BMLT CH 03

Chapter 3

His tone made it sound like I naturally needed his permission just to meet Lucian.

I asked back expressionlessly,

“Why would I need your permission?”

“W-What did you say?!”

“As far as I know, a manager’s duties include personally overseeing and monitoring ‘special students.’”

A special student—

That referred to the most important individuals in the Rosenkreuz Boarding School.

Usually, students whose existence could cause major upheaval if revealed to the outside world were designated as special students and managed carefully.

Victor’s face stiffened.

“Who gave you the right to take charge of the Duke of Kaleid?”

“Myself.”

“Do you think that makes any sense?!”

Veins bulged on Victor’s neck as he shouted.

But I didn’t even twitch an eyebrow.

“Extravagant. Shameless. Useless as a manager. Not even worth the bread you eat.”

Victor flinched.

Of course he did—those were all insults he used to mutter behind my back.

I counted them off one by one on my fingers, then smiled sweetly.

“So I thought I’d finally earn my keep, just like you always said. Is there a problem?”

“Th-that’s…”

Victor’s face twisted with frustration, but he forced himself to continue.

“Even so, that’s not allowed. You know how important the Duke of Kaleid is. I cannot permit—”

“Oh my.”

I let out a small, mocking laugh.

“Victor, do you think you’re someone important?”

“…Excuse me?”

“You’re not the marquis. You’re just a mere manager, yet you talk about granting permission?”

I finished coldly, my voice laced with amusement.

“How ridiculous.”

At my mockery, Victor’s face turned red with anger and humiliation.

Yet he also looked confused.

‘The marquis.’

It was probably because of that.

Calling Dante respectfully “the marquis” must have felt strange to him.

In the original story, Elje had been obsessed with calling Dante by his real name.

Between lovers, being allowed to use someone’s name meant intimacy—proof of passionate love.

The original Elje had taken pride in being able to call him that.

As if being close to a crazy male lead is something to brag about.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and shrugged casually.

“If you’re unhappy, then… why not go report me to the marquis again?”

Since he always threatened me with “I’ll report this to the marquis,” I threw it right back at him.

Victor bit his lip so hard it almost bled.

“Then what do you think the marquis will say? Will he praise you for doing your job well, or…”

I looked up at him calmly and asked,

“Will he be angry that you’re wasting his precious time with something trivial?”

“……”

For once, Victor was speechless.

I delivered the final blow.

“Then I’ll assume I’m in charge of the Duke of Kaleid.”

With a bright smile directed at his twisted expression—

I walked right past him.

* * *

The next day,

I went to see Lucian again.

“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

“……”

Lucian only looked at me with wary eyes and didn’t answer.

I’m on your side.

I thought he might at least question whether what I said yesterday was true—

Feeling slightly disappointed, I asked,

“May I take off your clothes for a moment?”

Lucian’s head snapped up.

His eyes clearly said, Is this woman insane?

I pointed casually at the first-aid kit beside me.

“You were thrown to the ground yesterday, remember? I want to check for injuries—and treat them if there are any.”

I shrugged lightly.

“And you should probably change your clothes too.”

After rolling around in the rain and mud, his clothes were filthy.

They must feel awful.

But true to his personality—a prickly male lead who only shows devotion to the heroine—

“Get lost.”

He replied sharply.

Of course, if I were the type to back off at that level of hostility, I wouldn’t have planned to win him over in the first place.

I smiled and provoked him.

“Don’t worry. Younger men aren’t my type.”

“…What?”

Lucian’s expression turned strange.

He looked slightly offended.

As expected, provoking him works.

Among the three male leads, Lucian was the youngest.

Barely an adult—easy enough to rile up with a little provocation—

Wait.

I frowned slightly.

Through the gap in his collar, I caught a glimpse of dark stains.

…Is he hurt?

Without hesitation, I grabbed his shirt.

“What are you—!”

“Stay still.”

I quickly started unbuttoning his shirt.

“Let go!”

Lucian tried to smack my hand away.

His glare was fierce, but I didn’t back down.

“As a manager of this school, I have a duty to ensure you’re in good condition.”

Lucian was the most important piece I needed to secure.

If he got seriously injured, that would be a problem.

“I have no ulterior motives. I’m just checking your wounds.”

I spoke firmly.

Lucian pressed his lips together, frowning.

Watching him carefully, I approached like I was nearing a tense wild animal.

He still looked uncomfortable—but he didn’t resist further.

“I’m going to cut this part.”

As I slid the scissors between the chain and the fabric, I warned him again,

“Don’t move. You’ll get hurt.”

Snip.

The fabric fell away.

And my eyes widened.

Because the injuries revealed on his body were—

“…That must’ve hurt.”

Worse than I expected.

His skin was scraped raw in multiple places, scabs forming over them, and dark bruises spread across his body.

He was moving around so much yesterday, I didn’t even notice.

I clenched my teeth.

“You’re badly hurt, and yet you refused treatment. You’re unnecessarily stubborn.”

“Shut up.”

Lucian snapped at me.

I let out a sigh and turned him around.

“Even so, you need to take care of your health.”

His back came into view—

Muscles tightly defined, far beyond what you’d expect from someone his age.

It looked like a sculpture carved by a god.

Seeing that beautiful body covered in injuries made my mood sink.

“If you want a chance to escape this place someday, you need to stay healthy.”

“……”

I felt him glance at me, as if surprised.

But the moment our eyes met, he quickly looked away again.

Still—

The fact that he wasn’t lashing out anymore was already progress.

I soaked a cloth in clean water and gently cleaned his wounds.

Then I scooped ointment with my fingers and carefully applied it to the worst bruises on his shoulder.

“—Hng…”

Lucian couldn’t hold it in and let out a pained groan.

Startled, I stopped immediately.

“Does it hurt?”

He gritted his teeth and shook his head.

“Mind your own business.”

…So prickly.

“If it hurts, please tell me.”

I said it again, but he didn’t respond.

Though judging by the slight trembling of his shoulders, it clearly did hurt.

After a while,

I finished treating his injuries and took out the clothes I had brought.

A shirt and trousers from the school uniform.

“Your Grace, since it’ll be difficult for you to move, I’ll help you change.”

“……”

A complicated expression crossed Lucian’s face.

Discomfort at being touched by someone he didn’t want.
Resentment at having to wear the hated school uniform.
And disgust at his own inability to refuse.

But only for a moment.

“…Damn it. Fine.”

He glanced at his bound hands and muttered a curse before nodding.

As I helped him change,

I looked up at his face.

I hadn’t noticed in the dark yesterday, but even the scratches on his face were worse than I thought.

Such a beautiful face—and now it was injured.

“…You’re hurt.”

Without thinking, I gently brushed over his scabbed lip.

“……”

Lucian’s eyes darkened instantly.

“…What exactly are you?”

Suspicion, confusion, fear, helplessness—

Betrayal toward the cousin he still couldn’t fully give up on.

And a faint trace of hope he hadn’t let go of.

Standing before this young man, who had only just stepped out of boyhood—

I softened my eyes.

“I told you, didn’t I?”

“I’m on your side.”

Hoping that my smile might, even just a little—

Reach him.