Etienne was moved to the Duke's bedroom at the mansion and began receiving intensive treatment. Lacking the strength to even move a finger, he simply repeated the cycle of taking medicine and falling asleep.
Because his condition was so bad, not only the Bernhard family's physician but also Zero, the doctor sent by Raul, were taking care of the Duke's wounds.
“How is he?”
"...Since he is a strong person, he will overcome this soon."
Zero felt the Duke's pulse and wore a serious expression.
"His heart is not in good condition."
"His Excellency has been taking medication for heart pain for a long time."
"Medicine relieves pain, but it cannot be a fundamental cure."
Zero, who had gotten up from his seat, said he would make medicine using the recipe from the book he had brought from the East.
"The most important thing is for the patient to put their mind at ease."
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Viscount Conrad repeatedly nodded at the advice conveyed by the foreign physician. It seemed he would do anything if only the Duke could recover.
One morning, the Duke, who had been confined to his bed for over a month, opened his eyes. Although the wounds on his shoulder and side had healed, he found it difficult to get up because he hadn't moved for a long time.
"C-Cedric."
When he called the Viscount in a hoarse voice, Cedric, who had been dozing off in his chair, lifted his head.
"Your Excellency! Are you coming to your senses!"
Cedric's voice trembled slightly wondering how long it had been since he had spoken to the Duke. He had been so anxious, fearing that something terrible might happen to the Duke this time.
As soon as the Duke opened his eyes, he looked like he was looking for someone.
"Cedric, where is she?"
"Your Excellency, please calm down for now. I have instructed you to strictly refrain from any activities that put a strain on your heart."
Ignoring Cedric's words, Etienne threw back the covers and looked around the bedroom with a fierce gaze. There was no trace of Shioana anywhere.
"Did I really just dream?"
She definitely called his name and smiled at him...
Even though he knew very well that it couldn't be reality, Etienne didn't want to believe it.
As he lowered his legs out of bed, dizziness washed over him. Everything went black, and his body trembled.
"Your Excellency, at this rate, you will collapse again."
Cedric quickly draped a robe over him and tried to support him back onto the bed. However, the Duke, seemingly finding strength from nowhere, shook off Cedric's hand in an instant.
"Shi, Shioana"
Muttering someone's name, he left the bedroom, squirming. Left with no choice, Cedric followed closely behind and held the Duke tightly.
"Your Excellency, you need not worry. As for the Duchess."
"Cedric, be quiet. I can't hear her voice."
Etienne's red eyes, chasing after Shioana's voice, which he could not even hear, seemed to be wandering in a dream.
Cedric, barely holding back his tears, helped the Duke out of the mansion.
The rising sun was brightly illuminating Bernhard's garden.
"...Ah."
Amidst the shimmering heat haze, someone's name was revealed. Even with the blurry figure, Etienne recognized the person instantly.
“Shioana.”
"The Duchess has been looking after Your Excellency at the Bernhard estate all along."
After finishing his brief remark, Cedric took a step back. He didn't want to get in the way of the lovers' reunion.
"Just stand there. She'll come over."
As Etienne was about to take a step, Shioana approached him first. And she took Etienne's hand.
"It would probably be too much to expect it to come out like this yet."
Etienne acted suspiciously at her worried tone.
"Shioana, is it really Shioana?"
"Why did you hope it was someone else?"
"That can't be true."
Etienne, with a face that made it impossible to tell if he was crying or laughing, held Shioana tightly in his arms. Perhaps because she had been touching roses just moments ago, a strong scent of roses emanated from her.
"I had missed this sensation of holding Shioana so much," Etienne whispered softly as he savored her scent with his eyes tightly closed.
“I did everything wrong.”
"Stop apologizing now."
"Do not forgive me, Shioana."
Etienne's voice, brushing past her ears, was filled with regret and self-reproach.
"Who said I would forgive you?"
The wounds he left in the past left a deep scar on Shioana's heart. However, she could not hate Etienne forever.
'Because I love him.'
The day after she slept in the small treehouse with him, who had collapsed, she visited the bedroom at the Bernhard mansion.
'What is all this?'
When she turned on the light in the dark room with the curtains closed, the interior was a mess, as if it hadn't been cleaned for a while.
The bedroom floor was littered with empty liquor bottles, some of which were broken with sharp shards. With bloodstains heavily dried on the bed, it was impossible to believe this was the Duke's bedroom.
