Chapter 9 – Return

Kairan only briefly glanced at Harpe, who lay sprawled on the ground. He then immediately wrapped his arm firmly around Lenoa’s shoulders, as if to shield her.  

Seeing her trembling, covering her mouth with her hand while staring at Harpe, Kairan felt a pang of sympathy for her. However, he felt no such concern for Harpe. If anything, his anger only grew.  

It was only then that Lenoa forcefully pushed Kairan’s arm off her shoulders.  

“We should return to the palace now…”  

“Is now the time to talk about going back? Someone has collapsed…”  

At Lenoa’s sharp retort, Kairan faltered. She soon knelt on the dirt-laden grass to check on Harpe.  

‘Her dress is getting dirty.’  

Kairan neither understood her actions nor tried to stop her.  

“Wake up! Harpe! Harpe!”  

“Harpe! What’s wrong with you?”  

“Oh no, someone call a doctor!”  

Viscount Elwen hurriedly carried Harpe into the mansion, while a servant rushed out the front gate to fetch a doctor.  

Viscountess Elwen, who had been watching in a daze, was now in tears. Lenoa placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, deeply empathizing with her feelings.  

She recalled how her own parents had always rushed to summon palace physicians and stayed up all night nursing her whenever she fell ill. Despite their heavy workload managing state affairs, they acted as though nothing was more important than their daughter’s well-being. Thanks to their devoted care, Lenoa always recovered quickly, no matter how sick she was.  

After the Queen Dowager’s passing, the nanny took on the role of a mother, caring for Lenoa as if she were her own daughter. Her father, too, continued to look after her as always.  

Even though she no longer had her biological mother, the love she received from her parents remained unchanged.  

‘Now it’s my turn to help the nanny.’  

Resolving herself, Lenoa spoke.  

“Please don’t worry too much. Harpe will be fine.”  

“Oh, Lenoa, this is such a disgrace, especially when you’ve come all this way…”  

“How can a child’s illness be a disgrace? I’ll stay here until the doctor arrives.”  

Lenoa wrapped an arm around the Viscountess’s waist and slowly guided her into the mansion.  

Bang. The mansion’s front door closed, leaving Kairan standing alone outside.  

Kairan found himself irritated by the sight of Lenoa and Harpe’s apparent closeness, as well as by her repeated calls of concern for the unconscious man. He kicked a nearby pillar, the heavy sound echoing through the garden.  

‘I thought I’d finally get to spend some time with Her Majesty, but then this strange guy had to show up.’  

Suppressing some of his anger, Kairan entered the mansion.  

The doctor summoned by the servant arrived promptly. After examining the unconscious Harpe, he spoke in a calm tone.  

“It seems he fainted due to some sort of shock. If he rests quietly, he should wake up soon.”  

The doctor prescribed a sedative and instructed the couple not to disturb Harpe, then left the mansion.  

The couple, finally regaining some peace of mind, sat down in chairs, their gazes fixed on their son lying unconscious on the bed. The Viscountess, who had been staring blankly, seemed on the verge of bursting into tears again, but the Viscount and Lenoa managed to calm her down.  

Kairan, leaning against the wall, watched the scene with indifference.  

“He’ll wake up soon, so everything will be fine.”  

“He’s always been so healthy… This sudden incident really shocked me.”  

The nanny explained that Harpe was usually a very lively and energetic young man, just as they had seen earlier.  

Lenoa sighed. She knew from experience how difficult it was to ease a parent’s worries about their child.  

“But what could have been so shocking…”  

The three of them simultaneously turned their gazes toward Kairan, who stood behind them. Kairan glared back at their stares.  

‘Are they seriously suspecting me? I don’t even know this guy, and I didn’t do anything to him.’  

In truth, Kairan had not laid a hand on Harpe. All he had done was knock away the hand that had dared to touch the Queen and grab his collar once. He hadn’t expected Lenoa to react so strongly to that.  

Clearing his expression, Kairan spoke in a low voice.  

“I don’t know this young man… I only just learned his name and face.”  

Even Lenoa’s suspicious gaze made his anger boil to the surface.  

The three of them present in the garden earlier should know that he hadn’t harmed Harpe. All he needed to do was clarify that they were strangers, and the suspicions would dissipate.  

“Lenoa, Your Grace, wouldn’t it be better for you to return to the palace now? You both have much work to do, and we need to keep an eye on Harpe…”  

“Are you telling us to leave immediately? How dare you…”  

“Enough. We’ve caused enough trouble. Let’s go back.”  

Lenoa barely managed to stop Kairan, who was about to lash out at the Viscountess’s subtle suggestion for them to leave. She then bid the couple farewell.  

Kairan glared at Lenoa. He had already planned to leave soon, but being told to go by someone of much lower status only added to his frustration.  

‘Fine. Let’s just leave quickly.’  

Kairan took Lenoa’s hand, this time with a gentler grip than when he had grabbed her arm earlier.  

“Grand Duke, say your goodbyes.”

