“It seems you were pacing in front of the door early on. When told that the Madam had not yet coughed, you said you understood, but I thought it would be better to inform the Madam.”

Should I ask him to come back later? Loretta asked.

I pondered for a moment with my still drowsy mind, but ultimately decided to let him in.

If he, who was not unaware of etiquette, purposely came to my room so early, it must mean he had something to say that couldn’t be said at the breakfast table.

Instead, I realized that I was not yet prepared to receive guests, as I hadn’t washed or changed clothes.

“Please cover the bed.”

I had Loretta lower all the curtains surrounding the bed to conceal my appearance in a negligee. Only then was Lord Joseph guided into my room.

“Thank you for graciously overlooking my rudeness. But the bed……”

Lord Joseph’s presence flickered outside the bed curtains. His footsteps, which the carpet could not fully muffle, came very close to my bed.

I did wonder if he was coming this close to say something private.

But I didn’t particularly feel the need to be wary, probably because it was Lord Joseph.

“I too have only just woken up, so please excuse me. I haven’t changed clothes yet.”

“Is that why you’ve lowered the bed curtains?”

“That’s right. I thought this would be sufficient for our conversation.”

“Ah……”

Somehow, a strange sense of disappointment could be read in his voice.

“Why do you sound like that? Is there a problem?”

“Actually, there is. I won’t be able to kiss the Duchess’s fingertips.”

“Pardon?”

“It was something I had to do every morning……”

It was truly a ridiculous thing to say.

Well, Lord Joseph does joke around sometimes. I laughed softly and dismissed it casually.

“In any case, is there a reason you’ve come to my room at such an early hour?”

“Before that, do you really not intend to extend your hand?”

“Pardon?”

“Just for a moment, outside the curtain, just your hand would suffice.”

“……?”

“Or even just a finger……”

What on earth is he doing?

At this point, I couldn’t tell if it was a joke or not.

Moreover, his voice sounded quite desperate, and I almost unconsciously extended my hand outside the curtain.

No, I shouldn’t do this.

I quickly came to my senses and sat up. As I swept my long hair, which I had let down before sleeping, behind my shoulders, the bedding rustled.

“I’m rather perplexed. Never mind greetings and etiquette, just say what you need to say.”

But Lord Joseph’s reaction was somewhat strange. It was as if…

“……”

……I wondered if I had misheard.

“Lord Joseph?”

For a moment, I thought I heard his voice very faintly, as if whispering. As I unconsciously strained my ears…

“Ugh……”

A groan?

Sleep fled from me instantly. His breathing sounded abnormal. Just from listening, I could tell he was in considerable pain right now.

I asked urgently.

“Lord Joseph. Are you unwell?”

“……Yes, actually.”

“Where? You should have called for a physician.”

“I have a rather severe headache at the moment……”

“A headache?”

Ah. Only then did something suddenly occur to me.

From the time we first met, Lord Joseph had occasionally shown signs of suffering from severe headaches in my presence.

I had been curious about what was wrong, if he was alright, if he was receiving treatment.

Nevertheless, I had deliberately not asked.

He would smile as if he was fine soon after, and moreover, we weren’t close enough for me to inquire about his personal health, which was no different from a weakness.

But now it’s different.

I am in an alliance with him, he is my children’s tutor, and he is staying in my mansion.

With a swish, I quickly drew back the curtains. Right before my eyes was Lord Joseph, his face contorted in pain and drenched in cold sweat.

Standing so close to the bed curtains that his nose nearly touched them, he was trying to steady his breathing with a desperate expression, facing me who had not extended my hand.

“Josep……”

It was at that moment.

Lord Joseph’s body tilted powerlessly towards me.

Reflexively, I supported his collapsing shoulders. Now that I looked closely, his entire body was drenched in cold sweat. But there was no fever…

“Lord Joseph? Lord Joseph!”

His well-built body was firmer and heavier than I had expected, making it difficult for me, having just woken up, to support him in an unstable posture.

To properly support him, I would need to stand up myself first.

No, rather than supporting him, it would be better to lay him down.

“For now, lie down here for a moment. I’ll call for a physician. Loretta, Loretta……!”

