Chapter 55 – Part 1

“Where have you been?”

Theodore asked, striding toward me. He seemed like someone who had gotten used to talking coldly to me. An ice cold wind seemed to flow from his voice.

Avoiding his gaze, I answered.

“I went on a picnic for a while.”

“I heard you are not feeling well.”

…He must have read the records about my health in the meantime. Jane must have been very upset. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.

“It’s not that hard to go out.”

“The doctor said that was not the case.”

“The doctor will, of course, emphasize that I should always be careful. It’s not that serious in my opinion.”

It’s a lie. I’m so tired right now that I just want to go to bed this instant. The frequency of me getting easily tired or out of breath was increasing, and I felt dizzy every time I woke up in the morning. And at every meal, it was difficult to keep the food down.

However, there was no reason for me to tell Theodore every detail of such a story… He wouldn’t even be interested. So, I just keep my mouth shut.

“…Where did you have your picnic?”

I wondered why he was asking so needlessly? I replied in a tone as if it was no big deal.

“I went to the riverside near the Valentino residence.”

“I sent the knights to look for you.”

Hearing that, I flinched a little. Theodore stared at me. It was a look that seemed to permeate through me.

“The knights said they couldn’t see you by the river.”

“…….”

“Be honest. Where have you been?”

He, who had kept a little distance, stepped closer to me. He looked down at me with his blue eyes, near me now… There was a time when those eyes hurt my heart so much. It felt like being stabbed by a cold, sharp knife.

But now… I don’t care anymore.

Sooner or later, I would leave this place.

Then, we would become complete strangers. Going back to not knowing each other.

If he were to forget everything, the wounds in his heart will only remain as smooth scars.

I raised my head and asked provokingly.

“Why? Do you think I’m plotting something for the Everetts?”

Theodore paused for a moment, then furrowed his eyebrows and answered.

“…I know you often go out disguised as a maid. I told you to be honest and not to lie.”

“Well, in my perspective… I see no reason for me to be honest with you.”

“Now that…”

Theodore opened his mouth with a slightly angry expression. Despite the anger slowly creeping into his blue eyes, I did not flinch or back down. Because I didn’t want to be the emotional weakling in this relationship with him anymore.

“Did I say something wrong? It wasn’t like we were talking about every detail of our daily routine. Did we?”

“…….”

“I bet you don’t want to hear that I went to the town market with Charlotte today disguised as a maid.”

“…….”

“So stop, such a war of nerves. Please step aside. I want to go back to my room and rest.”

I tried to walk right past Theodore. But he grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him.

At that moment, my eyes widened, and a strong sense of dizziness came over me. I gasped and staggered. I heard Charlotte’s cry.

“Madam!”

“……!”

At the same time, Theodore flinched in surprise. My body lost balance and was going to fall. Theodore’s hands gripped my shoulders tightly. But that alone couldn’t sustain the strength in my legs.

My body, which was about to collapse, was hugged by two slender arms that stretched out from behind me.

“Madam…!”

It was Charlotte.

“Madam! Are you okay? W-What do we do…”

Charlotte was taken aback and cried and called me. I was in a half-dazed state, so I couldn’t figure out what was going on. I did feel like Charlotte was hugging me. Seeing that my lower body was cold, it seemed that we were both sitting on the floor.

As time passed, the dizziness subsided little by little, and the ringing that filled my head disappeared. Theodore’s figure came into view, which gradually became clearer. He was standing there, looking down at me. With a shocked face.

“…….”

After being silent for a while, he hurriedly approached me. Soon, he extended his hand, wanting to raise me up, I reflexively swatted it away.

——