Chapter 25
“Is that a ledger you’re holding?”
“You already know. Why bother asking?”
“Hmm. Do you usually enjoy running around like this?”
“Sitting around waiting for things to solve themselves isn’t really my style.”
As if he were any different.
“Seems like you’re not satisfied just listening from a distance either, Your Grace.”
“I have my own reasons.”
Lahan laughed, bold and carefree.
“I’m almost scared to ask what they are.”
With everything going on inside my family, I couldn’t understand why he kept interfering.
“Why are you so involved in our affairs? No matter who ends up as the heir, it’s not like it benefits you.”
“Do I look like someone hoping for scraps?”
“Exactly. That’s what makes it strange—why go out of your way for something that doesn’t give you anything?”
“Ha… This really isn’t who I usually am.”
Lahan let out a dramatic sigh.
I narrowed my eyes, unsure what he was trying to say now.
I leaned back slightly, instinctively on guard.
But as I did, he leaned forward, easily closing the gap between us.
“I think I’ve taken a liking to you.”
“…How am I supposed to take that?”
“A confession?”
The words get a grip hovered right at the edge of my tongue. Maybe something harsher, too.
“Your Grace.”
“You keep asking why I’m doing this, but the truth is, I’m just interested in you. That’s all. And trying to dress that up with other reasons just gives me a headache.”
“…”
I noticed the deep dimples in his cheeks as he smiled.
“I don’t have any hidden motives. I just want to know who you really are.”
“…I see.”
I decided to reject this reality altogether.
If I just pretended he was some stray dog barking in the street, maybe I could feel less bothered by all of this.
“Stop right there!”
A sudden shout rang out from outside.
“There’s been a break-in! Open the carriage!”
“Do you even realize who you’re talking to? How dare you make such a rude demand?”
I could hear the coachman’s voice clashing with the guards from Uncle Milles’s estate.
I pressed my ear closer to the carriage door and bit my lip.
That’s when Lahan suddenly started taking off his coat.
“W–wait, what are you doing?”
Before I could even finish the sentence, he tossed his coat at me—completely without warning.
Then he stood up and sat next to the carriage door, the spot closest to the commotion.
I was still wondering what he was up to when he suddenly threw the door open.
“!”
Startled, I quickly pulled the coat over myself.
“What’s going on here?”
“Y-Your Grace! There’s been a break-in at the estate, and we were ordered to check the carriages—”
“You’re stopping me over some petty thief?”
“M-my apologies! But still, we just—”
The soldiers stammered, but their confidence was already fading.
One of them looked inside and locked eyes with me.
I immediately leaned against Lahan’s shoulder, turning my face away and pulling the coat higher to hide.
“As you can see,” Lahan said, his voice low and commanding, “I’m in the middle of urgent business. I’d appreciate it if you cleared the way.”
Even from beside him, the tone of his voice sent a chill down my spine.
“Y-yes, of course!”
From the sound of it, the soldiers felt the same.
Their hurried footsteps faded as they backed away from the carriage.
Not long after, the Grand Duke shifted in his seat, and the carriage door closed with a soft click.
“I have something I want to ask,” he said.
“…What is it?”
My head was still resting against him, strangely heavy. I couldn’t seem to lift it.
Maybe it was the tension finally wearing off.
“What kind of soap do you use?”
“…What?”
He was asking… about soap?
“You smell nice.”
“I just use—”
I was going to ask him to please stop talking, but—
My eyelids grew unbearably heavy.
This body, honestly…
It was weaker than I’d ever imagined.
Losing consciousness before I could even finish a sentence—what a terrible ending.
It felt like a splash of cold water hit me.
I jolted awake with a sharp gasp.
“Ah—”
I blinked and looked around. The space was unfamiliar.
But a second later, I realized I was still inside the carriage.
So I fell asleep in the Grand Duke’s carriage…
No, not asleep—more like I passed out.
That would explain why my limbs felt like jelly.
“You’re awake,” a voice said beside me.
Startled, I shifted away and found Lahan resting his elbow on the armrest, watching me.
“Seems I lost consciousness,” I muttered.
“You were sleeping peacefully.”
“….”
“You’re the first woman who’s ever slept so well in my arms.”
“….”
A strong sense of regret washed over me.
“My apologies for the trouble.”
Unfortunately, I owed the Grand Duke a favor now.
“From the look on your face, you’d think you just lost a war.”
“Feels pretty close, honestly.”
“Haha.”
When he laughed, it felt like the whole carriage shook with him.
“We’ll have to go straight to the head of the family once we arrive.”
“Yes. If we delay even a little, Uncle Milles will try something else.”
“The good news is, he’s currently meeting with Roosevelt.”
“…How do you know that?”
