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“…Well, I guess I’ll know if I just ask.”
Even without thinking too deeply, Lucius would surely answer.
Feeling the heat in the air and the stuffiness from keeping my eyes closed, I opened them. After stepping out of the bathtub, the maids helped wash me lightly with water and dried me gently with soft towels.
After applying a generous amount of perfume and slipping into a negligee, Jane, who had been waiting, handed me a thin shawl.
“Has His Highness come out?”
“Yes. He went into the bedroom a little while ago.”
“I see. Alright.”
I dismissed Jane and the maids who were about to follow me and headed to the bedroom. Adjusting the slipping shawl, I opened the door and stepped in. Lucius, dressed in a gown and holding a towel, stood there.
He seemed to have been drying his hair, but he paused and looked at me.
“You’re here, Tiana?”
“Yes. Sorry, am I a bit late?”
“Not at all. I just got here myself.”
He shook his head with a small smile. Noticing the droplets falling from his still-damp hair, I stepped closer and reached for the towel.
“You didn’t dry your hair again.”
“Ah… I thought Tiana might be waiting. And now, it’s become a habit to come out without drying it.”
“Because I dry it for you?”
“Yes. Because of you, Tiana.”
Seeing him naturally bow his head and leave himself in my care made me smile unconsciously. After all, except when he was absent, I always dried his hair for him. He had been awkward and shy at first, but over time, he had grown accustomed to my touch.
Once most of the moisture was gone, I placed the towel over a chair. As I tidied his disheveled hair, he took my hands and pressed his face against them.
“It really is better when you dry my hair. Strangely, it seems to dry faster than when I do it myself.”
“I’m just drying it as it comes naturally. There’s no special technique.”
“Then your hands must be special.”
He smiled, pressing his lips to both of my palms. I laughed at his persistently attached lips.
“It tickles.”
“No, wait. A little more…”
As I twisted my hands and tried to step back, he held my waist with one hand to keep me from escaping. Held tightly, his lips rose from my hands and met mine.
Gently brushing my lips as if peeling back a layer, he carefully parted them and explored inside. A light breath and teasing touches, followed by a sudden press of his tongue when I flinched, made me gasp.
Feeling it deepen, I lightly turned my head and tapped his chest a few times. He reluctantly parted his lips.
“Haa…”
“…Tiana.”
As I caught my breath, he, who had been caressing my head, lowered his gaze and stayed still for a moment. Then, lifting me toward the bed, I panicked.
“Lu-Lucius? Wait! I have something to say…!”
“….”
Ignoring my urgent voice, he placed me on the soft bedding. Seeing his face draw close before he could speak, I closed my eyes, wondering if I should just give in to the temptation.
“…Open your eyes, Tiana.”
“…Lucius?”
When I opened my eyes slightly, puzzled by the lack of contact, I heard his amused voice. He was teasing me with a playful smile.
“I know. You have something important to say, right? I’ll listen, so don’t worry. But first…”
He reached out, helping me sit up, and covered me with the blanket. He also retrieved the fallen shawl, draping it over my shoulders, then sat facing me, holding my hands.
“You seemed cold. I wanted to warm you, so I brought you to the bed. Let’s talk here.”
“I see… thank you.”
I was startled, expecting him to overwhelm me. Normally, I would have been the one to take the initiative, but since I had something important to address, I was relieved he didn’t continue.
I had almost succumbed to his temptation but managed to regain my composure. This man… his methods of seduction evolve every day. Seeing him smile gently, perhaps unaware of it, I sighed inwardly.
As I watched our clasped hands quietly, he spoke first.
“You said you had something you wanted to ask, right? What is it?”
“Well…”
When I tried to speak, the words wouldn’t come easily. Watching my hesitation, he gently stroked the back of my hands and said softly,
“It’s okay. Whatever it is, it’s fine, Tiana. Just tell me.”
“…Alright.”
I nodded at him, encouraged by his kind gaze. Taking a steadying breath, I spoke slowly.
“This afternoon, Viscount Ebit visited. He reported on the progress of the capital branch construction and asked me to taste a new floral tea developed for the new branch.”
“Really? A new floral tea? I’m intrigued. What kind of tea is it?”
“…It was made from blue roses.”
“…!”
His eyes flashed, and his hand twitched. Observing the change in his expression, I continued.
“Viscount Ebit said he bought the blue roses from a child at the Sinadelli Botanical Garden.”
