CHAPTER 29…………………………………….
“I think he passed his limit long ago and was just holding out on sheer willpower.”
“That’s what he gets for picking a fight with me.”
“I really thought he was drunk for real today. Turns out he was just pretending. How much can that man even drink?”
“Don’t try to find out. You’ll get hurt.”
“Right. My body’s an asset — can’t afford to get injured.”
When we arrived at Seymour Street, Peredil, completely out of it, leaned on his servant for support. Even in his drunken state, with what little awareness he had left, he gave Theo and me his carriage. With no other options, we got in together and headed for Woodville.
“So, what do you think? Do you think His Grace’s got feelings for me?”
“He definitely cares — but he’s the type who’d never admit it easily. It’ll take time.”
“So you see it too, huh?”
“You said you promised the Woodville family a hundred days. It won’t be over before then, right?”
“Yeah. I’ll have to keep it that way. Can’t let this story drag on forever.”
Hearing Theo share the same impression made me realize there was still a long way to go. I felt my motivation slipping and forced myself to stay focused.
“By the way, you said talking to nobles was hard, but you seemed to get along fine with the Duke from the start?”
“Well, that’s because I prepared the character in advance. When I ran into the Count last time, I wasn’t ready yet.”
“I see.”
Since Peredil was also a high-ranking noble, I’d worried that Theo would struggle too much to play his role properly. But seeing him respond so casually made me feel relieved — no need to recast after all.
“But why did you make that condition — that I must not fall in love with the Duke? Not that it would ever happen, but I was curious.”
Theo, who had been lazily yawning, froze when he heard my question.
“Are you stupid? Obviously, that’s because…”
We turned our heads at the same time, and our eyes met.
Unlike me — startled and wide-eyed — he simply gave a calm, crooked smile. He didn’t finish his sentence, just held my gaze, unblinking.
Then suddenly, Theo bumped his forehead hard against mine.
“Ow! What was that for!?”
“I set that condition because after dragging me into this, you’d probably just go back to Bria alone when it’s all over.”
“Geez! But why headbutt me like that!”
Rubbing my throbbing forehead for a while, I glared at the culprit.
He was staring out the window, biting his lip, looking oddly dazed. When he noticed me watching, he quickly smiled, and I couldn’t look at him for long. It was only for a second, but that unfamiliar expression left a strange, uneasy feeling in my chest.
“Who was he with?”
When the servant laid Peredil in bed, Vivian sat right beside him.
“A… a man I’d never seen before, my lady.”
Her glare was so full of venom that the servant stammered, terrified to say anything wrong to what should’ve been a simple question.
“And the woman? Was there a woman?”
“I—I didn’t see clearly, but there was a lady in the carriage…”
“What? Was it Luna Woodville?”
He shook his hands quickly.
“No, miss! I only caught a glimpse, but it wasn’t Lady Luna Woodville. I would’ve recognized her if it were.”
“Jo… Woodville…”
Unable to identify the woman, Vivian heard the man she loved mumbling something. She leaned closer, catching even his faintest murmur.
“What did you say?”
His drunken words were slurred, so she moved closer, pressing her ear to his lips. Then she finally heard it clearly.
“Joyce… Woodville…”
The name shocked her. She doubted her own ears, but he repeated it again and again — Joyce Woodville.
“Joyce Woodville? Not Luna Woodville?”
No one had deceived her, yet she felt utterly fooled.
So I’ve been after the wrong Woodville all this time… I should’ve put someone to watch her from the start.
She wanted to tear her hair out for being so stupid — for guarding Luna so closely while feeling smug that the Duke hadn’t seen her lately.
Should I wake him up right now and demand to know what he was doing out there?
She had the sudden urge to slap the sleeping Duke awake, or at least splash water in his face.
No… he’s not the one I should be after.
Her fists clenched tightly as she recalled the red-haired woman who had irritated her from the very beginning. Her grip was so hard that her own long nails left scratches in her palm.
“Ugh… my head.”
He woke up much later than usual — something unimaginable for him. The pounding in his skull was equally foreign. Peredil clutched his head and barely managed to sit up.
“Your Grace, are you all right?”
“…How did I get home last night, Susan?”
“You came back very late, dead drunk. Some very handsome gentleman escorted you home. Everyone in the manor’s been talking about it—”
Her coworkers shot her warning looks to stop her gossiping. Deciding that being a “proper” maid didn’t suit her, she reverted to her usual chatty self.
Luckily — or unluckily — Peredil was too preoccupied to care. His throat burned with the desperate thirst of a hangover.
“I’ve prepared some tea that’s good for hangovers.”
True to her veteran status, Joanna had anticipated his needs and brought it without being asked. He gulped it down immediately, finally able to breathe a little easier.
“Oh, right! Lady Vivian came by last night — without warning — and made quite a scene before leaving.”
“She did?”
“You don’t remember? She left in a hurry after seeing you go to bed.”
“I see.”
“Yes, but don’t worry! I secretly made sure she didn’t do anything improper while you were asleep — like sneaking in a kiss or something—”
Pffft!
He spat out the rest of his tea as a memory suddenly surfaced.
A kiss? Wait… I think I really did kiss her last night.
Fragments of the night came back, hazy but vivid enough.
I remember putting my hand on her shoulder, brushing my fingers across her lips… and leaning in close…
His leg started trembling nervously. The servants stared in confusion.
No matter how I think about it — yeah, I definitely kissed her. What the hell do I do now?
Seeing her master’s growing panic, the chatty maid tried to reassure him with a bright smile.
“Your Grace, you really don’t have to worry! I was watching the whole time, and Lady Vivian didn’t do anything indecent — no s-c-a-n-d-a-l-o-u-s behavior like kissing someone without consent!”
Her attempt to comfort him only made things worse. Each word pierced his chest like a bullet.
“…Should I just not go to work today?”
“What? You’re not going to work, Your Grace? I heard you even went to work with a broken leg after the war!”
“Yeah… I guess that’s not an option.”
“Well, not that it’s impossible to rest, sir. If you’re feeling really unwell, taking a day off isn’t a bad thing. Your health should come first.”
“You’re right. A responsible man shouldn’t just run away. Thank you, Susan.”
“That’s… not quite what I meant…”
After patting her shoulder as if concluding a grand revelation, he left the room. The maid was left alone, staring at the empty space.
Sigh. Guess I’d better clean up that tea he spat everywhere.
By now, she was so used to her master’s antics that nothing he did could surprise her anymore.
“Your Grace, is your hangover better now?”
“Of course.”
He answered quickly, but to me, his complexion looked terrible. He was sweating coldly, sighing every few minutes like something weighed on him.
Maybe I should’ve postponed today’s lesson.
“If you’re not feeling well, we can cancel class today.”
“You came all this way. I’m fine — no need to cancel.”
Was he really fine? He couldn’t focus at all. Not once did he meet my eyes — he kept turning his head away the whole time.
The way he fidgeted made me feel anxious too, as if I were the one being chased.
“Your Grace! Please, concentrate!”
