Matilda entered the Duke’s office and bowed politely. It had been a while since she’d last greeted him. She had been on a week-long vacation at her master’s orders, and afterward, the master himself had been away from the mansion for another week.

After returning from vacation, she had received instructions through the butler to look after Vivianne. It had been almost two weeks since the master had formally summoned her.

“You called for me, Master.”

“It’s been a while, Matilda. Did you enjoy your vacation?”

“Yes, Master. Thanks to your consideration, I had a good rest.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Kian exchanged these customary greetings while keeping his eyes focused on his documents.

Matilda carefully studied her master’s expression. Heavy rain had fallen yesterday, and high waves had surged in the sea. She had been worried about her master’s well-being throughout.

She had expected him to summon her in the morning to handle the aftermath, but for some reason, he had remained silent.

Though she was concerned about the cleaning maids who would arrive during the morning, she kept quiet as it wasn’t her place to bring it up first.

“Matilda, you look like you’re curious about my well-being.”

Kian met her gaze as he closed his documents with a thud. His eyes seemed to have already penetrated her thoughts.

“Skip the cleaning. Call a doctor instead.”

“A doctor? Are you unwell?”

“No. Someone got hurt. Not me. That woman.”

A strange light flickered in Kian’s previously empty eyes.

“Vivi came to serve tea early this morning. What happened?”

“What? Vivi did?”

Surprised, Matilda was momentarily speechless. To think that even after becoming the master’s woman, she would still serve tea.

Of course, she had worried about whether he had his tea or read his newspaper, but that had been her job, and she thought it was just because Vivi wasn’t yet accustomed to her new position.

She had told her she didn’t need to worry about such things anymore, but she hadn’t expected her to prepare it herself. Moreover, tea service was at eight o’clock – she must have seen the chaos in the room. It was an awkward situation in many ways.

Before Vivianne, other maids had served tea, but it had never been an issue. Usually, Kian would either summon Matilda before that time, or the door would be locked, so there was never a problem.

Wait, speaking of which, shouldn’t the door have been locked?

“Are you saying she opened a locked door?”

Matilda asked in disbelief.

“She said she broke the doorknob. Apparently, she heard a loud noise at night and was too worried. According to Vivi, it’s not your fault, but I think differently.”

Oh goodness. It was worse than she had thought. Breaking a doorknob – she knew Vivi was peculiar, but this was something else. Matilda’s face filled with dismay.

“No, it’s entirely my oversight. Please scold me instead, as I failed to explain things properly to Vivi.”

“Keeping quiet is good, and maintaining door security is good too. But you know.”

Kian’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“I told you to take care of her so she wouldn’t get hurt. Was that too difficult a request?”

“…I apologize. I wasn’t careful enough.”

“I don’t want any unnecessary scars, so make sure she receives thorough treatment.”

“Yes, Master. I will tend to her with utmost care.”

For a woman he cherished and doted on according to rumors, ensuring she remained unblemished was only natural. After all, it was directly related to her value for use.

However, seeing Matilda’s pleased smile, it seemed the situation could be interpreted differently.

“Is there anything else to report?”

He wouldn’t be interested in matters concerning the maids. This must be about Vivianne.

Would it be alright to mention this now? After some hesitation, Matilda carefully brought up the subject.

“Well… Vivi wants to learn how to read and write.”

“Reading and writing?”

“Yes. I thought she might like it if you provided a tutor. She seems a bit lonely with nothing to do except take walks, since she can’t read books.”

A writing tutor.

Kian mulled over the words.

Nothing to do except take walks. Well, though he had assigned guards nominally, she rarely went out.

She had no outside connections either. And since everything she needed was provided here, she must be bored.

For a woman who even tried to serve tea because she had nothing to do, it wouldn’t be bad to give her something to occupy herself with.

“Didn’t you say she was like a precious lady?”

“To me, she is still a precious lady. After all, Master, you ordered me to take special care of Vivi.”

Despite her reckless actions, Matilda seemed to genuinely adore Vivianne.

“Look into it. While we’re at it, it would be good to teach her other things too.”

Matilda’s face brightened at his permission.

“You’re so thoughtful, Master. Vivi will be delighted. I’ll discuss it with Richard and look into the details.”

“You may go.”

“Yes, Master.”

Matilda bowed and left the room with lighter steps. Kian stared at the closed door.

Perhaps it was fortunate. Even in Matilda’s eyes, he appeared to be a pathetic man obsessed with a woman. If that’s how those close to him saw it, it was obvious how others would view him.

The maid who drew his bath this morning would have already spread the word. Rumors would have snowballed into stories about the master losing his mind over a woman.

Everything was proceeding smoothly according to plan, yet somehow the unpleasant feeling wouldn’t go away. Kian fiddled with his quill pen, unconsciously applying pressure.

With a snap, the pen tip broke weakly.

* * *

After returning to her room, Vivianne felt dazed all day. In the morning, the doctor visited again. He treated her minor cut and examined her for any other pain.

She didn’t know if Kian had called for him or if Matilda had summoned him after discovering the wound.

Matilda offered to bring lunch, but she declined, having no appetite. Afterward, she buried her face in her pillow and slept like the dead.

Partly due to losing sleep over yesterday’s events, but also because she had too many thoughts. She wanted to escape somewhere. When she opened her eyes, the sun was already setting.

Had it wounded him to see what he didn’t want to see? In her desire to help, she had arbitrarily crossed boundaries he had set. Perhaps it was her own arrogance to think she could save him.

Vivianne stared blankly at the bundle of newspapers tied neatly with a ribbon.

She couldn’t even show it to him. He had told her not to act like a maid, yet here she was, preparing newspapers because she thought he might have missed them for a few days. He would probably dislike it.

Though she had prepared it as a gift. It was disappointing, but there was no one to blame. It was her fault for assuming on her own that he would like it.

It would be selfish to feel wronged about unwanted kindness.

A faint sigh escaped. Perhaps it was because her whole body felt drained. Despite having slept more than enough, she wanted to sleep again.

Dreams were her only escape. But she couldn’t keep running away forever.

Though she felt somewhat dejected, she began to organize the morning’s events one by one in her mind.

When she asked why he needed her, Kian said he would show her himself. Then he called for a maid without hesitation, as if deliberately seeking an audience.

He positioned her in front and fixed her appearance. Then he whispered playfully while undoing it again. It felt like he was redressing her in clothes he had removed. Perhaps it was her misunderstanding, but the only reason to undress someone would be for something like… well, mating.

Did he really want it to appear that way? Why? She was confused, unable to understand the reason.

Giving her an excessively nice room, dressing her in pretty clothes, assigning his people to her – when she considered it all in the context of being ‘Kian’s woman,’ it seemed to make sense.

But from Kian’s perspective, it was quite risky behavior. Unless he was deliberately trying to ruin his engagement, it was difficult to understand what he was thinking.

Merpeople by nature have only one mate. Even her father, the Mermaid King, hadn’t taken another mate after being wounded. That was why Vivianne had made a contract with the witch and come to land.

Only wanting Kian. She had chosen him as her mate on her own. Unable to even consider other males in her heart. Perhaps that’s why she found it harder to accept.

As she was lost in these various thoughts, there came a knock at the door.