Chapter : 21
“I can’t not care about it.”
Watching Nox speak so honestly made me feel strange.
My mind seemed to go blank, and my chest kept tingling.
And along with that… I found myself wanting to be a little more honest too.
“Duke, there’s something I want to tell you.”
“I’ll listen, of course.”
Nox answered calmly, but a trace of tension appeared on his face.
I fiddled with my fingers for a moment before speaking.
“I have a very close friend.”
At that moment, all the plans I had carefully prepared—Plan A, B, C—were useless.
“She’s a friend I’ve liked for a very long time, someone I cherish as much as my family. That’s why I wish her future to be filled only with flowers and happiness.”
“Are you talking about the sheriff of Wysbury?”
Ah?
Oh, no.
I quickly shook my head.
“Ah, Jade is just a friend from the neighborhood.”
Jade or not, the person I was actually talking about was our lovely Stella.
Even so, Nox didn’t relax his stiff expression.
“I lived here with her until just a few weeks ago.”
“…You mean at the Viviwood mansion?”
“Yes. She…”
At this point, I had no choice but to mix in a small lie.
“…She was my maid.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Nox’s expression finally soften.
He regained his composure and even curled the corners of his mouth slightly as he spoke.
“So, until I arrived, she was under a maid’s care. I’m glad you weren’t alone all this time.”
Stella… I’m really sorry. I can’t believe I introduced you as my maid…
Feeling a slight pang of conscience, I replied.
“Yes, something like that…?”
“Then, where is your friend now?”
“She went on a trip.”
“A trip?”
Nodding, I continued my explanation.
“Yes. My precious friend went on a journey to find herself. In my eyes, she has tremendous potential and talent, but I felt sorry seeing her express everything sharply without knowing how.”
Nox listened carefully, his small mouth moving as I explained.
“So I encouraged her. I told her not to worry about what others think and to find her own path. To try writing her own new life.”
“Even so, leaving her mistress alone in the mansion is clearly negligence of duty. That’s why the young lady has been struggling like this, isn’t it?”
“Oh, well… maybe, but I told her to do so!”
I quickly defended Stella. No matter what, I didn’t want my precious girl to get blamed.
Nox rubbed his chin and spoke after hearing my explanation.
“So, you two must have been quite close. If possible, it would be good for her to accompany you to the capital. Having someone on your side is always a great comfort.”
“Right?”
I nodded with a smile. That’s exactly it!
“But my friend hasn’t returned yet.”
“Yes. When will she come back?”
“I don’t know.”
“Excuse me?”
I straightened my neck and replied firmly.
“I don’t know either. So I have to stay here and wait for her.”
For some reason, Nox fell silent at my confident answer.
Then he furrowed his brows and asked.
“You’re telling me you want to wait for someone whose return time you don’t know?”
“Yes, I’m sorry, but that’s right. I still can’t go back to the capital with you. I… want to wait for her.”
“But you can wait in the capital as well. You could also send people to Wysbury continuously.”
Nox surprisingly argued reasonably.
Not easy…
I opened my mouth again.
“That may be, but leaving here without her makes me scared and anxious. And when she returns from her trip, I want to be here to welcome her the most warmly.”
“Stella.”
“I know I’m being unreasonable. I said I wanted married life first, and now I’m saying something different.”
“….”
“But this… is my true feeling.”
I lowered my head, unable to meet his gaze any longer.
It’s always difficult to refuse someone’s goodwill. And I was lying too.
But for Stella, and for Nox… this felt like the right thing to do.
“…I don’t think I can return to the capital with you.”
Would he get angry?
Would he be annoyed, saying what nonsense I was speaking now?
Judging from Nox’s personality in the original, he probably wouldn’t, but it could still upset him.
“If you find her, will you go with me?”
After a long pause, Nox asked in a low voice.
I looked up at him.
“Excuse me?”
“If you brought her here right now, would you go to the capital with me?”
“Well, that’s…”
I rolled my eyes, unsure what to say. I hadn’t expected this…
“I know her trip is almost over! I don’t want to drag her forcibly.”
“….”
“Since I personally gave her this trip, please help her enjoy it until the end. That will ease my mind too.”
At this, Nox had nothing more to say.
He pressed his hand to his forehead and sighed.
“Very well, then, young lady.”
“Duke…”
“The most important thing is your heart. I do not want to force you to the capital.”
“Really?”
Nox let out a dry laugh.
“Is there any reason for me not to mean it?”
Of course…!
I was deeply moved by Duke Betelgeuse’s broad and kind heart.
He was not a picky, self-centered child, but a true nobleman with excellent character. He was someone who could be reasoned with!
“Duke, thank you so much for understanding.”
“In return, once she returns, you will immediately tidy the mansion and go to the capital.”
“Of course!”
Hopefully, that won’t be necessary!
I smiled brightly, feeling relieved. I didn’t manage to achieve a divorce, but at least I stopped being dragged to the capital.
Perhaps Nox would later pursue the divorce again after talking with Lady Hillary, or he might meet the heroine in the original flow and awaken to new love.
‘Either way, eventually the divorce will happen!’
It felt like a weight had been lifted from my chest.
I continued smiling, enjoying the rare good mood.
“Stella.”
At that moment, Nox reached out and touched my cheek.
I looked at him in surprise. His eyes, deep and intense, stared at me.
“I will wait a little longer.”
Huh…
Seeing the depth of emotion on his face, I couldn’t speak, blinking silently.
Nox studied my face and then spoke.
“It will be a very long wait.”
After many twists and turns, I was rescued by Kleon, who had been following me, and collapsed as soon as I returned to Viviwood Mansion.
“Young lady! Shall I handle dinner tonight?”
I didn’t want to taste Kleon’s awful cooking… or whatever that was, but I had no energy today.
My mind kept recalling Nox’s face earlier, making me feel down.
Lying on Stella’s bed, I lifted my head slightly and spoke.
“Sir Hertas, can I ask you to take care of it just for today?”
“Of course! Leave it to me.”
Kleon clenched his fist and replied cheerfully.
I liked how confident Kleon always was…
After he left the room, I slowly looked around.
It was after clueless Kleon had dumped me into Stella’s room and left.
‘He thinks I am Stella, so it makes sense.’
I rose to my feet after a brief thought.
It had been a long time since I entered this room since Stella left. I had avoided facing the cold, empty room without her…
“It’s still such a cute and lovely room.”
I muttered, rolling over on the wide bed, then pressed myself against the wall and blinked.
It was one of Stella’s habits.
“Why did she always like to lie pressed against the wall?”
I smiled lightly, remembering how she always slept that way.
Unless she was hiding something important between the bed and wall, why stick so closely…
At that moment, my smile slowly faded. I got up as if entranced.
“….”
My eyes caught a slightly lifted space between the bed and the wall.