I stared at him.
Lahan only shrugged casually.
Don’t tell me he has people following not just me, but everyone else too…
“I’ll let that one count as a gift,” he said.
“A generous gift for a lady.”
“I had a feeling you’d appreciate this more than flowers or jewelry.”
“….”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Unfortunately… you’re not wrong.”
Being understood so well wasn’t exactly a pleasant feeling.
“Well then, I should get going.”
The carriage door opened.
The Grand Duke stepped out first, and I quickly followed.
“You’re still not fully recovered. Let me help you.”
“There’s no need.”
The moment I said that, my legs gave out slightly.
Ugh. This body is really useless.
“It hurts, you know—being rejected like this every time.”
I decided to stop responding before I said anything I’d regret.
Let’s just hurry and get this over with.
I wonder if Elliot’s already here.
He wasn’t just smart—Elliot was capable with both brain and blade.
He surely escaped safely.
With a mix of concern and urgency, I walked quickly toward the estate.
Just as I neared the back gate—
“Sister.”
A low voice stopped me in my tracks.
“…Abel?”
Leaning casually against the iron gate stood Abel.
His cold eyes locked onto mine.
“Where have you been at this hour?”
He asked quietly, but the weight in his voice was unmistakable.
Why is he the one standing here?
For a moment, I glanced around.
Aside from Abel, the night was still and quiet—just as it had been before.
“…Well…”
I was still trying to come up with an excuse when I suddenly felt a hand wrap around my shoulder.
What now?
My eyes instinctively dropped to the hand.
“Sir Abel, even among family, there are questions one should ask with care.”
“….”
I couldn’t tell anymore—was the Grand Duke helping me or making things worse?
At this point, I decided to just go along with it.
“What woman would so openly confess to a secret rendezvous in the middle of the night…”
“Your Grace.”
That wave swept in a little too strong.
I began peeling the Grand Duke’s fingers off my shoulder—one by one.
When I turned my head again, Abel was standing like stone, eyes locked onto mine.
He didn’t even blink at Lahan’s words. All his focus was on me—silently demanding an explanation.
I let out a slow breath.
“I don’t owe you a report about my private matters.”
At that, the corner of Lahan’s mouth lifted slightly in amusement.
“At night. With the Grand Duke. A private matter.”
Abel said each word slowly, one by one, and somehow each syllable landed with sharp clarity.
“And since when do you care what I do?”
“Exactly.”
Something was off.
This wasn’t like Abel.
Whether I lived or died out there, he normally wouldn’t bat an eye. So why was he pushing so hard tonight?
Was it because of the Grand Duke?
Then Abel began walking toward us.
His footsteps were steady, purposeful—each one louder than it should’ve been in the quiet night.
He stopped only a step or two away.
I had to tilt my head back to look up at him.
His gaze was heavy. Darker and more intense than usual.
“Busy day and night, aren’t you, Sister?”
Was it just my imagination, or was Abel’s gaze lingering on the spot where the ledger was hidden inside my coat?
Could he possibly know something about what happened tonight?
“You’re overstepping,” I said coldly, doing my best to keep my tone icy.
I couldn’t afford to show any sign of being shaken.
“Seems your relationship isn’t exactly the warmest,” the Grand Duke said, cutting in.
But the air between us remained tense—no, if anything, it was getting worse.
“I believe I should escort this lady back home,” Lahan added. “Do you intend to keep blocking the way?”
At his question, Abel looked between the two of us.
My heart pounded at the thought that he might somehow catch sight of what I was carrying.
After a moment of silence, Abel finally stepped back.
I thought that was the end of it—until he extended his hand toward me.
“…?”
I stared at it, unsure what it meant.
“From here, you’ll need to come with me.”
“….”
This was… problematic.
The thought flashed across my mind—what if, once we were inside, Abel suddenly turned and tried to take what I was hiding?
I didn’t think he was the type to act so crudely, but the anxiety still crept in.
Then I felt the Grand Duke’s gaze on me.
His eyes seemed to be asking silently—Are you sure you’re alright with this?
“I’m fine,” I said, tilting my head respectfully toward him.
One way or another, this was still something I had to face myself.
“Thank you for everything tonight.”
“There’s no need for such formality between us.”
He always had a way of replying that made it easy to misunderstand his intentions.
I shot him a look before turning away.
Abel’s hand was still extended, but I gently pushed it aside.
“I’ve still got two working feet. But thanks for the offer.”
With that, I walked briskly toward the estate.
And just like the cold silhouette of the building ahead, I found myself wishing both of those men would simply disappear from this place—and from my sight.
But wait… did Abel just call me “Sister”?
A small flicker of confusion passed through me, but I didn’t stop walking.
I couldn’t.
