Chapter 17
Karl sat on the edge of the bed, sipping a warm cup of cocoa.
As he drank, he secretly glanced at the woman sitting beside him.
‘She really… seems like such a kind person.’
Judith was the one keeping him company.
She didn’t overwhelm him with questions, nor did she bring up what had happened earlier. Instead, she gently shifted the atmosphere by talking about the decorations in the room and the books on the shelves, making sure he felt at ease.
‘I thought Sera was a good person too… but this lady really feels like one.’
Isabella had gone deep into the ducal estate to interrogate Sera.
After receiving Isabella’s permission, Judith had volunteered to stay with Karl.
Having worked as a private tutor for many children, she had confidently offered to look after him.
“To be honest… I still can’t believe Sera really said those awful things to me.”
“Then while Sera is gone, take your time accepting it. Figure out what’s right at your own pace.”
“Take… my time?”
“Yes. There’s no need to rush. Being able to grow little by little is a privilege that only children have.”
Karl had never heard anyone say something like that before.
Everyone always called him a genius.
Because he was a genius, they expected him to master everything quickly.
A genius should do this.
A genius should understand that.
Even Sera often pressured him.
“Young Master, you’re a genius, so you understood what I meant immediately, didn’t you? Starting tomorrow, you need to behave exactly as I told you.”
But Judith had said the exact opposite.
Hearing those words made his heart feel unexpectedly light.
Taking another sip of cocoa, Karl looked at her and asked,
“So… when will Baroness Ailan move into our house?”
It was a completely random question, but Judith simply smiled gently.
“Hmm… after I’ve discussed everything with the Duke, officially registered the marriage, and we announce it.”
Originally, all of that had been scheduled for today.
But after Sera was arrested, everything had been postponed.
Duke Mayus had also returned from inspecting the duchy and immediately joined the interrogation of the Duchess.
Naturally, Judith’s first formal meeting with the Duke had been delayed as well.
Karl quietly looked at Judith before breaking into a soft smile.
“Then… can I call you Sister-in-law?”
“Ah.”
Judith nodded warmly.
“Of course. That’s what I’ll become.”
“Then please don’t be so formal with me. Just call me Karl.”
His blue eyes sparkled.
“If you’re carrying my brother’s child, then you’re family now. But… is my brother doing well?”
“Ah… um… honestly, I don’t really know right now.”
“…Sigh.”
Karl let out a deep groan before lowering his head.
“I apologize on his behalf.”
“N-No, it’s alright.”
“I definitely didn’t teach him to behave like that…”
“Hm?”
“If he ever comes back, I’ll give him a proper scolding. So don’t worry about anything, Sister-in-law.”
Karl simply couldn’t believe what Ekian had done.
To act so irresponsibly…
Even an eight-year-old like him knew better.
His older brother must have completely lost his way after leaving home.
To treat such an intelligent, kind, and thoughtful woman like this…
If Ekian had done something he couldn’t take responsibility for, then naturally the Mayus Ducal House had to take responsibility instead.
Judith herself had said earlier that when Ekian left, it was as though he had entrusted his parents to her.
Which meant there was now one more person for the family to protect in his brother’s place.
‘I’ll protect my sister-in-law… and my future niece or nephew.’
Karl silently made that vow.
* * *
Judith waited until Karl had completely fallen asleep before quietly standing.
She tucked the blanket around him and was about to leave the room.
Thump.
Thump.
A muffled knocking sound came from inside the wardrobe.
Anyone could tell it was deliberate.
‘Master.’
He had undoubtedly entered through the secret passage and listened to her entire conversation with Karl.
After confirming once more that Karl was sleeping soundly, Judith tiptoed over and quietly opened the wardrobe.
Hidden among the children’s clothes sat the masked Master.
“Master? Why have you been following me around when you have nothing better to do?”
“In case something happened. I wanted to help if you needed it. Come inside first.”
Afraid Karl might wake up, Judith quickly slipped into the wardrobe.
The door closed behind her.
Once again, the two of them were pressed tightly together inside the cramped space.
“How did you manage it?”
