Chapter 3.20
“Hmm.”
If Caitlyn was speaking to this extent, it was likely something she had seen in a prophecy. Thus, Roxias, who couldn’t particularly refute her, subtly changed the subject.
“I’m just going to call a doctor.”
“Doctors can’t do anything.”
Caitlyn began to laugh again.
“It’s funny, isn’t it? That people who get paid so much money, people who have learned so much…… actually don’t know how to do anything.”
“…….”
For the first time, Roxias regretted storming into the Hardick mansion without a single attendant. He should have cut off the nonsense of a sick woman from the start. To think he was struggling because of one woman when he should have called a doctor a long time ago.
“……Roxias.”
“What.”
“Roxias…… your name is really beautiful.”
“…….”
“You know, Roxias. I don’t hate everything about you. It’s j-just…….”
Caitlyn muttered.
“……I just feel pathetic when I don’t hate you.”
Those were the last words she spoke before falling into a deep sleep. Roxias could not leave that spot for quite a while. Though his mind knew he had to go fetch a doctor, the only reason he couldn’t move his feet and just stood there looking down at her was one: because Cassandra…… had never once said anything even remotely like that to him.
* * *
“Ugh, uuu…….”
Caitlyn woke up from her sleep with a groan. Her whole body was drenched in sweat. It seemed that being dragged away and getting slapped twice for no reason wasn’t very good for one’s health.
‘……I don’t think it’s serious enough to call a doctor.’
Caitlyn barely managed to pick herself up and looked around. It was her own, very ordinary room that she always saw. Except…… for the fact that Roxias Akbar was there, nodding off. Caitlyn blinked. She couldn’t decide whether to be surprised by the fact that Roxias Akbar was there, or by the fact that he was nodding off.
“……Your Grace.”
Even when she called him cautiously, the Archduke did not open his eyes. Caitlyn swallowed hard. From the look of it, he had come here straight after his talk with Princess Adelheid. To such a man, she…….
‘I can’t remember.’
Her mind went blank, and she couldn’t remember anything. She felt like she had said something earnestly…….
‘Well, I probably asked him to stop Princess Adelheid.’
That was all she had on her mind the whole way here anyway. It would make enough sense if she had asked the suddenly-appearing Archduke Akbar to stop the war. Feeling a bit relieved, Caitlyn slowly approached the Archduke. He must have fallen quite asleep, as he didn’t move an inch even when she drew near.
‘He really is handsome when you look at him like this.’
Even when Caitlyn was most afraid of and resentful toward the Archduke, she could not deny his looks. Her political enemies likely felt the same. She had heard him called the most perfect creature ever crafted by God…… but to think he was actually God himself. Caitlyn chuckled at the irony.
And in that moment, Roxias’s eyes flew open.
Caitlyn gasped. Roxias was too close to her. If either of them moved even a little bit closer, their lips would touch. She tried to scramble backward, but Roxias grabbed her arm. Caitlyn shook her head.
“Your Grace, I…….”
Caitlyn fell silent. Because she didn’t know what to say.
“Keep talking.”
Caitlyn blinked several times. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. Roxias Akbar truly hated it when she spoke. It wasn’t once or twice that she had heard him tell her to shut up or be quiet. But for him to tell her to…… keep talking. She was truly confused whether to take this as a good sign or if it was just one of the whims Roxias always displayed.
“I have nothing to say.”
“What were you trying to say earlier?”
“……That I would be going…….”
“Going where?”
Roxias’s eyes sharpened.
“You go when you’re at my house, but this is your house, so where are you going?”
“That’s…….”
“And you can’t go. Because I’m going to keep holding onto you like this.”
As he spoke, the grip of Roxias’s hand grew even stronger. Caitlyn wanted to pull her arm away, but Roxias continued to refuse to let her go.
“Go with me. Then I’ll let you go.”
“Do you even know where I’m planning to go?”
“Yes.”
Roxias answered firmly.
“You’re going to the doctor.”
“I’m fine now.”
“No.”
Roxias lifted her up in one motion. Caitlyn, suddenly finding herself completely in his arms, struggled and resisted with her feet.
“Put me down, Your Grace!”
“I’ve endured a lot until now. Now it’s time for you to do as I say.”
Roxias strode down the street while holding her. Caitlyn buried herself in his chest and hid her face. She had never done anything like this with a man. She had never criticized couples who displayed affection on the street where everyone could see, but she hadn’t exactly thought it was desirable either. Above all, she had never expected to be the one doing it.
Even the sound of the passing wind felt like the voices of pedestrians whispering about her, so Caitlyn hid her face even more. Though she was exasperated to see that Roxias, whom she glanced up at, had a face that was nothing but confident.
Turning the corner into an alley, Roxias arrived at a clinic and entered the door while holding her. Since there wasn’t even a sign, Caitlyn didn’t even know the place they had entered was a clinic until Roxias opened the door and the smell of medicinal herbs wafted out.
An old man with a severely hunched back came out. He was likely the doctor of this clinic. When he raised his face, Caitlyn’s eyes went wide in surprise. There wasn’t a single unscarred spot on the doctor’s face, which was covered in jagged scars.
“……Your Grace the Archduke.”
“I heard you were in a place like this, but seeing it in person makes it even more unexpected.”
Roxias spoke in a tone that was openly sarcastic.
“Didn’t you always seek out only glamorous and wealthy places? There would still be many places that would take you in even now.”
“How could a sinner do such a thing? I am just lucky to be alive and to have money to live on day by day like this.”
Roxias stared intently at him.
“I have never once thought of you as a sinner.”
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