Saving My Childhood Friend Through... Questionable Means... - Chapter 53
“What?! No way! What are you talking about…!”
But Seria’s over-the-top reaction made Marie gape with wide eyes. It was over. She might as well have confessed outright that Marie’s guess was correct. Despite her desperate attempts to deny it, the look on Marie’s face made it clear she wasn’t buying it.
“Sure, sure,” Marie said casually, though her expression already showed she’d drawn her own conclusions. Eventually, Seria gave up and admitted that she had indeed slept with Lucas. As her face turned as red as a ripe apple, Marie smiled in satisfaction.
“So, it’s true. I wasn’t sure, but I had a feeling! That’s great news. Duke Lucas has a good family, he’s handsome, and there’s not a single thing wrong with him. Plus, you’ve known each other for a long time, so you two must get along well.”
“‘Great’? What’s so great about it? It was just… something that happened. Like one of those cold, detached relationships that are trendy in the capital, or something.”
“Hmm, is that really all? I know Duke Lucas’s personality, and it feels like you two will end up together.”
Marie’s pleased smile made Seria’s face twist in frustration. Marie truly didn’t understand. Usually, when a man and a woman slept together, there was at least some mutual attraction—whether physical or emotional.
But what happened between Lucas and Seria had nothing to do with romantic feelings. Since she couldn’t tell Marie about the curse Lucas had been under, she had glossed over the details, leading Marie to completely misunderstand their situation.
‘I shouldn’t have said anything. This isn’t a normal situation at all, and now I just feel even worse.’
“It’s really not like that. And just to be clear, you need to keep this to yourself. Don’t tell anyone, okay?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t tell anyone. But trust me, my instincts are sharp—you two are definitely going to end up together.”
“No, Marie. You don’t know the full story. Ugh, let’s just change the subject.”
Seria sighed and shook her head. Marie shrugged and didn’t press further.
‘End up together? If that were going to happen, he would’ve come to find me by now.’
It had already been three days since Seria arrived at Marie’s estate for a break. She had firmly told Lucas not to follow her, and indeed, he hadn’t shown up—not even a hint of his presence. But despite her stern words, a small, contradictory part of her heart had hoped he would come to her, begging to talk.
The fact that he hadn’t appeared even once during her stay only proved Marie’s hunch to be completely wrong.
Feeling despondent, Seria absentmindedly traced her finger along the edge of her empty teacup.
*
The next day, on a gloomy afternoon, Duke Lucas leaned against the window, looking like a man on the brink of death. His forlorn gaze was fixed on the ground, where fallen leaves were crushed under the servants’ boots. It reminded him of how he had been cast aside by Seria.
Her decisiveness had left him shaken. But what struck him even harder was not being able to see her face every day.
When had his feelings grown to this extent? The pain in his chest was almost unbearable, and he found himself wishing that Seria would just stay by his side—even if it meant never having s*x again.
After days of skipping meals, Lucas had grown gaunt and pale, his once-imposing presence reduced to a shadow of itself. Unable to bear it any longer, his butler brought a meal to the study.
“Your Grace, at this rate, you’ll fall gravely ill. You finally overcame the curse, but now you’re ruining your health by refusing to eat.”
“How’s the weather today? Is it good for a walk?”
Lucas ignored the food entirely, steering the conversation elsewhere. The butler tilted his head in confusion before shrugging.
“It’s a bit overcast, but it’s still good weather for a walk. That said, you should bring an umbrella, just in case—”
“Alright.”
Before the butler could finish, Lucas turned abruptly and strode across the study. Alarmed, the butler hurried to follow him.
“Your Grace! Are you going for a walk? At least eat something first. Or put on a coat and take an umbrella—!”
“I have somewhere to go. Don’t follow me.”
Raising a hand to stop the butler, Lucas made his way to the stables, mounted his horse, and rode off without looking back. The butler watched him go, his face full of worry as the duke sped away, wearing only thin clothing, with no umbrella in sight.
“Where could he be rushing off to dressed like that? It looks like it might rain soon…”
