Chapter 10 — “It’s Not That I Really Like Him”
Mio was smiling to herself when Loren came over with tea.
“I’m actually quite full already.”
Despite her polite refusal, Loren steeped the tea in warm water and poured it into a delicate cup rimmed with gold. Then she offered a plate of cookies studded with bits of chocolate.
Just looking at them made Mio feel stuffed, so she quickly waved her hands. But Loren pushed the plate closer and added kindly,
“There’s always a separate stomach for dessert, you know.”
Unable to refuse after being offered so many times, Mio picked up the smallest one. The moment she bit into it, the rich, sweet flavor made her eyes close in delight. Loren’s face brightened as she watched Mio crunch through the cookie.
“Life really is unpredictable.”
She hadn’t expected to get possessed into this world, nor to end up as a guest of the Caspian Duchy.
“Which means Geoffrey could pull a sword on me at any moment.”
That was exactly why she wanted to throw herself onto that feather-like bed whenever she could. But Loren didn’t seem ready to let her go just yet.
“Look at this.”
Loren appeared with a dusty old book in hand, flipping through the pages with audible admiration. Mio, disinterested, didn’t even glance over.
“Not even a little curious.”
Then Loren held out what looked like a photo album, and Mio ended up looking despite herself.
“What do you think? Isn’t it adorable?”
“…?”
It was a collection of small portraits — a beautiful woman with curly black hair and green eyes holding a baby.
“Must be a mother and her son.”
Her eyes naturally lingered on the little child clinging tightly to his mother’s hand.
“…Yes, they’re lovely.”
Even though she wasn’t particularly fond of children, even she had to admit — the kid was cute. His chubby cheeks were tinged pink, and his dark eyes seemed to take up half his face.
“His curly black hair looks just like a little lamb’s.”
The love for his mother was written all over his expression.
“The young master hasn’t changed much since then, has he?”
“…What?”
That adorable baby was supposed to be Geoffrey?
Mio stared at the portrait several more times, unable to believe it. On closer look… perhaps there was a faint resemblance.
“The Duke may not seem like it, but he’s a man of deep feeling,” Loren said warmly.
Mio awkwardly smiled, brushing her neck.
“Yeah. If he had been too deep in feeling twice, I’d probably be dead by now.”
She still didn’t understand why Loren was showing her these old portraits. She glanced again at the baby that looked nothing like the cold-hearted Geoffrey she knew now. Loren smiled meaningfully.
“Too cute to look away, isn’t he?”
“…Well—”
It wasn’t because he was cute, but she couldn’t exactly deny it.
“Right, I’m supposed to be acting like I’m in love with the Duke.”
When Mio hesitated, Loren gave her a playful nudge on the shoulder.
“By the way, how did you like the nightgown I laid out for you yesterday?”
“…Eh?”
There was no reason to like something that was practically see-through.
“After the humiliation it caused me this morning…!”
She clenched her fist under the table, too polite to snap at Loren, who meant well.
“I’ve heard it’s the most popular choice among newlyweds.”
Mio nearly snorted tea out of her nose.
“What in the world is she talking about?!”
Was Loren already imagining her and Geoffrey as some blissful married couple?
“Loren, no. Absolutely not.”
She wasn’t opposed to marriage — someday, sure.
“But not with a man who sleeps with a dagger under his pillow.”
“There’s no need to be embarrassed, miss.”
She wasn’t silent because she was embarrassed — she was horrified — but Loren clearly misunderstood. Then a cool breeze brushed Mio’s forehead.
“The Duke has arrived,” Loren said quickly.
Mio turned to see Geoffrey standing by the door, brow furrowed and eyes sharp enough to make her stomach churn.
“Oh dear! I just remembered something the butler asked me to do!”
Loren excused herself in a hurry, leaving Mio alone with him.
“…Don’t touch other people’s things without permission.”
He strode over and slammed the album shut. Feeling wronged, Mio muttered,
“I’m sorry, but Loren was the one who showed it to me.”
“Let me guess. You begged her to, didn’t you?”
“…Ah.”
The accusation stung, but she bit her tongue.
“I’ll decide what to do about this.”
