You like me.
I looked at Perdes, taken aback by the sudden confession.
Perdes also looked obviously embarrassed.
When his eyes met mine, he looked startled and lowered his head.
His earlobes, briefly revealed as his hair swayed, were redder than a ripe tomato.
An awkward silence flowed through the room.
Not only Perdes, but I also kept my mouth shut and remained silent, not knowing what to say or how to say it.
How much time has passed like that?
The first person to break the silence was, unexpectedly, Perdes.
“Me too. I was momentarily drunk and started talking nonsense.”
“...Is that so?”
“Yeah. Oh, of course, it’s not complete nonsense. I indeed like Young Lady.”
He muttered as he spoke, with an awkward smile on his face that anyone could tell was there.
“Yeah. I like you. As a woman, Young Lady... No, that’s not what I wanted to say. What kind of nonsense do I keep talking about?”
“...”
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s all because of the medicine. The reason I like Young Lady is... Ah.”
Perdes, who had been flustered and talking alone, seemed to have something wrong, so he frowned and tightly grabbed the blanket.
The tendons at the corners of his tightly closed lips stood out.
He glared at me with fierce eyes as if there was an enemy in the air, then quickly turned his head away with a long sigh.
“I really think I’m going crazy because of the medication... I need to rest.”
So it meant to ask me to leave.
I thought it would be a good idea for me to do the same, so I went out without saying anything.
But that was all, I couldn't go far and leaned against his tightly closed door, mulling over Perdes' confession.
Perdes said it was nonsense, that he was out of his mind from drugs... but that couldn’t be true.
From what I've seen so far, he's not the type of person to play around with people's emotions.
And the look in his eyes the moment he confessed was sincere.
...He really likes me.
As a woman, not as a colleague, not as a friend, not as anything like that...
"Ha."
A sigh rose from deep within me.
As I had repeated the same life many times, this was not the first time I had been confessed to by the opposite sex.
I've received confessions more heartbreaking than this one, and I've also received proposals that are more extravagant than anything else in the world.
But he was the first person to confess so sincerely as Perdes.
Everyone had a dark intention inside them and threw sweet words at me, but Perdes was not like that.
For a moment, he showed me his unvarnished sincerity.
It was such a nice feeling to have someone who truly liked me.
It was something I should have liked, but I couldn't.
Rather, his sincerity weighed heavily on my heart and made me feel uncomfortable.
It can't be helped.
In my current situation, the feeling of love was more unnecessary and luxurious than anything else.
It was not an emotion I could handle.
Fortunately, Perdes dismissed his confession as nonsense and pretended not to know.
I should pretend I don't know.
Only then could I be free from the burden that had been weighing heavily on my chest?
Yeah, that's what happens.
I was taking a deep breath to calm my pounding heart when I felt someone.
"Miss?"
It was Sir Aldor who went to see the senator off.
I stood up from where I was leaning against the door and looked at Sir Aldor, who was approaching me with a slightly worried expression on his face.
“Your complexion is gloomy... Where does it hurt?”
“No, it’s okay.”
Since I couldn't say that to him because Perdes confessed to me, I changed the subject.
“You came back quite late. Did something happen while you were seeing the doctor off?”
“No, nothing happened, but I was a little late because I had to ask the doctor a few questions.”
“What did you ask?”
“It’s about Perdes.”
Perdes.
Maybe it was because of what happened earlier, but just hearing his name made my heart pound.
“I asked what to do if Mr. Perdes’ paralysis is delayed or if there are other problems. If there is a problem, emergency treatment must be administered immediately.”
"Yes."
I deliberately smiled brighter to hide my surprise.
“I was a little worried because it seemed like Sir Aldor didn’t like Lord Perdes, but now that you're thinking of him like this... It turns out I was worrying for nothing.”
When I spoke in a tone that suggested I was slightly touched, Lord Aldor avoided my gaze as if embarrassed, bowed his head slightly, and made an excuse.
“I’m not worried, but it’s because he’s the fiance of the master I serve. If something happens to Lord Perdes, it’ll be hard for you, young lady.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Anyway, I'm not being honest.
I could forget about Perdes' confession as I laughed at Sir Aldor's cute behavior.
Sir Aldor glanced at the bedroom where Perdes was and asked me.
