Chapter 66
I was resting in my room when suddenly the maid, Beka, came to inform me that someone had arrived from the Imperial Palace.
“Where is the Duke?”
“She told me to say he’s on his way there directly. She also said you shouldn’t worry and should just keep resting…”
What nonsense. How could I not worry?
“Where did they receive him?”
“In the receiving parlor.”
“Alright. Thank you for telling me, Beka.”
“It’s nothing, my lady.”
I left my room immediately and hurried toward the receiving parlor. I felt it would be better to hear the conversation directly.
Thanks to my haste, I ended up meeting Duke Calix in the corridor right in front of the parlor.
“Your Grace, may I come in with you?”
“The conversation won’t be pleasant. Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
“Yes, I want to hear it with you.”
“Very well. Then let’s go in together.”
So we entered the receiving parlor side by side.
“It’s been a while, Duke Fitzaladin. I haven’t seen you since you received your title.”
“It has indeed, Duke Salmare.”
Duke Calix greeted him evenly.
Duke Salmare was a tall, distinguished man with ash-brown hair neatly combed back. He looked much older than Duke Calix—old enough, in fact, to be his father. Perhaps because Calix had inherited his title so young, there was a striking difference in their ages.
That must be why, despite both holding the same rank, Calix spoke respectfully, while Salmare spoke down to him.
Salmare’s eyes shifted toward me.
“And this lady sitting with you?”
“My personal physician, Lady Elena.”
“I see.”
Salmare nodded once or twice, then dismissed me from his attention. He seemed to think I wasn’t someone worth considering.
Calix and I sat down across from the man dispatched from the Imperial Palace.
It seems he’s referring to me as his personal physician now that Dr. Scott has fallen.
After sipping his tea and setting the cup down, Duke Salmare began.
“There are rather interesting rumors going around your duchy, Duke Fitzaladin. Something about a serial killer still being at large?”
“Unfortunately, that is true.”
“And yet, it seems the people of your duchy believe you are the culprit. Protests outside your castle would suggest as much.”
“…”
Calix listened silently, showing no visible reaction.
“How did you allow things to come to this, Duke? The rumors spread all the way to the palace. That’s why I’m here.”
“I see.”
“If you cannot capture the true culprit soon, I’ll have no choice but to investigate you myself. As you know, I was dispatched here for precisely that purpose.”
“The ducal house and the city guard alike are continuing our efforts to apprehend the true criminal.”
“Yet you haven’t caught them, have you?”
“…”
Calix fell silent. In this matter, no one could defend themselves, no matter how eloquent.
“If this isn’t resolved properly, His Majesty will direct his anger at me.”
“Still, that would be better than directing it at me, would it not?”
“Hah. True enough. Regardless…”
Salmare let out a short, incredulous breath, then continued.
“You are still a duke. I can’t press you without evidence. I’ll grant you a brief grace period. What do you say?”
“This is a criminal the city guard hasn’t even found a clue about. Naturally, I will need more time.”
“If this grows worse, you alone will bear all responsibility—both for the crime and for the grace period I have given you.”
“…I understand. I will take responsibility.”
“Then I’ll withdraw for today.”
“Farewell, Duke Salmare.”
Salmare rose, and Calix and I rose as well, escorting him all the way to the entrance hall.
On our way back to the rooms, neither of us said a word.
He isn’t even the culprit, yet he’s constantly misunderstood. My heart ached for him. Calix never said anything, but surely he must be hurt. Surely he must feel wronged.
Wasn’t there anything I could do to comfort him?
As soon as we sat across from each other on the sofa, I asked carefully,
“Your Grace… are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
He smiled as usual when he answered. But perhaps it was just my imagination—it seemed to me his smile carried a hint of bitterness.
“I was sitting beside you, but I couldn’t help at all. I don’t even have any comforting words to offer…”
The more I spoke, the smaller my voice grew. I felt so apologetic. How could catching a criminal be this impossibly difficult?
“Why would you say you have nothing to offer?”
“…What?”
“There’s so much you can do for me, Elena.”
He smiled at me warmly.
Wait. So much I can do? Besides making him medicine and tending to his dog? What else could he possibly mean? I wasn’t someone who could manage a duchy in his stead.
I tilted my head in confusion, and he spoke again.
“If you held me… it would comfort me. It would give me strength. Something like that.”
“E-excuse me? What did you just say…?”
Did I just hallucinate that?
“I said, if you held me, I think it would comfort me and give me strength. Would it be too much to ask?”
With his eyebrows drooping, he looked at me like a timid puppy.
Unfair! That face is completely unfair!
My heart thudded wildly. A part of me asked, Can I really do that? Another part answered, It’s only a hug, what’s the harm?
And in the end…
Ugh, people give out free hugs all the time! If something so simple could comfort him, wasn’t that a good thing?
I was being selfish, but…
Slowly, I rose from my seat and walked toward him. My heart pounded faster with every step.
When I reached him, he leaned forward first. Standing in front of the sofa, I wrapped my arms around him.
Ahh—this position! My heartbeat was definitely loud enough for him to hear. What if he thought I was being ridiculous? What if he felt burdened?
My mind went blank. Even my breathing felt strange and unsteady.
“M-maybe now that you feel better, I can… let go?”
“…No. Not yet. I don’t feel strong again yet.”
“…Oh.”
So much for slipping away. That hope was crushed instantly.
In that case… I’d just have to endure! This was only comfort, nothing more!
I started humming the national anthem from my past life in my head just to steady myself.
“I-I think that’s enough now! I need to rest too!”
After holding him for what felt like forever, I finally pushed him away and bolted into the secret room.
Watching my retreating back, Calix wore a satisfied smile.
In truth, he really was fine. He had expected such things ever since his regression. This incident had even happened before; it carried little sting for him. The only thing that mattered was that Elena cared enough to worry.
And Calix had no intention of letting such an opportunity slip away.
Her heart was pounding so fast.
He could almost still hear it in his ears—the rapid, thunderous beat of her heart. He liked the sound of it.
If it was pounding that hard… doesn’t that mean Elena feels the same way?
The thought filled him with joy. He hadn’t even confessed yet, but it already felt as though he’d been accepted.
I need to catch the real culprit quickly so I can confess to her.
A sudden impatience stirred in him—what if someone else approached Elena in the meantime? That very thought fueled him with determination.
I’ll work harder to find them sooner. First, I should tell her what that man said earlier.
Calix rose from the sofa and walked toward the secret room.
Standing before the bookshelf, he called out in a slightly louder voice,
“Elena, there’s something I forgot to tell you earlier. Could we speak for a moment?”
Silence. No answer from inside.
Already asleep?
He was about to call again when the bookshelf swung open—and Elena emerged, her hair slightly disheveled.
