* * *
My body felt lighter and more comfortable than ever before since I arrived here.
Even though I couldn’t talk about everything, just having someone to share my worries with made me feel deeply reassured.
I was so relaxed I could hum.
But the rumor that had spread outside was that I had collapsed and was on the brink of death because I’d recklessly participated in the hunting competition—a rather dramatic exaggeration.
The story wasn’t that serious at first, but since it was too much of a hassle to correct it, I had just left it alone.
The rumor kept snowballing, becoming wilder as it spread.
Despite that, neither Klen nor I thought much of it.
But the attendants were in a frenzy, even though they could see with their own eyes that I was fine.
Thanks to that, I was basically under house arrest, stuck rolling around on the bed.
“Lord Adrian.”
“What is it?”
As I was sprawled across the bed as usual, a maid entered and bowed politely.
“There’s someone requesting to visit you.”
“Who?”
That was pretty rare.
Actually, it was the first time since I arrived here.
So far, the only one who had visited me was the Countess, and she didn’t need to ask my permission to drop by.
The maid didn’t answer immediately.
She hesitated for a moment, her lips trembling before she cautiously spoke.
“It’s Lord Willowy’s daughter.”
“…!”
Willowy’s daughter.
She was the girl who had boldly declared war on me at the hunting competition.
Why would she want to meet me now?
Was she planning to drive the nail in even further after her declaration?
“When did she say she’d come?”
“She said she would come at whatever time was convenient for you.”
At least she didn’t seem to lack manners—she seemed to be leaving the decision entirely up to me.
If she wanted to pick a fight, I had no intention of avoiding it.
I had no intention of going easy on her either.
I didn’t know how things might develop later, but for now, wasn’t I Klen’s partner?
If I had made up my mind, it was best to get it over with quickly.
“Then, tell her to come tomorrow. Any time is fine.”
“Tomorrow… Are you sure?”
Unlike me, who answered lightly, the maid’s expression darkened. I understood why.
I later heard that, apparently, I hadn’t just been pretending to be sick—my condition had really been bad.
I was so pale that it looked like all the blood had drained from my body.
That’s why the attendants even opposed me going out with Klen and prayed for my safe return.
When the other attendants and the knights heard about it, they apparently became convinced I had been on the verge of death.
And so the rumor spiraled even further.
‘And then the snowballing rumor came back around, only to shock them even more…’
Given all that, it was understandable they’d worry about me meeting with a girl who, by all appearances, was quite fond of Klen.
They probably thought I would collapse at the slightest hint of a raised voice.
“I’ll be fine. I’m much better now.”
In fact, now was the best time to meet her.
If I was going to face someone uncomfortable anyway, it was better to do it while I was still in a good mood.
I didn’t want to end up taking it out on her for no reason.
“…I’ll deliver your message.”
Even so, the maid’s expression remained stiff until the end.
And so, the next day, in the drawing room.
Madeline was already quietly seated on the sofa, waiting.
As soon as I entered, she quickly stood up, lifted the hem of her skirt slightly, and gave a graceful bow.
Her posture was impeccable.
“Thank you for granting me this visit, Lord Adrian Valuncio. My name is Madeline Ver.”
Her unexpectedly polite greeting softened me a little.
“Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you.”
It seemed she had a fondness for green.
This time, her hair was pinned with a different design, adorned with small emeralds here and there.
Her bright smile radiated an energy overflowing with affection as she greeted me.
The emerald-colored eyes, still tinted with shyness, met mine—only to roll away to the side.
If it weren’t for the circumstances, I might have even found that endearing…
Clack—
In the meantime, the maid quietly set down warm tea and sweet cookies before us, closed the door, and left the drawing room.
The calming scent of herbs tickled my nose.
The large chunks of chocolate embedded in the cookies were bound to be sweet.
“Is there a reason you asked to see me?”
“Ah, yes.”
She straightened her posture, her expression stiffening with resolve.
“My father scolded me for what happened back then. And… I realized my fault and wanted to properly apologize.”
Back then, huh…
Of course, one incident came to mind immediately.
During the festival after the hunting competition, when she casually brought up the ball in front of Klen.
I only thought it bold of her, but for most people, that wasn’t something to brush off lightly.
Though, I didn’t expect Willoy to reprimand her.
I’d assumed he would praise her instead.
“I wanted to come right away, but… I heard you were unwell, Sir Adrian. I thought it would be proper to wait until you recovered…”
She squeezed her eyes shut.
“So… please don’t misunderstand the delay! I truly thought… the two of you were nothing more than a formal relationship. But I was short-sighted. I’m sorry!”
Like she had rehearsed countless times, Madeline blurted out her words in a rush, then shot to her feet.
She followed up with an elegant bow and sat back down demurely.
By the time my mind caught up with the rapid flow of events and I looked at her again, her cheeks were tinged a rosy red.
Her expression, her face, all showed sincerity.
Even her Klenched fingers trembled faintly.
‘Doesn’t seem like she’s acting.’
Or… maybe she’s just more experienced at this than I am.
If anyone could tell for sure, it’d be Klen—the master of putting on a show.
But what exactly did she mean by that?
That she thought it was only a formal relationship, but now believes otherwise?
Or is she simply scolding herself for not respecting even that formality?
More importantly, while she apologized, she never actually promised not to repeat it.
“I see.”
I calmly lifted my teacup.
If I said “It’s fine” or “Don’t worry about it” here, this kind of thing would definitely happen again.
Even if Madeline didn’t do it, someone else could.
Rumors would spread that I let it slide, and people would take that as permission to do as they please.
No matter how clueless Klen pretends to be, he’s still a count’s son.
Not the heir, maybe, but still nobility.
And with that face of his, surely there are plenty aiming for him.
I don’t want to get dragged into fights that don’t require swords.
It’s exhausting.
But even more than that, an unpleasant feeling simmered, bubbling under my skin.
“Um…”
She cautiously opened her mouth, watching my expression.
“Are you… attending the ball in a month?”
I only lifted my eyes to look at her.
Her shoulders flinched dramatically, and she quickly snatched a cookie, nibbling on it as her eyes darted around.
I wasn’t even glaring at her.
“Ah, no… I was just hoping… that you would attend…”
“Me?”
She nodded.
There was no need to ask her real reason—it was Klen.
* * *
