Chapter 40 – Sudden Change

Kairan headed straight to his bedroom.

As Lenoa had mentioned, returning after just one day abroad had left him physically and mentally exhausted. Of course, he could have stayed a few more days, but it wasn’t an official trip, and any delay would have interfered with state affairs. Moreover, during his rare visit to his family estate, he had seen things he shouldn’t have.

Even though Benecia was his hometown, it felt as though the place was warning him to leave immediately now that he had become Celesta’s secretary. 

In addition, he wanted to deliver news about John’s father’s investigation in person. He wanted to tell John clearly: “You’ll find your father soon.”

John hadn’t done much beyond assisting in arranging Kairan’s meetings with Lenoa, but since this matter involved Benecia—both his homeland and an enemy state—it wasn’t something Kairan could overlook.

‘No, that’s not right.’

He couldn’t tell Lenoa dark stories about his hometown, Benecia. He had to resolve it on his own, keeping her unaware of it.

‘Lenoa…’

Come to think of it, everything he did was for her. He recalled something he had heard at a banquet: 

When a man falls in love, he becomes a fool.

When he first heard it, he couldn’t relate at all. But now that he was the subject of that statement, he understood it all too well.

He also remembered the story of ‘Elika’, the novel Lenoa had told him about.

Even though he had casually picked the book for her, he hadn’t imagined it would have such content. He had simply assumed Elika was the name of the female protagonist.

However, as he listened to the story, he found himself drawn to Primo, the male character in Lenoa’s tale—no, someone who couldn’t even be considered the protagonist. Primo, who sincerely loved Elika but ultimately lost her to Louis.

Even after hearing the entire conclusion, he couldn’t understand why Elika had rejected Primo to the very end.

Lenoa had resolved that question for him.

‘If Primo and Elika had met more often, their relationship might have turned out differently.’

She was right. Despite being engaged, the two rarely met and had never spent much time together when they did.

It was only natural. It wasn’t due to realistic issues like family matters. Simply put, Primo had failed to show Elika his genuine feelings, and as a result, the two couldn’t be together.

If he had been more proactive toward her, she might have been drawn to him.

Thinking along these lines, it seemed as though Elika might have loved Primo after all.

Only the author would know her true feelings, but even if it were far in the future, Kairan hoped the author would write about Primo and Elika’s connection, as Lenoa had suggested.

‘Should I sponsor them?’

The thought lightened his mood. However, while his mind felt lighter, his body was still weighed down by fatigue. Since he had already bathed before dinner, he decided to retire early for the night.

‘Hmm?’

Suddenly, he noticed someone standing in the hallway at a distance. It was too dark to see clearly, but they were definitely near his room.

He had specifically instructed the servants on the fourth floor not to concern themselves with his quarters. 

Had they forgotten already? 

Irritated, Kairan walked toward the figure.

“You’ve returned, Your Grace, Duke Blandi.”

Standing just a few steps away from him was someone familiar—and someone he had come to loathe intensely today.

The son of Viscount Elwen, who had just entered the palace as his attendant. More importantly, the man who had caught Lenoa’s attention.

Having spent time with Lenoa over dinner and conversation, Kairan had completely forgotten about this man’s existence. They say a man in love becomes a fool, and it seemed he had truly become one.

“Get lost.”

Though he wanted to fight the man then and there, he was too tired to do so. With as much restraint as he could muster, he left him with just those words, glaring at him before opening the door and stepping inside.

“If you need anything, please pull the bell. I’ll come right away.”

Harpe confidently spoke to the door.

‘Ha, seriously.’

Kairan sighed deeply and locked the door. With a click, he shouted back at the door.

“Don’t come. Just go home!”

That was as polite as he could manage. Harpe’s presence was no longer audible.

Kairan trudged to his bed and lay down. The excitement he had felt from spending meaningful time with Lenoa had plummeted because of that man.

“Why him of all people… My attendant? Ridiculous.”

The man had fainted as though he’d seen a ghost the first time we met, and now he wanted to be my attendant? It was absurd. How could someone so simple and foolish even exist?

But more than anything, imagining him with Lenoa… 

Kairan shook his head violently.

His chest felt tight, and suddenly all traces of sleepiness vanished. He couldn’t sleep. In the end, Kairan opened a drawer.

He took a spoonful of the sleeping medicine his father had given him. Although he tried to avoid taking it, the circumstances left him no choice.

The effect was immediate. Sleepiness quickly returned, but the tightness in his chest remained.

‘Ugh…’

Was he still bothered by that man outside? No, it was more than just emotional discomfort; now it was physical pain.

His chest felt tight and throbbed.

