< —="" ducal="" couple="" —=""> (17)

TN: Dunno if I’ve mentioned this but thank you all soo much for constantly commenting! Huuuge motivator for me.  Enjoy! Also:

"Her Grace came to this unfamiliar northern region alone, not knowing anybody, yet she never complained about her situation being difficult or uncomfortable. If your Grace were ignore her Grace, then shle truly would be alone."

Hugo actually began to suspect just where Jerome came out from today to have such a completely different temperament but when he thought about it, there was no denying that Jerome was Fabian's blood brother.

To speak without any fear was Fabian's trademark.

Hugo's red eyes glowed even redder.

"These days, her Grace…"

"Shut up."

"Your Grace."

"I dare you to say one more word…"

Feeling the murderous gaze on him, Jerome shut his mouth and lowered his gaze.

The Duke was not a master that needlessly picked on someone's faults but he was a master that would never tolerate challenges to his authority.

The criteria depended on if someone were getting above themselves. Jerome did not have the authority to b.u.t.t into the ducal couple's private relations.h.i.+p.

It wasn't because Jerome was a steward. No one in Roam had such authority. Hugo was extremely displeased with the situation.

He wondered if she had sent him as she had enough reason to do so. But this was Jerome.

The Jerome that did not unnecessarily interfere with his usual work, and could distinguish between the things Hugo alone could to do and the things Jerome could deal with himself.

Therefore, Jerome's unusual behavior got on his nerves. Hugo already knew that Jerome took care of her more than the usual.

He did not doubt Jerome’s loyalty as a steward but he was strangely irritated.

"Impressive. Did she ask you to come annoy me?"

Even though he knew that there was no way she had, he felt extremely twisted inside.

"No, Your Grace! Her Grace would never—!"

Cras.h.!.+

A teacup flew past Jerome's face and shattered to pieces on the floor as soon as Jerome opened his mouth.

"I told you to shut up."

Hugo swiftly got up and walked out of the office while Jerome sat down with a paling face.

He made a mistake. A terrible result of his needless interference. If Fabian were here, he definitely would have told him that their relations.h.i.+p wasn't one he should interfere with.

'I've let down her Grace's honor.'*

His first rebellion against his master ended with his tail completely trampled. He unnecessarily intervened and even created a misunderstanding.

Jerome sighed and began to sweep the pieces of the tea cup that was scattered everywhere.

The fact that the cup did not fly at his forehead meant that his master was already pretty tolerant.

'I'll ask Fabian for some advice when he comes.'

Useless mouth! And so he began to sharply berate himself.

***

Lucia returned home early from her outing with Kate, using the excuse that she wasn't feeling well.

She didn't feel like talking or going horseback riding. Right after she returned from seeing Kate, the doctor scarily came to visit.

"Your Grace."

Anna looked at loss for what to do and she couldn't meet Lucia's eyes, seemingly nervous.

That day, he had left after saying that she could do as she pleased but from the next day onwards, he continuously sent Anna.

"Your Grace, the Duke calls me every evening and asks me how the treatment is going."

Anna said with an expression that read ‘please save me’. When the Duke called Anna, he didn't say any other thing.

He would just asked how the treatment was going but that alone gave Anna enormous pressure.

"Please, honestly tell me the symptoms that you know about."

Because of this, in just a few days, the anger in Lucia's heart steadily increased. She felt like she was deceived by him and couldn't break free.

She felt like going to his office immediately and giving him a slap.

'Alright. I'll do what you want me to do.'

Lucia opened her mouth and began to explain her symptoms. She explained it exactly how she explained it to the doctors she searched for in her dream.

Yes, she already knew a cure for it but she had no intention of using it. However, if Anna found another cure, she didn't plan on refusing treatment.

But the chances of that happening were close to none. She'd met countless doctors in her dream numerous times, but none of them could cure her.

It was an amazing coincidence and luck that she was able to get a treatment method from that wandering doctor.

She didn't think such coincidence and luck would happen a second time.

And as expected, Anna looked confused after hearing her explanation. She looked bewildered by the fact that Lucia took mugwort herb and cause her menstruation to stop.  She didn't seem to know anything about it.

"I'm sorry, your Grace. To be frank, my abili so I do not know how to treat you. But I will definitely figure out a way."

Anna resolutely a.s.sured her. Lucia sat absent-mindedly for a little while then went out into the garden.

***

Hugo left his office extremely displeased and thoughtlessly walked till he stepped outside.

The rain had stopped but there was no sign of the sun.

'I guess the day is ending like this.'

When he realized it, he was already  in the garden. He quickly turned around and tried to leave but before he could do that he discovered her.

She was bent over in a bow, looking at an almost blossoming flower bud. He stood still for a while, then his feet turned towards her.

Lucia straightened her waist and turned to see him approaching her, instantly, she found herself falling into a fantasy as the air around her changed.

Everything around her blurred and all she could see was him. Lucia knew she had experienced something like this before.

'When I was in the capital…the day of the Knight's parade…'

It was the day that she saw him for the first time in reality, not in her dreams.

She was angry with him. Her condition was terrible because she could not sleep properly as every night, she stared at the bedroom door that never opened.

And just a while ago, she wanted to slap him if she ever saw him. But once she saw him, all the anger that had piled up, instantly melted away like salt dissolved in the water.

'I am such an idiot…'

She knew that he was unattainable and thought she had locked down her feelings but her heart seemed to slip through the crevices.

While her heart bubbled over, it also hurt.

'I love him.'

She didn't know what to do. Just like his countless past lovers, she couldn't keep her heart to herself.

'He must not find out.'

If he took one step closer to her, she would take two steps backwards. She didn't want to be sent a rose.

Note: I am cras.h.i.+ng immediately after this upload. New comments will be approved once I wake up.