I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 109

 

He was close enough that I could clearly feel Carson’s breath.

 

As I tensed and braced myself, a low chuckle drifted into my ears.

 

Even the sound was too tempting. My hand, clutching the blanket tightly, felt warm.

 

His fingers gently squeezed the back of my hand, pulling me closer to him. I thought I’d lose my grip, and it would slide down, but somehow it stayed firmly in place.

 

When I opened my eyes to check, he was holding the quilt with his free hand, not mine.

 

I blinked a few times, bewildered that, once again, things weren’t going the way I thought they would.

 

His soothing voice settled over my head.

 

“Leen, I’m not going to do anything you don’t like.”

 

‘Because one terrible mistake was enough for me.’ said Carson inwardly.

 

He added, smiling slowly and pressing his lips to Leen’s wrist.

 

His careful touch was deeply affectionate. I stared at the scene, mesmerized until I realized what Carson was doing and quickly pulled away.

 

It wasn’t just a kiss.

 

“You said you wouldn’t do anything I didn’t like!”

 

“…Did you not like it?”

 

His questioning voice was sweet against my eardrums.

 

Oh, no, not that, but…

 

What could anyone else who saw my wrist possibly misunderstand, they would surely imagine something lamentable.

 

As if reading the thoughts in my expression, Carson took my hand once more.

 

He rubs his cheek against my palm and smiles sheepishly.

 

“I’m sorry, I had no idea you’d hate this.”

 

“Do I have to tell you that?”

 

“But.”

 

He pauses, as if he’s about to say something to my words, then opens his mouth, eyes lowering shyly.

 

“That day…”

 

Ahh. The moment I heard those words, I realized.

 

Carson was not a cat,

 

Nor a cute big dog,

 

But rather, he was a fox with his tail tucked tight.

 

🍃

 

The next day. The Duke wakes up alone and squeezes the corners of his eyes shut, unable to get any sleep.

 

He was miserable, sleeping separately when Sylvia was clearly present in the ducal household.

 

It was beyond unbearable. In truth, he was waiting for the morning.

 

Last night had been too late for him to visit Leen. There was so much to talk about with the child.

 

The Duke summoned someone with his magic, as if he couldn’t be bothered to tug on the tether right next to him.

 

It wasn’t long before Butler Altemere entered, dressed in his usual dapper attire.

 

He was an impeccably organized man, and as the head butler, he knew how to keep the servants in line.

 

A few years ago, on a whim, he’d even knighted himself.

 

“Good morning, Your Excellency.”

 

The Duke took strong offense to Altemere’s words.

 

‘Good morning? That was a load of rubbish.’

 

He’d had one of the worst mornings of his life.

 

The Duke’s tone turned vicious, “Do you realize that statement is a gross misgiving?”

 

…?

 

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Altemere’s face.

 

“I apologize, Your Excellency. I’m afraid I’m not quite sure what you mean.”

 

“What I mean is, why do you think your good morning extends to me? How absurd.”

 

Oops.

 

‘My mistake. I must have gotten a little too carried away with the idea that I’d kicked that girl’s butt yesterday.’

 

I should have kept my head down and remembered that the Duke and Duchess had retired separately to their quarters last night.

 

Altemere ducked his head hastily and said, “I’m sorry I dared to defer to my knowledge and draw conclusions.”

 

The Duke, who appeared to be about to launch an offensive spell at him, quickly raised an eyebrow and ordered.

 

“Forget it, I want you to fetch the girl from yesterday right now.”

 

‘Sounds like he’s giving her a stern warning.’

 

Altemere choked back a laugh and replied, “As ordered.”

 

As he walked toward Leen’s room at the Duke’s command, Altemere paused for a moment.

 

Should I go to the young master’s chambers instead of that wench’s?

 

She couldn’t have gotten out of his room. 

 

Perhaps I should go to the Master’s room after all.

 

After a short deliberation, he arrived at Carson’s room and knocked on the door.

