Chapter 25

Chapter 25

I would have ignored it if it was any other knock, but this one should never be ignored.

It’s a knock meant that ‘my bias is here!’ so I can’t just ignore it.

I jumped out of bed and quickly approached the door.

When I opened the door, Lucian, who hadn’t even changed into sleep attire at this late hour, was standing there. His expression looked dark.

Oh, Duke, how much did you scold him? Why is he so downcast?!

Every time he’s like this, I feel so stuffy inside.

I didn’t know what to do with this man. Lucian looked at me and sighed a little.

“Are you tired?”

I jumped when I saw him taking a step back from where he was standing.

No way! No matter how tired I am, even if I felt like I was going to die from exhaustion, I wouldn’t turn you away!

“No, Brother!”

He stopped at my answer. Then, he stepped back towards me so quickly in that brief moment.

As expected, my favorite, your movements are very agile!

“Come on in.”

“…..”

Lucian came into my room without saying a word. I asked carefully when I saw his outfit.

“Why haven’t you changed yet? You should take a nice hot bath later and have some warm soup.”

“…Alright.”

Lucian smiled very slightly as he looked down at me obediently.

He was just so bright. How come his smile always made me go temporarily blind?

I liked the way he smiled. Whenever he laughed, I could see his eyebrows furrow slightly, and his aura changed because the shadows disappeared from around his eyes.

I really liked it because it looked like a genuine smile.

“Have a seat on the couch, Brother. I will tell them to bring me a warm soup and go back to your room to wash up so you can eat, but I am afraid I can’t do much, so I’ll pull the strings in the meantime instead.”

I grinned as he, who would normally have stopped my actions, waited calmly instead.

Our Lucian.

He came here because he wanted to eat with his sister, but I’m sorry because this Noona has already eaten first. But I can eat with you again!

After asking Amber for two bowls of soup, I sat next to Lucian.

“Brother, I’m really thankful to you.”

“……”

I spoke from the bottom of my heart to him who was sitting upright and looking at me attentively.

“I was so, so happy that Brother came to my rescue.”

Lucian’s eyes widened, then they curved into crescent moons.

It felt like the world slowed down at that moment. I thought I was filming a slow motion video with my eyes.

My bias, you’re absolutely cute.

While eating the soup that Amber brought us, I chattered along. The tiredness in me due to the events earlier disappeared like it was a lie.

Even if I scooped up the soup, Lucian didn’t say anything and ate it well.

I wasn’t usually shy about giving him more to eat, so I just went ahead.

He’s in trouble now.

My hand moved on its own. Casually.

Once he got close to Noah, I can’t do this anymore, can I?

Noah and Lucian were going to be getting very close after they’d become adults. Until then, I just have to stay beside my bias and fangirl faithfully.

After that, even when you leave the nest one day, I can be a fan of both of you again.

I smiled broadly as I imagined the future ahead. Then Lucian licked his dry lips in hesitation and called out to me.

“Ray.”

Oh, is he calling me by a pet name now?

Omg, what should I do!

“Yes, Brother!”

How amazing, ahhh. How is it that you can smile so brightly?

Just keep smiling, Lucian.

“I’m…”

But just what are you taking so long to say?

It was so unreal to see the soft expression he had whenever he licked his dry lips.

It’s really my bias. Your appearance is totally my favorite.

I couldn’t keep up. I was watching, kicking my feet around at the bottom of the sofa, and suddenly he turned away.

I got goosebumps when he turned back toward me, clearly looking at me with his head tilted at an angle.

I guess it’s also possible to get goosebumps when people felt good?

There was something unusual in his golden eyes. There was a glistening metal-like hint of color in his pupils that looked like hot melted gold.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of him because of my euphoria.

“…Don’t forget me.”

Floundering in his dreamy eyes, I tilted my head to the side without noticing what he was trying to say.

“How could I possibly do that, Brother?”

That doesn’t make sense, Lucian.

Your appearance is never something that could be easily forgotten.

Even before I met you in person, I was already your fan.

You think it’s easy to be a fan? No way. Interest and affection were two basic criteria for a fan, alongside having to maintain a plentiful bank account.

My words filled Lucian’s eyes with a bizarre heat, as though he was satisfied.

