Chapter 68
After finishing my bath and lightly dressing up, I stepped out of the room. Just as I came into the hallway, I saw Richard waiting for me.
He was leaning casually against the wall with his arms crossed, waiting for me.
When he noticed me coming out, he turned his head and looked at me.
“You’re out earlier than I expected.”
Richard extended a hand toward me.
Normally, I would have taken it without hesitation, but this time, I hesitated for a moment and just looked at his hand.
“What’s wrong?”
Noticing my unusual behavior, Richard asked with a puzzled expression.
Only then did I force a small smile and shake my head.
“It’s nothing.”
As I answered, I tried to act natural and placed my hand in his.
Placed over his hand, mine looked so small.
It felt like if he were to close his hand, mine would disappear completely within his grasp.
Richard gently led me, escorting me as he always did.
There was nothing different in his actions, but somehow, everything felt different to me.
We took the elevator down and arrived at the dining hall.
Richard pulled out a chair for me so I could sit more easily.
“Thank you.”
I offered a light word of gratitude and sat down, and Richard took his seat across from me.
“Today, we’ll be heading straight to Duke Tristan’s estate.”
He spoke just as the food began to arrive.
I already knew, so I simply nodded in response.
“The luggage has already been moved. A maid, I believe—came yesterday to take care of it.”
“Julia?”
“I think that was her name.”
Richard confirmed and started eating.
It seemed a lot had happened while I was asleep.
Since the hotel reservation ended today, it wasn’t surprising, really.
Normally, I would’ve handled everything myself, but… I had overslept today.
Apparently, during that time, Richard had encountered Julia, who had come to the Starlight Hotel, and gave the order to have our things moved.
Even if it wasn’t me giving the instructions, Richard was my husband, so Julia wouldn’t have had a reason to refuse.
“I’m sorry. That was something I should’ve taken care of.”
I felt sheepish that Richard had handled something that should’ve been my responsibility.
If it had been for any other reason, maybe I wouldn’t have minded, but knowing it was because I’d overslept made me feel embarrassed.
“No need to apologize. I’m the one who told them not to wake you, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
“…Thanks for saying that.”
Richard didn’t respond to that.
Not that I was expecting an answer.
I gave a soft smile and began eating my breakfast.
“My lady.”
In the middle of the meal, Olivier quietly called out to me.
Curious, I looked up at her, and she gave me a gentle smile.
“Dave and Sylvia just woke up.”
“Really? Are they alright?”
“Yes. They’ve improved a lot. Still, given how serious things were, the physician said they need plenty of rest and peace.”
“That’s a relief. I was really worried.”
If it weren’t for me, Dave never would’ve been in that state.
That thought had haunted me with guilt.
What he did—trying to harm me—was wrong, but when I thought of Sylvia, who was on the brink of death, I could understand why Dave might’ve made the choices he did.
In fact, I was a little jealous of Sylvia.
Because I didn’t have anyone like Dave in my life.
“Before we head to Duke Tristan’s estate, I want to stop by the physician’s. If you have other things to do, you don’t have to wait—you can go ahead.”
“No, it’s fine. Do whatever’s most comfortable for you.
Like I said, we’ve already wrapped up all our business in the capital.”
“Alright.”
We finished our light meal and stood up.
It seemed the hotel had already been informed of our departure, as a few staff members followed us out.
Passing through the hotel lobby, I spotted the carriage from Count Theodore’s estate waiting for us.
Just as we were about to leave, the hotel manager approached.
“I hope your stay at the Starlight Hotel was a restful one.”
“I’ve had a comfortable stay. We’ll be heading out now.”
“Yes, please visit us again next time. Thank you.”
Seeing the staff bow in unison as if rehearsed, I stepped into the carriage.
Once the door closed, it began to move.
Through the small window on the carriage door, the scenery passed by slowly outside.
“Cecilia Hazel, who ran away yesterday, was released after a few confirmations.”
As I quietly watched the scenery pass by outside the window, Richard spoke to me.
“She may have caused a scene, but since nothing serious actually happened, I suppose the guards didn’t have much of a choice but to release her.”
