Chapter 28

Chapter 28

“U-um, I… But…”

I barely managed to stutter.

“Throw it away after wearing it. Don’t even say you’d return it to me after you’ve washed it.”

Amoide already put up an iron wall with those words before I could say anything.

“I didn’t even think about doing so!” I exclaimed, almost tearful.

“That’s not what I meant!”

“What?”

…I think you should cover up, too—

Was what I wanted to say, but I couldn’t muster the courage. The huge, broad chest in front of me, two healthy pecs peaking out, was strongly engraved in my eyes.

‘Why does it look so sexy to me…?’

It’s a man’s chest, though. A man’s chest!

I did think that the cleavage that sometimes peeked out of the collar of his shirt was unusual. Still, it was my first time seeing a naked body like this.

Meeooow.

The meandering cry of the cat was carried through the air, which lured me to come back to my senses.

“N-Noir.”

As if to answer me, Noir sauntered towards me and rubbed his head against my dress. Trying to reassure him, I said, “It’s all right, you’re okay.”

It seemed like Noir was surprised by the disturbance a while ago.

“The snake is gone. It’s okay.”

While calming Noir down, there was suddenly a commotion.

“Is there something wrong, Your Grace? What was that sound earlier…?”

I wasn’t sure if they heard me screaming, but the attendants seemed to have come too late. However, after seeing the scene, the attendant’s voice faded off.

“Ah…”

Everyone’s gazes shifted to me.

Their expressions quickly turned bashful as they eyed the oversized shirt covering me like a blanket. Their eyes were locked on the shirt—on how Amoide held the shirt over me. More precisely, on the two of us and how close we were standing together.

I glanced down and hastily covered up the ripped part of my dress.

‘Why, of all things!’

Why did we have to get caught looking like this?!

I wrapped the shirt even tighter around my body as if it were armor. That’s the only way I could calm myself. But, the way everyone looked at me continued to be strange.

They all exchanged nervous glances. It also seemed like they were murmuring amongst each other. Although I couldn’t hear anything because they were too far away, it was clear that they were exchanging some words, appearing all serious.

“We apologize. We were tactless.”

Saying so, each servant muttered an apology and turned around one by one.

…What’s wrong with them?

At the strange behavior of the employees, I tilted my head. Then, one stray mumble explained the entire situation.

“We didn’t know you were having a good time together…”

“…”

I couldn’t say anything in return, so I quietly averted my gaze.

Amoide noticed my downcast eyes as he gazed down at me. His eyes were colder and ghastlier than the snake from earlier.

He withdrew the hand from the shirt that he had put on me.

“No.”

His teeth audibly clenched.

“It’s not that.”

Hearing him repeating his denial once more, my self-esteem plummeted. ‘Why does he have to say it like that…’ My face turned red. Usually, when something like this happens, shouldn’t you be at least a bit flustered?

It’s unfair, it’s unfair! I missed the chance to deny it first!

“W-we apologize. Please overlook our mistake.”

Their apologies continued nonetheless. They were also coughing to hide their embarrassment.

“Please don’t mind us… Please continue…”

“I already said it’s not like that,” Amoide frostily said once again. At the following statement, the servants stopped retreating to stare at him in question.

“Get rid of that thing.”

“Pardon?”

As they peered around cluelessly, he beckoned them to one spot in the garden.

“…We understand.”

After his words, the servants hurried to that spot despite still being confused. Then, moments after, a loud scream signaled the discovery of the snake’s long body. They swiftly brought a sack and some tongs to pick up the snake, and soon, the snake corpse was collected.

It wasn’t until I saw the servants drag the sack away that I realized it was all over.

“…”

Amoide turned to me as the servants moved away.

“Don’t come to this place anymore.”

“…”

Somehow, it felt like my feet were stuck on the ground. I gripped the shirt over my shoulders tightly and looked up at him.

“What’s wrong?” He asked.

Thud.

As I felt all the strength in me leaving my body, he hurriedly grabbed onto my shoulder.

Fortunately, I didn’t hit the ground, thanks to the arm wrapped tightly around my waist.

“Are you all right?”

Amoide pressed the question once again. Gazing into his eyes, I asked softly, “…What do you mean?”

“Why are you asking me such a question when you are the one who collapsed like this again?”

“When… Did I fall down?”

“Yes, just now.”

“When I fainted, you…”

I shut my mouth and came to my senses before I continued refuting him. It was him who always fainted like that, so I didn’t think he’d remember.