At Lenoa’s whisper, Kairan reluctantly bowed his head. His rising anger was quelled by the softness of her hand.  

The couple came out of the mansion to see them off as they boarded the carriage. Lenoa gazed wistfully out the window at them waving vigorously.  

It was then that Kairan spoke.  

“Your Majesty, do you still suspect me?”  

“…”  

“As I said before, I don’t know him.”  

Lenoa turned to look at Kairan, who sat beside her. Then, without a word, she buried her face in her arms.  

She knew. She knew Kairan hadn’t done anything to Harpe. There was no room for doubt. But she didn’t want to talk to Kairan right now.  

Lenoa closed her eyes. She wanted to stay like this until they arrived at the palace. Moreover, the monthly pain she thought had ended was spreading through her body again. Her lower half already felt damp. She just wanted to rest.  

“Ha, really…”

Seeing Lenoa motionless as if asleep, Kairan was at a loss.  

‘How many times do I have to explain myself for her to believe me?’  

Kairan felt frustrated with her. He knew he needed to explain again, but he didn’t want to wake her.  

Although neither of them showed it outwardly, Kairan considered the possibility that Lenoa’s monthly pain hadn’t yet ended.  

‘She must be tired in many ways.’  

He let out a weary sigh and sat closer to Lenoa. As he listened carefully, he could hear the faint sound of her breathing.  

Her posture looked uncomfortable, but if he tried to straighten her up, she would likely wake up.  

His eyes fell on the black coat he had taken off earlier. Kairan carefully pulled it over and draped it over Lenoa’s back. He stared silently at her as she slept wrapped in his coat.  

Suddenly, he recalled the moment at the mansion when he had been interrupted from completing his actions. A desire to finish what had been left undone surged within him.  

‘She’s lying face down… What am I even thinking? Stop it.’  

After all, Lenoa had deliberately positioned herself to avoid a kiss. Pushing aside his thoughts, Kairan sat by the opposite window. Though he moved away, his gaze remained fixed on Lenoa.  

‘The Queen, wrapped in my coat.’  

A smile naturally spread across his face, calming his mind.  

Kairan’s eyes drifted to the scenery outside the window. The surroundings had already grown dark, signaling that evening was approaching.  

Once they returned to the palace, both Kairan and Lenoa would undoubtedly be swamped with work for several days. Although this weighed on him, the fact that he had spent the day outside with her brought him some comfort.  

Meeting Viscount Elwen and his wife for the first time had been somewhat awkward. Their attitude of treating him like their own son felt uncomfortable, yet there was a warmth to it that he didn’t dislike. It had been so long since he had felt parental affection that his chest tightened with emotion.  

Even though their request for him to leave had been unpleasant, he understood it stemmed from their concern for their child. The Viscount and his wife were far better than his own biological parents, who he thought were better off nonexistent.  

‘Everything was fine… if only that guy hadn’t appeared…’  

However, seeing that strange man being doted on by Lenoa like a pet had left him speechless. When he hurried to intervene, the man fainted at the mere sight of him. A series of dramatic events had unfolded all at once.  

Suddenly, he had become the villain. The Viscount, his wife, and even Queen Lenoa had doubted him.  

Kairan gripped the leather of his seat so tightly it seemed he might tear it apart. If Lenoa weren’t beside him, he might have already destroyed it in frustration.  

He glanced at her and managed to calm himself.  

Sitting close to her again, he gently stroked her hair. Her silky locks, softer than his own, tickled his heart.  

His hand kept returning to her hair. Her beautiful ash-blond hair, her violet eyes that matched his own, and her gentle voice—Lenoa was the only woman for Kairan.  

As he remained like that for some time, the carriage eventually entered the palace grounds.  

Kairan shook Lenoa awake. She shuddered slightly before opening her eyes.  

‘Huh?’  

Feeling something unfamiliar, she reached behind her and picked up the black coat Kairan had been wearing earlier. As her eyes widened in surprise, Kairan took the coat from her.  

To place it over her again. Kairan draped his overcoat across Lenoa’s shoulders.  

“It’s cold outside. Keep it on until we’re inside the palace.”  

Lenoa silently nodded in agreement.  

Holding the overcoat in one hand, she grasped Kairan’s outstretched hand and stepped out of the carriage. He kept his arm around her shoulders as they walked.  

When they reached the palace gates, the soldiers widened their eyes in surprise. Ignoring them, Kairan entered through the gates they had opened. The court officials who had come out to greet them also seemed flustered at the sight of the two.  

Lenoa felt a cold sweat break out from the awkwardness. Kairan leaned in and whispered softly.  

“I’ll escort you to your chambers.”  

‘Ah…’  

Lenoa felt overwhelmed to the point of exhaustion. Today, the staircase leading to the third floor felt like it had hundreds of steps. Finally, they reached her bedroom.  

After ensuring she was inside, Kairan climbed the stairs to the upper floor. As he ascended, his thoughts returned to her.  

‘Hopefully, nothing leaked through.’  

Kairan’s actions weren’t meant to burden Lenoa. In fact, they carried his quiet consideration for her.