Chapter 52
My shamelessness finally reached its peak. In the end, this was my real, truly final and ultimate intention, and the conclusion I had reached after several days of agonizing.
Now that the Duke had passed to the next world, the one and only truly formidable threat to Claude and me had disappeared.
Of course, because of the unfortunate event of the former Duke’s death, it seemed the wedding had been postponed for now, but the wall that was the future Duchess still remained.
As for her… I had already decided, in advance and with apologies, to simply turn a blind eye.
Whether I lived out my days as little more than a shadow, or died by Claude’s side, I resolved at last—finally—to stake my life on him and bet everything on this card called ‘Claude’.
They say that even a worthless doll can come to possess a soul if someone loves it long enough. Since he had so selfishly made me his beloved doll, if he were to throw me away now, I even found myself thinking ridiculous things, like that I would become a cursed doll and make him pay for it.
“What if I say no?”
Claude, leaning his head on his temple and looking at me with a slanted gaze, finally spoke, and I was a little disappointed. Was he not even afraid of a curse?
“…Why?”
I replied without losing my brazen attitude. At this point, even my fear had largely faded.
A strange confidence welled up in me. Claude still liked me. He would forgive me this time, too.
And if not?
Well, then I’d end up in the same boat as the previous Duke.
“I’ve lost my trust in you now.”
Hmm, so his feelings haven’t fully cooled yet. If that’s how he wants to pout, I’ll just have to accept it. I have no power here.
“What can I do to make you trust me again?”
“I’m going to take my time and think about it. About how to make sure you never get any foolish ideas about running away from me again. About what I can do to make sure you never see me as a ridiculous and pathetic man.”
As he straightened his posture, the look in Claude’s eyes was like that of a predator, and I felt a shiver run through me. It wasn’t out of fear.
“Isn’t that right? I must have seemed so unreliable that you bolted the moment you got a chance. Like a fool who can’t even protect a single life, just a loser in your eyes.”
Or was it out of fear?
“I suppose you left because it was worth leaving. You abandoned me because I was worth abandoning. The ‘love’ you talk about must only be about that much, too, right?”
Saying so, Claude tapped the armrest of his chair with his fingers, as if deep in thought. I could only hope that motion wasn’t counting down the remainder of my lifespan.
“If you’d even considered my feelings a little, you wouldn’t have dared to run away.”
On the other hand, this was bad. Even that menacing side of him now just seemed cute to me.
Really, I thought I’d never see him again…
But the suggestion that followed was anything but cute.
“Maybe I really should just lock you up somewhere. I never know when my impulsive maid will pull something again.”
His dark expression was unusually serious. Instinctively, the image of the prison and torture devices prepared in the mansion’s basement came to mind.
Would Claude really go that far… Well, there was a chance, but still, imprisonment would be a problem in many ways.
“Your Grace.”
What I needed now was one last plea. It didn’t matter if he ignored me and pretended not to hear. After all, I’m a maid who never gives up.
“Claude.”
At that simple syllable, his broad shoulders trembled.
For some reason, whenever I called his name, he always seemed to weaken.
There’s no other maid in the world as insolent as I am. And there is no other master as soft as Claude.
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