LUW 59

Chapter 59

The touch of their lips was hot. Pierre’s lips slowly but firmly pulled on Cecilia’s lower lip.

As her body instinctively leaned back, Pierre supported her lower back. Trapped between his arms, Cecilia flinched but couldn’t move either way. When she didn’t respond, Pierre pulled back and let out a soft laugh.

Cecilia’s face flushed bright red.

“…Why are you laughing?”

“Because you twitch so cutely.”

Regrettably, Cecilia couldn’t say anything back—her lips parted slightly, but no sound came. She hadn’t expected him to express himself so openly.

Thinking back, he often wore a mask of gentleness at parties or in public gatherings.

Was he just teasing her again? Cecilia’s eyes wavered with doubt.

As if sensing her unease, Pierre gently brushed her hair back and smiled.

“I mean it. I want to kiss you again.”

“…Okay. I won’t doubt you. So please, stop now.”

If this went on any longer, he really would kiss her again—and if that happened, her heart might explode. She was already overwhelmed by everything happening so suddenly.

Cecilia stepped back from the intimate atmosphere and continued.

“I’ve seen that you’re fine, so I’ll be going now.”

At that, Pierre leaned his head against the headboard and spoke.

“Already? I’m sick, you should take care of me more.”

He patted the empty spot beside him. At his playful gesture, Cecilia’s ears turned beet red, and she quickly left the bedroom, only managing to say that he should get plenty of rest.

Pierre lovingly watched her retreating back.

* * *

Cecilia stepped out of the room, trying to calm her racing heart. To her surprise, it wasn’t Leo waiting for her outside, but Honik.

“Your companion has already returned to the room assigned to him.”

“Thank you for taking care of that.”

Honik took the lead to guide her back to her room.

Worried that he might have overheard anything from the bedroom, Cecilia glanced at Honik, but he didn’t show any signs of suspicion.

Now that she had calmed down, the memory of that kiss with Pierre grew clearer in her mind. She hadn’t realized in the moment, but so much had happened in such a short span of time.

The information Pierre gave her and his past were already shocking—but the kiss had made her heartbeat so fast that everything else felt meaningless.

‘Was he always that bold?’

Cecilia shook her head, pressing her now-warm cheeks with her hands. She convinced herself he must’ve been acting impulsively because of the fever.

He better not do something reckless.

Having reached that conclusion, Cecilia turned to Honik.

“You’d take good care of him even if I didn’t ask, but I really think he has a fever. Please look after him.”

“…Of course. Don’t worry. You should rest too, my lady.”

With a slightly troubled expression, Honik led her to her room.

Regrettably, the idea that it was just a fever was disproven the next day. Pierre was still acting the same.

When she visited to check if he was feeling better, he smiled sweetly.

“Did you sleep well without waking? I had a hard time sleeping… probably because of what happened last night.”

“…!”

At that, Cecilia’s face turned bright red, as if it might burst.

At first, she thought he was speaking so intimately because of the fever. But Pierre would start faking weakness whenever she appeared and obediently opened his mouth when she fed him.

Cecilia was mindful of the surrounding staff, but Pierre didn’t seem to care at all, as if completely unrestrained.

Conflicted by Pierre’s unexpected clinginess, Cecilia also noticed that Leo had been quietly observing them the entire time.

* * *

Cecilia walked with slumped shoulders, clearly drained.

She had stayed by Pierre’s side the whole time and only stepped out when he went to change his sweat-soaked clothes. In the hallway, she ran into the etiquette tutor who used to instruct her.

The woman had come to check on Pierre’s health, but upon seeing Cecilia, immediately reverted to her old teacher mode and scolded her.

As a result, Cecilia had been detained for quite a while before she could escape.

“Sigh, no matter how much I learn, noble etiquette never sticks with me. Horseback riding and archery were way easier.”

At her complaint, Leo—who had been walking with her—replied.

“Indeed, those kinds of parties don’t suit you, my lady.”

Leo’s blunt response made Cecilia smile awkwardly. “I guess he’s right,” she thought.

Normally, Leo would’ve at least smiled along with her, but today he didn’t react at all.

Cecilia glanced at him, feeling a bit embarrassed. His expression seemed colder than usual.

He wasn’t the most expressive person, but as his longtime friend, she could tell something was off.

After a moment of hesitation, Cecilia carefully asked,

“Leo, is something wrong? Ever since we arrived at the Grand Duke’s estate, you’ve seemed off.”

Leo hesitated before finally answering.

“…I’m feeling a bit down.”

Surprised by his honesty, Cecilia’s eyes widened, and she quickly responded.

“Right, you did come here in a rush because of me. No wonder you’re tired.”

“….”

“Are you uncomfortable with something? The food? Your room? I can ask Honik if there’s anything wrong.”

Leo stared at her for a moment, then looked away and said,

“It’s fine. I’ll be leaving soon anyway.”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t that so? You came here to check on the Grand Duke’s condition. Now that you know there’s nothing serious, it’s time to go back.”

Cecilia looked surprised and answered,

“Well, that’s true, but… he still doesn’t seem to be fully recovered.”

As he expected. Leo’s jaw tightened at her hesitant response.

To anyone, it was obvious the Grand Duke was faking his illness. These past few days, Pierre had wagged his tail like a lost puppy whenever Cecilia was nearby, throwing obvious affection her way.

Leo was reaching the limit of how much he could tolerate watching that. Seeing Cecilia’s heart waver was even harder.

And so, he finally said, firmly,

“…That’s the role of someone who’ll become the Grand Duchess, not yours.”

Silence fell between them.

Cecilia swallowed hard and asked,

“…Leo, are you angry?”

“I’m not angry. I’m just confused by your actions, my lady.”

He faced her squarely, then asked in a serious tone,

“My lady, are you sincere about that man?”

The direct question made Cecilia’s eyes widen.

Leo silently prayed she would say no. Just as her lips parted, a low voice interrupted:

“What if she is?”

They both turned. Pierre was standing there, arms crossed, watching them with amusement.

Leo’s expression hardened, while Cecilia turned toward Pierre, surprised.

“Should you be up? What about your health?”

Pierre smiled gently, as if nothing had happened, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“Lying down all the time gets tiring. But now I’m feeling a bit dizzy again.”

Without hesitation, Cecilia offered her hand. Pierre took it warmly.

Watching the two, Leo frowned and finally spoke.

“You’re the one who lectured me not long ago about touching a lady without permission.”

Startled by Leo’s blunt words, Cecilia looked at him. Pierre, however, narrowed his eyes with interest and replied,

“Right. I was teaching a dog not to cross the line with its master.”

There was a sharp jab hidden in those words, targeting Leo and Cecilia’s relationship—and it hit Leo hard.

The words he usually swallowed surged up, awakened by long-suppressed desire.

“Then what gives you the right, as a stranger, to touch her so freely?”

Pierre silently studied Leo for a moment, then scoffed and pulled Cecilia closer by the hand.

“I’m not a stranger.”

Cecilia turned red again, flustered by his words. Leo finally saw clearly—how Cecilia always turned into a blushing girl whenever Pierre was near.

He bit his lip and abruptly turned around to leave.

Cecilia instinctively moved to follow, but Pierre wouldn’t let go of her hand.