Miss Veronica asked Alex.

On the surface, it seemed like she was checking if I had been rude to Alex, but in reality, it was different.

She was asking why Alex was bothering me.

Though Alex wasn’t actually bothering me, it was a situation that could easily be seen that way.

In the reception room of a noble estate, Duke Berzel, who came unannounced, was having a private conversation with a powerless maid.

It was a situation ripe for misunderstanding.

He could have been abusing his power or even committing harassment.

Miss Veronica was summing all this up and questioning Alex.

Alex was aware of this but didn’t feel the need to explain.

“Rude? Not at all. In fact, she’s so precious that I want to take her with me.”

“Oh dear, what should I do? This child has been with me since she was young, so I have no intention of letting her go easily.”

Is this really the gentle and kind Miss Veronica I know? She delivered a sharp retort to Alex in a cold voice I had never heard before.

“Well, if she wants to leave, you’ll let her go, won’t you?”

“If she wants to, yes. But I doubt that will happen. Right, Claire?”

Miss Veronica looked back at me.

Seeing her unusually combative stance, I nodded, bewildered.

“My father and mother will return from their estate inspection soon. I know it’s rude to leave a guest unattended, but since Your Grace visited without any prior notice, we couldn’t prepare. I ask for your understanding.”

“……”

Miss Veronica’s sharp words felt new to me.

Alex couldn’t refute because there was nothing wrong with what she said.

Meanwhile, Miss Veronica continued to speak while observing Alex.

“Then may I take my maid and leave?”

With a disgruntled look, Alex nodded.

Miss Veronica bowed politely to Alex and then firmly held my hand as we left the reception room.

She walked quickly, and only after we were completely out of the corridor where the Rose Knights were did she lean against the wall, staggering.

“Miss! Are you alright?”

I was startled and tried to support her, but Miss Veronica waved her hand, declining my help.

“No, it’s okay. My legs are just a bit shaky.”

Miss Veronica smiled wearily. Now that I looked closely, beads of sweat were forming on her forehead.

“I was really surprised to see you alone in the reception room. How could you go in there by yourself?”

I had gone in because I wanted to talk to Alex, but it seemed I worried Miss Veronica by doing so.

I laughed awkwardly and bowed my head.

“I’m sorry, Miss.”

“No, really, are you okay? Duke Berzel didn’t bother or harass you, did he? You can be honest with me.”

“No, nothing happened. Actually…”

“Actually?”

Seeing Miss Veronica follow up on my words, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Miss, you were really cool earlier.”

When I gave her a thumbs-up, Miss Veronica let out a helpless laugh.

But I was genuinely moved by what had happened in the reception room.

Miss Veronica, who was usually more timid than I was, stood up to Duke Berzel to save me.

I was so amazed and happy about that fact that I burst into a foolish smile.

Miss Veronica laughed along with me.

***

Not long after Miss Veronica took me out of the reception room, Count Maynard and the Countess arrived at the estate.

Usually, when they went out, they would return late in the evening, but today they came back early because of Alex.

Alex and Count Maynard talked for a long time in the reception room.

I couldn’t hear their conversation.

I was busy with my own tasks.

“So, why was Duke Berzel looking for you? Tell me honestly. I need to know so I can take appropriate action.”

Miss Veronica held my hand and asked. I hesitated but managed to tell her about everything that had happened between Alex and me.

Starting from the rainy season when I first met the injured Alex, meeting him at the ball, and finally his confession of love in the reception room.

I felt safe telling her everything because I was fully aware that this world was diverging from the original story.

The fate of the villain who was madly in love with the female protagonist and the female protagonist who had to make a difficult choice because of the villain had changed.

The villain liked me instead of the female protagonist, perhaps because I had taken on her role, and the female protagonist stood up to the villain to save me.

In this situation, telling Miss Veronica about what had happened didn’t seem like it would revert things to the original storyline.

Miss Veronica and our estate wouldn’t be in danger.

No, the problem was me.

Why did the villain take an interest in me of all people?

“So, earlier in the reception room, Duke Berzel asked me to go to the capital with him.”

By the time I finished telling everything, quite a bit of time had passed.

Miss Veronica’s expression grew more serious.

“That’s what happened. After that, you came in and took me out.”

“I see. So, what do you think, Claire?”

Miss Veronica, who had been deep in thought after hearing my story, asked me.

I pressed my lips together.

My thoughts?

I had already told Alex that I liked the Maynard estate.

But because of that, I also thought maybe I should go with Alex.

If I refused Alex and the Maynard estate ended up being destroyed as in the original story, it would be a disaster.

“I’m not sure.”

I couldn’t give a definite answer yet.

I needed at least a few days to think it over.

“I think I need some time.”

“Don’t rush. No matter what decision you make, I’m on your side, so don’t worry.”

“Thank you, Miss. Thank you so much for today.”

“Get some rest today. Clear your head.”

“Yes!”

After finishing the conversation with Miss Veronica, I slowly walked to the garden.

There was nothing like a walk to clear one’s head.

I walked past the beautifully trimmed garden trees and sat on a bench in the middle of the path.

It was early winter, and the wind was a bit harsh.

I closed my eyes and leaned back against the bench.

It was the perfect environment to cool my heated mind.

After sitting there for a while with my eyes closed, I suddenly felt a weight on my shoulder.

When I opened my eyes and looked to the side, Alex was standing there.

“Alex?”

“It’s not exactly the best weather to be outside.”

Alex sat on the bench next to me.

Despite the cold, he draped his coat over me.

“You’re still at the estate?”

Quite a bit of time had passed, so I thought he had already left…

Apparently not.

“You’re so cold. Rejecting me like that.”

Despite his words, he didn’t seem particularly hurt.

“The timing was odd, so I decided to stay for the night.”

“Oh, is that so?”

I thought Count Maynard had kicked him out and he snuck back in.

“Your expression is rude.”

“It’s always like this.”

Alex sighed helplessly and lowered his head.

“Well, you were like that in the warehouse too.”

Recalling past memories, Alex nodded in agreement.

I took the opportunity to observe his profile.

His sculpted features were enjoyable to look at.

As I stared at his face for a while, memories of the warehouse surfaced.

I had often passed the time by watching his face in the warehouse.

“Alex.”

“Go on.”

“Why do you like me?”

It didn’t seem like he liked me just because I had taken on Miss Veronica’s role.

In the original story, Alex fell for Miss Veronica’s kindness and angelic appearance.

But I wasn’t as kind as Miss Veronica, nor was I as beautiful as an angel.

Not that I thought I was unattractive.

I was quite pretty, enough to not be outdone anywhere.

…Probably.

But no matter how pretty I was, I wasn’t as beautiful as the original female protagonist.

“When I’m with you, I feel at ease. I’ve never met anyone without any worries or conditions.”

Alex spoke, seemingly reminiscing as he stared into the distance.

It was as if his life was being painted at the end of his gaze.

It was a past I didn’t know much about.

“Since I was young, people were either enemies or people with value to use. But you were a bit different.”

So, I didn’t fit into either category?

To me, it sounded like a cliché, but to him, it was a reality that had tormented him all his life.

Hearing his explanation, I found it hard to speak.

I felt like I shouldn’t have asked.

“The wind is cold. Let’s go inside.”

Alex stood up first and extended his hand to me.

The hand reaching out to me was as rugged as I had seen before.

After hesitating, I placed my hand in his.

Alex pulled me up with a firm grip.

With his escort, I was able to walk back into the estate.