CMESD 09

Chapter 9

A Gentleman to a Lady

I quickly answered Liam’s question.

“Of course not. The knights from the Grand Duke’s residence come every night. They guard the courtyard and the entrance.”

“So you’re saying Luna is alone inside the mansion?”

Put that way, it made me sound as though I’d simply left Luna unattended.

Before Liam could misunderstand, I hurriedly added,

“No. Before I left, I asked the knight to guard the entrance until I returned.”

“What about outside her room?”

This time, I was genuinely at a loss.

Outside her room?

Even when Luna had been living at the Grand Duke’s residence, no one had stood guard outside her room throughout the night.

“There’s a knight guarding the courtyard connected to the outer wall, so I didn’t think it was necessary to guard her room as well……………….”

That was apparently enough for Liam.

He immediately called Maria back inside.

Without offering the puzzled Maria any explanation, he said,

“Maria, go to Viscount Milton’s residence and watch over Luna.”

I was stunned.

Was he serious?

Maria looked back and forth between Liam and me before saying,

“Understood. Shall I bring the young lady here?”

“No. I heard she’s asleep. Just go and make sure nothing happens to her.”

“Yes. I’ll leave at once.”

Maria looked at me as though she were judging me for my behavior, then promptly turned and walked away.

Watching Liam close the door behind her, I thought,

Just how old does everyone think Luna is?

I awkwardly watched Liam.

With an expression that gave away nothing of what he was thinking, he poured me a cup of tea and held it out.

“Ah, thank you.”

“So, what brings you here?”

He wanted to get straight to the point, apparently.

I had no reason to refuse.

“I had a disagreement with Mrs. DuBois, so I dismissed her. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you beforehand.”

“DuBois……………… Ah. The governess. So?”

I hadn’t expected him to care much, but shouldn’t he at least ask why I’d dismissed her?

I was beginning to get confused.

Does this man care about Luna or not?

Sometimes, Liam made his affection for Luna quite obvious.

For example, he seemed grateful that Luna had someone she was emotionally attached to, or he went out of his way to eliminate even the slightest possibility of Luna being put in danger.

And yet he acted as though I’d done something utterly outrageous by putting Luna to bed and leaving her.

But most of the time, Liam was cold toward Luna.

He didn’t spend time with her. Even if the war had been the reason, he had never once sent Luna a letter.

Jade had brought all of her birthday presents, and as far as I could remember, none of them were things a child would actually consider a “present.”

Even now, it was the same.

“Well, since that’s what happened, I came to ask your opinion on whether I should find a new governess.”

Liam looked at me in confusion.

“Do you really need one?”

“……Wouldn’t it still be better for her to have a governess?”

“She’s entering the academy soon. She can learn what she needs there.”

“But they don’t teach foreign languages or etiquette at the academy.”

“Then you can find another governess, Isabella.”

He looked as though he genuinely couldn’t understand why I was asking him about something like this.

I was beginning to think I understood what the problem was.

If he cared about Luna but didn’t actually want to get involved with her, then……………….

“Would you take care of it, Your Grace?”

Cough!

Liam hurriedly covered his mouth and let out a dry cough.

Looking at him, I realized I’d hit the nail on the head.

“What………………? Were you joking?”

For the first time, a look of bewilderment crossed his otherwise impenetrable face.

Feeling a strange sense of victory, I pressed on so he wouldn’t realize that my suggestion had been completely impulsive.

“You need an opportunity to get closer to Luna, don’t you?”

“That—”

“And Luna needs a new governess right now. If I remember correctly, Your Grace speaks eight languages, doesn’t he?”

At my question, Liam rubbed the corner of his mouth.

I didn’t know him very well, but somehow, his expression seemed strangely complicated.

While I was wondering whether I’d guessed correctly, Liam composed himself and asked,

“How exactly did you find that out?”

“Jade told me.”

The moment I saw Liam’s stiff expression, I realized I’d said something wrong.

But even after going over our conversation in my head, I couldn’t figure out why he’d suddenly become upset.

Should I take it back? Did I cross another line? What if he tells me I’m talking nonsense?

As I shifted my eyes awkwardly, Liam sighed.

“Fine. I have plenty of time now anyway, so I suppose it won’t hurt.”

“You have plenty of time?”

“My assignment has changed. I’ll be stationed with the capital’s defense forces for the time being, so I’ll be staying in Centon.”

