Meanwhile, if it seemed inevitable that the schedule was going to change, the chief handmaiden asked me for permission as soon as possible. Aedis was next to me, so she couldnât come near me and asked the butler to deliver it for me.
But today, there was no separate report from the chief handmaiden for the butler.
I had a feeling.
Maybe this wasnât the first time something like this has happened?
I scratched Paimonâs chin and thought deeply.
I couldnât ignore the possibility that the entire floor assigned to me had been searched already.
If so, the room where Paimon was would have been the last turn.
On the day I shared each room with Aedis, Sarahâs supervision was stricter than for the other rooms on the same floor as I had slept there.
âDo you want me to take care of it?â
Aedis first asked for my opinion.
Iâd like you to close the distance between us and talk.
Itâs so far away I canât even hear what youâre saying.
âOnce I figured out what they were searching so hard for. I canât guess anything, though.â
Unlike the far distant husband, Paimon felt soft and warm when I reached for his hand.
Aedis frowned as I thought that it would be perfect to hug him while sleeping.
My husband seemed to guess the same as me.
Cyclamen Castle was peaceful.
No one had much objection to the fact that I had become the Grand Duchess.
On the contrary, it made me wonder if everyone was so nice to me because there was no Grand Duchess for decades.
Even though there were some problematic people among the vassals outside the castle. Like Robson Paisley, who was not even a noble. But even that guy wouldnât be able to do such a big deal like investigating the Grand Duchess.
There was no other person who came to mind after having such an idea.
âPaimon.â
âUh-huh.â
Paimon moved his chin following my hand and answered with a hoarse voice.
âCan you go back and check if they are still there? If yes, can you hear what they were talking about?â
âIf thatâs the case, I will.â
âAedis, you have work to do separately.â
I emphasized with a stern look. âItâs very important.â
Paimon poked his head out of my arms.
âItâs only this time. Iâm really lazy.â
âThank you.â
I hugged Paimon.
It was soft and warm, probably because it was a spirit, so even when the scales touched flesh, it didnât sting too much.
Aedisâs expression became astringent as I calmly rubbed the dragon.
âHow long do I have to watch that?â
Of course, the âthatâ Aedis was talking about was Paimon.
He was ready to find a way to forcefully break the contract with the spirit, but I didnât intend to give it time.
After Paimon left, I dragged a chair and moved it to Aedisâ side. It was just the wife approaching, but the husband was nervous.
I pretended to not notice and rested my head on Aedisâ shoulder.
âOh, good. It is stable.â
ââ¦..â
âIâm talking to myself. A Soliloquy.â
ââ¦..â
âI donât know what youâre thinking right now, but itâs my mood. Feelings.â
Reassuring Aedis, I stretched my hands toward his.
Aedisâ pupils dilated slightly, noticing my black heart.
âEve, Iâm only asking just in case.â
âYes.â
âIs this what I should do to my wife?â
âThatâs right.â
I got you!
One of Aedisâ hands came into my hands.
I pulled the hand toward me a little.
âYou have to help me to restore my peace of mind.â
As I calmly spoke, my hands clapped my husbandâs hands vigorously.
It was neat and pretty, in case someone didnât know my husbandâs hand.
It was just sad that no one knew except me.
Sarah also had a face that said she got goosebumps after hearing my review.
ä¸Huh, the Grand Duke is as cute as a puppy? His hands neat and tidy?
âYes.
ä¸I have a lot of respect for Your Grace, and I enjoy working here, but I think I still need to learn more about social lifeâ¦â¦,gasp, sorry!
At that time, Sarah was sincerely sorry for me, so the shock and hurt was twice as much.
Still, because it was Sarah, and I think if I had told Procyon or Shaula, I would have gotten worse answers.
My fingers intertwined with Aedisâ long fingers.
Aedisâ entire body, including his fingers, back of hands, and arms, was hardened as he pondered whether to surrender.
It was like Aedis that he couldnât even shake it off.
Iâll just touch it a little bit and let it go, so he can relax.
Aedisâ hand didnât feel as soft as when I touched Paimon, but it made my heart happy.
It really worked to calm my mind.
Wouldnât something be improved if we continued to increase physical contact in small but steady doses like now?
However, Aedisâ condition gradually deteriorated, as if I would give the first kiss only when I turned 80.
