When the carriage came to a stop, the servants hurriedly rushed out of the mansion. Seeing Cedric getting off the badly damaged carriage, they were at a loss, shuffling their feet in confusion.

“Your Grace! What on earth has happened?”

An aide approached Cedric urgently.

“Your Grace, we will escort you immediately. We should summon the court physician at once!”

“Stop the fuss.”

While Cedric sternly spoke to the aide, Adrian approached me as I descended from the carriage.

“Lady V, let’s go inside.”

It was then, as Adrian naturally extended his hand to me as I got off the carriage. Cedric, who had returned to me without my notice, withdrew Adrian’s hand and embraced me in one swift motion.

“Uh… Uh?”

An involuntary sound escaped my lips as I opened my eyes wide to look at Cedric. However, he, focused solely on giving orders to his aide, paid no attention to me.

“Summon the court physician to the Dark Mansion.”

Upon hearing Cedric’s command, including the aide, the servants exchanged bewildered glances.

“To the Dark… Mansion?”

“Yes. We need to check the Duchess’s condition immediately.”

With that statement, Cedric, still holding me, walked straight towards the Dark Mansion.

The servants, looking at us as we moved further away, shook their heads slowly.

Watching over that scene beyond Cedric’s back, I felt extremely awkward in this situation.

“No need for this, Cedric.”

“There is. You must have been very surprised.”

Cedric walked in silence.

“Indeed, I was surprised, but there’s no need to carry me like this…”

When I gestured to Adrian, who was walking beside me, he quickly approached Cedric.

“Your Grace, I will escort Lady V to her room.”

Cedric’s steps abruptly came to a halt. He stared at Adrian with an unreadable expression for a while.

Finally, Cedric’s lips parted slowly.

“Stop the unnecessary talk and give me your arm.”

Adrian blinked slowly, looking puzzled.

“What? What is this about…”

“Now the Duchess probably won’t embrace me willingly. Help me with Rebecca.”

“…”

“That’s the only thing you can do now.”

Looking at Cedric, who spoke with force as if warning, Adrian seemed perplexed.

‘Why is he so serious and speaking like that, making the atmosphere so tense…’

As it seemed the atmosphere would become more awkward, I hurriedly wrapped my arms around Cedric’s neck.

“Is this what you wanted?”

Upon my action, Cedric looked down at me in his embrace and raised the corner of his lips coolly.

“Now it suits my taste.”

“…”

“It’s been a while. You haven’t put your arms around my neck like this.”

“Ah… You don’t like it.”

As I tried to release my arms, Cedric urgently opened his mouth.

“I don’t dislike it, Rebecca.”

“What?”

“I don’t dislike it now.”

“…”
“So, if you could stay like this just until we reach the lobby, I would appreciate it.”

Cedric looked at me as if making a difficult request, speaking with a somewhat reserved tone.

‘How can I ask him to put me down when he’s saying it like that?’

I nodded my head, pretending to be indifferent.

“If it makes you feel more comfortable, well… I suppose I can do that.”

For some reason, there seemed to be warmth rising on his face.

Upon this, Cedric let out a small laugh.

“Alright, thank you for allowing it.”

Then, he resumed walking.

As I had no choice but to be embraced in Cedric’s arms, my attention turned to Adrian, who was following us. For some reason, he lowered his gaze significantly.

“Is Adrian okay?”

When I asked about Adrian behind Cedric’s back, he quickly raised his head.

It seemed like he had been lost in thought for a moment.

“Ah… I’m fine, Lady V.”

“It’s fine. Adrian was the one who shielded us from those monsters in the carriage just now.”

Adrian forced a smile and nodded.

“I’m really fine. There are no injuries.”

“Well, that’s fortunate. Is it really true?”

“Yes, Lady V.”

As I looked at Adrian, who nodded, a sudden thought crossed my mind.

“It’s probably true. Adrian’s magical abilities are quite outstanding, even in the demon realm.”

Cedric, who interjected abruptly, spoke with a slightly furrowed brow. There was a facial expression that didn’t seem to please him.

“You don’t have to worry about it. Just focus on something worth worrying about, like your husband, me.”

“Why you?”

“Why? Well, because…”

“Wasn’t it you who possesses magic powers even more remarkable than Adrian’s?”

Cedric, who had just behaved like someone deeply hurt until now, suddenly lifted the corner of his lips.

“Well, I might be a bit like that.”

Having said that, Cedric, through the door opened by Adrian, entered the Dark Mansion.

Finally arriving at the lobby, I lightly tapped Cedric’s shoulder.

“We’re in the lobby now. You can put me down.”

Upon my request, Cedric paused for a moment, then eventually put me down.

“Thank you, Cedric. You can go upstairs with Adrian from here.”

“…”
Adrian seemed to sense something strange and blinked his eyes.

They stood still for a while.

The gazes of the two men simultaneously turned towards the lobby’s drawing-room.

‘Why are they… like that?’