After playing for quite a while, when she was resting because she was a little tired, Jeron said he had to go attend his lessons and left for a while.
When she asked if his stamina was okay, he instead looked at her with bright, wide eyes as if asking what could possibly be tiring, and Edith realized that being young really was nice.
Still, she thought it was a relief that he seemed to be attending his lessons diligently, and she waved her hand, telling him to go and listen well.
This made her recall old memories, and it felt strange.
“Hello. If you need anything, please call me.”
After Flora followed Jeron out, a maid she had never seen before bowed politely and said to call her if needed.
Edith thought she might drink some tea while waiting for Jeron.
“Could I have some tea?”
“I will prepare it.”
The maid also left for a moment, and Edith sat at the table in Jeron’s room and stared blankly out the window.
Rain was falling steadily.
It had rained a lot two years ago as well, but now the rainfall felt even more severe.
She had heard that because the rain hadn’t stopped for two years, many areas had been submerged by floods.
Fortunately, the ground in the Valencia territory was slightly higher, so it hadn’t been flooded.
Because of that, even flood victims from other nearby regions had moved there, and the number of territory residents was gradually increasing.
It wasn’t a good thing.
What was the point of having more residents?
It wasn’t like they could all just suck their fingers and starve together.
It was a region that had lived off farming, but with rain like this, farming had become impossible.
That had been the case when she was Aisha as well, but now she predicted that House Valencia alone would soon struggle even to distribute relief grain.
“…A Saint.”
Seeing this situation reminded her that Edith’s original body had been a Saint.
The rain was more severe than expected, and she began to wonder if, if she received the mark, their livelihood might improve somewhat.
It was also what the residents of this region desperately wished for.
She had planned to receive it as late as possible.
Wasn’t it possible to carry out Saint activities without receiving the mark?
Reminus had said he would think about it, but honestly, it seemed unlikely there was any solution.
“Hm?”
But was it her imagination, or did the rain seem to be gradually weakening compared to when she had first arrived?
Edith stood up from her seat and walked closer to the window.
She could feel the chilly air, but looking closely, she could clearly tell from the sound alone that it had changed.
“What are you doing there?”
At the voice she heard, she turned her head and saw Luzbel standing there.
“Huh?”
‘Why is that person here?’
He was someone who had so little interest in others that she had thought the earlier encounter would be the first and last time she would see his face during her stay.
“…Where is Jeron?”
“He said he had to attend his lessons, so he left for a while…”
“…I see.”
A subtle silence lingered.
In the meantime, the maid who had gone to bring the tea Edith had requested returned and was startled upon seeing Luzbel as well.
Seeing the maid hurriedly bow her head, Edith asked out of courtesy.
“Your Grace, would you like some tea?”
She had naturally expected him to refuse.
Since he had been looking for Jeron, she assumed he had come to see him.
“Very well.”
Huh?
Then why did he accept?
***
In truth, the reason Luzbel had come to see Edith was because of Monet.
“Are you not curious?”
“About what?”
“I am a bit curious.”
“So what is it?”
“No, is Your Grace not curious how Lady Edith managed to win the young master’s heart so quickly? Our young master isn’t just any ordinary young master. He has a cold disposition that perfectly resembles Your Grace from when you were young. But she just melted that ice so easily. So, are you not curious?”
That was certainly something he was curious about.
However, he couldn’t accept the claim that Jeron resembled him when he was young.
Their appearance was, even in his own opinion, extremely similar, but when he was young, Luzbel had been somewhat more cold-hearted.
It was something that couldn’t be helped, having grown up under a desolate father.
Jeron, unlike himself, had at least received affection, even if only for a short time, so he thought their very foundation was different.
That was why it must have been easier for him to open his heart to Edith.
Because he had experienced affection before.
“Try asking Lady Edith casually. The young master should be in class right now.”
“…”
Luzbel narrowed his eyes.
He knew Monet was trying to pull another unnecessary stunt, but listening to him, he did feel curious.
Then, Aisha suddenly came to mind.
Aisha had tried very hard to become close with Jeron.
“Your Grace.”
“…What?”
“I believe I said something unnecessary. Please look at the documents.”
Monet seemed to have sensed exactly who Luzbel had been thinking of.
Having stayed by his side for so long, he could read his thoughts just from his gaze.
Finding it absurd, Luzbel let out a small scoff and looked at Monet.
“…Why are you smiling?”
He didn’t know.
Perhaps because he had seen Aisha recently, it didn’t feel as painful as before.
“Let’s go see her.”
“Pardon?”
“I will go see Lady Edith for a moment.”
