Chapter 2.1 – The Doll’s House

However, Valentine shook his head.

“No. You are resting due to health issues. I’ve already informed the Lucas couple, so don’t worry.”

“Oh….”

She should have been relieved, but somehow she felt oddly deflated.

Valentine tilted his head as he looked at Liz.

“Are you disappointed?”

Liz’s face slightly flushed. It was embarrassing to realize she seemed to have expected something.

“Well, it’s not that…”

Liz quickly shook her head.

Valentine’s lips curled as he watched her.

He whispered jokingly.

“If you want, I can tell the Lucas couple now. That you suddenly got up from your sickbed because you wanted to see them.”

“Your Grace!”

Liz opened her eyes wide. Valentine was smiling brightly.

After glaring at him for a moment, Liz strode to the bed.

Then she dramatically lay down and pulled the blanket up to her neck.

“Go ahead. Honey.”

Cough, cough, Liz pretended to cough and continued speaking.

“Please excuse me for not being able to go with you due to my illness.”

Liz met his gaze and smiled bashfully.

Watching the short play, Valentine finally let out a soft laugh.

He took a step closer to Liz’s bed.

“Your Grace?”

Valentine bent down. His face came closer.

Liz’s eyes widened.

Could it be?

Nervous, Liz unconsciously shrank back.

But what touched her was not his lips.

“Yes. You do have quite a fever.”

His forehead touched hers.

A low whisper was heard right beside her.

Every time he spoke, she felt her temperature rise.

Valentine seemed to feel it too, as he asked with a hint of laughter in his voice.

“Is this also an act?”

Liz’s face turned redder than it could have.

But she didn’t want to admit it.

Liz tried to speak sharply with a trembling voice.

“What if it is?”

Valentine paused.

After a moment, he faintly lifted the corners of his lips.

“I would be disappointed.”

Liz’s heart pounded.

Suddenly, she sensed a sweet scent.

The languid scent that enveloped her when she first saw Valentine.

Avoiding his gaze, Liz stammered and asked.

“What does that mean?”

Liz regretted asking as soon as she did.

In truth, she already knew what his words meant.

The warmth and fragrance of the moment, the smile on his lips, were the answer.

So it wasn’t a question but a request.

To hear the answer directly from his mouth, in his language.

Valentine slightly raised his head. His blue eyes looked down at Liz.

Her breath slowed as if she were submerged in a lake.

She felt dazed. That’s why she closed her eyes.

His shadow fell a hand span closer over her closed eyelids.

Then a knock was heard.

• Knock, knock.

Startled, Liz rolled over to the corner of the bed.

Valentine, also surprised, quickly lifted his head.

“Ouch…”

Valentine frowned. He had bumped his head on the bed canopy frame.

“Are you okay?”

Liz spoke as she raised herself.

“Your Grace, everything is ready.”

The two exchanged glances.

Half-risen, Liz froze with her hand reaching toward him.

Valentine, grimacing, rubbed the back of his head and let out a helpless laugh.

“I should be the one lying down.”

He chuckled and looked at Liz.

Liz, taken aback, patted the side of the bed.

For a moment, Valentine paused and stared blankly at her hand.

Realizing what she had done, Liz took a deep breath.

“That’s not what I meant…”

Valentine replied with a deflated sound.

“Then what did you mean?”

“Well…”

Liz, receiving her own question back, stammered and moved her lips.

A short laugh.

At the same time, a light kiss brushed over Liz’s forehead.

“Oh…”

Valentine rose silently and left the room.

Through the slightly open door, Viscount Gerald, who had been waiting for him, was visible.

Soon the door closed, and the sound of people moving away was heard.

Liz touched her forehead and looked at the door he had exited.

Someday, would I also leave through that door?

If she wanted to, becoming the ‘Duchess of Winchester’ would come first.

Abandoning the insignificant ‘Liz Garrett.’

Liz got up and opened the drawer under the bed.

Inside the drawer were the blue shoes Liz had hidden.

Liz carefully picked them up.

The bright blue shoes were still beautiful.