“Is Mr. Perdes okay?”
“Yes. The paralysis in his body hasn’t fully gone away yet, but he can still speak well.”
Yeah, it's so good it's a problem.
My mind became complicated as I recalled Perdes' confession that I had briefly forgotten.
Seriously, why would you say something like that and stir people's hearts...?
“Are you okay, young lady?”
“Of course I’m fine. Because I didn’t take the medicine.”
“No, I was just asking about the wound on your palm.”
Oh, this.
I spread out my palm and checked the wound.
The bleeding had stopped, but there was a wound shaped like a fingernail.
Sir Aldor frowned at the sight of the wound.
“There shouldn’t be any scars.”
“It'll be okay.”
I've had dozens of wounds like this in my past lives, but never once did I get a scar.
“Would you mind telling me the precautions as well? I think it would be good for me to know them just in case.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Then let’s go to the study and talk. If we talk too long here, it might disturb Lord Perdes while he is resting.”
Adele personally gave up her seat for Perdes, fearing that she would disturb him while he was resting.
“Sigh, I’m going crazy.”
Unfortunately, Perdes was not getting any rest at all.
His mind was filled with the moment when he confessed to Adele.
So he kept thinking about that time when Adele looked at him with such surprise or perplexity, and it made him feel like he was going crazy.
“I didn’t intend to confess...”
It would be great if love were a two-way street, but he knows that's impossible, so he keeps it to himself.
Perdes vowed to himself that he would keep it tightly buried and never take it out until the day he left Adele's side.
But without realizing it, he ended up telling the truth.
Was he really drunk on drugs?
Even if he's drunk, there are things he can and can't say, so how can he say something like that?
“Even if you’re crazy, it’s not ordinary crazy.”
Perdes groaned and tossed and turned.
Because he was paralyzed, it was extremely difficult for him to even move his body.
He felt suffocated as if there were a thousand rocks inside him.
He feels like screaming like a madman would relieve some of his frustration, but he can't do that because he's afraid someone might hear.
Instead, he wanted to bang his pillow or toss his head around, but this was impossible because the paralysis hadn't fully gone away yet.
Because of that, all Perdes could do now was whimper like a puppy in need of a bathroom service.
The only silver lining was that Adele dismissed his confession as nothing more than drugged ramblings.
...But is it right to consider this a blessing?
"Ha."
At the sudden question, Perdes laughed in vain and buried his face deep in the pillow.
He felt so miserable that he had to consider this a blessing.
After keeping in mind the precautions that Sir Aldor had given.
I took care of the things I couldn't do because Perdes suddenly collapsed.
First, I called over the butler and the head maid in charge of Duke Leopold's residence in the capital and exchanged brief greetings.
I carefully reported to the mansion and its servants what we needed or lacked.
All this work was done in my study, not in my office, for I had no study in the Duke's residence in the capital.
Of course, my father had an office.
To be exact, it was Duke Leopold's office.
Now, I was the only blood relative of Duke Leopold and was acting as the Duke's representative, so it was okay for me to use the Duke's office.
But I didn't use it because there were too many things related to my father there.
I sealed the office for now so that if I go in there without thinking, I might get lost in longing and not be able to do what I need to do.
Of course, I had no intention of keeping it sealed forever.
First, I need to take care of urgent matters, and then slowly organize my office.
While organizing, I also looked for any clues about the Duke's basement that might be there.
“I guess I should put this plan into action first...”
I looked down at the box in front of me and thought deeply.
It was my luggage that I had left with Leo before going to the palace.
This box contained part of my grand plan to overthrow the Emperor.
It was only a small part, but it was more important than anything else.
Because this was the real beginning of the plan.
There's an old saying that says, "Well begun is half the work."
So I was worried and couldn't easily decide when, where, and to whom I should blow it up, but today's incident has decided the answer.
“...”
Suddenly, I remembered that Perdes had taken the medicine for me, and I gritted my teeth.
“This is what you sow.”
It's the price they pay for daring to touch my people, so I don't think they'll feel wronged.
I asked the butler to bring me some fine letter paper and a pen.
After a while, he brought me what I asked for and I wrote the letter without hesitation.
The recipient is Prince Philos.
It was finally time to raise the curtain on the long-awaited play.