 

“Master, it’s your butler.”

 

The door opened, and Altemere was afraid to knock.

 

He quickly scanned the room, noting that Leen was not in it, and then averted his attention as if nothing had happened.

 

Too afraid to look away, Carson grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.

 

“Ma—, Master?”

 

“Butler. You did something very funny, didn’t you?”

 

“I-, I don’t know what you mean…”

 

“I’ll let it slide this time, since I got to see Leen’s cute face.”

 

Carson leaned in close to him and drew a smile.

 

“But next time you do something like this, you might have to part with the wrist that’s been with you all your life.”

 

Then he shoved Altemere away, as if the matter was over.

 

“Get lost, if you understand.”

 

Carson stumbles to his feet and storms out of the room.

 

The pain shot through him with each step, as if he had sprained his back when he fell. But his gait was stiff, as if he had to strive for perfection.

 

Gritting his teeth and pushing down the pain, Altemere stomped furiously toward Leen’s room.

 

‘What an ill-tempered bastard.’

 

From the looks of it, nothing happened.

 

‘Does he have no humanity, no desire? How could he refuse a woman he likes?’

 

Before he knew it, he had reached Leen’s room and knocked on the door to announce his arrival.

 

It wasn’t long before he heard Leen’s voice of approval without a trace of pitch.

 

“Come in.”

 

Leen opened the door and stared at Altemere with a cold glare.

 

He returned her gaze unflinchingly.

 

After a brief glance, Altemere noticed that Leen had bandages on her wrists.

 

A bandage on her wrist…

 

Could it be one of those serial wristbands?

 

And when you said you saw her cute face, you saw her writhing in pain?

 

‘Heh, even psychopaths didn’t have this kind of mentality.’

 

I was surprised that he was so relentless, even with a girl he was in love with.

 

But it wasn’t the only thing I didn’t like about this situation. It’s bad enough that she thinks the Master likes her, and now she’s acting like a little prude in front of me.

 

Altemere asked casually, knowing full well who was responsible for the bandages on Leen’s wrists.

 

“What’s wrong with your wrists, my lady?”

 

Leen rolled her eyes at his brazenness.

 

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

 

“Do I ask because I don’t know?”

 

Leen felt her anger towards Altemere reaching breaking point.

 

Who the hell was making her wear bandages on her wrists right now?

 

“Are you here to pick a fight?”

 

“No, I’m here because the Duke ordered me to bring the lady.”

 

Leen’s expression stiffened, as if she were about to lose her temper at his words.

 

She thought to herself, ‘What was to come has come.’

 

🍃

 

I arrived at the Duke’s office, feeling like an animal being led to the slaughter.

 

“Your Excellency. I have brought the lady.”

 

“Come in.”

 

At his permission, Butler Altemere pushed me inside and closed the door with a snap.

 

“I will take my leave, then.”

 

Thud—

 

For a moment, I panicked at being left alone. I calmly lowered my eyes and bowed my head.

 

It was best to be as polite as possible in the presence of the so-called cold-blooded duke.

 

“I’m the Duchess’s maid, and I’m here to serve as the Duchess’s companion maid…”

 

“There’s no need to be so polite, Leen, as if we’re meeting for the first time.”

 

‘I don’t have to greet him as if we’re meeting for the first time? What does that mean?’

 

I slowly raised my head in question.

 

And then, I rubbed my eyes in surprise at the familiar face and looked ahead again.

 

I squinted and blinked a few more times. But the person in front of me never changed.

 

“…Mister?”

 

“Yes, it’s me.”

 

The shock made it hard to keep my expression straight.

 

‘You were the Duke of the Duchy of Lysianthus?’

 

Really?

 

Wait, wait, hold on…

 

If you’re the Duke of Lysianthus, doesn’t that mean you’re Carson’s father?

 

Does that mean that the relationship business I’ve been helping with all these years belonged to Carson’s parents…?

