Chapter 43

“Daphne McClift……”

Ryan softly murmured a name that suddenly surfaced in his mind. It was unfamiliar to him, yet it felt more natural and right than any other.

“Hmm? What did you just say?”

Daphne lifted her head and looked at him, having caught his muttering.

Would he be happier if he gave up the perfect life of a noble and lived together with her?

Their gazes met in the air.

Or would he be happier living as a perfect noble, even if it meant giving her up?

“It’s nothing.”

He couldn’t yet answer that question.

* * *

Lately, Ryan seemed like a completely different person from when she first met him.

His tone hadn’t changed, nor had his mannerisms, but Daphne found herself growing nervous around him.

His gaze. His voice. His touch. Everything about him seemed strangely alluring and captivating. He hadn’t crossed any lines, yet she couldn’t understand why she felt this way.

He really had become much kinder to her.

Daphne thought this as she shelved books one by one.

Like it or not, being forced to interact and see each other every day naturally led to attachment.

Sometimes, Ryan would just look at her. Standing a little ways off, lips pressed together, wearing an unreadable expression as he gazed quietly at her.

At first, she thought he was just doing his job as a bodyguard and didn’t pay it much mind. But now, every time she felt his gaze, her heart thumped loudly.

It probably meant nothing to him.

Her lips pressed together. Thud. Thud. Each book made a dull sound as she placed it on the shelf.

He might not even realize he was being kind to her.

A strange sense of frustration, as if she’d swallowed a large lump.

Daphne’s hands moved faster. The alphabetical order of the books was long forgotten.

But if he hadn’t changed, then why did she feel this way?

Suddenly, a question flashed through her mind, and her hand paused as she pushed in another book.

What if he hadn’t changed…

Feeling inexplicably anxious, Daphne swallowed dryly.

…Had she changed?

At that moment, she noticed the title of the book she’d just shelved.

『On Love, That Name』

Her eyes widened at the word ‘Love’ in the title.

And then—

Knock, knock.

“……!”

A knock sounded on the wide-open door. Daphne, startled by someone’s sudden approach, spun around. The books she was holding tumbled to the floor.

“Oh. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Ryan stood at the doorway, looking slightly bewildered.

“Sorry. I keep scaring you lately, though I don’t mean to.”

“N-no, it’s just… I was distracted again…”

Daphne quickly tried to hide her flustered expression, crouching to gather the fallen books. Ryan strode over with his long legs to help her pick them up.

“I came home and didn’t see you, so I wondered if you’d gone out again.”

Ryan said, picking up books with his large hands.

“Good thing you’re here. The sky is full of dark clouds; it looks like it’ll rain soon.”

“You told me not to go out alone last time.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Daphne mumbled as she kept her head down.

“No matter how stubborn I am, I’m not so reckless as to do what you repeatedly warn me not to.”

“Really? That’s odd.”

Ryan exaggerated his expression, tilting his head.

“The Miss Sinclair I know is quite different from the one you know.”

At Ryan’s teasing, Daphne forgot her embarrassment and glared at him. He raised both hands as if surrendering. Even though he was clearly teasing her, his reaction made it hard to snap back.

Daphne pouted and looked away.

“Did you finish your errand safely?”

“Yes.”

Ryan nodded at her brusque question. He often disappeared, saying he had to take care of something outside.

“It was nothing, just scouting the area.”

“I told you that was pointless. I grew up in Hillsboro; there’s nothing around here that threatens me.”

“Threats don’t announce themselves, do they? There’s an old saying: never let your guard down.”

Ryan refused to back down, even scolding her for being naïve.

“I’ve said it many times—you need to be more aware of potential dangers.”

Spending so much time with Marianne must have rubbed off on him. Like an old stick-in-the-mud.

Listening to his nagging, Daphne secretly rolled her eyes.

She was only trying to help, but he didn’t understand.

Love or whatever. The fluttering in her chest was now replaced by exasperation toward him. She took back her earlier thought that he’d grown kinder lately.

Sitting with a sulky face, she stood up abruptly, clutching the books in both hands.

“Do as you please, then.”

Her voice came out much harsher than she intended.

“Waste your time on pointless things, scout the area for no reason. What does it matter to me?”

“Are you upset?”

Ryan stood up and followed her.

“Don’t be. It’s hard for me to bear.”

And as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he took the books from her hands. He was so strong, he lifted what she struggled to hold with both hands in just one.

Despite his harsh words, his actions were gentlemanly.

Her sharpened heart softened a little.

“What’s so hard to bear?”

Daphne asked, giving in a little.

“My stubbornness? Or how I grumble all the time?”

Ryan chuckled at her suggestions.

“More than that, I dislike being disliked by you.”

“Me disliking you?”

“Yes. How can I earn your favor? If there’s a way, tell me. I’ll do my best, whatever it takes.”

Daphne blinked at his question. He’d asked so calmly, it took her a moment to realize how embarrassing it actually was.

“…Liar. I bet you don’t really care.”

Eventually, Daphne mumbled, her face red. But despite her cynical words, her lips kept curving upward.

“When did you get so sly? You were so formal and stiff when we first met.”

“That was ages ago, wasn’t it?”

“Well, it’s only been about half a year, actually.”

Daphne counted the months on her fingers.

“And you’ve only been here for a little over a month.”

At her comment, Ryan’s expression subtly changed. Surprise, regret, and bitterness all mixed together.

“Now that you mention it… you’re right.”

He sounded as if he’d just realized something unexpected.

“I’ve only known you for that short a time.”

“Right? It feels like we’ve known each other much longer, maybe because we see each other every day.”

Daphne laughed and agreed. She knew well that time was just one factor in forming bonds between people.

“Um… I should have said this sooner, but somehow I never did.”

Daphne gently brushed Ryan’s messy hair off his forehead as she whispered. Each touch of her fingers brought a soft warmth.

“On the day we reunited, when I ran into my uncle at the mansion, thank you for agreeing to be my bodyguard without hesitation.”

“You said you were just rescuing a lost soul back then.”

“That was just me being shy.”

Daphne poked him with a teasing look at his playful remark.

“I was honestly worried. I thought maybe I’d made things unnecessarily complicated, and we’d both end up in a difficult situation.”

Living under the same roof with a man who was essentially a stranger.

Two people with opposite personalities having to spend all day together.

She’d spent sleepless nights imagining all the possible disasters.

“But in the end, my worries were for nothing.”

Daphne smiled bashfully. Her hand, which had been smoothing his hair, gently touched his cheek.

“Sir Ryan Clips.”

Her soft skin.

“I’m really glad I met you.”

Her lips whispered sweet words.

“Thanks to you, my rough life has become so much more joyful.”

His face was reflected in her clear green eyes.

Shy and timid at times, yet courageous enough to share her heart when she looked into his eyes; someone who seemed like she’d never reveal her true feelings, yet would unexpectedly bare her soul.

She was both fragile and strong, bold and delicate.

Ryan watched this woman, who seemed to embody every contradiction.

After a moment, his eyes crinkled with a gentle smile.

“That’s how I feel, too.”

It was the pure truth, without a trace of exaggeration.