The Monstrous Grand Duke's Fake Lady

Ez sighed.

“I can’t believe you mention work as soon as you wake up. You need to rest, ma’am. The doctor said that you’re sick because of overworking. The doctor also said that it must’ve been hard for you to take your meals recently. He repeatedly ordered that you should not be overdoing it for a while.”

He said that as if he was upset and the corner of his eyes were welling up with tears. As he held onto Vivian’s thin enough wrist, he leaned his head down and brushed it against his forehead.

“Seriously… please don’t overwork yourself. I really thought that something bad had happened to you…”

He murmured, which seemed like he was barely stifling his tears. His hair, which had the color like a wheat field that basked in the afternoon sunshine, slowly tickled her fingertips.

“I’m sorry, Ez. I won’t worry you from now on anymore.”

“Really? You promised, okay!”

Vivian nodded at Ez’s repeated question as if he was confirming it.

“By the way, were you the one who moved me here?”

“Ah…”

After a brief pause, he slowly closed his eyes and nodded.

“Yes. That’s right. I moved you to your room.”

“I just kept on doing things that made me feel sorry for you.”

“You said that you wouldn’t say that word anymore, right? Don’t worry and just take a rest for today. I’ll work hard for today as well.”

“But there’s a whole lot of guests today.”

“It’s okay, ma’am. I’ve been entertaining them these past few days, so I’ve begun to adapt enough.”

He raised one of his arms and posed like he was utterly confident.

Until just now, he was filled with tears. His desperate attempt to reassure Vivian had eventually made her laugh without thinking.

“You believe in me, right?”

“Yes, Ez. I’ll believe it if it’s you.”

Ez sincerely made a happy expression at Vivian’s statement. Vivian then looked around after listening to Ez bragging on making her believe in himself even more.

“What about Ashley?”

“Ashley is doing fine. I just put her on the bed since she was only sleeping.”

Ashley was the one he tended to first since he was afraid that Vivian might wake up as she was still resting then. What if Vivian wakes up because of her child’s cry? Somehow, Ez’s effort in soothing Ashley had paid off well.

“Thank you. Ez, this is all thanks to you.”

“If you’re truly thankful, then please don’t do something like this next time. When I heard you fainted, you don’t know how much—how much I…”

“I won’t anymore.”

Vivian quickly spoke the moment she saw his look that was on the verge of tears.

She knew that she had to make sure this kind of thing wouldn’t happen anymore. She was no longer alone and there was someone she had to take care of as well. Through this incident, she clearly realized that nothing could be gained if she were to continue overworking her body in this manner.

“Please don’t bear it alone. Rely on others and look at your surroundings. And if you can obtain any assistance, then please ask for help from others.”

Especially, to me. After saying that, Ez carefully grasped Vivian’s hands.

“Is it okay for me to do that?”

She just couldn’t say yes easily to Ez’s words. She didn’t want to get hurt after trusting others once more. She believed in them out of her own accord, but the wound that hit her back was still too sharp for herself.

She didn’t want to get hurt anymore. She just didn’t want to be exhausted as she lost any more sleep than this. The wounds which she received from others had stabbed Vivian sharply and resulted in her passive manner of communicating with people.

Ez slowly caressed Vivian’s hands with both of his. He then softly went over her fingers and covered them with his palm before wrapping them up warmly.

“Of course. Didn’t you just say that you’d believe in me?”

When she saw he was smiling brightly, Vivian then slowly moved her forefinger. Her fingers slipped into the gap between his own and began to stroke them as if she was linking them both. It was a rather lukewarm reaction, but it was an obvious change still.

Vivian slowly spoke as she looked at Ez.

“…Ez, should we go and play at the festival?”

“…sorry?”

“You said the festival is fun, right? Since you asked me to look at my surroundings, I got curious at once.”

“Th-that’s of course! I can show you as long as you wish for it, ma’am.”

Ez’s embarrassment gradually flushed his face. His ears, which just like a ripe fruit, stood out exceptionally.

“…do you really plan on going there with me?”

His eyes became serious when he carefully asked her again. The pair of warm eyes that were looking at her revealed a slightly burning desire.

“Yes. It might be a bit late since I can only go after closing the inn, but will that be okay?”

He nodded with all his might and shouted excitedly.

“It’s okay! If you feel uneasy, I can ask my acquaintance to look after the inn for that one day. He’s a diligent guy and he has done a lot of miscellaneous jobs before. I’m sure he can take care of the inn nicely as well.”

“There’s actually someone like that? He’s a talent that I really wish to have.”

As Vivian remarked playfully, Ez parted his mouth out of confusion.

“Uh, huh? Ma’am, are you abandoning me?”

“No way.”

Vivian burst into laughter at his cute antics. He was a transparent person whose inside and outside were absolutely the same. Those gestures of his were what made Vivian feel at ease.