I looked at Perdes, taken aback by the sudden confession.
Perdes also looked obviously embarrassed.
When his eyes met mine, he looked startled and lowered his head.
His earlobes, briefly revealed as his hair swayed, were redder than a ripe tomato.
An awkward silence flowed through the room.
Not only Perdes, but I also kept my mouth shut and remained silent, not knowing what to say or how to say it.
How much time has passed like that?
The first person to break the silence was, unexpectedly, Perdes.
“Me too. I was momentarily drunk and started talking nonsense.”
“...Is that so?”
“Yeah. Oh, of course, it’s not complete nonsense. I indeed like Young Lady.”
He muttered as he spoke, with an awkward smile on his face that anyone could tell was there.
“Yeah. I like you. As a woman, Young Lady... No, that’s not what I wanted to say. What kind of nonsense do I keep talking about?”
“...”
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s all because of the medicine. The reason I like Young Lady is... Ah.”
Perdes, who had been flustered and talking alone, seemed to have something wrong, so he frowned and tightly grabbed the blanket.
The tendons at the corners of his tightly closed lips stood out.
He glared at me with fierce eyes as if there was an enemy in the air, then quickly turned his head away with a long sigh.
“I really think I’m going crazy because of the medication... I need to rest.”
So it meant to ask me to leave.
I thought it would be a good idea for me to do the same, so I went out without saying anything.
But that was all, I couldn't go far and leaned against his tightly closed door, mulling over Perdes' confession.
Perdes said it was nonsense, that he was out of his mind from drugs... but that couldn’t be true.
From what I've seen so far, he's not the type of person to play around with people's emotions.
And the look in his eyes the moment he confessed was sincere.
...He really likes me.
As a woman, not as a colleague, not as a friend, not as anything like that...
"Ha."
A sigh rose from deep within me.
As I had repeated the same life many times, this was not the first time I had been confessed to by the opposite sex.
I've received confessions more heartbreaking than this one, and I've also received proposals that are more extravagant than anything else in the world.
But he was the first person to confess so sincerely as Perdes.
Everyone had a dark intention inside them and threw sweet words at me, but Perdes was not like that.
For a moment, he showed me his unvarnished sincerity.
It was such a nice feeling to have someone who truly liked me.
It was something I should have liked, but I couldn't.
Rather, his sincerity weighed heavily on my heart and made me feel uncomfortable.
It can't be helped.
In my current situation, the feeling of love was more unnecessary and luxurious than anything else.
It was not an emotion I could handle.
Fortunately, Perdes dismissed his confession as nonsense and pretended not to know.
I should pretend I don't know.
Only then could I be free from the burden that had been weighing heavily on my chest?
Yeah, that's what happens.
I was taking a deep breath to calm my pounding heart when I felt someone.
"Miss?"
It was Sir Aldor who went to see the senator off.
I stood up from where I was leaning against the door and looked at Sir Aldor, who was approaching me with a slightly worried expression on his face.
“Your complexion is gloomy... Where does it hurt?”
“No, it’s okay.”
Since I couldn't say that to him because Perdes confessed to me, I changed the subject.
“You came back quite late. Did something happen while you were seeing the doctor off?”
“No, nothing happened, but I was a little late because I had to ask the doctor a few questions.”
“What did you ask?”
“It’s about Perdes.”
Perdes.
Maybe it was because of what happened earlier, but just hearing his name made my heart pound.
“I asked what to do if Mr. Perdes’ paralysis is delayed or if there are other problems. If there is a problem, emergency treatment must be administered immediately.”
"Yes."
I deliberately smiled brighter to hide my surprise.
“I was a little worried because it seemed like Sir Aldor didn’t like Lord Perdes, but now that you're thinking of him like this... It turns out I was worrying for nothing.”
When I spoke in a tone that suggested I was slightly touched, Lord Aldor avoided my gaze as if embarrassed, bowed his head slightly, and made an excuse.
“I’m not worried, but it’s because he’s the fiance of the master I serve. If something happens to Lord Perdes, it’ll be hard for you, young lady.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Anyway, I'm not being honest.
I could forget about Perdes' confession as I laughed at Sir Aldor's cute behavior.
Sir Aldor glanced at the bedroom where Perdes was and asked me.
