The first thing that came to mind as soon as I opened my eyes was what I had done last night.

‘It would be easier on my mind if I didn’t remember at all.’

I had roughly massaged the Duke’s face, using laughter as an excuse. The more I woke up, the clearer my mind became.

“Are you awake?”

Anna, who came in with perfect timing, was smiling brightly as if something good had happened.

“Yes, can I have some water?”

“Of course!”

Anna cheerfully replied and handed me a glass of water. Even though I was drinking clear, clean water, it tasted like alcohol.

“How did I get here yesterday? I think I fell asleep in the carriage.”

“The Duke carried you in his arms.”

“The Duke?”

“Yes, he even laid you down on the bed.”

I was stunned for a moment at Anna’s surprising answer. So the Duke carried me from the carriage to the room? That long distance in his arms.

“Anna… Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“The Duke said you were sleeping deeply, so there was no need to wake you up.”

Who could I blame? It’s my fault for falling asleep so deeply that I wouldn’t have noticed even if I was carried.

“The Duke is currently observing the young master’s morning training.”

“I see.”

“If you want to go thank him, I can get you ready right away.”

“Not yet, I’m not mentally prepared.”

When the Duke returns home, the servants come out to greet him. In other words, everyone must have seen him carrying me sleeping from the carriage to my room.

My face burned with embarrassment. My mind went blank, and I couldn’t think of anything.

I got out of bed and approached the window. I could see part of the Knights’ building and training grounds at the east end of the garden.

I could hear the shouts, but I couldn’t see anyone. I pressed my throbbing temples with my fingers a couple of times before asking Anna.

“Have you seen the Duke today?”

“Yes.”

“How did he seem? His mood, I mean.”

“It’s hard to tell since his expression hardly changes, but he seemed the same as usual.”

He’s not angry with me, is he?

I felt unnecessarily sorry and embarrassed, becoming timid. Of course, I didn’t intend to avoid him.

…I just thought it would be better to apologize when he was in a good mood.

“I’m mentally prepared now.”

“Oh, shall I get you ready then?”

“Yes, please.”

Anna’s hands moved busily with excitement. I sat in front of the dressing table and quietly closed my eyes. It was a good position to think about what to say when I meet the Duke.

After finishing my preparations, I headed straight to the training grounds. The servants I met on the way greeted me with bright smiles. Thinking that they probably knew about last night’s events made me feel awkward, and I gave a bitter smile.

The loud shouts of the knights were mixed with a child’s voice. Knowing it was Rublion’s, my fingertips tingled with excitement.

‘Oh my.’

Beads of sweat had formed on the child’s forehead. The sight of him swinging a long, large wooden sword with both hands, grunting with effort, was truly so lovable.

‘So cute!’

The corners of my mouth twitched, but I suppressed it with a fake cough. I took a seat at the back of the training grounds so as not to disturb Rublion during his training. Thanks to this, only the Duke standing on the platform noticed me.

He whispered something to the Knight Commander and then came down from the platform. Then he strode in my direction.

Some knights turned to look, but Rublion, who was squeezing out his depleted energy, had no strength to look back.

“You’re up early.”

That was the first thing the Duke said as he approached. I lifted my skirt to curtsy and said,

“Yes, thanks to you, I was able to sleep comfortably.”

“I see.”

“I heard you carried me to my bedroom. Thank you.”

“…Well, it’s not something that requires thanks.”

His hand holding the sword looked particularly large. As I lifted my head to meet his eyes, I wondered if he had always been this tall when standing so close.

‘He has a bit of a moon bear-like aura, doesn’t he?’

His bangs covering his forehead made him look relatively gentle. His shirt was thin, revealing his well-built physique.

Thump.

My heart suddenly beat loudly, startling me. The Duke was always handsome, but the atmosphere was so different from usual that I couldn’t help but feel excited.

‘Don’t be enchanted, Schmidt.’

I shouldn’t look at him with improper eyes. I deliberately smiled brightly and looked at Rublion.

“When does the training end? I’d like to have a meal together.”

Right on cue, the Knight Commander called for assembly. The Duke looked back and answered,

“It will end soon.”

Rublion, who discovered me while going to put away the wooden sword he had used, waved his hand widely. I responded by raising my arm and waving back in the same manner.

“Then I’ll wait here.”

“It will take a while as I need to wash up. You should go ahead.”

Hearing that, I noticed that sweat had formed on the Duke’s forehead as well. It was about to trickle down if not wiped.

As I was debating whether to offer my handkerchief, a drop of sweat precariously passed between his eyebrow and the bridge of his nose, flowing towards the corner of his eye.

The Duke put his hand inside his clothes to wipe the sweat mixed with dust. Then he used his shirt as a towel to wipe his eyes.

His firm abs were blatantly revealed.

