Chapter 51
Jaius chuckled softly as he looked at Hale.
He had been quick-witted since birth, so it didn’t take him long to figure out why Hale was acting that way.
Honestly, he wanted to pretend not to notice until the end, but he decided to steer the conversation in the direction Hale wanted.
It seemed like it would be more fun that way.
“Are you asking why I showed such physical affection?”
“Yes, that!”
Hale’s face turned red like an awkward boy caught off guard, his tone revealing that he thought he’d finally trapped Jaius with a question.
“Was there a problem with that?”
“…Wasn’t there no reason for you to do something like that?”
The flustered words and momentary hesitation couldn’t hide Hale’s true feelings.
“Well… anyway, we got through the crisis, didn’t we?”
That shameless response (at least from Hale’s perspective) made him frown openly.
But since it wasn’t technically wrong, he didn’t know how to argue back and was left speechless.
Why did words always fail him in front of this boy…?
“Neither of you are fully matured yet, and you don’t have fiancés. You need to be careful.”
“…”
“If rumors were to spread about the two of you—”
“I’ll take responsibility.”
“…”
The more Hale spoke, the more it felt like he was being hit over the head again and again.
And somehow, the conversation was turning in Jaius’s favor.
That was why he decided to end it there—if it went on any longer, he might get completely tangled up.
“Still, I’d like you to be cautious, at least inside this estate.”
“Understood, Lord Hale.”
Jaius answered with a sweet smile.
He had never once spoken rudely or without respect—so why did he seem so irritating now? Hale couldn’t understand it himself.
Still, he had to say what needed to be said. After all, he truly had received help.
“Well, uh… thank you for coming all this way.”
“Think nothing of it.”
When my hazy consciousness cleared, I slowly opened my eyes.
The blurry ceiling came into focus—one I recognized well.
Turning my head slightly, I saw Joshua sitting on a backless chair, arms crossed, dozing off.
If you’re going to sleep, at least do it on the sofa where it’s comfortable.
I couldn’t bring myself to scold him, knowing he was sleeping like that because of me.
Behind Joshua, the window glowed with the orange light of sunset. When I glanced at the clock, the sun was nearly setting.
I reached out and gently shook his knee.
“Mmm…”
“Shushu, if you’re going to sleep, at least do it comfortably.”
“Yes… huh?”
Still half-asleep, Joshua blinked and began to rise clumsily from the chair, only to freeze. Something seemed to have clicked in his mind.
Then our eyes met. He stared blankly for a few seconds before rubbing his eyes hard.
“…Miss?”
“Mm, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, heavens!”
The dazed look in his eyes vanished, replaced instantly by a flood of emotion.
He dropped to his knees beside the bed and clasped my hand tightly.
“Are you feeling better now? Does it hurt anywhere? Any headaches? Are you nauseous?”
“Hey, hey—ask one thing at a time!”
“Uwahh!”
Joshua burst into tears, the ones that had been threatening to fall finally spilling over.
Unlike before, this wasn’t fake crying—he was genuinely crying.
I was a little startled, but couldn’t help but smile.
I didn’t bother hiding my amusement as I patted his back. That seemed to hurt his pride, and he quickly stopped crying.
“I’m fine now.”
I wasn’t lying to make him stop crying—I really did feel fine.
My body felt lighter than before, and the pheromones that had once run wild in my chest were now calm and quiet.
“Thank goodness, really…”
Joshua’s voice still trembled faintly with leftover emotion.
“By the way, Shushu, how long was I asleep?”
“You slept for two straight days! The Lord, Miss Rita, and I—we were all worried sick!”
Two days, huh… For me, it felt like an instant, but to everyone else, two days had passed.
Maybe that’s why I felt so rested.
But unlike my recovered body, my memories were foggy. I couldn’t clearly recall what had happened before I blacked out. I’d been in so much pain that my mind had gone numb—maybe that was why.
Still, I vaguely remembered…
I think Jaius came to visit…
But that couldn’t be right. He had no reason to come to our estate. Was it really him I saw?
The faint sweet scent lingering around me reminded me of his, but that wasn’t enough proof.
I thought about asking Joshua, but if I was just imagining things, that’d be too embarrassing.
Right. Better to ask Hale directly.
“Where’s Dad?”
“In the study.”
“Really? Then let’s go!”
“Uh, what if something happens on the way—”
“What could possibly happen when you’re right here with me?”
“Well… that’s true, but still…”
Joshua fidgeted with his fingers, looking uneasy.
