Chapter 17
Striding up the stairs, Elias subtly furrowed his brow.
It was understandable—he had rarely ever met Cecilia alone before.
Why was even something as simple as asking how she was so awkward?
His fingertips curled slightly without him realizing it.
‘Still, this is better. At least the nanny should be with her.’
His father had said earlier that he had sent the nanny in advance, so perhaps she would help ease the awkwardness.
Also, Cecilia should have recovered somewhat by now.
Surely Mrs. Howard would have taken good care of her.
‘No… she might be giving the nanny a hard time again.’
After all, Mrs. Howard had often complained to Elias.
She said Cecilia was so picky and stubborn that she was difficult to care for.
Still, she always ended with, “But she is still the young lady of House Lucert. I must take good care of her.”
If she was troubling the nanny again, he would have to reprimand her this time.
“Cough, ahem.”
Elias cleared his throat a couple of times and knocked.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
Cecilia’s calm voice answered.
When he opened the door, she was looking over with a detached expression.
And then—
“Wh-what… brother?!”
Her eyes widened in shock, and she sprang up from her seat.
“B-brother, what brings you here?”
“Just sit down.”
Elias said awkwardly, hiding his embarrassment.
“Mother told me to check on you.”
“Mother did?”
Cecilia’s face brightened as if a light had been lit.
Elias quickly scanned her up and down.
She looked like she had just washed and changed clothes.
The ends of her pale blonde hair were still slightly damp.
But her face was still pale, which concerned him.
His voice carried a faint note of worry.
“How are you feeling? Are you better?”
“I’m fine.”
But was she really fine?
Elias studied her closely, but she only shrank further into herself.
Still, she didn’t look like she would collapse at any moment.
“Good. That’s a relief.”
He nodded, then sighed and chided her.
“You really scared everyone, running out in the middle of a meal like that.”
“……”
At those words, Cecilia’s expression darkened like a cloudy sky.
Then she quietly lowered her head.
“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“Alright. Just be more careful.”
A slightly awkward silence followed.
“……”
“……”
Elias gently bit the inside of his cheek.
He hadn’t meant for Cecilia to become this subdued.
He had just felt awkward being alone with her.
When she had disappeared earlier, the whole family had been worried, so pointing it out like this felt…
‘I was too sharp.’
Clicking his tongue inwardly, Elias suddenly looked around.
The person he had assumed would naturally be by Cecilia’s side was nowhere to be seen.
“By the way, where’s the nanny?”
At his question, Cecilia blinked in confusion.
“The nanny? Why?”
“Well, you just came back, so it’s only natural she should be watching over your condition…”
As he spoke, Elias frowned deeply.
Something felt off about the conversation.
“She didn’t come?”
“Huh? That’s…”
Cecilia nodded slightly and glanced around nervously.
The crease between Elias’s brows deepened.
“Father said he sent the nanny. Then why isn’t she here yet?”
“I-I…”
Her teal eyes trembled violently.
Biting her lower lip, Cecilia quickly lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, brother. Please forgive me.”
Elias froze.
“What?”
“If I did something wrong, I’ll reflect on it…”
“No, that’s not what I meant!”
Unable to contain his frustration, Elias raised his voice—just then.
Bang.
The door opened without even a knock.
A sharp voice rang out like a crack.
“Honestly, the young lady can’t go a single day behaving properly.”
It was Mrs. Howard.
She entered the room with confident strides.
“How long do you intend to keep worrying your family? The dignity of House Lucert…”
As she kept her head high and glared at Cecilia, she suddenly froze.
Because Elias was standing beside her.
“Nanny?”
Elias called her in a suspicious tone.
Mrs. Howard’s eyes shook violently.
But only for a moment.
She quickly put on a warm smile and spoke gently.
“Oh my, young lord. You came to see the young lady? How thoughtful of you.”
“Nanny, why are you only coming now?”
Elias narrowed his eyes.
“I was told Father ordered you to stay by Cecilia’s side.”
“I’m sorry. The young lady asked me for something…”
Mrs. Howard hurriedly began explaining, shooting Cecilia a quick look.
‘Play along.’
At that sharp gaze, Cecilia stiffened.
“A request?”
“Yes, she asked me to bring her some hot lemon tea. She insisted she had to have lemon tea.”
However, Elias’s frown did not ease.
“But you’re not holding anything.”
At that question, Mrs. Howard gave an awkward smile.
“Well, apparently they ran out of lemon tea in the kitchen.”
“……”
Cecilia bit her lip tightly.
Because she had never once mentioned lemon tea.
In fact, Mrs. Howard had just entered her room for the first time today.
But if she now said, ‘That’s not true’…
A sharp voice seemed to echo in her ears.
“Do you really have to say that, young lady? Are you satisfied seeing me in trouble?”
Not only that—
Mrs. Howard would twist the story in retaliation.
Her family’s gaze toward her would grow even colder.
Most of all…
‘My brother… won’t believe me either.’
Cecilia clenched the hem of her nightgown tightly.
Her family had never once believed her.
Even if she gathered courage now, she would only end up hurt again.
“Well, we don’t have lemon tea, but we do have cocoa. Should I bring that instead?”
At just the right moment, Mrs. Howard smiled brightly and turned to her.
Cecilia gritted her teeth.
That composed attitude, that smooth tongue, that confident expression as if she would naturally comply.
It was all infuriating.
But—
“N-no, it’s fine…”
As Cecilia forced out her answer, swallowing her frustration—
Suddenly, commotion erupted outside the door.