âEve, stop itâ¦â¦â
About the time the veins started to swell on the back of Aedisâ hand, Paimon returned with a paw sticking out.
âEve, Iâm here! I heard about it, too!â
As soon as I turned my head, Aedis rescued his hand that had been caught by me.
However, as Paimon continued to speak, I did not look back immediately.
âThey were talking about your temporary ability?â
Then thatâs right. It was aimed at the blood of a beast.
Of course, they must not have known that it was the blood of a beast.
Paimon gave my guesses a boost.
âAnything is fine, so they need a clue. That Gilbert guy was looking for it? I should have killed him, not just gotten rid of his aura.â
Paimon flew with a snort and landed on my knee.
âThere were only three people including those who kept watch. Shall I burn it down? Otherwise, eat it?â
âItâs okay. Youâve already done enough, havenât you? You must have hated this kind of request, but thank you for your help.â
When I did not spare praise, the smaller dragon was embarrassed.
âE, Eve, you seem to be treating me strangely as a child? Is my body too big? And no matter what humans do, I donât want to see them scouring my contractorâs room and swearing?!â
Eventually, Paimon swung its front paws like a ball of cotton and made a loud bang.
And turned to my husband, who was wiping his face dry.
âI think Gilbert is trying to turn his attention to the next best thingâ¦â¦ Aedis? Are you alright?â
I was worried that the skin of his face would be torn off because he wiped it too vigorously without water.
âItâs fine.â
It doesnât look okayâ¦â¦
So, since you said yes, letâs continue.
âDid he think that if he got the blood of a beast, he would be able to face you?â
âThen he was wrong. My wife deals with me quite easily without using such things.â
Aedis looked down ominously at the hand I had held, as if it had been cursed for erroneously touching an ancient royal tomb.
Hey, hereâs the one who held your hand. Iâm hurt.
âI wonât touch you anymore, so donât look at your hand with eyes like youâre asking Paimon to help you. Thatâs your hand. Itâs not someone elseâs hand.â
âYou wonât touch it?â
ââ¦â¦ Are you happy now?â
âNo.â
What do you mean, no?
[âEve, do you have any questions now?â]
Paimon tapped me with its blunt front paw.
In its eyes, I could clearly see that it wanted me to pay attention to him, who accomplished his mission brilliantly, rather than such a mean demon king.
I asked, still staring at my husband.
âOf course a lot. So, did they bring anything?â
âA girl with long hair says itâs a waste.â
Then at least one is sure to be a maid.
They must be very nervous and annoyed by now.
Itâs the same for me as well.
Aside from the fact that the husband was constantly trying to get hot and cold, the room might be chaotic, so there was no way they felt good.
What should I do? I lightly grabbed the string.
âThen letâs try doing our nails.â
âYou want to bake it?â
âI didnât mean to do it in that sense.â
I briefly explained the nail trimming process to Paimon and then called Sarah.
They distanced themselves a bit, but three more maids entered as Aedis watched with his eyes open.
Daisy was also a maid for cats and was the most familiar, but I only knew the name of the two.
It also meant that they rarely served me, so the two maids turned white as soon as they saw Aedis.
Sarah, on the other hand, became slightly conscious, and Daisy took a deep breath and slowly regained her composure.
The maid with freckles on her pale eyebrows was on the verge of crying.
She trembled as she put down the nail tools one after the other, and then she asked in a voice exuding a feeling of injustice.
âIn, in the first place, like this, is the Lord watching?â
I had a small voice on my other side, but unfortunately I could hear it all in my ears.
Daisy had a look that indicated even if she worked in Cyclamen castle, she didnât even know.
âHe cares so much about Her Grace, and he always checks every move she makes.â
Uh, my husbandâs image is starting to get a little suspicious?
Actually, he hates me even if I just hold his hand.
Itâs a good thing that the maids are less afraid of Aedis, but I think Iâll have to ask Sarah to take the survey again soon.
Daisy stared angrily at the trembling maid.
âWhatâs the matter? Where have all those spirits who asked for a chance to accompany Your Grace go?â
âIâ¦â¦ That isâ¦â¦ â
âDonât make a mistake in front of Her Grace, and if you canât do it, tell me now. I will call another one.â
âNâ¦â¦No! I, I, Iâll do it!â
Daisy bowed her head at me.
âIâm sorry, Your Grace. I will educate that child harshly.â
I frowned at the side where Paimon was.