“…….”
Silence lingered throughout the spacious room.
Cynthia looked down at Tession’s face as he lay on the bed.
His brow was slightly furrowed, and soft groans escaped his lips. His face was drenched in sweat.
She had come worried that she had somehow offended him and caused him to delay the return of the trading company, but to find him like this instead…… She felt confused and overwhelmed, unable to understand what had happened.
“I’ve shown Her Highness a truly disgraceful sight. I am deeply ashamed.”
Rus spoke in a miserable voice from behind her.
Cynthia turned her head slightly and looked up at him.
“How long has he been like this? Does this happen often?”
“Absolutely not! This has never happened before!”
“But everyone seemed rather practiced at restraining the Grand Duke earlier.”
At Cynthia’s sharp reply, Rus flinched and lowered his head.
“N-Not often……. Only on very rare occasions.”
Cynthia let out a small sigh and turned back toward Tession.
This was not something that had ever appeared in the original novel.
Just how long had this been happening……?
Then again, since the story was told from Elizabeth’s perspective and Tession had never played a major role, it was only natural that details like this had never been revealed.
“When does this usually happen?”
“That would be…….”
Rus trailed off, unable to answer.
“I understand if you hesitate because this could be a serious weakness for the Grand Duke. As one of his people, it makes sense to be cautious. But I am his fiancée and someone who may one day marry him.”
Cynthia spoke slowly.
“If I don’t know exactly when this happens, how long it’s been happening, or why it happens, then the Bailey family will feel too uneasy to form ties with House Lumanov.”
“Ah…….”
The words made her feel guilty because she had never intended to marry Tession in the first place, but she also felt that she needed to understand his condition if she wanted to help him.
Sorry for lying, Rus……
Rus squeezed his eyes shut and groaned softly.
It looked as though he was struggling with whether he had the right to speak on behalf of his unconscious master.
“If it’s difficult to answer, you don’t have to. I’ll ask the Grand Duke myself when he wakes up.”
“That is…….”
Rus clenched his fists.
Of all people, for Lady Elizabeth, his fiancée, to witness this side of him!
He had done everything he could to hide the problem and send her back to the Bailey estate, but she had somehow made it all the way into the Grand Duke’s bedroom and seated herself firmly beside his bed.
“……It began very occasionally after both the former Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess passed away.”
At last, after much hesitation, Rus began to speak.
“We do not know the exact reason. His Grace has never told us. However…… we believe it is related to a childhood trauma.”
“A trauma?”
“The former Grand Duke…… was especially strict with his son because he could not see.”
Strict with Tession……?
Cynthia frowned at the unexpected revelation.
“Whether he is reliving nightmares from those days, or something triggers those memories…… I’m not sure. I can’t recall any particular incident recently that would have caused it.”
Wait…… Could it have something to do with forcing him to walk through the city a few days ago?
Startled, Cynthia quickly looked down at him.
“When he wakes, he sometimes loses awareness, shouts, or destroys whatever is around him. There have even been times when he injured himself in the process…….”
Rus could not continue and fell silent.
Now that she thought about it, although his face had always been smooth and refined, his hands had been unusually rough and calloused……
Realizing she had stumbled upon a painful secret, Cynthia raised a hand to her mouth.
I knew his mother passed away early, but I had no idea he had suffered abuse from his father……
“Your Highness, I beg you. Please do not mention any of this in front of the Grand Duke.”
“What?”
“Our Grand Duke carries many wounds. He hides his sorrow and pain as much as possible, and only when it becomes completely unbearable does it finally spill out.”
“…….”
“And even then, he always feels terribly guilty for burdening us with it…….”
Rus lowered his head.
After taking a moment to compose himself, he spoke again.
“If you return to the Bailey estate and tell them everything, that is not my place to stop. However, if you wish to break the engagement, please choose another reason.”
“…….”
“This would only become another wound for him.”
Cynthia silently looked at Rus.
At least Tession has good people around him.
The thought eased the ache in her chest a little, though it also made her feelings more complicated.
“The Bailey family is interested in the Ritemper Trading Company, correct?”
“Hm?”
At that moment, Rus suddenly raised his head and met her gaze.
He bit his lower lip as though making a difficult decision.
“For the past few days, under the Grand Duke’s orders, I have deliberately delayed the return process of Ritemper Trading Company.”
Huh? The Grand Duke personally ordered it?
Then was it true that he had been angry with me?
Feeling unexpectedly guilty, Cynthia nodded.
“……Yes?”
“Since I handle all the practical matters anyway, if Your Highness promises to keep this matter confidential……”
He paused.
“I will personally ensure that the return of Ritemper Trading Company is completed before the end of this month.”
What?!
A vision of Dale, wearing his gleaming glasses, suddenly flashed through Cynthia’s mind, along with the fluttering image of a five-hundred-thousand-mint check.
He would process the return immediately?
“Please think about it carefully and give your answer only to me.”
“Ah, well…….”
“The Grand Duke has been given a sedative, so he will not wake suddenly. Stay as long as you need to gather your thoughts.”
After speaking, Rus bowed deeply and left the bedroom.
Now alone, Cynthia pressed a hand against her racing heart and took a deep breath.
W-What should I do?
If this happened, everything would be resolved perfectly.
The Bailey family would recover the trading company, and she would receive the enormous sum of five million mint.
The perfect happy ending……!
“Mmm…….”
At that moment, a small groan came from the bed.
Cynthia jumped and quickly looked toward Tession.
“Grand Duke! Are you awake?”
Tession frowned deeply and shifted slightly before his breathing steadied once more.
Was he talking in his sleep?
Cynthia gently brushed aside the sweat-soaked strands of hair stuck to his forehead.
As she looked down at his peaceful sleeping face, her thoughts became tangled again.
If things continued this way, it would certainly be a happy ending for the Bailey family and for her.
But would it be one for Tession too?
Tession…….
“……Hic.”
A tiny sob escaped him.
At the same time, clear tears rolled from beneath his tightly closed eyes.
“……Oh!”
Cynthia, who had been staring absentmindedly at his beautiful face, startled and quickly pulled her hand away.
W-Why is he crying all of a sudden?!
“Grand Duke? Are you in pain?”
“…….”
“Or is something bothering you?”
Cynthia leaned closer and whispered softly.
His tightly furrowed brow remained unchanged as his lips slowly parted.
“……Mother…….”
Mother?
The tears had stopped, but he still looked distressed.
Cynthia quietly studied his face.
It seemed he was still trapped within his dream.
Is he dreaming about his mother?
Instead of answering, she gently stroked his forehead.
Don’t frown…… You’ll get wrinkles on such a handsome face.
“I’m sorry……. I’m sorry. This is all my fault…….”
His low voice, thick with tears, continued.
“I can see. I think I can see. Please don’t be sad. I can see you…….”
Ah……
Cynthia’s hand froze on his forehead.
From what Rus had told her and from what she knew of the original novel, it was not difficult to understand what kind of dream he was having.
His mother had likely grieved endlessly over her blind son.
And now, in his dream, he was desperately trying to reassure her.
Trying to tell her that he could see. That she no longer needed to cry for him.
The realization tightened painfully around Cynthia’s heart.
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