Chapter 5

Warm sunlight filtered through the curtains, lighting up the room.

‘…I’m doomed.’

Listening to the birds chirping outside, Aisha lay there blankly. Soft pillow, gentle blanket, the most comfortable pajamas in the world.

Except for the unusually late hour, it was a morning like any other.

‘Completely doomed.’

Even knowing she’d woken up far later than usual, Aisha couldn’t bring herself to get up. No, she didn’t dare. If she left the bed, she felt she’d be crushed by the weight of reality. The warm, familiar covers were the perfect refuge.

‘I’m finished.’

Rolling herself up under the blanket, Aisha groaned. If only she could delete yesterday’s memories completely.

‘Of all people!’

The person who witnessed the worst moment of her life, of all people—

‘Why did it have to be Sir Raymore…?!’

The knight among knights.

The man who was a ray of light in her workplace full of troublemakers!

Regardless of any romantic feelings, the fact that she’d shown such a humiliating side to someone like him was despair itself. Aisha wanted to cry out loud.

“Miss Aisha…!”

She remembered clearly the moment she lost consciousness, when he rushed to her side with a pale face. Even as her mind felt ready to explode, his radiant features flashed before her eyes. And then, blackout.

“Uuugh, what am I supposed to do…”

And now, she was awake, lying in bed with the late morning sun streaming in. Imagining all the things that might have happened from last night until dawn made it hard to breathe.

One thing was certain: Sir Raymore had brought her home. Yes. He’d taken a woman, out of her senses from aphrodisiac, and ‘personally’ escorted her to the Lindberg Barony, a place that had never hosted such a high-ranking noble before.

Now, imagine her parents’ reaction upon seeing their daughter carried in on the shoulder of an unrelated man in the middle of the night?

1. Ha ha ha… Our child’s gotten herself into trouble.
2. Has this girl gone mad?!
3. She’s not our child.

…Aisha just wanted to die. If she opened the door now, she’d surely be greeted by her parents’ cold, wintry expressions.

‘Maybe I should jump out the window. If I get hurt, maybe they’ll scold me less.’

For a moment, Aisha considered the sunlit window. But quickly gave up.

‘Wait, this is the first floor. I wouldn’t even get hurt if I dove out…’

At least it was a holiday today.

That was the only comfort in this pitch-dark situation…

‘No, wait. What if it becomes a permanent holiday…?’

But as soon as she found one thing to be thankful for, her worries deepened.

What if word of last night’s events reached her workplace…?

Aisha remembered the aphrodisiac, the candlestick, and the books she’d left as she lost consciousness.

…Even if nobody did their job properly, the workplace still had rules. If they saw the mess, all blame would fall on Aisha, who’d been there last.

‘Ugh, who would believe me?!’

Not to mention, the aphrodisiac was the real problem. If anyone discovered what that liquid was, her dreams and future would be ruined.

Even if she insisted it belonged to a visitor who came for a secret rendezvous, would anyone believe her? Even if they did, someone would have to take responsibility, and Aisha would be the easiest target.

Beyond that door, not only were her terrifying parents waiting, but maybe even a dismissal notice. She really didn’t want to open it.

Knock, knock.

But the door she’d been ignoring opened, even though she hadn’t touched it.

“My Lady, you’re awake!”

“…”

No, I’m not awake. I’m not.

***

“Aisha!”

The maid, regardless of whether her lady wanted to escape reality, kept saying that everyone had been unable to sleep, waiting for her to wake up. So, with heavy steps, Aisha had no choice but to head to the drawing room. As soon as she entered hesitantly, her father stood up and her mother called her name loudly.

‘Ah, I should’ve prepared myself…’

But before she could back away, her mother, Baroness Lindberg, rushed over. Just as Aisha braced herself, expecting a smack on the back—

“Oh my, my dear.”

“…?”

But the hand on her back was unexpectedly gentle.

When Aisha glanced up, she saw her mother’s face, on the verge of tears.

“How are you feeling? Are you sure you’re alright coming out here?”

“Y-yes, huh?”

Her mother’s hands carefully checked her face, back, and shoulders, as if making sure she wasn’t hurt anywhere. Aisha blinked, unable to follow the situation. Her father, sighing heavily and unable to approach, was just as incomprehensible.

