“Why do you forgive so easily?”
Rayburn asked with a dissatisfied face.
Yurix, who was sitting on the bed, turned his head to meet the knight’s gaze.
Yurix didn’t answer right away but asked something else instead.
“Did the count return safely?”
“Yes. The butler was waiting and took him home.”
“I see. I should have sent someone to see him off, but I completely forgot.”
“No, Your Grace.”
Rayburn couldn’t understand the duke’s actions at all.
Rayburn was aware of Count Hexen’s position as well.
However, knowing each other’s positions didn’t make what had already happened disappear. The incident that the duke had suffered warranted significant compensation.
So why had he sent her away so easily?
Yurix swung his legs off the bed.
Then, straightening his clothes, he said, “Speak.”
“It’s not my place to interfere, but is it really alright to just let her go like this?”
“While I was incapacitated, the count already sent money and gifts, didn’t she? What more should I receive?”
“That’s just what you’re supposed to receive!”
“What more should I receive besides what I’m supposed to?”
“…”
Rayburn was at a loss for words and fell silent.
Honestly, Rayburn knew that the duke wouldn’t make a big deal out of this.
Considering his usual character, it was impossible for him to be furious with the count or hold a grudge against her trading company.
But still, this wasn’t right.
“At least some consolation money…”
“The ducal house isn’t lacking money.”
“It’s not about the money. It’s about consolation and apology. The count must have promised a lot, fearing a feud with Your Grace, so why refuse it unnecessarily?”
Yurix didn’t answer right away but smiled a little.
If he had demanded compensation, Count Hexen would have nodded without any hesitation. Even if he had asked for half of the trading company’s profits every year, the count would have had no choice but to comply.
Duke Yurix Dayer was no fool.
He knew well that refusing the compensation he rightfully deserved would be reckless.
Yet, in front of the trembling little chick that was Miria Hexen, he wanted to be a reckless fool for a moment.
“Sir, I’ve already received an apology and consolation. She wrote a letter of repentance.”
The duke showed a crumpled piece of paper that Count Hexen had left behind in her hurry.
After sending Count Hexen away, he continued to sit on the bed, looking at the crumpled letter of repentance. Beyond the sentences that must have been rewritten several times, the count’s pale face seemed to flicker, making him feel strange.
After reading the ‘letter of repentance’ out loud, the count’s figure, which seemed to be waiting only for his anger or reproach, appeared unusually small.
She had seemed like a strong giant when he was about to strike with the porcelain.
Rayburn, looking at the paper in the duke’s hand, asked with dissatisfaction, “A letter of repentance? How well was it written that you forgave him so readily?”
Honestly, Yurix hadn’t been angry with Count Hexen from the start.
As he had told the count, he understood her situation and the misunderstanding.
If the count had come in and started by saying there had been a misunderstanding, he would have nodded in agreement.
But Count Hexen didn’t do that.
She didn’t insist that it was a misunderstanding, that she also had an unfair side, and that they should just overlook it and move on. Instead, she knelt down and read the letter of repentance first.
While watching Count Hexen sitting there trembling like a frightened animal, his heart completely softened. His heart, which had not been angry in the first place, became soft and fragrant like a hill drenched in spring rain.
As he finished dressing, Yurix gave a light order, “Anyway, that discussion is over, so there’s no need to talk about it anymore. When you encounter Count Hexen next time, act as if nothing happened.”
“But…”
“Sir Rayburn, enough. It’s not like there’s a serious problem with my body.”
Rayburn still looked dissatisfied, but he couldn’t interfere further with a decision the duke had already made.
He acknowledged and quietly withdrew.
Left alone, Yurix moved his body a little.
The doctor had said that he could remove the bandages around today, so the wound should be fine. A magician skilled in manipulating mana naturally recovers quickly and has good stamina.
He would be able to return to his daily life right away.So the count’s worry was really unnecessary, but he was still grateful in his heart.
‘It would have been nice to meet the count after removing the bandages.’
He wouldn’t worry more just because he looked hurt, would he?
Yurix stood in front of the mirror, checking his appearance and continuing to think about the count.
Even as he walked around the bedroom to see if he was dizzy, when he met the doctor to remove the bandages, and when he put the count’s letter of repentance in the desk drawer, he kept thinking about her.
When night fell and he lay in bed, he thought of her again.
The duke smiled unwittingly in the darkness.
‘A letter of repentance…’
How much she had trembled while saying that.
The count must have been really nervous, but her hunched shoulders and wary glances were like those of a duckling caught in the rain.
Yes, she was quite cute.
Maybe that’s why he wanted to be extra kind and understanding.
‘But she looked pale.’
The count would rest well today.
That’s a relief. Yurix closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Chirp chirp.
She could hear the sound of birds.
Even with her eyes closed, it felt bright outside.
And her body felt very refreshed.
…Huh?
She sat up abruptly.
It was already 11:30!
She rubbed his eyes and looked again, and it was still 11:30.
“What?”
She had slept in until this time, and Grandpa hadn’t come to wake her up.
There was no urgent matter, but she still had to contact the people from the trading company in the morning to receive reports.
Without changing clothes, she checked the messages in his room first.
Indeed, there were messages from the heads of the trading company departments.
The emperor’s subtly desired puppy design, the supply volume for public institutions, the topics were varied, but fortunately, there were no urgent messages. She checked briefly and was replying when Grandpa entered with a knock.
“Miss, it’s time to get up.”
“Oh, Grandpa.”
I’m already up, you know?
He must have thought I would sleep until lunch.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, he greeted me briefly and focused on work.
The sales manager, who had known him for a long time, teased him for waking up late.
[Master, why are you replying only now lololol Did you oversleep?]
[I don’t know, I fell asleep like I was knocked out; I couldn’t wake up;;; Nothing’s wrong, right?]
[Yes, yes, it’s quiet except for that school matter I mentioned in the morning report. Why haven’t you been coming to the trading company lately?]
[You guys don’t like it when I come, no lip service nn]
[Oh, busted]
She chuckled.
It’s a peaceful day.
Until yesterday, she felt like he was going to die because her blood was so dry.
Thanks to the duke’s generous understanding, everything quickly returned to normal.
She was grateful and a little sorry.
Grandpa, who had come closer, peeked at my message screen and, as always, lectured,
“Be polite when you’re outside. Someone might think you’re friends.”
“I know how to do that well. Oh, Grandpa. Why didn’t you wake me up today? I slept through the clock’s sound.”
“You’ve been worried and haven’t slept well for several days. I just let you sleep in. And you have to reply.”
Ah, right.
[Work, no reply nn]
After checking all the overdue messages, she hesitated for a moment without turning off the messages.
What could Duke Dayer be doing?
He had been collapsed until he finally woke up yesterday, but was everything alright?
She wondered when the bandages would be removed.
He must be awake by now?
Her heart fluttered with various curiosities.
“Miss, will you have lunch in the dining room?”
“No, I’ll just eat here. I should contact the duke.”
“Why? You said it ended well.”
“I want to ask if he slept well. And when he’s removing the bandages.”
“…”
After showing such a pitiful, crying mess yesterday, it’s a bit embarrassing to contact him right away.
The moment his fingers were poised over the keyboard.
“Are you going to contact him first, Miss?”
“Huh?”
Grandpa, looking at me, raised his eyebrows. An unexpected word popped out of his wrinkled mouth.
“Are you going to text a man first?”