Chapter 91
“Is something wrong, Lady Muriel?”
I had paused, staring up at the dead tree, when Marian asked in a puzzled voice.
“…Ah.”
A soft murmur slipped from her lips, as if she understood.
Marian and Chelsea stepped up beside me and looked at the tree as well, their expressions turning heavy.
“That’s the tree His Grace planted on his thirteenth birthday. We don’t know what kind it is either—it was a gift from the temple. They said he would need it someday.”
A gift from the temple?
Then how had it ended up like this—so completely withered?
As if every trace of life had been drained from it….
Perhaps sensing the question in my heart, Marian gently continued.
“When he was thirteen… something terrible happened to His Grace. That was when this tree withered like this.”
Something terrible?
I wanted to hear the details, but Marian only hesitated, unable to go on.
‘…Guess it’s not something I’m meant to know.’
That was what I told myself, trying to brush it off.
‘But I’m still curious…! What happened to Lycian when he was thirteen?’
Even as I toured the glass greenhouse in the rear garden, the question clung to me.
The greenhouse was astonishingly large. The ceiling arched high overhead, and in the center lay a vast pond.
Green lotus leaves floated across the surface, and though it wasn’t the season, lotus blossoms bloomed in full splendor.
It was a breathtaking sight.
And yet…
My thoughts were in the bean field—no, with Lycian.
‘Come to think of it, there was a scar on the left side of his chest. Did he get that when he was thirteen too?’
In the end, I barely registered the greenhouse at all before returning to the main building.
As I climbed the stairs, hushed whispers drifted from the second-floor corridor.
“So His Grace the Grand Duke….”
Curiosity pricked at me. I stopped and strained to listen.
“Don’t you think that benefactor might be Lady Muriel?”
“Gasp—! You thought so too? I did!”
…Benefactor?
Just then, Marian cleared her throat loudly.
“Ahem!”
I couldn’t see the people beyond the wall, but I could hear them scatter in a flurry.
When I turned to look at Marian, she simply smiled as if nothing had happened.
Even after returning to my room, the questions refused to leave me.
‘What happened to Lycian when he was thirteen?’
And who was this “benefactor” they were talking about?
It wasn’t me.
I had saved Lycian once in the contaminated zone, yes…
But I had a feeling that wasn’t what they meant.
The next afternoon.
Carrying refreshments, I made my way to Lycian’s office.
Documents were piled high on his desk, stacked like a mountain.
‘Just how much has he been slacking off for work to pile up like that….’
“I said I’m fine. You can leave.”
Without even checking who had entered, Lycian dismissed me.
He looked completely absorbed in reviewing the papers.
‘Seeing him like this… he really does look like a Grand Duke.’
Holding the tray, I stood quietly and stared at him.
I couldn’t miss the chance to admire this different side of him.
“I said you can lea—”
He lifted his head irritably—and our eyes met.
“…!”
Lycian’s eyes widened as he stared at me.
His lips parted, and a flustered voice slipped out.
“Muriel?”
Maybe I should tease him a little.
Feeling playful, I turned slightly away and said,
“You don’t seem very welcoming, so I’ll just go.”
“W-wait, just a moment.”
He shot to his feet and hurried toward me.
The sight of him so flustered made me burst into laughter.
Still snickering, I chided him playfully.
“Idiot. You should at least check who it is.”
“…I didn’t expect you, Muriel. There’s nothing interesting in my office anyway….”
He let out a quiet sigh, his gaze lingering on me.
It traveled slowly from my head to my toes, so intent it was almost burdensome.
Then surprise bloomed across his face.
“Muriel….”
His golden eyes sparkled as they looked at me.
His voice, thick with admiration, followed.
“You’re… so, so beautiful. Did the maids dress you?”
“…Yeah.”
Today, too, I looked like a human chandelier—glittering and extravagant.
Thanks to the painstaking efforts of Marian and Chelsea, I was dressed well enough to attend a ball at a moment’s notice.
It was the first time Lycian had seen me dressed like this.
Yesterday, he’d been too busy for us to cross paths.
“What am I going to do, Muriel?”
He took the tray from my hands, set it on the table, and suddenly pulled me into his arms.
“I want to marry you right now.”
“W-what are you saying?”
How can he say something so embarrassing like it’s nothing?
Flustered, I tried to push him away, but Lycian didn’t budge.
If anything, he tightened his hold, squeezing me until I could barely breathe.
I thumped his shoulder with my useless, cotton-stuffed fists and scolded him.
“Let go and eat your snack. You skipped dinner last night and breakfast this morning, didn’t you? You’ll ruin your health at this rate.”