Apparently, Master was curious how she had brought the Duchess there at exactly the right moment.
Judith thought he could have waited until later to ask, but answered anyway.
“I sent a letter suggesting that tea be prepared in the garden, remember?”
“I do.”
“Sera planned to meet Karl in the rear garden after lunch and give him medicine that would induce vomiting. So it wasn’t difficult to estimate the timing. All I had to do was catch her in the act.”
She explained it as though it were nothing special.
“I showed up around the right time and told the Duchess that I’d accidentally taken a wrong turn on my way over, ended up in the garden, and witnessed something suspicious. Then I asked her to come verify it with me.”
After all, the person who had the greatest authority to punish Sera was the Duchess.
And regardless of everything else, she was also the person who would be able to comfort Karl most sincerely from now on.
She does seem a little hot-tempered and quick to lose her patience…
But she’s still his mother.
She deserved to know.
Master remained silent, simply staring at Judith.
‘What’s with him?’
His expression was impossible to read behind the mask.
The silence only made things more awkward.
As Judith shifted uncomfortably, he let out a quiet sigh.
“Thank you, Judith.”
“…Huh?”
“Just… thank you.”
“For what?”
“I heard everything you said to Karl.”
He seemed to be carefully choosing his words.
“It was…”
“…very warm.”
In the three years they had worked together, this was the first time he had spoken to her like this.
“You seem like…”
“…a genuinely good person.”
Inside the narrow wardrobe, Master whispered softly.
“Judith…”
“…you really are.”
As always, his low voice faded from memory almost as soon as he spoke.
But even Judith could tell something had changed.
The atmosphere between them was no longer the same.
Lately, Master’s words had begun carrying unmistakably human emotion.
Judith stared intently at his mask.
“Master.”
After a brief silence, she asked,
“…Do you like me?”
“…What?”
“Did you fall for me after everything that happened today?”
She leaned even closer.
Startled, Master instinctively leaned backward.
But there was nowhere to go inside the tiny wardrobe.
They ended up pressed together anyway.
Flustered, he hurriedly muttered,
“W-Wait a second, Judith.”
“Because I’m smart and kind-hearted?”
“N-No, that’s not…”
“The timing isn’t exactly ideal, though. I’m about to become a married woman.”
“I know that, of course—”
“I’m a responsible person. I don’t want to get a boyfriend while I’m living with the ducal family.”
“Judith, I…”
She looked directly at his mask and grinned.
“But I’m not rejecting you outright.”
“…What?”
“I don’t know your face, your voice, your name… I know absolutely nothing about you.”
“But if you decide you’d like to pursue something more than our current relationship…”
“…then a few months from now, show me your face.”
“If everything checks out…”
“…I’ll consider you as my second husband.”
“W-Wait, Judith.”
Master stammered helplessly before suddenly becoming serious.
“You’re already thinking about remarriage?”
“…What?”
“You haven’t even registered your first marriage yet. Isn’t planning your second one a little… specific?”
There was unmistakable bewilderment in his voice.
Judith looked equally confused.
“Isn’t that perfectly normal?”
“I’m finally debt-free.”
“And once this whole mess is over, I’ll have plenty of money.”
“B-But…”
“I’ve suffered enough my entire life.”
“Shouldn’t I at least be allowed to date someone?”
Master fell silent before questioning her almost accusingly.
“Wait.”
“Didn’t you say you loved Ekian Mayus?”
“You definitely said that before.”
“That was in the past.”
“I’m over it now.”
“…Already?”
“What kind of person gets over someone that fast?”
“Your heart’s as light as a sheet of paper!”
“He’s been missing for almost five years.”
“…Even so!”
“If you truly loved him—”
“I guess I didn’t love him that much.”
“Besides, he might already be dead.”
“He could still be alive.”
“Maybe.”
“But compared to five years ago, he might’ve become really ugly.”
“W-What?!”
“So if he got ugly, you’d just dump him?”
“How can you be so heartless?”
“Why are you getting upset?”
“Oh…”
“Were you ever dumped because you were ugly?”
“If so… sorry.”
“……”
