Duke, Please Stop Because it Hurts

At some point, after her eyes suddenly opened, she looked around to see if she was still wandering in her dream. Her lips, which had been closed tightly, drew apart when an acquainted figure was slowly forming in her still blurry vision.

“Raven……?”

His eyes turned away from the book he was reading and straight to that small voice.

“You’ve woken up. It’ll be time for dinner soon enough.”

“Did I really sleep for that long?”

Raven gave a nod. Molitia quickly gazed away from the window. The sunlight reflected in her eyes was shining until a while ago. But now, it was the setting sun that had been reflecting on that window instead.

“No matter how comfortable I was in the carriage, it now seemed to be still inside the carriage as well.”

After closing the book he was reading, he then settled down right at the bedside.

“I think that you have gotten a slight fever.”

Molitia immediately shook her head at his touch that was assessing her forehead.

“I’m sure it’s only because I just woke up and therefore feel a little warm.”

“Would it be okay if you’re not even taking the medicine? If you’d like to have our doctor, we can call for her any time, so don’t worry about it.”

“Yes, I really am fine. I also feel quite refreshed, thanks to the sleep just now.”

The symptoms were too weak to be considered a cold. It was evident that the warmth lingered as she had just raised herself from the cosy blanket.

“Then, I’ll call for the maids. You should have something to eat soon.”

“Got it.”

Shortly after Raven had left, Pillen and Lili eventually entered. The two of them kept her in order while they talked non-stop about the prospect of the first Marquis.

The new scenery would always make people’s hearts aflutter. As she gazed upon the two excited people, Molitia also smiled as if she was impressed by it as well.

Knock, knock.

Lili’s hand, which had been setting up her hair, immediately stopped at the knock on the door.

“Is it the Master?”

“I thought that you’d wait—”

Molitia drew a smile around her mouth as though she couldn’t stop herself from it. While wearing a shawl, Molitia then eventually opened the door herself.

However, it wasn’t Raven who was standing right in front of the door. Molitia automatically raised her head and started frowning.

“It’s been a long time since that day.”

“What are you doing here?”

When she saw Ferdinand was grinning away, her smile naturally disappeared from her face.

“I’m here to invite you to dinner. I’m just here to pick you up since you couldn’t have known the Marquis’ layout.”

“I could have a servant to do that for me.”

“How can I entrust such a valued guest to a mere servant?”

Despite his friendly words, Molitia’s expression wasn’t easily unraveled at all. Just looking at his face reminded her of that terrible incident on the street.

There were two main reasons why she didn’t wish to go to the Marquisate of Werner. One of them being the fact that she just didn’t want to see Ferdinand Werner at all costs.

Molitia smiled before shaking her head.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll be going with my dear husband.”

“Come on, sister.”

Molitia’s head was immediately deflected by that cheerful voice.

“…Arjan.”

Molitia heaved a sigh as the second reason—Arjan—had appeared at that moment. She didn’t want to run into her as well. As soon as she had entered the Marquis’, her head already seemed to be pounding from this awful misfortune.

“Come with me. We haven’t seen each other in such a long time, so we have a lot to actually talk about.”

“You’re here—at the Marquis’ as well.”

“I’m here with father. There’s not much time left until the wedding anyway.”

They were going to have a party when the wedding was just around the corner itself? There were a number of questions that began spiraling in Molitia’s head. A party would definitely cost a lot of money. Therefore, it was just common sense to not hold another party when there was already one party scheduled.

It would absolutely cost a fortune just for the sake of the wedding. Why would they even host the party?

Molitia looked at Arjan who was still smiling away. For now, she just wished to be in a place where those two weren’t present at all.

“I see. Then, I hope that you’ll have a marvelous time.”

Arjan made an absurd face when she had firmly ended her words, casting the doubt aside for a while.