Chapter 9
“Wait here for a moment.”
Ellen drew water from a nearby well and splashed it on him.
Caught completely off guard, Rohan raised his arms to shield himself, glaring at her with eyes full of resentment.
“W-What are you doing?”
Without answering, Ellen poured the remaining water over herself.
“Ugh, it’s so cold!”
Shivering in disgust, Ellen then stretched out her hand toward him, as if telling him to grab it.
“You can get up now, right? Since we’re wet, shall we go play under the stone bridge and swim?”
Rohan nodded clumsily, his eyes filled with admiration, as he held her hand.
From that day on, he came to see Ellen every day, always sticking close to her, earning them the nickname “the Crow Siblings.”
Could their memories differ? Could someone fall for another person in that situation? Unable to understand, Ellen asked Rohan.
“Where did you first meet Ellen?”
“She saved me from some kids beating me up in the slums.”
Really? The little crybaby turned out to be quite mature in other ways. Or… maybe she was just imagining things.
“Could it have been mistaken for friendship?”
Rohan only smiled faintly.
“Well, then, I’ll be going back for today.”
“Thank you. I know it was a bit of a selfish request, but you still helped.”
“I look forward to seeing you again, Duchess.”
As Rohan left and the door closed, she faintly heard him greet Lissio.
Was he watching from outside? A few minutes later, Lissio entered her room.
“Strange.”
“What is?”
“That the paladin who usually refuses everything is saying something different now.”
Lissio sat beside her, tilting his head slightly, as if sensing her suspicion.
“Must be because of my words.”
“Without expecting anything in return. Your plan to save my money worked.”
“You should still take some for yourself…”
“I meant it was unpleasant, Anais.”
Lissio tapped her nose gently. Ellen wrinkled her nose, signaling him to stop.
“Is this about crying?”
His long fingers brushed her eyes.
“No! Why would I cry? Hmph, really? Which part of that was unpleasant for you?”
Lissio twirled her blonde hair between his fingers, replying lazily,
“That boy’s gaze… and your tears.”
His steel-blue eyes stared as if piercing through her, making her feel suffocated.
“I didn’t cry. You must be misunderstanding…”
I can’t exactly say, We’ve been friends since we were kids! How awkward. Could a woman like me even cheat? Surely Lissio was just looking for a reason to pick on her.
“I’m not misunderstanding. I don’t care what you two do.”
Then why does he glare at me like he’s about to eat me alive? And what’s with these hands, wrapping around my cheeks like he’s squeezing them?
“Close your eyes, Anais.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m going to kiss you. Though you can watch if you like.”
“What does being in a bad mood have to do with kissing?”
“My mana is surging. Before it overloads and bursts, I need your help.”
“Burst? That’s a lie, right?”
“It’s real.”
He came closer, smiling like a breath against her face. She could see each individual lash.
But her heart felt like it would explode first. Thump-thump, it was racing wildly.
‘I’ve never kissed anyone before!’
She wanted to push him away, but of course, she couldn’t move.
“Go away!”
Stopping at a distance where his breath still reached her, he spoke in a voice as sweet as honey.
“Try it again.”
“Try what…? Go away! Get lost…”
Does he like saying things like this? Suspiciously, she looked at him, only to see Lissio frown deeply.
“No, your finger.”
“My? Finger?”
He tapped the tip of her index finger.
“It moved just now. Try again.”
She tried to move it, but nothing happened. She had expected it…
“Are you sure you didn’t imagine it?”
“I didn’t imagine it; I just felt it move. Well, I guess not. Then continue what you were doing.”
As Lissio closed his eyes and came closer again, her heart almost burst.
“W-w-wait!”
“See? It’s moving now.”
Trying to calm herself, she looked at her finger. Even without Lissio’s mana, it was moving.
“Really? It’s true.”
“This part must be completely healed, then.”
Lissio brought her hand close, as if admiring it, touching the tip of her trembling finger with his own.