Monet’s eyes widened, as if he hadn’t expected this to work, then he smiled brightly and quickly led the way.
And so, Luzbel met Edith, who had just been about to drink tea.
In other words, he had deliberately gone to see her, knowing Jeron wasn’t there.
***
She never thought the day would come when she would sit across from Luzbel again and share tea with him.
In the past, she could say anything carelessly because Luzbel would accept everything, but now she knew that wasn’t the case, so she had no idea what to say.
As a result, only the sound of sipping tea filled the room along with the awkward silence.
“Um….”
“Yes.”
“Jeron is very cute.”
Since Jeron was their only common ground, she decided to talk about him and spoke first.
“He is.”
‘That’s it? Shouldn’t you explain what exactly is cute so the conversation can continue?’
Once again, an awkward silence.
“He seems more shy than I expected. Even though the way he speaks is a bit prickly.”
“That is correct.”
That was it.
He agreed, but it didn’t lead to a conversation.
Edith carefully tried to recall how she used to talk with Luzbel when she was Aisha, but no particularly useful memories came to mind.
Usually, she would scold him for being too stiff and tell him to treat the child better, but she couldn’t suddenly do that here.
Back then, Luzbel had liked Aisha, so she could act freely, but now that wasn’t the case.
“What kind of lessons did Jeron go to?”
“Imperial law.”
“What? Already?”
Two years ago, hadn’t they said it was too early and postponed teaching it?
“Yes.”
“…Did Jeron say he wanted to learn it too?”
“Yes.”
‘What is this, is he some kind of robot that can only answer ‘yes’?’
She decided she would ask Jeron again later when he returned.
In the end, Edith judged it impossible to continue the conversation and quietly drank her tea.
Monet, standing behind, kept giving her looks, but she ignored him.
What was the point of talking alone until her mouth hurt when the other person didn’t seem willing to respond?
“…?”
But Luzbel was acting a little strange.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
***
Something was strange.
Luzbel tried to steady himself as his eyelids slowly drooped, but it wasn’t easy.
“…Your Grace?”
Edith called out to him in confusion, but his lips wouldn’t move.
After Aisha left, his insomnia had worsened, and he had never been able to sleep properly.
But suddenly, drowsiness was overwhelming him.
At first, he wondered what was happening, but the sleepiness kept washing over him.
He knew he shouldn’t fall asleep here, but his eyelids betrayed his will.
“Your Grace?”
Her voice began to echo faintly.
Even Monet, who had been standing behind him, sensed that something was wrong and was startled as he checked on him.
But his consciousness gradually faded, and Luzbel fell asleep just like that.
However, to Edith and Monet, it looked like he had collapsed, which was the problem.
Startled, Edith jumped to her feet and cried out.
“Why is he suddenly like this? Is he sick?”
“No. He is not.”
Even Monet, who had never once seen Luzbel collapse, was flustered.
The Duke, who looked like he wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed, had collapsed?
Still dazed and unsure what to do, Monet belatedly ran out, saying he would call the physician, and Edith, with the servants’ help, first laid Luzbel on the bed.
After laying him down, she touched his forehead, and although it wasn’t severe, he had a fever.
At this level, he would probably improve a little if he took medicine.
“Could you bring a wet cloth?”
“Yes? Yes!”
“And bring comfortable clothes too. I’ll change his clothes.”
“Yes!”
Like Monet, the servants had never seen Luzbel collapse before, so they didn’t know what to do.
Noticing this, Edith began giving orders one by one, and only then did they move quickly.
They soon brought a wet cloth, and Edith wrung it out and placed it on his forehead, letting out a sigh.
“Your Grace?!”
At that moment, Monet burst in.
Along with the physician, who was breathing heavily.
Seeing that he was still being treated the same as when she had been here, Edith welcomed him inwardly and urged him to quickly examine the Duke.
“Goodness. For His Grace to collapse…”
The physician let out a low sigh and checked Luzbel’s pulse.
“How is he? He isn’t seriously unwell, is he?”
“…Hm.”
“Why aren’t you saying anything?!”
Monet pressed the physician, but the physician couldn’t continue speaking, his face serious.
Edith also waited with a stiff expression for the physician to speak, wondering if something was seriously wrong.
The physician only checked his pulse again and again.
“What is it?!”
“That is…”
“Yes, what is it?”
“He is asleep…?”
“…”
Monet, who had been shouting loudly, dug at his ear for a moment, thinking he had misheard, and asked again, but the answer was the same.
He had fallen asleep.
In a deep sleep.
He suddenly collapsed and scared everyone, and now what? He was sleeping?
