Chapter 41
The moment the physician saw the knight lying in bed, he immediately recognized him as the one the Grand Duchess cherished. Without saying a word, the physician gathered his things as he saw Eliana silently staring at Rodin.
Sylvia helped him pack and saw him off.
“Sylvia.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
It was a small room, so cramped that even a small movement caused the lit candle to flicker. Rodin’s ankle stuck out from the bed placed next to a window that looked like two hands pressed together.
Thump, thump.
Sylvia glanced nervously at Eliana. They had been warned to be careful since the guest came from the Grand Duchess’s family, yet the maids were still in disarray.
“…Take care of Rodin.”
“Don’t worry, Your Grace.”
With most of the maids gone due to the incident earlier in the day, the mansion was already in a state of unrest. Adding Rodin to the mix only worsened the chaos.
Eliana quietly looked at Rodin’s unconscious face before turning away.
You may not notice when someone joins, but you always notice when someone leaves — and the now-quiet mansion, cleaned of servants, felt eerily silent.
Eliana walked wordlessly down the corridor, lit here and there by dim lights.
‘Why on earth did he do that?’
Rounding a corner, Eliana suddenly stumbled and leaned against the wall.
She had sensed something was wrong with Rodin the moment their eyes met. The desire in his brown eyes was the same then as it was now.
She recalled the image of young Rodin, curled up and holding onto something in his hand, enduring a beating from Viscount Hoffman.
‘Even back then… and even now… I’ve only ever run away, thinking only of saving myself.’
She remembered Rodin standing guard in front of the hotel, his body battered from the viscount’s whip.
Eliana raised her hand to cover her eyes.
But the darkness offered no comfort. Instead, the memories clung to her like thick sludge, eating away at her.
Staggering from a sudden wave of dizziness, Eliana slowly resumed walking. The hallway seemed to ripple before her like a mirage.
“Haa…”
Biting her lip, Eliana grabbed the doorknob.
She had been so focused on catching Rodin when he collapsed, she hadn’t even thought about Grady.
Now, belatedly recalling his presence, she bit her lip harder.
‘How am I supposed to explain this misunderstanding?’
The moonlight urged her forward, but she hesitated to open the door. She had no idea how to face Grady.
“Hmph…”
Taking a deep breath, Eliana slowly turned the doorknob.
“…Ha.”
Her tense shoulders dropped instantly. Her hand fell limply from the knob.
The room was empty.
It was a deep night with not even the moon in the sky.
“Emma gave up that easily?”
“She wasn’t dismissed — she was thrown out.”
The strong scent of alcohol filled the room every time the still-full glass swirled in the hand.
“Then… does this mean we don’t have to keep doing this kind of thing?”
Grady set down his glass. The liquor, which had been swirling rapidly, now moved slowly.
“Not yet.”
The butler shook his head firmly.
“What the hell happened in just half a day?”
“Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, promptly and efficiently kicked Emma the head maid and all her followers out of the Cryber estate.”
The butler couldn’t hide the upward twitch of his lips.
Grady gave him an incredulous look.
When Grady had first said he’d marry Eliana, the butler hadn’t openly objected, but it was clear he disapproved. Now, within just a few hours, he was calling her ‘Her Grace’ and praising her.
“Prompt and efficient?”
Grady raised his chin, gesturing for the butler to sit.
“I couldn’t possibly sit in the presence of Your Grace.”
“What are you saying? Tonight calls for a toast. That leech of a head maid is finally gone — we can’t just let that pass without celebration.”
The butler hesitated for a moment before awkwardly lowering himself onto the sofa. His posture was stiff and uncomfortable, but Grady didn’t comment on it, simply glad he had taken a seat at all.
Instead, he asked about Eliana’s “heroic” acts — something he’d been dying to know.
“Is she angry I declined the invitation?”
“Considering all possibilities isn’t a bad habit.”
The butler nodded while sipping from the glass Grady had set down.
“Your opinion of the Grand Duchess seems to have changed.”
Grady’s muscular body was visible through his loosely tied robe. His damp hair gave off a faint soap scent.
