“First, sleep more. A more competent doctor-“

Just as Cardien was about to get up from his seat.

Grab.

I hastily seized his hand.

Cardien turned to look at me with surprised eyes.

I was equally flustered.

My body had moved before my thoughts.

“…?”

“Ah, well, that…”

I had grabbed him, but I didn’t know what to say.

To be honest…

I couldn’t just say, ‘I’m afraid if I let go of Your Grace now, it might turn out like my dream!’

As I fumbled for words, Cardien slightly furrowed his brows.

But I couldn’t just keep holding his hand without saying anything.

Feeling like he might shake off my hand at any moment, I blurted out something.

But…

“Like that with me more-“

“…Where’s Chelsea!”

Cardien’s voice and mine collided in mid-air.

As if the louder voice wins, mine was louder.

Suddenly interrupted by me, Cardien pressed his lips tightly together.

Cardien seemed to have said something, but I hadn’t heard it properly, so I blinked and asked him.

“Your Grace? What did you just say?”

As I tilted my head questioningly, Cardien frowned and replied.

“Nothing.”

“…?”

He definitely said something, but since he was denying it, there was nothing I could say.

It would be awkward to press him further.

Besides, even though I had shouted urgently, I also had something to say to him.

I looked into Cardien’s eyes and asked.

“Chelsea, where is she now?”

I know it’s an abrupt question.

But what Chelsea had said when she came to rescue me had stayed on my mind.

‘She clearly said she had something she wanted to tell me.’

But when I opened my eyes and didn’t see Chelsea, I felt uneasy.

Cardien stared at me intently.

Just as I thought his gaze seemed strange, Cardien’s lips parted.

And…

“The maid who was in charge of you.”

“….”

“Is currently in custody.”

At those words, my eyes widened.

…What did he say?

I looked at Cardien with trembling eyes.

I couldn’t believe what he had said.

Chelsea…

“Custody… Why? Did Chelsea do something wrong?”

Without realizing it, I was pressing close to Cardien and bombarding him with questions.

Cardien’s expression twisted, but I didn’t even have the presence of mind to consider that.

And for good reason.

‘Custody.’

In noble households, custody is typically a punishment given to those who have committed crimes and are awaiting sentencing.

In other words, it meant Chelsea had done something serious enough to be placed in custody…

‘There’s no way Chelsea would do that.’

If there was some misunderstanding, it needed to be cleared up.

“Please tell me. What’s happening with Chelsea?”

What on earth had happened during the half day I was asleep?

“You.”

Cardien began, furrowing his brow as he spoke.

“Is someone else’s well-being that important to you? Frankly speaking, what does it matter to you what happens to that maid?”

“….”

I stared blankly at Cardien.

I couldn’t understand what was bothering him now.

But…

“Yes.”

I looked straight at Cardien and answered.

“It is important.”

If it had been someone else, they might have agreed with Cardien and quietly let it go.

I’m not altruistic enough to worry about the well-being of people I don’t know well.

But…

“Chelsea is someone precious to me. Of course it’s important.”

At my answer, Cardien gazed at me intently.

I stared back at him just as directly.

His purple eyes were as deep as an abyss.

Those eyes seemed to be looking into my heart, or perhaps lost in thought.

After what felt like a long time.

Cardien quietly began to speak.

“I wonder.”

“…?”

“If I were in the same situation, would you worry about me like this?”

“…Pardon?”

What is he suddenly talking about?

I asked back with a bewildered face, but Cardien’s expression was unusually serious.

He spoke again.

“If I were in the same situation as that precious maid of yours, or even in a worse situation, would you act like this?”

“…Like what, exactly?”

What did I do?

Cardien, who was staring down at me, said bluntly.

“That face that says you’re worried to death.”

“….”

“I’ll ask again, Tutor. If I were in the same situation… would you make that expression?”

“….”

I stared up at Cardien blankly.

Honestly, I didn’t understand why Cardien was asking this question in the first place.

What was his intention? What answer was he hoping for?

But well, when have I ever been able to see inside his head before acting?

As always, I could only answer honestly.

And my honest answer was.

“If Your Grace were in the same situation, I would.”

“….”

“It’s difficult to say for certain, but I would probably be even more flustered and worried than I am now, and I would do my best to save Your Grace.”

“…”

“Because the person I worry about more than anyone else is none other than Duke Cardien Mercedes.”

This was my honest truth.

Like Chelsea, or perhaps even more than Chelsea, Cardien had become someone precious to me.

I looked at Cardien with clear eyes, conveying those feelings.

Cardien looked back at me with uncharacteristically blank eyes.

“Do you not believe me?”

He’s such a distrustful person, he might not believe this either.

But the answer that came back completely shattered my expectations.

“…No.”

…Huh?

That’s strange.

Is there something wrong with my eyes?

“…I believe you.”

Why does Cardien’s face look different somehow?

The look in his eyes directed at me felt mysterious.

I wanted to see his expression, but he was covering his mouth with his hand, so I couldn’t tell if he was smiling or expressionless.

All I could tell was that his gaze directed at me was more intense than ever before…

I wanted to see his expression more clearly, but Cardien didn’t give me the chance and turned his head away, saying.

“It’s late, so get some more sleep, and we’ll go see her tomorrow. I’ll tell Winston in advance.”

“Is… Chelsea safe…?”

To my cautious question, Cardien answered indifferently.

“Safe or not.”

His purple eyes glanced at me briefly.

“It was her own request.”

“…What?”

What is he talking about now?

***

Despite Cardien’s words that it was late and I should sleep more, I couldn’t fall asleep.

Until dawn broke, his words kept circling in my head.

And for good reason—Chelsea herself had requested to be placed in custody.

No matter how I thought about it, it was difficult to understand.

As soon as day broke, I took my morning medicine as usual and rushed to Winston’s room.

After taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.

Soon, the door opened, revealing Winston with a sickly pale face.

“Ah, Tutor Pellington…”

“G-good morning, Butler. I’m sorry for coming so early in the morning. Are… are you alright?”

Winston’s complexion was so poor that I momentarily forgot my purpose for coming.

He nodded with a faint smile.

“I’m fine. I just couldn’t sleep all night… Please, come in.”

“…Excuse me.”

I carefully entered Winston’s room.

Unlike usual, the room was in a disorderly state.

“I’ll bring some tea.”

“No, it’s fine…”

I tried to say it was fine, but Winston had already gone inside.

Only then did I regret my actions a little.

No matter how urgent it was, it seemed I had come too early.

Well… if Winston hadn’t come to work in the first place, I wouldn’t have been able to meet him no matter how early I came.

Soon Winston prepared tea for me.

Green liquid.

Green tea.

“Please drink.”

“…Thank you.”

Sip.

‘…Bitter.’

The green tea was still bitter.

Is it just my mood?

Today it tastes particularly bitter.

After taking a few more sips, I put down the teacup and looked at Winston.

Up close, his complexion looked even worse.

Whether he hadn’t been able to sleep all night, the shadows under his eyes were dark, and his wrinkles seemed deeper.

It seems… related to Chelsea?

What on earth had happened that made even Winston look like he’d been struck by lightning?

I took a short deep breath and asked him.

“…Butler, I heard from His Grace. Chelsea requested to be placed in custody herself. What exactly happened?”

At my question, Winston’s head drooped down.

He looked so small and pitiful.

To think that the head butler of the infamous shadow family would show such a face.

Though I didn’t show it, I was quite shocked inside.

Soon Winston began to speak in a strained voice.

At what followed, I couldn’t breathe.