'His Excellency has forbidden the cleaning of the bedroom since the day the Duchess left.'
'...Ah.'
It was because her traces would disappear.
The blanket Shioana had used and the dress she had worn were sprawled on the bed.
'What is all this?'
She thought she was the only one who had suffered because of love, but it seems that wasn't the case.
'...Ha.'
The lonely sight of Etienne burying his head in her dress was vivid in her mind.
So, she waited at the Bernhard mansion for Etienne to wake up. Because there were things she wanted to hear, and things she wanted to say.
Etienne nodded at Shioana's words.
"...Okay."
It didn't matter if she didn't forgive him or hated him. As long as he could see Shioana by his side like this, nothing else mattered.
"I'll be watching closely."
"...from now on?"
Etienne lifted his head as if he did not quite understand what she was saying and looked down at Shioana's face. His face filled her blue eyes.
"Do you love me, Etienne?"
Etienne's red eyes welled up at the all-too-obvious question.
"There was never a single time I didn't love you."
Even though he hated and detested her, he couldn't let go of this person. You have no idea how difficult it was because of that.
"I love you, Shioana."
Etienne whispered softly while cupping her cheeks with both hands. At his confession, tears welled up in Shioana's eyes immediately.
Her heart pounded violently with overwhelming emotion, as she thought she would never hear it again.
***
As the Duke's health gradually recovered, laughter began to be heard in the Bernhard Mansion, which had been nothing but gloomy.
Martha and Harriet, who had moved here, were busy playing in the garden all day long.
"Young master, if you run that fast, you will fall."
Harriet, who couldn't roam freely in his cramped house in District 8, was running wild here. Harriet's blonde hair, glistening in the pouring sunlight, was simply lovely.
"Wow. I told you, you're just like a squirrel."
Shioana, who had come outside to find the two people, wore a pleased expression.
"Martha, don't run! You'll collapse!"
Although Martha was physically fit, she tended to overexert herself for her age while taking care of Harriet.
Just then, a dark shadow appeared behind her and embraced Shioana, as if enveloping her body. Touched by the familiar warmth, Shioana spoke tenderly.
"Did you get good treatment?"
"I took the bitter medicine and listened carefully to the doctor."
Etienne buried his head in her shoulder and shook his head as if asking for praise.
"Are you seriously saying that?"
It was only natural for a patient to be diligent in their treatment, so it was a bit ridiculous that he was making a big deal out of it. Moreover, as if Etienne held a grudge against Zero, he initially refused to receive treatment from him.
'Bring in another member of parliament.'
'However, it is not a bad idea to seek help from Eastern medicine to cure chronic illnesses, Your Excellency.'
Cedric explained at length from the side, but Etienne adamantly refused. Unable to stand it any longer, Shioana stepped forward.
Etienne's face flushed at her remark.
'It's not that I suspect him; I just dislike him.'
Etienne was hostile toward any man who associated with Shioana, whoever he may have been.
"I knew you were very jealous, but..."
Shioana let out a sigh as she reached out and stroked Etienne's blonde hair.
"The men of the Bernhard family don't get jealous."
"...Show me."
"Sh-Shioana. Why won't you believe me?"
It was the moment Etienne, who had embraced her even more tightly, was about to press his lips against Shioana's neck.
"Mom!"
Harriet ran over, calling out to Shioana. As she tried to hold the child, Etienne stood in her way.
"Didn't the doctor say not to lift heavy things?"
"..."
The child recoiled upon seeing Etienne blocking Shioana's path. The man with the large frame and burning red eyes certainly did not make a good impression on Harriet.
"Etienne, the child is scared."
"What did I do?"
Etienne, who had been hesitating, bent down and reached out his arm toward Harriet.
“Come here.”
"I just want to play with Uncle Raul..."
Etienne frowned at the single name that came out of Harriet's mouth.
"I'm telling you, I can play better than that guy, no, Uncle Raul."
As he acted almost like a threat rather than a conciliatory gesture, Shioana stroked Harriet's head from the side.
"Shall we give our Excellency a chance as well?"
"... Yes."
Harriet carefully nestled into Etienne's arms, and he lifted the child high and walked around the rose garden.
"Harriet, do you know who I am?"
"Your Excellency, Duke Bernhard."
When Harriet called out his name with quite a clear pronunciation, Etienne smiled with satisfaction.
"And I'm also your father."
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