“You, really…”
Casien, seeing my expression, leaned his forehead on my shoulder with a clear laugh. I was so annoyed at him. He seemed to mock my genuine anger, acting as if whatever I did was futile.
That’s why I blurted out a lie I hadn’t planned on saying.
“…I’ve got a boyfriend.”
I never intended to tell such a lie. But seeing him unfazed by all the chaos, I couldn’t let him leave without seeing him shaken.
I wanted to see his composed face distort, at least once.
“I’ve really fallen in love with that guy, so I don’t think I’ll be coming back to you.”
“…….”
“Feeling sorry, Casien?”
I was internally worried he might laugh it off again. But to my surprise, Casien’s face scrunched up. I felt the grip on my waist loosen a bit, and I quickly escaped from his embrace.
“If you heard me, now leave.”
Without hesitation, I turned and strode towards the door. Just as I was about to turn the doorknob, Casien caught my hand, stopping me.
“Why won’t you let go? Leave my hand, Casien.”
I struggled with all my might, but Casien continued speaking, ignoring my efforts.
“I get it, you’re angry, Roel. I’m sorry, I know how mad you are… but please don’t lie about having another man…”
Was his pride hurt because I, who he toyed with, claimed to be cheating? I could feel his voice trembling occasionally.
It was somewhat satisfying to see the guy, who never flinched no matter what I did, lose his composure over a lie.
“Why would I lie? Right, Casien? You know how much I’m scared of mother.”
My words seemed to strike him harder. Casien, who usually maintained a smile, gritted his teeth, barely containing his anger.
“So, Casien, please leave now. Whatever you say, I won’t be engaged or married to you.”
Instead of responding, his facial muscles twitched. Ignoring it, I tried to turn the doorknob again.
But then, his firm grip returned, and the doorknob spun back to its place.
“Casien, really, enough…!”
“Who is he?”
“….”
“Who’s the guy?”
“…That’s…”
I hesitated for a split second. Before I could answer, Casien’s laughter trickled down from above.
“A lie.”
“…It’s not.”
“Really? Then tell me who he is, Roel.”
“Anyway, you wouldn’t know him…”
“Ah, Roel.”
With a faint groan, Casien called my name and suddenly embraced me from behind. He rested his forehead on my shoulder, still unable to stop laughing.
“Of course. You couldn’t possibly leave me.”
“No, I will…!”
Knock, knock, knock!
An urgent knocking disrupted the intense atmosphere. Casien frowned, and I quickly slipped away from his embrace.
The door cracked open.
“Roel…! Oh, you’re here.”
I expected a servant, but it was my mother, Feria.
Usually, she never bothered to check even when Casien visited our house. What brought her here today…?
“Casien. I have something important to tell Roel. Could I borrow my daughter for a moment?”
“Of course.”
With Casien’s cheerful response, Feria hastily pulled me out of the room.
Feria led me a bit away from the emergency room and only let go of my hand after turning a corner.
“Mother, what is this about…”
“Roel. The Grand Duke of Rocheter has come to see you.”
“Me…?”
The Grand Duke of Rocheter? There’s only one Grand Duke in this empire, right…?
As I was reassuring myself that it couldn’t be, Feria grabbed my forearm tightly and pressed me with a fierce tone.
“You…! Have you made some mistake with the Grand Duke?”
“Me, no! How could I…”
“Why else would he come looking for you at the Viscount’s residence! Think carefully. Have you forgotten some mistake you made?”
Despite Feria’s frantic questioning, I could only shake my head in denial.
I had bumped into him at the palace, but could that be a reason for someone like Lewes to make a direct visit?
‘Absolutely not.’
Although Lewes disliked me, he never made it obvious to others or openly humiliated me. So it couldn’t be about that past mistake.
Unless it was about what happened in the Quiet Forest a week ago…
Relieved that Feria hadn’t mentioned anything unnecessary, I was still disconcerted as she pushed me towards the drawing room.
I had arrived at the drawing room some time ago, but had been hesitating to enter since then.
After all, Lewes… yes, Lewes, had come to the Viscount’s residence himself!
I couldn’t think of any reason for his visit other than the incident in the Quiet Forest.
‘How did he find out?’
Even if Lewes had incredible vitality, how could he have identified me so quickly? He was completely unconscious in the forest and shouldn’t remember how he got to Anas.
The only time he might have regained consciousness was briefly at Anas… but even then, he barely fluttered his blurry eyes once.
Nervously biting my nails, a habit I never had before, I realized time was slipping away.
Finally, I decided to enter.
‘Any further delay might raise more suspicion. Let’s go in.’
Stay calm, Roel.
Even if he brings up that day, just deny it. There’s no evidence, and denying it won’t kill me right away.
And he’ll probably lose interest soon.
‘He’s always been someone who loses interest in things easily.’
After taking a deep breath, I cautiously opened the door and entered.
The drawing room was eerily silent.
The sound of the door closing broke the stillness, and Lewes shifted his gaze from the void to me.
But surprisingly, Lewes looked just the same as always.
‘What’s going on…?’
If he had come because of that day, even if he disliked me, there should have been some sign of gratitude… or at least a semblance of pleasure to see me.
But there was no change. His usual arrogance, the indifferent expression, the cool detachment in his eyes – everything was the same.
This led me to naturally wonder.
‘He didn’t come because of that day?’
Despite my doubts, I greeted him first.
“Your Grace, the Grand Duke, it’s an honor to see you.”
Lewes gestured for me to sit down as if saying he didn’t need my formalities. I took a seat opposite him, tension still present.
I half-expected him to initiate conversation, but as always, there was silence.
So, as usual, it was up to me to start talking.
“Your Grace… have you been well?”
Instead of a direct answer, Lewes’ inscrutable gaze landed on me. After tapping the table with his index finger, he finally spoke.
“It seemed so and also seemed not.”
“Excuse me…?”
“I mean, I’ve been doing alright.”
Usually, it was hard even to get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ out of him, but somehow the conversation continued.
Lewes’ attitude, almost making me think he was sincerely interested, made it even harder to guess if he was just being capricious or if he was about to bring up the incident from a week ago.
Oblivious to my increasingly furrowed brow, I pondered various possibilities.
Had I made some mistake and forgotten about it as Feria suggested? Had I unknowingly angered him? Or…
‘Could it really be about that bumping incident last week?’
Then, Lewes’ finger, which had been softly tapping the table, suddenly struck it sharply.
As our eyes met, Lewes slightly tilted his head.
“But, Miss Ivell,” he said.
“Yes, Your Grace?”
“You’re not asking why I suddenly visited.”
“…”
“Did you already have an idea of why I came?”
His tone was ambiguous – somewhere between a soliloquy, a question, and an insinuation.
Caught off guard, I tried not to show my surprise.
“No, not at all.”
“I thought you knew.”
“What do you mean? I… I was waiting for Your Grace to tell me…”
Lewes raised an eyebrow and then slowly nodded as if to say, ‘I thought as much.’ His reaction sent a chill down my spine.
If he’s going to be this cryptic, I almost wish he’d outright mention that day’s incident.
‘Then I could deny it and ask him to leave!’
But Lewes, as always, didn’t behave as I wished.
Without saying much, he pulled something out of his pocket and carelessly placed it on the table.
Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.
Synopsis:
Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.
Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.
Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.
Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.
There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.
