The Murderous Duke's Domestic Affairs - Chapter 33

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 33
It took me several days before I could rise from my bed. The moment I heard Maili’s declaration that I was fully recovered, Lise and Anna let out deep sighs of relief, their hands pressed to their chests. I watched the two of them with a somewhat bewildered expression. It wasn’t only Aster Veil Lilywood who had worried about me.
Upon realizing this truth, something deep within my chest tingled anew. After my parents passed away, I thought I would never receive such concern again. But I was wrong. Aster Veil Lilywood, Lise, and Anna—they all worried about me. Perhaps everyone else in this mansion did as well.
“I’m sorry for causing you worry.”
I’m fine now, I told them with a smile. Whether it was my imagination or not, a bitter laugh kept escaping my lips. Still, it was a greeting I could offer them.
“What are you saying? It’s only natural.”
At her words, Lise and Anna practically jumped. Natural? I shook my head. Such things should never become natural. Only after losing something natural did I understand.
Gratitude is not something to be postponed. When I said such things, the two of them wore expressions of pity. That wasn’t what I intended to convey.
“Then, my lady, instead of apologizing, please tell us you’re grateful.”
Lise grasped my hand firmly. Her hand was warm, and tears nearly spilled from my eyes. But I held them back and forced my lips upward. I didn’t want to show weakness as the lady of the Duke’s Mansion. Though I recognized the pointless stubbornness of maintaining composure before those who cared for me.
“Yes. Thank you. Truly.”
I conveyed my sincere gratitude. I couldn’t forget Lise, Anna, or Maili. Maili had left her original position because of me and become a resident physician at the mansion. Leaving a familiar place is quite frightening. Having fled the Marquis Estate where I’d lived my entire life, I understood this better than anyone.
“His Grace was deeply concerned as well.”
Maili told me with a gentle smile. When I would wake from sleep, Aster Veil Lilywood would be sitting beside my bed, watching over me.
It seemed that wasn’t a dream. My gaze turned to the chair placed beside the bed. Recalling the one who had sat there, I simply nodded quietly.
“I was thinking of going to the office…”
I spoke carefully to Lise, who still held my hand. Though I’d received a clean bill of health, my condition hadn’t fully recovered.
When Lise exchanged a glance with Maili, the latter crossed her arms and wore a displeased expression. She seemed to be imitating Aster Veil Lilywood. Without thinking, I let out a soft laugh.
“You may go. But please don’t handle any duties today.”
Having lain in bed for days, my stamina had surely diminished considerably. I nodded in agreement. Could I really refrain from attending to my work? I was somewhat worried after such a long rest. Still, if I didn’t follow the physician’s orders, she wouldn’t let me leave. I thought I could always sneak in some work if necessary.
“Then let me help you prepare.”
Lise smiled brightly. Anna hurried out, saying she would prepare a bath. That was welcome news. Having been feverish and asleep for so long, I felt somewhat uncomfortable. Of course, Lise and Anna had washed me while I slept.
“Don’t forget to eat. And be sure to take your medicine.”
Maili continued her nagging until the very end before leaving the room. I shrugged slightly. Laughter echoed through the room. It had been quite some time since I’d heard such a sound.
* * *
“Are you already well enough to be up?”
Aster Veil Lilywood, who had been leaning back in a long chair with his legs crossed, asked the moment he saw me. His brow was deeply furrowed. I nodded, meeting his gaze.
His eyes remained that sunken green, like poisonous plants growing in shadow. Had the brilliant blue gleam in his eyes been merely moonlight’s deception?
“Maili said I’ve fully recovered. As long as I eat well and take my medicine, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“I see. That’s fortunate.”
Aster Veil Lilywood murmured lowly and set down the documents he’d been reviewing onto the table. Then he issued an order to Letti, who stood before his aide’s desk with a pleased expression upon seeing me, to summon Garnet. Letti tucked the documents he’d been working on into a folder and rose from his seat.
“I should at least bring tea…”
“It’s fine.”
Aster Veil Lilywood twisted one corner of his mouth upward. His familiar bitter smile somehow put my mind at ease. Perhaps because of that, words I thought I wouldn’t be able to say slipped from my lips. Whether it was thanks to what Lise had told me, it was gratitude rather than an apology.
“Thank you for worrying about me, Aster Veil Lilywood.”
It was a small voice, but Aster Veil Lilywood clearly heard it. His eyes widened, then narrowed. Whether it was my imagination or not, his twisted lips seemed to form a slightly softer curve.
Unable to look directly at his smile, I lowered my head. Heat rose to my face. When I thought about fleeing, someone knocked on the door. It seemed Letti had returned. I let out a light sigh and rubbed my flushed cheeks.
“You called for me, Your Grace?”
Beyond the door stood a young man with white hair, neatly dressed in the uniform of the Lilywood Knights. When Aster Veil Lilywood nodded, he entered silently and closed the door. I thought Letti would come in as well, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Where had he gone? Was he bringing tea? While I stood there in a daze with such thoughts, Aster Veil Lilywood called my name. I quickly lifted my eyes to look at him.
“This is Garnet. He’s been by my side for a long time, and I’ve trained him personally.”
