Chapter 32
Thankfully, I found out what Chade really meant just a couple of days later.
The doctors who had been trapped in the duke’s estate were finally sent home, along with some generous compensation.
If he was going to do that, he could’ve just said so properly… And why am I the only one not allowed to go home?
Honestly, Lily’s remaining treatment could be done through regular visits, so I thought I’d be told I could go back soon too.
But instead—
“Big sis? You’re Lily’s doctor—where do you think you’re going?”
“That’s right. Didn’t you say her treatment isn’t finished yet?”
“Huh? Wait. Sis! I think I’m about to get really angry, just so you know!”
“Lily’s condition still seems unstable. I think you’ll need to stay close a little longer.”
These siblings, who usually acted cold around each other, always teamed up when I mentioned going home.
Lily would pretend to be sick with a different excuse every time, and Chade would play along, trying to convince me to stay.
Did they really think I, a doctor, wouldn’t see through such an obvious act?
And what kind of illness is “I think I’m getting mad”?!
Still, I always ended up laughing at Lily’s adorable behavior and letting it slide.
And so, it had already been over two weeks since I started staying at the estate.
Ah, of course, I had sent a letter to my dad as soon as Lily’s treatment began to wrap up.
I explained that everything was going well and that I’d return home soon after finishing the treatment.
He probably felt relieved after receiving the letter, especially since he must’ve heard that the duke’s doctors had been released and Lily was recovering well.
Children are often stronger than adults. While they may get deeply confused when hurt at a young age, they can also recover much faster.
What my professor once said was true.
Since moving out of the annex, Lily began recovering faster than most adults.
She ran around the mansion cheerfully and even offered polite apologies to the maids, including Aileen.
“I was just going through a tough time. I won’t treat you badly again. Thank you for everything—and I’m sorry.”
Her short but sincere apology moved the maids, and they rushed to Lily’s side with tears in their eyes.
They cried with relief, and Lily ended up crying in their arms, too.
Even Chade seemed noticeably more relaxed.
Running the dukedom still seemed like a heavy burden for him, but resolving his sister’s problems seemed to give him some peace of mind.
He would occasionally join us in the garden to watch Lily play, and sometimes we even had dinner together after he finished his work.
But he still keeps a strange distance from me.
He clearly seemed grateful to me and wanted to show it—but when it came to his own problems, he never opened up.
Honestly, that was the real reason I hadn’t been allowed to go home yet.
Chade must’ve been under a lot of stress too, dealing with his mother’s death and the problems within the family…
Today, I quietly sipped tea beside Lily in the garden while occasionally glancing at him.
He looked even more stunning under the sunlight—though, to be fair, it was the huge sapphire on his cravat that really caught my eye.
How much would something like that even cost?
At that moment—
“Do you like this, Lady Adelia?”
Chade tapped the sapphire on his neck with a pale, slender finger.
“Huh?”
“You’ve been staring at it quite intently. I was wondering if you liked it.”
Apparently, he caught me staring.
But come on… when would I ever see a gemstone the size of an AirPods case again?
That thing had to be worth at least… what, 2 billion won?
(Not that I’d know—I’ve never bought jewels.)
Unable to answer, I swallowed dryly, and he smiled before asking something unexpected.
“Shall I give it to you?”
“W-What?”
“This. The jewel.”
Then, Lily, who had been listening to our conversation, stood up on her chair and waved her arms to get my attention.
“Big sis, don’t take that! I’ll give you something even better!”
“You don’t have anything worth as much as this.”
Chade looked lazily at Lily, who immediately puffed up and shouted back:
“I do! Mom gave it to me before!”
Angrily fuming, Lily climbed down from her chair and ran off, shouting that she’d be back soon.
Wait—Mom gave it to her? That’s a keepsake!
I reached out to stop her, but it was too late. She was already gone.
“…Huh?”
Meanwhile, Chade calmly sipped his tea, seemingly unbothered.
“So, have you decided what you want as your reward?”
“Huh?”
“The reward I mentioned before.”
I shut my mouth quickly.
Honestly, I’d been treated so generously here, I couldn’t think of asking for anything more.
So it felt kind of awkward to demand something else now.
“Ah, well…”
“If you’re having trouble deciding, I could help.”
“Um, how?”
He casually stood up with a smile and held out his hand to me.
“If you’re curious, why don’t you come with me?”
***
“I actually wanted to show you this much earlier.”
“Show me what?”
“The Duke’s treasury.”
The moment I heard that, my steps faltered.
T-The treasury?!
I turned to look at him in shock, only to find him smiling smugly.
His golden eyes curved gently as he said,
“We’re heading to the room where the family treasures are stored. It’s a place very few are allowed to enter.”
As someone raised in capitalism, my jaw dropped on its own.
“There are many rare items inside. I’m sure you’ll find something you like…”
He trailed off mid-sentence, as if realizing something. It looked like he was worried I might pick a treasure and then leave right away.
He’s surprisingly cute when he’s nervous.
I followed him through the mansion’s maze-like halls, heading deep inside.
As expected for such an important place, the security was extremely tight. After passing through several doors, we finally reached a massive one.
“This is…”
“Yes, it is.”
Chade happily replied and pulled a golden key from his coat.
The key, fitting for the Duke’s vault, slid smoothly into place, and the heavy door opened with a deep rumble.
“Wow!”
No way. It was amazing.
The vault was on another level entirely.
How did they even design such a large and spacious area this deep within the estate?
It felt like being in a modern museum—only way more luxurious.
All around the walls were jewels, armor, swords, paintings, and all kinds of antiques…
There were even piles of treasure chests in one corner.
As expected from a duke’s family.
Seeing me stunned, Chade smiled proudly and said,
“Please pick anything you like. For example, how about this?”
He held out a necklace adorned with teardrop-shaped rubies and diamonds.
This is insane…
It was the most beautifully crafted jewelry I had ever seen.
I reached out instinctively to touch it, and Chade watched me closely.
“Do you like it?”
“Uh… yes…”
Honestly, it was exactly my style.
Between the teardrop-shaped rubies were dozens of tiny diamonds. The piece was not only luxurious but also refined and elegant.
“Normally, this piece is reserved for the future Duchess…”
Chade trailed off again, looking at me.
“If you like it, I’ll give it to you.”
Damn dude