"I-It's nothing. My arm suddenly started hurting."
"Your arm?"
He frowned slightly.
"...Now that I think about it, when the Duke approached you earlier, your whole body tensed up. Did he do something to you?"
Wow... he figured that out just from that? He's really observant.
I was honestly surprised, but I waved my hand dismissively.
"Oh, it's nothing like that, Your Grace. I probably just wrote for too long. You know how your neck starts hurting if you stay hunched over for too long?"
"Roll up your sleeve."
"Huh? Your Grace, I'm really fin—"
I instinctively stepped backward in panic.
Lishid reached out and grabbed my wrist.
His face darkened.
"Don't make me repeat myself."
He stared at me.
"Roll it up. That's an order."
"..."
What's with that expression? Why does he look so angry...?
"O-Okay."
After trying my best to resist, I reluctantly rolled my sleeve up a little.
That was when Lishid, apparently losing his patience, grabbed the lace sleeve himself and pushed it all the way above my elbow.
"Y-Your Grace...!"
"Stay still."
The lace that had completely covered my arm was now rolled up past my elbow.
It was only my arm being exposed, but for some reason I felt strangely embarrassed and looked away.
A quiet sigh escaped Lishid's lips.
"...As I thought. It's going to bruise completely."
Bruise?
Only then did I look down at my arm.
Ah... no wonder.
A red handprint was clearly visible.
It must have been left when the Duke grabbed my arm earlier.
But honestly, it wasn't anything worth making a fuss over.
This much is nothing...
I hurriedly pulled my sleeve back down and smiled.
"I'm really fine. It doesn't even hurt that much."
Then I calmly melted the wax again and carefully sealed Lishid's letter.
Watching me silently, he finally asked,
"...Does this happen often?"
"Hm?"
"The Duke of Blandiche laying his hands on you."
The unexpected question made me tilt my head.
I wasn't entirely sure...
But probably?
The original novel had never explicitly mentioned it.
Still, considering Airel's circumstances, it wouldn't have been surprising.
The way the Duke raised his hand and then lowered it... it didn't seem like the first time.
Honestly, I was just relieved he hadn't actually hit me.
After everything I'd caused today, even getting slapped a few times wouldn't have seemed all that strange.
So for things to end with only this...
I considered myself lucky.
"No, Your Grace. It's not like what you're thinking."
I deliberately smiled brightly at him.
"And I'm really fine."
Of course Lishid wasn't actually worried about me.
I just didn't want him to feel burdened.
If I show that I'm hurt, it'll only annoy him.
My uncle...
My aunt...
Even my cousin...
They'd all been like that.
"What exactly do you mean you're fine...?"
"I mean you don't have to worry about me! I'm tough. Something like this is really nothing."
Grinning, I flexed my arm as though showing off my muscles.
Who do you think I am?
I'm the invincible person who used to endure forty-degree fevers without letting anyone notice.
I wasn't saying it just to reassure Lishid.
I genuinely was fine.
Things like this had happened from time to time back where I'd originally lived too.
So this really wasn't a big deal.
It was just a handprint on my arm.
"Hah..."
I tried to brush it off with my usual carefree smile.
Lishid lowered his head and let out a bitter laugh.
"Your Grace...?"
"Lady."
He brushed his hair back once before looking at me.
"The maid said earlier that she found your diary inside the ventilation shaft."
His crimson eyes were as cold as they had been the day we'd first met.
Without thinking, I swallowed.
"Y-Yes... that's right."
Why bring up the ventilation shaft all of a sudden?
Did I say something wrong?
Lishid simply asked in the same icy voice,
"Where is that ventilation shaft?"
"Huh?"
"No... It'll be faster if I find it myself."
In the blink of an eye, Lishid jumped off the desk and dashed across the room.
Startled, I hurried after him.
"W-Wait a minute, Your Grace!"
His footsteps were headed toward the curtains covering one wall.
No! He can't open that!
That wall is completely covered with portraits of Lishid!
"I haven't noticed it until now, so it must be somewhere around here."
But before I could stop him, Lishid had already pulled the curtain open.
I'm doomed...
Unable to bear watching, I covered my eyes with both hands.
This is terrible.
I should've taken them down earlier.
Jenis had told me they were incredibly expensive.
And since I had nowhere else to store them, I'd simply hidden them behind the curtain.
Now Lishid would probably think I was some kind of stalker.
Clang.
Instead of silence...
All I heard was the metallic sound of iron.
"So this is where it was."
Slowly, I parted my fingers.
Through the gap, I saw Lishid tearing open the ventilation grate.
"I'll go through here and bring back a few snacks from the kitchen."
"W-What?"
I immediately lowered my hands.
"You're going through the ventilation shaft? No, Your Grace! It's too dangerous!"
But before I could finish, Lishid had already squeezed himself inside.
"Y-Your Grace!"
I hurried over, crouched down, and peered into the dusty ventilation shaft.
But Lishid had already disappeared from sight.
"Your Grace! Your Grace! Your Grace...!"
Airel's voice echoed repeatedly through the dark ventilation shaft.
Only after the light streaming in from behind had nearly disappeared did Lishid stop walking and glance back.
He could no longer see Airel's room.
Yet he was certain.
She was still standing in front of the ventilation shaft.
Her round eyes wide with worry.
Waiting anxiously for him to return.
...What an idiot.
His face twisted into a frown.
The vivid red and bluish marks left on Airel's pale skin flashed through his mind.
His fists clenched again.
Airel Blandiche had been hurt.
Because of him.
Yet he hadn't even realized it.
Instead, he'd been wasting time talking nonsense about whether or not the High Priest was handsome.
Why was I acting like some immature child...?
The moment he'd seen the marks on her arm, Lishid had snapped back to reality.
At the same time, a formless wave of self-loathing crashed over him.
He had spent almost his entire life looking at the world pessimistically.
But he couldn't remember ever feeling this disgusted with himself.
She should have gotten angry instead.
He couldn't understand her.
She had suffered because of him at the Duke's hands...
Yet she still smiled at him so gently.
...Damn.
She wasn't the one at fault.
Yet somehow...
He was blaming her.
Lishid let out a self-mocking sigh and rubbed his face.
The fact that she could remain so unfazed despite such obvious injuries meant this couldn't have been the first time.
The Duke's family must have taught her to keep quiet.
To never mention the pain.
To never let it show.
Perhaps the proud young lady who supposedly feared no one because she was backed by the House of Blandiche had never truly existed.
Lishid realized it immediately.
No matter if she had been born illegitimate...
There was no way someone who became awkward over receiving even the slightest concern from another person could have grown up normally.
A bitter taste spread through his mouth.
He had noticed that the ducal family paid little attention to Airel.
But he'd never imagined they treated her this badly.
After letting out a long sigh, Lishid resumed walking.
The excuse about going to the kitchen for snacks...
Was only that—an excuse.
Of course, Airel had said she was hungry, so he intended to bring her something to eat.