She suddenly remembered the saying that good shoes take you to good places.

Where would these shoes take me?

Liz stared at them for a long time.

***

A tea set was prepared in the beautiful garden of Winchester.

Fragrant black tea and neat desserts that didn’t spoil its taste.

Appropriate floral decorations softened the atmosphere.

The conversation was equally leisurely.

A simple agreement for business and a friendly chat.

Valentine was quite accustomed to such moderately tedious exchanges.

“Come to think of it, there’s no portrait in the foyer yet.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

The Lucas couple spoke regretfully.

Of course, they must have heard bits and pieces about Winchester’s wedding.

So their intention was clear.

“It would have been nice to see the two of you in a portrait…”

Lady Lucas trailed off, glancing at Valentine.

She wanted to see the mysterious ‘Duchess of Winchester.’

But Valentine had no intention of giving them any room.

“As I mentioned, her health hasn’t recovered, so we haven’t even painted a portrait yet.”

Valentine smiled as he lifted the teacup with his right hand.

“I’ll invite you first once the portrait is completed.”

“Will we be able to meet the Duchess then?”

Viscount Lucas asked with a hopeful expression.

“Of course.”

Valentine nodded readily and lifted his gaze.

He happened to look at Liz’s room.

“……!”

Liz was glued to the window, watching them.

Valentine’s face broke into a smile.

The curious green eyes, slightly parted lips, the focused forehead with a strand of hair falling over it.

Things that shouldn’t be visible from this distance were vividly drawn in front of his eyes.

Perhaps Liz felt his gaze too.

The curtain quickly closed, and Liz’s silhouette disappeared.

He turned his gaze back to the tea table, feeling a sense of regret.

The neatly arranged table, the desserts laid upon it. The chatting Lucas couple.

Things right in front of him, things that should be clear, all felt blurry.

Suddenly, impulse took over Valentine.

He wanted to quit this ambiguous position. To get up right now and go to that clear place.

To gather the vivid, yet precariously shimmering emotions in his hands.

Not this meaningless chat.

“Your Grace?”

Coming to his senses, the Lucas couple looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Are you alright? You’re not feeling unwell, are you…”

Valentine’s expression hardened.

Such worried eyes were what he hated most.

Behind sympathy and concern always lay disappointment and contempt.

Therefore, he always thoroughly hid his emotions.

To occupy a superior position and bring the opponent to their knees.

Valentine calmly closed his eyes and took a sip of tea. The bitter taste of the tea calmed his expression.

That’s why sudden impulses are dangerous. Because they reveal emotions thoroughly.

…No. It’s not revealing.

Valentine quickly revised his thoughts.  

The word “reveal” means to make something already existing visible.  

If so, it would mean acknowledging his desires.  

Therefore, it was right to say it clouded his mind.  

Valentine rationalized the situation that way and spoke up.

“I apologize. I was worried about my wife being alone….”

It was the most appropriate answer for the current situation.  

Not overly negative, yet enough so they wouldn’t look down on him.

“That’s understandable.”

The Lucas couple exchanged subtle glances and asked.

“Shall we wrap up soon, as we need to return to our estate before it gets dark?”  

“Yes. Thank you for your consideration.”

Viscount Lucas looked at him, slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected that Valentine would really end the gathering so soon.  

But even the usual polite words to stay a bit longer didn’t come from Valentine.  

There was no choice. Having guests stay long in the estate was dangerous in the current situation.  

Valentine convinced himself of this.  

So it wasn’t any kind of desire or wish.

“Then please come with me. I will call for the coachman you brought.”

Valentine spoke kindly, yet firmly.

“Well, yes….”

Lady Lucas seemed slightly taken aback.  

She had initiated the conversation, but among nobles, it was customary to exchange refusals and insistences several times.  

Valentine couldn’t have been unaware of this.

“Ah, I will make sure to pass on the gift to my wife.”

But Valentine deliberately ignored the reaction and headed to the entrance of the estate with the two.  

The path he had always thought beautiful felt particularly long today.