At that, Lycian’s eyes shone brightly as he asked, “Can’t you feed me, Muriel?”
I stared at him in disbelief.
“…Do you not have hands?”
“I’m too exhausted from work—”
Lowering himself, he rested his cheek softly against my shoulder and whined.
‘Since when does he act weak….’
Shaking my head, I led him to the sofa and made him sit.
Then I pulled the tray closer.
“Here, sandwich. I made them bite-sized, so they’re easy to eat.”
“You made them, Muriel?”
“Yeah. I stopped by the kitchen.”
While I was there, I borrowed some utensils and ingredients and made the sandwiches.
When I said I wanted to cook, the head chef tried to stop me, insisting he couldn’t possibly make a distinguished guest do such work…
‘I want to make sandwiches myself and bring them to Lycian.’
The moment I said that, not just the head chef but everyone else wore moved expressions, as if deeply touched by my words.
“What effect does this dish have?”
“Mm, try it first.”
I popped a sandwich into Lycian’s mouth.
He chewed like a rabbit, savoring the taste, and soon his eyes rounded.
“It’s good, right?”
When I asked, he nodded eagerly, swallowed, and said,
“It’s delicious. And….”
He seemed to quietly assess his condition before continuing.
“…I feel incredible vitality surging through me. Like I’ve been reborn.”
“Yeah, it has that effect. I made plenty and shared some with the others too.”
“Well done.”
Lycian smiled slyly, his eyes curving like a fox’s.
As I watched that mischievous face, a question suddenly slipped out.
“Do you… smile like that at other people too?”
“Like that? What do you mean?”
“That… like a fox….”
“Haha, do I seem that fox-like?”
“You act like a fox….”
As I muttered awkwardly, Lycian laughed even louder. As if it were the funniest thing in the world.
“With others? Well, I’ve smiled out of courtesy before, but I’ve never smiled to win someone over.”
So he does flash those eye-smiles at me whenever he feels like it.
“Why, Muriel? Are you jealous? If I smile at someone else?”
“…No, I’m not.”
I huffed and shoved another piece of sandwich into his mouth to shut him up.
After feeding him sandwiches, pudding, and fruit until everything was gone—
“How is it, staying at Epherne Castle?”
Lycian asked gently.
With a faint smile, I answered honestly.
“I like it. Everyone’s so kind….”
“Anything uncomfortable?”
“Well… I’d prefer to wear simpler clothes.”
“Why? You look beautiful.”
His long fingers brushed lightly through my hair.
“When you dress up like this, you’re incredibly beautiful, Muriel.”
“…….”
My face burned as if it might burst into flames. I quickly looked away, clutching the hem of my dress with both hands.
He lightly brushed my cheek, almost tickling it, and continued,
“Anything else bothering you? You can tell me.”
“Bothering me….”
As I repeated the words, I thought again of the talk about his “benefactor.”
And what had happened when he was thirteen. The dead tree in the garden.
“…….”
I hesitated, lips parting slightly—but in the end, I shook my head instead of asking.
“There’s nothing.”
If Lycian wasn’t telling me himself, maybe it would be rude to pry.
Everyone has parts of their past they’d rather not share.
‘I should get going. He needs to work.’
“I’ll head back now. Finish your work.”
As I stood with the tray, Lycian wrapped his arms around my waist and pleaded,
“Muriel, will you sit on my lap while I work?”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Of course not.”
Rolling my eyes in exasperation, I lightly pinched his cheek.
“…I’ll play with you once you’re done.”
“Wow, how are you going to play with me?”
“W-what kind of playing do you want?”
“Hmm….”
His eyes narrowed as he stared at me, something undeniably suggestive in his gaze.
After a moment, he crooked one corner of his mouth and tossed out,
“Adult games?”
“…….”
I kicked the clinging Lycian away and strode out of the office. Whether he pleaded behind me or not, I didn’t look back once.
Back in my room, I asked Marian and Chelsea to step out for a bit.
When I said I wanted some time alone, they readily nodded and left.
“Phew.”
I took a deep breath, trying to cool the heat Lycian had stirred inside me.
Then, for the first time in two days, I summoned the ‘Secret Door’ again.
It wasn’t to hide from that perverted fox.
Ninabel had sent me an urgent message earlier that morning.
―Master! Something strange has happened in the forest! I think you need to come see!
‘Something strange?’
―Yes! The plants… they’ve changed into forms I’ve never seen before!
‘…?’
Just what was happening in my subspace?
It was time to find out.
I flung the white door wide open and stepped inside without hesitation.