"Yes, Her Highness the Grand Duchess asked if there was any place where you were feeling unwell. ...Did something happen with Adeus?"
At that time, I almost took the medicine, so he must have asked about that.
"No, nothing happened. I'm fine."
When I casually brushed it off, Rebecca let out a big sigh of relief.
"Phew, I'm glad. I was worried that Her Highness the Grand Duchess was unwell."
"It's not that."
"If you're unwell, you must tell me! Do you understand?"
"Sure. ...By the way, Rebecca."
"Yes, Her Highness the Grand Duchess."
Rebecca hummed a little tune while gently brushing my hair.
"Contact Adeus and tell him to meet me soon. Have him set a place and time and let me know."
"...What?"
Rebecca stopped brushing and opened her eyes wide in surprise.
"Her Highness is going to meet Adeus?"
"Yes. I have some things I want to ask him, and it's a good opportunity."
"...Should I be the one to contact him?"
"Yes, since you're close with Adeus."
I could have contacted the Viscount Fortun, but I wanted to avoid any unnecessary trouble for him, being an illegitimate child.
"Meeting outside?"
"Yes. The mansion is... well, it's comfortable, but there are secrets that shouldn't be known by outsiders. It's better to be cautious."
"The mansion is... boring."
She nodded several times, probably surprised by my sudden decision to meet Adeus.
"Alright, then I'll contact him."
"Thanks."
After a long while of getting ready, I got up from my seat. As I was about to leave the bedroom, the maids opened the door for me. The moment the bedroom door opened, I froze.
"..."
Did I see something wrong? I blinked for a long time, but nothing changed.
"What are you doing here?"
Right in front of me, as soon as I opened the bedroom door, Terdeo was standing there.
'He always goes to the study to organize his work after washing up in the morning, then heads straight to the dining room.'
When I looked at him with a puzzled expression, Terdeo handed me a fragrant flower with a calm face. As I took the flower he offered, I heard the maids and Rebecca behind me breathing heavily, as if they were excited.
"What is this?"
What kind of flower is this all of a sudden? As I tilted my head, Terdeo tilted his head to the side and replied.
"Sophie said to give it to you."
"...Sophie?"
The flower petals were still wet with morning dew, clearly picked early this morning.
"...She could have given it to me directly. Why did she ask you to pass it on?"
"I don't know that either. She came into the bathroom early this morning and grumbled, so I said I would do it."
Was she too embarrassed to give it to me directly? No, that doesn't seem right. She hasn't shown any signs of that lately. I kept tilting my head. Then I lowered my head and smelled the flower that Sophie had picked and Terdeo had passed on. The sweet scent filled my chest.
"The fragrance is nice."
No matter what, the sweet scent of the flower in the morning made me feel good. I stroked the petals and smiled. At that moment, Terdeo's low laughter fell from above.
"I was wondering why she wanted me to give you a flower this morning, but now I see why."
"Huh?"
"You look very good with flowers."
I was speechless at Terdeo's unusual behavior.
'Should I just laugh it off? Or pretend I didn't hear it?'
I felt embarrassed and lowered my head, pretending to smell the flower to avoid his gaze. Then Terdeo gently took my hand and placed it on his firm arm.
"Come. I'll escort you to the dining room myself today."
"O-Okay."
I gestured for the maids and Rebecca to step back. Walking down the stairs next to Terdeo felt strange.
"Usually, when someone changes so suddenly, there's a reason."
"What reason?"
"Either they've done something really bad or they're... about to die."
I clamped my mouth shut, almost saying that he was about to die. I thought Terdeo might say something silly like, "Oh, so I'm about to die!"
"Why did you stop talking?"
Terdeo tilted his head, waiting for me to continue. I laughed awkwardly and brushed it off.
"Either they've done something really bad or they've had a big change in their mood, hahaha. Let's go. Sophie is waiting."
When we entered the dining room, Sophie, who had been waiting, greeted us with a bright smile.
"Your Highness! Mom! Good morning!"
Sophie's joyful gaze turned to the arm I was holding. She seemed very happy.
"Sophie, did something good happen today? Did you have a good dream last night?"
"I just... the sun is nice today, and the wind is nice, and when I woke up this morning and saw Mom, I felt good!"
The sun? The wind? Did Sophie even pay attention to those things? I tilted my head and sat down. As I placed the flower on the table, Sophie exclaimed dramatically.
"Wow, Mom! What's with the sudden flower?"
"Huh?"
"...?"
We both tilted our heads and looked at Sophie. Regardless, her awkward act continued.
"Wow! Did Your Highness pick it this morning and give it to you? Wow!"
