Chapter 43
Having finished getting ready, Sia felt a sense of unfamiliar distance. There was one person who, unlike the others, stayed unusually close to her. Close enough that she could easily reach out and touch her.
“Miss, today you’ll be having your meal in the Master’s private drawing room, not the dining room.”
It was the older sister of the kitten Sia had saved. With a face full of curiosity, like a cat begging for something, she hovered around Sia.
“Um… Is that so?”
Sia didn’t know why it was suddenly changed to the private drawing room, but as long as the food was delicious and filling, it didn’t matter where she ate.
“Alright, I’ll go.”
Sia naturally tried to go on her own. Though the maids helped her get ready, when it came to moving, they always kept their distance, as if they were strangers.
“Uh…”
But then, suddenly, a hand caught her, and Sia had no choice but to stop. The kitten’s older sister, Marie, was trembling, but held onto Sia’s sleeve tightly.
“Why? Is there something you want to say?”
“…Once again, thank you so much for saving my little brother. The local physician said that if I’d been just a little later, it could’ve been really bad.”
“Oh dear… There really was a lot of water, wasn’t there? Is he alright now?”
“Yes, yesterday he wouldn’t even come out from under the blankets, but this morning he was perfectly fine!”
“Really, I’m so glad.”
“…It’s all thanks to you, Miss.”
Marie, the kitten’s older sister, glanced up and looked straight at Sia’s face. As she thought, she hadn’t been mistaken earlier. This person’s pupils were round, unlike her own. Finding it cute, Marie tightened her grip a bit on Sia’s sleeve and continued.
“I’ll escort you to the private drawing room, Miss.”
She couldn’t distance herself from her benefactor just because of her black hair. The warmth in Sia’s round, black eyes was just too much.
Sia saw that the faces of the other maids nearby had turned pale at Marie’s words. Worried that Marie might end up ostracized as well, Sia tried to refuse.
“…There’s really no need for that.”
“No, please allow me.”
I mean, I know the way, too… But why does she look so serious? Was it really such a big decision to be the one to guide me?
Before Sia could say anything more, Marie set off ahead. Since the door was already open and Marie was waiting, Sia had no choice but to follow along behind.
Arriving at the Duke’s private drawing room, Marie politely knocked on Sia’s behalf.
“Miss Sia has arrived.”
Sia found herself feeling grateful to the maids who usually let her walk alone. She hadn’t realized until now how embarrassing it was to have someone attending to her. Sia hurried to put some distance between herself and Marie.
Cedric, who had been waiting inside, opened the door with a slightly surprised expression. Marie held the door, waiting for Sia to pass, and Nox, watching the scene from inside, felt something indescribable.
When Marie noticed Nox, she silently bowed deeply. She didn’t say anything, but he understood it as a sign of gratitude for what had happened yesterday.
He had been feeling strange since earlier, taking slow, deep breaths. For some reason, his throat felt tight. Sia was passing Marie and entering the room. Nox, turning his gaze to her naturally, thought that all of this was thanks to her.
He had been shunned by others first, but he had never thought to reach out to them, either. Sia, with the same black hair, accepted it all so easily.
He felt so proud of her that it was almost unbearable. He wished he could be the only one to know about Sia’s charms.
“Why did the location change all of a sudden?”
The desire stirring in his chest settled at the sound of her puzzled voice.
Before Sia arrived, Nox had agonized over whether or not to tell her about the oracle. Ordinarily, he should have told her the truth and taken her to the Imperial Palace. But he just couldn’t bring himself to do it.
What if, by some mistake, Sia was taken away by another male?
He had only just found a place where he could breathe. The mere thought of losing it made his throat tighten.
Nox slowly shifted his gaze, looking deeply into Sia’s eyes standing before him. In the black irises tinged with red, the perfectly round pupils stood out even more. Nox, who was staring intently at those slightly dilated pupils, slowly stood up and pulled out the chair for her, answering at last.
“…I just wanted to dine with you. Alone.”
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