Chapter 12 – Confession (2) 

“Lady Lenoa, what happened between you and His Grace the Grand Duke?”  

As soon as Kairan’s shadow had completely disappeared, Betier asked.  

Considering their roles, she should have simply delivered the food and returned immediately. However, over an hour had passed with no sound of footsteps.  

Betier, restless and anxious at around 1 a.m., was stunned to see Lenoa walking down the hallway, hand in hand with Kairan, her face glowing with a bright smile.  

Lenoa, now comfortably lying on her bed and still smiling, replied.  

“Well, we just talked about this and that.”  

“What?”  

“Betier, I think I’ve gotten a little closer to Grand Duke Kairan.”  

Betier’s jaw dropped in astonishment.  

As an experienced maid, Betier had always blocked Kairan’s repeated attempts to reach Lenoa with all her might.  

This wasn’t merely because of their respective statuses. Betier also disliked Kairan after witnessing his inappropriate behavior numerous times.  

However, even without knowing the details, it was evident that something significant had changed between Lenoa and Kairan when Lenoa personally went to deliver food to him.  

Lenoa pulled the blanket over herself and curled up, saying she would finally be able to sleep peacefully. She resembled a puppy that had just been affectionately petted by its owner.  

Betier witnessed Lenoa’s changed demeanor after meeting Kairan for the first time.  

Until now, Lenoa had always complained about not wanting to be involved with Kairan, and whenever they met, she returned burdened with worry.  

“Tonight, I think I’ll sleep soundly. You sleep well too, Betier.”  

Lenoa poked her head out from under the blanket and called out. Her expression and voice were brimming with energy.  

Though puzzled, Betier felt happy because Lenoa was happy. She even found her wariness toward Kairan easing slightly.  

Soon, she left Lenoa’s room, wishing her a good night with more sincerity than usual.  

***

“Oh my, look over there.”  

“Lady Lenoa and His Grace the Grand Duke…”  

“The atmosphere between them seems unusual.”  

The next morning during breakfast, the courtiers chattered like birds as they saw a man and woman walking side by side, holding hands.  

Lenoa and Kairan were smiling together, escorting each other as they leisurely made their way to the dining hall.  

Though not as knowledgeable as Betier, the other courtiers were also aware of the relationship between the two.  

Most of them disliked Kairan for treating them as if they didn’t exist. Because of this, they often voiced their concerns whenever Lenoa met with Kairan.  

Whenever Lenoa walked with Kairan, who insisted on escorting her at least twice a day, her face was usually clouded with worry like a storm.  

But today, the atmosphere between them was distinctly different. They were both smiling, even appearing to exchange words.  

Although the news of Lenoa visiting Kairan’s office the previous night had spread, no one expected their relationship to change so drastically overnight.  

‘Everyone’s staring.’  

Lenoa felt a bit embarrassed by the curious gazes of the courtiers. However, Kairan, indifferent to their attention, focused solely on Lenoa beside him.  

Upon arriving at the dining hall, Kairan seated Lenoa first and seized the opportunity to enjoy their rare harmonious moment together.  

Before Lenoa could even pick up her utensils, Kairan began pushing various dishes toward her.  

“I’m fine, please eat first.” 

Lenoa said, feeling burdened and trying to stop him. But Kairan’s attentiveness didn’t waver. He even willingly gave up his portion of lemon pudding for her. In his effort to care for her, he hadn’t even picked up his own utensils.  

‘This was something I always wanted to do if I grew closer to you, Lady Lenoa.’  

Though his intentions back then were different from now, it didn’t matter anymore. And he couldn’t let what happened six days ago at the dinner banquet repeat itself.  

Preoccupied with Lenoa, Kairan barely ate himself. Yet, the joy of being with her made him forget his hunger.  

This continued for about two weeks without incident.  

One day, as usual, Lenoa left the dining hall after dinner with Kairan.  

‘Why is it that there’s never anyone around?’  

Though she had just enjoyed a pleasant and satisfying meal, a sudden suspicion erased the smile from her face.  

“By the way, why does it seem like there’s no one on the first floor when we’re eating?”  

Lenoa voiced her curiosity. She wanted to confirm her suspicions.  

As a princess, whether dining with her parents or alone, the dining hall and the first floor were always bustling with courtiers. Although she didn’t dine with them, she would see many people coming and going.  

After ascending to the throne and beginning to share meals with Secretary Kairan, this dynamic changed. Even when she wanted to eat alone, Kairan would always arrive punctually before mealtime to escort her to the dining hall.  

The point was, whenever she dined with Kairan, the dining hall and the first floor were always devoid of maids or servants. However, when she managed to shake off Kairan and visit the dining hall later, she would see the head chef and various courtiers cleaning the first floor.  

In other words, the presence of courtiers seemed to depend on Kairan’s presence. Though she hated to be suspicious of him, she couldn’t help but wonder. Today was no exception.  

“Well… perhaps it’s out of consideration, to not disturb our time together?”  

Kairan stammered, caught off guard. Lenoa immediately realized the truth.  

Whenever Kairan dined with Lenoa, he ensured no courtiers were around. By either intimidating the servants and maids with his cold demeanor or bribing them with a few gold coins, he made them disappear.  

Regardless of their current relationship, Kairan wanted their time alone to be uninterrupted.  

