Don’t Ask, It’ll Hurt If You Know - Chapter 72

‘Ian MacMilden’ and ‘impulse’ were words that did not go together.

The Duchess of MacMilden had taught her son, even before he could speak properly, that he must always be careful—and then careful again—with his words and actions. Under that influence, Ian developed a habit of reflecting deeply on whether he should truly say or do something before acting.

Except when speaking with one person, Chloe Elena.

“……A date.”

Ian uttered a word he had heard often but had almost never let slip from his own lips. It had felt like nothing when he heard it, but rolling it over his tongue himself felt ticklish. When he added his and Chloe’s names before it, the line of his mouth softened.

It was a word he had spat out somewhat impulsively in response to her spirited proposal to do whatever he asked, but he did not regret it.

In fact, he was more satisfied with it than an answer he might have given after deliberating several times. If he had done that, he likely would have made the foolish choice of kicking away a rare opportunity by saying he was fine and she didn’t need to worry about it, let alone going on a date.

When Chloe stared at him as if he were talking nonsense, he felt a momentary ‘uh-oh,’ but fortunately, an appropriate excuse came to mind, allowing him to navigate the crisis well.

Even that excuse was impulsive, though.

Ian let out a thin laugh, finding it a bit absurd that he was going to personally buy a gift for Bianca Lloyd, something he had intended to leave entirely to Hugo Alfred.

More importantly, what should I do tomorrow?

Burying himself deep into the sofa’s backrest, Ian looked up at the ceiling engraved with ornate patterns and pondered seriously. Since he had managed to seize such a good opportunity, it would be a shame to end it with just buying Bianca’s gift.

He wanted to do something more, but he didn’t know what. He had never been on a date with a woman in his entire life.

His worries deepened because he had to act in a way that wouldn’t let Chloe catch on to his dark ulterior motives.

The moment Chloe found out, he wouldn’t even be able to stay by her side under the name of a friend.

Suddenly, deep furrows formed between his handsome brows as he imagined a terrible future. Just as Ian closed his eyes and took a deep breath, there was a knock.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

It was Hugo Alfred, his personal secretary. The reason Ian had looked for Hugo was to instruct him to pick out and send a gift for Bianca Lloyd.

Having lost that purpose now, Ian was about to tell him he could leave, but then he remembered that Hugo had married the daughter of a Baron he had been unrequitedly in love with last year.

Could a chance come for me as well?

The delusion, harboring a long-craved desire, grew rapidly in size. It was partly because the Crown Prince had provoked him.

In his head, the lips of Ian—who had already progressed far beyond a date with Chloe—relaxed softly.

“Young Duke?”

He returned to reality not long after. As much as the delusion had been sweet, reality was bitter, and he even felt a sense of self-loathing.

“Is something the matter?”

Hugo asked worriedly at the unusual sight of his superior. Ian, who wiped the emotions from his face with a dry wash, straightened his back which had been buried in the plush cushions.

“How long did it take for you to win your wife’s heart?”

“Pardon?”

Hugo blinked his eyes wide at the sudden question. The golden eyes facing him were serious. It meant he wasn’t asking as a joke. Then again, Ian MacMilden was a man far removed from jokes.

Then why is he asking that? Hugo was puzzled and anxious, unable to answer easily. It was partly because he had many thoughts, such as whether he should just tell the truth or if there was another answer Ian wanted.

“The period I liked her alone was about seven years. I think it took about two months of actively courting her to win her heart…… but why are you asking……?”

Hugo asked cautiously, watching Ian’s reaction. Fortunately, it seemed to be the answer he wanted, as Ian nodded with satisfaction and followed up with a flustering question.

“How can I win the heart of someone I like?”

* * *

She had been a bit flustered by the word ‘date,’ but that was all. Chloe, who had simply thought she just needed to buy the gift for Bianca and return, realized there was a serious problem right before falling asleep.

“What if I wake up in Bianca Lloyd’s body?”

Tomorrow would be the second day, so the possibility was very high. If she didn’t have plans, she would have casually thought about finding an opportunity to return to her original body, but since she did, she was anxious.

