Chapter 16
It was definitely a bad sign. What seemed like simple dizziness kept coming back to Sophia from time to time.
Maybe she had been out and about too much, saying she was going to the garden. It seemed she had caught a cold.
It wasn’t too serious yet, and if she saw Serita for a checkup sometime today, it would be fine, so she decided not to worry too much and keep moving around.
Perhaps because she had woken up with the help of a servant rather than Lorreina or Lucion, her condition still felt off.
“Lorreina, I can understand. But where did Sion go?”
Lorreina had been frequently absent since the day Lucion started staying close to Sophia, busy with piled-up work and various duties. She had even given prior notice, so it was understandable.
But Lucion was different. Even if he had something so important he couldn’t come, shouldn’t he at least have said a word?
As the servant tied a red ribbon necktie over Sophia’s shirt, she glanced at the nightstand and spoke.
“Looks like Lucion left a trace on the nightstand?”
“A trace…? Ah.”
Following the servant’s gaze, Sophia turned her head to the nightstand and spotted a small note placed on top. She was already mostly dressed, so she gently brushed the servant’s hand aside and picked up the note.
[At the time best for drinking Ceylon tea, third central staircase.]
What on earth is this supposed to mean?
There was a small drawing of a teacup beside the writing—cute, yes, but that aside, the note itself made no sense to her.
“He must’ve been busy early this morning because of this.”
Hearing the servant mutter beside her, Sophia seized the opportunity and held the note out to her.
“What’s he trying to do here? I don’t get it.”
“Hmm… maybe he wants to play with you?”
“Play? With me? How, with this?”
“Usually, notes like this are meant to lure someone somewhere.”
“Hmm…”
“Why don’t you try solving this riddle and head to that location?”
She didn’t have much else to do anyway, and it wasn’t a bad suggestion. Spending the day entertaining Lucion’s prank might not be such a terrible idea.
“I’ll prepare your morning tea as usual.”
“Okay.”
Okay…?
The usual morning tea was Ceylon. So “at the time best for drinking Ceylon tea” would mean now.
That meant Lucion might be waiting for her in the location indicated by the note right now.
As soon as that thought crossed her mind, Sophia changed her words in a rush.
She didn’t like the idea of making someone wait without notice.
“Wait. Just a moment. I’m going out for a bit, so you don’t need to prepare the tea.”
“Pardon? Then…”
“I’ll be back before breakfast.”
She cut off any potential concern about skipping breakfast and left right away.
Her soft dress rustled as she moved briskly, and though her light lavender hair hadn’t been brushed yet, it wasn’t messy—it fluttered gently in the air.
The note was easy to decipher. Perhaps out of consideration, it hadn’t been written in a cryptic or metaphorical way—simple enough that even a 12-year-old could understand.
At Ceylon tea time, third staircase. That must mean the third floor staircase. So Lucion should be…
“Let me go.”
Just as she stepped onto the stairs leading to the third floor, she heard Lucion’s familiar voice. But something felt off.
Was he being bullied by a senior servant? Worried, she quickly climbed the stairs—only to find Lucion standing with Benjamin.
“I really don’t have anything to do with it. I swear—”
“Sion.”
Sophia called to him as he tried to continue explaining something to Benjamin. Only then did both Lucion and Benjamin notice her presence.
“My lady…!”
“Sophia?”
Their eyes both widened at the same time.
This was worse than simple workplace hazing. Lucion was being openly threatened by Benjamin.
Benjamin quickly hid his hostility when he saw Sophia, but the tension was still clear. Frowning slightly, Sophia moved toward them. Lucion suddenly ran and clung to her.
“My ladyyy…!”
Although he was much larger than her—making it look like she was the one hugging him—it was definitely Lucion who had clung to her.
At his action, Benjamin’s golden eyes flashed like a beast’s, and he bared his teeth slightly.
Sophia felt Lucion flinch violently behind her, so she gently pushed him aside and stepped in front of him to face Benjamin directly.
As soon as she did, Benjamin’s aggressive energy diminished. His sharp gaze softened before her eyes, and she calmly spoke.
“He’s my servant. If there’s a problem, please tell me.”
Benjamin looked like he had a lot to say but remained silent.
“It’s nothing. I’m sorry.”
“What brings you to Rosent Castle?”
“I… just came to the garden for a bit.”
The garden? Tilting her head, Sophia looked at Lucion, who whispered behind her.
“He was making a flower crown in the garden. I ran into him there.”
Ah, the flower crown. She remembered Benjamin saying he’d go to the garden when she wasn’t there to make one. Him being in the garden made sense—but what about Lucion?
“What were you doing in the garden?”
“Well, of course!”
As if waiting for that question, Lucion beamed and walked toward a small table decorated with vases along the corridor.
On the table sat a flower crown made of yellow and white flowers woven together. Lucion picked it up and brought it to Sophia.
Then, as naturally as could be, he placed it on her head with an innocent smile.
“I made this as a gift for you, my lady!”
“…So the note was to give me this at this time and place?”
“Yes!”
His proud tone and adorable behavior made her forgive him for dragging her around so early in the morning.
“It’s pretty.”
As Sophia calmly accepted the flower crown, Benjamin muttered under his breath, pressing his fingertips together.
“So it wasn’t the flower crown she hated…”
His voice was faint, but Sophia caught it. She turned her violet eyes toward Benjamin, silently asking what he just said.
Understanding the question in her gaze, Benjamin chose not to answer.
“I’ll be going now, Sophia. Sorry about earlier.”
“…Alright.”
“Take care of yourself… and if you feel sick, see Serita. Also…”
Benjamin’s gaze fell sharply on Lucion.
“Be careful—with everything.”
The implication was clear: be especially careful with Lucion. After finishing, Benjamin walked down the stairs.
When Sophia turned back to Lucion, he naturally didn’t look happy.
Who would be, after being treated like a potential threat?
But Benjamin had shown considerable restraint. He didn’t scold Lucion for his attitude or demand an apology. He even apologized himself.
All this toward someone like Lucion, who had no power and lived a comfortable life under the castle lord’s mercy.
With a small sigh, Sophia looked at Lucion.
“What happened?”
When she demanded an explanation, Lucion hesitated a moment before finally speaking.
“I went to the garden to make the flower crown… but when I ran into him, the way he looked at me was strange… and then he followed me here.”
“…”
“So, well, a little… commotion happened here…”
“I’m asking why that commotion happened.”
Not letting him avoid the issue, Sophia demanded a proper answer.
“He seemed worried that I might harm you, so he was being cautious.”
Lucion, a threat to her?
“Do you… think of me that way too?”
Lucion smiled slightly as he asked, but the corners of his lips trembled with barely hidden tension. He seemed unaware of it.
How foolish.
“If you’ve really been watching me all this time, you should be able to answer that yourself.”
If I thought that way, I wouldn’t have kept you by my side.
“Let’s go, Sion. I didn’t even get to drink my morning tea because of your little game.”
Leaving her words behind, Sophia turned her back and walked down the stairs.
Lucion, watching that small figure walk away, touched his eyes. They burned, as if tears were about to fall.
But it was okay. They hadn’t fallen yet. He could still hold them back.
Taking a deep breath, Lucion swallowed his emotions, forced a cheerful smile, and rushed to Sophia’s side.
“Then I’ll take responsibility and prepare the most delicious morning tea ever. You can look forward to it!”
With a face no different from usual—affectionate and warm.
Yet more sincere than ever before.
