Chapter 26 - Claude’s Visit (2/2)
Xavier’s smile was also beautiful, but his was kind of a sculptural smile, while Claude’s was a bit more like a drawing… Actually, they were just the same.
“I thought you’d be very bored while you were in bed,” Claude said.
“That’s true.” I listed out all my grievances. “I read books and talk with my sister, but I can’t help to be bored because I cannot go out.”
“So I will visit you until you fully recover.”
“I see… No, w-wait,” I stammered, my eyes wide. “W-what did you just say?”
“Oh no, you didn’t hear properly,” Claude said with slight regret, then spoke again, clearly enunciating each syllable. “I said I will visit Bellafleur mansion until you fully recover.”
“I…don’t really want that kind of compensation, My Lord,” I refused with a polite shake of my head, but Claude looked quite shocked when he heard that.
“Why—”
No, you really don’t know?
“We don’t have such a close relationship…to meet every day,” I said carefully so as to not cause offense as much as possible. I threw a secret glance at Claude, but he still looked like he was in shock.
Of course, Claude’s face was practically a national treasure, so it was true that I would be happy just by looking at him. But how could he decide we would talk every day after just one meeting—not to mention over such a terrible accident!
‘Woah, just thinking about it makes me feel so awkward.’
No matter how much I liked a good-looking man, that wasn’t a good idea. Not to mention, how would it look for a duke to visit a single young lady’s house ‘every day’, not just ‘sometimes’, for reasons of friendship?
It was a perfect situation to spread strange rumors. Something like that would have legs.
“I didn’t think it through, My Lady,” Claude said.
Ah, he finally seemed to realize how ridiculous his offer was. I nodded, feeling proud.
“Thank you for understanding, My Lord,” I said. “This one visitation is already—”
“First of all, I’m going to challenge a close relationship.”
“…What?”
No, how the hell did he come to that conclusion? I sat frozen as I blinked stupidly at him. He was being unreasonable.
I awkwardly cleared my throat. “Duke, you don’t have to do that.”
“Why?”
“Well…”
If he asks the reason, ah, I really have nothing to tell him. Yeah, why not? He wants to get close to me. Do I have the right to stop him? It’s not like I hated him, so why stop? Various reasons floated through my mind, while Claude smiled his beautiful smile at me.
Hah, so good-looking.
“It looks like you haven’t found a good reason,” he said.
“…”
He was correct.
I was speechless and shut my mouth without realizing it. That heart-pounding smile was still on Claude’s lips.
“Such as I am, I’m not uninteresting. At least, I’m not boring,” he said.
“But I don’t know anything about you.”
“You can get to know me slowly, Lady Maristella. It’s not that important.”
Claude, after making a spontaneous decision, glanced towards the clock, then he looked back at me.
“I’ll be on my way, Lady Maristella. I can’t make you suffer from our first meeting.”
“…”
“I will come again tomorrow.”
“No, it’s okay—”
“You don’t have to feel pressured.”
“…”
Just think what it would it like for me when a great beauty like you comes to visit me every day, Mr. Claude. Don’t you think it will strain my heart? Don’t you think it’s too much of a burden? That means I have to be careful every day!
“Take care of your health, Lady Maristella,” he said.
“A-are you going?”
“Ah.” A flush creeped up on Claude’s face. “You don’t want me to go?”
“…Hurry up and go.”