“Thank you.”

The ferocity that had enveloped Rafin vanished in the face of the frail voice that floated through the opened bedroom door.

Color returned to the pallid face of Ohenry, just as Rafin’s hostile expression turned empty.

“But I’ll just take the thought.”

Mixed feelings crossed their faces at the ensuing words.

“I have Mr. Benson here, so don’t worry. Keep the good medicine for when you need it.”

“I…”

“Then.”

Ohenry tried to say something, but Julie had already entered the bedroom more quickly.

Click.

The sound of the lock sealed the end of the entire situation.

Rafin directed a courteous but stern farewell towards the disheartened Ohenry.

“Enough now, go back.”

The other person was said to be Gillian Barlock, the second son of the Barlock family.

The eldest son lost his life in the last wave, and as the only remaining heir, he couldn’t be sent as a knight but rather as a servant.

He knew that such a reaction to someone like this might seem a bit too sensitive.

However, for a knight, nothing stood above the orders of their master.

Small misunderstandings like this often lead to bigger problems.

Rafin tried not to concern himself with the drooping Ohenry.

His mind was only on the Duke’s orders.

‘Protect her, Rafin Grammer. Even if you have to risk your life.’

What is always most precious to people is their fleeting lives, an order contrary to the advice to cherish one’s life.

There must be a reason Gillian Barlock said that.

Whether it was to avoid falling into a royal trap, or to atone for the sins of the Barlocks as prophesied, he didn’t know.

What mattered was the fact that it was his master’s command.

Staring at the receding back of Ohenry, Rafin murmured Gillian’s words.

“Hey young master, why so down?”

The person he ran into immediately upon descending for lunch was Shane, who was radiant enough to blind.

Where did the apologetic memory from before go?

Shane rushed over, slung an arm over his shoulder, and acted familiar.

“Why, do your legs hurt?”

“Remove your arm from my shoulder.”

“Is this a bit too much? Oh, our young master.”

“It’s not like that, so.”

“If it’s not that, then why are you so down?”

Wasn’t this the guy who was shouting to the world that he would become a member of his inner circle?

He knew that even this friendly poking was due to the guy’s ambition to be part of his inner circle.

“Tell me. I’ll listen.”

Normally, he would have pushed him away in irritation.

“I can’t solve it for you, you know? How could someone in my position help with your troubles?”

Yet, maybe because he was touched, he was swayed by the comforting words of the guy.

“Actually…”

“Oh! Good, we’ve taken a step closer, haven’t we?”

“Should I not say it? It seems suspicious.”

“It’s suspicious! I’m saying it outright, I aim to be part of your inner circle. My desires are clear, young master.”

Blinded by Shane’s fluttering eyelashes, Ohenry felt darkness before his eyes.

Ambition is one thing, but such low ambition?

So trivial it couldn’t even be called ambition.

“I feel so low that I’ve lost all my energy, and seeing you so eager, Shane, makes me feel even more empty.”

“What’s so empty about it? That’s life. Young master, are you still going to stand there like a pendulum clock?”

Shane added strength to the arm slung over Ohenry’s shoulder and subtly shifted his steps.

In the direction of the dining room.

“A pendulum clock, huh.”

“So what? One day it turns into a grandfather clock and eventually becomes an even more valuable piece.”

“Is that supposed to be comforting?”

“It’s better than standing in front of a door with a cold wind blowing all day long. At least your feet aren’t cold. Ah, my hands feel like they’re freezing. Blow on them.”

Ohenry broke into a hollow laugh at the sight of Shane showing his hands in a cheeky manner.

He had completely forgotten that he had been threatened by someone, whether it was Rafin or Gafin.
“Your hands are only white, not frozen!”

O’Henry abruptly grabbed Shane’s shaking hand before him.

The hand caught in his grip was warm and rough, contrary to Shane’s bluster.

“No, it’s warm now because it melted, you don’t know how cold it was.”

Apparently delighted to have his words acknowledged for the first time, Shane narrowed his eyes and acted even more childish.

“Look closely? Ah, where did all the frost marks go?”

Swatting away the shaking hand before him, O’Henry snorted, but was internally disconcerted by Shane’s rough hand.

Everyone here, though lower in rank, was the child of a noble family.

Which meant their skin couldn’t be rough.

If his hand was in such a state, it wasn’t bluster.

“Quit being melodramatic and put this on. You’re affiliated with the Barlock family; what’s wrong with your hands?”

O’Henry took out a small jar he’d been carrying and handed it to Shane.

“What’s wrong with my hands?”

“They’re awfully rough. Apply this quickly. A few days of proper application will make them smooth again.”

“Wow. Are you concerned about me, my lord?”