I hurriedly called for my maid. Loretta entered the room at my call, then rushed out in surprise.

It would take quite some time to summon a physician.

“Lord Joseph. Are you alright?”

Before that, I needed to check Lord Joseph’s condition. Should I give him some cold water?

Thinking that, I turned my head. But……

I met eyes with Lord Joseph, who was lying on the bed, staring at me with bright red eyes.

‘Ah.’

For a moment, an indescribable, strange sensation raised the hair on my skin.

His eyes felt different from usual.

But this wasn’t just because he wasn’t showing any expression.

An intense gaze.

Like that of a predator pursuing its prey……

Yes, what I was feeling now was the anxiety of being devoured by him at any moment.

An instinctive fear was weighing down my entire body.

“As I thought.”

“……?”

At that moment, Lord Joseph opened his lips.

His clear and lucid voice seemed to bring clarity to my mind as well.

“This is much better.”

I couldn’t ask what he meant. Looking at Lord Joseph, who was smiling with seductively upturned eyes, I thought this:

“No, this might be even better.”

Why does he.

‘Look so perfectly fine?’

Where did the person who was complaining of a headache and sweating profusely just moments ago go?

With that realization, I quickly stepped back to distance myself from him. Then Lord Joseph sat up as well.

“Hmm. I wonder if skin-to-skin contact would be even more effective……”

“I’m not sure what you’ve been mumbling about since earlier.”

His muttering, no matter how excellent his appearance, did not look particularly pleasant.

Perhaps because of that, my voice sharpened.

“Anyway, if you’re feeling better now, I’d appreciate it if you could tell me the purpose of coming here this morning.”

“Ah.”

Soon after, he began to laugh softly, exhaling. Even though I had moved several steps away, I felt strangely tickled by that sound.

Oh, dear.

‘I’m in my nightclothes!’

The negligee, with its shoulders fully exposed and thin material, sometimes revealed the bare body underneath depending on the light.

Startled, I quickly scanned the surroundings for something to cover myself with.

Unfortunately, all I could see were the curtains that had covered the bed.

Oh, whatever. I’ll use this to cover myself. Considering my social status and dignity, I was in no position to be picky about whether it was water or fire to wrap around my body.

“Duchess?”

With laughter still in his voice, Lord Joseph called out to me.

“What are you doing, wrapping the curtain around yourself?”

“……I trust you’re not going to say you don’t know why I’m doing this?”

“Are you saying it’s because of me?”

This is irritating.

“I never said that. I simply came out of bed, forgetting my shame, deceived by someone who feigned illness.”

“You misunderstand. It wasn’t feigned.”

“You see? Aren’t you acknowledging that you bear some responsibility, Lord Joseph?”

“Ah, haha. I see. It is my fault.”

In the end, he burst into hearty laughter. The infuriating part is that while such behavior is incredibly annoying, his laughter is quite impressive.

Hmm. Is it just the laughter?

“I’ll bring you a shawl.”

In place of me, who couldn’t move, Lord Joseph brought my shawl that was placed quite far from the bed.

As I was draping the shawl over my shoulders and trying to arrange my hair, Lord Joseph said,

“Shall I help you?”

“I think it would be more helpful if you just stayed still. Ah, please bring me my slippers from under the bed.”

“Certainly.”

“……And stop laughing.”

Really, being teased in various ways from the morning.

Just then, Loretta informed me that she had sent someone to the physician, who would arrive soon. I told her I understood and had her wait outside.

As she left the room, she tilted her head in confusion at the sight of Lord Joseph, who looked perfectly fine.

Since I wasn’t the one who had feigned illness, I acted shamelessly. Which means I pretended not to know.

“Anyway, please tell me the purpose of coming to my room now.”

Although I had lost my morning meditation time, I seemed to be wide awake now. I finally made my way to the sofa and had Lord Joseph sit across from me.

“I shall.”

Only then was a situation created where I could finally have a conversation with Lord Joseph.

My, my. It’s so difficult to have a simple conversation.

But from the start, he bluntly stated his conclusion.

“It’s today.”

He said.