CH 45.2

“I’m free. What’s the matter?”

“The boss is looking for you. He’s waiting in the corridor on the first floor.”

Cherryl paused to look up at Axel.

“Do you mean the Grand Duke? Did he want me to come down this instant?”

“Yes. It’s too cold outside so please dress warmly.”

“Thank you for telling me. I’ll be right down.”

“Don’t rush. Hello, Lecter’s girlfriend.”

After delivering the message, Axel waved at Lucy before turning around and walking back to the hallway.

Where were they planning to go if she got told to dress warmly?

Cherryl closed the book and got up from her chair.

“I seem to have lost my name now. Everyone in this castle kept referring to me as Lecter’s girlfriend.” Lucy muttered vaguely as she looked at the distant mountain. “Why don’t they call me by my name? Did they catch Cole’s disease?”

Cherryl burst out laughing as she gave Lucy a gentle pat.

“It appeared like everyone had joined in on Axel’s silly prank. I should scold him so that he won’t call you that ever again.”

“You’re very kind, My Lady. Lecter said the same thing.”

“That’s because we both like you.”

“Wow.”

Suddenly, Lily entered the bedroom with a sullen look on her face.

She must have encountered Axel on the way.

“Huh? Where are you going?”

Lily asked Cherryl standing in front of the open closet.

“I’m going to see the Grand Duke for a moment. I heard he was waiting for me on the first floor, so I think I should go now.”

When Cherryl couldn’t choose what clothes to wear, Lily took out a blue leather coat for her.

The soft coat stretching down to her ankles like a dress was made out of a material that clung to the frame like a second skin.

“When will you be back, My Lady? I’ll be preparing some refreshments later. I’ll make some tea upon your arrival.”

“Well, I don’t know how long this will take.”

Curious about this sudden meeting, Lily exchanged glances with Lucy.

“You don’t have to prepare my share of the refreshments. You can eat them by yourself.”

“Oh. Then, we will return to the servant’s quarters early. Please don’t mind us and just focus on having a good time with the lord.”

“You don’t have to… Then I’ll be back.”

For a moment, Cherryl stood in front of the mirror to arrange her hair.

It wasn’t until she noticed that the maids were looking at her with twinkling eyes that she hurried up.

What was he calling her for?

Cade had never done this out of the blue.

As she carefully went down the stairs step by step, she felt nervous and excited as if she was invited on a surprise date.

As she stepped unto the wide staircase overlooking the first-floor hall, a familiar-looking man was immediately caught in her sight.

The large figure in black clothing was a head taller than Cherryl and he was waiting for her while leaning behind a staircase post.

He naturally turned his head as if he had sensed her presence.

As soon as their eyes met, his cool complexion seemed to brighten up a little.

It was strange for her to pick that up even if he wasn’t smiling.

Cherryl, who was walking down the stairs with her eyes fixed on Cade, spoke first as she approached him.

“Since when have you been waiting———”

Even before she finished speaking, she tripped on her own feet.

Everything happened so quickly that she couldn’t even scream.

Cade caught Cherryl and hugged her immediately when she fell With a thud.

She buried her face deep in his broad chest.

“Ouch.”

To hide her embarrassment,  Cherryl made a childlike groan.

Cade unwillingly wrapped his arms around her while gently rubbing the back of her head.

The strands of her blonde hair she had arranged earlier got messy because of his rough hands.

“You must have missed me that much. How long has it been since I last saw you in the library?” Chuckling, Cade asked a naughty question.”Was it enough to hug me as soon as you saw me?”

“I didn’t want to be hugged like this.”

When she remembered her nose bleeding after bumping into him, Cherryl reflexively put her hand under her nose.

Fortunately, there was nothing of the sort.

Cade playfully lowered his chin and observed her face as if recalling the same memory.

Shamefully, Cherryl started first. “Fortunately, my nose isn’t bleeding. You must have had a softer chest than your back, Your Grace.”

“No. This time, it’s only flowing on one side.”

“What do you mean?”

Surprised, Cherryl touched her nostrils to see if blood was leaking out of them.

After floundering like a fool, Cherryl belatedly realized that he was merely jesting.

“You’re too much, Your Grace. You’ll have to wait and see the blade of my revenge——-”

While she talked, he kissed Cherryl’s forehead out of the blue.

Cherryl was startled by the contact he made without hesitation in a place where anyone could see them, but she continued as if nothing was wrong.

“I’ll be sharpening the blade of my revenge.”

“Cute. I can’t wait to see what kind of revenge I’ll get.”

Cade grinned at the slightest threat and smoothed Cherryl’s messy hair.

“There’s something I want to show you.”

The slightly stretched voice drew her attention because it felt significant, somehow.

A warm hand clasped her cheek and a distinctive scent poured in.

“Can you spare me a moment?”