Chapter 55

55

"Where have you been?"

Theodore approached me with quick steps and asked. He seemed to have a habit of speaking to me coldly; a chill emanated from his voice. I avoided his gaze as I replied.

"I just came back from a picnic."

"I heard you weren't feeling well."

...It seems he had already read the records about my health. Jane must have been very flustered. I swallowed a sigh and spoke.

"It's not bad enough to prevent me from going out."

"But the doctor's opinion is different."

"The doctor naturally emphasizes the need to be cautious. I don't feel it's that serious."

It was a lie. I was so exhausted that I wanted to lie down on the bed immediately. I was getting tired and short of breath more often, and I felt dizzy every morning when I woke up. I also had trouble swallowing food at meal times.

But there was no reason to tell Theodore all these details. ...He wouldn't care anyway. So I kept quiet.

"...Where did you go for the picnic?"

I thought he was asking unnecessary questions. I replied nonchalantly.

"I went to the river near the Valentino Castle."

"I sent knights to look for you."

I flinched at his words. Theodore stared at me intently, as if he could see through my mind.

"The knights said they couldn't find you by the river."

"..."

"Be honest. Where did you go?"

He took a step closer, his blue eyes looking down at me from close range. ...There was a time when that gaze made my heart ache, like being stabbed by a cold, sharp blade. But now... I no longer feel anything.

I'll be leaving this place soon.

Then we will become complete strangers. We'll go back to being people who don't know each other.

Once everything is forgotten, the wounds in my heart will only remain as smooth scars.

I lifted my head and asked provocatively.

"Why? Are you afraid I'm plotting something against the Everett family?"

Theodore hesitated for a moment, then furrowed his brow and replied.

"...I know you often go outside disguised as a maid. I meant to say, don't lie and be honest."

"Well, in my opinion... I don't see any reason to be honest with you."

"Is that...?"

Theodore's mouth twitched slightly, as if he was a bit angry. Even as the anger seeped into his blue eyes, I didn't flinch or back down. I didn't want to be the emotional weaker party in our relationship anymore.

"Am I wrong? We weren't the kind of people who shared every detail of our daily lives, were we?"

"..."

"You wouldn't want to hear something trivial like me going to the market disguised as a maid with Charlotte, would you?"

"..."

"Let's stop this pointless argument. Please move aside. I want to go to my room and rest."

I tried to walk past Theodore, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me.

At that moment, I felt dizzy and a strong wave of dizziness hit me. I gasped for breath and staggered. I heard Charlotte's shocked cry.

"Lady!"

"..."

At the same time, Theodore flinched, as if startled. I lost my balance and was about to fall. Theodore's hands firmly grabbed my shoulders, but it wasn't enough to support my legs, which had gone weak.

Just as I was about to collapse, two slender arms wrapped around me from behind.

"Lady...!"

It was Charlotte.

"Lady! Are you okay? Oh, what do we do...?"

Charlotte called out to me, her voice trembling with panic. I was half-fainting and couldn't understand what was happening. It seemed Charlotte was holding me. The coldness in my lower body suggested we had both fallen to the floor.

As time passed, the dizziness gradually subsided, and the ringing in my ears disappeared. I could see Theodore standing there, looking down at me with a shocked expression.

"..."

After a long silence, he approached me urgently. As he reached out to help me up, I instinctively pushed his hand away.

A moment of silence followed. Theodore looked dazed. I slowly got up with Charlotte's support and said.

"...Please move aside."

"..."

At least you showed some concern when I fainted. Well, it's natural to be shocked when someone faints in front of you.

I walked past him, who was still standing there. I was still dizzy, but not to the point of losing consciousness. Charlotte, supporting me, was at a loss. Seeing her worried face, I felt a bit guilty. I always worry her. I want to be more mature.

'...In this state, I don't know if I can run away properly.'

With Charlotte's support, I managed to reach the entrance, but the problem was the stairs. Climbing to the third floor, where my room was, was impossible in my current condition.

I stood there, lost in thought, when Theodore's voice came from behind.

"...I'll take you to your room."

"..."

I slowly turned around. Theodore approached me with a steady pace, neither too slow nor too fast. I wondered if he had remembered something, but his cold expression suggested otherwise.

The only difference was that he was looking at me with a confused expression.

His gaze was different from the cold, piercing look he used to give me. It wasn't warm, but it was less sharp and less hostile.

"It will be difficult for you to climb to the third floor in this state. ...Please bear with it for a moment."

He was already in front of me, and before I could protest, he picked me up.

The dizziness hit me again, and I instinctively clung to his shirt. Theodore hesitated for a moment and moved his lips. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to reduce the dizziness, and said with effort.

"Put me down... I don't need your help."

"Don't be stubborn. You look like you're about to faint."

He ignored my protests and started walking briskly.

He climbed the stairs without any hesitation or wobbling. His breathing was steady, and his face didn't turn red. It was a stark contrast to me, who would get short of breath and have blood rush to my face just from climbing stairs.

"Are you dizzy?"

"..."

I didn't answer. His question seemed like a genuine concern. ...Maybe it was. My poor health seemed to have surprised him more than he expected.

"...We've arrived."

I slowly opened my eyes. We were already in the corridor where my room was.

The time it took to get here felt longer than a few minutes. I turned my head to avoid his gaze and said.

"Put me down now."

"..."

He silently put me down. I wobbled a bit but managed to stand on my own. I reached out to open the door when Charlotte's voice came from nearby.

"Lady! Huh, huh...!"

Charlotte was panting in the middle of the corridor, having almost run to keep up with Theodore's speed. I held the doorknob and waited for her to catch up.

"..."

When Charlotte reached me, she bowed silently to Theodore and nodded at me. It was a gesture to suggest I should go into the room and rest.

I obediently opened the door and went into the room. Charlotte, who followed me in, closed the door for me.

Click, the sound of the door closing, and I collapsed onto the bed.

I didn't thank Theodore for bringing me this far.

It was an unwanted kindness.

His kindness, affection, and perhaps even sympathy, I no longer wanted to acknowledge.

After all... we'll be parting soon.

* * *

Four days later.

Valentino Castle was in an uproar.

Lady Seymour, who had been quiet for a while, had another seizure.