Reus personally escorted me and even led me to my seat in the banquet hall.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one who thought this was unlike him. The eyes of the Grand Duke’s servants followed us intently. It was truly an uncomfortable atmosphere.

‘I wonder if I’ll be able to eat like this…’

However, my internal complaints quickly faded as high-quality dishes began to appear on the table.

Glistening meats, vibrant vegetables. The soup, which looked to be at just the right temperature, continued to stir my hunger.

‘It looks delicious…’

Normally, I couldn’t even enter the dining room without Father present, so feeling hungry despite the tense situation was a perfectly natural response.

Just as my appetite was starting to build, I made eye contact with Reus sitting across from me. Suddenly, I experienced the strange phenomenon of my appetite rapidly disappearing.

‘That fox-like bastard. What exactly is he plotting?’

I couldn’t figure him out at all.

‘Does he perhaps think I saw something I shouldn’t have?’

That would make sense. Bringing me to the Grand Duke’s castle without a word of thanks or mention of compensation, telling such an absurd lie – it must be to persuade me.

‘What on earth is in the Silent Forest?’

It’s land that wouldn’t sell even if money were added to sweeten the deal. Come to think of it, it was suspicious that I was there in the first place.

As I kept glancing at Reus as discreetly as possible, Shanette entered the banquet hall.

“I’m sorry, Lady Ivelr. I was delayed talking to the butler for a moment.”

“It’s all right, madam. I just arrived myself.”

Shanette sat down and gazed at me with those fond eyes again.

“The title ‘madam’ feels rather stiff today. I’d like you to address me more casually. I’ll call you by name too. Is that alright, Roel?”

“…Yes, of course, Lady Shanette.”

Perhaps because of this, the awkwardness I had felt while coming to the banquet hall earlier resurfaced in my heart.

But as always, I hid my emotions more skillfully than anyone else and put on a natural smile.

* * *

In the end, I got indigestion. Thanks to that crazy Reus who insisted on staying until dessert!

“Why on earth are you doing this to me…”

As I recalled Reus’s face, which had been unpleasant throughout, the events of today automatically flashed through my mind.

Shanette’s suggestive reactions, the curious whispers of the servants. Or the crazy Reus, or rather the insane Reus…

Recalling Reus’s face again made my indigestion feel even worse.

‘I feel nauseous…’

Feeling that I absolutely couldn’t fall asleep like this, I took a light and went out into the hallway. Not even an ant was visible in the incredibly wide corridor.

The silence, eerie enough to be frightening, actually made me feel at ease.

‘At least I won’t run into anyone here, so that’s a relief.’

Somehow, I ended up staying at the Grand Duke’s castle for a while, but where I was staying wasn’t the main building. According to Shanette’s explanation, this building was exclusively prepared for guests.

But I couldn’t completely let my guard down, because just like how the main building and annex of the Ivelr Count’s residence were connected, there was a skybridge here that could lead to the main building, so I might accidentally run into Reus.

Still, if I’m just careful, I shouldn’t run into Reus, right?

Thinking, ‘No matter how crazy Reus is, he won’t bother me late into the evening,’ I turned around at the end of the corridor.

But that’s when it happened.

“Ah-!”

As soon as I turned, I came face to face with someone coming down the stairs, startling me so much that I ended up dropping the light I was holding.

As the fallen light hit the floor, a sharp sound rang out and glass shards scattered in all directions.

I thought I felt a shard of broken glass graze my ankle, but I had no time to worry about that. It was because of the person in front of me.

The very person I had just thought would never appear – Reus Rochster.

“Grand Duke? What brings you here…”

Reus, who had been staring intently at the floor, soon raised his head to look out the window. It was the upper floor line of the building directly opposite.

“The light coming and going like a ghost was bothering me.”

It seems Reus was referring to his room in the main building. The location looked like it would have a clear view of this place, so I had nothing more to ask.

If I had known this would happen, I should have called a servant and asked to be taken somewhere suitable for a light walk!

“I just wanted to walk a little… I apologize if I disturbed you.”

I bowed my head slightly. But Reus didn’t react and just kept staring at the floor. Following his gaze, I saw the floor in a mess with glass shards.

