Chapter 23
“I came all this way even after getting that kind of letter, but the first thing they made me do was pick out suitable servants! Not even a proper greeting!”
As Lucion began to speak, his voice betrayed his frustration as the memory resurfaced. He looked at Sophia with an expression of indignation in his eyes.
“But since it was a request from a friend, I worked hard and made a list of decent people. And then, out of nowhere, I found myself added to the list! Without a single word to me!”
“Really?”
“Yes! You have no idea how dumbfounded I was… That person is always like that.”
Lucion seemed to have harbored these feelings for a long time, and now that the dam had broken, he was chattering excitedly. Despite calling that person unfair and mean, here he was, staying obediently at the Roberti estate, just as that person wanted.
“He must be someone trustworthy, then.”
“Well… yes. I can’t help but trust him. He’s incredibly smart… and I’ve received a lot of help from him.”
As she listened, Sophia noticed something strange. For someone he called a close friend, Lucion was showing a surprising level of deference. Was it a difference in status? Perhaps that explained it.
“But still, I’m a little grateful now, since I got to meet you, my lady.”
“Every time I see you, I realize again how much you like me, Sion.”
At her casual remark, his freckled, innocent face bloomed into a bright smile.
“Of course. You’re the young lady.”
“…”
“Because you’re Lady Sophia—how could I not like you? I told you before, didn’t I? You’re someone who deserves to be loved.”
As she stared at his face, Sophia let out a deep sigh.
How could someone smile like that without raising any suspicion? She felt almost ashamed for trying to pry into the servants sent by the Aros family.
“Why? Are you feeling unwell? Do you still have a headache?”
He fussed over her at the slightest sigh, checking her complexion. Sophia waved her hand dismissively and mumbled that she was fine.
“It’s nothing.”
How could I suspect someone like him?
There were still plenty of questions she had meant to ask, but she decided not to say anything more and instead took a leisurely sip of tea.
Just as she was enjoying the rich aroma of the tea and the cool breeze drifting in, someone tapped on the terrace window and poked their head in.
“Excuse me. I just came to deliver this…”
Sophia gave a nod to indicate he could come in. The servant entered the terrace and placed a plate with a raspberry muffin on the table.
“This is from Master Benjamin and Master Joshua. Here’s a note as well.”
Benjamin? The name gave her a strange feeling, but Sophia quietly took the note and read it.
“I heard Lorey wasn’t letting you eat sweets… I thought one wouldn’t hurt.”
“I suggested making it because I know you like sweets. Sorry for acting on my own. If you don’t like it, you can throw it away.”
The first line was written by Benjamin, and the second by Joshua. Perhaps it was because she hadn’t shown any discomfort the last time he gave her cookies, but Benjamin had recently started sending her treats more frequently.
As Joshua mentioned, she did like sweet things, and she appreciated the gesture, so there was no reason to throw it away.
“…Tell them thank you.”
Surely it wouldn’t hurt to offer a word of thanks.
“Yes, understood.”
As she folded the note again and looked at the servant who had brought the treat, Sophia realized he looked familiar.
“Wait a second.”
At her commanding tone, the servant flinched and stopped in his tracks, turning to face her.
Black hair and dark brown eyes. Yes, she was sure now. He was the same servant who had scattered the sheets into the air after tripping yesterday.
She hadn’t gotten a good look at him then since he ran off so quickly, but now she had the chance.
“Raise your right hand.”
The servant tilted his head in confusion but obediently raised his right hand high. As a result, his long sleeve slid down slightly, revealing his wrist.
“It’s healed, huh?”
There was no bandage now. For a wound that had bloodstains yesterday, it seemed to have healed remarkably fast. Or maybe the injury was higher up. With only the wrist showing, all she could confirm was the absence of a bandage.
At her words, the servant quickly lowered his hand and tugged his sleeve down to cover his wrist.
“Ah… no, I wasn’t injured.”
