? About my condition…”
In response to the faint voice, Lexion merely shrugged.
“Because I’ve been through it myself.”
At that cryptic remark, Ashdel tried to ask more, but he succumbed to sleep before he could.
“What you’re looking for…”
Did you find it?
He needed to hear the answer, but he was too sleepy.
Lexion’s face grew expressionless as he looked at the peacefully sleeping boy.
“No. I still haven’t found it.”
His low whisper carried a chilling anger.
He had searched every secret space Ashdel had told him about. But what he sought was nowhere to be found.
Considering the vastness of the Grand Duke’s castle, there were likely still hidden places he hadn’t checked. Or perhaps there were places even the boy didn’t know about.
“Where could it be hidden?”
He had to find it—the gemstone that contained the core of Calion’s power.
If the power the Grand Duke wielded, the power everyone believed to be his, had actually been stolen from someone else… would people even believe it?
Lexion had taken a great risk to infiltrate the castle in order to retrieve that stolen power. But so far, he had nothing to show for it.
Well, not nothing.
He had gained a cute little master and an infuriatingly intriguing young lady.
As he recalled Milena, who always said things beyond his expectations with that haughty expression, a low chuckle escaped his lips.
The night had deepened—it was time for him to move.
Under the cover of darkness, he strode forward.
Just like that night of the Grand Duchess’s memorial service, when Milena had cursed Calion while walking down the corridor—he, too, moved in secret, unseen by anyone.
“His Grace is not present.”
“Ha, I just saw him enter with my own eyes, and now you’re telling me he’s not here?”
The Grand Duke’s orders were absolute. A mere count’s daughter could not defy them.
That went for the one-sided ‘marriage proposal’ as well.
No matter how much she refused or resisted, she could not overturn the Grand Duke’s will.
Still, she had to make her rejection known—that was why she had come. But now, the knights were blatantly lying to her, dismissing her with their obvious falsehoods.
“If you have business, please go through the head steward.”
“…….”
The same scorn and disregard as always.
Yet, what burned her now was not the usual anger but a wave of humiliation she had never felt before.
She had always thought that, compared to her love for Calion, nothing else mattered.
At least, until magic had stripped that feeling away.
“Tell His Grace that I understand his intentions perfectly. Got it?”
“…Understood.”
There was no usual defiance in her tone.
Only firm resolve.
Leaving behind the knights, who had instinctively answered in hesitation, Milena turned, the hem of her mourning dress fluttering.
Impressive, Larriete. Your mage is quite competent.
Her lingering feelings for Calion had been erased completely, but the humiliation remained.
Ever since she had gone down to the village and bought a new dress, she had refused to touch any of her old ones—the ones Larriete would have worn.
Here, she would wear only this black dress.
It was her vow not to yield.
Behind her angry steps, steady footsteps followed.
Days had passed without her being able to meet the Grand Duke, blocked at every turn by his knights.
This farce had to end.
“Do you despise it that much?”
At the sudden question, Milena stopped in her tracks.
The man, who had been observing from the sidelines, continued,
“I heard that marrying the Grand Duke was something you always wanted.”
He was an unreadable man.
To say such a thing after watching her all this time…
Milena sighed and resumed walking.
“Do I look like someone who loves the Grand Duke, as the rumors say?”
“No.”
At Lexion’s firm reply, Milena let out a small laugh.
“That’s right. I don’t.”
This man knew the truth.
And yet, he still asked.
Was it curiosity?
Having someone who saw her without prejudice was unexpectedly pleasant.
Perhaps because they had spent quite a bit of time together, she found him somewhat familiar.
“For five years, the only thing that kept me here was my feelings for Calion. But once that shallow emotion broke, I realized—this place was never mine to begin with.”
Yes, she had realized it too late.
But now, she was going to set things right.
Her sister must have timed the spell perfectly, ensuring it activated when Milena was supposed to return.
That’s why she had specified, ‘When the fifth white rose is offered.’
“This is my way of showing that I won’t covet my sister’s place. People may think I’m making a desperate bid for the Grand Duke’s attention, but that’s not it.”
She had done enough to remove suspicion.
Now, it was time to leave.
The wedding was fast approaching.
If Calion signed the marriage contract, there would be no turning back.
“I don’t care what people think of my actions. You asked if I despise it? Marrying my brother-in-law? Just the thought of it is repulsive.”
He was silent.
For a moment, he seemed lost in thought.
Then, unexpectedly, he spoke.
“If you truly detest it, there is a way out.”
Lexion, usually reserved as ‘Hubert,’ was uncharacteristically talkative today.
Milena halted again, glancing up at the knight standing beside her.
Her gaze asked, What way?
His lips parted.
“If the marriage contract with your signature had a different man’s name instead of the Grand Duke’s… wouldn’t that solve the problem?”
“…….”
Blink, blink.
Her long lashes fluttered in the silence.
She studied him closely, as if gauging his intentions.
Sensing her scrutiny, Lexion averted his gaze.
Did she think I was making a move on her? It’s not like I meant for her to write my name…
Just as he was about to clarify, Milena spoke casually.
“Oh my, that was my plan. How did you know?”
“…What?”
“I was going to steal the contract and find a suitable man to be my husband for a year.”
Lexion was speechless.
A smirk flickered in Milena’s emerald eyes.
“Intruder, I’m counting on you to cooperate until I leave this place.”