“Ah… I’m sorry, I’ll clean this up…”

As I was flustered and hurrying, Reus suddenly came down the stairs, startling me and making me take a step back. As the distance closed, I reflexively closed my eyes, and in that moment, my body was lifted up.

Yes, Reus had picked me up. I blinked, my body completely stiff.

‘What is this man doing now?’

A moment later, Reus moved, heading towards my room.

“Nobles usually make a fuss if they get even a small scratch on their body.”

“…”

“But I don’t see that kind of behavior from Lady Ivelr at all.”

I was at a loss for words.

It didn’t sound like a simple question of why I wasn’t making a fuss like others would.

It felt like he was pointing out a more fundamental issue.

As if he knew that I was just imitating what I had learned by watching Feria and Briella from the corner of my eye.

* * *

We soon arrived at my room.

Reus set me down on the sofa and left the room briefly. When he returned, he was holding a first aid kit.

I reached out to take the first aid kit.

“Thank you…”

But the first aid kit never made it to my hands. Suddenly, Reus sat down next to me.

“As I said before, I’ve never heard of a noble lady treating her own wounds.”

“…But I can’t ask the Grand Duke to do it either.”

Only then did Reus raise his head to look at me.

“If you wish, I can call someone else.”

“Yes, that might be better…”

“If you’re alright with showing your other wounds to someone else.”

At the mention of other wounds, my hands automatically curled up.

During the day, I had been wearing a long dress that reached my ankles, completely hiding the wounds from the forest.

It was an outfit I had insisted on changing into by myself, even stubbornly arguing, to avoid being discovered by the Count’s servants.

But now there was no reason to hide, so I was wearing a light sleeping dress that came down to just below my knees…

The legs revealed beneath that dress were clearly not in the state of a typical noble lady’s legs, as anyone could see.

In other words, I couldn’t ask Reus to call a maid separately.

And because of his noble talk, I couldn’t insist on doing it myself either.

‘I want to do it alone…’

Under his obvious gaze, I sent a look asking why he was staring like that, instead of answering.

“I need your permission to help with the treatment.”

Feeling that any response would somehow sound awkward, I just slightly extended my foot. Reus casually took hold of my ankle and began treating the wound.

The touch was more careful than I expected, and just as I started to feel ticklish, the damp cotton made contact, causing me to instinctively wince at the sting in my ankle.

I hadn’t noticed earlier because I was so flustered, but it seemed the wound was quite large.

Reus dabbed with the cotton a few more times and even wrapped a bandage before finally removing his hands from my ankle. I quickly withdrew my leg and lowered it under the sofa.

“By the way, Lady Ivelr.”

“Yes, Grand Duke.”

“I think it’s about time we stop pretending not to know.”

“…”

I don’t know how many times my mouth has been shut today. It’s not like I wanted to keep acting this way, but…

‘I don’t know what he’s plotting by doing this, what should I do?!’

Although I came to the Grand Duke’s castle to avoid the issue of breaking off my engagement with Casien, my escape plan was still valid.

Even though I hadn’t figured out why Reus was trying to keep me here, the reason I decided to stay was ultimately for my escape.

Right. I shouldn’t get involved.

I need to hold out here as long as possible, spend my birthday in Ivelr, raise money, and then run away.

‘Get it together, focus!’

So first… let’s drive this crazy man out of the room.

If I keep being uncooperative, even Reus will have no choice, right?

“Um, Grand Duke. Uh, well… it’s gotten quite late today.”

At my words, Reus glanced at the clock. Then he said:

“Yes. It’s already that time.”

‘No, this person, really…!’

Even if I said it indirectly, anyone would understand it as a request to leave…!

Frustrated, I unconsciously stamped my foot.

Regardless, Reus ignored my obvious intention and continued to talk about that day’s events.

“Why are you reluctant to reveal it? If the reason is understandable, I’m willing to overlook it, so at least let me hear that reason.”

“…”

Asking something I can’t answer again, what is he expecting? Reus patiently waited for my response for a long time. But I blatantly avoided his gaze.

Silence continued for a while.

‘Leave quickly… Quickly…’

Was my desperate wish conveyed to the heavens? Soon, I heard Reus getting up from his seat.

‘Is he leaving?’

I raised my head slightly to look, but contrary to my expectations, Reus didn’t head for the door. Suddenly, he came in front of me, knelt on one knee, and matched his eye level with mine.