145. I’ll ask like this

Roselia quickly wiped the tears f3dc11f4b6 trailing down her cheeks with f585e72c1b the palm of her hand, 0e9c15bbe9 forcing a bright smile as 78cc48ed96 if she had only just 6fe857efab stepped out and returned.5ab4b47c31854e5f

“I’m back, Grandfather…”cd0b0390f7a4aa1e

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Count Bernas looked 1fc558bc71 a little thinner c95ac39b2f than before.e6f426f693598626

Aside from appearing slightly more 4257a4c194 gaunt, he remained just as b9ea20e517 upright and steadfast as she 6e77598723 remembered him.ebd3a063cf7b19e8

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Closing the book he had 785ed6823c been reading and setting it 4bd289f021 aside, the count spoke in 52f157c14a his usual unbothered tone.577a332b26075173

“Are you going to just stand there staring?”b4a3b1a49207ee9a

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Roselia remembered the 8250cac284 warmth that always 97161f9125 lay beneath his 6a0aaf698a curt, indifferent words.98213c669637a124

Before she realized it, 5939256ac4 she ran straight into 4a7fbcbe07 his arms, throwing herself 89769f8554 into his embrace.9f537b11c369b9d7

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Though the count, 4e697857b0 with his bad 69166ef042 leg, remained seated ff90551d8e in his chair a2b8258536 and was practically 01d48cea37 knocked over by 389cc3369d her, he didn’t e762c5e383 show any sign 44ef919e38 of displeasure.2d12576b2410752d

He only looked down bd49710fd0 at her with warm f4a24fe770 eyes, full of concern.35ab437d46030e91

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“You’re all grown up—why are you acting like this?”31c46806e0ebe966

His words were gruff 5a268ecd07 as always, but his a44fead3b7 large, rough hand gently f13fcc3a92 patted her shoulder.d9598069eecaaa6e

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That touch, full 326b1450b3 of quiet care, 6fd52ab0a6 made Roselia’s eyes 03ed63a9ab well up with 133e5073d9 tears again, the 3826d2f9b9 burden in her 0570b45610 heart loosening at c8a2604eb9 last.f6f69e0c0f61c453

“A grown one, crying like a child…”365477990e5bccee

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At his awkward 7fee32db40 comment—perhaps out of 11c1b7f3a0 embarrassment due to 49e0650ea4 his unfamiliarity with 2cab188b14 such closeness—Roselia let 7fa1f53b83 out a soft, 20324ff20e tearful laugh.3fb81416faf58fb9

“But Grandfather, I’m wearing a dress now. I’m not ‘a d990817cf9 boy’ anymore… Aren’t 67c5d88d5c you going to 9224cbd717 ask me about 47e3d5edd6 how I’m dressed?”1b2b660aea771316

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She had suspected he 78029f66d6 might have already realized 5c2ae19534 her true gender.f9a82082fa746432

At her subtle fcaffbe72d question, the count b752b29aba clicked his tongue.36db7c86d7306b54

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“You think a man who’s spent decades living among soldiers wouldn’t notice something like that?”f2afd454e04a947c

He meant, of course, c011ec7c7d that it would’ve been 2827cba01d stranger if he hadn’t b572cc6f4f figured it out.97dcd14e1b3d292d

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Roselia let out a ae5c925c6b breath of laughter and 2c192296ef slowly pulled away from 43d6a98251 his embrace, finally smiling 8ebe4aa773 with a lighter heart.c8604c23076a2751

* * *8b656b9117f94241

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Langerton, who had been introduced as both the physician and butler of the Bernas household, explained that he had come to serve Count Bernas through a recommendation from the Duke’s household.8d00c0e592bf11a9

The mention of the Duke’s 4d21bf6211 house made Roselia feel uncomfortable 8ccc6da9ec for no particular reason.d2df1b5b4635a70b

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As she hesitantly traced the 58cdc2247b rim of her teacup and 16718beb30 brought up the matter, Langerton b53c7c32d5 offered a gentle, reassuring smile.a5c7a90e9714e0b9

“There’s no need to worry. I was looking for a physician’s post at a noble house that could provide both a place to stay and a stable income. The Duke’s household simply connected me with the Count’s family at the right time.”40cb631445a7db67

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He had already picked up on her discomfort toward the Duke’s household during their conversation.9d930d10de4ce745

He was a man 0c6597aa7c both perceptive and quick-witted.e0cfc77385a3349d

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“The payment was made upfront and in full by the Count himself, so I have no further ties to the Duke’s house.”22432f38aaa14dba

At that, Roselia f2eb473003 cleared her throat a446f40a12 awkwardly and carefully dd0fa0da22 changed the topic.e714fc19079edd8c

