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Chapter 20

Meanwhile, the butler, Robert, was also deep in worry.

The cause was the woman his master had suddenly brought to the residence today.

No, to be precise, it was his master's attitude toward her that felt off.

Robert frowned, recalling what had happened earlier.

He had shown the woman to her room, and shortly after, sent a young maid up to check on her.

But the maid returned quickly, tilting her head in puzzlement.

"There was no sign of her. Perhaps she'd fallen asleep?"

He had assumed she was resting and hadn't thought much of it...

"Where did she go again?"

Upon returning to the residence, his master had scowled and demanded the woman's whereabouts.

When the room was found empty, he had the gardens searched—but the woman had vanished.

And so his master, who had just arrived, left again to find her.

Even so, there was no need for him to go looking himself...

She wasn't a five-year-old child, and her luggage was still there.

Surely she would come back on her own.

I heard she was to be Master Ivan's tutor...

As one grew older, the mind wandered more.

And with more thoughts came the experience of having seen all sorts of situations.

Based on that experience—

This doesn't bode well.

Robert's expression darkened.

Just as his worry was about to deepen further—

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The sound of horse hooves came from outside.

Robert quickly rose and headed to the first floor.

But he saw only Herald, trudging down from the carriage alone.

His face was plainly exhausted.

"What, Herald? Why are you alone?"

"Indeed, why am I alone?"

Herald stared into the air as if recalling something.

Then he let out a dry, incredulous laugh.

"Where are His Grace and the woman?"

"They're coming."

Herald barely swallowed the words on foot that threatened to follow.

What a creatively inefficient thing to do.

She could have just woken up for a moment when put in the carriage. Since when had his superior become so considerate?

"I see."

But Robert had no way of knowing the situation.

He nodded, unaware that Kayden wouldn't be returning for quite some time.

No—he actually found it timely, as he had something to ask Herald.

"Herald, about that woman."

"Huh? Ah, yes. Right, Miss Emilia."

Herald nodded with a slightly weary expression.

He'd heard her name so many times today because of his superior.

"What do you make of her?"

"What do I make of her?"

Herald asked with a puzzled look.

"She's perfect as Master Ivan's tutor."

Not getting the answer he wanted, Robert narrowed his brows.

He wanted to ask whether, even if his master took an interest out of idle curiosity, she was someone who knew her place.

After all, one couldn't simply make a commoner a duchess.

He had occasionally seen noblemen blinded by love install unsuitable women as their wives.

And he knew that most such cases ended badly.

Robert wanted to ask Herald directly, but meddling in his master's private affairs went against his duties as a butler.

So he posed an indirect question.

"Doesn't His Grace seem rather taken with her?"

"That's what I'm saying. He must be truly grateful, haha."

But Herald didn't give the kind of answer he wanted.

Frustrated, Robert set aside his butler's propriety just a little.

"That's not what I mean. I'm asking if she has some other motive."

"Huh? Other motives? Well, I doubt it. She saved His Grace and left without taking any reward. She didn't seem particularly money-hungry either."

But again, his answer missed the mark.

In the end, Robert decided to give up discussing this sort of thing with Herald.

He had just remembered Herald's romantic track record—which he'd momentarily forgotten.

A flicker of pity and dismay crossed Robert's face.

"...Forgive me. I forgot how innocent you are. Go get some rest. You look tired."

Robert patted Herald's shoulder as if to encourage him.

"Huh? Wait, Butler."

Herald was baffled.

The words were considerate of his fatigue, but that strange silence beforehand bothered him.

"Butler?"

But before he could stop him, Robert vanished as if using some kind of magic.

"Huh?"

Herald, who had been treated strangely by multiple people in the middle of the night, felt like crying.

If he had any fault, it was only that he'd worked diligently.

"No! Really! Why is everyone doing this to me today?!"

His hollow cry echoed through the mansion.

Naturally, no one listened.

Sigh, I might as well sleep.

Herald trudged off with his wounded heart.

At least today, being tired, he'd be able to sleep well.

---

Rustle, rustle.

The curtains swayed in the breeze coming through the window.

Soon, sunlight began streaming in through the window as well.

But to the person lying on the large bed, it was merely a nuisance disturbing her sleep.

Emilia, who had been breathing rhythmically, turned over to avoid the sunlight.

"Mmm."

She woke slightly, but frowned and nuzzled her face into the soft blanket.

After a long while without moving, Emilia suddenly snapped her eyes open.

An unfamiliar scene spread before her blurry vision.

She looked around in surprise.

That's right. This is Kayden's residence.

Glancing at the window, the sun was already high in the sky.

She'd never slept in this late before—she must have been truly exhausted.

Emilia pulled back the covers to get out of bed.

And saw her bandaged leg.

She paused.

Only then did she realize that she hadn't returned to the residence on her own feet last night.

At the same time, she recalled what state she'd been in before falling asleep.

...Oh no!

She'd kept closing her eyes to avoid his staring, but—

How on earth did I fall asleep in that situation?

Though Kayden did bear some responsibility.

After all, he'd been far too close.

But still, even if it was just a moment, I couldn't resist falling asleep!

Emilia berated her own lack of self-control and bit the inside of her lip.

Knock, knock.

A knock at the door made Emilia flinch.

She quickly ran her fingers through her hair, even if roughly.

"Yes, come in."

With a click, the door opened.

Fortunately, it wasn't Kayden who'd come looking for her.

It was a maid who looked about her age—or perhaps a little younger.

When their eyes met, the maid smiled brightly.

"You're awake!"

At her lively voice, Emilia gave a small cough.

She had the feeling the word "finally" had been omitted before that.

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