IELNDMH - Chapter 18 < The Reason I Couldn't Sleep >
I Ended Up Living Up Next Door With My Ex-Husband
"I didn't know you even knew the butler's name."
At my words, Cedric nodded his head with his eyes slightly lowered. As a result, his hair fell slightly and covered his eyebrows.
"It's a name you can't help but know. Because it is the spirit of a powerful family in the demon world."
"Oh, I heard that story."
Cedric, who had been silent with a subtle expression, slowly parted his lips again.
"It seems like the two of you have become quite close."
I smiled and nodded.
"Adrian is helping me a lot. He is a truly loyal butler."
"..."
"We have already decided to go to the futures trading market in the North Central Market together tomorrow. I want to tour the investment product before it comes out."
"... Just the two of you?"
"Yes. I want to go quietly, but I feel like I might attract attention if I bring a knight with me."
"..."
"Adrian is also a half-blood demon, and in addition, as a member of a demonic noble family, they say he has great magical power and martial arts skills."
Cedric was silent for a while with a thoughtful expression. Inadvertently, he frowned as if he was surprised by the astringent taste as he drank the tea he had brewed.
When I let out a small laugh, he cleared his throat embarrassedly.
"For that reason, I think it would be better if you came with me."
"...You?"
"Yes. Even among mixed-blood demons, few have as much power as me."
"..."
"Even if it's Adrian."
Seeing that he continued his words at length, which was uncharacteristic of Cedric, it seemed like his offer to go with him was sincere. I was troubled for a moment.
Of course, being alone with Cedric wasn't as uncomfortable as before... It was true that the subtle tension I felt every time I was with him still remained. There must be a lot to worry about during the field trip. If I'm going to go and focus, it's probably better to go with Adrian.
It is best to refuse firmly, but with a smile on your face as much as possible. I smiled softly and waved my hand.
"No way. Is it really necessary? That's Okay. You're busy."
".... Of course I'm busy."
"Yes? So, I guess I should just go with Adrian as usual... "
"..."
"So, although it is inconvenient, I have no choice but to adjust the schedule."
Unlike his usual relaxed manner, Cedric quickly interrupted me.
"Why... That much?"
I asked back with an absurd expression, but Cedric quickly got up from his seat as if he hadn't heard me.
"I'd better go back now. It's too late."
It was already midnight when he first offered tea, but Cedric spoke as if the time had suddenly gotten late. He pretended not to notice me looking at him and started walking towards the stairs.
'What, suddenly...?'
At that time, I was staring at Cedric with my eyes closed. He suddenly stopped in front of the stairs going down and turned his head towards me.
"Tomorrow at two o'clock in the afternoon. I'll take you to the Dark Garden."
***
The next afternoon.
I was on my way out to the dark garden, escorted by Adrian. Is it because it is the day I go to the futures trading market?
While walking, I suddenly thought of 'Camilla', the real villainess in the original.
'By the way, Camilla will be back soon... Shouldn't we be prepared for something?'
Camilla Dmitry, my maid, and the original villainess. Like Duke Bold, who was someone I had to keep my distance from.
'It would be difficult if I were caught between two evildoers and ended up bursting to death for no reason.'
While I was thinking hard, I asked Adrian next to me.
"Adrian. Is there any way to fire the Grand Duchess's maid?"
"..."
"...Adrian?"
He had an expression deep in thought.
'For some reason, he seems to have no energy today.'
I gently pulled Adrian's arm.
"Adrian!"
".... Ah yes. Did you call me, Your Highness?"
Adrian, who had barely come to his senses, looked at me and gently rolled the corners of his eyes.
"Is there any way to send my maid away?"
"Ah, If it's a maid.... Do you mean Countess Camilla Dmitry?"
"Huh."
"Why are you saying that? Didn't you have quite a deep interaction with her?"
"... That may have been the case in the past, but not in the future."
I thought of the vicious Camilla and my face hardened slightly.
"Just tell me how to fire someone without a problem."
Then Adrian tilted his head with a troubled expression.
"Actually... The Grand Duchess's maid is also a noblewoman, so it is difficult to dismiss her carelessly."
"..."
"Especially Camilla, isn't she a star in the northern social world? "She's going to make a lot of noise if it's not for the right reasons."
"But what if I really have to fire that woman?"
Adrian was silent for a while with a thoughtful expression on his face. Adrian's lips finally fell, but he still looked unsure.
"If she disobeys His Highness's words or causes great harm to the property of the Twins Grand Duchy, she can be dismissed as an excuse."
"For disobedience..."
"But as you know the odds of a noble lady who is extremely sensitive to being a social media star doing something like that are.... "
"It's very unlikely."
It was grim news. I wanted to distance myself from Camilla as soon as possible, but I couldn't help but sigh when things didn't go my way.
"Firing should be considered difficult in practice."
Adrian continued calmly as if he was handing down a final sentence.
"I don't know if Camilla herself relinquishes her position as maid."