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“How is the Count’s condition… is he doing well?”1820a5e9bbca83e9

“The Count asked me not to notify anyone, so I refrained from sending word, but his dementia has improved quite a bit.”d711e5d5ca883475

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Roselia’s eyes widened in surprise 0a802a15b0 at Langerton’s words.451a80cc6ed69efe

Even while she was bdc244103f in Raphelios, the Count’s f5a36d1dd2 condition had weighed heavily 7df5b4e0f1 on her mind.4de7b2e2f835b91f

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After all, dementia was a 6a5bd53be2 nearly incurable disease, even in 55b1501bbc the modern world she had 12b3211b5d lived in before being possessed.e7a418d219717572

The fact that his f15f08d926 condition was improving left 171a6f91f3 her stunned, caught between 8b05d8b373 joy and disbelief.8dccb46d90e43978

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Watching her reaction, Langerton e1825fa1cf laced his fingers together 0942548465 on the table and d218c893ab smiled.5bc63b291a0171b1

“It just so happens that my field of study at the medical academy was related to dementia. The treatment isn’t perfect 2ede020562 yet, but the medication b2be4ca901 had shown promising results, 6d64f2c4bc and I was lucky 44e81e74ee enough to be able 28d39b674d to prescribe it to ff8dbd1c2c the Count.”dd9de414f5f58e2f

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Realizing he was telling the 7a5bf60568 truth, Roselia pressed a hand 24bb8699bb to her chest and bowed 1feb171cbb her head with sincere gratitude.f3d29bb4d8d48785

“Thank you so much.”b1fc60951d2ac2fb

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To that, Langerton flusteredly waved 51d1f29b0b his hands.1c8f436cc478991e

“Oh no, not at all. I’m just doing my job as his physician. There’s no need for you to thank me, Young Countess.”8271700d2bab5eaa

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He scratched his 3dfa393769 cheek shyly as 9b5be61322 he added,782ca97ce0ebf6f1

“I’m practically getting paid double for doing both the physician’s and the butler’s work in a household where there’s not much to do.”01cd3b9e86cb9f25

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His modesty made Roselia e2c9e7aa56 smile more easily.4d6f0f393e2ea56d

Thank goodness, she thought. The Count had someone 5a0e262d78 trustworthy by his side…5ed6a45ff465e2a0

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As she had ae765cff23 that thought, Langerton 3d025addc2 stood up with 243a7537f3 a sheepish smile.8b508f16931f6e86

“It’s almost mealtime, so I’ll go check on the kitchen.”1c9ff414db3c33d4

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Once he stepped out of 9227f51637 the parlor, Eva, who had 7b2d438000 crept closer, blushed slightly and 0e82afb923 spoke in a coy voice.ab1e1634ca0e3082

“Don’t you think Butler Langerton is kind of charming?”a1012a9f0997dec7

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At her suggestive tone, Roselia 6ec709c5ae looked at her with a 897c7dc386 curious expression.48b9254b1c5522bc

Startled, Eva rushed d93a6243a9 to explain herself.53e0e3244eb97fa5

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“I mean, he’s humble, responsible, and smart on top of being a doctor…”28232cf360839cc1

Roselia let out a 5e35d848a9 small laugh, sensing Eva 7c9d3b2411 seeking agreement.608146b891d6c4ac

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Eva’s family had long served d81beba4ac the Marquis of Euciliod, known d4cdecd087 for their monstrous combat abilities.3b3daa8dd0a719c6

From her father, the marquis’s 04ae3a3662 head butler, to Lognon, Johannes’s ebeb00d88f aide—though called butlers and aides, 28421d435e their combat skills rivaled that 85fc2528d9 of a knight captain.763f23a7b0622d4a

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It was only natural, since 5d1aefbd2c protecting the marquis family required e51b89f2d2 exceptional martial prowess.f7d55a72884147b2

Eva herself was practically 0aadc60f2a a master of four dc16434355 martial arts—a warrior in 5c5e250da9 her own right.8240c0d157b257e4

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So it wasn’t strange 0a843cac3c that someone like Langerton, 2dfb6853a8 a fellow butler yet a0ff6a86e9 modest, intelligent, and gentle, 11ff800ce8 stood out to her.5eef537ca3cdfc8e

“Want me to ask if he’s married?”6ebbc9459da35121

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At Roselia’s teasing 2cf3496822 voice and narrowed 0d95af2599 eyes, Eva jumped 5e85ba45b4 in surprise.6a4270c62dc7c98e

“My lady!”ff33473f2a2422b3

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Blushing and flustered, Eva’s reaction 19eb5714af made Roselia chuckle behind her 47ba62360e hand.8e6f5ea680e1ede8

