Chapter 9.7

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault that you ended up in such a difficult situation like this. I never wanted to hurt you so much….”

When there was no reply, Rexion seemed to think she was in shock and offered an apology. Seeing his face twisted in pain, it seemed he truly felt sorry.

Was it really something to feel this sorry about?

When she came to her senses, Claire tilted her head in confusion.

No matter how much Rexion had planned, it was Claire’s own will that made her wish at the Wish Tree. So he really had nothing to apologize for.

She was about to tell Rexion, who looked as if he had committed a mortal sin, that it was all right, but another question arose from his words.

“Did you know me from before?”

He was speaking as if he had liked her for a long time. But why? She had never met him before he was promoted to Treasurer… It was strange.

“Did you… have feelings for me even before those two’s engagement came up?”

Claire asked carefully, tilting her head.

“Yes. In fact, I’ve admired you for a long time.”

With a firm voice, Rexion answered.

“!”

Claire’s mouth fell open again without her realizing it, and she was so surprised she couldn’t speak.

Goodness. She couldn’t believe it even after hearing it. Wouldn’t love only blossom after meeting someone? How could he like her when they’d never even met?

“Did we meet before? As far as I remember, the first time I saw you was when you came as Treasurer.”

Claire’s eyes narrowed. No matter how she thought about it, their first meeting was at the office.

“As I thought, you don’t remember.”

Rexion looked disappointed.

“I’m sorry I don’t remember. When did we first meet?”

“The evening of April 17th, Imperial Year 233, the night of the Imperial Ball. That was the first time I saw you.”

As expected of a smart person, he remembered the exact date and time.

What happened that day?

Wait….

That day was unforgettable in Claire’s memory. It was the day she nearly died and was saved.

“I don’t remember seeing you at the banquet. May I ask where we met?”

Not remembering might hurt his feelings, so Claire asked carefully.

“We met in the Imperial Garden. I remember you weren’t feeling well, but I was glad to see you recovered right away.”

“….”

He spoke as if he had been present at the very scene where she almost died.

Secretary Radner was the one who saved me. Was Rexion there too?

She had so many questions, she didn’t know which to ask first, so Claire ended up saying nothing at all. Instead, she grabbed his arm and looked up at him.

The gray hair she had seen then, the broad shoulders, the strong body, and the fresh scent….

She thought in her head that the man who saved her was Helion, but deep down she kept thinking that the man who’d saved her was actually Rexion.

“Could it be….”

Could it be that you’re the one who saved my life? 

She wanted to say, but her throat tightened and she couldn’t get the words out. If she heard that it was true, she felt she would be confused.

“Do you remember that moment?”

Seeing that Claire seemed to remember, Rexion’s expression brightened. He seemed to think she didn’t remember anything about that time.

Instead of answering aloud, she slowly nodded and pointed at him with her finger.

“So you remembered something. I’m the one who helped you then.”

“Really?”

Goodness. The person who saved my life wasn’t Helion Radner, but Rexion Radner?

She couldn’t believe it even after hearing it, and the words burst out of her mouth.

“If you want me to explain what happened that day, I can. But you probably don’t remember because you were barely conscious. You were on the verge of passing out.”

“I thought my savior was Helion Radner.”

“What are you talking about?”

At Helion’s name, Rexion’s expression hardened as if he were angry. Even his gaze grew so cold that the air around them seemed to freeze.

“After I regained consciousness, I was curious who had saved me, so I asked around. A patrolling Royal Guard said he saw Secretary Radner, so I believed he was my savior. That’s why I thanked him.”

“Ha, goodness. So that’s why you gave him cookies.”

Hearing her words, Rexion clicked his tongue in disbelief and let out a long sigh.

“That day, my brother ran into the Royal Guard not because he saved you, but because he was fooling around with a maid and ran away when someone almost caught him.”

“….”

Running away after fooling around with a maid. Claire was so dumbfounded she couldn’t speak.

In the past, she wouldn’t have believed it, but after what she’d witnessed, she thought it was entirely possible with Helion.

Claire covered her forehead with her hand. Her head spun, and she staggered for a moment. Rexion came to her side and held her, looking at her with worried eyes.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

“I-I’m okay. C-could I ask why you were passing through the garden at that time?”

Her throat felt tight, but Claire took a deep breath and barely managed to speak.

“Ah….”

He made a face as if it was difficult to answer.

Did he have some reason? Could it be….

“Were you… spending some steamy time with a woman….”

“Absolutely not.”

He had a reputation as a philanderer, and not attending the ball but being in the garden at that time meant he was probably there for some improper reason. But he answered before she could finish.

“Have you always thought of me as that kind of strange guy?”

Rexion couldn’t hide his disappointment as he asked.

“Y-you just wouldn’t answer properly….”

Seeing his expression made her feel strangely sorry. Then Rexion spoke with a serious look.

“I just happened to be passing through the garden at that hour to keep an eye on my brother.”

“Keep an eye on him?”

“I’ve had a hard time covering for him all this time, but after attending the ball, my brother would always seduce women of his type and bring them to the mansion. Cleaning up after him was always my job.”

“….”

“Of course, if I hadn’t shown you earlier how he was fooling around with two women, you wouldn’t have believed me. On the surface, my brother has everything women like. That’s all an image our father created for him.”

“….”

“The reason I left you lying on the bench and didn’t come back was because I went to get help and found my brother about to fool around with a maid. I tried to drag him away before anyone noticed, and in the struggle, I lost more time than expected.”

“….”

“After dealing with my brother, I went back to where you’d collapsed, but you were already gone. I was worried, but when I saw you come to work healthy the next day, I was relieved.”