# 93
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* * *
The Duke had not yet returned from the Imperial Palace, and there was no way Taiz would leave the place without the children.
But who is standing in front of the Duchess's bedroom this late at night?
Thinking he might be the culprit, I took a step forward gingerly.
“Oh...”
Just then the clouds cleared and the moonlight came through the window.
As the wind blew through the open window, the curtains fluttered softly, and the soft moonlight that passed through them illuminated the man.
". … Mr ?"
I froze when I saw Lucio's clear face.
Now that I think about it, I think I heard that Lucio returned from the academy the night the Duchess collapsed.
But I haven't seen him at all for a few days, so I've completely forgotten about his existence.
“Wow, I was surprised, why are you standing like that? Where did the deputy leader go?”
I didn't know that he was someone who usually walked around without leaving a trace, but I felt embarrassed because he was so cautious, so I started saying different things for no reason.
But Lucio looked at me without any expression.
Without answering what I said or taking his eyes off me.
A long, strange silence followed.
'. …why.’
Why don't you say something? I'd rather ignore it and move on.
I couldn't even get a single word out of my mouth. However, I felt a bit strange because I couldn't avoid eye contact.
'No, I can't sleep properly now...'
“Are you pretending not to know, or do you really not know?”
It was that moment.
While I was in a hurry, Lucio came right in front of me.
Words with unknown meaning continued.
“Do it so you don't feel sad or doubted.”
He took a deep breath and it was really weird.
“No, maybe I'm weird.”
Maybe I'm dreaming because I'm tired.
My mind was blank.
But to prevent me from continuing the illusion, I felt a lively sensation on my face.
Lucio gently swept under my eyes with his long, cold fingers.
“Are you going to sleep and work?”
As I froze in shock at the sudden contact, I heard a low voice in my ear.
“I can't even tell you to take it easy.”
As I listened to Lucio with my ears turning bright red, I noticed a hint of remorse mixed in and shook my head.
“I'm fine, I'm doing it because I want to.”
“But don’t put too much pressure on yourf, my mother doesn’t want that either.”
". … I know."
As I lowered my eyes and spoke, avoiding eye contact, a sob fell onto my forehead.
“False.”
When I looked up in confusion, he looked at me and said.
“Are you okay, if you're not going anywhere.”
“…Where am I going?”
I asked, tilting my head at the unintelligible words.
Then Lucio suddenly burst into laughter.
“Yes, you will always be by my side, don’t even think about leaving without permission.”
Again, I didn't know what that meant.
I shook my head inwardly and took a step back.
This is because I realized too late that the distance between me and Lucio was too close.
“But do you want to see the lady now? It's too late...”
When he remembered standing in front of the Duchess's bedroom and asking, Lucio tilted his head slightly with a smiling expression.
“I came to see you.”
". … I?"
“Yes, when I went to the infirmary, I heard that Viscountess Bardot had gone to rest for a while, I don’t think she was in the room.”
I was surprised when I heard that Lucio personally went to my room.
"Why were you looking for me? What's going on here?"
It is not yet clear whether poison was the cause of the Duchess's collapse, but if it did, the Duke said he would secretly track down the culprit.
Lucio is the heir to the dukedom, so he must have been deeply involved in this matter.
Maybe I've got an idea.
But unexpectedly, Lucio looked at me in surprise and handed me something.
"this . … ".
“You'll be tired, so eat while you're here.”
I was amazed when I looked at the box full of round chocolates.
“Try one, I heard from Aline that you like chocolate.”
I don't know how I became known in the palace as a child obsessed with chocolate.
However, thinking about the sincerity of the person who gave it to me, I picked one up with a hesitant expression and put it in my mouth.
"What happened? Isn't it delicious?"
". … Yes?"
“The expression...as if you wanted to cry.”
I was startled by Lucio's words and raised my hand to touch my face.
However, I couldn't figure out what my expression was.
I said with a forced smile.
“It just reminds me of the good old days.”
“Thank you, the chocolate is delicious, and even then... until now.”
After I finished speaking, I felt embarrassed and lowered my head.
