RAMHM Chapter 67

Bind Me

A brief silence swept between us. When I simply stared at him without answering, Rhodness made an expression as if he'd realized his mistake—a flash of oh no crossing his face.

"…Is it burdensome?"

Asking so directly was more burdensome. The back of my neck went hot somehow. Was it because Rhodness's low, settled voice resonated through the floor—or did my body feel slightly ticklish from it? Unable to bear it without grasping something, I clenched and released the hem of my dress, shaking my head quietly.

I was choosing my words, unsure how to respond, when Rhodness moved past me to lock the bedroom door and returned.

"In case someone enters."

Contrary to my worry, he didn't seem to be waiting for my answer—Rhodness sat in a nearby chair and invited me to sit as well. After surveying me for a long moment, he paused once I'd taken my seat, then opened his mouth.

"While investigating Baroness Kuroseida's disappearance case, I discovered something unusual."

"Something unusual…?"

"Do you already know there were two other missing persons before the Baroness disappeared?"

"Yes, the newspapers mentioned it."

"It's not something that happened only in the capital."

Rhodness furrowed his brow as if the very thought was absurd.

"Similar incidents occurred multiple times in other provincial territories as well. The common thread is that whether northwest or northeast, they're all related to the north without exception."

"!"

"My personal opinion may be involved, but if it's related to the north, then it's either connected to the Grand Duke or at minimum there's a possibility he tried to minimize the incidents. With this many serial disappearances occurring, yet only those in the capital being known until now—someone must have concealed it."

I was startled by this unexpected news. What if Novian was somehow involved in this case? No—even if he wasn't involved, if we could just connect him to it… Perhaps thinking similarly, when I raised my head sharply, Rhodness's eyes were also gleaming.

"If we can connect him to the Grand Duke, no matter how much His Imperial Majesty cherishes his younger brother, he absolutely won't let it stand."

"Exactly."

"That would be our opportunity."

Rhodness's lips curved slightly upward as he stared at my resolute expression.

"I know targeted investigations aren't good. But that bastard—he deserves it."

"Of course. But, Your Highness."

"Yes."

I called to Rhodness seriously, who was matching my politeness in tone. He looked at me with an expectant expression.

"Going forward, it would be better if you didn't use such rough language…… like 'that bastard.'"

Rhodness seemed to reflect on his words and actions, rolling his eyes thoughtfully before soon hardening his expression. Then with a slightly dejected look, he asked me back.

"……Do you dislike me speaking badly of the Grand Duke?"

"No! Actually… I think your speech patterns have transferred to me. Sometimes rough words like yours pop out of my mouth. How flustered I get each time…… My maid is already accustomed to the original Bliea, so she doesn't think it's particularly strange, but oddly that wounds my pride even more."

Rhodness, who had paused and blinked, smiled gently.

"Understood. I'll correct it."

And he answered without protest that he would.

"Especially in front of you."

When Rhodness spoke as if making a tremendously important resolution, I thought oh no. This wasn't the time for such talk. After hearing him say he'd come because he missed me, my head felt dizzy as if someone had stirred it up—a feeling rose that I couldn't bear without blurting out something.

"I'm sorry."

Rhodness tilted his head. As his head moved to one side, his neatly arranged hair gleamed and shifted to the other side. I bit my lip, unable to stop my gaze from following there. A rational thought suddenly flashed—did it make sense for me to criticize his speech when I'd said with my own mouth that 'until the work is finished, we're good friends'?

'This kind of binding is something only lovers do.'

The back of my neck had been heating up for a while now, and that heat seemed to transfer to my face.

"That…… my words went astray a bit. That's not what's important. It just suddenly flashed into my mind. Sometimes the servants of this house startle whenever I speak…"

"Bind me."

I froze instantly. As if reading my mind, Rhodness gave a completely unrelated answer to what I was saying—he'd already leaned his body heavily toward me, stretched out his long arm, and placed his hand firmly atop my head. I felt like a small animal. His warm, large hand gently caressed my heated head as if cooling it soothingly.

"I told you I know what kind of person you are."

"……What does that mean?"

"I'd rather you bind me even more."

Had I actually spoken aloud instead of just thinking it in my heart? I clamped my mouth shut without realizing. I couldn't take responsibility for my feelings toward him right now—I couldn't just do whatever he wanted because he liked it!

Seeing me frozen with only my mouth working, Rhodness couldn't contain his laughter and pulled up the corners of his lips. His face looked as if he knew my thoughts well enough. I should have been embarrassed at being caught, but I had no time to think, too busy moving my gaze along his narrowing lips. His warm hand touched only my head, yet my whole body felt warm as if covered by a cotton quilt in midwinter.

"When you say things like that, it's easy for me to get the wrong idea."

"Wrong idea…?"

"The hopeful misunderstanding that we're not simply friends."

Ah. My heart felt ready to burst, but I couldn't speak. Rhodness looked steadily into my eyes, pressed down once firmly on my head, then withdrew his hand. Even after he stood up, his lavender scent lingered in my nose. Strangely, I had the foolish thought that I wished that scent wouldn't leave me. When I glanced away from his affectionate face and eyes that seemed ready to consume me, my face heated rapidly.

"When you say such things, I keep expecting it. What kind of relationship we'll become. What words you'll use to bind me."

Just as his low, pleasant voice tickled my body intolerably again, I startled at the presence I heard outside the door and stood up. Too embarrassed to look at Rhodness who was still watching me, I opened the door slightly without any real response—Yona was there.

