After finishing the meal, we took a short break before starting to prepare for going out.

Following Avina, I entered the dressing room and changed into an outdoor dress.

After neatly arranging my hair into an updo and putting on a cape, I finally finished preparing to go out.

When I came out to the corridor, Alex was waiting in front of the door.

“Have you been waiting for me here?”

I asked Alex in surprise, and he looked down at me with a gentle smile.

“Of course.”

“You haven’t been waiting long, have you?”

“Not at all, so don’t worry.”

He said and held out his hand to me.

I alternately looked at his face and hand for a moment, then smiled and placed my hand on his.

“Let’s go now.”

When I urged in a small voice, Alex’s eyes curved.

Alex began to walk slowly, matching my pace.

“You can tell me anytime if you’re tired.”

Alex suddenly said.

I looked up at him. His gaze was directed forward.

“I know you’re worried about me. But I hope you know that I’m not as fragile as you might think.”

While I shrugged and spoke, Alex let out a small laugh.

“Yes, I know. Even on that night when the rain was pouring, you kept coming to find me.”

He seemed to be thinking about that time as he looked into the distance.

Come to think of it, I was really fearless back then.

If Alex had really been an evil person, who knows what might have happened to me there.

He had just been betrayed by the knight he trusted. In such a situation, it would have been natural for him not to trust an approaching stranger.

A couple of times, Alex even pushed me away, suspecting me.

At first, I was so embarrassed and frustrated when my pure goodwill was doubted, but after experiencing Alex’s reality by his side, I think I could understand why Alex had to be so wary and suspicious of me then.

Belatedly realizing my gaze, Alex turned to look at me. Then he smiled bitterly.

“You’re looking at me so pitifully, it’s hurtful, you know?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I just…”

When I tried to make excuses out of embarrassment, Alex shook his head.

“I’m not in a position to say that. After all, I involved you in my misfortune.”

“Alex…”

“I sometimes think that my desire to keep you by my side might be selfish. So if you say you don’t want to be with me, I’ll let you go.”

Alex’s voice sank low. It must have been evidence of how seriously he was thinking about this issue.

I slowly took in his face.

It seemed that Alex still didn’t know that I liked him.

“Alex, what if I say I want to stay by your side?”

“…What?”

He froze upon hearing my question.

“No! It’s not a definite answer. I’m just curious about what you’d think.”

I hastily supplemented my words, worried that he might misunderstand.

Nevertheless, Alex couldn’t erase the dazed expression on his face.

“I’m just trying to hear everything first. You really shouldn’t misunderstand!”

When I emphasized to Alex again, he let out a small laugh as if he found it absurd.

“Alright. First, I’d have to prepare a place for you to be.”

“What kind of place do you mean?”

“Haven’t you thought about marrying me before?”

I drew in a sharp breath at Alex’s words.

“T-That…”

At the time, it was something I brought up as an excuse to prevent Alex from having vain dreams.

“Why? Is it not the case now?”

Alex asked, looking at me with a profound gaze.

I rolled my eyes, laughing awkwardly, finding it hard to look directly into Alex’s eyes.

If I were to be with Alex, I would have to think about that aspect someday.

It felt like I was getting ahead of myself, but there was no harm in looking into it in advance.

“Well, anyway. As you said at first, since you’re a commoner… it would be difficult to have an official marriage.”

Alex glanced at me cautiously when mentioning the word ‘commoner’.

It seemed he was worried that I might be uncomfortable with that word.

I nodded to indicate that I was fine with it.

“That’s right, I suppose.”

Even if we were to get married, it was natural that it wouldn’t be recognized.

Can you imagine Duke Alexander Berzel marrying a commoner maid?

Being a commoner and being a maid were both problems.

I knew best that even if Alex treated me as his wife, the world wouldn’t do the same.

They would probably consider me as a mistress at best.

“Then do you have a way, Alex?”

“For now.”

Alex nodded briefly.

I became curious about what he was thinking.

“But for that, I need your consent too, Claire.”

“What kind of method is it, exactly?”

When I urged him, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Having you adopted by a noble family.”

“…Me?”

Alex’s words were something I couldn’t have imagined at all.

“But which noble family would do that? And honestly, I feel a bit uncomfortable with it too.”

I carefully spoke up. I didn’t want to be entangled as family with people I didn’t know.

Even though my parents had passed away, they were still my precious family.

To enter someone else’s family simply for the sake of a relationship with Alex was something I found difficult to consider.

“Finding a family wouldn’t be a difficult task. Who would refuse to become in-laws with the Berzel duchy? But if you don’t like it, I can’t force it to happen. That’s why I said I need your consent.”

“I see.”

I nodded briefly in acknowledgment.

If it were the Maynard family who had accepted me as family for a long time, I might consider it, but I didn’t want to go to another noble family.

Even so, asking such a favor of the Maynard family also made me uncomfortable.

“If not that, there’s also the option of me directly granting you a title.”

“You, Your Grace?”

I opened my eyes wide at Alex’s words.

“Yes. With my authority as a duke, it would be difficult but not impossible.”

“That sounds much better than the previous method.”

“You prefer that?”

“Yes. We don’t need help from others, right?”

As I shrugged as if it were obvious, Alex let out a small laugh.

“That’s the most Claire-like answer.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. And that’s why I like it even more.”

We arrived at the first floor hall while we were talking.

In the hall, Duke Anstis was already there, talking with Miss Veronica.

“You’re here?”

“Yes.”

Miss Veronica welcomed me with her usual smile.

“Hello, Duke Anstis.”

“Yes, I heard from Lady Veronica that you’re coming along too. Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“That’s good.”

Duke Anstis smiled faintly.

“Let’s go now. We can’t stay here forever.”

Alex intervened between Duke Anstis and me, urging us to depart.

Miss Veronica laughed softly at Alex’s behavior.

As Alex said, we couldn’t delay any longer, so we immediately left the mansion. Outside, two carriages were waiting.

As before, Alex and I got into the same carriage, while Miss Veronica and Duke Anstis got into the carriage behind us.

“Miss Veronica and Duke Anstis look really good together.”

I knew how passionate and deep their love was in the original novel.

Although there weren’t such great hardships now as there were then, it seemed they still held each other in their hearts.

Whenever I saw them talking affectionately like earlier, I felt warm inside.

“You really trust Lady Maynard.”

“Of course. She’s the person I trust the most.”

“That’s… a bit enviable.”

I blinked in surprise at Alex’s words.

I didn’t expect him to envy this kind of relationship.

“Then what am I to you?”

Alex, who had been silent for a while, asked me.

“…That question might not be appropriate. Considering all the trouble you’ve been through because of me.”

Then he suddenly retracted his question.

For the first time, I saw a timid side to Alex, who always seemed confident and arrogant.

“I’m not sure yet. As you know, I’ve spent over twenty years with Miss Veronica. But that’s not the case with you, Alex.”

I tried my best to organize my complicated thoughts and spoke to him.

Alex stared at me with a serious expression.

“So don’t you think we might know if we spend more time together?”

“Does that mean you’ll stay by my side?”

“That’s…”

I was about to deny it, but then stopped.

And after hesitating, I opened my mouth.

“Last night, Miss Veronica asked me what I thought of you.”

“And what did you answer?”

Alex asked when I paused, urging me.

I thought I would be very nervous when this moment came, but I was calmer than expected.

I watched Alex, swallowing dryly.

Alex’s eyes, filled with strong desire, were fully focused on me.

As if enchanted by his gaze, I put my feelings into words in a dazed state.

“I said I think I like you, Alex.”