Even if she became Bianca, she could just fulfill a bucket list item and return to her original body, but the problem was not knowing how much time would pass in the meantime. There were no wishes she could fulfill immediately, either.

At least strawberry cake came to mind, but that was also hard to get.

“This is a problem.”

The more she worried, the more sighs came out. The night, spent unable to sleep due to anxiety and concern, grew deeper.

Only at dawn did Chloe fall into a fitful sleep, and as soon as her consciousness rose to the surface, she bolted upright.

“I was just about to wake you, but you’re already up. Good morning, My Lady.”

Dorothy, who was drawing the curtains, offered a morning greeting with a bright smile.

Still intoxicated by sleep, Chloe looked at the maid’s smiling face with vacant eyes and then kneaded her own face. She felt the soft blanket and checked her reflection in the mirror next to the bed. Seeing the blonde woman, a sigh of relief escaped naturally.

“I’m glad I didn’t go back.”

“Pardon? Glad about what?”

“It’s nothing. More importantly, what time is it now?”

Chloe checked the clock on the nightstand. 9:00 AM. The time she promised to meet Ian was 11:00 AM, so she had plenty of time. She thought she could sleep for about 30 more minutes and was about to lie down again when Dorothy took the blanket away.

“Hurry up and get up, My Lady! You have to go on a date with the Young Duke!”

A date. The sleep vanished instantly at the word that felt cringeworthy just to hear. Chloe, who had been half-lying down, sat up again and looked at Dorothy with narrowed eyes.

“Who did you hear it from, that I’m going on a date with Ian?”

She had told Dorothy before bed that she would be going out around 11:00 tomorrow, but that was all. She hadn’t said a word about who she was going with or for what purpose, so how did she know?

“Ah, that is…….”

Dorothy hesitated, visibly flustered. When Chloe soothed her, saying it was okay and she wouldn’t scold her, she finally confessed the truth. She said Mervin, the gardener, had overheard it by chance while tending to the garden.

To think there were eavesdropping ears. Chloe let out a deep sigh and touched her eyelids. Dorothy watched her reaction and asked cautiously.

“Are you…… angry?”

“……No.”

It was her own fault for blabbering without checking her surroundings, so she wasn’t angry. However, it was a bit of a headache to think that the servants would misunderstand like Dorothy did. She was also worried it would reach her parents’ ears, especially the Countess’s.

“What about Mother? Does Mother know about this too?”

“I’m not sure about that…… but she didn’t say anything when she left this morning.”

“Huh? She went out?”

“Yes. She left early this morning, saying she was attending the Pistis.”

Pistis. It was a social gathering hosted by the Empress, a meeting where one would stay at the Empress’s palace for about two days to build a close friendship with her. Since being noticed by the Empress there could even earn one the honor of becoming a dedicated lady-in-waiting, every noble lady wished to attend the Pistis.

But not Countess Elena. Long ago, when the first invitation to the Pistis came, she had politely declined, saying her children were still young and she wanted to focus on caring for her family.

She had heard that once you decline the Pistis, you can never attend again, so Chloe tilted her head at the news that her mother had attended. She didn’t know the reason, but it was a good thing for her since she could escape her mother’s barrage of questions.

“Now, now, hurry and get up, My Lady! You have to get ready for your date!”

At the urging of Dorothy, who still hadn’t shed the misunderstanding, Chloe let out a small sigh and said.

“It’s not a date. We’re just going out together because he asked me to help pick out a friend’s gift, so there’s no need to prepare grandly. I’ll just go out like I usually do.”

“That won’t do! It’s My Lady’s first date, so you must prepare to look prettier than anyone else in the world!”

No matter how many times she said it wasn’t a date and there was no need, Dorothy wouldn’t listen.

“Heavens, it’s already this late! Hurry up and wash, My Lady!”

The moment Dorothy finally pushed Chloe into the bathroom and closed the door, as if they had been waiting, maids entered the bedroom carrying makeup boxes, accessory cases, and a rack full of dresses.

The eyes of the maids, quietly exchanging glances, were as determined as soldiers heading to a battlefield.