“…Could it be that child from back then?”
“Yes. Upon checking, it was the same child I had bought flowers for, the one I saved during that incident.”
“I see…”
His brow furrowed slightly in surprise. Seeing him lost in thought, I continued.
“But I also heard something quite shocking from Viscount Ebit.”
“…What did he say?”
“That child… cannot speak. You know about it, Lucius, right? Is that really true?”
“….”
Hearing my question, he remained surprisingly calm. He had likely anticipated this when Viscount Ebit mentioned it. After briefly meeting my eyes and gauging my reaction, he sighed softly and spoke.
“It’s true. Since regaining consciousness after the accident, the child has been unable to speak.”
“Is it a consequence of that accident?”
“It seems so. Losing their sibling in front of them was a huge shock. Not only their sibling but also friends they had lived with were lost in that tragic event.”
“…I understand. For a child that age, it must have been overwhelming. I can understand why they cannot speak.”
She was only twelve, struggling to survive with her sibling after losing her parents. Losing half of her small world in a single day… it must have been unbearable. That she only lost her ability to speak was almost a relief, even a miracle. She hadn’t yet made any irreversible choices.
I held back the tears that threatened to spill. Lucius, noticing my reddened eyes, moved closer and gently stroked my back. His voice, rough from emotion, asked:
“Did you hide it because you were worried I’d be concerned? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I feared it would shock you. You were the one who saved the child, and you were deeply involved. I never intended to hide it forever. It’s just that the child’s condition was worse than expected and slow to improve…”
“How serious? What is their current state?”
Hearing the lowered tone of his voice, anxiety surged in me. Urgently, I pressed him, and he finally exhaled before speaking.
“…It’s quite serious. The child has been attempting suicide unconsciously.”
“…!”
Suicide… the news hit me harder than expected. My breath caught, and instinctively, I pressed my hand to my chest. Startled, he pulled me into a hug.
“Tiana!”
Holding me close, he gently patted my back and spoke softly:
“It’s alright. Breathe slowly now.”
“…Haa…”
“Slowly…”
Following his touch, I exhaled, quickly returning to my normal breathing. Seeing me calm, he let out a relieved sigh and held me tightly with trembling hands.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you more slowly…”
“…No. I’m okay now. Thank you, Lucius.”
“Are you really okay? Should I call a priest if it’s too hard?”
“I’m fine. I was just startled. You helped me calm down.”
“Still…”
I smiled slightly at his concerned gaze.
“Being held by you really helps me calm down. I’ll lean against you a bit. It’s warm, and I feel better.”
“Alright. Oh… your body is much colder than before. You’re under the blanket. You really are okay, right?”
“Yes…”
He wrapped me tightly in the blanket and looked at me anxiously. Leaning into his warm embrace, I took a few more steadying breaths, and my body temperature gradually returned.
After repeatedly touching my face and hands, he finally looked relieved. Holding me even tighter, I cautiously asked:
“If the child unconsciously attempts suicide… are they okay?”
“…Not that often. Usually, they behave normally. But sometimes, they attempt it unconsciously. We have someone constantly watching them, so don’t worry.”
“I see. Even if they’re fine normally, occasional unconscious attempts would make it hard for them to leave their usual places.”
“Yes. Because of the risk, they mostly stay at the botanical garden or orphanage.”
Though it seemed restrictive, it was necessary for the child’s safety. They must continue this until the aftereffects improve—it was unfortunate but unavoidable. From the situation, it was clear recovery would not be easy.
‘Since awakening, if the child has been like this… would Count Grasel or the others know?’
That day, when the child lost consciousness, Count Ezak and Baron Bien had gone to the priest. If they were living at the botanical garden and orphanage, surely the three of them were aware.
“Lucius. Do Count Grasel, Count Ezak, and Baron Bien also know about the child’s condition?”
“Yes. Count Ezak was the first to report the child’s abnormal state to Count Grasel. After that, I received the report, and now we are watching the child together with the help of all three.”
“I see…”
Of course. I was a little annoyed I didn’t know, but it was out of consideration for me. Still, it was reassuring that the three were keeping an eye on the child—they could respond quickly if anything happened.
With my body temperature fully restored, I slightly lowered the blanket. Seeing this, he startled, ready to cover me again, but I gently stopped him and spoke.
“Lucius. I want to… meet that child.”
