Chapter 64
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I'm a homebody who ended up possessing the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower.
Chapter 64
To get straight to the point, the cause of the illness tormenting Baroness Fabron was indeed a fractured rib.
It was a situation that could have proven fatal had circumstances gone awry, but fortunately, she was young, and with the timely support of Marquise Embrose, her recovery proceeded smoothly.
In fact, it seemed Marquise Embrose had made quite the "investment" in her recovery.
Not only did she arrange for the most renowned physician in the Imperial Capital to attend to her, but she even managed to summon Helios, the high priest who wouldn't budge for ordinary donations, directly to the Fabron residence.
From what I heard, Fabron Marquis was initially bewildered by the whole affair, but when he witnessed his wife's cough cease the moment she received the sacred healing treatment, he apparently broke down in tears.
These tidings had already reached the Blaire Grand Duke Territory over the past several days.
How?
'High Society gossip knows no bounds, after all....'
Idle nobility possessed an insatiable appetite for others' affairs.
As a result, all manner of exaggerated tales had made their way into the gossip columns.
There were even accounts claiming that Fabron Marquis had prostrated himself before the Marquis and Marquise Embrose, begging them to accept him again as their son despite his unworthiness.
From what I knew, he had simply gone to offer his gratitude...
In any case, the conflict between the Marquis and Marquise Embrose and their son and his wife seemed to have reached a resolution.
'So what's my next move...?'
Recruitment, naturally.
On my way back from the Poleta Leather Workshop, which I had visited after quite some time, I found myself gazing at the uneven garden stones when I suddenly blurted out an impulsive question.
"How did you feel when you were chosen by me?"
A flinch.
The large frame beside me visibly stiffened at my words.
"...Pardon?"
Ian, pointing to himself as if to confirm I was asking him, met my gaze directly.
Ah, come to think of it, I had rather abruptly cut to the chase.
In my excitement at the prospect of recruiting Baroness Fabron, I had simply....
I shook my head lightly and clarified.
"When you received the offer to serve as my escort. How did that feel?"
"Ah...."
Only then did Ian's expression return to his usual poker face.
'Apparently he's the type whose feelings show quite readily on his face.'
As I harbored that thought with an inward smile, his gaze lowered to the ground.
"...I did not dislike it."
"I'm sorry?"
"I did not dislike it."
Hmm?
What did he mean by "did not dislike it"?
It was an ambiguous answer—whether it meant he had actually enjoyed it or simply that it wasn't unpleasant enough to warrant dislike.
Noticing my bewildered expression, Ian hastily added with an apologetic look.
"...I was somewhat taken aback, admittedly. However, you also showed consideration for my circumstances."
"Ah, you mean the part-time arrangement I proposed?"
"Yes."
That much was true.
I scratched my cheek with an awkward expression.
Generally, escorting someone was a duty that recognized neither day nor night, so from his perspective, he might well have thought I was being considerate of him.
The truth was simply that I disliked having to stay attached to someone all day long.
"Well, I'm saying this now, but that was purely for my own convenience."
Yet as the time I spent with him grew longer, I came to realize that being with someone wasn't entirely uncomfortable.
And now I could say with certainty that this was possible because he, who seemed indifferent to others, had shown me consideration in ways both obvious and subtle.
So, I was feeling gratitude toward Ian.
"I can't tell you how fortunate I was that you helped me that day. I'm truly grateful that you've been by my side."
Was that too embarrassing to say?
But expressing genuine feelings always came with a touch of awkwardness.
Unable to meet his gaze directly, I turned my eyes elsewhere and spoke with the utmost sincerity.
"Actually, I just thought of something—what if we recruited a few more guards, if you're amenable to it?"
"Pardon?"
"Several would surely be better than one. You must be quite busy as well."
In truth, when I first asked for his protection, I hadn't anticipated going out this frequently.
Though this sometimes meant he exceeded his working hours, once he began escorting me, he remained at my side without a single complaint until we returned to the Grand Duke's Residence.
Though occasionally he did stare at me with an ambiguous expression.
'It was as if he were asking when I'd finally let him leave for the day.'
That interpretation was probably correct.
In any case, I made a decision then: I would assign other guards besides Ian!
"It would be better for protecting Ian's personal time as well."
"...No."
"There's no need to decline. From what I've observed, Ian seems to value privacy greatly. Working only three hours a day and with business trips being absolutely off-limits, it appears you have another occupation..."
Suddenly curious about what he did, I asked carefully.
"Is it something you can't tell me about—what your main work is?"
"Yes. That's... difficult."
Ian answered awkwardly and took a step back. Then, with a resolute expression, he replied.
"However, rather than increasing the number of guards, if it's necessary... I'll consider extending my escort hours."
Would that even work? He already looks so exhausted.
The Blaire Grand Duke and Ian turned out to be completely different people, contrary to my initial misunderstanding.
First, the Blaire Grand Duke was an unscrupulous employer who was always scraping money out of me.
Ian, on the other hand, was a faithful employee who worked diligently and remained loyal despite my failure to respect his working hours!
But beyond their similar appearances, the two men shared another trait: the darker the circles under their eyes became as time passed.
I digress, but what I meant to say was that regardless of what his main job was, I felt guilty about overworking Ian, who appeared busy with his primary occupation.
"...Are you truly certain it's alright?"
"Yes. It's fine. And since it's now my off-duty time, may I take my leave?"
Before I knew it, Ian and I had arrived at the entrance to the Grand Duke's Residence.
"Ah, yes. Of course."
"Then I shall see you tomorrow."
He offered a respectful bow and turned with an impeccably straight gait, not a single movement out of place.
As he receded into the distance, his composed stride reminded me that he truly did resemble the Grand Duke.
'Do all those who train with the sword naturally carry themselves this way?'
I tilted my head in puzzlement before promptly banishing thoughts of Ian from my mind.
'But how on earth do I make him a genuine recruitment offer?'
Now that Marquise Embrose was preparing to actively assist the Fabron couple, a monetary proposal hardly seemed compelling.
Moreover, that fervent gleam I'd witnessed in Baroness Fabron's eyes....
'She seemed like the type who only works when something truly captivates her.'
The world truly contained every conceivable variety of person.
Whether during my days as a salaryman in South Korea or my time as Lemeia's Administrator....
Such individuals were always present when I looked around.
'People who only work when they find it engaging.'
They inhabited an entirely different realm from someone like me, who fundamentally despised work and trudged through it reluctantly.
Yet those individuals, when captivated by their field of interest, became relentless enough that they often achieved remarkable success.
'I sensed that quality in Baroness Fabron.'
In a manner of speaking, even while coughing from her rib injury, she'd passionately expounded upon the narrative she'd conceived.
And upon reflecting on it further, I realized such fervor could only stem from truly extraordinary passion.
'I merely adapt and share stories I already know, but shouldn't the true author be someone like Baroness Fabron...?'
After sending Ian away, I remained in the garden, circling endlessly in contemplation rather than entering the Grand Duke's Residence nearby.
"Princess."
A deep shadow fell across my head.
Whoosh!
Startled, I looked up and met the gaze of the Grand Duke, whose expression was far from ordinary.
"We need to talk."
"G-Grand Duke, Your Highness?"
Yet the Grand Duke's face was... for reasons unknown, drenched in perspiration and his breathing came in ragged gasps.
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