Chapter 114. Return (1)
Contrary to what she had expected—that it would take some time before she could return—Temia soon found herself back at the mansion. This was because the Duke, having perfectly mediated the argument between Rio and Lowell, immediately placed her in a carriage and sent her back.
In the meantime, she had repeatedly shouted that she wanted to stay as a witness to the incident, but her opinion was completely ignored. No matter what Temia protested, the knights, following the Duke’s orders, lifted her into the soft interior of the carriage. Inside, as if anticipating such a situation, all sorts of potions had been prepared. She drank them all and soon sank into a deep sleep, missing even the chance to complain.
A week passed like that.
Unlike before, when even a single flower in the garden or a person’s laughter would stir her heart with nostalgia, the familiar mansion no longer evoked any emotions.
“Maybe it’s because I came back before I could really do anything…”
She lay on the bed, lost in thought.
For several days, she had been confined to the house, following her family’s repeated advice to rest. No matter how much she worried, her insistence that she assist Lowell at the scene and provide strong testimony about the situation had faded in the Duke’s sorrowful eyes.
- “This time, let him handle it as he wishes.”
Even if Lowell already knew what had happened—after all, he had witnessed her rolling around in the fields—this was the first time the Duke’s household had seen their youngest daughter in such a rough state. How could they have felt?
A noble lady appeared with her clothes torn, her hair disheveled, and her body dirtied. Though she kept saying she was fine, no one could have believed it. She bore scratches from the kidnapping and bruises that caused her skin to swell.
Fortunately, thanks to the Duke’s intervention, none of Temia’s condition had reached the social circles. She was a victim, but measures were taken to prevent malicious gossip from spreading.
Though they respected the girl’s determination to leave boldly, her family did not wish for her journey to be filled only with hardships. Letting her go without resistance was one matter; ignoring the sight of her pitiful state was another entirely.
Because of this, even when Temia later requested to go out, not only the Duke but also her siblings firmly opposed it.
- “Temia, even if you were involved in that incident, you don’t have to try to solve everything yourself.”
- “So… was it really that big of an incident? How many people were involved?”
- “After you left, Father went in with that magician—or whatever he is—and searched thoroughly. You helped him and brought all the evidence out, didn’t you?”
- “What?! You had her work in that situation? How could you use her as an assistant until that very moment?!”
The conversation mostly ended with Lowell swearing, but the key point was clear: “Even without you, things are going well, so rest.”
- “I asked first! I couldn’t use my hands properly, so I had no choice…”
- “If it was that hard, it must have been extremely hard! And you think that’s more important than your injury?!”
- “I— I asked first! And I’m grateful he helped, so it’s not a problem…”
- “Temia, are you defending that magician in front of us?”
- “…Sorry. But it’s true. Lowell only tried to save me and resolve the situation. And it was me who said it was okay to continue. So, sister, I want to go back now…”
- “Absolutely not-!!”
No matter what she said, the answer was always the same. Everyone wanted Temia to fully withdraw from the incident, apart from acknowledging Lowell’s contribution.
Perhaps because of this, she hadn’t been able to contact Lowell naturally. Rumor had it that her father and Lowell were collaborating to oversee the investigation and pursuit of Prometheus’s remnants, but she, who had been constantly by his side, had little to no contact with him.
She no longer questioned why he hadn’t reached out. Now that all identities were revealed, there may have been distance preventing contact—or perhaps communication was genuinely blocked. Judging by her family’s reactions, it wouldn’t be surprising if they were keeping him away.
Having already witnessed the desperate efforts of the man who had risked everything to save her, Temia could no longer doubt Lowell’s affection.
No matter what her family said, it didn’t matter. She had seen him closely, and she knew.
The way he ran tirelessly to save her.
The way he held her, trying to calm her frenzied mind.
It wasn’t the confident, composed appearance of the magician she knew.
Her hand, which had lain limp on the sheet, suddenly clenched. Thinking of Lowell’s gaze—so intense, so desperate—she couldn’t stay still.
- “You said you’d come back to me. So I waited.”
She clenched her fists a few times, then grabbed the blanket, pulling it over her head. No one could see her as she was resting, but she felt strangely embarrassed. Every time she saw him before, her heart raced—not from mischief, but now she faintly understood why.
It wasn’t the cold, detached eyes of the past.
It was the possessive, burning gaze.
And yet, he couldn’t hold her tightly for fear of hurting her; he only watched her cautiously. That touch caused Temia to crumble, just as she had on that day.
But, as they say, people should always be cautious.
Even with clear emotions, Temia agonized over them. Lying in bed, during the maid’s careful application of ointments to her bruised skin, while eating with her family—every moment she considered deeply.
Finally, even after the Duke, exhausted from returning to the mansion and resting, gathered everyone for tea, Temia spoke softly, putting down her teacup:
- “I… like Lowell.”
In her childhood, when everything felt bitter and resentful, her nanny had said:
- “Miss, if things are at their worst now, it might actually give you a chance to love other things. You’ll think, ‘It can’t be worse than this.’”
It wasn’t an easy concept to grasp. Her normal life had been completely stolen by illness, so while she could easily hate things, she had no room to love anything. Attending a social party with fancy accessories and a styled hairdo was only possible in her imagination. In reality, it was just tidying up after vomiting and changing into clean clothes.
Even if she cried and fussed, her family couldn’t come rushing to the villa immediately. On days when she collapsed from exhaustion, the day was meaningless, filled only with tears.
Once she realized this, she decided to follow her nanny’s advice: to create more things she liked rather than hated.
She liked Kylie, who always brought her trivial news to chatter about.
She liked the nanny who embraced her warmly during convulsions.
She liked the potted plants Himo gave, which, though poorly tended, still sprouted.
She liked Cap’s raspberry sherbet, so sweet it made her saliva run.
She liked Nanarun, who insisted on taking her for walks even when she felt down.
She liked the daisies she saw in the garden along the way.
She liked being able to walk in good weather and read by the window in bad weather.
At first, liking something seemed almost like resignation—a way to give up anger at life and settle in the present.
But her surroundings were wrapped in layers of love, always ready to gift her happiness when she turned her head.
Moreover, liking something meant holding onto life for Temia. Even when weighed down by sadness, she never completely fell as long as there were people waiting for her.
Lowell, however, was different. He wasn’t her chosen support to lean on in life. She had fought countless times to push him away just to survive.
Yet, when the words of affection for Lowell finally escaped her lips, it felt as if all the countless things she had silently loved became complete.
Lowell wasn’t a love she had to struggle to find; he was the first love she actively chose.
He was the one she accepted after much deliberation, for herself alone.
He was the one who treated her honestly so she could be herself.
He was the one who gave awkward but unquestionable love, striving for her.
Though her declaration was somewhat impulsive, once it was out, her feelings were fully certain.
Looking around at her shocked family, she continued:
- “Please let me meet Lowell. If you’re stopping me from participating in the investigation because you’re worried, I’ll use affection as an excuse to request a meeting with him!”
