Chapter 70
At times like this, he really is perceptive.
I looked at him awkwardly. No matter how clumsily I tried to deceive him, there was no way Lex would be fooled.
In his eyes, he probably thought that me following the maids was just childish mischief. That’s why he hadn’t followed me, and up until then, my intention had been exactly that.
But it wasn’t something that would end there.
Anyway, whatever I said would spread, whether I wanted it to or not. So there was no reason to hide it. If he had quickly figured it out…
“Um… yes. I just told them to get their act together.”
“Huh?”
“To not do anything foolish.”
Lex’s eyes wavered.
“Aisha, what on earth… why would you do such a thing? Even if you said that to the maids…”
“It’ll reach Her Highness the Grand Duchess. She’ll view my behavior as strange.”
But right now, stimulation is exactly what’s needed.
Though I didn’t intend it, with all the maids dismissed, the Grand Duchess would surely act quickly. After all, there are fewer people left to watch the twins.
‘If she realizes that I blatantly ignore the maids she sent, she’ll probably try to deal with me too.’
What she dislikes most is the unknown. She must see everything under her control.
Knowing that, that’s why I did it.
“That’s what you wanted, then.”
“You say I wanted that…”
I just laughed. Watching me for a moment, he sighed deeply, as if there was nothing he could do.
“You must have some meaning behind this, right…?”
“Yes.”
“I really don’t understand. I thought… I thought of you as just a little girl, Aisha. But sometimes, when you do things I can’t understand…”
I understand what he’s trying to say. An ordinary child might provoke the maids, but they wouldn’t use them to touch the Grand Duchess. So why go out of your way to do something that would provoke her?
“She is… someone who is kind, yet must be treated carefully. Causing trouble for no reason… is pointless.”
“A child who grew up in an orphanage…”
“Yes?”
“You end up watching every move. And every time, you’re forced to choose. If you don’t, you can’t survive. This time, I made a choice too.”
“A choice?”
“Yes. A choice for what I’ll do next. So, Lex… what do you think?”
Since he had already realized, it was actually easier to speak. I have something I must do through him. If he investigates what I gave him, he’ll realize it immediately. So when I asked, he just tilted his head in question.
“Huh?”
“Whose person are you, Lex?”
“I am your person, Aisha.”
“Is that so.”
“And this choice for what’s next… does it relate to the question I just asked you?”
I nodded at him.
“Yes. Just a moment.”
I looked at the slightly open bedroom door after the Grand Duke went inside. For some reason, Rohen was talking calmly with the Grand Duke. Whether calm or agitated, I couldn’t tell, but he was speaking passionately enough that he didn’t notice me briefly entering.
I secretly took the doll from the windowsill.
Rohen didn’t see it, and there was no one around, so I quickly went outside and handed it to him. A doll with its neck torn.
“What is this?”
“You can tell the Grand Duke about it if you want. But I want him to examine it properly. What’s inside the stuffing. Just look into that.”
“Oh. Don’t worry. There’s no need to tell the Grand Duke.”
I didn’t believe that.
The maids said Lex always tells everything. I don’t fully believe them, but it means Lex goes out often. Whether he’s delivering messages to the Grand Duke or for another reason, it’s obvious he’ll convey things to him.
“Yes.”
I didn’t believe for a second that there was nothing to deliver. Lex has been the Grand Duke’s person from the beginning, watching over the twins under his orders.
And now, he’s watching over me. Every order he follows begins and ends with the Grand Duke.
“Ah! But be careful.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“I don’t think it’s dangerous alone… but still…”
“Aisha.”
“Yes?”
He looked at me very cautiously.
“The reason you asked whose person I am… it’s because of this, isn’t it.”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… I’m honest, I am your person, Aisha, but I still want to give advice.”
At his sudden words, I simply nodded, feeling nothing unusual.
“Yes.”
“Why not hold an adult’s hand? Holding someone’s hand might make the path a bit easier. I worry that Aisha, you’re taking too harsh a path. You could afford to be a little more like a child.”
I stiffened as I looked at him.
“Would I want to hold the hand of someone who puts the people I love in danger? Lari was a child who never got sick at the orphanage. Healthier than anyone. But here… she can’t even stand. Her health is declining day by day.”
“Ah.”
“It’s a situation where suspicion is inevitable. A child doesn’t get sick suddenly without reason.”
“So you already suspected the culprit. My words were nonsense, then.”
He scratched his head awkwardly.
“Yes.”
“That’s why you drove away all the maids… Aisha, really…”
He seemed to have so much he wanted to say that he opened his mouth, then lowered his head.
“I guess there’s a lot I don’t know.”
“No. It’s just that I’m being sensitive. Thinking sensitively, I figured out who the culprit is. Someone who can oversee everything Lari has, and someone with more influence than anyone in the Grand Ducal family.”
Why am I telling all this to him? Maybe I’ve grown weak. Maybe I’m a little tired. Doing everything as someone powerless. Maybe I just want help from someone. This is the Lex who kept his loyalty to the end in the story.
“Should I tell the Grand Duke about these things instead? If this… is dangerous…”
“Without evidence, it’s just speculation. Speaking up would only put the Grand Duke in an awkward position.”
“Ah. That’s true.”
“That’s why I’m asking Lex. Please investigate properly. So that the twins will never be in danger again. Then… I’ll tell the Grand Duke, after organizing my thoughts.”
I spoke effortlessly, perhaps because I already told Rohen, or maybe because everything is moving according to my will. Speaking to someone else was not difficult.
“Hmm… I see.”
“This isn’t the only thing. There’s surely another big cause that made Lari like that. That’s why I provoked the maids a little. Since we did something, there will be a reaction on the other side too.”
“I understand. Then I’ll say nothing until all your investigations are complete, Aisha, and act as you wish.”
“Yes.”
Through this, one thing will become certain. Whether it’s my heart or my instinct driving me, I told him everything.
I could say it because he has no ties to the Grand Duchess, and actually doesn’t like her. That will show whether he is someone I can trust.
Lex, fiddling with the doll I gave him, smiled awkwardly.
“Really… ha. Are orphans normally this smart? I can’t believe she’s the same age as my sister.”
“That’s because I had to grow up a little faster than usual.”
“Yes?”
I meant it literally, but Lex looked confused.
“I grew up a little early, I guess.”
“Ah…”
I smiled at him.
“I see. I suppose it must have been very hard. Especially when you spoke about your father earlier. Whether it’s me or the Grand Duke…”
Then it happened.
“What are you two talking about?”
The Grand Duke emerged from inside as the door moved.
“Grand Duke, are you finished?”
“Yes. Through Rohen, I heard how much the maids have ignored Aisha. Even the quietest one… they talked about her quite a lot.”
The Grand Duke snorted, glancing at me.
“It’s the first time I’ve had such a long conversation with Rohen alone.”
“Congratulations.”
“Not quite congratulations. Anyway, now I know the situation, so don’t worry. I’ll pick trustworthy people again. Until then, even if it’s inconvenient, stay as you are, Aisha.”
“I’m fine as it is. You’ve been considerate in so many ways.”
Of course, I slept separately from the children, but this is already a great situation. Before, they treated me worse than a stone on the street. Now, at least, they regard me as a person.
I’m satisfied. Far better than at the orphanage.
“…Hmm. About what you said.”
“Yes?”
“Sleep together.”