What on earth was he doing?
“You’re going to report to him that I woke up anyway, right?”
“Well, yes, but…”
Everything I said was reasonable, so he couldn’t find a proper counterargument.
With a sigh, I got up, grabbed his wrist, and led the way.
Joshua fussed anxiously the whole time, but he didn’t try to stop me.
When we reached Hale’s study, I opened the door without hesitation—as always. I was the only one in the mansion allowed to barge in like that.
“Senika!”
Knowing exactly who would act like this, Hale immediately dropped what he was doing and rushed toward me, pulling me into a hug.
“You’re awake.”
“Dad.”
His warm embrace felt both familiar and strange—it had been so long since I’d felt it.
“If you woke up, you should’ve called for me right away.”
“I told Shushu I’d come tell you myself.”
“Still—”
“I’m fine now! Not hurting at all.”
He pulled back slightly, holding my shoulders as he scanned me up and down.
There weren’t any external wounds to check, but that didn’t stop him from looking.
“I really am fine.”
“…Alright.”
Hale’s eyes welled up with tears. Déjà vu.
“Wait—are you crying?”
“Who’s crying?”
He turned his head slightly and quickly wiped his eyes.
I saw it, of course, but decided to pretend not to. He must’ve gone through a lot while I was unconscious.
“All done crying?”
“I yawned.”
“Right, right. You yawned, so your eyes watered.”
I emphasized “tears,” and Hale shot me a look. It was funny—but I decided to stop teasing him.
I pushed him away lightly and sat on the sofa. Now it was my turn to ask the questions.
Hale followed quickly, sitting opposite me with bright, attentive eyes.
“Dad, I want to ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“Did we have any visitors while I was sick?”
“Huh?”
“I think I vaguely saw someone, but I’m not sure…”
Hale’s expression subtly changed.
It was small—barely noticeable to others—but I caught it.
The person I thought I saw was Jaius, and judging by Hale’s reaction, that might actually be true.
He wasn’t particularly fond of Jaius, after all.
Wait.
Come to think of it, Hale didn’t seem to like any of the men around me.
I suddenly remembered that day—when he told me about the upcoming ball.
“Can I make lots of friends there?”
“As long as they’re not boys.”
He hadn’t been joking after all, had he?
“Dad.”
“Mm.”
“Do you not like Jaius?”
“…”
It was the first time I’d ever directly asked him if he disliked someone. Hale looked completely thrown off.
Normally, with his personality, he’d bluntly say yes or no. The fact that he was hesitating told me everything.
There hadn’t been any big conflict between them, so why didn’t he like him? I could understand if it were because of Roel being royalty, but Jaius?
“Jaius came from the Black Dragon family, right?”
“Uh, well…”
I narrowed my eyes at him, and Hale immediately averted his gaze.
At that moment, the sound of the study door opening filled the air, followed by the faint scent of familiar pheromones.
And then—a smooth, mature voice.
“Seems I arrived right on time.”
Standing at the doorway in perfect posture, Jaius met my eyes and smiled faintly.
Wow. He looks completely different from when we were kids.
Even compared to when I’d last seen him at the palace, he’d grown. Now, he looked every bit the adult.
Next to me, still in her adolescent form, I felt the difference clearly. Had he already completed his full growth?
“Senika, close your mouth before a fly flies in.”
“Ah!”
I quickly covered my mouth with both hands—apparently, I’d been staring with my mouth hanging open.
But honestly… who wouldn’t stare? He’d always been handsome, but now, fully grown…
No kidding—he could make a living off his face alone.
Considering how beautiful his mother Vivian was, it wasn’t surprising.
“Ah, Jaius—come sit here.”
I patted the seat beside me.
“Ahem!”
Hale cleared his throat loudly. The meaning behind it was obvious, which only made me want to laugh.
Ah, if only I’d realized earlier how fun it is to tease him like this.
I shot Jaius a meaningful look—sit next to me.
And, catching on to my signal, he quietly took the seat at my side.
“I didn’t expect the one sent from the Black Dragon family to help me would be you.”
“Of course it had to be me.”
“I’d heard you were still going through your adult growth stage, so I thought it’d be someone else.”
“I’m nearly done, so it’s fine.”
He wasn’t lying. His composure and the calm steadiness of his pheromones—so unlike mine—proved it.
“Thank you, Jaius. For helping me.”
“I wanted to.”
“Still, you did help, so at least take my thanks.”
Jaius nodded gently.