He smiled. Sometimes like a child, just looking at her made her heart flutter.
‘Ugh, his eye-smile is really charming.’
As she got used to the sensation, her finger moved more naturally, even if it was just the index.
“Is this because of the paladin’s holy power?”
Of course not, but it seemed better to say so. Ellen nodded slightly.
“Yes.”
“My mana?”
“In truth, your duke’s mana played the most important role.”
It was true. His mana had helped channel the holy power.
“The more contact you have, the faster the recovery. For example… a kiss.”
Lissio lowered his long eyes, steel-blue irises glinting seductively beneath his lashes, licking his upper lip slowly.
He might be joking, but Ellen was not. She swallowed several times to keep herself composed.
“I appreciate the offer, but I must politely refuse.”
“You refuse so prettily.”
“I hear that a lot.”
Even his teasing words sounded sweet, and she had to stay alert.
Yet Lissio didn’t stop there; he massaged her carefully guarded hands.
After a while, he placed them gently on her stomach and laid down beside her.
“Shall we nap?”
He hugged her tightly. Boldly.
“What time is it! And I’m not a doll.”
“I know. You need to be calm.”
No time to ask what he meant; Lissio had already closed his eyes while holding her.
‘Calm? Is this mana overload real?’
One thing was certain: this man had a habit of hugging people to sleep.
Yet she didn’t dislike it. Which woman could refuse a man like Lissio? She was just annoyed realizing she was like any other girl.
Charlotte, whom Ellen wanted to avoid, came early in the morning.
“Unnie, why didn’t I get a single letter inviting me to the duke’s mansion? I’m disappointed.”
Dressed as if going to a banquet, Charlotte pouted in displeasure.
If you move your hands, you can write a letter. And you would come even if not invited—so what’s with the letter?
“Thanks for coming.”
She spoke mechanically, like reciting prayers to worshippers in a temple.
“See? Should I just stay at the duke’s mansion?”
Her revealing dress moved coquettishly, making it hard to look anywhere.
Seeing no response from Ellen, Charlotte said,
“Yeah, that’s better. Tell the duke right now, Unnie.”
As she asked and answered herself, she just looked clueless and dumb. Could this really be the Count de Rahone who tried to kill Anais?
Charlotte shook her shoulder impatiently, wearing down Ellen’s patience.
“Why don’t you ask him directly?”
“Should I? What’s the duke doing now? Actually, last time I accidentally fell and dirtied the duke’s shirt. I haven’t apologized yet.”
Now she understood why Lissio’s shirt had lipstick marks. It wasn’t an accident.
“You had dinner with him already? And didn’t apologize?”
“The duke was busy, so I couldn’t meet him.”
Good heavens. She had waited until dinner to meet Lissio? She clearly came on purpose today. Ellen wanted to get rid of her quickly and practice her holy power; even brief contact was exhausting.
She asked Dorothy, who was serving tea.
“Dorothy, is the duke at the mansion?”
“Shall I tell him you wish to see him?”
“Yes, please.”
Dorothy put down the teapot and went outside briefly.
“Hey! Do it properly. She acts like she’s really the duchess, doesn’t she?”
So that was her true personality.
Even in that brief moment of just delivering a message to the maid, Charlotte impressed Ellen with her audacity.
When Dorothy returned, Charlotte immediately became the sweet, little sister type again.
‘So annoying.’
Soon after, Lissio arrived at her room as if he had been waiting.
“Charlotte de Rahone, I am here to see the duke.”
Ignoring Charlotte, who jumped up, Lissio passed her by coldly.
“You were looking for me? Madam.”
He even used the formal “madam,” smiling kindly.
“My sister wanted to see the duke. I can’t, so please take her for a walk and have tea with her.”
Had she confidently said, Get rid of this girl for me? One corner of Lissio’s lips curled slightly.
“Why can’t you take a walk? Just do it.”
Before she could ask how, Lissio scooped her up effortlessly.