"Ma'am, aren't you coming out? The butler keeps pressing. He says you should come see—."

"Ah, just a moment!"

Thinking I should hide Rhodness, I turned around hurriedly—but he'd already vanished. Startled, when I went to where he'd been standing, a flower lay on my bed, half-hidden by the canopy curtains—from who knows where. Going closer, I saw it was a red camellia that blooms in winter, broken off with the branch. A cool breeze blew in gently from the open window through which Rhodness seemed to have left, inflating the curtains.

"Ma'am, what's wrong? Are you suddenly ill somewhere? What's this? Oh, a camellia! Where did you break off a whole branch like this in the meantime?"

"……Will you arrange it nicely in a vase?"

"Yes, I'll leave your coat here! Shall I arrange it now?"

I barely managed to nod, looking toward the window Rhodness had left through.

'I should have told him I missed him too.'

I pressed my hand firmly against my pounding heart. In a situation where I had to ransack his study to push Novian off a cliff, I couldn't believe my heart was beating this madly.

Lately, the Crown Princess's Palace had been incredibly peaceful. Because Crown Prince Bardenaldo's visits had become frequent. Whether the news had somehow spread beyond the palace walls, not only Irene but even Nora began fawning over Doris with flushed faces.

Such was the peaceful life of a favored Imperial woman. Doris smiled with satisfaction as her eyes swept over all manner of gifts that had arrived from the Castagna vassals. Though Bardenaldo still kept Doris pristinely untouched with that damned excuse of 'worrying her body might be harmed,' Doris considered even this great progress.

Until just recently, the Crown Prince entering the Crown Princess's Palace after sunset could be counted on one hand.

"So, how was Bliea?"

The moment Bliea's name left her mouth, Nora's hands—which had been opening gifts on Doris's behalf—stopped abruptly.

"No different than usual, Your Highness. The Grand Duke seems to treat her well too."

"Hmm."

Nora glanced at Doris's reaction.

Though she'd said 'hmm,' to Nora's ears it sounded like 'humph.' And her ears weren't wrong. Separately from her satisfaction with the Crown Prince's frequent visits, Doris was somewhat irritated by Bliea's recent movements.

True, according to the intentions of Doris and Duke Castagna, Bliea had gone to the Grand Ducal Estate. But it was annoying that Bliea was simply following the Grand Duke's orders without a single word to her.

She said in words that she'd wait for her letters, but she didn't particularly need her help. Not when she'd entered through the Grand Duke taking the initiative rather than through Duke Castagna's influence, without even creating a false identity. Bliea should properly understand that Doris had some credit, so she'd faithfully serve as her eyes and ears there—but just wishing happiness like this made it awkward to make requests or give orders. If she'd at least been quick-witted, she would have sent frequent letters earlier.

According to Madame Leblais, before becoming Grand Duchess she was busy with bridal lessons and had been told to refrain from going out until after the Grand Duchess's funeral. She'd conveyed words about eagerly awaiting the day she'd become Grand Duchess and serve Her Highness the Crown Princess again—but hearing it directly would have been different.

"When I exchanged letters with Lady Bliea, she really said the Grand Duke treats her so well."

Irene's bright voice twisted Doris's lips further. She already knew from intelligence on that side that Bliea Acacia, who should have remained Grand Duchess in name only and become Castagna's puppet, had captured Novian with her charms—but the taste was bitter.

"I did receive a letter asking after my health, but she didn't mention such details. Perhaps she's mindful of the Grand Duke's attention?"

When Doris asked, hiding her rising irritation, Irene tilted her head and Nora continued watching for reactions.

"Having always been four and now three, I feel a bit empty—I should write Bliea a letter today. I've been too busy to contact her at all."

"Oh, then I'll deliver it on my way out of the palace, so please write one quickly, Your Highness."

When Irene smiled brightly and encouraged her, Doris smiled back as if delighted.

"Let's do that. Make sure to deliver it today, Irene."

The Imperial Second Knights and Capital Guard who'd occupied the main gate and caused a commotion fell silent like a lie when I came out.

I pretended to persuade Neil at the forefront, telling him to hold out until dark, and the exceptionally perceptive Neil nodded and quietly made his commotion. They began setting up temporary tents, insisting they had to conduct investigations of the Grand Ducal Estate's servants one by one, even if outside the estate. Gaspar's face turned red with fury, but seeing Rhodness watching them from a distance, he couldn't dare disobey—he held firm that they absolutely could not enter inside the Grand Ducal Estate.

From the moment I came out, Rhodness had been looking precisely at me. My face suddenly burned—I bowed my head slightly, pretending courtesy. After cooling my face briefly and encouraging Gaspar to guard the main gate well, I returned and unfolded the letter Irene had delivered.

「Though it's good to be lost in sweetness, sometimes one needs to look around. Are you still, and will you continue to be, my person? If not, I might be a bit lonely.」

Reading such content in the empty mansion while the servants were out being investigated gave me a headache. In any case, right now it wasn't good to turn Doris into an enemy. I let out a deep sigh and tucked the letter into my dress.

While pondering what to write in reply, I'd already reached the front of Novian's study. Not knowing which key was the right one, I tried them one by one—at some point, the door went click and opened. I stopped the breath I'd been inhaling and looked around again.

No one was in the corridor, and the commotion at the main gate could still be heard in the distance. Finally, Novian's study door had opened.