CH 6

The gift, which was the size of a small box, was wrapped in green wrapping paper. A red ribbon wrapped around the whole thing, and Delia’s name was written on a small paper attached to it.

The problem was that Delia had never sent such a gift to Lady Rant.

‘Who could it be?’

If it wasn’t her, someone must have sent the gift to the lady on her behalf.

‘I can’t open a gift meant for the lady, well……”

Delia picked up the box and shook it lightly. There was no particular result.

If someone had sent a nice gift on her behalf, it would be a very kind gesture.

When sending gifts to celebrate someone, it was quite common for people to include gifts on behalf of those around them as well.

In such cases, it was usually someone of quite high status, so Delia thought the person who sent the gift in her name might be such a person.

However, if someone had used her name to send an ill-intentioned gift, that would be problematic and couldn’t be simply ignored.

But Delia had no enemies. If there was anything targeting her, it would rather be the system.

Speaking of which, suddenly feeling angry at the system, Delia started grumbling towards it.

‘What could be scarier than you? System, you’re evil, pure evil!’

As she put down the box and stood up, her heart soon warmed. She noticed the gift that Ashlene had sent to Lady Rant.

Ashlene’s gift had the same red ribbon as Delia’s.

Looking closely, the way the gift was wrapped and the structure of the ribbon knot matched perfectly. Even the handwriting of the names, which she compared just in case, was from the same person.

As the doubt in her mind disappeared, a small wave of emotion came over her.

‘How can someone be so sweet and gentle, Ashlene!’

The gift with Delia’s name was something Ashlene had prepared on her behalf.

She resolved to thank Ashlene the next time they met. Indeed, it was good that she had raised Ashlene’s affection score to 82 points before.

Meanwhile, Kaiel, who had been quite busy with trade issues between Sheriton and eastern Floren, also heard the news about Lady Rant.

When he personally confirmed his mother’s condition with his own eyes, her condition had improved so much that he could hardly remember her previous serious state.

Though not outwardly visible, the shadow that had been cast over Kaiel’s eyes when he checked on his mother had become notably lighter.

After staying silent, he finally spoke after letting out a long breath.

“……Thank goodness.”

At his response, Lambert, who had been waiting at his side, stepped closer.

“Now you really must acknowledge it, mustn’t you? If it weren’t for Miss, the lady might have been in real danger.”

Dr. Lambert continued.

“When I examined the antidote, I found it used weeds from Fourpeak Mountain. Who would have known that such an insignificant weed would contain antidote components for lapocia? That weed doesn’t even have a name. How Miss found this……”

Dr. Lambert didn’t try to hide the admiration that burst forth between his words, continuously stroking his mustache.

“I say this with all sincerity, but Grand Duke, have you considered sending Miss to the imperial palace…… Grand Duke? Where are you going? Grand Duke!”

Before Lambert could finish speaking, Kaiel had hurriedly walked off somewhere.

Lambert, watching his retreating figure, scratched the back of his head.

“Perhaps I should speak to His Highness the Crown Prince…… The Grand Duke seems to keep avoiding the conversation.”

* * *

That night, Delia was trying to fall asleep but sleep wouldn’t come.

The moonlight that occasionally leaked in reflected off the crystal chandelier on the ceiling, making various spots in the bedroom sparkle.

Delia was blankly staring at the diamond-shaped moonlight reflected on the wall.

‘Can’t sleep.’

She was worried, knowingly or unknowingly, that since Lady Rant’s condition had improved significantly, the plausibility score would soon be drastically reduced.

Though there was no need to worry about penalties since the plausibility score was sufficient, she couldn’t help feeling tense about the notification that could come at any time.

That’s when it happened.

The door on the opposite side of the spacious bedroom quietly opened, and someone entered and closed it.

Though startled by the sudden guest entering her bedroom, after quickly checking the character list, she soon relaxed and lay down on the bed.

“Kaiel, you came?”

“……You’re not sleeping.”

Kaiel approached her bed and sat down at the corner.

“Why aren’t you sleeping.”

“How can I sleep when you might suddenly visit and do something?”

Wasn’t suddenly visiting and doing something her specialty? After saying this, Delia felt a bit ridiculous herself and quickly added.

“But why did you come? To get revenge for what I did last time?”

The moment the words ‘what I did’ left Delia’s lips, Kaiel’s lips twitched slightly.

Unable to see well in the darkness, Delia said teasingly,

“If that’s what you’re thinking…… I’m fine with it. I won’t get angry or resist.”