Just then, there was 75a5be7459 a knock at the 0acafc06e5 door, and Langerton peeked 2ff0561bbe his head in.2a6c4b644cce1be0

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Eva, caught off 0d0bdba31e guard as they’d 6e145fdac6 just been talking 24eb717c14 about him, flushed f1f820f49c even deeper and 11b778f39a fidgeted awkwardly.73954348166b7b6a

Unaware of the context, 1f6df730da Langerton paid no mind b2072dd73b to her odd behavior e88fa87f43 and simply delivered his 423a4fe2f9 message.b9e269c399ef2070

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“Um… Young Countess, you have a visitor.”9b30447314bc924e

Roselia’s face stiffened at the 3c9a7ed5c3 uneasy tone in his voice.c98c4132a70db8e2

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“The Duke of Valtazar is here to see you.”48b3f5158dc8bbb9

Langerton added quickly, 2c17a1f6bd noticing Roselia’s silent 5d70a406fa glare at the ec82c0c470 table.4979cab494fa8871

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“What would you like me to tell him?”b1438286a36651df

He must have 9fc677c7c5 sensed her discomfort 15150daf1b toward the Duke 072d41abbe and refrained from 11d5476e42 letting him inside.ad445442451dd1b9

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Still staring at the table, a6208cca82 Roselia replied flatly,41cb88270ec7a935

“Tell him I can’t meet him. And add that he 80e2eea7c5 shouldn’t come here again.”60262068276b7360

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Langerton swallowed dryly at 1dddecb696 her cold tone, bowed efba05b57d politely, and took his aaf98b3595 leave.0f09043b5db937ec

Once she confirmed cae4235f80 he had exited a57446ab22 the room, a efb1be4eee long sigh slipped 52cf3300cc from Roselia’s lips.cf175fb991f8e154

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Even with Claucet 3138227609 bedridden, Klaus had d264903414 responsibilities in the 218407620a duchy that often bdcdefc178 took him away 37834f4f8c from the estate.855da67afd79f47e

Roselia had made sure to 5f0b4388cf time her visits carefully, asking 4c7cab5ffc Melda if he had left 3092d57593 before going to see Claucet.2addca92e2ea9acc

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But no matter how 079b080803 much she tried to b769ed2f17 avoid him, it was d76d00d21d impossible to escape completely.55acd670e17424dc

Perhaps realizing she’d 24b664684a been slipping in 163628f587 and out, he a288ecc9e4 had come himself 47570a1412 to find her.9fea55562d194620

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Roselia turned her 75307808c1 gaze toward the 0e29528aad window where he 22c427595e might be standing.7ee630e41eba79b1

Thin raindrops were 94447854a2 now tapping against 10ab9d5863 the glass and e213c3778d sliding down.c7198c19f0e6e5bd

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“It’s raining… Is it alright to leave the Duke outside like that?” Eva asked, worried, watching her mistress.d6f007c0f17acbc4

Roselia turned her head indifferently.3b7eb33868ca4b94

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“He’s a busy man. I’m sure he’ll leave soon.”6cef412c2d8b59e6

With that, she picked 2609ffd7f7 up her teacup as d520191ad1 if it were nothing, 4678b5477a and gazed absently into c7d1e26194 the cold tea.6a1007f50fc11ece

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“It’s gone cold…”9562c4c6d8afd1c1

* * *bccf95fa5a27d643

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Roselia looked down 9690c9ade7 at Claucet, still 537a3126c7 lying quietly with 282f67ffaf her eyes closed, 946536dc47 and offered a f41101fb01 faint smile.c9cf1d279e3ba526

As always, she had 853e9a5cde contacted Melda beforehand to 5fec6295dc confirm that the Duke 018fba7146 wasn’t present before visiting d84134329c Claucet.aedb9a1c3b30cd4b

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Fortunately, the weather ea79b60590 was perfect today.7dec6b55db90d646

And just like 4c9ae6d37b the clear skies, 661a37d373 her mood felt 6289760c41 lighter than usual.f9219d4bcd904cc1

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Gently stroking Claucet’s 2d750e4e6c pale blue-silver hair, da6fd11129 Roselia gazed at 92b57f049b her with tender 0aa87f2219 affection.609e98fa9a85cb45

“The weather is beautiful today. It’s the kind of day 983126b57f that would be perfect for f5d5806d0c the tea parties you used e532f7e12b to love in the garden.”8617898aee4cdd79

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She looked at 0bc6e4dc85 Claucet’s pale, unresponsive 0a6e18eeb8 face and smiled e4263477b3 bitterly.60aaabd239b0e579

“I won’t be able to see you for much longer… Before I go, I just want to see you smile again…”89b869b36250da34