"...?"
"Sophie?"
"Your Highness giving flowers in the morning!"
What's going on? I asked Sophie, who was clapping awkwardly, with a worried smile.
"Sophie, you're embarrassed, aren't you?"
"That's not it...!"
"You don't have to be embarrassed. I was really happy when I thought you gave me the flower."
Sophie's outburst stopped.
"Thank you so much, Sophie. The flower looks even prettier because you gave it to me."
I spoke in a more exaggerated voice than usual to comfort the embarrassed Sophie and smelled the flower. Sophie, who had calmed down, cleared her throat. She turned her head abruptly with a sullen expression and asked in a small voice.
"Really, you're happy?"
Sophie's face, which I could see out of the corner of my eye, was as red as a tomato on the plate. She's really cute. I smiled widely and put the flower she had picked in my ear.
"Of course! Who else's son would give me a flower? How does it look? Pretty?"
I got an answer from somewhere else. I turned my head sharply to where the answer came from.
"Y-Yes?"
"I answered that it's pretty because you asked if it's pretty."
Terdeo spoke as calmly as if he was cutting well-cooked asparagus on his plate. My face turned red from the unexpected response. I quietly took the flower out of my ear and put it on the table. Then I fanned my burning face.
He's been acting strange since this morning.
'Is he still pretending to be better when he's not?'
I cast a sidelong glance at Terdeo, who was still eating calmly, with a rational suspicion. I didn't notice that Sophie, sitting opposite, was looking at us with a very pleased expression and nodding.
After finishing breakfast, I took Sophie to the academy. I made sure to avoid repeating the previous incident before returning to the mansion. As I got out of the carriage, Rebecca, who had been waiting, took my hand and whispered secretly.
"I've already told Adeus about what you said this morning."
There's no need to say it like a secret. It's not something to hide.
"Thanks. What was his response?"
I gently pushed Rebecca, who was whispering in my ear, and entered the mansion. Rebecca, who was flustered, quickly followed me and called out a bit louder.
"He said he'll wait at the same time and place where we met last time, a week from now."
"You got a quick response."
Rebecca nodded happily, taking it as a compliment. At that moment, a grumbling voice came from the right.
"A week from now, at the same place and time where we met last time?"
I turned my head to see Terdeo standing there, frowning, as if he had just finished getting ready to go out.
"Terdeo?"
"Who are you meeting that you're talking about so secretly?"
"Why are you here at this time? You've been busy lately."
"......I was doing something. And I'm not busy."
He always says he's not busy when asked. It's almost a habit. As Terdeo approached me, the maids and Rebecca, who were following behind, discreetly stepped back. After confirming that everyone had left, Terdeo asked again.
"Do you have a secret meeting with someone?"
"That's... well, it's not really a secret."
"If it's something I shouldn't know, I apologize. I didn't mean to overhear it."
"It's fine. I wasn't trying to hide it. I was going to tell you anyway."
Terdeo's lips twitched in satisfaction.
"I'm going to meet Adeus in a week."
Terdeo's lips, which had been twitching, suddenly tensed.
"...Viscount Fortun?"
Terdeo's brows furrowed deeply.
"He helped me in front of the temple a while ago, and I have some things to ask him."
Terdeo looked very displeased. He frowned and his lips moved for a long time, as if he had a lot to say. But he swallowed all his words, as if trying to hold back. He then spoke with a strained voice.
"As I said before, I don't like that viscount. His behavior is very suspicious. But... I can't control your actions based on my feelings. You are my wife, not my possession."
He took off his black glove, biting the edge with his lips. His large hand, now gloveless, gently touched my head. His firm hand, with calluses here and there, gently stroked my hair.
"However..."
"...?"
"It would be better if I knew the place where you're meeting. Just in case something happens."
Seeing Terdeo's brows still furrowed, I couldn't help but laugh.
"Are you worried about me now?"
I felt good. It was like rolling in a warm, sun-dried quilt.
"Yes, I understand. You're worried about me because I'm in the Laphérean family, and you don't want any secrets to be revealed."
Our gazes met through the gaps between his fingers. I smiled widely, as if I understood everything. At that moment, Terdeo's hand fell limply.
He stood there, staring at me blankly, as if he was in a trance.
'Huh? Why is he acting like this?'
He must still have a fever. I reached out to check his forehead. At that moment, Terdeo moved his dry lips.
"...No."
"Huh?"
"No, that's right."
A negative and a positive statement in one sentence.
'He must still be sick.'
"Terdeo, you should stay at the mansion and rest today instead of going out..."