Chapter 31 – A Shadow in the Quiet
“Huh? Madam?!”
As my finger gave a slight twitch, Jena gasped and looked at me with wide eyes.
But I still couldn’t open my eyes. Jena gently shook my body, calling out to me again and again.
“Madam…? Madam!”
“…”
“Madam, you just moved your finger, didn’t you? I saw it.”
“…”
“Please, just once more. Please, Madam…”
“…”
Eventually, her voice quivering with tears, Jena wrapped my hand in a warm towel and gently massaged it again.
Did I imagine it? she wondered, glancing at my face, but I lay there, unmoving as ever.
Letting out a heavy sigh, she gave up and picked up the story where she’d left off, chatting softly as if to fill the silence.
“Anyway, Madam… Even though you told me to keep it a secret, I heard the butler say that word of your collapse will reach those who just left the estate.”
“…”
“You tried so hard to protect that secret… and now—this is all… this is all because—”
Suddenly, voices echoed from outside the room.
Jena stopped mid-sentence, quickly rolled down her sleeves, and neatly tucked the blanket over me.
A moment later, without knocking, Viscount Kranos burst through the door.
He shot Jena a sharp glare before jerking his chin toward the hallway.
“You. Out.”
“…Yes, sir.”
Jena, her face stiff with tension, bowed deeply and hurried out of the room.
Kranos clicked his tongue and furrowed his brow in open disapproval as he watched her go.
Once she had left, he turned toward the unconscious Duchess lying in bed. The contempt he wore a moment ago vanished, replaced by an overly sorrowful expression. The butler, who had led him in, averted his gaze, pretending not to notice.
“Oh, dear… I simply stopped by because I hadn’t heard from the children in a while, and now to find things in such a state.”
With theatrical concern, Kranos approached the bed and spoke in a lamenting tone that bordered on performative.
“What on earth has happened? It’s been less than half a year since my brother went missing, and now the Duchess is in this condition too…”
Knock knock—click.
“Uncle.”
At that moment, Kaelan opened the door and entered the room.
The first thing he saw was Viscount Kranos standing beside Bella, holding his head in his hand as if stricken with grief.
Kaelan had been informed by a servant—sent by the butler—that his uncle, Viscount Kranos, had arrived at the estate without any prior notice.
When he heard this, he rushed to the entrance, but aside from the busy servants, there was no sign of his uncle.
He stopped a passing servant and asked where Kranos and the butler had gone, only to be told they’d already headed straight for the Duchess’s room.
On his way there, Kaelan noticed Jena standing anxiously outside the room, her face drawn and nervous.
He asked her about his uncle’s whereabouts, and she confirmed that Kranos had already gone in.
Uncle came here without so much as a letter?
Kaelan had only just sent replies to the backlog of correspondence from the ducal estate two days ago.
His letter to Kranos wouldn’t arrive until today at the earliest—possibly tomorrow or the day after.
And yet, here his uncle was, already in Bella’s room.
As Kaelan was about to knock, he paused, catching Kranos’s voice through the door.
“Oh, dear. I simply came because I hadn’t heard from the children, but to find this situation…”
“What is the world coming to? It’s not even been half a year since my brother disappeared, and now the Duchess…”
Three days had passed since her collapse. As the documents and letters began to pile up at a worrying pace, Kaelan had no choice but to return to the office.
She was right. Though temporary, the one entrusted with Duke Dylan’s authority had collapsed, and if word of that spread, the consequences could be dire.
He was not yet of age, nor did he have a solid foundation to stand on.
If the family residence itself appeared vacant, the damage would be even greater.
“Don’t… tell anyone…”
“This mustn’t… get out…”
Even as she collapsed, she’d warned him to keep the secret.
For the first time, they were of the same mind.
And before fainting, she had made sure to lock eyes with him—deliberately.
Kaelan had no intention of spreading the news either, but his uncle had shown up out of nowhere.
Without even speaking to him, he had gone straight to Bella’s room.
As if he already knew something had happened to her.
His father had often spent time alone with him since he turned fifteen, sharing bits of advice and personal knowledge.
Now, in this moment, one particular conversation came back to him.
“Be wary of everyone, Kaelan. No matter how close they are.”
“Even family, Father?”
“Yes. And don’t distance yourself too much from Bella—not until you come of age.”
“Why her?”
