Swan, nervously shifting her eyes, suddenly spoke when she saw the small bag placed at her feet.

“Uh, where are you… going?”

“I have been asked to go to the capital momentarily by the Duke. However, it’s not a situation to exchange greetings, so I should leave quietly.”

“I’ll go and talk to my father for you.”

The boy suddenly seemed to gain strength as if it came from within the bed. He wanted to find an excuse to be there with them. Even if he had to turn his back while only looking at Arianthe, if a reason to boldly enter between them was given, he would seize it.

However, Jocelyn disappointed Swan once again this time.

“There is no need for that. On the contrary, the young master is sure to receive a scolding from the Duke.”

It was an unexpected answer, and as Jocelyn expected, Swan’s surprised expression turned into a fearful one. Cedilloi couldn’t even imagine Cedilloi scolding him, but just the thought of being scolded was like a nightmare.

“Why would my father scold me?”

Jocelyn clicked his tongue as if to say it was obvious.

“No one is worried about the young master. There is no one in this mansion who knows the young master’s uniqueness except me. Although the Duke is a clever person, he cannot see the current reality properly. If the Duke knows how extraordinary and excellent the young master is…”

Jocelyn’s slender hand caressed Swan’s cheek. It felt unpleasant, like touching dry snake leather, but Swan couldn’t escape. No… This time, he tried not to run away. Even though Jocelyn was scary, it seemed like he was genuinely worried about him. Even right now…

“I should be going now.”

“Take care, Jocelyn.”

As Swan awkwardly greeted him, Jocelyn smiled slightly with a smirk. Even that didn’t feel affectionate, but Swan suddenly felt guilty about being afraid of Jocelyn.

Without knowing what Jocelyn was doing in Swan’s room, Cedilloi was too preoccupied with Arianthe, who had collapsed. While Maeyana looked almost absent-minded, Bainti picked up various things as instructed by the doctor.

After the doctor suggested waiting, he asked to wrap the herb-squeezed juice in a cold towel and put it under Arianthe’s armpits.

While Bainti went to get the towel, Cedilloi, who had been looking at Arianthe with a helpless expression, suddenly turned to Maeyana.

“What is this, Maeyana?”

Maeyana looked at Cedilloi as if she had just awakened. Cedilloi spoke again.

“Maeyana, snap out of it. There are marks on Arianthe’s neck. What on earth are these marks?”

At that moment, the unfocused eyes of Maeyana suddenly regained a sharp, almost boiling, light. It was not a return of vitality but rather a glare.

“It was something Jocelyn did.”

“What did you say?”

“Jocelyn tried to take the necklace from Lady, almost strangling her. And he did that even when I was there!”

Cedilloi’s expression hardened frighteningly. At that moment, before Bainti could return with the towel, Arianthe, with a tired expression, opened her eyes. Arianthe, who had a parched face, spoke.

“Maeyana.”

“Yes, my Lady. I’m here.”

Maeyana tightly held Arianthe’s small hand.

Then, Arianthe, with pale cheeks, burst into tears with a weak voice. While Maeyana hugged Arianthe and comforted her, Bainti brought a cold towel and placed it under Arianthe’s arm.

“It’s cold, I don’t like it…”

“But you have to do it, my Lady.”

“Father, hoo…”
With slender fingers trembling like matchsticks, Arianthe cried with a pitiful voice. Cedilloi held Arianthe in his arms, repeatedly kissed her forehead and ears, and said,

“Arianthe, what happened? Tell your father.”

Maeyana’s clear voice cut through Arianthe’s crying.

“We need to bring Jocelyn with us.”

Upon hearing Jocelyn’s name, Arianthe’s sorrow seemed to intensify, and she began to cry louder.

Maeyana shouted,

“We need to bring Jocelyn, Your Grace! He acted violently like a madman in front of the Lady! You must command him to come immediately, kneel and apologize in front of the Lady! Right away! If not, I will!”

Unable to control her anger, Maeyana gasped, making a sound. Her clenched fists and trembling shoulders were visible. She sighed as she looked at Arianthe’s frightened expression.

“I apologize, Your Grace. I was impolite.”

At that moment, Cedilloi immediately responded,

“No, not at all.”

Handling Arianthe with care, who was still crying, Cedilloi opened the door of the bedroom with a chilly expression.

“Bainti!”

Startled and fidgeting outside, Bainti, with a raised voice, replied,

“Yes, Your Grace! What’s the matter?”

“Go immediately and fetch Jocelyn.”

Bainti looked around with a bewildered expression.

“Jocelyn… the steward? Um, I saw her going down to the kitchen earlier, riding a carriage somewhere.”

Cedilloi let out an awkward laughter, as if to say it was ridiculous. Surely, he had sent her to the capital on an errand, but was it reasonable for her to do such a thing without reporting and leaving without a trace?