He tossed his black leather gloves onto the table and sat down crookedly beside her.
“…‘Decide’?”
At that word, she suddenly remembered the moment she had collapsed after drinking poison — the glass bottle rolling across the floor, the shards glittering under falling tears.
As she waited for Geoffrey to speak, she bit her lip.
“You seem nervous,” he said, watching her closely.
“Too sloppy to be an agent from the Empress’s faction,” he thought.
Still, there was something suspicious about her. Too odd to ignore, too risky to release.
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” he mused.
Maybe it was best to keep her nearby — with an excuse. After a moment’s thought, Geoffrey tapped his chin and said,
“The Caspian family will take responsibility for your treatment.”
“…What?”
The last thing she’d expected.
“You’re the one who threatened me with a sword, and now you’re playing nice?”
Startled, she looked up — and couldn’t help but admire how the sunlight caught in his dark hair and how his eyes, deep as the night sky, seemed to draw her in. She shook herself and stammered,
“B-but that really isn’t necessary.”
His kindness made her uneasy.
“I thought you’d be pleased, since you’re so fond of me.”
His mocking tone made her cheeks burn.
“Too late to deny it now…”
Mio bowed her head to hide her flaming face, and Geoffrey continued,
“In any case, you were hurt because of me.”
If it was compensation, shouldn’t he be offering gold or a horse instead?
Mio pouted slightly, but his eyes gleamed.
“Do you have anywhere else to stay in the capital?”
He glanced her up and down — her modest appearance clearly not that of someone wealthy.
“Not exactly…”
Truthfully, she had no home anywhere in the Caspian Empire.
“Any relatives you can contact, then?”
“N-no, none.”
The Lagopus family she’d made up on the spot was barely even real — she’d basically founded it herself.
“Is your body fully recovered?”
“Not entirely, but I don’t think I need to see the doctor every day anymore.”
She tried to sound confident, though she still didn’t feel great. Geoffrey slid his chair closer until he was right beside her.
“Then you have even less reason to refuse my offer.”
He said it like he knew exactly how cornered she was.
“What on earth is this about…”
His gaze on her back made cold sweat trickle down her spine.
“That night,” he said suddenly.
Mio nodded stiffly without turning around.
“The night you tried to… attack me while I was sleeping.”
“Attack you?!”
Mio’s mouth flew open — but she closed it again. Technically… not wrong. She had lunged at his lips.
“In any case, here’s what we’ll do.”
He abruptly stood, grabbed her chair, and spun it around to face him directly. Mio gave a stiff, awkward smile.
“People should talk while looking each other in the eyes. You can lie with words, but not with your eyes.”
So basically, he was warning her not to even think about lying — since he was a human lie detector.
“Fine. I’ll take that challenge.”
Mio lifted her chin and met his gaze head-on.
“I remember.”
“You were sitting right here—” he tapped his abs, “—and then you rolled off onto the floor.”
It was not a memory she wanted revisited.
“…Yes.”
Strictly speaking, she’d stomped all over his abs with both feet. But since he didn’t know that, she felt slightly better.
“As I said, your injuries are partly my fault.”
He must have assumed all her wounds came from that night. In truth, most were from being chased by predators and nearly starving in the forest.
“…But—”
“If word gets out that you were injured because of me, it could damage the family’s reputation. So you’ll stay here for treatment. I intend to take full responsibility.”
“…Oh.”
Before she could say anything more, he stood up and left without even a goodbye.
“So this is all about his reputation?” she muttered.
For a moment, she’d wondered if it was actual kindness — but of course not.
“Classic Geoffrey. Selfish as ever.”
Fuming, Mio gulped down the cold tea left on the table.
“Still… this works out perfectly.”
She hadn’t planned to leave anytime soon anyway. Staying here until she recovered — as a guest of the Caspian family — what a lucky break!
After nearly dying countless times in the forest, Mio decided to look on the bright side.
“With Geoffrey nearby, he’ll be easy to use. And the bed’s soft, the food’s great…”
Maybe, once she regained her strength, she could finally find her destined match — and earn herself a real happy ending.
Her face lit up with that happy thought.
