Chapter 41
After a long silence, Daena finally spoke.
“By the way, why are you talking so casually to me?”
“You’re doing it too.”
“T-That’s because—!”
She stopped mid-sentence, unable to find a good excuse. But after another sip of her drink, she couldn’t hold back and changed the subject.
“Anyway, I heard this place used to host lots of parties four years ago, right?”
“Yeah, but nobody came for me. They all came because of Rohwinas.”
“…”
“They only ever asked me about him. Whenever I talked about something else, they weren’t interested. So eventually, I just said what they wanted to hear.”
Daena leaned against the sofa, then slowly lay down and asked,
“What kind of things did you say?”
“Oh, just things like—‘I’m honored to be with Count Rohwinas,’ ‘Thank you for your congratulations,’ ‘I’ll talk to Rohwinas about your proposal,’ ‘I’ll discuss it with him since I’m not sure myself’… stuff like that.”
“…”
“Yeah. That kind of thing.”
Then I suddenly remembered something and asked,
“Hey, what was Rohwinas’s relationship with Lady Marian Peregrine before I dated him?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean before me. Were they close?”
“They weren’t anything.”
“Really?”
I tilted my head.
“That’s weird. I thought they liked each other. I used to think I got in the middle of something.”
“I can’t say for sure, but honestly—have you ever seen Count Rohwinas get close to anyone? He’s cold and distant to everyone.”
“…”
“He treated Lady Marian the same way. Like an ice wall.”
Daena suddenly punched the air, angry.
“Who would’ve guessed that the same Rohwinas Canesion would now be chasing after a woman like a lovesick fool!”
“He chases after her?”
I laughed a little, but Daena immediately snapped,
“Why are you laughing? When he was with you, he actually looked more like he was in a real relationship.”
“…”
She quickly lay back down again, embarrassed by her own words.
“I-I just mean, it seemed that way. Anyway, Marian’s pride is through the roof now, and the Count beside her just makes it worse…”
“What he did with me—it was all fake.”
“…”
“All of it, Daena. Fake.”
I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I muttered softly,
“This—right now—this feels real.”
Daena went quiet for a long time.
I finished the last drop in my glass. My head felt hot and heavy—maybe from the alcohol, maybe from something else.
As my thoughts blurred, I heard her faint voice.
“Then… who do you think gave you the love potion?”
“…”
“Isn’t there anyone you suspect?”
Her voice started to fade.
“Hey. You awake?”
And then everything went dark.
“Ugh…”
“Urgh…”
Our groans filled the silent dining room.
Zaka clicked his tongue at the sight of the two of us suffering from a hangover.
“Drink this first.”
He handed us honey water.
I took it with half-open eyes and muttered,
“Please don’t tell Julie…”
“She’ll find out anyway.”
Daena, who had already downed her drink, wiped her mouth and asked,
“Julie? Who’s that?”
“She’s the real boss of this house.”
“Wait, aren’t you the baroness?”
“Just hearing that gives me a headache. Let’s talk later.”
“Fine by me.”
We both leaned back weakly, exhausted. I rested my cheek on the cold table, and Zaka put his hand on my forehead.
“You drank too much last night.”
“I actually drank less than usual.”
“That’s not a defense.”
“Yeah, it is. A weak one.”
I grimaced like I was about to throw up. Zaka closed his mouth and carefully helped me up.
“Why don’t you go rest? I’ll see our guest out.”
When I lifted my head, Daena was staring straight at us—without blinking.
I could already guess what she was about to say.
“Is he your boyfriend? Or your servant?”
“The second one.”
“So, boyfriend and servant?”
“Servant.”
As I stood up with Zaka’s help, her eyebrow arched.
“But he’s handsome.”
I couldn’t even answer—I just laughed.
Zaka gave me a wary look.
“You’re still drunk, aren’t you?”
“No. Seems like everyone agrees you’re good-looking.”
“…”
“Ever had anyone flirt with you while working as a servant?”
“Yes.”
“And did you like any of them?”
“If I say yes, will you send me away?”
“You caught me.”
“There wasn’t anyone.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“That’s surprising. You seem like someone people would like.”
“…”
“Try opening your heart next time. You might find someone good.”
“I don’t care.”
“But… aren’t you lonely?”
“You’re here, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I guess. Though who knows for how long…”
“Don’t you need anyone? Aren’t you lonely?”
“I’m not alone. I have Julie.”
We walked down the quiet hallway.
“I don’t need anyone else.”
“…”
Then, footsteps echoed from the stairs. Julie appeared at the end of the corridor, walking briskly toward us.
“Who is she?”
She stopped in front of me, her eyes sharp.
Not even the smell of alcohol on me distracted her!
“What?”
“The lady who stayed overnight!”
“Oh, Daena? Well…”
“A friend?”
Julie leaned in close, her eyes sparkling.
A friend?
Not really. But… maybe I didn’t need to correct her.
“For now, yeah, something like that.”
Julie stared at me for a moment, then gave a bright smile.
“Well, drinking isn’t good most of the time,” she said, her eyes narrowing, “but in special cases, I suppose a loyal servant should be understanding.”
Her tone didn’t sound like a servant at all, but I didn’t care. I just shrugged.
Later, Daena stood in front of the same wall she had climbed over last night.
Honestly, couldn’t she just leave through the front gate this time?
But the young man with the sharp face was standing there, blocking her way again.
“Take care, Lady Daena,” he said coolly.
“…”
He even leaned a ladder against the wall for her.
When he was with Anastasia, that cold expression of his softened completely.
Well… maybe he wasn’t from a noble family like Count Rohwinas, but…
If his feelings were real—
Maybe that was enough.
Thinking that, Daena started climbing up the ladder.
When she reached the top, she glanced down. The man was standing against the wall, watching her indifferently.
He really was too good-looking.
Not her type, though.
Then, just as she jumped down the other side, she heard a quiet, almost mocking voice behind her.
“Be careful.”
He’d said that before, hadn’t he? But something about his tone felt different this time.
“…Or else I won’t let it go.”
The wind carried away some of his words, but the chill that ran up her spine was unmistakable.
What was that?
Did he just… threaten me?
Daena stared back at the wall, but there was no one to be seen now.
Startled by movement at the end of the alley, she ran off in the opposite direction.
She promised herself she’d never come back here again.
…Though, who knows if that promise will last.
