Chapter 85

Richard stared at Lionel for a moment, silent. When Richard didn’t answer right away, Lionel deliberately added in a light tone,

“I vaguely remember seeing that dog this morning. You originally brought three hunting dogs, didn’t you? But now, your servants only have two dogs with them. Am I wrong?”

When Lionel gestured toward the servants, Richard finally smiled and admitted honestly,

“Lionel, I’m sorry. I brought him because he was the best at searching, hoping he’d help find you, but it seems the smell of blood got him too excited. He had some fighting dog blood, so he was rather aggressive.”

“Did that dog also kill my horse?”

At Lionel’s sharp question, Richard nodded with an apologetic expression.

“Ah, the black horse? Yes, that’s what happened. The horse had collapsed and was dying, and before I could finish him off with my gun, the dog got to him first. Anyway, it didn’t take long for him to die…”

“I want to make a grave for Blackjack in this forest. I’ll send someone from my side. Is that possible?”

“Of course, Lionel. You must have cared a lot for that horse?”

“I did. If it hadn’t been for that horse, I would have been killed by that bullet.”

Richard gazed at Lionel’s face, which still wore a faint smile. He really was annoyingly lucky.

He could have actually killed him.

But since he failed, Richard politely suggested to his cousin,

“It seems I should be the one to compensate. That dead horse is much more valuable than a hunting dog. At least a ten thousand gold difference, so I’ll pay for it, Lionel. And since you had an accident in my forest, it’s also compensation for that…”

“No need.”

Richard paused at Lionel’s curt reply.

The smile that had lingered on Lionel’s face was now gone. He spoke to Richard with a blank expression, quietly.

“I don’t want your money, Richard. I’m really hurt, and deeply disappointed.”

Lionel stared straight at Richard’s now pale face and murmured in a cold voice,

“Nothing can compensate for what happened today.”

* * *

Because of the injury from the hunting tournament, Lionel had to recuperate in bed for a week.

“Still, it’s really fortunate, Sir. Didn’t you inspect all the paint workshops across the Empire just before the tournament? Production will proceed without any delays, so please don’t worry.”

“…Ah, yes. That’s a relief.”

Butler Oliver spoke kindly, but Lionel’s mood was far from good.

Being confined to bed for a week meant, in other words, he wouldn’t be able to see Clarette for a week. Lionel spoke with a glimmer of hope to Oliver,

“Oliver, I have something to discuss with Clarette about the paint business. Can you call her from the annex right now?”

“I’m sorry, Sir. Unfortunately, Miss Sollier is currently out in Moerven. She said she has to finish the commission from Lady Jasmine by the end of this week.”

“Then, when will she return to the ducal residence?”

“These days, she always has dinner with Lady Jasmine, so I expect she’ll come home after ten tonight. It seems too late to call her to your bedroom. If it’s urgent, shall I deliver a memo instead?”

What memo? He simply needed Clarette.

Lionel shook his head and buried his face in the pillow.

“That’s fine, Oliver. Just prepare some whiskey. I’m bored, so I need a drink.”

“That won’t do, Sir. You must listen to the doctor. Both cigars and alcohol are forbidden during recovery.”

“……”

Lionel frowned, staring up at the ornate ceiling of his bedroom. He was lucky to have survived, but thanks to that bullet, he was about to have the dullest week of his life.

“Well then, Sir, I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, please call anytime.”

Once Oliver left, dreadful silence descended. Lionel glanced at the crutch beside his bed.

Would it be possible to sneak to the annex at night without anyone noticing, using that crutch? With his limp, anyone would recognize Duke Valentin from the crutch alone.

‘The sound will be loud when going down the stairs. There’s just… no way.’

Even while staying at the ducal residence for a week, Lionel couldn’t meet Clarette. He sighed deeply and tossed in bed with regret.

But he missed one very important fact.

That was, Clarette liked him much more than Lionel realized.

* * *

Around midnight, the main building of the ducal residence was shrouded in its usual dim darkness.

After finishing her work with Jasmine, Clarette carefully crossed the garden and opened the side door to the main building. Since it was on the opposite side of the servants’ quarters, all the rooms in the hallway were empty.

Please, let me not run into anyone. 

Clarette prayed as she walked quietly down the long corridor.

She reached the main hall safely and carefully climbed the stairs to the second floor.

‘Ah, here it is. The drawing room.’

Passing along the second-floor corridor, Clarette spotted the door to the drawing room she’d first entered upon arriving at the ducal residence. Here, she had first met Lionel, dressed in mourning.

<Is the woman who came to see me… you?>

Clarette recalled Lionel’s first impression as he entered the drawing room. She still remembered clearly his steady gaze when their eyes first met.

A look that seemed wary of a stranger, yet somehow curious.

‘Honestly, I thought I’d never meet him again after that day.’

Clarette realized how much time had passed since then and quietly smiled.

Their season had changed. Clarette marveled at her own actions, which she could never have imagined before, as she walked lightly along the second-floor corridor.

A soft light shone from beneath Lionel’s bedroom door.

Fortunately, he seemed to still be awake. Clarette debated whether to knock and enter, but eventually decided to focus on not getting caught and grabbed the doorknob.

She opened the door silently and found a faint lantern glowing inside. Thanks to this, Clarette was able to approach Lionel’s bed without wandering.

‘So this is Duke Valentin’s bedroom…’

Compared to the annex’s bedroom, the luxurious furniture and expensive decorations were everywhere. Distracted for a moment by the room’s splendor, Clarette finally stood beside his bed.

But, contrary to her expectations, Lionel was quietly asleep under the covers.

Clarette glanced at his chest, exposed between the loosened sheets. Lionel’s body, rising and falling slowly with each breath, was impressive even in the wide bed.

‘Is it just his ankle that’s injured? I hope it’s not too painful.’

Clarette carefully sat at the edge of the bed and looked down at Lionel’s sleeping face. His tightly closed eyelids and calmly pressed lips gave his face an indifferent expression.

‘I like his smiling face, but I also like this one. Somehow, it makes my heart flutter more…’

Clarette recalled Lionel’s face as he looked down at her in the northern woods of the ducal residence, blushing to herself. Back then, his words and actions had been gentle, but his expression and mood were completely different.

He wanted the woman before him, unable to control his desire, and his body was burning hot. His gaze was dull yet intense, and his suppressed breath was urgent with longing.

Accepting those desperate lips and allowing his touch, she felt as though she might be swept away by him…

‘What should I have done then? Should I have just stayed still and let Lionel do as he wished?’

Clarette fanned her flushed cheeks, pondering. Lionel was certainly experienced, so perhaps she should just let him take the lead, only saying no if she truly disliked something.

‘He seemed to care for me so much. I want to do something for this man, too.’

What would please him? As Clarette studied his face, which she never tired of, she heard him quietly mumble,

“Clarette.”

He murmured softly, eyes still closed. Clarette gasped but, thankfully, didn’t make a loud noise.

Was it sleep talking? As she stood frozen, clutching her startled heart, Lionel chuckled softly and murmured,

“Are you just going to keep watching?”

Lionel spoke playfully, opening his eyes to look at Clarette. He gazed intently at her flustered eyes, smiling with satisfaction.

“You went to all the trouble to come to my bedroom.”