Even though he had taken the sleeping medicine, his body wouldn’t let him drift off. He wondered if he should call for the palace physician. But then Lenoa might hear later that he had been unwell. Her tender heart would worry over him, delaying matters further. More than anything, he couldn’t bear to see her suffer alone again.

In that case, he wondered if he should ask the man nearby for help. The thought brought back a wave of emotional pain. Asking for help from someone he had just treated so coldly? Even he would laugh at such absurdity.

The fact that he was even considering the man showed how far gone he was.

There was no choice but to endure it. No matter how much his body hurt or how restless his mind became. After all, there was no one who genuinely cared for his health above all else.

As time passed and his exhausted body lay still, the pain seemed to ease slightly. It was enough for him to fall asleep.

‘If only I had a mother, she would have nursed me at times like this.’

Kairan indulged in a fleeting, meaningless fantasy before falling into a deep sleep.

***

At 8 a.m., after coughing, washing up, and dressing, Lenoa noticed something unusual about the morning.

“Betier, where is Grand Duke Blandi?”

“According to Harpe’s message… he’s still sleeping.”

Betier spoke hesitantly, as though she too found it strange.

It was odd. Kairan rarely, if ever, missed an opportunity to escort her to meals. It had become a daily ritual, almost like his first task of the day.

“Really? Tell him to wake up… Oh.”

Knowing Kairan’s sensitive nature, she realized Harpe must have been unable to do anything since Kairan disliked people entering his room.

Especially after the near-disaster yesterday.

“I’ll go myself. Let the dining hall know I’ll be there shortly.”

Lenoa headed straight to the fourth floor.  

She was probably the only one in the palace who could stop Kairan.  

‘Perhaps his father could, but of course, he’s not in the palace.’  

The thought of Duke Blandi shouting to wake Kairan in an ordinary father-son dynamic made her chuckle, even though she had never met the Duke.  

When she reached the vicinity of Kairan’s room, she saw Harpe pacing nervously in place.  

“Lord Harpe, is Grand Duke Blandi still not awake? Oh, wait, I mean… is he still asleep?”  

“Y-yes… yes?”  

“Since you’ve entered the palace, I suppose I can speak casually now, right?”  

Lenoa smiled brightly and switched to informal speech. Harpe, startled, lowered his head slightly.  

Lenoa walked straight to the door and knocked. However, there was no response.  

‘Good grief. He’s really making me use this.’  

She pulled out a black key hidden in her sleeve.  

It was a special key that could open any door in the palace, reserved exclusively for members of the royal family. Though it was old, it was still spotless, as it was rarely used.  

She hadn’t expected to actually need it when she decided to bring it along.  

“Your Grace, I’m coming in.”  

Lenoa called out firmly as she turned the key.  

The door finally opened. Since the bed was in the corner of the room, she couldn’t see it from where she stood at the entrance. Just as she was about to step inside, Harpe whispered behind her.  

“Your Majesty, shall I accompany you…?”  

“No, no. I’ll go in alone.”  

If she brought Harpe in, Kairan might have a full-blown meltdown. Lenoa closed the door behind her and headed toward the bed.  

As expected, Kairan was fast asleep on the bed. Seeing him like this for the first time, behaving almost childishly, Lenoa nearly burst into laughter.  

She gently shook his arm.  

“Wake up, Your Grace. It’s morning.”  

“Mm….”  

Kairan stirred and slowly opened his eyes. The moment he saw Lenoa’s face, he bolted upright in shock.  

“L-Lenoa, Your Majesty?”  

“They said you weren’t waking up, so I came to wake you myself.”  

Although the situation was absurd, Lenoa forced a smile and held Kairan’s hand.  

“Let’s go have breakfast together. Get ready and come out.”  

Having woken him up, Lenoa felt her job was done. She withdrew her hand and turned to leave the room.  

Suddenly—  

“Wait… please wait here for a moment while I get ready.”  

When she turned back, Kairan was holding her wrist.  

Surprised by his unexpected behavior, Lenoa froze awkwardly, as if she hadn’t finished her task.  

‘Well, it doesn’t really matter.’  

It was before breakfast, and she wasn’t particularly hungry. She had already completed her morning routine after coughing earlier. Waiting while Kairan got ready wouldn’t be such a bad idea.  

After all, she had made him wait countless times while she dressed up. This time, it was her turn to be considerate.  

Once Kairan rushed into the bathroom in a flurry, Lenoa was left alone in the room.  

She sat quietly at the table like a doll, but after a while, she grew bored.  

Unable to resist, she sprang to her feet.  

‘I’m bored. Maybe I’ll look around the room while he’s getting ready.’