“Is Mr. Perdes okay?”
“Yes. The paralysis in his body hasn’t fully gone away yet, but he can still speak well.”
Yeah, it's so good it's a problem.
My mind became complicated as I recalled Perdes' confession that I had briefly forgotten.
Seriously, why would you say something like that and stir people's hearts...?
“Are you okay, young lady?”
“Of course I’m fine. Because I didn’t take the medicine.”
“No, I was just asking about the wound on your palm.”
Oh, this.
I spread out my palm and checked the wound.
The bleeding had stopped, but there was a wound shaped like a fingernail.
Sir Aldor frowned at the sight of the wound.
“There shouldn’t be any scars.”
“It'll be okay.”
I've had dozens of wounds like this in my past lives, but never once did I get a scar.
“Would you mind telling me the precautions as well? I think it would be good for me to know them just in case.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Then let’s go to the study and talk. If we talk too long here, it might disturb Lord Perdes while he is resting.”
***
Adele personally gave up her seat for Perdes, fearing that she would disturb him while he was resting.
“Sigh, I’m going crazy.”
Unfortunately, Perdes was not getting any rest at all.
His mind was filled with the moment when he confessed to Adele.
So he kept thinking about that time when Adele looked at him with such surprise or perplexity, and it made him feel like he was going crazy.
“I didn’t intend to confess...”
It would be great if love were a two-way street, but he knows that's impossible, so he keeps it to himself.
Perdes vowed to himself that he would keep it tightly buried and never take it out until the day he left Adele's side.
But without realizing it, he ended up telling the truth.
Was he really drunk on drugs?
Even if he's drunk, there are things he can and can't say, so how can he say something like that?
“Even if you’re crazy, it’s not ordinary crazy.”
Perdes groaned and tossed and turned.
Because he was paralyzed, it was extremely difficult for him to even move his body.
He felt suffocated as if there were a thousand rocks inside him.
He feels like screaming like a madman would relieve some of his frustration, but he can't do that because he's afraid someone might hear.
Instead, he wanted to bang his pillow or toss his head around, but this was impossible because the paralysis hadn't fully gone away yet.
Because of that, all Perdes could do now was whimper like a puppy in need of a bathroom service.
The only silver lining was that Adele dismissed his confession as nothing more than drugged ramblings.
...But is it right to consider this a blessing?
"Ha."
At the sudden question, Perdes laughed in vain and buried his face deep in the pillow.
He felt so miserable that he had to consider this a blessing.
***
After keeping in mind the precautions that Sir Aldor had given.
I took care of the things I couldn't do because Perdes suddenly collapsed.
First, I called over the butler and the head maid in charge of Duke Leopold's residence in the capital and exchanged brief greetings.
I carefully reported to the mansion and its servants what we needed or lacked.
All this work was done in my study, not in my office, for I had no study in the Duke's residence in the capital.
Of course, my father had an office.
To be exact, it was Duke Leopold's office.
Now, I was the only blood relative of Duke Leopold and was acting as the Duke's representative, so it was okay for me to use the Duke's office.
But I didn't use it because there were too many things related to my father there.
I sealed the office for now so that if I go in there without thinking, I might get lost in longing and not be able to do what I need to do.
Of course, I had no intention of keeping it sealed forever.
First, I need to take care of urgent matters, and then slowly organize my office.
While organizing, I also looked for any clues about the Duke's basement that might be there.
“I guess I should put this plan into action first...”
I looked down at the box in front of me and thought deeply.
It was my luggage that I had left with Leo before going to the palace.
This box contained part of my grand plan to overthrow the Emperor.
It was only a small part, but it was more important than anything else.
Because this was the real beginning of the plan.
There's an old saying that says, "Well begun is half the work."
So I was worried and couldn't easily decide when, where, and to whom I should blow it up, but today's incident has decided the answer.
“...”
Suddenly, I remembered that Perdes had taken the medicine for me, and I gritted my teeth.
“This is what you sow.”
It's the price they pay for daring to touch my people, so I don't think they'll feel wronged.
I asked the butler to bring me some fine letter paper and a pen.
After a while, he brought me what I asked for and I wrote the letter without hesitation.
The recipient is Prince Philos.
It was finally time to raise the curtain on the long-awaited play.
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