A faint glimmer of pride crossed his face. I followed Aster’s gaze to the person he was looking at. Garnet’s upright posture made him appear formidable, and his neatly trimmed white hair and jewel-like crimson eyes were dazzling. It was a beauty that seemed not of this world.
“This is the Duchess of Lilywood that you must serve, Garnet.”
Serve? I turned my eyes back to Aster. Garnet was a subordinate trained directly by Aster himself. Such a person, assigned to me? Our eyes met—his pale violet gaze and my settled green eyes. As if to say it was fine, Aster smiled softly. It was a smile that seemed to say everything would be alright.
“Duchess, it is an honor to meet you.”
Garnet bowed deeply toward me. It was a measured gesture. Unsure how to respond, I simply watched him in silence. After a long moment, he straightened.
Only then could I manage to say in a small voice that I looked forward to working with him. Aster instructed Garnet to step outside. Garnet replied that he would wait beyond the door and left the office. The room was once again occupied by only Aster and me.
“Well…”
“Um…”
We both spoke without precedence. Feeling awkward, I lowered my head. Aster, clearing his throat softly, yielded the floor to me.
“Thank you for caring about me, Aster.”
Offering gratitude once was difficult, but the second time came more easily. I looked directly at Aster and expressed my thanks, hoping my appreciation would reach him.
“I didn’t do it to receive thanks.”
Aster turned his head away and spoke curtly. Yet the tips of his ears had taken on a faint blush—it seemed Aster was embarrassed. Now I understood his reactions just a little better. He was not an honest person.
“But…”
Aster glanced at me briefly, as if curious about what I might say. But the moment our eyes met, he swiftly looked away. Though I’d begun to understand his reactions, I still couldn’t fathom what he was thinking.
“Having a guard seems excessive. Besides, I rarely leave the mansion anyway…”
“It’s not excessive.”
Aster cut me off sharply. His tone was resolute. I closed my mouth. Deep furrows lined his brow.
“Something like this will happen again someday.”
Aster lowered his head and murmured. His gaze, fixed on his tightly clenched fist, grew heavy and dark. What was he thinking now? His expression seemed terribly pained. I wished it were merely my imagination. I simply watched him in silence.
“It would be best if nothing happened at all, but there’s no guarantee of that. If we can avoid it, we should. If we can prevent it with merely a guard, that would be fortunate.”
Aster squeezed his eyes shut. His tightly clenched fist trembled. He seemed to fear something. He, who had returned from war with great achievements, the “Killer” Aster Veil Lilywood—what could possibly frighten him?
“Aster.”
I barely managed to call his name, my lips moving faintly. It was a thin, trembling voice, barely audible. Yet Aster did not miss it. He slowly opened his eyes. Our gazes met—his pale violet eyes and my settled green ones. His eyes were darker and more sunken than usual.
“Lauren, you are mine. But I failed to protect you.”
“No, Aster, that’s not—”
“Once is enough for something like this. Nothing will happen within the mansion, so at least when there are external engagements, I’d like—”
Aster rushed to speak, cutting off my words. I bit my lip. The poison had been because of the Crown Prince. But Aster didn’t see it that way. With a deeply furrowed brow and a twisted smile, his face was stained with self-reproach. There was no time to tell him it wasn’t his fault.
“Besides, it’s not urgent right now. Once Garnet finishes his remaining duties and returns…”
Aster trailed off. He couldn’t be certain how long Garnet’s task would take. I hoped it would be quick. His green eyes rolled toward me. I had said the guard was excessive, but Aster had no intention of withdrawing her protection.
I felt it too. He was trying to convince me. There was nothing more I could say. I slowly nodded. If it was only when I went outside, it would be acceptable. Aster’s face brightened noticeably.
I gazed at Aster intently. I remembered seeing that expression before. It was from long ago. When I was a child and recovered from a high fever after days of illness, my parents’ faces had looked like that as they watched me. I sighed quietly, hidden from Aster’s notice.
“Very well. Then convey that to Garnet as well.”
Only then did Aster smile somewhat naturally. His face was still furrowed, but it no longer looked as pained as before. I could only nod in response.
“And…”
I thought the conversation would end there, but Aster continued. His eyes still hadn’t left me.
“I think it would be good for you to rest more. Don’t worry about work—I’m managing it somehow.”
It wasn’t quite that serious. I was about to say I was fine, but instead I decided to stand up. For reasons I couldn’t explain, I wanted to listen to what he said. Though perhaps I shouldn’t leave him alone right now, he had Letti Torres and Garnet, so it would be alright, I thought.
“Thank you for understanding.”
As Lauren rose from her seat and grasped the door handle, Aster spoke to her. His voice carried an unmistakable sigh. Lauren bowed respectfully and left the Office.
The corridor stretched empty before her.
Lauren could not fathom him. She had married out of necessity alone, so why did Aster regard her with the same eyes as her parents had then? His irises—which she had dismissed as the color of poison—now filled her mind, refusing to fade. Without thinking, Lauren turned back to gaze at Aster’s Office.
Yes, what she had sensed in his gaze was unmistakably relief.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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