CHAPTER 46…….
Volunteering to keep watch felt different from obedience out of following orders, giving me a strange feeling.
Besides, he was strong even without training, which made me a little uneasy.
“You can only get stronger when you’re healthy. Did you get proper treatment?”
“I wrapped the bandages…”
“You need to apply ointment to heal. Let’s go inside first.”
We went inside the mansion and I took off the bandages.
“Did you really get hurt during training?”
The wound was long and straight, cleanly cut.
It was such a strange wound that it looked like he had used his left arm as a shield. When I asked again, the question came back at me.
“Lilia. What did you talk about with that man?”
“That man?”
“The relative you have.”
Kaas was referring to the visit by the Brimstone couple yesterday.
It seemed our eye contact wasn’t a mistake after all.
“Why do you want to know?”
Lilinaria raised her head from inspecting the wound as she asked.
And suddenly swallowed hard.
Our faces were uncomfortably close.
“I saw you smile.”
Kaas reached out his right hand toward her.
“That expression…”
As if to gently cup her cheek.
“It was beautiful, so I wanted to see it again.”
His voice was low, tickling near her ear. The fine hairs stood on end, making her tense instinctively.
Brush—
His fingertips brushed her ear.
Startled, Linarian realized Kaas was tucking her hair behind her ear.
She was very sensitive at the moment and reacted strongly.
“I don’t remember smiling. And we didn’t have any special conversation, so I don’t really know. I’ll put on the ointment. It’ll sting.”
Relaxed now, Linarian turned her head.
She meant it sincerely, not as an excuse.
She applied the ointment carefully.
Though she didn’t press hard, Kaas flinched.
“Does it hurt a lot?”
“Yeah, it hurts.”
His pronunciation was a bit awkward when he said “hurt.”
But since he was calm even during ear piercings, I figured it must really hurt for him to react like that.
“And I feel dizzy too.”
“Probably because you trained for too long. You didn’t take breaks, did you?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s not an answer to take lightly. If you feel very dizzy, lean on me.”
Kaas obediently rested his head on Linarian’s shoulder. But due to his size, it wasn’t a comfortable posture.
“If that’s the case, lie down.”
Linarian tapped her leg.
Kaas hesitated.
But since Linarian treated it lightly, it would be stranger if he refused.
Giving in, he laid his head on her thigh and tried to keep his neck stiff so she wouldn’t feel his weight.
His long legs stuck out from the long sofa in a straight line.
“The wound is deeper than I thought.”
“I don’t think I can use my left arm for a while.”
That was a lie.
He was confident he could use it well.
“You’re right-handed, right? That’s a relief. Daily life won’t be too inconvenient.”
Linarian wrapped a new bandage.
“You wrapped the previous bandage yourself, right?”
“How did you know?”
“Because it looked messy, like it was done with one hand. Next time, ask someone else to help.”
“Even you?”
Kaas asked eagerly.
“If I have time like today, I’ll help.”
Linarian casually answered, then asked the question she originally wanted to.
“By the way, Kaas. You’re not sleeping on the floor anymore, right?”
He avoided eye contact.
He wasn’t the type to lie.
“Even if it’s uncomfortable, get used to it gradually. You’ll be living here for a while.”
“Living here…”
“Everyone deserves at least a minimum level of treatment. I’m providing that minimum for you.”
Linarian said firmly.
“And just to be sure, did I come to your room last night?”
The question sounded odd after saying it. She hurriedly added:
“I don’t mean anything by it. I just want to confirm if I really went.”
“No. You didn’t.”
He didn’t even blink.
His reaction was clearly different from when we talked about the bed, so it must have been just a dream.
“Maybe I was mistaken.”
That couldn’t have been real.
If she thought about it logically, she’d know it didn’t make sense, but why did she think that just now?
Maybe because she just woke up and her head wasn’t working properly.
Shaking off the dream thoughts, Linarian played with Kaas’s hair.
Then, as if remembering something late, she said:
“I’m going out for a bit this afternoon. Don’t follow me, just rest.”
“It’s my job to protect you.”
“But you’re hurt. I’m going to the Brimstone mansion, so nothing will happen.”
I meant to reassure him, but somehow Kaas seemed even more cautious.
“I think the dizziness is better.”
“Already?”
“Yeah.”
I didn’t know why he wanted to follow, but since he said he was okay, I couldn’t stop him.
‘Anyway, I promised my father to always bring a guard when going out.’
If I had to have a guard, it was better to have someone discreet.
Especially for a secret outing like this.
“But you have to take off those clothes.”
When he looked at me as if asking what I meant, I replied brightly:
“I’m not going out as Princess Obel’s guard.”
An unremarkable carriage that wouldn’t look strange even for a commoner stopped in the street.
The door opened, and Kaas got out. Linarian followed, not escorted by anyone.
Her long black hair spread out.
Her clothes weren’t typical noble attire, nor a black hood to hide her identity.
“I’ll buy Anna’s favorite dessert on the way back. Thanks to this, I could get proper clothes.”
Right now, Linarian wasn’t going out as Princess Obel.
She wore a maid’s uniform, and Kaas wore a servant’s outfit.
It was a bit hard to find clothes that fit Kaas, but Anna quickly altered them so they could go out safely.
A small earring glittered at Linarian’s ear.
It was a magic tool that changed hair and eye color.
Her silver hair was now black, and her red eyes had turned green.
They naturally entered the Brimstone mansion’s back door.
“You’re here, Linarian.”
The Duke of Brimstone greeted them.
He wasn’t surprised to see Linarian in a maid’s outfit.
He had been warned in advance.
“August is out on official business. Veronica will be home after some time, so they’re absent.”
“I don’t see any other servants.”
“They got a paid day off because you’re coming. They recently fired the assistant, and things inside are messy, so they needed time to tidy up.”
“……”
“Besides, my reputation hasn’t been good lately, so they all seemed relieved.”
“No one would be unhappy to get a day off. Don’t think so badly.”
“That’s comforting.”
They were shown to the room Margaret had stayed in before marriage.
“Margaret took all her things when she left, so not much is left.”
She came to this mansion under the pretext of wanting to see her mother’s room, telling that to her father and the Duke.
They naturally allowed it.
‘Because of the rumor that Obel and Brimstone are sworn enemies, we had to come disguised.’
“Linarian, are you really okay even if I’m not by your side?”
“Yes. But can I look around the garden too?”
“You may roam freely. If you need anything, call for me.”
“Thank you for your consideration. Oh, and this is a gift.”
“A gift? You didn’t have to bring anything. Ahem.”
“You kindly took me in, so I couldn’t come empty-handed.”
It was a walnut pie.
“Walnuts are good for health.”
Especially when hair falls out.
Linarian swallowed the rest of her words and smiled while looking up at his head.
In fact, since she had taken care of the fundamental causes of his hair loss, the walnut pie was just a formality.
“I’ll eat it well.”
Fortunately, the Duke seemed pleased, not disliking walnuts.
No matter what small intention was behind the gift, if the recipient looked happy, that was enough.
