Chapter : 14
Did she mishear?
No, she’d definitely heard correctly.
Dayna stiffly turned her head and spoke. “…Me?”
It was a foolish question.
Who else could be Stella here?
“Since we’re husband and wife, doesn’t that make sense?” Knox said.
Uh…
Dayna stared at him, speechless.
Husband and wife…?
As she stood there, dumbfounded, Knox turned to Jade. “But for tonight, it’s probably better if your friend sleeps with me in my room.”
“Me?” Jade echoed, sounding just as foolish.
Knox raised the corner of his mouth and nodded. “We’re already imposing so much. It wouldn’t do to inconvenience Lady Viviwood with sleeping arrangements as well. Let’s let her rest comfortably tonight.”
“No, that’s not what I meant—” Jade started.
But Knox turned away without letting him finish. “This way.”
As Knox walked off, Jade looked at Dayna with pleading eyes.
But since things had turned out this way, it seemed better for Jade to stay with Knox. That way, there’d be no unnecessary misunderstandings…
Because me sleeping with Knox would be weird too, right?
Dayna nudged Jade’s back and said, “Go. Sleep well. Leave me in peace.”
“Wow…” Jade shot her a resentful glance, then sighed, clutching his blanket and slowly turning to follow.
* * *
The next morning, Dayna woke late and flung open the window.
A sharp, cold breeze rushed in, tousling her hair. Narrowing her eyes, she gazed at the snow-covered surroundings.
Hmm, it looks like the snow’s melted a bit more than yesterday.
Knox was stuck here because of the snow, but the same snow might be keeping Stella from returning, which made her feel anxious again.
If it came to it, she’d make Jade dig through all that snow.
After washing up, Dayna headed downstairs and found Jade crouched on the second-floor staircase.
Wrapped tightly in a thick blanket, he was sniffling.
“Jade? What’re you doing here?”
“That guy’s a real piece of work.”
“Who? The Duke?”
Puzzled, Dayna glanced toward Knox’s room.
“I didn’t sleep a wink last night,” Jade said.
“Why? Don’t tell me the Duke snores too?”
Jade shook his head, pulling the blanket tighter around himself. “He barely kept the fire going in the fireplace. What’s the difference between that and the freezing guest room? Does he have a fever or something? It’s like he’s surviving on residual heat.”
“Oh…”
He’s got a point. Fire’s his enemy…
Dayna looked at Jade with sympathy. “Go to my room for now. I haven’t put out the fireplace yet. I’ll fix the guest room’s fireplace before tonight.”
“Nah, I’d rather move around and warm up.”
Stretching his neck side to side, Jade stood.
“Where’s the shovel and other tools I brought?”
“Oh, I put them outside.”
“Show me where. I’m gonna start clearing snow today.”
Dayna’s eyes widened as she looked up at him. “Really? You’re gonna clear all that?”
“Yeah. How long are we gonna be stuck here? Food’s running low, and we need to get those guys out. I went out briefly this morning—the temperature’s up a bit, so it’s doable.”
“Jade…! No wonder you’re Wizberry’s top sheriff, looking out for the townsfolk like this!”
Dayna gazed at him, feigning awe.
He swept his hair back with one hand and started walking. “I don’t do this for just anyone.”
“Of course, of course. Our Jade’s the coolest sheriff around!”
Nodding, Dayna took the lead.
She’d been planning to clear some snow on the path to the village today, so she was grateful Jade was stepping up.
* * *
In the library on the first floor of the Viviwood mansion…
Clian, dressed comfortably, strode in. “Duke, it’s Clian!”
He approached Knox, who was seated at an old desk, engrossed in an equally old book.
“Lady Viviwood and her friend are going to clear the snow blocking the path to the village. I’m planning to help them all day—does that sound alright?”
Hearing Clian, Knox lifted his eyes from the book.
Looking out the window, he saw the bundled-up figure of Lady Viviwood, carrying a shovel as big as herself.
Her cautious steps on the icy ground reminded him of the snow duck she’d made.
“Since we’re husband and wife, doesn’t that make sense?”
The memory of his words from yesterday flashed through his mind.
He quickly suppressed the slight smile creeping up.
It had been a childish thing to say, embarrassing even to recall.
After years of neglecting their betrothal and coming here to end it with divorce papers, bringing up their “marriage” was cowardly and shameful.
“Duke…?” Clian prompted.
“Yes, Clian. Go ahead.”
Smiling faintly, Clian bowed lightly and left the library.
Alone, Knox turned his gaze back to the window.
Waddling along, Lady Viviwood was joined by the man who’d shared his room last night. He effortlessly lifted her shovel with one hand, saying something with a laugh.
She responded with a bright smile.
“…”
A strange emotion surged, disrupting his calm.
It pricked uncomfortably at his heart.
Are they close?
They might have met here in Wizberry, or they could’ve known each other before. They already seemed closer than he’d expected.
Watching her, who seemed uneasy and awkward around him, smile so prettily with that man…
It didn’t feel good.
Frowning at the tightness in his chest, Knox tore his gaze from the window.
It’s none of my business.
If she had someone she cared for here, that was a good thing. It would make delivering the divorce papers to his long-time betrothed less uncomfortable.
Straightening up, he picked up the book and began reading. It was his habit since childhood to quell uncontrollable emotions.
“…”
But now, none of the words registered.
Instead, the faint laughter coming through the window echoed louder in his mind than anything else.
Sighing, Knox closed the thick book and stood.
As he moved to leave the library, he paused.
Why do I keep…
…acting so impulsively?
These were actions he’d never take at the Betelgeuse estate, yet here they kept bursting out, throwing him off balance.
Sighing again, he forced himself to return to his seat.
He’d sit, read, wait for them to clear the snow, and once the path was open, hand Lady Viviwood the divorce papers and return to the capital.
It was a simple plan, nothing difficult about it.
Knox reached out slowly and pulled out his chair.
“…”
But on second thought, it felt wrong to sit grandly in the library while everyone else in the mansion worked hard to clear snow.
Yes, that was it.
His unsettled mind wasn’t due to anything else but a sense of duty and moral responsibility to contribute to the group effort.
Defining the complex emotions cleared the fog in his mind, leaving him refreshed.
Knox strode out of the building.
“Duke? Did you need something?” Clian, ahead of him, turned with a puzzled look.
Lady Viviwood and the man were out of sight, likely already far ahead.
Quickening his pace, Knox spoke. “I’ll help clear the snow too.”
