The body of the girl, which seemed like it could break with just a tight grip, trembled aimlessly.

The frail body sitting there trembling was utterly incompatible with the boldness that dared to enter this secret place.

Though she was the one who suffered, if others saw this scene, it would look as if she had done something to that child.

As if she was the predator and this girl was the fragile, beautiful prey caught in the predator’s hands.

It was an absurdly ridiculous picture.

‘Why did you come here?’

This place, created for healing, was a terrible space often filled with immense pain.

The process of soaking in cold water, waiting until frozen, then covering the body in white smoke was truly painful. As if all diseases were crawling up the body.

As this process was done completely undressed, everyone’s entry was strictly controlled.

The butler, who always tried not to offend him in the slightest, must have conveyed the precautions several times.

This girl had no reason to deviate from those rules at all.

She sat with an expression as if even his gaze touching her was horrifying.

Of course, after several days had passed, she now had a fairly calm face, but he knew it was all a mask.

What reason could have made you crawl in here of your own accord?

It’s a question with an answer if you think about it for just a moment.

This girl had many enemies.

From the moment she entered this mansion, no, from the moment she began attending to him.

Everyone’s gaze towards her was not kind.

The orders to use honorifics, to decorate the room excessively, must have all isolated her.

Of course, it was an order given knowing all this. The more isolated and trapped she became, the more she would cling to him.

What did the maids of this household say about this girl?

That she was his concubine?

It would be natural to drive them out of the mansion so they could never move those insolent mouths again, but Cassian left it as it was.

Because it was quite an interesting rumor.

Should he give a reward to the culprit who pulled this adorable stunt?

Thanks to them, such an amusing situation has unfolded.

A sardonic smile hung on his lips.

“That wasn’t my intention…”

A faintly trembling voice floated through the space.

“If it wasn’t your intention, then?”

The corners of his mouth curled up gently of their own accord.

Someone had sent this girl here.

Her claim of knowing nothing, her trembling body, and her pale face proved it.

So what, you saw it, and I am clearly the victim.

Even if it wasn’t intentional, the victim should rightfully determine the consequences.

The image of the woman who, despite trembling, unflinchingly recited her words was vividly captured in his eyes.

“I thought young master had called for me…”

Though her gaze wavered aimlessly, her voice alone was unmatched in its confidence. Ridiculously so.

However, she failed to hide the clear moisture gathered in her transparent emerald eyes.

“I was told you were looking for me, so that’s why I came. The note clearly…”

As if trying to find that note, the girl rummaged through the folds of her dress, her face gradually becoming bewildered.

Finding that sight quite interesting, he just kept watching quietly, when eyes filled with bewilderment looked up at him.

He thought he would be satisfied, but an unpleasant feeling mixed in like smoke.

He didn’t like that she seemed more bewildered by the absence of that measly note than by seeing his body.

Like a madman.

So what to do now.

He certainly couldn’t keep that rat who dared to upset his mood in this mansion.

Gently cupping her chin and lifting it up, he filled those emerald eyes entirely.

Lowering his body slightly towards her ear, Cassian whispered softly.

“Who would believe that?”

Her pretty eyes twisted fiercely as if expressing indignation.

The fact that even that unsightly appearance seemed pretty made him truly no different from a madman.

No. Maybe it was that face that was mad.

It’s the white fox that bewitches humans that’s the problem, not the bewitched human.

From that perspective, she had many problems from birth.

“I definitely received someone’s note…”

“Ah, then is it now my turn to scream?”

A sardonic smile settled on Cassian’s face.

Scream? If that happened, it was clear the matter would escalate.

From the lord to that terrifying madam, they might all come running.

In this place where the young master’s word was law, what would become of her then?

And her mother, waiting for her in the room without knowing anything…

Yuriel’s already pale face now turned transparent with whiteness.

Of course, she understood he might be angry at the thought of her seeing his naked body.

But it wasn’t intentional, and he knew that better than anyone.

Just looking at that casual smile, it was clear the young master was simply enjoying this situation.