“Ah…”
That made sense. Cecilia certainly caused a ruckus yesterday, but in the end, she hadn’t caused us any real harm.
Baron Hazel couldn’t avoid being detained since he had attempted to kill me—his stepdaughter—in a court of law. But Cecilia’s case was different.
So her being released was inevitable.
“Just in case, try not to go around alone. If you feel like two knights aren’t enough, I can assign more to you.”
“Thanks for thinking of me.”
The two knights Richard had already assigned—Sir Jason and Sir Lorenz—had once saved me.
Back then, it had been just a child, Dave, who confronted me. Still, I didn’t think Cecilia would be able to harm me by getting past those two knights.
I knew Cecilia well.
She wasn’t the type to back down quietly. But even so, I doubted she’d be reckless enough to try and attack me while I was being escorted by two skilled knights.
Even so, I couldn’t deny that I felt uneasy. So, I nodded.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Richard responded with a single nod. Then, just as he always did, he crossed his arms and closed his eyes in silence.
I glanced at him briefly, then straightened my posture with a deep breath, slightly embarrassed by myself.
To hide my flustered state, I turned my gaze back to the window.
We hadn’t gone far when the carriage came to a stop—it seemed the clinic was relatively close to the hotel.
After stepping out of the carriage and greeting the physician, I headed straight to the room where Dave and Sylvia were recovering.
Just as I was about to open the door to their room, I heard children’s laughter from inside.
It was a familiar sound.
Dave and Sylvia.
I paused for a moment, letting their laughter sink into my ears, then knocked twice and pushed the door open.
“Gasp!”
Dave was the one who jumped in surprise upon seeing me enter.
He quickly covered his mouth with both hands, as if trying to hide the fact that he had been laughing.
Then he reached out toward Sylvia next to him—as if afraid I’d punish him for being caught smiling.
“It’s okay, Dave. Are you feeling alright?”
I asked calmly as I sat down on the chair placed between the two children.
Dave glanced at me cautiously, his big round eyes watching my expression, before slowly lowering the hands that covered his mouth.
“Uh… I’m okay.”
Though the words came out hesitantly, they didn’t sound like a lie.
Compared to yesterday, when he had fainted and couldn’t move at all, Dave seemed quite fine today.
He had a few small cuts and bruises on his face and body, but they looked like they’d heal with time.
“I’m… I’m sorry.”
Dave spoke in a crawling voice.
“For what?”
I pretended not to understand, and Dave’s shoulders drooped like a puppy caught in the rain—it was a pitiful sight.
“For everything I did to you, my lady…”
“You mean trying to stab me with a knife, or giving false testimony in court, that kind of thing?”
“…Yes.”
When I hit the nail on the head, Dave looked like he was about to cry.
I reached out my hand toward him.
Thinking I was about to hit him, Dave flinched hard and shut his eyes tight.
But I had no intention of hurting him—not in the slightest.
Instead, I gently touched the wound on his face. The scabbed-over cut felt rough and hardened.
It wasn’t the kind of wound a child should have on their face.
“I should be the one apologizing.”
It was an apology for dragging Dave into this mess and getting him hurt in the process.
Dave opened his eyes in confusion, not understanding my words, and looked up at me.
His clear green eyes shimmered with uncertainty.
“I’ve already forgiven you. You had the courage to tell the truth in court.”
“Ah…”
Dave bowed his head deeply.
“No… If it weren’t for me… you wouldn’t have had your… your neck…”
He couldn’t even finish the sentence properly.
If I hadn’t been sitting right next to him, I might not have heard him at all.
“I know it wasn’t entirely your fault. But if you’re apologizing, then I won’t reject it.”
I smiled as I withdrew my hand. Dave still couldn’t bring himself to lift his head.
“But Dave, there’s something I’d like to propose to you.”
I began, glancing over at Sylvia beside him.
Though she didn’t understand what was going on, Sylvia had mirrored Dave’s worried expression since he began to look like he might cry.
She looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment.
I reached out and held Sylvia’s hand, then turned my attention back to Dave.
“When I return to Count Theodore’s estate… would you come with me?”
