The sudden question seemed to amuse him, and he chuckled.

“…No, I’m not.”

Relieved, yet feeling a bit embarrassed, Lumiere smiled awkwardly and looked away, only for his cold fingers to catch her chin and hold her gaze.

“You’re thinking about something else again, aren’t you?”

Unable to either confirm or deny, Lumiere bit her lip and avoided answering. The man chuckled and pressed his forehead against hers, repeating his question in a whisper.

“Tell me again, in more detail, about the accident.”

Only then did Lumiere remember his question and began to speak.

“Sorry, but I don’t know much yet either. I was taken to the hospital right after the accident, and as soon as the doctor diagnosed me with amnesia, I returned to the mansion. At that time, I just wanted to go home. Fortunately, it seems no one was seriously injured.”

Listening intently to her every word, he finally spoke, his voice strained.

“…But you’re hurt.”

How is that fortunate, Lumiere?

He looked at her with complex emotions and asked,

“How come you’re not in a medical facility after such a big accident? Where’s the doctor?”

His tone was gentle, but there was a strange pressure. Lumiere tried to remain calm as she replied.

“As you can see, my injuries aren’t severe…”

“Lumiere.”

Karl called her name again, much softer and gentler than before.

“…Lumiere.”

But with a firm voice that carried unspoken resolve.

‘See, even now.’

Just from the way he called her name, Lumiere felt like a child being scolded by a teacher. She felt like she needed to reflect on her mistake and promise not to do it again.

After a moment of hesitation, Lumiere spoke.

“I’d prefer if you didn’t call my name like that.”

He stared at her with his golden eyes, as if questioning her, and Lumiere emphasized,

“I mean, don’t call my name with the intention of pressuring me. No matter how nice your voice is, it doesn’t feel good when you call me like that.”

Karl’s expression turned slightly odd at her words. After staring at her for a while, he smiled.

“That’s interesting.”

“What is?”

“You said the same thing before.”

Lumiere’s eyes widened slightly, and after a moment of thought, she spoke again.

“So, you did it again even though I said that before?”

Karl raised an eyebrow in acknowledgment. She clicked her tongue inwardly and politely requested,

“I hope you won’t make the same mistake a third time, sir.”

Karl’s expression softened slightly at her firm attitude. He kissed the back of her hand respectfully and whispered,

“As you wish, I’ll be careful. But what about the doctor?”

“There isn’t one.”

He sighed briefly, then stepped out with his long legs to call his secretary.

“Chris.”

“Yes, sir.”

Chris Gunther, who had been standing guard at the mansion’s entrance with Gustav, immediately approached.

“Find a doctor immediately. The most skilled doctor in the capital. Don’t delay, bring them here now.”

“Understood.”

Chris Gunther moved without hesitation.

Time was precious.

When his master said ‘now,’ it meant ‘right now,’ even if it was the darkest hour before dawn.

Lumiere, closing the door and seeing Karl approach again, widened her eyes and said,

“Are you crazy? Do you know what time it is…”

Karl glanced at the watch on his wrist.

“Well, you’re right. It’s late. It’s not good for a patient to stay up too late.”

He naturally opened a drawer and took out a neatly folded blanket.

How did he know there was a blanket there? She thought he had taken it out for himself, being soaked as he was, but he wrapped the warm blanket around her.

“Normally, someone who should be fast asleep at this hour being awake means they’re not in their usual state.”

He lifted her as if she were a baby, wrapped in the blanket, and began to climb the stairs.

“P-put me down!”

“Someone who’s been in an accident shouldn’t overexert themselves.”

“I can walk on my own.”

“You never know when or how the aftereffects of an accident might appear. That’s why you always have to be careful.”

Lumiere, who was about to argue and tell him not to be stubborn, hesitated and said something else.

“…Do you believe me?”

“Is there any reason not to?”

“It’s hard to believe even for me … You seem to accept it rather easily.”

“Because you said it. Because it’s your words, Lumiere.”

“……”

“I believe in you.”

It was such a firm belief. Could someone really believe this much, even if they were lovers? Especially since I heard we broke up, what is this situation?

As she looked at him with a complex expression, she suddenly realized he was carrying her to a familiar place.

No way?

“By the way, where are we going now?”

“The bedroom.”

…Ah, the bedroom.

A bedroom with a bed big and sturdy enough for three people to roll around in. Flustered, Lumiere grabbed his collar and hurriedly added,

“We broke up, didn’t we?”

Karl gently corrected her.

“I was unilaterally informed of the breakup.”

“Normally, it takes two people to agree to start a relationship, but it only takes one to end it.”

He, who had been walking without hesitation, suddenly stopped. Coincidentally, he had such long legs that it was right in front of her room.

He looked down at her, cradled like a baby in his arms.

Again.

It was that peculiar gaze that felt like pressure. But it didn’t seem like he intended to really crush her. It was more like the gaze of a predator wanting to dig into Lumiere’s insides.

“So… you’re saying you broke up with me by informing me?”

He asked in a polite and gentle tone, though his eyes looked like he wanted to bite her neck.

“…I wouldn’t know.”

The past me would know.

At her uncertain voice, he smiled, curling up the corners of his mouth.

“In that case, it’s rather convenient.”

“W-what do you mean?”

“If you lost your memory when you were tired of me, we can start anew, right? This time, I’ll try to be a more varied, shocking, and stimulating man so you won’t get tired of me.”

Saying so, he pushed open her door with his foot.

For some reason, the act seemed to imply something, and Lumiere instinctively grabbed his arm in a hurry. Finding her suspicious gaze amusing, he carefully laid her down on the bed and said,

“You’re already looking at me with such expectant eyes… Of course, if you want, I can show you my changed self right now.”

“I’ll politely decline.”

“Good, wise choice. I was worried that the accident might have changed your preferences. Now is the time for stability.”

Lumiere, who was about to retort, found herself speechless at his quick actions of pulling the blanket up to her chin and even kissing her forehead.

“For now, get some sleep. A doctor will come while you’re sleeping. After a good rest, try to remember slowly.”

She was about to say there was no need, but the desperate look in his eyes made her close her open mouth. The blanket he had tucked her in was so warm and soft that sleepiness overwhelmed her in an instant.

Fine, let’s sleep and then wake up.

It’s the darkest hour before dawn.

“…Sorry for coming late after saying I’d come soon, Lumiere.”

His apologetic voice faded into the distance.

Indeed. Why did you come so late?

She wanted to scold him, but her lips and eyelids felt too heavy to move.

Lumiere quickly fell asleep.