‘Don’t be enchanted…’

Missing the timing to cover my eyes due to the sudden exposure, I hurriedly raised my gaze.

I wasn’t the only one flustered. The Duke had frozen in surprise after lifting his own shirt.

“Ah, this is a habit from being around only men… I mean, there was absolutely no other intention.”

My heart, which had been beating moderately, now struggled to break through my ribcage.

I had seen his toned chest, abs that would probably feel bumpy if touched with fingers, and even the prominent veins on the back of his hand. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

‘Get a grip, Schmidt. The person in front of you is Duke Artenbach.’

Without realizing it, I turned around completely to avoid looking elsewhere. My face felt hot.

“I’ll just go ahead. Could you let Rublion know as well?”

“Y-yes, I will.”

The Duke behind me cleared his throat with a ‘khmm’. I left the training grounds as if escaping.

“Ma’am, what happened to your finger?”

Rublion, who had finished his morning training and come back clean, asked while picking up his spoon. I glanced at the Duke, who had turned back into a black panther, before answering.

“I cut my finger with a carving knife yesterday.”

“You got cut? Did you see a doctor?”

“No, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Hearing my words, Rublion muttered with a shocked expression.

“There’s a doctor less than a minute’s walk away…”

“Ahaha.”

“We didn’t build a clinic because we have money to spare. The family doctor resides in the mansion for times like this!”

“Alright. I’ll think about it after the meal.”

“Let’s go together. I have a feeling you won’t go if I don’t take you, ma’am.”

How did he know?

“It’s because Anna wrapped the bandage so elaborately. By now, the cut probably isn’t even visible.”

“That’s for the doctor to judge.”

Rublion muttered with a strict, solemn, and serious face that ma’am might not do anything if he wasn’t there.

“Young lady, do as Rublion says. Even a small cut from a knife needs to be careful.”

The black panther Duke spoke with moon bear eyes. I nodded in response.

After finishing breakfast amidst the nagging, I walked down the corridor, conscious of the two men following closely behind, saying they needed to see me meet the doctor with their own eyes. However, Rublion, who had been walking behind, naturally came up beside me and asked,

“We’re going to see the doctor now, right?”

“Yes.”

“But this is the way to the library, isn’t it?”

“I was going to stop by briefly before going.”

“See the doctor first.”

Rublion, who had been walking beside me, came to a sudden stop. Because of him, my feet were also held in place.

“I’ll just look for a book about agave. I won’t look at anything else.”

“Young lady.”

The Duke, who had been quietly following, called me in a low voice.

“If you don’t want me to carry you in my arms like last night, it would be best to go right now.”

Is this a threat or a suggestion?

I swallowed hard and nodded vigorously. The library can wait.

“It would have been better if you had come right away. The wound has worsened.”

At the doctor’s words, Rublion pushed away the bandage stained with yellow discharge and glared fiercely. He sighed heavily, as if to say ‘I knew this would happen,’ seemingly for me to hear.

The doctor carefully disinfected the area around my thumb. Then he applied ointment and wrapped it with a thin bandage.

“Since it has already worsened, you need to pay attention to its care. If you develop a fever or if discharge continues to come from the wound, please send someone for me. I will come.”

The doctor handed me spare bandages to change when wet and said,

“Try to keep it dry as much as possible and avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol can worsen wounds.”

Rublion, sitting next to me, asked with wide eyes,

“Huh? Didn’t you drink alcohol yesterday, ma’am?”

“She did.”

The Duke answered instead of me. Seeing the fierce eyes of two wild panthers, I forced a smile.

“Ahaha. I’m really fine…”

I tried my best to act as if it was nothing. Of course, it didn’t work on either of them.

Askal delivered a drinking ban to the kitchen. All dishes containing alcohol were also prohibited. Even though I said cooked dishes were fine, he declared absolutely no alcohol until the wound heals.

“Rublion, I have something to tell you.”

“…When you’re this serious, it scares me a little.”

Rublion, who had been quietly eating cookies on the office sofa, said with a rather stiff face.

“There’s nothing to be scared of. It’s something you’ve been desperately wanting.”

Askal wanted to tell Rublion about Schmidt’s proposal before meeting Baron Deli.

“The young lady proposed to me. She said she wants to become your real mother.”

Rublion put down the cookie he was holding onto the plate. Then he smiled.

“Duke, shall I recommend you a book?”

The black snake, who was expected to be jumping around with joy, was somehow calm. Above all, it was suspicious that he suddenly offered to recommend a book.

“The title is 《Secrets of Speaking That Touch a Woman’s Heart》.”

Rublion dusted off the cookie crumbs on his hands.

“It’s about speaking about your situation in a pitiful and sorrowful way to stimulate protective instincts. It’s very effective.”

Askal quietly watched Rublion gulping down milk with a bright smile. Then he shook his head and said,

“You’re truly a terrifying fellow.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”