“That’s wonderful!”

He’d be staying in the capital!

That meant he’d be able to stay by Luna’s side!

I exclaimed excitedly, but when I saw Liam’s expression, I cleared my throat.

I’d almost made another mistake.

“That’s… very, very good. I was worried there wouldn’t be anyone to look after Luna after she entered the academy.”

“……If you want, you can stay here and live with Luna.”

I was startled by the unexpected offer.

If he’d made that suggestion a little while ago, I would’ve accepted without hesitation.

After all, I had been the one who wanted to remain by Luna’s side badly enough to extend our contract in the first place.

But after bringing Luna with me, I’d realized just how naïve I’d been.

And the rumors that would spread if I stayed in Centon would probably be exactly what I’d imagined.

I set down the teacup I’d been holding between both hands and said,

“I can’t do that.”

“Why? Didn’t you like Luna?”

“Of course I like her. I don’t think there’s anyone who could dislike Luna.”

When I said it so firmly, Liam shrugged as though he found my answer amusing.

As if he himself had no particular feelings toward Luna.

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Surely you aren’t about to say you don’t like Luna……………….”

“If you mean whether I like or dislike her, then neither. I do, however, feel responsible for her.”

He really knows how to leave me speechless.

But responsibility.

That could explain Liam’s attitude toward Luna.

There was just one thing he was overlooking.

“You can’t exactly say you dislike Luna when you’re responsible for your own niece, can you? You just haven’t realized it, but perhaps you already like Luna.”

“Who knows………………. I’ve never liked anyone before. I’m not sure what it’s supposed to feel like.”

“Then take my word for it. You like Luna.”

In the blink of an eye, I’d changed my statement from a possibility into a certainty.

Liam gave a quiet snort of laughter.

He’d obviously seen right through my flimsy little trick.

I tried to hide the heat rising to my face.

Judging by Liam’s expression, I wasn’t doing a very good job.

His deep blue eyes narrowed with amusement.

“It seems you’re trying to hand Luna over to me somehow and run away.”

“Me?”

“If that’s not what you’re doing, then why are you refusing my offer to stay here?”

He had seen right through the fact that I’d deliberately avoided answering.

Liam rested his clasped hands on his crossed leg and looked at me.

I met his gaze in return.

The Empire’s spear and shield.

By now, the people of the Empire called him the Hero of Easton.

Perhaps I’d already made a mistake simply by trying to deceive a man like him.

I swallowed a sigh and said,

“There are rumors going around in high society.”

Liam furrowed his brow.

Realizing what he had apparently misunderstood, I hurriedly explained.

“It’s not a rumor you need to worry about. It’s about me. It’s just………………well. It’s not exactly a good rumor for Luna either……………….”

“I understand.”

He hadn’t even let me finish.

Liam uncrossed his legs and stood.

He looked annoyed, perhaps even a little flustered.

Probably annoyed.

There was no reason for him to be flustered over rumors about me.

He held out a hand toward me.

“We’ll discuss the lesson schedule and subjects tomorrow. It’s late, Isabella. Go home and get some sleep.”

Only then did I realize that he was calling me Isabella rather than Viscount Milton.

But why?

Before I could ask, Liam took my hand.

I was pulled to my feet in an instant.

Liam naturally escorted me all the way outside the mansion.

The corridors, stairs, and foyer had all been cleared as though everyone had coordinated beforehand, which somehow made the whole thing even more unnatural.

They were definitely all hiding somewhere and watching us.

Even if there had been no other way, coming to House Preston in the middle of the night probably hadn’t been the best idea.

I was silently reflecting on that when Liam continued walking even after we’d passed through the main gate.

I hurriedly said,

“I can go by myself from here.”

“It’s late at night, Isabella. I’ll walk you to your residence.”

“But it’s right next door.”

It was only ten steps away.

It was practically close enough to touch if I fell over!

Liam looked at me as though he were reproaching me.

I’m the one being criticized here? Am I the strange one?

“I’m a gentleman, Isabella.”

……And I’m a lady.

A lady who is perfectly capable of walking to her own house.

Something told me that saying that out loud would only make this conversation drag on forever.

So I obediently accepted Liam’s escort.

As I walked those ten short steps under his protection, I thought to myself,

Centon really isn’t the place for me.