But Sophia had clearly seen a bandage on his arm. How could he say he wasn’t injured? Who wraps an uninjured arm in bandages?
“…I see.”
Something felt off, but since they weren’t particularly close, she decided it would be best not to push further and simply nodded.
“You can go.”
“I’ll take my leave.”
As he left, Lucion looked at Sophia with a curious expression, clearly wanting to ask something.
Guessing what he was about to ask, Sophia answered preemptively.
“I saw him briefly yesterday. He had a bandage on his right arm. There was a bit of blood, too, so I thought it was serious. But maybe it wasn’t. Come to think of it, I don’t even know his name.”
“He’s Demis Luther.”
Demis Luther… she remembered. He was someone connected to Lucy.
“That aside… an injury on the right arm, huh…”
As Lucion quietly mulled over the words, Sophia noticed the sugar bowl was empty and opened her mouth.
“Sion, we’re out of sugar.”
“Oh, I’ll go get some. Please wait just a moment.”
Without hesitation, Lucion got up with the empty sugar bowl and left the terrace.
But he didn’t head to the kitchen.
She took one bite of the raspberry muffin, then another.
“Mm…”
She had finished the muffin before she knew it, yet Lucion hadn’t returned.
Was it some sort of new trend to take ages fetching things these days?
Feeling a little lonely without someone to talk to, she absentmindedly swirled her teacup. Then, she suddenly realized what she had just thought.
That she was lonely without someone to talk to. That she felt alone.
Those were thoughts she would’ve never had before.
She used to prefer being alone, used to be more comfortable without conversation.
“…I’ve gotten used to having Sion around.”
That’s why such thoughts came so naturally now. But was this really a good thing?
To feel lonely when someone’s not by your side. To fear the next time you’d be left alone…
Sophia bit her lip. She had felt enough loneliness in her life to be sick of it. Only now had she finally grown comfortable being alone again—what if she was forced to go back?
Just as her thoughts began to spiral into darkness, the terrace door opened, and Lucion appeared, holding a sugar bowl filled with cubes.
“Sion.”
“Yes, what is it?”
As he set the sugar down on the table, he looked at her with a puzzled expression. Then, seeing her wordless face, his eyes crinkled into a warm smile.
“Are you that happy to see me?”
“Huh?”
“You were smiling.”
She hadn’t realized it. But the moment Lucion pointed it out, Sophia touched her cheek with her hand. Her lips were slightly lifted in a faint smile.
She didn’t want to return to those lonely days—but paradoxically, she realized just how much she had missed people.
“…I guess I was.”
After gently brushing her fingers over her lips a few times, Sophia stood from her seat with a faint smile.
“Well then, let’s head back to the room.”
“Huh? But you were going to use the sugar… Oh!”
Only now did Lucion notice the situation on the table—the muffin gone, the tea cup empty.
Realizing he had taken too long, he fidgeted his fingers and made a pitiful face.
“I’m sorry! I took too long…”
“It’s fine. Let’s go.”
Though Sophia reassured him, Lucion still looked downcast as he opened the terrace door, clearly feeling guilty.
“I said it’s fine.”
“…Okay…”
So cute, really.
On the way back to the room, someone called out Lucion’s name. It was clear and unmistakable.
Lucion turned around, but no one was in sight.
“Did I mishear that?”
“No… I heard it too. Maybe they’re around the corner?”
“Maybe. They sounded in a hurry… Do you mind if I check it out?”
“Go ahead. I’ll head to the room first.”
After watching him walk off toward the voice, Sophia slowly resumed walking.
Come to think of it, that voice that had called Lucion… it sounded familiar.
Not a stranger’s voice, but not quite familiar either.
…Something feels off.
Just as a sense of unease settled in, Sophia turned to head in the direction Lucion had gone—but at that moment, an unfamiliar door to her right suddenly opened with a click.
She turned toward the sound, and from the dark shadows of the room, a hand shot out and grabbed her right arm.