Despite soaking in hot water long enough to feel cooked, he didn’t feel refreshed at all — only more uneasy.
“That’s what you’re curious about?”
Grady drained his glass in one gulp at the butler’s calm gaze. It was the first alcohol he’d had in a while since he hadn’t been back to the slums since marrying Eliana.
Seeing Grady silent, the butler finally spoke first.
“He could die at any moment.”
“…What?”
“The knight Your Grace brought. His wounds are festering, many of them old and untreated, making healing extremely difficult. In fact, the doctor said it’s a miracle he’s still alive.”
Grady stroked his chin. His brows twitched as if the rough stubble bothered him. The butler ignored his master’s pensive look and continued drinking.
It wasn’t like when he had to force himself to drink to fool Rosella. Thinking of it as a toast, just like Grady said, made the alcohol tingle all the way down, electrifying his body with delight.
“A miracle, huh?”
“Yes. According to Doctor Gren, if the knight leaves his care, he’ll die of sepsis within a few days. No doctor in the capital could save him.”
“That bastard…”
“Pardon?”
“When I saw him at the viscount’s mansion, he seemed perfectly fine.”
“Your Grace?”
Grady turned his head and closed his eyes, a clear sign he didn’t want to talk further. The butler fell silent.
Grady clenched his jaw.
He hadn’t even realized Rodin was sick — not until he collapsed.
He’d only felt a vague unease when he saw Rodin still lingering at the viscount’s home.
Then Rodin had approached him.
“Please take me with you.”
“Do I look like someone generous enough to take in my wife’s ex-lover?”
“Don’t you want to know what Viscount Hoffman is hiding?”
Grady, who had been mocking him, suddenly stiffened.
“Please, take me to Lady Eliana.”
They had torn apart the viscount’s house looking for anything suspicious, but found nothing. Even the second daughter, said to be the viscount’s favorite, was conveniently out.
Rodin had followed silently the entire time.
“Are you bluffing? Pretending to know something you don’t?”
“I’m still the viscount’s man. I can’t speak without his orders.”
“But if I become part of the Cryber household, I’ll speak everything I know.”
“Not the Cryber household. I want to belong to Lady Eliana.”
When Maurice came out of the final search in the study shaking his head, Grady had no choice but to bring Rodin back to the estate.
And now… this chaos had erupted.
“She’s still by his side, isn’t she?”
His hand, trimming the cigar, trembled slightly. Though he kept a neutral expression, the butler pretended not to notice and shook his head.
“She’s already returned to her room. As soon as Doctor Gren finished packing, she left.”
The butler’s glass was already empty, though he spoke with enthusiasm about Eliana’s movements.
Grady refilled his glass while clamping the cigar between his lips.
“Tonight will be short.”
“Pardon?”
“Morning will come quickly. So let’s drink just this last one.”
The butler’s expression turned serious.
They had stirred up the viscount’s household — Hoffman wouldn’t stay quiet. And the ever-calculating Emperor Mateo wouldn’t let this chance slip away.
And just as Grady expected, he was right.
Before dawn, the imperial knights arrived with a summons. Grady sighed, not even fully dressed yet.
“You must hurry, Your Grace.”
“Wait. I can’t meet His Majesty reeking of alcohol, now can I?”
His vacant eyes, unsteady steps, and the overwhelming stench of liquor made the imperial knight frown.
“Haa…”
Grady staggered, pressing his temples. Instinctively, the knight reached out to support him.
“Your Grace, are you all right?”
“Oh dear, I’ve shown the imperial knights such a sight. If I had known you’d come this early, I wouldn’t have drunk last night.”
Waving his hand dramatically, reeking of alcohol, Grady made the knight stumble.
His eyes remained unfocused, and he staggered again and again. The knight clenched his jaw, struggling to keep him upright.
“I’m afraid, in this state, it’s not possible to head to the palace immediately.”
Wiping sweat from his forehead, the butler gave the knight an awkward look.
“Argh!”
Unable to support him, the imperial knight finally collapsed to the floor. Grady, now completely unconscious, fell on top of him, and the knight flailed beneath him.