However, Camilla couldn't have done that as she was desperate to take advantage of me, the Grand Duchess, to somehow gain her own advantage.
'But I can't keep that woman by my side, so what do I do..."
Well, if you think hard about it, will you find the answer?
I shook my head and turned back to Adrian.
"But Adrian, what were you thinking that you wouldn't know if I kept calling you earlier?"
When he asked, rubbing his lips, Adrian smiled slightly, touching the back of his head as if he was embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I had trouble sleeping last night... I guess I blacked out for a moment."
"Are you having trouble sleeping? why?"
"Oh, that's...."
"Look at your face."
That's when I grabbed Adrian's arm and pulled him closer. An unfamiliar carriage was seen coming from the entrance to the garden. But at the time, I was so absorbed in looking at Adrian's face.
"..."
Let that I didn't have the time to look at the carriage any further.
"Your, Your Highness...."
"Let me see."
I tried to remove Adrian's hand that was trying to cover his face. Then I grabbed his face with both hands and began to examine him properly. Then Adrian finally gave me his face with a half-given expression. Even the consideration of bending down slightly as if to inspect it comfortably.
As I got a little closer, his gaze continued to look towards the sky.
"I really don't think you slept a wink. It seems like the area under your eyes has darkened slightly."
"Your Highness. Well, this is a little.... I'm embarrassed."
I could see redness slowly rising on the back of Adrian's neck. Eventually, even his ears turned red, and for some reason, a sense of playfulness arose. After letting go of Adrian, I glanced at him suspiciously and walked back toward the dark garden.
"Why... Do you see it that way, Your Highness?"
"What on earth did you do last night that kept you awake? Why are the areas under your eyes puffy again?"
"Well, that's....!"
Although I meant it as a joke, Adrian looked more embarrassed than I expected.
'Could it be that he met a lover?'
Of all the love stories, the most interesting ones were other people's love stories.
The corners of my mouth slightly turned up, and I felt like I had discovered something unexpected and fun.
"Actually, last night... I couldn't sleep because I was so excited."
Adrian spoke quietly as if he was reciting.
Ohh? As expected, I was right. It was a time when I kept walking, waiting for Adrian's love story to continue.
When I looked casually, I saw the unfamiliar carriage from before stopping nearby.
'It looks like a luxury carriage, but it doesn't have the family crest engraved on it.
Is this a merchant's carriage that has come to deliver expensive goods?'
It was a time when the distance from the carriage was gradually getting closer. Adrian, who was walking next to me, suddenly stopped.
"Your Highness. The reason I couldn't sleep last night..."
Adrian seemed determined to continue his sentence, but he still moved his lips a few times. It was a time when I thought that Adrian's face looked somehow depressed.
"The reason is, I was excited about the fact that I could go out into the city alone with Your Highness today ."
"....?"
"I thought it would be really fun to be with Your Highness."
The playfulness that had always been on my face slowly faded away. Whether voluntarily or unwillingly, I was the one who canceled my plan to go out with Adrian.
'I thought Adrian would actually like it because he didn't have to go out to work with his superiors.'
Who knew he would be so looking forward to going out with me?
Well, he was someone I had shown a crush on since the first time I met him.
With a secret feeling of regret rising, I slightly curled my lips and asked. Then Adrian's sweet voice rang softly in my ears once again.
"So it's true that it's disappointing, but... On the other hand, I feel fortunate."
"Which one?"
Adrian, who was looking at me, gently raised the corner of his mouth. He had a subtle face that seemed to have both joy and bitterness.
"Seeing that you are going out together today, it seems that the relationship between Her Highness and His Highness the Grand Duke has been restored to some extent."
"Ah..."
"I'm truly relieved."
The bright afternoon sunlight shone behind Adrian's back as he smiled.
Adrian's smile shined even more gently in the scattered sunlight. It was a moment before I looked up at his beautiful smile. I lightly smiled and patted Adrian's arm.
"Adrian."
"Yes?"
"Next time, Adrian and I, let's go out alone like this."
A faint emotion flashed through Adrian's blue-violet eyes.
"Really....?"
He let out a deep breath and then spoke playfully as if warning.
"Then you must keep this promise. You knew, right?"
After the divorce was announced anyway, it was a promise that would be kept so regularly that Adrian would get bored.
'When I find a new mansion, I plan to take you, Adrian, as a butler to my mansion.'
It was at that time that I continued talking to Adrian with a smile on my face.
"Haha, of course. Maybe you can do it sooner than you think..."
Grumble!
Suddenly, I heard the sound of a window opening behind me. The sound seemed to come from 'the carriage' that was parked behind me.
As I unconsciously turned my head, I first heard a familiar yet attractive bass sound.
"You're having quite an interesting conversation."
A man leaning with his arms raised on the window frame of a carriage in a relaxed manner. It was none other than Cedric. He looked at me and Adrian for a while, as if observing us, with his blue eyes whose true intentions were unknown.
Then, one corner of Cedric's mouth slowly twitched up.
"Did I interrupt you two's fun time?"
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