Chapter 54
Abelin’s question made Theron look slightly uneasy for a moment.
“That’s true,” Theron replied after a brief hesitation.
“But there’s always a minimal number of staff present. For example, the servants who work in the kitchen, or the gardeners who maintain the grounds.”
Of course. No matter how much magic was used to manage things, food still required human hands.
Nodding in agreement, Abelin suddenly grew curious about something else.
“Do the gardeners manage the gardens themselves?”
Somehow, it seemed like the garden could be maintained with magic, so it was a little surprising that a gardener was employed.
“That’s true, but…”
“I saw some yellow roses planted in the garden earlier. I thought they didn’t really match the overall atmosphere of the garden. Maybe the gardener just likes that flower.”
“….”
Even after Abelin spoke, Theron remained silent for a while.
He looked as if he had been caught in some wrongdoing.
“Duke?”
“Ah.”
It was only when Abelin called him that he came back to himself.
“Where would you like to see?”
Now composed, Theron subtly changed the subject.
“Well… I’d like to see where you spend most of your time.”
“If you mean where I spend the most time…”
“Where you spend the majority of your day.”
Abelin’s question was a little tactic to get a look at his study or office.
After a moment of thought, Theron made a decision and led Abelin along.
‘Good,’
Abelin thought, pleased that her plan was working, but her expression quickly turned flustered as she trailed after him.
“Duke… this is….”
“This is where I spend most of my time,” Theron said.
The place Theron brought Abelin to was none other than his bedroom.
“…I see.”
Abelin, who had learned that people generally do not reveal their bedrooms to members of the opposite sex without being married, was caught off guard by Theron’s actions.
“Please feel free to look around.”
To make matters stranger, Theron even gave Abelin the “privilege” of a bedroom tour.
‘What on earth is happening?’
Suddenly being allowed to look around someone else’s bedroom… Abelin could confidently say that she was likely the only person in the Empire to have seen Theron’s bedroom.
Theron’s bedroom, much like the rest of his mansion, was orderly.
Dark wooden furniture, a large bed capable of accommodating five people, and a dark canopy draped over the bed.
It gave a cozy impression, blocking light like blackout curtains and promising a deep, peaceful sleep.
‘Maybe there are some important documents here,’
Abelin thought, reasoning that if any important papers were kept, they might be in a place only Theron could access.
With that in mind, she looked around the room more actively.
However, there was no place suitable for hiding documents.
Perhaps because it was solely a place for sleeping, the bedroom only contained the bed, a small table, and a sofa—nothing more.
“Have you seen enough?”
At that moment, Theron spoke.
Only then did Abelin realize she had completely ignored his presence while feverishly inspecting his bedroom.
‘I must have looked like someone desperately snooping around another person’s bedroom.’
It was unusual for Theron to suddenly show her his bedroom, but it was equally strange to scrutinize it so intensely.
‘I should compose myself.’
Abelin reflected and nodded toward Theron.
“Yes. It’s a very cozy room.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Where do you spend your time next?”
This time, she hoped to get a look at his study or office.
As expected, Theron led her to his study.
“So you mainly spend your time reading books,” she observed.
“Yes, that makes it easier to find you,” Theron said.
In other words, he was doing reconnaissance to see where Abelin might appear in her dreams.
As if to prove his point, the shelves were filled with romance novels.
Most were ones Abelin had already read, but some new releases, which she had missed after Count Herols began keeping a detailed record of items coming in and out of the mansion, were also present.
“I haven’t read this one yet!”
She suddenly lost her composure when she discovered a new release from her favorite author.
“I know,” Theron said.
“Huh? How?”
“Because you were not in this book.”
It sounded as if he had gone through every book to see if she appeared in them.
“…I see.”
Feeling a bit creeped out, Abelin quietly put the new book back on the shelf.
As she continued scanning the shelves, another book caught her eye.
“Hey, you can court someone too…?”
The title was bizarre.
As she reached for it, Theron quickly grabbed her hand.
“There’s no need to read that one.”
“Eh? But…”
“Here, how about this one? It’s a book I’ve found particularly impressive recently.”
Theron subtly positioned himself between the shelf and Abelin, then handed her a random book from the shelf.
The Dangerous Love of That Vampire
The book in her hand was part of the previously high-intensity vampire romance series.
The cover, black velvet, concealed the passionate content within.
“….”
“….”
A moment of silence passed between them.
“So this is the book that made such an impression on you, Duke…”
Abelin alternated her gaze between the book and Theron. His ears flushed bright red.
“No! That’s not it!”
He snatched the book from her hands and shouted in panic.
“I think you’ve seen enough of the study,” he said.
He then hurriedly led her out.
‘Still haven’t found any documents.’
She hadn’t explored the inner part of the study because she got distracted by the many romance novels, but seeing Theron’s ears bright red made it impossible to insist on looking further.
“The sun is about to set, so we should…”
“Ther—!”
Just as Theron subtly tried to give Abelin the signal to leave, Barom appeared at the end of the corridor.
He had disappeared after pretending to be a butler earlier and now looked somewhat urgent.
Barom quickly approached and whispered something into Theron’s ear.
As Barom spoke, Theron’s expression gradually stiffened.
Sensing the tension, Abelin cautiously stepped back.
“Then I’ll be going now.”
“Wait, milady.”
Theron stopped her.
By the time Barom had finished speaking, he was gone like the wind.
Judging by Theron’s expression, it seemed serious.
‘What could it be?’
Even after Barom left, Theron’s stern expression did not soften.
“Milady,” Theron spoke softly.
They had been together for a while, yet in this moment, the fact that they were alone felt particularly vivid.
Their eyes met—Theron’s blue and Abelin’s green—hovering in the air.
“Today…”
Theron seemed to struggle to continue, furrowing his brow.
After a moment, he mustered courage and added with a solemn expression:
“Please stay at my mansion for the night.”
“…What?”
It was hard to tell from his struggle what he would say, but hearing him actually ask her to spend the night was shocking.
‘This is exactly the kind of line the reckless male leads in the novels I’ve read use to lure the innocent heroines.’
Theron seemed equally aware of this as he awkwardly tried to explain himself:
“It seems the Crown Prince is planning something.”
“The Crown Prince?”
“Yes. Rumors have started circulating in the capital. They say the Crown Prince is about to receive his future princess.”
Hearing rumors about the Crown Prince choosing a bride…
Of course, Abelin might not be the one, but given Serio’s recent behavior, she couldn’t help worrying.
He was the kind to boast about defeating rivals just to show off.
“Then I should go home and talk to my father…”
“His people have already been sent to your mansion,” Theron said.
“….”
Even if she returned home, she would only encounter the Crown Prince’s people.
“I will prepare the best possible room for you here,” Theron added.
It seemed the best option was to wait here, letting her father and Ares resolve things while she stayed put.
‘Think of it positively.’
Perhaps tonight, with everyone asleep, it would be easier to search for the documents unnoticed.
After deciding, Abelin nodded.
“Let’s do that.”
Soon, Abelin was shown to the guest room.
Though Theron rarely mobilized staff, he assigned a maid to assist her—perhaps out of consideration.
“Would you like to change into pajamas?”
“You have pajamas?”
Abelin had assumed that, given the sudden stay, there would be no women’s sleepwear available.
“The Duke quickly sent someone to the salon to get a set for you.”
“Oh.”
Thinking it was probably from the Sharon Salon again, she glanced at the maid holding the pajamas and nearly had her eyes pop out of her head.
