Chapter 67: [Chapter 067] Protect me from him
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A moment of silence swept between us. Roardnes seemed to realize that he had made a mistake when he saw me staring at him without answering.
"...Is it burdensome?"
Asking it so directly was even more burdensome. My nape felt hot for some reason. Maybe it was because Roardnes' low voice vibrated the floor, making my body tingle slightly. Feeling like I couldn't bear it without holding onto something, I quietly shook my head as I tightly gripped and released the hem of my dress. While I was choosing my words, not knowing how to answer, Roardnes closed the bedroom door behind him and came back.
"It's so that no one will come in."
Unlike my worries, it seemed he wasn't waiting for my answer. Roardnes sat on a nearby chair and gestured for me to sit as well. After looking at me for a while, he opened his mouth.
"While investigating the disappearance of Baroness Kuroseda, I found something peculiar."
"Something peculiar, like...?"
"Are you aware that there were two more missing persons before the baroness disappeared?"
"Yes, I read it in the newspaper."
"It's not just something that happened in the capital."
Roardnes furrowed his brow, as if he couldn't believe it.
"There have been similar incidents in other provincial estates several times. The common point is that they are all related to the North, whether it's the northwest or the northeast."
"!"
"It may be my personal opinion, but if it's related to the North, it's possible that it's related to the Duke or at least he tried to cover up the incident. With so many serial disappearances happening, and yet only the ones in the capital are known, it can only be thought that someone is covering it up."
I was startled by the unexpected news. What if Noevian was involved in this incident? No, even if he wasn't involved, if only I could involve him... Thinking similarly, I looked up quickly, and Roardnes was also shining his eyes.
"If we can only involve the Duke, His Majesty, even though he dearly loves his younger brother, will definitely not sit idly by."
"That's right."
"And that would be the opportunity."
Roardnes' lips curled up slightly as he stared at my serious face.
"I know it's not good to target a specific person, but that bastard deserves it."
"Of course. But, Your Highness."
"Yes."
I called Roardnes seriously, who was playing along with my politeness. He looked at me with an expectant expression.
"It would be better if you didn't use such harsh words like 'that bastard' in the future."
Roardnes rolled his eyes as if he was reflecting on his words and soon hardened his expression. Then, with a slightly sad expression, he asked me.
"...Do you dislike it when I speak ill of the Duke?"
"No! Actually... I think your way of speaking has rubbed off on me. Sometimes, I blurt out harsh words just like you do. I'm so embarrassed whenever it happens... My maid is so used to the old Blier that she doesn't find it strange, but strangely, it makes me feel even more humiliated."
Roardnes blinked for a moment, then smiled softly.
"I understand. I'll try to correct it."
And without a second thought, he replied that he would.
"Especially in front of you."
When Roardnes said this as if he had made a very important decision, I realized my mistake. This wasn't the time to say this. After hearing him say that he missed me, my head felt dizzy as if someone had stirred it up, and I felt like I couldn't bear it without blurting out anything.
"I'm sorry."
Roardnes tilted his head. As his head moved to one side, his neatly arranged hair gleamed and shifted to the other side. I couldn't stop my gaze from following it and bit my lip. A rational thought suddenly flashed through my mind, wondering if it made sense for me to criticize his way of speaking after I had said, "Until this matter is over, we are just good friends."
'It's something lovers do, to restrain each other.'
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My nape had been burning hot since a while ago, and it seemed to be spreading to my face.
"That... I misspoke. That's not important. It just popped into my head suddenly. Sometimes, the servants in the house are startled when I speak..."
"Restrict me."
I froze instantly. As if reading my mind, Roardnes, who had answered completely irrelevantly to what I said, leaned close to me and placed his long arm on top of my head. I felt like I was a koala. His warm and large hand gently stroked my head as if cooling the hot part.
"I told you I know what kind of person you are."
"...What do you mean?"
"I'd actually like you to restrict me a little more."
Did I actually say that out loud instead of thinking it in my head? I unconsciously closed my mouth. I couldn't just say yes because I couldn't be responsible for my feelings for him right now! Roardnes saw my reaction of just moving my lips, unable to speak, and couldn't help but smile. He seemed to know exactly what I was thinking. I should have been embarrassed to have my inner thoughts revealed, but I couldn't think because I was following his thinning lips with my gaze. Even though his warm hand only touched my head, my whole body felt warm as if I was covered in a winter quilt.
"If you say things like that, I get my hopes up."
"Hope...?"
"The hopeful expectation that we are more than just friends."
Oh, my heart was pounding so hard, I couldn't speak. Roardnes looked into my eyes intently, pressed my head down once, and then removed his hand. Even after he got up, his lavender scent lingered around me. Strangely, I wished that scent wouldn't leave me. I quickly averted my gaze from his face, which looked ready to swallow me whole, and my face turned red.
"If you say things like that, I tend to have high expectations. About what kind of relationship we will have in the future. About what kind of words you will use to restrict me."
Just when his low, pleasant voice was about to tickle my body again to the point where I couldn't bear it, I was startled by a noise from outside the door and jumped up. Too embarrassed to look at Roardnes, who was still staring at me, I opened the door slightly and there was Yona.