If he had at least gotten angry out of shame, she would have thought it was because he was furious.

But once again… that pure smile clearly intending to toy with her was unfailingly vicious.

As her insides began to boil, words tumbled out of her mouth before she knew what she was thinking.

“You know, don’t you? That I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“If I know that, what difference does it make?”

“…”

“In others’ eyes, you’ll just look like a young lady who rushed in trying to do something to me.”

“What do you mean…”

The body in the robe took another big step closer to her.

Sweet breath escaped from him as he stood close enough for their breaths to mingle.

Soon, a gentle voice mixed with breathing disturbed her ear.

“The Blanchet heir’s attendant was a voyeur who enjoyed spying on her master’s body without fear. Even for a scenario, this seems so unrealistic it might be criticized, don’t you think?”

Yuriel’s mouth closed shut at the pressure that was choking her.

“Shall I keep it a secret?”

Yuriel’s body, pickled in shame, trembled violently.

“I never did such a thing.”

Water dripped from the fingertips gripping her chin.

“Really?”

“…”

“Are you saying my eyes are mistaken?”

The young master’s gaze observing her was persistent.

She would simply become a voyeur, and he would become the merciful person who hid it.

His goal must be to enjoy watching such a scene of her being flustered.

Isn’t it an easy thing?

Just earlier, the conversation between the butler and young master echoed in her mind.

This young master is someone who will leave soon anyway. Yes, someone who will leave.

Someone who will shake off things like Alphonse, things like me, as if they never existed in the first place.

After ruining my life that couldn’t be more ruined.

This person is someone who can send me to hell with a sufficiently benevolent face. So what I had to say was determined from the start.

“Please keep it a secret.”

Yuriel told Cassian what he wanted to hear over and over again.

To keep it a secret.

Secret. That word, which she had only thought of as quite secretive and dirty, now seemed to sparkle somewhat.

The voice saying those words was worth listening to, so much that she almost wanted to record it on an emerald stone.

Far beyond the window, that child can be seen.

From the moment those words ended and she came down from the attic until breakfast.

Her face, which had been pale the whole time, only regained some color when she reached under the large zelkova tree.

The image of her, looking so ill-suited to be with the person who created the secret, lingers in his eyes.

Watching Yuriel’s graceful movements that didn’t match her lowly status at all, Cassian pulled the bell rope.

As Laenode approached, he murmured softly.

“Someone sent that child up to the attic today.”

“Pardon?”

“Find out who it was.”

The butler’s expression became troubled, but he soon bowed his head.

Cassian languidly leaned back in the armchair, his gaze still fixed on Yuriel as if uninterested in the butler’s reaction.

The eyes that had flinched in surprise upon discovering him were vivid in his mind.

Standing there, after thoroughly enjoying the voyeurism, I wonder if she also heard those words.

The words that I might leave for the capital.

Did she rejoice like the butler? Or did she sit trembling with worry about her birth mother’s medicine?

I should have watched that scene.

In reality, I would never leave this place until I die.

The development research progress that the butler blabbers about in the daily papers has always made advances.

We often leak such false information to properly extract research funding investments from Blanchet.

While giving false hope to people like her.

Of course, I can’t say I’m one of those victims.

I’ve completely given up hope in such things now.

This peace likely won’t last long either.

In fact, the real storm will be in a bigger place.

“The horse thief.”

Even to the truncated question that seemed to ask what he was doing, the butler gave an answer picking up on the hint.

“I handled it as you instructed.”

A satisfied smile spread across Cassian’s lips.

“Prepare a magic stone.”

“Pardon? Why suddenly a magic stone…”

Magic stones were rare stones made of a material that could absorb magic, and beyond being expensive, they were extremely difficult to obtain.

The butler already felt a headache coming on.

However, he couldn’t dare show even a hint of such emotions.

“Do I need to explain the reason?”

“Ah, no sir.”

As the butler disappeared, Cassian gazed for a long time at the afterimage of the fluttering red hair.

The magic stone will be crafted into a recording stone to capture that child’s voice.

There were words he wanted to hear. To keep by his side until he died.