Chapter 5 – Part 1 

Not only the attendants but also everyone in the duke’s mansion couldn’t outmatch Olivia. It wasn’t just that she was invincible in combat; it was because of their master’s stern request.

“Always treat Olivia as an honored guest.”

Even without saying so, everyone in the duke’s mansion knew how much their master adored the Marchioness. The attendant, conceding defeat, asked Olivia to wait for a moment.

“Sigh…”

Olivia wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. She had never felt this anxious since coming to this world. What was so charming about that man who always hide his true feelings, driving people mad?

“It’s been a while, Marchioness. I am Ricardo, the head butler of the Marsden Duchy.”

Lost in her worries, Olivia lifted her gaze. There stood a man with streaks of white in his hair.

A sharp twinge hit her head. She must have seen him before, being the duke’s butler. It seemed her dormant memories were being stirred.

“I’d like to greet you properly, but given the circumstances… I apologize.”

“…Is the Duke okay?”

There was no time to answer. She regretted asking so hastily, but Ricardo smiled faintly, understanding.

“He has some shoulder injuries and a few scratches, but he’s recovering well. However… he’s asleep. Will that be alright?”

“Yes.”

Though not as visibly as the attendant, Ricardo wore a slightly awkward expression. Nonetheless, he led Olivia to his bedroom as if there was no other choice.

‘What is this?’

Though puzzled, Olivia didn’t press further. Instead, she took in the oddly familiar surroundings of the duke’s mansion.

Despite its opulence, there was nothing overly extravagant about it. The beige walls gave a sense of stability, and the faint scent of flowers filled the corridors.

Being in the mansion of a high-ranking noble, it would be a lie to say there was no tension. Yet, unlike the Marchioness’ residence, filled with intrigue, the atmosphere here was serene.

“You may enter.”

“…Is it alright to go in without announcing?”

When Ricardo stepped aside without knocking, Olivia asked. Ricardo’s eyes were calm and gentle.

“To be honest, he instructed us not to allow visitors today… but he did say to let you in if you insisted.”

Ricardo turned the doorknob for Olivia.

“If you were determined to come, he instructed me to let you in as usual.”

Olivia was silent for a moment. She wondered why she was allowed such free access to the duke’s residence, and now, even to his bedroom.

Olivia gently pushed the slightly open door. Sunlight added to the glow of the hallway.

The bedroom was, unsurprisingly, as spacious as an ice rink, yet sparsely furnished, giving it an empty feel.

Despite this, Olivia didn’t dislike the room. It carried the scent of Troy Marsden.

The bed curtains were neatly tied back. Marsden was sound asleep with his hands tucked under the blanket.

Olivia pulled a chair and sat down. His complexion was slightly pale, likely from the shock of the accident. Despite this, he exuded a sharp yet mysteriously protective charm, different from usual.

“Darn it, really!”

Should she keep her eyes closed? Even in this situation, she couldn’t help but feel a confusing mix of admiration, whether it was her own or the previous Olivia’s.

“Alright, calm down…”

Olivia exhaled deeply and opened her eyes again.

“But, just looking at him makes me like him.”

Despite the bright sunlight, he was sleeping peacefully. It was infuriating yet comforting, making her want to both thank him and punch him.

There was a time when he said it. If she couldn’t trust him, she could report him to the imperial court as a criminal.

That would have been easy. She wouldn’t have had to fret over when the month would end, nor grapple with these embarrassingly tender feelings.

Even if it would end happily, Olivia disliked male leads who made the heroine suffer through countless present moments.

This tied to her own life. She despised relationships that led to unhappiness, whether they involved love or not. Avoiding physically and mentally harmful relationships was the best policy.

But this man, Troy Marsden, was different. She didn’t know what past he was hiding or what future they might share…

“Thank you, Mas.”

Marsden had saved her in the ‘present.’ So, Olivia decided to set aside her complicated thoughts and suspicions for now.

‘Still, these feelings shouldn’t deepen.’

Even if their connection couldn’t be completely severed, it wasn’t a situation where she could trust him easily. She had to return to prison and uncover the truth behind who did this.

Olivia gently brushed Marsden’s hair and stood up from the chair.

“…!”

“If you’re going to thank me, do it properly while looking into my eyes.”