"Madam, aren't you coming out? The butler keeps urging me. He says you should come out-"
"Oh, just a moment!"
Thinking that I had to hide Roardnes, I quickly turned around, but he was already gone. Startled, I went to where he had been standing, and on my bed, half-hidden by the canopy curtain, there was a flower that I didn't know where it came from. When I went closer, I saw that it was a whole branch of a red camellia that blooms in winter. A cool breeze blew in from the open window, where Roardnes seemed to have left, puffing up the curtain.
"Madam, what's wrong? Are you suddenly feeling unwell? What's this? Oh, it's a camellia! Where did you get this whole branch from, so quickly?"
"...Can you put it in a vase?"
"Yes, I'll put your coat here! Shall I put it in now?"
I barely nodded and looked at the window where Roardnes had left.
'I missed you too, I should have said that.'
I pressed my pounding heart with my hand. I couldn't believe my heart was racing like crazy in this situation where I had to rummage through his office to push Noevian off a cliff.
***
The Crown Princess's palace was exceptionally peaceful these days, all thanks to the frequent visits of Crown Prince Bardeñaldo. Word of it had spread beyond the palace walls, and both Irene and Noura started fawning over Doris with excited faces. Such was the peaceful life of a favored royal woman. Doris smiled contentedly, glancing over the various gifts she had received from Castagna's vassals. Bardeñaldo still kept Doris well-protected under the lame excuse of 'worrying about her health,' but Doris considered this a great improvement. Until recently, the number of times the Crown Prince had visited the Crown Princess's palace after sunset could be counted on one hand.
"So, how is Blier?"
As soon as Blier's name left her mouth, Noura, who had been unwrapping Doris's gifts on her behalf, stopped abruptly.
"She's no different than usual, Your Highness. The Duke seems to be treating her well too."
"Hmm."
Noura glanced cautiously at Doris.
Although she had said 'hmm,' it sounded like 'hmph' to Noura. And her ears were not mistaken. While Doris was satisfied with the Crown Prince's frequent visits, she was a little annoyed by Blier's recent actions. It was true that Blier had gone to the Duke's residence as intended by Doris and Duke Castagna. But she was annoyed that Blier was simply following whatever the Duke told her to do without a word to her. Although she said she would wait for her letters, she didn't really need her help. Since she had entered the Duke's residence not through Duke Castagna's influence but because the Duke had taken the initiative and even created a fake identity, Doris's contribution was not fully recognized. Doris felt that she should properly let Blier know her contribution so that she could faithfully work as her eyes and ears there, but it was awkward to make requests or orders when she was just wishing her happiness. If only she had been more perceptive, she would have sent her letters more frequently. According to Madame Leblé, she was so busy preparing to become the Duchess and was told to refrain from going out until the Grand Duchess's funeral. She said that she was looking forward to the day when she would become the Duchess and serve Her Highness the Crown Princess again, but it was different from hearing it directly.
"When I exchanged letters with Lady Blier, she also said that the Duke was treating her really well."
Irene's cheerful voice twisted Doris's lips further. She had already heard from her people that Blier Acacia, who was to become a mere puppet of Castagna, had won over Noevian with her charm, but it tasted bitter.
"I did receive a letter from her asking about my well-being, but she didn't tell me such detailed things. Maybe she's wary of the Duke?"
When Doris asked, hiding her rising annoyance, Irene tilted her head and Noura still just watched her.
"I feel a little empty now that we're three instead of four, and I should write a letter to Blier today. I haven't been in touch with her for a long time."
"Oh, then I'll deliver it on my way out of the palace, Your Highness."
When Irene smiled brightly and offered, Doris smiled back happily.
"Yes, please do. Irene."
***
The Royal Second Knights and the Capital Guards, who had been causing a commotion at the front gate, fell silent as if by magic when I came out. Pretending to persuade Neil, who was at the forefront, I told him to hold out until it got dark, and Neil, who was very perceptive, nodded and quietly stirred up the commotion. They began to set up temporary tents, insisting that they had to investigate each of the servants in the Duke's residence even if it was outside the mansion. Gaspal's face turned red with anger, but seeing Roardnes watching them from a distance, he couldn't dare to disobey and insisted that they absolutely could not enter the mansion. Roardnes had been looking directly at me from the moment I came out. Feeling my face suddenly flush, I bowed my head slightly as a sign of respect. After cooling my face for a moment and encouraging Gaspal to guard the front gate well, I returned and opened the letter that Irene had delivered.
[It's nice to indulge in sweetness, but sometimes you need to look around. Are you still, and will you always be, my person? It might be a little lonely if not.]
Reading such a letter in an empty mansion while the servants were being investigated gave me a headache. In any case, it wasn't good to turn Doris into an enemy right now. I sighed deeply and tucked the letter into my bosom. While pondering what to reply, I had already arrived in front of Noevian's office. Not knowing which key was the right one, I tried one by one, and then, suddenly, the door clicked open. I held my breath and looked around again. There was no one in the corridor, and I could still hear the commotion from the front gate in the distance. Finally, the door to Noevian's office opened.
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