Chapter 14

The more I stared at Felix’s face, the more my head throbbed. I wanted to chase him far away that very instant. It wasn’t because I disliked him, but because this place itself was dangerous. This mansion was the Master’s domain. It was a place where I couldn’t receive the protection of the main god in an emergency.

I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them. I forcibly suppressed all the whirlwind of thoughts.

Even if I dwelled on them, there was nothing I could say about any of them.

“…Right, it’s me who should be asking you to take care of me from now on.”

After that, Felix guarded my side as if nothing were wrong, but that didn’t make my heart feel any more at ease.

After pondering for days with open eyes, I eventually accepted that I couldn’t ignore this issue and decided to face him squarely.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“Yes.”

I moved from the desk to the sofa, sat down, and gestured for Felix to take the seat opposite me. He raised an eyebrow slightly, expressing his question, but soon sat on the sofa without a word.

“I won’t beat around the bush. Won’t you leave this mansion?”

“I apologize, but that is difficult. I am officially hired by the Count…”

“We’re alone, so speak comfortably. Honestly, it makes me uncomfortable to hear you use honorifics.”

“…If that’s what you wish.”

“And if the only reason you can’t quit is because of your prior contract with the Count, I’ll find a way to handle it somehow.”

Felix tilted his head and crossed his arms.

“Why go that far? If it’s because of our past, you really don’t need to worry about it, do you?”

“Felix.”

“Although, of course, the ending wasn’t exactly pleasant.”

“…”

“Still, whatever you’re thinking, I want to say it’s all a misunderstanding. I accepted the employment contract regardless of your existence.”

“Why?”

“Why? Because I need a job to make a living? Noble households have pretty generous pay compared to the intensity of the work. Ah, perhaps this reason is too vulgar for the Countess to understand?”

Felix spoke cynically, saying that was the reason most people in the world worked.

Who on earth was he treating like a flower in a greenhouse right now? No, was he just angry at my existence? If so, there was even less need for him to be here.

“I know that much. I’ve worked plenty of jobs, too. What I’m asking is…”

“Work? Not amusement?”

Felix cut me off, his eyes sharpening. I was speechless for a moment but pretended to be calm.

“You don’t seem very comfortable around me, either, so there’s even less reason for you to stay here while enduring that feeling.”

“That’s not for you to judge.”

“I don’t like it. It’s uncomfortable for me to have to face you.”

“That’s unfortunate. But it’s not you who hired me, it’s your husband.”

“Don’t do this, Fel. I don’t want to fight with you over an issue with no conclusion. I’m just trying to suggest a better direction for both of us. If it’s really about the pay, there are many other noble families looking to increase their security details, so I’ll introduce you.”

I heard there were quite a few nobles feeling anxious after the recent hunting grounds incident. The pay would be similar, so he could just go there. But Felix refused flatly.

“No need.”

“…Even if you insist, I have no choice but to force the issue. If I do, you won’t be able to earn any money and you’ll just be kicked out.”

I didn’t want to make an enemy of him by doing things I didn’t mean, either. So I begged him to resolve this nicely, but Felix sneered.

“Go ahead and try.”

“…”

“I don’t necessarily intend to cause you harm, but if you come at me like that first, I won’t just sit back and take it, either.”

“…”

“It looks like you’re being held quite tightly by your husband, to the point where you can’t even open your mouth properly. If your dealings with me are revealed, won’t your position become even more difficult?”

“Don’t be petty.”

“You were the one being petty first. I clearly told you I was going to do this job regardless of you. Yet, if you insist on being hostile, it’s only natural that my response will be just as predictable.”

“Then tell me. Why you must do this job. I can’t accept it as it is.”

“Why should I convince you? I’m not in any trouble even if I don’t seek your understanding.”

“Fel…”

“Don’t call me that. Why are you using a nickname as you please when our relationship is long over? It’s annoying.”

“…”

Felix glared at me, then sighed and composed his expression.

“Let me say it again: I’m doing this job regardless of you. You aren’t that special to me anymore. Don’t be conceited.”

“…”

“If you try to hinder me out of some petty persecution complex, you’ll be the one driven into a corner then. So, I hope you act wisely.”

With that, Felix refused any further conversation and stood up from his seat. Seeing him walk over to stand by the desk as if nothing had happened, my head began to throb on its own.

“You’ve been going out often lately?”

At the Master’s question, I hesitated for a moment before answering.

“There’s no particular reason… but if it’s a problem, I will refrain.”

“Going out isn’t a problem. Just don’t stray too far from this body, just in case.”

“If you could narrow down the range a bit more specifically, about what distance you mean…”

“Tsk, you’re bothersome.”

“…”

“If I have to explain even things like that one by one, why do you even need free will? It would be easier to just tie you up comfortably and keep you as a pet.”

“…I apologize.”

The Master didn’t seem to be in a very good mood today. It seemed things weren’t going according to his plans. I quietly left the office so as not to further irritate him.

Outside the door, Felix and a personal maid were waiting. The maid held out a handkerchief with both hands. Only then did I realize that cold sweat had gathered on my forehead.

Unknowingly, I straightened my hunched shoulders and took the handkerchief. As I wiped my forehead and began to walk, the two of them immediately followed behind.

“Countess, shall I prepare for your outing?”

Since I had been going out every day these past few days without any particular reason, the maid asked about my intention to go out today as naturally as ever. I shook my head.

“I’ll spend time in the study today, so bring some tea.”

“Understood.”

The maid turned to prepare the tea, and I headed to the study with hurried steps. Then, I frantically pulled magic books and prayer books off the shelves. These were books I had already read several times, but there was nothing else here to soothe my anxiety and fear.

I grabbed the spine of a book tightly wedged between others and forcibly pulled it out. As I did, other books were dragged along with it and fell in a heap. I automatically curled my body, waiting for the dull pain that would strike my head. But instead of pain, a faint sigh reached me.

When I lifted my head, Felix was blocking the area above my head with his arm. He soon stepped back one pace, took the books I had been clutching to my chest, and moved them to the desk.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Felix, who replied dryly, asked while showing me his back.

“I guess you didn’t get permission to go out today?”

“I’m the one not going out.”

“Is that so? Why? You don’t seem to have gotten over your restlessness yet.”

It wasn’t because I was restless that I had gone out in the first place. It was to drag Felix out of the mansion as much as possible. Since I had been going out according to his shift changes every time, it must have looked like a habitual outing to Felix’s eyes.

Well, since my past actions also probably looked like a precarious diversion I indulged in while my husband was away from the territory, the speculation that I was running around due to restlessness had its own context.

I didn’t bother clarifying that and sat in front of the desk. I took the book on top of the pile and opened it, but the letters didn’t really enter my eyes.

How on earth could I safely protect Felix, who was insisting on working in this mansion? My mind was filled with that concern.

My head hurts. I eventually groaned softly and supported my forehead with both hands.

“Felix.”

“Yeah.”

“How much money do you need?”

“What?”

“You said you’d work here because of money. How much do you need? Is there something you want to buy? Are you trying to save up because it’s too expensive?”

“…”

“You used to bring back large sums of money every time you went out. Isn’t that enough? Does this job really pay more than that? No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think a security detail’s pay would be set that high…”

I lifted my head and looked at Felix.

“Is the item you want something you can only access from here? If there’s something like that, I’ll help, so at this point…”

“Wasn’t that conversation over? I don’t know why you’re bringing it up again.”