Luke, upon hearing Mary’s words, lowered his gaze.

A warm soup with a savory aroma. Soft and fluffy bread. Next to them was a glass of water and a blue pill obtained from the Duke’s personal physician.

He asked, “Do you seem to be in a lot of pain?”

“Well, actually…”

Mary, holding a tray, made an ambiguous expression.

“I went to look for Miss Hilton when she suddenly disappeared earlier, and she was found sleeping in front of Lord Hilton’s room.”

“…Bonita?”

Luke’s eyes widened.

He knew that Bonita loved Ariana very much, but he never expected her to sneak out and go there alone in the middle of the night.

“So, while carrying Miss, I couldn’t open the door. Still, her voice seemed quite hoarse…”

“I see. Bonita must be in the room now for sure?”

“Yes. Sleeping soundly, unaware of the world.”

“Is that so…”

Still, he couldn’t be reassured without seeing it for himself. Luke, who was about to move, hesitated.

He was troubled by the tray that the maid was holding.

He extended his hand.

“Give it to me.”

“…Huh? What is it?”

“The tray.”

Mary, still dazed, handed the tray she was holding to Luke.

Holding the tray with both hands, Luke gestured to Mary, who was standing still.

“Step aside.”

“Um… Are you trying to deliver it personally, Your Highness?”

“You wouldn’t know that, would you?”

A fierce, piercing gaze shone.

Already intimidating, Luke’s stern expression became even more menacing in the dark shadows of the corridor. Mary had no choice but to step back.

She muttered to herself.

‘I hope Lord Hilton doesn’t dislike it so much that… he wants to snatch the food.’

…Although it seemed unlikely, considering the appearance of the Duke just now.

But what could she do?

There was nothing a common maid like Mary could say in front of the heavenly Duke.

“…”

After seeing off Mary, Luke looked down at the tray in his hands.

Steam still rose from the soup and bread. It was a patient’s meal that made one’s mouth water just by looking at it.

‘…Am I crazy?’

Although he impulsively took the tray, he couldn’t understand why he did it.

Why did I bring it?

As if he were a mere servant, was he going to deliver it to that woman himself?

Me?

…Why me?

Luke’s expression became serious.

His originally fearsome demeanor became even more ferocious.

‘…Am I too tired?’

In addition to the Duke’s original duties, he was simultaneously handling the responsibilities of the absent host, not to mention investigating Bonita’s past.

Thanks to that, he couldn’t enter the bedroom until now and stayed in the office. Lack of sleep made his eye bags stiff.

Yeah, it must be because I couldn’t sleep. Lack of sleep usually didn’t cloud human judgment.
Sighing, he walked toward Bonita’s room. Anyway, to get from where he was now to where Aria Hilton was, he had to pass through the child’s room.

Upon arriving at the door, he gently placed the tray on the floor for a moment.

Luke cautiously opened the door, being careful not to wake the sleeping Bonita. The well-oiled door opened smoothly without making any noise.

‘Good night.’

In the darkness, he saw a small figure lying comfortably.

He could hear the gentle exhale, and the small sound of breathing. Luke’s lips loosened.

‘…So adorable.’

Come to think of it, this was the first time he had seen Bonita sleeping.

How cute it was to see the blanket rising and falling rhythmically. Honestly, he wanted to enter the room and gently stroke her head.

But waking a sleeping child was not a good idea.

He couldn’t help but close the door again. Confirming that she was sleeping well, he felt a bit relieved.

Taking the tray again, he glanced regretfully a few times and soon resumed his steps. This time, it was the opposite of when he opened Bonita’s door; his feelings were complicated.

His steps became narrower.

Although he deliberately walked much slower than usual, he couldn’t understand why the corridor seemed so short today.

Regardless of his feelings, the distance to the room steadily decreased. Luke, standing in front of Aria’s room, hesitated.

However, soon, he reached out his hand.

Knock, knock.

A gentle and polite knock, twice.

Despite the clear sound, there was no answer from the inside.

‘…Did she fall asleep?’

Thinking so, he suddenly felt empty. The strange tension that was there just a moment ago disappeared in an instant.

Still, since there was medicine, he had to leave it. That way, she might eat it even if she woke up.

Luke carefully opened the door. Once again, there was no sound.

“……!”

Luke’s eyes flashed.

The woman was halfway leaning on the bed.

Her white neck, stained with blood, caught Luke’s gaze. The bedding, also stained with blood here and there.

His heart pounded.

Luke quickly placed the tray on the table and rushed straight to Aria. She was still closing her eyes.

“What’s going on…”

What happened?

Why is her neck like that?

Luke, trying to contain his confusion, examined Aria’s entire body.