Chapter 40

Why was he suddenly looking at her? Did he somehow realize what she was thinking?

“Miss Sinclair, are you alright?”

Ryan tilted his head, finding Daphne’s suddenly stiff posture strange.

“You’re not feeling sick again, are you?”

“N-no! That’s not it!”

Daphne quickly denied Ryan’s worried question. But he didn’t seem convinced, and straightened up from where he’d been leaning against the wall, striding over to her.

“I’m fine! I said I’m fine!”

Realizing Ryan was coming closer, Daphne panicked and flopped down on the sofa, burying her head in the backrest so he couldn’t see her face, curling her back.

“Miss Sinclair?”

Ryan was puzzled by Daphne’s incomprehensible behavior.

“Miss Sinclair, please look at me for a moment.”

“Go away! Go help Marianne or something!”

Even at Ryan’s request, Daphne stubbornly refused. She didn’t need a mirror to know how red her face must be.

Thump, thump. Her heart beat much faster and harder than usual. Her breaths became shallow and rapid.

A feverish heat spread throughout her body.

Crunch, crunch.

Unable to understand her own strange reaction, Daphne bit into the sugar cube in her mouth.

The overwhelming sweetness made her mind spin.

* * *

After her cold was completely gone, Daphne immediately went to see Lily. It had been ten days since her last visit.

Daphne had hoped to meet Lily in good health. Unfortunately, Lily’s condition hadn’t improved.

Recently, Lily’s illness had seemed to get a little better. Spring was arriving and the weather was warming up. She’d been excited, thinking she’d soon be able to leave the mansion and return home with Daphne. But that hope didn’t last.

A few days ago, Lily began suffering from a mild fever, and just the day before, her dry cough returned. Cough, cough. The previously quiet room was now filled with the sound of constant coughing.

The physician was puzzled, unable to explain why Lily’s condition had worsened just as winter ended and the weather warmed. He advised her to remain at the mansion and rest, and prescribed a stronger medicine than before.

So Lily’s wish to return home soon had vanished.

“Cheer up, Lily. There’s nothing we can do.”

Daphne, with a sulky face, comforted Lily lying in bed.

“I’m upset too that you can’t come home. But the physician’s right. You know how dangerous your illness can be if you’re not careful.”

“……”

“Neither Marianne nor I will go anywhere without you. We’ll wait until you can come home. So, okay? Don’t be too impatient.”

“……”

Despite Daphne’s kind words, Lily pouted silently, turning her head away as if to protest.

Her pale face, warm forehead, and sunken eyes. Her cheeks were flushed red from the fever.

“More importantly, Lily, don’t you want to try the candy I brought?”

Realizing that comforting Lily wouldn’t work, Daphne decided to change the subject.

“Look, it’s your favorite chrysanthemum petal candy.”

Daphne took a small packet of candy from her pocket. The rustling sound made Lily quietly turn her head to look at Daphne.

“Remember? Mother used to buy this for you whenever you were sick.”

Daphne picked up a candy between her thumb and forefinger. Inside the clear candy, several yellow flower petals were visible. A subtle sugary scent spread in the air.

Gulp. Lily swallowed, and Daphne smiled softly.

“Here.”

Daphne placed a candy in Lily’s mouth. In the warmth, the square candy slowly melted.

“Is it good?”

“…I don’t know. I can’t taste anything.”

Lily rolled the candy in her mouth and answered honestly. Daphne’s face fell. It must be the cold—her sense of smell and taste had gone.

“You need to get better soon. You can’t even enjoy delicious things. Maybe I should just eat them all myself.”

Not wanting Lily to see her concern, Daphne made a playful joke and popped a candy in her own mouth. Clink, clink. The candy rattled between her teeth like a glass bead.

“I’ll put the rest in this drawer, so take one whenever you want, okay?”

“Yes, Sister.”

Lily nodded obediently at Daphne’s request, her earlier sulkiness forgotten, her eyes gentle as a deer’s. Daphne quietly smiled and stroked her hair, then put the packet away in the drawer beside the bed.

“Did you go to the morning market to buy those?”

Lily asked quietly, having watched the scene.

“Yes, last week.”

Daphne nodded.

“I wanted to bring them right away, but I caught a cold and couldn’t.”

“Did you go alone?”

“No, with Sir Clips, like I told you before.”

“Sir Clips…”

Lily coughed softly, repeating the name.

“Sister, what kind of person is this knight, Sir Clips?”

“Sir Clips?”

What kind of person, she wondered.

Daphne pictured Ryan in her mind.

The first thing that came to mind, without a doubt—

“He’s very handsome.”

“Handsome?”

Lily’s eyes widened.

“How handsome?”

“I’d say he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen in my life.”

“Wow. If even you say that, he must be really something.”

Lily gaped in amazement.

“What about his personality? Is he nice? Or is he cold like Sir Lexa?”

“His personality… well.”

‘Are you out of your mind?’

Daphne recalled her reunion with Ryan.

‘Or did you hit your head hard just now? Out of nowhere, you’re saying I must have fallen for you. What baseless confidence lets you think something that absurd?’

“……”

‘Do you think I’d fall for a woman like you of all women? I have eyes, and I have a brain capable of thinking!’

“Well… he’s not exactly gentle.”

Daphne pouted slightly.

“He seems polite, but he’s actually direct, stubborn, and has strong opinions.”

“So he’s cold and blunt?”

Lily frowned.

“If he’s like that, you two probably don’t get along, right?”

‘Cold and blunt,’ Lily said.

Daphne thought again.

‘That’s a relief. I was worried you might have caught the flu.’

Other moments came to mind.

‘If I say you recovered this quickly partly thanks to me, would you say I’m just being arrogant?’

His gentle blue eyes looking at her.

‘Get some more sleep. I’ll be right here.’

His soft voice whispering reassurance.

“That’s not it.”

Finally, Daphne slowly shook her head.

“He may seem cold and blunt, but he’s actually very kind and caring.”

“Kind and caring?”

“Yes. When I met him again here, I mistook him for a criminal and ran away. But he chased after me and saved me when I almost fell off a horse. And when I was sick with a cold, he stayed by my side and took care of me.”

“……”

“I might not have been able to visit you so soon if not for him.”

She’d never admitted it to him, but Daphne smiled gently.

Hmm. Lily’s eyes softened as she looked at her sister.

“I think you really like him.”

“Huh?”

“I can tell just from your face how much you like him.”

‘Like him?’

Daphne blinked slowly at Lily’s teasing words.

‘Me… Ryan?’

“It’s just that he’s a good person! Who says I like anyone!”

Finally understanding, Daphne jumped up, shouting. She felt sparks flying from her eyes and steam coming out of her ears. Her pale skin flushed bright red.

“Why are you trying to start rumors? If I praise him one more time, it’ll be a disaster! Me, of all people, with Ryan Clips…”

Knock, knock.

Just as Daphne was getting worked up, there was a knock at the door.

Who could it be?

Both girls turned to the door. Other than Daphne, no one usually visited this room.

Daphne quickly composed herself and, in as calm a voice as possible, told them to come in. As soon as she gave permission, the door opened with a click.

“Miss Daphne, Miss Lilyana.”

An elderly gentleman entered, bowing politely to them.

“I’m sorry to disturb you both.”

With graying hair and a neat appearance, he was the Sinclair County’s butler, Grayton.

“I’ve been ordered to escort Miss Daphne immediately.”

“My sister? Who gave that order?”

Lily asked, confused. Grayton bowed to them again.

“Count Sinclair.”

At Grayton’s answer, Daphne’s face hardened.