“……”
“……”
The spacious room was filled only with silence.
Cynthia looked down at Tession’s face lying on the bed.
His brows were slightly furrowed, and he let out faint groans as he lay there, his face completely drenched in sweat.
She had worried that he might be angry with her and delaying the return of the trade company because of something she did, but seeing him like this instead left her confused and unsettled. She had no idea what had happened.
“Princess, I’m truly sorry you had to see him like this.”
From behind her, Ruse spoke in a voice full of regret.
Cynthia turned her head slightly and looked up at him.
“When did this start? Is he always like this?”
“Absolutely not! He has never been like this before!”
“But earlier, everyone seemed to be restraining the Duke together very naturally.”
At Cynthia’s sharp reply, Ruse flinched and lowered his head.
“W-well, not often… only very rarely.”
Cynthia let out a small breath and turned her gaze back to Tession lying on the bed.
This side of Tession was something she had never seen in the original novel.
Since the story had been told from Elizabeth’s point of view, and Tession hadn’t been a major focus, it made sense that such details had never been revealed.
“When does this usually happen?”
“That is…”
Ruse trailed off, unable to answer.
“I understand you may not want to speak. It might be a sensitive weakness of the Duke. But I am his fiancée, and possibly someone who will marry him.”
Cynthia spoke slowly.
“If I don’t know exactly when this happens, when it started, or why, then our Bailey family can’t feel safe continuing our connection with the Luminaf family.”
“Ah…”
Ruse closed his eyes tightly, letting out a strained sound.
Reluctantly, as if torn over whether he should speak in place of his unconscious master, he hesitated.
“…It started after both the previous Duke and Duchess passed away.”
Finally, Ruse spoke slowly.
“We don’t know the exact reason either. He never tells us. But we believe… it is related to the Duke’s childhood trauma.”
“Trauma?”
“The previous Duke… was especially strict with his son, who could not see.”
He was strict with Tession…?
At the unexpected revelation, Cynthia frowned.
“Sometimes we think he may be reliving those nightmares, or something triggers old memories… There haven’t been any special incidents recently, as far as I remember.”
Wait… could this be related to when I forced him to walk outside a few days ago?
Startled, Cynthia quickly looked down at him.
“He sometimes wakes up like this, screaming or destroying things around him, and ends up injuring himself…”
Ruse trailed off, unable to continue.
Now that she thought about it, although his face was refined and gentle, his hands had seemed unusually rough and worn…
Cynthia quietly covered her mouth with her hand.
She had known about his mother passing away early, but she hadn’t known he had been abused by his father…
“Princess, please. Don’t speak of this in front of the Duke.”
“Pardon?”
“He is someone with deep wounds. He hides his pain and sorrow, and only lets it out when he can no longer endure it.”
“……”
“And even then, we can tell he feels deeply sorry toward us…”
Ruse lowered his head.
After steadying himself for a moment, he continued.
“If you decide to return to the Bailey estate and tell him everything, I cannot stop you. But if you intend to break off the engagement, please choose another reason. That would be far less painful for him.”
Cynthia silently looked at Ruse.
So the Duke Tession has people like this by his side.
That thought made her heart feel slightly less painful, but also more complicated.
“The Bailey family is still interested in the Ritemper trade company, correct?”
“Yes?”
At that moment, Ruse, who had been bowing his head, suddenly looked up and met her eyes.
He seemed to make up his mind and bit his lip firmly.
“For the past few days, on the Duke’s orders, we have been delaying the procedures for returning the Ritemper trade company.”
Huh? He really gave that order himself…? Then maybe he really was angry with me?
Feeling slightly guilty, Cynthia nodded.
“…And?”
“I handle all the practical work anyway. If you agree to keep this confidential, I will personally make sure the return of the Ritemper trade company is completed within this month.”
What?!
In Cynthia’s mind, the image of Dale with his shining glasses appeared, along with the fluttering 500,000 Mint check.
They’ll really complete the return immediately?
“Then, please think about it and give me your answer separately.”
“Ah, I…”
“The Duke has been given a sedative, so he won’t wake suddenly. Please stay until you’ve decided.”
After speaking, Ruse bowed deeply and left the room.
Now alone, Cynthia took a deep breath, holding her pounding chest.
Wait, what should I do? At this rate, everything would be perfectly resolved.
The Bailey family would recover the Ritemper trade company, and she would receive the full 5 million Mint… a perfect happy ending!
“Mm…”
At that moment, a faint groan came from the bed where Tession lay.
Cynthia quickly leaned over him.
“Duke! Are you awake?”
Tession frowned slightly and shifted his body, but soon his breathing evened out again.
Was that just sleep talking?
Cynthia gently reached out and brushed away the damp strands of hair stuck to his forehead.
Watching his peaceful sleeping face made her feelings grow more complicated again.
If things went this way, it would be a happy ending for the Bailey family and for her… but would it be the same for Tession?
Tession…
“…Hic.”
Then, a very faint sobbing sound came.
At the same time, tears slowly streamed down from his tightly closed eyes.
“…Ah!”
Cynthia, who had been staring blankly at his beautiful face, flinched and pulled her hand away.
Why… why is he suddenly crying…!
“Duke? Are you in pain somewhere?”
“……”
“Or feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”
Cynthia leaned closer and whispered softly.
His brows remained tightly furrowed as his lips slowly parted.
“…Mother…”
Mother?
The tears stopped, but his expression remained pained. Cynthia quietly watched him. He seemed to still be lost in a dream.
Is he dreaming about his mother?
Without answering, Cynthia gently stroked his forehead.
Don’t frown… it’ll leave wrinkles on your pretty face.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry. It’s all my fault…”
His voice, soaked in tears, continued.
“I can see… I think I can see now. Please don’t be sad. I can see…”
Ah…
Cynthia stopped her hand.
From what she had just heard from Ruse, and what she knew from the original story, it wasn’t hard to guess what kind of memory he was reliving.
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