……You like me?

Ricardo’s words echoed in my ears.

I tried to say something, but only a long breath escaped between my lips. It felt like the emotions I had tried so hard to suppress were leaking out from somewhere.

“Why, why…….”

For a moment, I couldn't continue speaking, then hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from my arms. My fingertips, trying to wipe the tears from his reddened eyes, trembled strangely.

Right then, Ricardo grabbed my hand.

“……!”

His blue eyes surged with emotions that hadn't yet settled. They looked like the end of winter.

Regret and fear still unresolved. Within them was me, and at the same time, my sincerity about leaving reflected in them.

“…….”

I didn’t want to hurt Leon for no reason, so I tried to send a letter. Because the end was already decided. But I couldn’t do the same with Ricardo.

There was no need to ponder the reason.

Because it was frustrating how our conversations always got stuck. I had decided that we couldn’t continue on like this forever.

‘I didn’t consider an end with you.’

For a fleeting moment, my head throbbed as if I had been struck by something.

……Maybe I was just as selfish.

Even though I had the courage to leave, I couldn’t be cold enough to pretend not to know his true feelings.

Should I have considered this possibility from the moment his attitude began to change?

‘No.’

In truth, I already knew the answer. Something had begun to change from the moment I wanted to hear Ricardo’s story from within the pages.

Even the fact that I had made a different choice from Leon—everything.

But what if this wasn’t a shift in my emotions, but just a misunderstanding?

Just like you found yourself intrigued by the changed Bianca, what if I was the same…….

‘Are you sure of your feelings enough to stay here?’

Can you really say you won’t regret it?

Emotions always outpaced reason, but in the end, reason took over and wrapped itself in the shell of regret.

“I’m not doing this because I want to be cruel…….”

Strangely, my throat tightened. No, even I didn’t know what I was thinking right now.

I clenched the hand holding the handkerchief. Then, for no reason, I started scrubbing his eyes more firmly.

Ricardo’s tear-filled eyes trembled quietly, unable to figure out how to hold me in place.

“If you're going to cry, at least do it prettily.”

At those words, a ridiculous laugh escaped from me before I realized it.

……What on earth was I even saying?

But what was even more ridiculous was Ricardo’s reaction. After a brief flash of embarrassment, he blinked as if he had realized something.

The teardrops that had collected on his lashes fell with a patter, leaving behind remnants of emotion on his cheeks.

“……Don’t tell me, you didn’t know?”

In that moment, Ricardo’s face blazed red. Had he truly not realized it? He hurriedly covered his mouth with the back of his hand.

Even though his neck had already turned red, I couldn’t for the life of me understand what he was trying to hide.

As I awkwardly rolled my eyes and handed him the handkerchief, Ricardo looked like he truly wanted to disappear into the ground.

“Uh, my hand is going to fall off.”

Even after I offered it again, he didn’t seem willing to take it. Just as I was about to hurriedly withdraw my hand from the strangely awkward situation—

Ricardo snatched the handkerchief from my hand in a rush.

“I’m going to keep it.”

Then he tucked it preciously into his chest, as if it were something precious.

That’s not what I gave it to him for……

Our awkward gazes met in midair. Only for a moment, as Ricardo quickly turned his head, seemingly wanting to hide his still-red face.

“You don’t have to answer. I didn’t say it expecting you would.”

“…….”

“I just, wish I could be by your side in your difficult moments.”

There was a clear distance that neither pushed forward nor retreated.

His final words sank deep into my mind.

“……Thank you.”

That was all I could say. Accepting Ricardo’s feelings when I didn’t even fully understand myself felt selfish.

At that moment, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence.

“Your Grace!”

Ricardo and I turned our heads simultaneously toward Elliot, who was rushing toward us. He flinched when he saw me, but quickly straightened up and greeted us.

“You were here with him, my lady. O, it’s been a while!”

I responded with a slight nod. It wasn’t the right time for a warm greeting, judging by Elliot’s deathly pale face.

Elliot hurried over to Ricardo, hopping from foot to foot in frustration.

“Do you have any idea how desperately I was searching for you, Your Grace! After causing such a huge incident, where on earth did you run off to……!”

“Shut your mouth. My head hurts.”

Ricardo clutched his forehead as if he were utterly fed up.

“Even if I die by Your Grace’s hand right here, I must speak my mind before I go! Even the monster that attacked me and ran off wasn’t this hard to find……. Oh, Your Grace, your face is a bit—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Ricardo grabbed the hood of Elliot’s robe and shoved it firmly downward.

“I’ll handle it, so you go to the Roygin Estate.”

“Pardon?”

Without waiting for Elliot’s response, Ricardo mounted his horse. Then, pulling the reins tightly with all his strength, he sped off.

“What do you mean, handle it how! You need to at least tell me something……!”

Elliot shouted after Ricardo’s back with a dazed look in his eyes. After a moment, he squeezed his eyes shut and barely managed to calm himself.

Then, all of a sudden, he beamed brightly and extended a hand toward me.

“Would it be alright if I accompanied you on your way back?”

* * *

Given the situation, I said I’d return alone, but Elliot, just like his master, had no sense of flexibility.

〈You’re only going to glare at me when I get back anyway. I’d rather be with you a hundred times over!〉

The Roygin Estate we returned to was just as chaotic. However, Atticus seemed unwilling to show it.

“You’re back, my lady.”

He approached with a faint smile.

“Shall I have a meal prepared for you?”

“No, it’s alright. I’m not really in the mood.”

At my words, Atticus, looking visibly concerned, suggested,

“You should eat at least a little……. Ah! Lord Blua skipped his meal too. How about dining together?”

“It’s late. He still hasn’t eaten…?”

“Yes. He’s been especially tired today.”

I swallowed dryly. My heart sank at the unusual condition of my grandfather.

“Wh-what about the physician? What did he—no, is he alright right now?”

When I asked in a flustered tone, he barely nodded. But he couldn’t quite hide the uneasy feeling that lingered beneath the surface.

As my face quickly stiffened, he managed to get out a few words.

“Maybe it’s just because the weather’s chilly.”

Atticus seemed to want to say more, but perhaps he didn’t want to burden me with bad news, so he changed the subject.

“Please don’t worry too much. Sometimes I can’t get out of bed either when I’m groggy from sleep.”

Trying to go along with his effort to lighten the mood, I forced the corners of my lips up.

“Is my brother very busy?”

“I believe he will be for a while.”

As I hurried toward my grandfather’s room, Atticus cautiously spoke behind me.

“My lady, I’m asking just in case.”

He paused for a moment.

“About Lord Harnen……”

“For now, we won’t be receiving any guests at the Roygin Estate. Even if they’re grandfather’s close friends, there will be no exceptions.”

At my words, Atticus nodded.

Thus, I reached my grandfather’s room.

Without even knocking, I threw the door open. A damp, musty smell clung to the tip of my nose. Even the strong incense couldn’t mask the scent.

It was a smell nothing could cover—the smell of death.

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