# 43
Ivan strolled briskly, relieved to have escaped the overtime shift. He knocked on the medical room door in a rhythmic tone, relishing the idea of a week's paid vacation and an extra bonus.
The doctor opened the door, exhausted from scientific research, with disheveled hair. His weary eyes looked at Ivan as if he had seen something disturbing.
“What are you doing here instead of going home?”
“I look like a mess today, I'll be back tomorrow morning,” Ivan replied, shaking a bottle of wine. “Would you like to join me for a drink?”
“Drink alone, you've stopped drinking,” the doctor refused, but opened the door wide to let Ivan in.
"Thanks!" Ivan said as he sat down at the table, pouring himself a full glass and drinking it in one go. His face immediately turned red, he had a poor tolerance for alcohol.
"You look absolutely devastated. Your wife might faint if you come home like this," the doctor joked.
“Ugh…” Ivan’s dark circled eyes twitched slightly.
“However, I was not the only one suffering. Even the Duke cut back on his sleep hours to get all his work done!”
"That was surprising, wasn't it? It doesn't look like him at all."
“That's exactly what I mean!”
Harold had always maintained a strict sleep schedule for health reasons, a habit formed after a childhood illness. But recently, he's been cutting back on his sleep to manage his workload.
“For him to do all that, just to be able to go to the festival with her, that's really great.” Ivan slammed the wine glass onto the table.
“Finally, the Duke… The Duke…” His voice gradually softened.
Remembering the exhausting workload, including the Duke's order to prepare a special fireworks display, Ivan lowered his head tremblingly.
“Wait…are you crying?” The doctor asked nervously.
“Yes…” Ivan sniffed, wiping his running eyes and nose.
*Oh my God, once this guy starts crying, he doesn't stop.* The doctor immediately regretted letting him in.
“Ugh, don't mess up the place for me,” the doctor grumbled.
Ivan, overwhelmed with happiness, babbled about how his hard work had been worth it for the Duke and the Lady. Despite the chaos, the doctor understood his feelings but couldn't help but feel disgusted by the scene.
"Finally! *Sniffle!* The Duke's spring has arrived!" Ivan howled, his snot flowing uncontrollably.
The doctor sighed deeply, contemplating Harold's illness that had affected his health, his family, and even his ability to trust women. But since meeting Diana, Harold's condition gradually improved, and he began to care for her in a way that he had never shown to anyone else.
Even more surprisingly, Harold – who had long avoided any romantic interest in women – was now attracted to Diana.
'It seems that the Duke's life is starting to get back on track after meeting Lady Diana,' thought the doctor. 'If I feel this way myself, it's no surprise that someone as emotional as Ivan would lose his mind.'
However, Ivan's snot-stained face was still an unbearable sight. The doctor pressed his fingers to his temples.
“But, Ivan,” he asked cautiously, “do you think Lady Diana loves the Duke?”
Ivan hesitated. “Well… The Duke is doing his best, so you will like him soon enough.”
“That means no, right?”
The doctor tapped the table thoughtfully. Everyone in the palace knew that Diana held a deep, unrequited love for Lord Caiden.
“If you don’t fall in love with the Duke before the contract is up, there might be a problem.”
“Don't say such ominous things!” Ivan shuddered, clearly annoyed. “We should support the Duke to have a happy family, not jinx him! You know how intense he can be!”
Harold's possessions were like a bottomless abyss. If he wanted something and couldn't get it, he would destroy part of it just to have the rest. Given his fixation on Diana, the possibilities were terrifying and endless.
Ivan swallowed more wine straight from the bottle to chase the thought away.
“Sometimes, I wonder how you're still alive with so little respect,” the doctor muttered.
“Anyway, I believe in the Duke!” Ivan declared, imagining a happy future where Harold had children and a loving family.
The thought that the fireworks he had carefully prepared might play a role in that future filled Ivan with overwhelming pride.
“Ugh, just get out of me!” The doctor exploded.
* * *
Boom! Bang!
Fireworks exploded across the night sky in a dazzling display, their reflections blooming just as vibrantly on the ground.
‘I didn’t know where to focus.’ The pure beauty left me smiling from ear to ear.
I wished this moment could last forever.
But, as usual, time passed faster when I wanted him to stop. I stayed rooted, enjoying the glow of the fireworks. The explosions felt like they were washing over me, erasing any remaining sadness.
‘Is this how Diana felt?’ I wondered. 'That night when she saw the fireworks after spraining her ankle and losing all hope, did it give her the strength to stand up again?'
My heartbeat accelerated irregularly, as if answering my question.
In the palace, the memory of fireworks kept vividly echoing in my mind, leaving me breathless.
‘When did Harold start planning this?’ I mused, sitting on my bed with my knees up.
The thought that someone would make that much effort for me made my heart flutter.
“Today was the best day of my life,” she whispered.
Determined to thank him properly, she was surprised when she felt someone approaching.
“Are you here?” She welcomed Harold warmly.
“Harold, thank you so much for today! I had a wonderful time.”
“As long as you have fun, that's all that matters.”
As Harold sat next to me on the bed, I suddenly felt curious and asked, “How was today for you?”
I wanted to know if he had as much fun as I did.
“I had fun,” he replied smoothly, his voice tinged with a naughty tone. “And I will have more fun now.”
Before I could respond, Harold pulled down the strap of his robe, letting it fall, exposing his naked body.
“Shall we start treatment?”
His robe slid to the floor with a soft thud.
I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. The previous magical moment was instantly shattered.
“Diana, why are you moving to the edge of the bed?” Joking.
"Huh? What do you mean? I was sitting on the edge." I stuttered.
"truly?" Smile knowingly.
“Really, I'm not lying.”
“Okay, come to me, Diana. Or should I come to you?”
“S-I'll come for you!” I answered quickly.
*This is just a treatment. A sacred act of healing,* I repeated to myself as I approached.
Harold's deep blue eyes sparkled in the flickering candlelight, watching me like a predator waiting for its prey.
She gripped the bed sheet tightly. His gaze throughout the treatment was intense and constant, as if he claimed me as his own.
'Could his outlook be the real problem?'
It was clear that Harold's intense eyes were making me more aware of him. Acting on impulse, she took the band of his robe and covered his eyes with it.
Startled, Harold grabbed my wrist for a moment but quickly let go. He remained still, letting me tie the knot, then spoke in a low voice.
“Is this your favorite toy?”
“No, it's not!”
"This denial is not very convincing. There is no need to hide your preferences, Diana. I am happy to accommodate them."
I was so flustered by his joke that I could only open and close my mouth like a fish. Before I could collect my thoughts, Harold's hand slid to my ankle, his fingers wrapping around it in a strong, almost possessive grip,
It felt more like a trap than a touch.
*Why my ankle...?*
I was too stunned to react as he bent down, lowering his body.
“Ma’am,” he whispered, his voice dripping with feigned submission, “would you be so kind as to bestow your grace on this lowly dog?”
Then, he pressed a kiss to the top of my foot.
* * *