Even Death Was Taken Away by That Obsession - Chapter 7
“Please call me anytime if you need anything.”
Hubert, having finished his role, turned to leave.
Ian naturally guided my hand and seated me.
“The weather is nice, so I thought it would be good to have breakfast here. Is that not comfortable for you?”
His eyes sparkled as if he had been looking forward to this time.
I pretended to be innocent while awkwardly brushing my hair.
“Ah, yes. But… I really don’t remember anything. Even simple etiquette like table manners. I might make mistakes because there’s so much I don’t know.”
It seemed like something a pitiful lady who had lost her memories would say.
Although I was actually using manners that had been ingrained in me for a long time, Ian accepted my lie without a doubt.
“It’s alright. If there’s anything you don’t know, I can teach you.”
And he looked at me with affectionate eyes as I expressed my small concern.
“It’s just the two of us now. There’s nothing to worry about at all.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
I grasped the teacup, feeling relieved by his natural thoughtfulness.
“To receive so much help from someone I met by chance, I must be very lucky. It feels like a dream that I can stay at the Grand Duke’s residence for a while, even though it’s a place I’ll have to leave someday.”
“A place you’ll have to leave someday…”
Instead of answering, Ian softly repeated part of what I said, his face slightly falling.
He looked somewhat gloomy, quite different from his gentle appearance just moments ago.
“It seems I’ll have to teach you many things from now on.”
Ian, who had briefly paused, said with a bright smile and affectionate tone.
“While we spend intimate time like this, just the two of us.”
I tilted my head as if asking why he had paused for a moment.
Ian innocently urged me on as if it was nothing.
“We have a lot to talk about. First of all, the maids, especially Dantea, will ask you many questions.”
“Ah, right. Dantea.”
“Haha. It seems something has already happened?”
“She asked me how our first meeting was. I managed to brush it off, but…”
As I recalled that talkative girl with embarrassment, Ian found my honest reaction cute.
Seeing that, I also relaxed a bit more.
With the peaceful garden as our backdrop, we talked about many things.
Things about the mansion, or trivial information about each other that special people would naturally know.
There was more content than I expected, and before I knew it, time had flown by.
The morning of that day was far too short for us.
So in the afternoon, and on other days and times, Ian gave me detailed information as if he had no intention of quickly reclaiming the fake benefactor position he had given me.
After that day, our meetings had somehow become a natural occurrence.
Because of that, or rather thanks to that, my heart became endlessly excited like spring.
If I had to love someone other than ‘him’, wouldn’t Ian be a good match?
‘If I fall in love with Ian, if only I could do that…’
I thought I might be able to win the bet with him easily.
***
As if the leisurely time spent with Haine was a lie, Ian’s recent days flew by in a blur.
It was an unusually busy period, too strange to be attributed to the duties given under the title of future Grand Duke.
As a result, his plan to drop by the mansion even for a moment to have lunch with Haine was spectacularly ruined.
Today, there were particularly many nobles requesting meetings, asking for his time with trivial excuses.
And as expected, their eyes held a faint expectation when they met.
“By the way, I’ve heard that there’s a precious guest staying at the Grand Duke’s residence recently.”
“Do you perhaps need a tailor? I was thinking of giving Atelier Maine a heads up.”
“I see you’ve cleared your afternoon schedule. Are you planning to return to the mansion early?”
The topic that brought life to their faces was undoubtedly the existence of Haine, the mysterious benefactor.
How quickly they had caught wind of the rumors from the Grand Duke’s residence; those who visited Ian today were trying their best to steer the conversation in a personal direction.
Come to think of it, even those attending the regular assembly seemed to be watching his mouth intently as if hoping some interesting story might slip out.
‘The rumors spread too fast.’
Ian let out a faint smile with his sweet eyes half-lowered.
Although the heavy day was tiring, he didn’t want to blame their curiosity.
Just as he reached for the paperwork that showed no signs of diminishing, someone knocked on the door.
“Young Master.”
The one who bowed politely towards his master was Hubert, the butler of the Grand Duke’s residence.