“It’s the only way you’ll be safe. And in my room—”
Yes. Even family.
Was Father warning him about Uncle?
“Oh, Kaelan. There you are.”
“Uncle. Visiting without notice? Isn’t that rather sudden?”
“I know. I’m sorry. I happened to be nearby on some business and thought I’d drop in to see everyone.”
Kranos greeted him warmly, but Kaelan kept his expression neutral, burying his suspicions beneath a calm facade.
If there was something off about his uncle’s demeanor since his father’s death, perhaps it was just his imagination.
When Kranos opened his arms for an embrace, Kaelan offered a hand instead. The viscount hesitated briefly, then nodded and accepted the handshake.
“You’ve grown so tall and dependable!”
“Let’s move to the drawing room, Uncle.”
“Yes, I’ve seen the Duchess’s condition. Let’s go.”
Kranos gave Bella one last look, then finally turned away.
Given how intently he had been staring, Kaelan was surprised at how easily he let go.
As his uncle passed him, Kaelan glanced down at Bella.
She looked as if she were merely asleep, but the subtle rise and fall of the blanket reassured him—she was still breathing.
“Kaelan.”
“…Yes, let’s go.”
At his uncle’s voice, Kaelan tore his gaze away and followed.
Outside the room, Jena was still standing exactly where she’d been.
Bowed at a 90-degree angle, eyes fixed on the floor, she didn’t move as they approached.
Kranos stopped and scolded her harshly.
“A maid idling about while the duchess lies ill? Has the household already fallen into disarray?”
“I… I’m sorry, sir.”
“She’s the Duchess’s personal maid and one she’s always favored. She’s been assigned to tend to her,” the butler interjected, gently closing the door behind him.
“Tch.” Kranos turned his head with a scoff and walked on, sneering openly.
“Calling that a ‘personal maid’—the estate really is falling apart.”
He didn’t say the rest of what he was thinking, but it simmered beneath the surface.
There’s a lot to fix here.
Once Kranos, Kaelan, and the butler disappeared from sight, Jena slowly straightened her back and lifted her head.
Her eyes were brimming with tears. She bit down hard on her lip to stop them from falling, but blood had already stained her mouth.
Clutching the front of her uniform tightly with both hands, she took deep, shuddering breaths to calm herself.
“…I’m sorry, Madam.”
She whispered outside Bella’s room, barely audible.
Then, scrubbing her eyes with her sleeve, she knocked lightly on the door.
Knock knock—
“Madam, it’s Jena.”
She swallowed hard, then spoke brightly.
“I’m coming in now.”
“The estate feels a bit warm, don’t you think, Kaelan?”
“I’m fine, Uncle.”
“Some refreshments would be good. Butler, bring us some tea.”
Sprawled comfortably on the sofa like it was his own estate, Viscount Kranos issued the order without hesitation.
The butler glanced at Kaelan, who gave a small nod of approval.
“Then just tea—no need for anything else,” Kranos said, then called out again. “Wait, Kaelan.”
“Yes, Uncle?”
“Let’s have tea instead of coffee. It’s better for you. You really should cut back.”
“I’m not fond of tea.”
“Your father would be worried, too. You’re still young, but it’s important to take care of yourself. You’ll be Duke of the Dylan family in just three years.”
Kaelan said nothing for a moment, then finally nodded.
Kranos chuckled, satisfied. “Good. That’s what I like to hear.”
Turning to the butler again, he asked, “What tea do we have?”
“Pepper, Cronet, Valosha, and Yllang.”
“Let’s have Yllang. It’s light and refreshing—good for fatigue. Serve that.”
“Yes, sir.”
As the butler was about to leave, Kranos added, “Ah—one more thing. I’m feeling a bit warm. Bring mine chilled.”
The butler paused, surprised.
Among nobility, cold tea was unusual. Tea was traditionally served hot, enjoyed slowly as part of a shared conversation.
Cold tea was often reserved for guests who were unwelcome—meant to signal a brief visit.
Serving it cold to oneself was almost unheard of.
But Kranos insisted, and as family, he was allowed certain liberties. The butler simply nodded and left.
“From now on, drink Yllang tea instead of coffee. Your uncle worries about you.”
“Understood. You don’t need to worry, Uncle.”
Kranos smiled broadly at Kaelan’s flat voice and emotionless face.
Disgusting, Kaelan thought.