Olivia’s body suddenly collapsed onto the bed. Marsden smelled like spring.

“After arguing for ten minutes to see me, and then leaving after only thirty seconds? That’s no good.”

Marsden’s breath tickled Olivia’s cheek. He gently stroked her cheek, mirroring her countier gesture.

“Are you hurt anywhere, Buddy?”

Olivia didn’t answer. Instead, she pressed her ear to Marsden’s chest.

Thump, thump, thump. The anxiety that had dominated her consciousness began to fade. Olivia stayed like that, motionless.

Although the sunlight was warm, it was not enough to dry the tears forming in her eyes.

* * *

No time for sentimental moments! Olivia swiftly got up from the bed and glared fiercely at Marsden.

“No touching!”

“You were the one who touched me first, Buddy.”

Marsden sat up, looking incredulous.

“I was just lying here peacefully, but you came and…”

“Arghhh!”

Olivia screamed in embarrassment. Luckily, no one burst into the room with a tranquilizer gun.

“If I’d known you were this perfectly fine, I wouldn’t have… Wait, what’s wrong with your d*mn hand!”

“Buddy, you shouldn’t use bad words on a patient.”

‘So, it’s okay to use harsh words on someone who’s perfectly fine?’

No, that’s not the point! Olivia suddenly approached and grabbed Marsden’s hand, making him gulp.

“You said you weren’t hurt badly? Then why is it wrapped in so many bandages? Take off your clothes.”

“…Why is this conversation going there?”

“I need to check how much more you’ve been injured.”

Olivia lunged at Marsden’s clothes. Marsden jumped in surprise.

“Buddy! It’s a very dangerous thing to undress in bed!”

“What you’re doing now is more dangerous. Don’t turn me into a growling wolf.”

Marsden whimpered, not understanding what she meant. Meanwhile, Olivia unbuttoned his shirt.

“This is quite a suspicious bandage. It’s wrapped like a mummy, not just for a shoulder injury.”

Marsden almost asked what a mummy was, but decided it was more important to handle the situation.

“Ricardo raised me like a son. He made the physician go overboard with the treatment.”

“Overboard? This is…”

Olivia stopped mid-sentence. The way the bandage was wrapped was indeed odd. It seemed more for stopping bleeding than for immobilizing a bone.

“Did you get seriously scratched? Was there a lot of blood?”

“There was some blood.”

“So, did you need stitches…”

“No stitches.”

Marsden took Olivia’s hand to calm her.

“Though, an old wound did get aggravated. You might have guessed, but I get into fights a lot.”

Olivia held back from calling him the neighborhood brawler. It was more important to check Marsden’s condition closely.

Aggravated? That might be true, but there wasn’t a single spot where the blood had seeped through the bandages. It was as if they had been freshly wrapped just a few minutes ago.

She noticed something for the first time: Troy Marsden’s hands without gloves. She turned his hand over, holding it tightly. Marsden inhaled sharply.

“We’ve been too distant, haven’t we? Meeting after half a year, yet keeping such a distance.”

Marsden blinked like a deer. A rather large deer.

“I’ve been indifferent to you. You got hurt protecting me, so I should repay you properly.”

“Buddy, that’s a rather frightening thing to say.”

“I want to personally tend to your wounds.”

Olivia pulled her hand back and fully opened Marsden’s shirt.

“Take off your pants.”

She needs to check his lower body as well.

Marsden nearly fainted at her words.

He would have been less shocked if Olivia had pointed a gun or knife at him. A shoulder injury was nothing. Even if he was severely injured, it wouldn’t be as painful as what Olivia was doing.

“Olivia, please, get off me. Let’s sit and talk.”

Marsden was more desperate than ever. Telling him to take off his pants was one thing, but saying it while sitting on him was driving him crazy. Unfortunately, Olivia had just bared his chest.

“Let me see your wounds. I owe you for getting hurt because of me.”

“Buddy, you can take your time and repay me over the next thousand years, so please, for the sake of my family’s honor, get off my legs and sit next to me.”

As she examined the bandages closely, touching them here and there, Marsden began to lose consciousness. Cold sweat dripped from his body. At this rate, he would end up being labeled a pervert by Olivia.

‘This can’t happen!’