To him, anyone visible during these moments was an intruder. In fact, despite strict instructions, he had once grabbed the collar of a servant who lingered on the first floor. The servant had a somewhat clueless expression.  

‘Anyone who interrupts my time with Her Majesty the Queen will die.’  

Lenoa found Kairan’s behavior increasingly suspicious. If he had nothing to hide, he wouldn’t react this way. Moreover, his silence after her question, all the way until he escorted her to the third floor, only heightened her doubts.  

“Y-you should rest now.”

Recently, unlike before, Kairan disappeared like a flash as soon as he escorted Lenoa back.  

Lenoa, suspecting something as expected, pulled the cord to summon Betier. When Betier arrived, having moved faster than Kairan, Lenoa spoke.  

“Betier, I thought I’d been getting along quite well with His Grace the Grand Duke lately… but there’s something suspicious.”  

“What is it?”  

Lenoa recounted what had happened during her shared meals with Kairan. Her soft voice carried a tinge of worry.  

“I understand, Lady Lenoa. I’ll call the courtiers and investigate.”  

“Could you?”  

Betier nodded firmly.  

‘As I thought, something was off. Lady Lenoa noticed it too.’  

Betier herself had been puzzled by the servants and maids on the first floor, who seemed frightened and greeted her nervously despite having no particular issues with her.  

Finally, she decided to revisit the plan she had delayed due to Lenoa’s monthly cycle and her duties as a maid. She resolved to combine the investigation of the courtiers on the first floor with the questioning of the maid Rosetta, who had noticed Lenoa’s cycle.  

Betier quietly left the room, glancing at Lenoa engrossed in self-study.  

‘If this really is something the Grand Duke of Blandi is behind, how hurt will Lady Lenoa be?’  

***

Kairan quickly headed to the fourth floor. Even though he always wanted to see Lenoa, today he felt reluctant. This was undoubtedly because of himself.  

‘She managed to notice the matter of the banished servants…’  

It was one thing for someone like him, who had dismissed all previous retainers and kept no attendants, to remain unaware. But Lenoa, with her warm personality, striking appearance, and close relationships with the courtiers, was bound to notice. In fact, it would have been stranger if she hadn’t.  

‘Sigh. I’ll have to issue new orders gradually. I don’t want our time together to be disturbed, but…’  

After all, he had already shown himself to the courtiers several times while escorting Lenoa recently. It was time to stop. Even if he didn’t like it, if it was something Lenoa was concerned about, he had no choice.  

‘Hmm?’  

Suddenly, he noticed someone standing next to the bedroom. He had been walking briskly, staring at the floor, and hadn’t seen them until now.  

The woman, dressed in a maid’s uniform, quickly bowed her head when she saw Kairan. Her face flushed red as she nervously rubbed her hands on her apron.  

Kairan, uninterested in the maid, reached for the doorknob. At that moment, the maid spoke.  

“Y-Your Grace the Grand Duke! I… um…”  

‘Who is this girl now?’  

The maid slowly raised her flushed face to meet Kairan’s gaze.  

Already feeling a great deal of confusion, Kairan grew increasingly irritated as this unfamiliar maid seemed to have business with him. He glared at her coldly instead of answering, and the maid stammered on.  

“Y-Your Grace, the Queen… is she okay?”  

“…”  

“I heard from the palace physician, so you don’t have to worry.”  

‘Unbelievable.’  

Having heard enough, Kairan opened the door.  

It took him a moment, but he finally remembered who she was based on her speech. About a month ago, he had noticed Lenoa’s poor health and ordered this maid to fetch the court physician.  

A month had passed since then, and his relationship with Lenoa had improved. Why was this maid bringing it up now?  

Suddenly, Kairan’s pride was wounded. Lenoa had always been close with many courtiers. Kairan, however, had been an exception. Even though their relationship had recently softened, the affection he had poured into her had only been met with minimal progress.  

There was no way Lenoa wouldn’t have informed the maid of her condition. In fact, she must have told her right away. So why hadn’t she informed him at the same time?  

This maid was clearly close to Lenoa. Closer than him, even. Was she implying that because she was already close to Lenoa, she knew immediately, and now that his relationship with Lenoa had improved, he, too, had the right to be informed? To Kairan, it felt like the maid was flaunting her closeness with Lenoa.  

“Silence. Did you think I wouldn’t know?”  

“P-pardon? I was just…”  

“Enough! If you don’t want to be punished severely, disappear at once!”  

Kairan shouted at the maid and slammed the door shut, locking it. He then flopped onto the bed.  

‘How irritating. What a pointless thing to say.’  

He understood that the maid cared for Lenoa because of their close relationship. That was a privilege.  

However, while the maid was allowed to worry about Lenoa, Kairan could not accept her worrying about him. 

Was she trying to show compassion now? If my relationship with Lenoa had still been cold, would she have dared to act this way?  

Kairan quelled his rising anger by focusing on Lenoa, who had taken root in his mind and heart. She was, after all, his savior.  

‘How can I make sure tomorrow with Lady Lenoa goes as well as yesterday?’  

Kairan dismissed thoughts of the maid and pondered his time with Lenoa, taking a brief rest before resuming his evening duties.  

Thanks to Lenoa, his recent days had been more peaceful than ever before.