The next time someone says “I missed you” to you, don’t say it back unless you mean it.
That was the first thought that flashed through Cynthia’s mind.
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
Cynthia blinked at him in confusion.
“Did you come because you missed me?”
As he asked, a faint blush colored Tession’s cheeks and ears.
Startled, Cynthia quickly shook her head.
“N-no, not exactly missed you. I mean, it’s true that I wanted to see you soon, but… that’s a little different…”
“I feel the same way.”
“Huh?”
Tession closed his eyes and smiled—a beautiful, contented smile.
“I do. I really missed you too, Cynthia.”
Uh-oh…
Cynthia stared blankly at the soft, beautiful smile.
Someone please check my heart. It’s suffered a serious shock…
After sitting frozen for a moment, replaying his words in her mind, she suddenly cried out.
“W-wait a second! What did you just say? Who? C-Cynthia?”
“Yes. Cynthia.”
“…Who’s that?”
“What do you mean, who? Isn’t that the name you told me last time, my lady?”
Cold sweat ran down Cynthia’s back as she tightened her grip on the bouquet.
Blinking rapidly, she hurriedly replied,
“No? I-I never told you a name like that…”
“Is that so?”
Tession answered calmly.
Ugh. Pretending not to know is definitely no longer an option.
Changing tactics, Cynthia spoke again.
“Why are you calling me by another name when I already have one? Just call me Elizabeth!”
Tession tilted his head, looking genuinely puzzled.
“But I like Cynthia better.”
“Why?”
“Well… it feels like a name only I know. Like a secret nickname shared between the two of us.”
He smiled.
“And most importantly, it’s a beautiful name.”
A secret nickname, my foot!
Cynthia stared at his composed face.
Now that she thought about it, the Grand Duke of Lumanov was far more stubborn than she had realized.
No matter how much she protested, he would definitely keep calling her Cynthia.
After glaring at him for a while, she finally gave up and dropped back onto the sofa.
“…Then promise me something.”
“What kind of promise?”
“Only call me Cynthia when we’re alone together.”
Tession fell silent in thought.
After a moment, he smiled.
“Very well.”
Huh? You’re not even going to ask why?
The easy acceptance somehow surprised her more.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
At her innocent question, Tession laughed.
“What kind of question is that?”
“Well… it just seems strange that you’d agree without asking for a reason.”
“Because you asked me to.”
His voice was gentle.
“I’m simply doing as Cynthia wishes. Because it’s what you want.”
Because I asked him to…?
Cynthia looked at him quietly.
A strange feeling tickled somewhere inside her chest.
Her heart was beating faster than usual, and even that felt unfamiliar.
Maybe it’s because he’s too handsome…
And hearing someone call her by her real name instead of Elizabeth felt oddly significant.
“Ah, I’m sorry, but I should be going now.”
At that moment, Tession rose smoothly from his seat.
Following him with her eyes, Cynthia spoke before she could stop herself.
“Already?”
…Wait, already?
The disappointment in her voice shocked even her.
Her face immediately flushed as she hurriedly stood up as well.
At times like this, she was grateful that Tession couldn’t see her face.
Otherwise, he would have seen exactly how foolish she looked.
Tession smiled.
“I only stopped by because I had a bit of free time on my way to a restaurant in the city. The investigators believe they’ve discovered the cause of the fire.”
His smile softened.
“I’m disappointed as well. Next time, I’ll stay longer and spend more time with you, my lady.”
“A-ah… yes.”
Using his cane, Tession stepped closer.
When Cynthia naturally placed her hand in his outstretched palm, he lowered his head without hesitation.
Kiss.
His warm, soft lips touched the back of her hand.
Cynthia stiffened slightly and stared down at the crown of his head.
“I’ll visit again soon, Cynthia.”
“…Okay.”
She pressed her free hand against her chest.
Her heart was racing.
Heart, calm down.
You are absolutely not supposed to be doing this…
Squeezing her eyes shut, she shook her head.
Once the Ritemper Trading Company was returned, she would never see him again.
These feelings could only cause trouble.
She glanced up at him.
This is all because he’s handsome.
Way too handsome.
That’s all.
Cynthia forcefully shoved down the feelings that kept trying to make themselves known.
*****
“Mmm…”
Lying on her bed and staring at the ceiling, Cynthia suddenly sat upright.
Turning toward Violet, who was embroidering a white handkerchief beside her bed, she spoke.
“Violet.”
“Yes?”
“I have something I’m worried about. Can you give me some advice?”
Still stitching carefully with her needle, Violet nodded.
Cynthia turned fully toward her and spoke with utmost seriousness.
“So… let’s say an anonymous person made me an offer.”
“Okay.”
“It’s an incredibly good offer. One person gets back something they want, another gets to protect the secret of someone precious to them, and I receive a huge reward as well.”
“Mm-hm. Then?”
Now interested, Violet lowered the handkerchief onto her lap and leaned forward.
Lowering her voice as if sharing a secret, Cynthia whispered,
“So should I accept the offer or not?”
“Huh? Obviously you should accept it.”
Violet frowned.
“You said it’s a good offer.”
Apparently the question sounded absurd now that she’d heard it.
“Right? But there’s a problem.”
Cynthia maintained a solemn expression.
“If I accept it, everyone ends up happy… except for one person.”
“So what?”
Violet answered bluntly as she picked up her embroidery again.
“As long as I’m happy, that’s enough.”
Cynthia stared at her in disbelief.
“But that one person…!”
She leaned forward desperately.
“They might be really, really hurt!”
If she accepted Ruse’s proposal and the Bailey family regained the Ritemper Trading Company, they would immediately proceed with breaking off Elizabeth and Tession’s engagement.
Which meant Tession would suddenly lose his fiancée.
Even if it was a political engagement, who would actually be happy about that?
“That can’t be helped.”
Violet continued stitching.
“The world doesn’t work in a way that makes everyone happy.”
“…What made you such a cold person, Violet?”
“The Baileys.”
“That’s a fair point.”
Cynthia nodded and leaned back against the headboard.
Logically, she already knew Violet was right.
Accepting Ruse’s proposal was the easiest path.
The safest path.
The happiest path for everyone.
If she accepted, this dangerous charade as Elizabeth would finally end.
She’d receive five million Mint from the Bailey family.
She could pay off her debts.
Buy a new house to replace her crumbling old one.
Find a new job.
Live comfortably.
So why…
Then why does it still feel wrong…?
Cynthia buried both hands in her hair and ruffled it wildly.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t forget Tession’s face as he cried in his sleep.
Toward the silently suffering Cynthia, Violet casually tossed out a remark.
“Sounds like you care about that person.”
“…What?”
“Sounds like you’re really worried about the one person who might get hurt.”
Violet glanced up from her embroidery.
“Are you, Cynthia?”
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