Chapter 69
Theodore felt as though his vision was about to turn blood-red with rage. In this moment, consumed by fury, he could no longer tell who he was.
Was he still human, or had he become a demon?
When he raised his bowed head, his reflection in the mirror caught his eye. A face twisted with malice stared back at him, golden eyes flickering ominously.
“…I’ll excuse myself first.”
Theodore bit into the soft flesh inside his cheek until it split. The taste of iron and the sting of pain barely brought him back to his senses.
He needed to return to his room and hide—quickly.
He couldn’t let Rayana see him like this any longer.
She might misunderstand, or worse, be disappointed by the sight of him harboring demonic power.
Just imagining that ending—a fate he feared more than death—spurred Theodore into frantic action.
“…My lord?”
Her bewildered voice reached him, but Theodore ignored it and fled the room.
His heart prickled with guilt for pretending not to hear her final call.
As he hurried back to his chambers, he ran into the head maid in the hallway. Her eyes widened in surprise.
“My lord, do you need assistance?”
“No, I don’t need any help…”
Theodore raked a hand through his disheveled hair.
His fury toward Count Chester had swelled to an immeasurable degree, and cold sweat trickled down his spine.
Suppressing the demonic energy alone was exhausting him.
He straightened his rumpled clothes before speaking.
“Clear all the servants from this hallway and don’t let anyone come until I call for you.”
“But the lady’s attendants—”
“I will attend to my sister myself. No one is to come near.”
She might appear in her nightclothes again.
Theodore gave his orders and waited in the corridor until the head maid had left.
Only then did he relax and return to his room.
From now on, the only ones allowed in this hallway would be him and his sister.
The head maid walked away, mulling over what she had just seen, her expression puzzled.
Disheveled clothes, ragged breathing, a face flushed with heat.
And then that command to clear the hallway and keep everyone out until further notice! Wasn’t that what noblemen usually said before… an intimate encounter?
A smile crept across her face.
“Good news will soon reach the estate.”
When the head maid entered the kitchen and announced it cheerfully, the other maids gathered around.
“What do you mean, Head Maid?” asked one who was polishing dishes, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
The head maid gave a discreet cough and feigned ignorance.
“You—go draw a bath. You—prepare warm water and towels. And you, put on fresh bed linens—they’ll be needing a change.”
She didn’t elaborate further, but every seasoned servant in the noble household instantly understood the hints in those instructions.
“T-Then the young master…!”
“Don’t make a fuss. They’re engaged—it’s only natural.”
Even as she scolded them, the head maid’s expression was far from displeased.
The sooner the master of the house produced an heir, the better.
Officially, it was about continuing the family line, but in truth, every servant in the mansion had waited thirteen years alongside Theodore.
They had all seen how deeply he loved Rayana, so this was a cause for celebration.
The head maid looked positively proud.
“The house will be lively again.”
And so, another misunderstanding took root.
Rayana had begun to find the staff of the mansion suspicious these days.
Out of nowhere, they insisted on bathing her. When she lay down to rest, they said she must be exhausted and gave her full-body massages. They even changed perfectly clean bed sheets far too often.
From morning to night, every servant she encountered was… no, not just friendly—excessively friendly.
The butler greeted her with soft smiles, the chef served increasingly lavish meals, and the head maid kept asking if she needed anything.
‘What’s wrong with everyone?’
Rayana was vulnerable to kindness from others.
It felt as jarring as being stabbed by a blade—she had no idea how to react.
Was there some hidden motive behind their attentiveness?
She hated herself for constantly doubting them.
Or maybe their behavior stemmed from respect for her as a hero?
Whatever the reason, it made it impossible for her to relax.
She wished they would all go back to acting normal—before she suffocated and bolted from the mansion.
“Is the meal to your liking, my lady?”
The chef who had prepared dinner asked politely.
“If there’s anything you desire, just say the word! I’ll scour the entire empire if I must!”
“…Yes, thank you.”
Rayana forced a clumsy smile and nodded, only for Theodore to cut in sharply, his voice laced with irritation.
“Pluen, can’t you see my fiancée looks like she’s about to choke?”
“I only wished to tend to Lady Rayana, who is to become the Grand Duchess…”
“She’s worked hard all day. At the very least, let her rest comfortably at home.”
At that, the chef fell silent and withdrew, though his expression looked oddly pleased despite the scolding.
Whatever the reason, Rayana finally felt some relief.
“You’ve been scarce lately. Have you been very busy?”
Theodore looked utterly worn out, and she couldn’t help but worry.
He replied with his usual smile.
“Were you lonely without me, sister?”
“Just eat your dinner.”
“I had things to take care of. I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“You didn’t upset me.”
Things to take care of? Everyone in the capital knew the Valencia heir never left the mansion.
Rayana dismissed his words as a joke and laughed, making him laugh along with her.
The tense air eased slightly, and then she noticed how meager Theodore’s plate was.
“That’s all you’re eating? The family isn’t struggling for money—why is your plate just full of greens?”
She glanced at her own—piled high with perfectly seared, succulent cuts of meat.
Surely their portions should have been more evenly divided.
Stabbing a piece of lettuce with his fork, Theodore answered sheepishly.
“…I like it. That’s all.”
“You should still eat properly. You’re at an age when you need to grow. Here, have some of mine.”
When Rayana placed a portion of her meat on his plate, Theodore shook his head in mild panic.
“Sister, what if I get even bigger?”
The thoughtless comment made Rayana tilt her head.
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“…Yes. Thank you, sister.”
He bowed his head politely, but didn’t touch the meat.
Does he dislike meat?
She watched him nibble on nothing but greens, and when their eyes met, he set his fork down.
He didn’t look like someone who genuinely enjoyed salad—if anything, he seemed to be forcing it down.
A sudden thought struck her.
“But don’t you think the atmosphere in the mansion is strange lately?”
“The atmosphere? Did someone make you uncomfortable?”
His eyes turned icy in an instant.
“No, nothing like that. It’s just… everyone’s being overly kind. A few days ago, the butler even brought in a physician to examine me. He said it was to check if I was unwell, but… is that normal in noble houses?”
The longer she explained, the more Theodore’s expression hardened, and her anxiety grew.
Was it really just kindness?
Or was her ignorance causing her to misinterpret everything?
Just as Rayana’s unease deepened, he spoke.
“It’s… normal. A routine check-up, that’s all.”
“Oh, I see.”
Her face brightened, but he only sank deeper into thought before rising to his feet.
“Where are you going?”
He had barely touched his beloved salad.
“I’m full. I’ll excuse myself.”
Full? After barely eating a thing?
Men his size were supposed to have bottomless appetites.
The knights under her command could devour entire bowls of food like cattle.
Theodore was at an age when he should be able to chew through an iron carriage, yet he ate like a bird.
Rayana eyed him with concern as he walked away.
“Enjoy your meal, sister.”
The strangest part wasn’t his small appetite, nor his subdued demeanor.
It was the fact that Theodore left the table before she even finished her own meal.
Unable to contain her curiosity, Rayana rose to follow him.
