Chapter 25…
After a short while, Tession—who had been burying his face in Cynthia’s shoulder—slowly lifted his head.
“Cynthia…”
“Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?”
“It’s a bit strange having my vision suddenly so clear, but… no, I don’t feel any particular discomfort. Is this the effect of that nutrient you gave me?”
At his question, Cynthia hesitated. Would it be okay to tell him the whole truth?
“Well… yes, that’s right.”
“Where did you get it?”
“Um, well…”
Cynthia looked down at him with an awkward expression.
If she carelessly said she’d gotten it from an alchemist, he would surely begin to wonder how she came to know the recipe for an eye drop made by processing Titronea flowers in darkness and mixing them with Kirch sap in precise concentration.
“It’s… the Bailey family’s secret! I can’t tell you yet!”
Yes—times like this called for the “family secret” excuse. Whatever trouble that caused the Bailey dukedom later was none of Cynthia’s concern.
“I see…”
Tession nodded slowly.
Relieved to have avoided suspicion, Cynthia sighed softly and began gently running her hand once more through his hair.
So soft… Tession’s hair is so soft…
If she just dragged things out a bit longer after this, Ruth would return the Ritemper Trading Company to the Baileys, and Dale would delay the engagement until it eventually broke off.
And when that happened…
Today might be the last day I ever see Tession’s face.
That thought filled her with both regret and relief. Deceiving him had never sat well with her.
Cynthia spoke quietly.
“My lord, this is my final gift to you. From now on, please live seeing many beautiful, adorable, and wondrous things in this world.”
“Why do you say final gift?”
Tession’s expression stiffened.
He’ll find out soon enough, she thought, unable to meet his eyes as she looked away.
“Why do you call it that? As if today were our last meeting?”
He asked again, anxiety tightening his voice. When she finally looked back at him, she saw his violet eyes filled with unease.
“Haha, I didn’t mean anything by it! I just meant, from now on I’ll only receive gifts instead!”
She brushed it off clumsily.
But Tession, gazing quietly up at her, tightened the arm that was wrapped around her waist.
“You’re beautiful.”
“Eh?”
“Cute… and amazing.”
What is?
Cynthia looked around. After living unable to see for so long, could even this wide, empty room look beautiful to him now?
Yet Tession wasn’t looking around the room at all—his gaze never once left her.
“Cynthia.”
“Yes?”
“You’re my savior.”
“Oh…”
Cynthia exhaled in relief. At least regaining his sight was clearly a good thing for him.
Then Tession, still looking straight at her, spoke again.
“Thank you for giving me such a precious gift. Is there nothing you would like to receive?”
“Receive?”
“Yes. Since the subject came up, I wish to give something back to you.”
Cynthia hesitated. She hadn’t done this expecting any reward—only to ease her conscience.
After a moment’s thought, she spoke slowly.
“Well… there is the trading company involved in our families’ engagement deal.”
“The Ritemper Trading Company?”
At that, Tession’s dark brows drew together slightly. Cynthia didn’t notice and kept talking.
“It seemed the elders of the Bailey family wanted it returned a little sooner.”
“….”
“So if you could perhaps… hurry that along?”
When she lowered her gaze, Tession relaxed his expression as if he’d never frowned at all.
He looked up at her in silence for a moment, then one corner of his lips lifted.
“The Bailey family elders, you say?”
“Yes.”
“…I’ll consider it.”
“Thank you!”
Dale, see? I really did my best!
Cynthia let out a small sigh of relief. Tession’s stiff, formal tone bothered her a little, but the uneasy feeling quickly faded.
“….”
Tession continued to stare at her quietly—his gaze curious, searching, almost studying her.
Why does he keep staring… oh, maybe everything he sees now feels new to him.
Blinking in mild confusion, Cynthia met his eyes with a look of pity and comfort.
After a moment’s hesitation, she gently raised her hand and placed it against his cheek.
Tession leaned naturally into her palm with a happy smile.
“Cynthia…”
She looked at him for a long time.
Because this really might be the last time.
She wanted to remember him—those beautiful violet eyes sparkling, the gentle expression—forever.
“Cynthia! Have you heard the news?”
The door burst open and Dale rushed in, looking disheveled.
Cynthia, who had been lying on the bed, slowly lifted her upper body.
So much for being cautious about what I might be doing in here…
“What news?”
She asked curtly. Dale, still dazed, came closer.
“The Grand Duke Tession has completely regained his sight! He can see clearly again!”
“Oh…”
Cynthia answered in a flat tone.
Well, yes. That was me.
Sitting up with an air of arrogance, she asked,
“So, did we get the Ritemper Trading Company back? I made sure to ask him, so by the end of this month—”
“No!”
“What?”
At Dale’s sudden interruption, Cynthia froze and blinked.
What do you mean, no?
“It’s a total emergency! The Bailey household is in chaos! You can’t just sit here!”
“W-what? What’s not happening?”
“The Grand Duke Tession…”
Cynthia swallowed hard, watching Dale’s mouth. Something was clearly not going as planned.
“…said he will never return the Ritemper Trading Company!”
“Tch… ugh.”
“Ahem! Cough… cough!”
Cynthia shrank into her seat at the far corner of the conference room.
She knew perfectly well why she was there, but that didn’t make it any less unpleasant.
After a tense silence, the heavy front doors suddenly opened. All eyes turned toward them.
“Is everyone here?”
A man strode in as he spoke.
With sharp green eyes and short hair tied back in a small tail, he was Castleton Bailey, head of the Bailey family and foster father of Elizabeth.
It’s my first time seeing the Duke in person…
Cynthia glanced up at him.
Castleton sat in the chair at the head of the table, looking leisurely around the room.
“It seems almost everyone is here.”
Another Bailey seated nearby replied, and Castleton nodded in satisfaction, leaning forward and resting his arms on the table.
“The reason I’ve called all the family together today is to discuss the matter of the Ritemper Trading Company.”
He went straight to the point. Cynthia swallowed dryly and watched him.
“Before that—this morning I heard a truly amusing story. The Grand Duke Tession Lumanov has regained his sight! That useless blind man with only a decent figure!”
“I heard he used a magic potion.”
“A magic potion, you say? Who believes such nonsense! Ha ha ha!”
“Indeed, ha ha ha!”
“And who on earth gave him such a potion?”
“That part… I’m not sure, ha ha…”
Castleton laughed heartily, as though it were the funniest thing in the world. The other Baileys around him forced out small, nervous chuckles.
So they haven’t said it was me yet…
Cynthia quietly watched the fake smiles around her.
Then, as if a switch had been flipped, Castleton’s laughter stopped abruptly.
His eyes swept the room—no longer amused, but burning with a cold fury that had been hiding behind that smile.
