Chapter 90 - Preparing And Scheming

August took one more moment to better understand what Winter said. 

He leaned the side of his head on top of hers, returning the embrace. She sighed a little as he started caressing her hair. Slow and gentle.

He keeps quiet. 

And she knew it's because he's deep in thought, pondering over what she told him just now. They didn't say anything for the next several seconds to come until he spoke up again. 

"Is that what you want, Winter…?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"You want to stay as an Agreste until graduation? To continue living the way you do now?"

"As an Agreste, huh? Yeah. That does have the 'normal life' feel to it…" she answered with a small smile.

"No matter how wealthy the Middleton's are, I think that this is the one thing they can't have. Surely, many things will change. But at least until then, I want to enjoy an ordinary high school life up to the very end."

"Alright. I'll handle it."

"Huh? What're you gonna do?"

"Give Sir Victor a call. Your uncle too."

"What for?"

"To get that wish of yours fulfilled. They're not gonna take you away until your graduation."

Winter contemplates for a fraction of time.

If August does that, that'll certainly change the future she's expecting. Cyrus is supposed to take her home the day after tomorrow. From that point on, her whole world will completely take a turn. She'll be all over the news, and she'll be getting all kinds of attention. However, if she is to have one more month to prepare for that, there are some things that can be changed.

'Like letting my legitimacy as the heiress do all the talking first. If I am to hide my identity for a bit longer while news spread all over, people will get interested in knowing who this long-lost daughter is. I can take advantage of the 'suspense' that this will make. For instance, won't it make my image appear mysterious and formidable if they get to learn that I'm acquainted with people of wealth and power despite being a commoner…?' Winter thought to herself.

'They still don't know who I am, but I'll already leave a lasting first impression. Now, that'll be quite a grand reveal. It can create an impact.' 

It's not really necessary, but it can be a good addition to her plan.

With that in mind, she turned to August once more. She then smiled at him and nodded her head in approval. 

"Yeah. I think that'll be nice. Thank you, big brother."

---    

"Seems like our niece wants an extension until her graduation, Grace."

"Oh? You must've intimidated her too much, Cyrus. You must've appeared too formidable."

To everyone who'll happen to see the Middleton's in a romantic dinner date at that fancy restaurant, they may think that they're just having a pleasant time. Then again, with those sweet smiles of theirs and the meaningful looks they share, anyone will think so. But little do they know that the way this couple enjoys each other's company is not how it first seems. 

They wine and dine with hidden meanings behind their smiles. They look at each other with the same scheme in mind. They take delight in their conversation, but their conversation itself is far from delightful.

"If she's already intimidated with only that, then it just further shows how she's not fitted to be the successor. What a brat…" Cyrus scoffed with a wry smirk. 

"As expected of Wesley and Jeanette's child."     

"Now, now~ Don't judge our niece too soon. She may have just been overwhelmed…" Grace cooed, smiling slyly.  

"But if she does happen to be a brat, I'll make sure to discipline her."

"You've still got a whole month to prepare. Make sure to do it well."

"Of course, darling, leave it to me."

And in contentment, they shared a toast.

---

Thinking of telling Marcellus about the Middleton's appearance yesterday, Winter decided to pay him a visit in his office. 

She's on her way there when she suddenly picked up on a distant yet distinct sound of something falling to the ground. Getting a bad feeling about this, she rushes over there to take a look. She searches around the hallway before spotting a certain someone's slumped form on the floor. 

"Sir Lexington!" Winter exclaimed, shocked and distraught.

She hurried over to where Marcellus collapsed. As soon as she reaches him, she slides on her knees and tries to shake him awake. 

"Hey, what happened…?!" she asked in a panic before she placed a hand on his forehead.

"You're burning up!"

Her fingers are slick with his sweat, her hand warm against his forehead. She can see that he's so weak he can't even stand himself up. With that, she immediately moves to gather him in her arms. 

"Ms. Agreste?!"

Then came Claude.

Just like her, he ran all the way there after he heard the fall. He reacted the same as she did when he caught sight of Marcellus lying on the ground. 

"He fainted….!" she told him. 

"He feels very hot too!"

"Let's bring him to his office for now. I'll call for a-"

Claude came to an abrupt pause when Winter helped Marcellus stand up by putting his arm around her shoulders. She struggles a little under his weight, and she has to try to find a more comfortable position so she can accommodate his height, but she manages to carry him all the same. 

His secretary simply stares, mouth open.

"I'll take him there! Go call a doctor or something!" Winter declared, quite needlessly, before turning on her heels and heading for his office.

"R-Right! Set him down there for now!" Claude shouted at her a little hesitantly, still taken aback by how she managed to carry someone twice her size. 

She nods and follows his instruction. 

As soon as she enters his office, she lays him down on the sofa. She then kneels down at his side and reaches her hand out to him, letting her fingers brush a few strands of hair out of his forehead. He shifts slightly in his unconscious state, grimacing.

"Just what in the world happened?" Winter whispered, deeply worried.

"I'm sure it's just a fever," Claude chimed in as he entered. 

She frowned, not buying that for some reason.

He walks to a cabinet at the side and looks for a thermometer. When he found it, he gave it to her and let her put it on him. For a moment, they silently wait for the thermometer to beep. At some point, her patience runs thin. She holds his hand and gives it a squeeze, somewhat feeling a sense of foreboding. 

"Please, be alright."

The thermometer beeps.

She hastily grabs the thermometer, her eyes scanning the reading. Then, her stomach drops. His temperature is high. Very high.

Winter looks back and forth from Marcellus and the thermometer before she shoves it back to him, restarting the process. It can't be right. The thermometer must have malfunctioned. His temperature can't be that high.

"Why did you put it back, Ms. Agreste?" Claude questioned, brows furrowed.

"It was forty-three degrees…" Winter answered in one breath. 

"It was wrong-"

"Forty-three degrees?! He should be brought to the hospital-"

He momentarily panics until a memory flashes across his mind.

About a year ago, his boss had fallen sick as well, though it had only been a mild flu. Since there was no one around to look after him that time, he had kept him company. He remembers asking him why he never wants to go to the doctor for a check-up.

"It's bad. Hospitals are off-limits for me," was what Marcellus said to Claude back then.

With that, the matter had been closed.

Then, he learned that he's been hiding a dark past that only he and his family know. Hospitals require patient data, and so, there must be something about his identity as well as his health information that he wants to keep hidden.

Finally understanding this part of Marcellus, Claude talks once more. 

"No, forget about the hospital. He should be brought home."

"Huh? Why?"

"Just because. You can ask the President about this later on. But for now, he must rest at home."

"Alright. I'll take him there." 

Though relieved that Winter agrees right away, Claude is taken aback again when she offers to take Marcellus herself. While he appreciates her cooperation, he doubts she even knows where he lives and how she'll take him there.

"Don't worry. I know his address. Just give me access to his house. I can also drive."

"Huh? You can?"

"Yeah. I'm a time traveler, remember? I learned back then."

"Okay. But are you sure you can take care of this on your own?"

"I'm sure. Besides, don't you have to cover for his absence here? Work hours are far from over."

After a few more exchanges, Claude finally relents and gives Winter a pass. She gives him a relieved grin in return, thanking him for trusting her. With that, he accompanied her to his car at the parking lot and gave her the keys.

He helps her lie Marcellus down on the back seat of the vehicle. She then thanks him once again before he heads back. 

'Seems like I've got to save my own matters for later. This man needs some medical attention.'

Winter settles herself on the driver's seat, glancing back at Marcellus before starting the car.