Chapter 69

“Why the hell didn’t they give me the permission?”

Alexia huffed while biting her nails.

“It’s just a few days trip anyway! What’s the problem with me going to the beach with some friends?”

“My Lady, I came here because I heard that you were calling for me.”

Only when Vivian had bowed politely did Alexia’s eyes finally turn to her. Her eyes, which hadn’t noticed the appearance of the said maid until now, finally gleamed when they were caught up in Vivian’s red locks.

“Yes, you.”

“Pardon…?”

“Go to the Grand Duke right now and ask, if you could just stay there for a few days.”

“Pardon? Me—staying over at the Grand Duke’s residence?”

“Do you wish to stay in his residence? Of course, it’s going to be ‘Alexia’ who’ll be staying over.”

She responded with an annoyed look on her face before flaunting her confident look soon after.

“That’s right. Why didn’t I think of you before? You can just go to the Grand Duke for a few days!”

Vivian was unable to regain her senses when Alexia’s surprising words had suddenly gushed out.

To make a sudden appointment to stay over at the Grand Duke’s for a few days—me?

All this time, she had managed to avoid being caught by the servants there only because she was always alone with the Grand Duke in his room. But now, she was ordered to stay over—longer. Vivian was not confident enough that she wouldn’t get caught at all.

On top of that, there was someone who had already discovered her identity. If he were to disclose this fact, her guise was sure to break apart at any given time.

“But—I have no confidence that I can actually do……”

“You’ve been doing it every day, haven’t you? So, why do you pretend that you can’t all of a sudden?”

Listening to Vivian’s hesitation, Alexia’s expression quickly turned dreadfully grim.

“Come on, go get an appointment tomorrow. And ask him to stay together for a few days.”

It seemed that Alexia had no sense of guilt at all for constantly deceiving the Grand Duke. While she had brazenly ordered Vivian to do so, she had also picked up a letter in great haste before putting out a notice for the Grand Duke’s house.

After being pushed relentlessly by Alexia’s persistent pesters, Vivian eventually proceeded to the Grand Duke’s residence. It was somehow awkward for her to take even a step going over there since it had been quite some time already.

She felt a little empty when she donned the Young Lady’s clothes after such a long time. Furthermore, it appeared that she had lost some weight, which might have been caused by the fact that she had really devoted herself to labor without even eating properly for these past few days.

As soon as Vivian arrived at the Grand Duke’s mansion, she was encountered by a face, which she didn’t really want to see.

“Oh my, Young Countess. It’s been a long time.”

“…Hello.”

Vivian slightly ignored the physician’s greeting before bowing herself to the Grand Duke.

Knox, who had been hanging his head until then, straight away turned his head to her greeting. He was already in the living room—unlike the usual where he had always been in his own bedroom—while looking much brighter than before.

“Oh no. I really thought that you’ve forgotten all about me as you played with your friends.”

Vivian immediately tilted her head to his candid response. Her large hat had tilted sideways, but the Grand Duke pretended not to notice.

“I’ve been quite busy lately. That’s why it was rather hard for me to come here.”

“Playing with your friends?”

“Of course not.”

Vivian emphasized on the fact that she was busy due to her position where she couldn’t have said that she was busy laboring back in the county.

Knox threw a glance at her before turning back his head—sulkily.

“My Lady, please do understand. Today is the day when the Grand Duke gets his regular checkup.”

Only then, Vivian’s curiosity had finally been resolved due to the physician’s words.

So, you’re sulking because you were just being examined by the physician? The Grand Duke instantly furrowed his brow at the physician’s statement.

“Nonsense!”

“How is the Grand Duke’s current condition?”

“He’s already a lot better. It’s even okay to assume that there’s almost no indication of an illness anymore.”

Vivian let out a complicated smile at the physician’s reply. The joy that stemmed from the fact that he was getting better and her own complicated feelings had engulfed her heart—all at the same time.

I can’t meet Knox anymore if he’s no longer sick now, can I? Even though she knew that she was being rather selfish, she just couldn’t stop those thoughts of hers.