“……”

When there was no response from Kaiel, Delia seemed to lose interest and sat up from her lying position.

At some point, Kaiel had stopped reacting to her jokes and teasing with irritation like he used to.

‘Maybe it’s time to stop these jokes……”

She crumpled the blanket unnecessarily while speaking.

“I’m sorry, I was just joking because I was bored. You didn’t come to have this kind of conversation, did you?”

“Yes.”

Even after that, Kaiel remained silent for a while. After a long time, he spoke.

“Mother’s condition has improved considerably.”

Delia noticed the quite relieved tone in his voice. She smiled gently.

“That’s right, I visited her too. I’m really glad.”

“……”

Growing impatient waiting for his next words as he kept hesitating, Delia pushed aside the blanket and stood up from where she was sitting.

Kaiel quickly turned his head to the opposite direction. He extended his hand to block her from his view and spoke somewhat rapidly.

“Delia, clothes.”

She looked down to check her attire and laughed awkwardly.

“Ahahahaha…… Sorry.”

The combination of Delia and thin nightwear from last time seemed to have left quite a powerful impression on him.

Delia hurriedly pulled up the blanket and wrapped it around herself.

“Better now?”

Only then did Kaiel lower his hand and turn his head to look at her directly.

Their eyes met and stayed fixed on each other for quite a while without words.

As a subtle feeling of elation enveloped Delia’s head, he spoke.

“Thank you.”

Feeling momentarily dazed before coming back to her senses, Delia unconsciously asked back.

“What?”

He repeated, putting emphasis on each syllable.

“Thank you. Delia.”

She would have been satisfied with just a small compliment, but such a sincere thanks?

Looking into his eyes that were fixed on hers, she suddenly felt her breath catch.

For no reason, her whole body felt itchy and she wanted to hide completely under the blanket.

“I-it’s nothing!”

Barely managing to respond, Delia lay down on the bed with the blanket wrapped around her.

“I…… I’m sleepy. I want to sleep.”

She always found it difficult to know how to react when someone sincerely thanked her.

Moreover, receiving such a serious expression of gratitude from someone she would eventually have to kill was even more so.

Delia squeezed her eyes shut and waited for Kaiel to leave the room. However, even after a long time, there was no movement of him getting up from the bed.

‘Why isn’t he leaving!’

When she was about to threaten that she would do what she did before if he didn’t leave, while waiting a bit longer…

Finally, movement was felt from the foot of the bed. Thinking he would only leave if she pretended to be asleep, Delia deliberately started breathing loudly.

While wondering if she should even add some snoring in between, the footsteps that seemed to be moving away suddenly stopped.

“Asleep?”

After the low questioning voice, the presence slowly drew closer again.

Though she couldn’t see because her eyes were closed, he was clearly standing right next to her now!

Thinking he must be looking at her and somehow feeling like she might fail at pretending to be asleep, Delia tried to turn over, tossing in her sleep. Well, she tried to.

At that moment, a soft pressure came over her eyes and nose. Even with her eyes closed, the view that had been somewhat bright from the moonlight suddenly turned completely dark.

‘T-this……”

Delia couldn’t understand what situation was unfolding. She could only strongly sense the dawn’s moist scent through her nose.

Whatever was covering her eyes and nose was cold at first but gradually warmed up, and eventually she realized it was Kaiel’s palm.

‘T-t-this is a scene I’ve seen somewhere before……!’

What had Delia done last time when she climbed on top of Kaiel and covered his eyes with her palm?

While Delia was overwhelmed with piercing embarrassment, the palm that had come to share the same temperature as her forehead was hastily removed.

The hand that had touched so carefully when coming down showed an uncharacteristic urgency when leaving.

When the hand covering her eyes was removed, Delia almost reflexively opened her eyes but managed to maintain her “pretending to be asleep” act.

On the outside, she appeared peacefully sleeping without a care in the world, but for a while after the hand was removed, Delia’s inner state was in turmoil.

‘Kaiel…… what were you trying to do just now? What? Really? Just now?’

Then she heard a short sigh from beside her. Following that came the sound of retreating footsteps, and the sound of the door being quietly opened and closed in the silence.

“……”

Delia, who had been holding her breath without realizing it, exhaled her held breath as soon as she confirmed he had left.

“Whew.”

Was he really trying to get revenge?

The moonlight seemed particularly bright and hot tonight.

* * *