“That’s right, like that…”

Lucian bowed his head in response to my words. He kissed me on the cheek when I got pulled close in an instant.

The feeling of his lips on my skin and then falling off just as fast felt stark. Somehow, while he blushed in embarrassment, he continued talking.

“Keep remembering me.”

He seemed to be a mixture of happy and forlorn as he said this.

Enchanted by his unpredictable attitude, I mechanically waved and bid goodbye to him when he said he was going already.

Click.

It wasn’t until the door closed that I could breathe out again.

“That’s exactly the finesse of a yandere seme.”

I realized today that even just by breathing, he could already attract people.

I couldn’t even reach the bed and just lay on the sofa.

I wanted to close my eyes quickly and fall asleep, but the emotions I felt continued in my dreams.

Luckily, Lucian appeared in my dream that night just as I wanted. But the shy smile I saw before I went to sleep was nowhere to be found.

I thought as I looked at him with his dark, crooked smile.

I’d seen this look on him a lot in the original.

But the odd thing was, it wasn’t Noah he was looking at from an angle.

And it was my wrist, not anyone else’s, that he held on to. Ahn Hyeyoung’s wrist, not my current one as a child.

I thought it was strange, but I was vaguely delighted. Originally, I was smiling, while being caught by him.

Then Lucian smiled along, too. His smile was so beautiful that I gave him a big hug.

I was so happy even if it was a dream.

“Pardon?”

I dropped the spoon I was holding after hearing what the Duke said as I ate breakfast. What did he just say?

“I’ve thought about it, but my daughter, you should pack up and go to a villa in the South today. So, eat your breakfast and hurry up.”

Noooo—!

You shouldn’t say that on the actual day of departure!

And I don’t want to go!

I want to watch every move that my bias makes, but just where are you sending me?

No! I can’t go!

“I don’t want to go…”

I said with a piteous look on my face. The Duke, who usually blinks at least once at her puppy eyes, looked at me without budging.

Ah, that look. You’re too determined.

As I bowed my head in frustration, I noticed the sweet pumpkin soup that I had been enjoying a while ago.

Oh, sweet pumpkin!

“I know you are upset, but I can’t accept your feelings this time. I can’t elaborate, but I haven’t caught the kidnapper yet. So, why don’t you go to the villa for your dad?”

No—-, if you say that, I can’t say anything back.

Haaa, I can’t help it. I guess I’ll just have to go and come back, right?

“Okay, then. It can’t be helped.”

Yeah, let’s just think this is a good chance.

I am worried about whether the booger king would try to approach me again, so this might be good. Yeah, we should avoid him for the time being.

The Duke’s expression brightened when I answered. He must have been worried, too.

“I’m sure your maid is already packing your stuff now… So take a walk in the garden with your dad after eating.”

“Yes.”

“Huu.”

I finished the pumpkin soup with the new spoon the maid brought me.

I was upset when I thought I couldn’t see my bias for a while.

When Rachel left food because she had lost her appetite, the Duke’s expression became somber. Still, he didn’t go back on his decision. He hoped that this would be enough to keep them at bay.

A hunger strike wouldn’t work on him, would it?

I took a short walk with the Duke and made cookies as usual.

I made a bunch of nut cookies for my favorite because I won’t see him for a while. It’s my bias’ favorite cookie after all.

And then I went to the Duchess with cookies that I would normally deliver through the maid.

With her still suffering from her mental distress, I’ve been told recently that she’s been taking some rather long walks lately.

I’ve been hoping she would get well soon and be with her son before it’s too late, and before he grows up.

I knocked on the door in front of the Duchess’ room.

“Come in.”

With permission to enter, I opened the door carefully. I dropped my gaze down and talked to her first.

“Your Grace, it’s me, Rachel. May I come in?”

She certainly doesn’t like me. That’s why I asked first.

Sitting on the sofa by the window, she turned her gaze towards me.

She still had a grim expression, though she didn’t show a sign of displeasure towards me.

“Come closer.”

“Thank you.”

I approached her with a plate of cookies.

I glanced out of the window to see what she was looking at, but I couldn’t see Lucian in that direction.

He would have already been at the training grounds, so I was looking out of the window with a curious expression, and the Duchess spoke first.

“What brings you here?”