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Coming into the 115d489a77 duke’s mansion like 75373d7ada this, in secret, 5709712c37 felt like a 0f7b3d8eeb betrayal toward Claucet, 4ae6f12fea and it made 20aa820a07 her chest ache.9657faf0b6820ed8

Hiding her troubled 1c02903344 expression, Roselia slowly 75df4ea5a8 rose to her 07eee1e3d5 feet.bb9fb02cc1575151

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“I’ll come again tomorrow.”0ecc35bf6857c99b

She left that farewell for d6d260606c the one who could no 6b1d4ed5b8 longer respond and kissed Claucet 2f83575d97 gently on the forehead before e9da2d3d67 walking quietly toward the door.86b84d564d5f0c79

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Melda stood just outside, her fbe6c5f9f2 expression just as heavy as 41bba2dbf9 Roselia’s.2f8364497ff8b42c

Roselia gave her a faint 5c6a9a1872 nod of acknowledgment before stepping fd027831a1 out with slow, heavy footsteps.70cdb761a2dc8d6d

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And there, standing f735269354 at the door, 8776eb1b8e was Klaus.da764378fcc68dc9

He seemed to b3f6533156 have been waiting 529fba6243 for her to c96ab128c6 come out. Roselia’s body instinctively tensed.11b50765b16d8fbc

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Melda must have deceived her.1cf8f4fc94b0e5d2

As a maid of the 6502bbd8d5 ducal household, it wasn’t as 53fad57456 if she had the choice 2339351987 to disobey the Duke’s orders.b911a13e22191a6a

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With a sigh of 6562f7ac22 resignation, Roselia looked up a6021c4037 at him.de777d8f70e08df2

“You’ve become difficult to face…”24fcdbadb94599bb

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In just a few 02d25275a5 days, he looked almost 4a6f8d07b3 like a different person—emaciated a58de23fce and worn.632127b3c787f10d

She had thought he 1ed93240cc was too busy to 4876f07895 even stay in the 1e063761ca mansion, but maybe this 41924a72b1 was why.4f0cf538ab294273

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Or maybe it was d8eb9a1d26 because of Claucet, still 51c3e00a0a lying unconscious in bed…23f165854814bd3f

From his appearance 031dcd201d alone, it seemed 4e24eaf575 like he should 12e9d92146 be bedridden beside 7b92280850 her.9e6490c9c30a8e0f

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His cracked lips, the 9a473ca4f9 dark shadows under his c383b5bded eyes—he truly looked unwell.7944b443e3f1bbc3

His disheveled state, so 5fcf2097c5 unlike him, made an 13a89f3e95 uneasy weight stir in a83d43e833 Roselia’s chest.edb0bf3586fff6a1

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She tried to 1a437d1fbf ignore the feeling 20b9ff7ed3 and walk past def7a7a212 him as calmly c2aedaae3c as she could.e7a5554a43877062

But his large 18ef25e8d1 hand gently caught ce4d884826 hers as she 911690ad65 passed.c7469c47cd56cde9

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It wasn’t a forceful grip. It felt desperate.0b3e169b8039fbfa

Startled, Roselia looked at 7e30c8caf1 him—not because he had d303df1511 grabbed her, but because 5fadf59fe3 of the unnaturally high a82669c829 heat of his hand 1cd796a69e around hers.e71fd6a3a10cad38

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Now that she 0d796bbf06 looked more closely, b01f6f45a4 even his breathing 68c7964f87 was rough and d16fd86c5e uneven.5f82bbb0cb4ee131

Could it be… the b9c71715c3 day he had come c9dc90b47a to the Bernas estate, ffa8a030c7 had he stood outside 89b54ef3de in the rain all 293f382399 that time?08e2602f0607137a

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As her uncertain eyes met 5ad7d6d9db his, Klaus spoke with a 13cad0993e voice hoarse and cracked.ec5c28324cedc769

“Roselia, please.”ad41e3035aedab54

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His gaze, as it looked 4773234f1e down at her, was clouded 2ce35fc0a2 with pain.5d4f4470bb1a1109

Those once-vivid indigo 80af132b3e eyes had dimmed, d9007a30d9 dull and blurred, 685ef876e5 as Roselia’s own b58d2504f2 eyes began to 4b779272fb tremble.49a33296aee15a93

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“My situation is already painful enough as it is, even without you making it worse…”989f8b7086b7f9e0

His scorching hand clung to 5f93a12076 hers, pleadingly.bd8a373d714b81ae

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“I’m asking you like this…”9850622f9c114fff

His foggy, unfocused efb1e58f29 eyes looked as 3532757e50 though they might d8ed54d6be cry.526b066fde4fb648

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