Ian willingly offered a seat to the old gentleman who had personally come to the assembly for him and opened his ears.
“Master Feiden has sent medicine for Miss Haine.”
The diligent butler skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.
Ian’s eyes, which had been unable to hide his fatigue from the morning’s ordeals, brightened at the news Hubert delivered.
“He also said that while he won’t be able to examine her for a while due to busy affairs at the temple, regular consumption of that medicine will greatly aid her recovery.”
“Ah, that’s welcome news.”
As Ian expressed genuine joy, Hubert also smiled gently, not hiding his satisfaction.
“With medicine blessed by Master Feiden, the young lady should soon regain her strength and be able to make an appearance in the capital’s social circles.”
“That’s right.”
Ian responded with a gentle smile and half-glanced away, lost in thought.
‘Does it have to be that way?’
Among the nobles, Haine had already become the center of attention.
He was worried whether she, with her incomplete memories, could withstand the flood of attention and the vicious tongues of certain individuals.
Above all, Haine was still the ‘benefactor’ he wanted to keep to himself, unseen by anyone else.
“What about the matter I asked about before?”
“I’ve narrowed it down to a few families, but the Berdandi Count family in the west seems most suitable.”
Ian picked up the documents Hubert handed over and examined them.
Easy to silence the head of the family. No direct descendants, avoiding succession issues. A noble family from the frontier, making it difficult to investigate their background.
Hubert’s discernment in selecting a family that best met the conditions Ian had set was indeed excellent.
“Yes, this place would be good for Haine too.”
“Well…”
As Hubert was about to rise at Ian’s gesture to leave, he hesitated.
Seeing his precious butler of many years hesitate, Ian promptly asked for the reason.
“What’s the matter?”
“May I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“…Is the young lady truly Your Grace’s benefactor?”
What exactly was the debt that warranted bringing her into the mansion and paying such special attention? What was the reason for secretly arranging a noble identity for her?
Moreover, was the blue gaze towards the young lady simply gratitude towards a benefactor?
Ian smiled bitterly at Hubert’s courageous question, which encompassed many doubts.
He had thought everyone in the mansion was smoothly falling for Haine’s innocent yet charming demeanor.
He didn’t expect the leisurely old butler to harbor reasonable suspicions.
“I can’t beat you, Hubert.”
A sheepish smile, feigning innocence, brushed Ian’s lips.
“Actually, Haine is…”
As the old gentleman swallowed dryly with unnecessary tension, Ian personally rose, put his hand to Hubert’s ear, and whispered.
“She’s my lover.”
“Pardon?”
“The reason for registering her with the Count’s family is due to complicated circumstances. It’s fine not to hide that she’s my lover from the people in the mansion. However, could you be careful to keep it a secret from Father for now?”
The rumors would soon be unstoppable anyway.
“O-Of course. That’s only proper.”
Hubert stammered, his face bewildered at the thought of being the sole keeper of such an enormous secret.
And he covered his foolish grin, which betrayed joy and subtle excitement, with a fake cough.
‘To think the young lady was the Young Master’s secret lover!’
Given the need to arrange a new identity, there must be deep circumstances.
Circumstances so profound that even he, who had long faithfully stood by Ian’s side, couldn’t be told.
Thinking it wasn’t his place to dig any deeper, Hubert solemnly opened his mouth as if bearing a weighty mission.
“I will prepare everything.”
The old butler hurriedly organized the documents and left, vowing to handle everything swiftly.
Ian, who had been kind as if encouraging him, gently lowered his eyes as soon as the door closed.
Then he rested his chin on his hand and fell into thought.
‘Don’t worry about anything, Haine. I’ll do everything in my power to help you take root here completely.’
To this end, arranging a suitable status, recovering Haine’s frail body, and helping her regain her memories all progressed smoothly.
Just thinking about Haine made his heart flutter, and Ian gently covered his face with his hands and let out a contented sigh.
All the goodwill he had carefully built up stemmed from a pure wish that she would not leave.