“…How did you know that?”

“I heard that the servants carried you from outside my room back then.”

His expression darkened as his gaze gravitated towards my bandaged hand. I could guess what he was thinking.

‘Oh, that’s what it is.’

He thought he owed me one.

‘…Like this hand.’

[ Amoide carries a lot of pride. Be careful not to treat him like a patient just because he’s weak now. ]

That was Camilla’s warning during my first night with Amoide.

She said he tended to abhor leaning onto someone or owing them any favors due to his strong sense of independence.

Anyway, I was the one who collapsed while nursing him back to health. Of course, the indisputable fact was that memories of my past life suddenly came back to me, revealing that I didn’t eat nor sleep properly. So, the limitations of this body were at rock bottom.

“Your face is pale.”

I cowered slightly against that piercing gaze.

It wasn’t an act. After everything blew over, my legs collapsed from under me, and I couldn’t move at all.

My body was covered with cold sweat, and my breaths were ragged.

“I’m fine, Your Grace.”

As he propped up my frame, I tried to rise from the ground. Nonetheless, because my legs were trembling heavily, I soon stumbled. But, before I could hit the ground again, I felt myself being lifted up.

“What—!”

I wasn’t dreaming, it’s not an illusion. I was really in his arms, his hands wrapped tightly under my knees and over my shoulders.

His chest—no, he is too close…!

Amoide gazed down at my blank, embarrassed expression.

“I’m fine, so please put me down. I can just call a maid to help me…”

I glanced around in a hurry. Though because I moved around a lot during the strolls, Rona and the other maids weren’t usually by my side.

“Don’t struggle.”

His low voice rang in my ears, and before I knew it, I froze and stopped my limbs from flailing around.

As I exhaled, his hair was slightly shaken.

“I’m just paying my dues.”

At his words, I was almost convinced. It almost looked like he was really concerned for me.

‘That’s impossible…’ Amoide just hated that he owed me something, and all he wanted to do was recover his self-esteem somehow.

‘This is what I’m going for, anyway.’

I gently clenched my hand into a fist and squeezed it firmly.

“Oh my! What happened?!”

Rona exclaimed as she saw me in Amoide’s arms.

Of course, it was surprising that I came back in this state after just taking a walk. To be more exact, it was his current appearance that was more surprising.

His…state of undress.

“It just turned out this way.”

I averted my eyes in embarrassment.

Using both hands to cover her lips, Rona gaped alternately between me and the half-naked Amoide. It seemed like her gaze lingered more on Amoide though, and I couldn’t blame her.

Disregarding the maid’s open stare, he carefully set me down on the couch.

“Oh my, this is Your Grace’s…?”

As Rona looked at the shirt draped over my body, she continued muttering, “Oh my, oh my” over and over again. Then, her eyes widened as she saw the torn dress underneath. I simply shook my head at the maid as her eyes were obviously filled with questions.

“…It’s a long story.”

It was difficult to put into words.

Rona shifted her gaze toward Amoide, who was glancing around the room.

“This is the first time Your Grace has visited Milady’s room.”

Somehow, Rona sounded very ecstatic. She asked eagerly, “Would you like a cup of tea?” Now, her eyes were glinting with excitement.

“It’s not like that, Rona.”

I cut her off quickly.

“Rona, I’m tired.”

I looked terrible. It was the inevitable result of the combination of messy hair, torn clothes, and severe mental distress.

“Would you like me to draw a bath first?”

At her suggestion, I nodded helplessly.

“I’ll have it ready soon.”

Rona then grabbed the other maid in the room by the arm and hurried out the door. The other maid was caught by the arm and was dragged away without her consent, and before long the door closed. Silence soon stretched between those left in the room.

“…”

It’s like even if one strand of hair would fall, I’d definitely hear it.

With the two of us there, only the sound of our breathing could be heard clearly. Besides the nights we were required to have together, when else did we have a chance to be alone in a room like this?

And with him half-naked like that.

What should I say? Who the hell would be able to say anything in this situation?

Even though I tried my best to come up with something to say to break this horrid silence, I just couldn’t think of anything. Suddenly, Amoide shifted his gaze towards me and opened his lips.

“I’m going back. Rest up.”

“Oh…”

As he went toward the door and when he swung it open, Rona and the other maid—both of whom were standing very close by—were startled away.

Seeing Amoide walk away, Rona hurriedly entered the room.