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“That was a bit lazy, wasn’t it? I’m sorry…”

Before I could finish my apology, Etienne grabbed my hand.

“Oh my! Why are you doing this!”

Is it not because of that?

Etienne scrutinized the back of my hand with a meticulous gaze. Then, he released my hand as if throwing it away.

Judging by his expression, it seemed like I didn’t pass the inspection. I took back my neglected hand and examined it.

There was nothing there.

On the pristine white back of my hand, there were only small scratches from scraping against the rocky ground.

“How pathetic.”

“What on earth is it?”

Etienne seemed like he wanted to say something, opening and closing his mouth repeatedly.

But in the end, he didn’t say anything and just huffed, storming out of the room.

“What…? Why is he acting like this today?”

I stared blankly at the door for a long time.

I have no idea what that man is thinking, but there is one thing I know for sure.

He dislikes me. He dislikes me a lot.

The flickering flame of hope that had briefly ignited within me sputtered and extinguished in a puff, leaving behind only smoke.

* * *

“I heard Sir went to see Lady Dahlia? Sir did well. I told you to go earlier.”

Despite Simon’s words, Etienne remained silent.

Instead, he placed a colorful bag on the desk. The candies inside collided, creating a pleasant jingling sound.

It was something he picked up from the ground on the day he rescued Dahlia. Looking at the colorful and disheveled candies, it reminded him of her.

The red candy resembled her lips, and the purple candy brought to mind her irises. The yellow candy captured her bright and carefree personality.

Suddenly, irritation welled up within him. He threw the bag into a corner of the desk, making sure it was out of sight.

“Should I throw it away? Oh, no, I won’t. Why are you staring at me so menacingly?”

Simon hesitated for a moment and then spoke again.

“So, does that mean I don’t have to report on Lady Dahlia anymore?”

“You have to, and be more specific.”

“What? How can I be more specific? Are you asking me to report even on the number of times Lady Dahlia breathes?”

Simon’s eyes welled up with tears.

In the past week, due to Etienne’s incessant demands, he had to report on the time Dahlia spent on treatment, the number of times she frowned, and even how many times she cut her steak.

As a result, he couldn’t attend to other tasks, and the paperwork piled up like a mountain.

But Etienne insisted on continuing. When would it end? And for what reason?

It was a method that didn’t align with Etienne’s usual pursuit of efficiency and maximizing productivity.

“Why? Do you dislike it?”

There were many things Simon wanted to say, but he simply closed his mouth. Then, he narrowed his small, dark eyes.

“Are you having some strange thoughts again? It’s annoying, so get rid of that piercing gaze.”

“I apologize.”

Simon’s voice trembled as he spoke, recalling the past few days.

Etienne, appearing with a tired Dahlia in his arms, looked pale. It was a sight Simon had never seen before, despite having known him for a long time.

Etienne was ruthless, willing to kill without mercy if necessary. He had always been cold-blooded.

It was the same when he sent Dahlia to the monastery a while ago. Despite being a couple who had spent a year together, he sent her away without a hint of hesitation.

A few days later, he brought her back, battered and bruised.

Come to think of it, it was strange back then too. Your Highness Etienne forgiving someone for a mistake? Is he still the same? Ah… Lady Dahlia had also become strange, but had Master Etienne changed as well?

“Aren’t you going to retract your gaze?”

“Ahem…”

Simon, who had been cautiously observing, lowered his head.

Sir Etienne’s temper was still the same. Then what could it be that made him feel uneasy?

On the day Dahlia was kidnapped, she woke up without any major injuries.

However, Sir Etienne paced restlessly by the window like a fool. He didn’t sleep or eat, spending the entire day only asking about Dahlia’s condition.

It was strange, so strange…

Simon’s head shook anxiously, and suddenly his eyes sparkled.

“Your Highness Etienne, could it be…?”

“What? Why, what?”

As Simon’s eyes gleamed, Etienne’s expression twisted.

It was like putting puppy eyes on a giant grizzly bear. Whenever he had that burdened look in his eyes, it meant something inconceivable was about to be revealed.

“Have you fallen in love…?”

Swoosh.

“Ah!”

A thick book flew towards Simon. Barely avoiding it, Simon cowered, hunching his large frame and trembling.

“Ah, if I got hit with that, I would have died!”

“I threw it to kill you.”

“Why, why! Even Lady Dahlia is not the same as before, so it’s possible! Love comes unexpectedly…! Ah! I won’t say anything, don’t throw it!”

Etienne put down the ink bottle he had picked up.

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