“You could’ve just stayed in bed. If we’d known you were awake, we would’ve come to you.”

“M-mother?”

“My goodness, your voice is hoarse. Oh dear, what should we do.”

What was this? The look in her eyes was both scolding and heartbreakingly worried, completely confusing Aisha.

‘Mother, I came home last night carried by a strange man. Out of my mind from an aphrodisiac. You should be furious, not acting like you love me more than ever!’

“You must’ve been so scared. Overwork, at your age.”

‘What?’

“I’m glad you’re working hard at something you love, but you should take breaks too.”

‘Huh?’

“No wonder my weak child ended up sick. Is working at the palace library that hard? I had no idea you were struggling so much…”

‘I didn’t know either, honestly.’

Unable to keep up, Aisha could only gape and question everything internally. Then, a familiar voice came from the side.

“Madame Lindberg, Miss Aisha, perhaps you should sit down first.”

It was familiar, yet she’d never expected to hear it in this house.

Only now did she notice the man hidden behind her mother, who had rushed over.

“Standing too long might strain you.”

The man, sitting naturally in a chair, looked at her with concern.

The knight with neat blue hair, Tristan Lubel Raymore.

He was the one who had saved her—and witnessed the most embarrassing scene of her life.

“Oh my, I’m so scatterbrained.”

At Sir Raymore’s words, her mother hurriedly pulled her daughter to a seat. Even as she was dragged to sit across from him, Aisha was still in shock. Then, with a face like she’d been hit on the back of the head, she exclaimed,

“Why, why are you here…?!”

“Aisha, you should thank your savior first.”

With that, her mother scolded her, and her father nodded. Instantly, Aisha felt a headache.

‘He did save me, yes, but! Logically, this man shouldn’t be here right now?!’

But before Aisha could protest, Raymore spoke first.

“No need. When I arrived, the young lady had already lost consciousness, so it’s only natural that she doesn’t understand the situation.”

“R-really?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

‘No, it’s not.’

While her mother nodded blankly, Aisha couldn’t accept it at all.

She’d been about to lose consciousness, but it wasn’t that simple. And then her father said something even more absurd.

“Sigh… Aisha, he found you collapsed from overwork and brought you home. And he’s been waiting here with us for you to wake up. So you should thank him.”

“Huh?”

Aisha quickly turned her head. Sir Raymore looked serious, as if that were the plain truth. Meeting his eyes, Aisha’s lips parted slightly. Only now did her mind, so frantic since waking, begin to settle.

‘So… that’s how it happened?’

Aisha quickly composed her confused expression. She folded her hands politely and bowed her head.

“Thank you so much, Sir. I received great help from you.”

That was her genuine feeling.

It seemed this knight had explained everything in a way that wouldn’t make her uncomfortable. So neither her father nor mother knew anything about the aphrodisiac, nor did they suspect anything about what had happened between her and the unrelated man.

“I truly don’t know how I’ll ever repay this favor… It’s immeasurable.”

She meant it. That man had saved her twice.

Aisha gazed at him with grateful eyes. People always called him a knight, but she had never imagined he would be so considerate.

To Aisha, Raymore waved his hand with a gentle smile.

“Anyone would have acted the same. I only did what was right.”

‘Is he an angel?’

She almost blurted that out but held it back. Seeing her parents sighing with relief yet still watching him closely, she knew that even as a sick daughter, she’d get a scolding if she was rude. And rightly so.

Deputy Commander of the Imperial Knight Order. The Crown Prince’s trusted right-hand man, and next year, when his term as commander ended, he would become a Duke.

He was a guest far too distinguished for the humble Baron family, barely clinging to the outskirts of the capital.

This was not the kind of opportunity to build connections and elevate the family’s status—opportunities had to be appropriate.

The Lindberg family had never had any ties to politics since the previous generation, and he was on an entirely different level.

To have such a person sitting in their drawing room all night, her parents must have been anxious in a different way.

‘They must have wondered why such a great noble would go to such lengths. Maybe they thought I’d caused some trouble that couldn’t be handled without me.’

Only now did Aisha realize the true feelings of her parents, who still looked at her with tearful eyes.