Then Lucio spoke.
“I think my mother gave it to me, I ate it a lot when I was little.”
Looking at his profile that seemed lost in memories, I smiled instead of answering.
* * *
Lucio said he had to go now and looked at Leah's back as she turned around.
The back of the little girl walking away was very small.
Well, she's only nine years old.
However, since her body was smaller and thinner than her age, it seemed like it would break if she touched it wrongly.
Naturally, the weight this child was carrying was extremely heavy.
The secret that I keep from myf that no one knows about, and the situation that the whole family, including me, cannot help but look at that little girl.
In fact, after Leah visited Daryl, Lucio began to find out where the information leaked to check the security situation of the guild.
However, even after re-investigating all the way to the Tezar Orphanage where Leia stayed, the evidence was not found.
Now it's time to become more curious about Leah's secret from the leaked information.
There was news that my mother, who was on her way to the Imperial Palace, had collapsed.
An urgent message reached Lucio who was about to finish his work and return to the palace.
I don't think I'll be able to make magic stones for a while.
I'm sorry for breaking my promise.
Although it was only a six-month contract, the news was delivered via a channel of communication given to someone who immediately became a VIP.
It was briefly explained how accurate the calculation was and that he would later pay damages.
Although he fell silent when he saw that he looked like a bigger salesman than me, Lucio decided that the child's decision must have something to do with his mother's news.
“But I didn't expect this.”
How much do you have to surprise him to make him feel comfortable?
After returning to the palace and hearing the story from his father, Lucio burst out laughing.
“It certainly seemed like she wanted to keep her proficiency in magic a secret.”
Aside from stopping making magic stones, Leia's decision to reveal her abilities and devote herf to making her mother's medicine was surprising and shocking.
Suddenly Lucio realized that he was at ease.
I thought you wouldn't reveal the secret until the end.
Seeing her rushing to save his mother, showing off her abilities like that, made me think that one day at least she wouldn't leave without him saying a word.
Maybe the reason I was trying to find out the little girl's secret was to prevent her from leaving.
However, Lucio, who was at peace, worked hard to remove doubts about this incident, following his father's orders.
As a result, even though I didn't mean to, I kept running into Leah.
Today, Lucio, who had some free time, made an excuse about chocolate and appeared in front of me.
He was curious.
I wonder if the child who seems to see through everything really knows who she is.
but.
〈Where am I going?〉
Even before he could look at her properly, the moment he saw her tilt her little head, Lucio felt that Leia was unbearably cute.
I felt strange, as if someone had blown warm air all over my body.
If you think about it, it was like that from the beginning.
There is absolutely no reason for me to feel sad when I see this child, but strangely enough every time I look at her my heart aches and hurts.
“Even after seeing my blood relatives, I have never had anything like this happen to me.”
Is that all?
I felt like I was suffocating from the frustration that had been constricting my throat ever since I heard the news about my mother, but when I faced Leah, I felt like I could breathe.
“So it doesn't matter anymore.”
No matter what secrets she has or what she believes.
Lucio no longer wanted to know why he cared for Leia.
* * *
The night I met Lucio.
I was determined to give back to the people in my life who gave me sweet chocolate, and I put all my effort into creating an antidote.
Did this heart reach heaven?
The antidote I had prepared was completely ready, distinctly pink in color, as if it had been brewed from the petals of a splicea flower.
Finally, they created the best antidote that removes all toxins and has no side effects.
And now.
When I looked at the Duchess's complexion with a nervous expression, my eyes widened.
“The complexion...it's back.”
It's been less than five minutes since I took the antidote.
The Duchess, who had been breathing heavily, became more comfortable.
As if she no longer felt chest pain, her frowning eyebrows were straightened evenly.
This means that the medicine that was prepared with great care was working properly.
“Her pulse has returned to normal.”
"then . … ".
She looked at Viscountess Bardot, who had just finished her examination, with trembling eyes.
The Viscountess, with a tired face but with a prouder smile than ever, turned and spoke to the Duke.
“You will wake up soon, Your Highness.”