I could tell you if you want an answer.
But is telling the truth the right answer?
Or is it better to just gloss over it?
Even though I've earned the qualifications of a direct descendant, it's never good to be disliked by the Duke yet.
If it were the original me…
‘I would have chosen to gloss over it.’
Because my true feelings always made the Duke uncomfortable.
From the start, nothing would have changed even if I said something.
So, glossing over it and leaving is the best course of action, but…
‘Somehow, I don't think that method will work now.’
Rather, trying to deceive him might cause something irreversible to happen.
More than anything, the Duke's unfamiliar appearance makes me hold onto strange expectations.
Even though I know better than anyone how futile that is.
“…Because of Miracle.”
Before I knew it, my mouth was blurting out the truth.
Then the Duke furrowed his brow and asked again.
“What does Miracle have to do with this?”
I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh at the Duke's expression as if he really didn't know.
To hide that laughter, I smiled even more brightly and said,
“Well, you hate it when I interfere with Miracle and the Duke's time together, don't you?”
Was it just hate?
He trampled over me with a look that treated me like dirty garbage.
“So I was trying to disappear quietly. So as not to be noticed by the Duke.”
“……”
“That's all. I'm sorry if you felt like I was ignoring you.”
I put my hands together politely and bowed deeply.
My attitude might seem a bit excessive, but.
‘It's much better than upsetting the Duke.’
First, I should quietly get through this and look for another opportunity later.
“Then…”
The moment I raised my head to say I would leave, I stopped.
My eyes trembled with bewilderment.
Why? Was there something wrong?
Why…
‘Is he so angry?’
To the average person, it might look like a normal blank expression, but I, who had lived my entire life watching his every move, could tell instantly.
That he was currently very angry.
'Why?'
Was there something in the process of explaining and apologizing that made him angry?
'No way.'
I was honest, polite, and courteous.
There was definitely nothing in that process that could have made him so angry.
‘I really don't know.’
I was confident that I knew the Duke well, but now it was the hardest to understand him.
I seemed to know, but I didn't, I seemed to see, but I didn't see at all.
'Dangerous.'
Unfathomable elements can potentially worsen the situation.
Anyway, I've finished explaining, so let's go back quickly.
“Then I'll be going now…”
I was about to leave in a hurry.
"Wait."
"…Yes?"
The Duke's call grabbed my ankle.
I turned to the Duke, unable to hide my embarrassment.
What again? I did everything you asked!
I was in the mood to argue instead.
He gazed at me intently and quietly recited.
“Didn’t you have something to say to me?”
“I do, but…”
What's so important about that now?
“…It would be better to change locations.”
"Yes? Now?"
“Didn't you have something to say now?”
“I do, but…”
I glanced behind him and muttered.
“Miracle is over there.”
Shouldn't you take care of Miracle first?
That was the thought I put into my gaze.
"Let's go to the room."
Whether he didn't notice or was ignoring it, the Duke simply walked past me and went ahead.
Is this for real? He's really leaving like this?
I stared at Miracle, who was standing alone in the distance, with a bewildered look.
Just then, the Duke, who had stopped abruptly, turned to me and asked.
“Aren’t you coming?”
I don't know what's going on at all, but.
'Let's think positively.'
There was no reason to kick away the plate that the Duke had taken the trouble to set up.
"I'm going."
I hurried after him.
But…
‘He's walking too fast…!’
I desperately chased after the Duke, but the distance would suddenly widen if I let my guard down.
Well.
‘He's not the kind of person to walk while considering others.’
But I couldn't ask him to slow down a little.
'I can't help it.'
I have no choice but to do my best to catch up.
Step, step.
Pat, pat, pat!
Step, step.
Pat, pat, pat!
The Duke's leisurely footsteps and my hurried footsteps echoed alternately in the silent hallway.
The more I chased after him, the more breathless I became.
Huff, huff…
'It's hard.'
It would be less tiring to just sprint.
'It's harder to try to match the speed vaguely.'
It was exhausting to keep following at that middle speed, neither running nor walking fast.
I thought I had become much stronger through the lessons with Aen.
'I'm still too weak, me.'
If I can finish this safely, I'll ask Aen to increase the intensity of the lessons a little more...
'…Can I?'
I suddenly realized.
The master-disciple contract I made with Aen was only until the qualifying exam.
I promised that if I passed the qualifying exam and safely gained the qualifications of a direct descendant, I would find <Ayla's Medical Book>, which Aen had been looking for so much, in the non-open area of the library.
Now the only promise left is to find <Ayla's Medical Book>.
The lessons with Aen are now…
'Gone.'
.......
"……?"
The Duke turned around a few steps ahead when I suddenly stopped.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah……."
I belatedly came to my senses.
That's right. What am I doing.
"Nothing……."
I'm saying it's nothing, let's keep going.
I was about to say that, but...
'I can't breathe.'
It was difficult to even breathe, let alone speak, as if something was blocking my throat.
Something hot surged from my chest.
'Just because the lessons are over doesn't mean my relationship with Aen is over.'
Aen is kind, so he'll gladly greet me if I go to see him.
Of course…….
'If I find <Ayla's Medical Book>, I'll leave the Duke's mansion, though.'
The reason he became a knight of Rodbel was to find <Ayla's Medical Book> and cure his daughter.
'He said he wanted to live in the countryside.'
I recalled a conversation I had with Aen sometime ago.
That he wanted to build a small house in the countryside and live there when he became more free.
'I can exchange letters.'
And there were more adults to protect me even without Aen.
There's Ligrin, and I've made friends with Aiden.
Marine will also protect me.
Nothing would change without Aen.
Above all…
'Aen doesn't die.'
Aen won't be sacrificed in the monster subjugation war that takes place 5 years later.
He will leave this place without dying and live with his healthy daughter in a harmonious family.
That's what I wanted, right?
'Yeah, that's right.'
That's right, but, but…
'Why does my heart ache so much?'
Everything is going as I wanted, but for some reason, one corner of my heart was burning and so painful.
The pain was so great that I momentarily forgot even the existence of the Duke.
Then suddenly.
“Lucia Rodbel.”
“……!”
I was startled and raised my head suddenly at the voice that fell right in front of me.
'…When did he get here?'
The Duke, who was clearly far away, was right in front of my eyes.
He looked down at me with a cold face and asked.
"What are you doing?"
I quickly lowered my head.
"I'm sorr-"
"Hasn't your injury healed yet?"
"Yes?"
"I asked if it hurts."
"No-"
"It seems you've walked too hard."
"……."
Let me finish my words, you human!
I was dumbfounded by the Duke's attitude of thinking to himself and drawing his own conclusions.
It didn't seem like he would listen to anything I said, so I just shut my mouth thinking, go ahead and judge.
The Duke stared at me intently as if thinking about something for a moment, then soon parted his lips.
"There's no choice."
"Yes?"
"Get in my arms."
"……?!"
…What did I just hear?
What did he say to do?
As if to say that I hadn't heard wrong, the Duke spread his arms and lowered his posture.
He was facing me in the same posture he always held Miracle.
This is now…
'What's the situation?'
Am I dreaming?
I reflexively pinched my cheek.
Ouch. It hurts.
No, it doesn't hurt.
No. I think it hurts…….
I don't know at all.
The sight in front of me was so shocking that even my senses seemed to be paralyzed.
As I was just staring blankly, the Duke frowned slightly and asked.
"Why are you standing there like that?"
Do you ask because you don't know?
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