Formerly, The Fallen Daughter of the Duke

(... I can smell the day... how nice it feels...)

Claire was wrapped in a fuzzy bed.

Sarah fine linen.

The aroma drifting from the incense furnace that I felt when I hit the turnaround is the perfect refreshing fragrance for the morning whilst remaining sweet.

(That, this is not the usual bed of the Lene family......?

When Claire realizes this isn't her room, she gets up pussy.

(My head... hurts)

Claire glanced at the hangover headache she would experience for the first time.

Look around.

Claire was in a covered bed in the middle of a large room.

Lots of cushions and pillows in a bed big enough to likely turn over as many times as you want.

The bedside table houses a glass finishing incense furnace.

"Claire, are you awake?

Between them, divided by curtains, there are signs of people.

This voice is Lewis, the moment he realized so, Claire understood where this place was and felt hopeless.

"Lewis? Me......"

Claire didn't grasp the situation at all.... except that this is the royal palace.

Lewis peeks at his face from the curtain.

"Morning, Claire. I have a refreshing herbal tea at this table. Let's drink together."

Claire nods and leaves the bed. Shrinking with sorrow, he turned to Lewis and lowered his hips.

"I'm sorry about yesterday.... Lewis, the, me"

Claire, sadly, hardly remembered last night.

I remember to the point where I recommended alcohol to Lewis, but I was also afraid to ask what kind of lapse he played afterwards.

"Yesterday, Claire fell asleep on her way to dinner. It's closer to the Royal Palace than it is to the House of Lehne, so I brought it here on Vique's arrangement."

"What...!!

(Oh my... Besides, I haven't contacted the Lene family...!

Claire understands the situation and holds her cheek down.

"Oh, don't worry, I have a use for the Lene family"

Lewis offers Claire a cup with herbal tea, answering as if she had seen through Claire's heart.

"Thank you. And I'm sorry. I'm really embarrassed..."

Claire said, bowing her head deeply to Lui, who sat directly in front of her.

Lift your head and Lewis and I will see eye to eye. Lewis shook his head and smiled gently

The dark black hair is even more beautiful in the morning light.

Claire received the cup from Lewis and scented it to wake her hangover blurry head.

"Claire is from the Martino family, the prestigious Duke of Noston."

After confirming that Claire had received the cup, Lewis said in a mouthful like nothing.

……

"I, was I saying that?

Claire is in a hurry.

"Yeah. But we were all so convinced. Sure you are."

Lewis laughs, and keeps staring straight into Claire's eyes.

"Don't worry, I know enough to tell you that when we met. Claire was deceiving us. Why doesn't anyone think. More than that, we regret Claire's hard work..."

In Lewis' words, there are tears in Claire's eyes as she glimpses.

How could they all be so sweet?

Lewis said by offering Claire a handkerchief.

"Previously, you told me that Vik was my two years younger, but he grew up like a brother as a childhood friend."

"Yeah, of course I remember."

"I'm in a subordinate relationship, but I think of Your Highness like a brother."

"... I guess so, heh"

Claire laughs cuz she remembers two interactions like a cool sister and restless brother.

"He lives with his heavy responsibilities as royalty at that young age. We want to reduce the burden as much as we can, but we can't always do that because we're subordinates."

Lewis stared into Claire's eyes and went on further.

"The time will definitely come for Vik to need someone like you. It's okay to be Claire. When the time comes, I want you to help him."

"Yeah, sure. … if there's anything I can do"

Lewis's idea would be not just as a friend, but half as a proximity.

Claire surprised herself that she tried to snort for nothing while she knew it as a former Duke's warrant.

(... that...? Me...)

Claire was squeezing the handkerchief in her hand.

―――――

That, two hours ago.

"Good morning, my lord, what can I do for you to call from such a morning?"

6: 00 a.m. Lewis had been summoned to Vique's office.

"I reschedule today and go out with Keith and Donnie. Lewis, you stay."

[]/(exp, adj-na) (1) (uk) (uk) (uk)

Lewis fully agreed, as if he had anticipated the instructions.

"Than that."

Put the schedule in your hand on your desk, and Vike continues.

"Lewis, you knew. Claire's birth."

"About what?

Lewis looks in the direction of the window and peels.

"There is no way that you, who are particularly familiar with magic, would not know about the Martino family in the Noston country. Based on the circumstances in which Claire was met and the baptism of powerful magic, it would be natural to assume that she had grasped it all"

It's more of a childish way of saying it than a harsh tone to blame for hiding.

Lewis answers without incident.

"As one friend, not as a sidekick, I decided it would be for Vik not to let him know. That's all."

"For me..."

"Keith seems to care a lot, but he can do as much as he wants if he finds out who Claire is. But when I thought about earlier, I figured I'd want more time for Veek to know Claire as one person.... to that evidence, how about it? Claire is."

Lewis says with a teasing face.

……

After a few seconds of silence, Veek shrugged in the way he perceived it.

"Not really, to Lewis."

"We've been friends a long time."

To Lui, who laughs satisfactorily, Vik tells him.

Say hello to Claire today.

[]/(exp, adj-na) (1) (uk) (uk) (uk)

Relieved to hear Lewie's response, Vike left the office behind.