 

The thought made me dizzy. I was so ashamed of myself that my face turned white with embarrassment.

 

It didn’t matter that I had almost become siblings with Carson.

 

He must have thought of all the things I had said to him in the name of advice.

 

Off the top of my head, I recall a tight-fitting sweatshirt, an apron, making breakfast, and tantrums.

 

Other things like rolling up your sleeves to show off your pecs and wearing pants that are a little too short to barely cover your ankles.

 

To help with the love business, I enumerated my tastes.

 

‘To Carson’s father!’

 

The Duke stared at me, still in shock, and then spoke cautiously.

 

“I… I know it may sound like an excuse, but I didn’t realize you were the child Carson was in love with.”

 

I never doubted that part. If he had, he wouldn’t have thought to take me in as his daughter.

 

No, more than that, how could you have a son like Carson?

 

I’ve always thought they looked eerily similar, but their personalities are so different.

 

Unlike Mister, Carson’s blunt demeanor, Carson’s bright and cute…

 

Suddenly, countless rumors about the Duke of Lysianthus flashed through my mind.

 

Ahhh.

 

They really do look alike. Forgive me for not recognizing him until now. I tried to avoid finding out as much as I could about his identity, as if I was prying unnecessarily…

 

After a long pause, I heard the Duke’s serious voice.

 

“There is something I wish to ask you.”

 

“…Please tell me,” I replied, still in a daze.

 

“Are you in love with Carson?”

 

“What?”

 

He repeated when I looked surprised at his sudden question.

 

“I’m asking if you have a mutual attraction to my son, Carson, or if it’s from the heart.”

 

The urge to be honest and tell him my feelings was overwhelming.

 

This was a man who had tried to claim me as his daughter. Something he could never propose if he hated me.

 

First Carson, then the Duchess.

 

And then the Duke.

 

…All the members of the ducal family were in favor of me.

 

It was a situation I could only dream of.

 

But…

 

Once again, because of that rip-off Rex Begonia. I had to tell a lie. I didn’t want to create a rift between the two Dukes.

 

“No, I don’t. I don’t like Carson.”

 

It was just one sentence, and I felt like I was going to burst into tears.

 

‘I don’t like Carson.’

 

It felt like a complete denial of everything I was. Emotions rush through me like a tidal wave. I was so frustrated and outraged by this situation that I thought I was going to lose my mind.

 

‘Why can’t I just say something?’

 

It’s only a few words. That Rex Begonia wants me. I’m scared of him, of his hands on me. That I need help.

 

Suddenly, I remembered Arcandus’s letter to me.

 

‘I want you to live selfishly.’

 

Selfish…

 

‘I’m sorry, Arcandus.’

 

But I couldn’t help it, it’s in my nature.

 

The truth of the matter with me was that I was driving myself crazy with my frustration and foolishness.

 

Then, after hearing my answer, the Duke muttered something with a grave face.

 

“…Fortunately, my sacrifice was not in vain.”

 

What he said didn’t matter to me. Tears were slowly filling my eyes as I couldn’t organize my emotions.

 

‘Ugh. I shouldn’t be crying here.’

 

He might think it’s weird.

 

Just then, a pen rolled off his desk. I bent down to pick it up, feeling grateful. I stooped down to pick it up, thinking I was being nice.

 

Then I heard the Duke’s voice, somewhat panicked.

 

“Leen. I don’t need you to bend down and pick it up. You can use magic or have a servant do it.”

 

Lien replied, “I’m only picking up a pen, but wait a minute.”

 

But the pen somehow slipped through the cracks in the desk and I couldn’t get a good grip.

 

I ended up on my knees, crouched as low as I could, and stretched my arms out.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Bang—

 

“Is it true that you pulled Leen aside to keep her to yourself?!”

 

I turned around in surprise and locked eyes with the Duchess, who burst through the door.

 

I fell to my knees in front of the Duke, kneeling…

 

With tears in my eyes that I couldn’t wipe away.