Our Summer Isn't Over Yet - Chapter 45

As the IV fluid ran out, Mel quickly took care of it. Mia stared at her arm where the needle had been, then carefully got out of bed. As if sensing her movement, Mel called out to Mia.

“Madam?”

“I think I feel better now.”

The fever that had made her dizzy was long gone. Since there were no other problems, she thought it would be okay to start moving around. “It would be best if you rested for another day.”

“I don’t think it’s good to stay in the bedroom all day.”

Mia replied, glancing at the clock. More than anything, it would be better in many ways to start working behind the scenes now to keep her promise to Morgan. It wasn’t like she was seriously ill, just a brief fever, so there wasn’t a big problem. Mia opened the drawer next to the bed. It was filled with invitations related to relief efforts and her replies, which she had organized before going to meet Morgan.

They were also places to go before catching Jose. If she had a servant deliver the list of relief sites she would be visiting to the newspaper, Mia’s movements would soon be rumored throughout the capital.

Noble ladies often did charity events and relief work like this, so it wasn’t a suspicious act, especially not to Dylan. ‘I can just say it’s to quell the rumors about Princess Seydemia.’

The suspicious Dylan might feel doubtful, but he wouldn’t be able to leave Rhodia until Jose was caught.

Mia made a quick decision and sorted out the replies. Then, she shook the bell next to her, and a servant cautiously knocked on the door. Mia answered and slowly walked towards the door. As she moved, her eyes fell on the dressing table. She saw her favorite scented candle.

The scented candle she thought was completely ruined and unusable was in a new jar. The blue and green colors, which had been so distinctly separated, were now subtly mixed. Mia stared at the scented candle with deeply sunken eyes, then slowly raised her head. There was no smile on her face reflected in the dressing table mirror.

“Madam? May I come in?”

The servant called her back to reality. A benevolent smile spread across the corners of her lips, which had been stiff just moments ago. Her hand holding the paper was clenched tightly, but her expression was that of an elegant noblewoman, a perfect specimen. She only glanced at her dual nature for a moment. Mia told the servant the replies and what to deliver to the newspaper. The servant’s face was full of concern for Mia, who had collapsed.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

The servant had to leave the room, taking what she had handed him, feeling a strange sense of pressure from Mia’s voice. Mia stared at her empty hands and turned her head towards Mel, who was quietly standing guard.

“Mel, you can go for today. I have a lot to do.”

Mel, who seemed to have something to say, didn’t add anything other than an acknowledgment. After Mel left, Mia carefully opened the dressing table drawer. Inside were the locket necklace and the contract with Morgan. She had put them there just in case after returning to the room, and it was a very good choice. If she had collapsed with these on her.

With a short sigh, she calmly took out the contract. After closing the drawer, she focused on the scented candle that had been bothering her since earlier. The pretty glass lid would definitely prevent the scent from escaping, but she somehow felt a lingering, refreshing fragrance.

As she closed her eyes tightly, it felt like Dylan was right in front of her. At the same time, the dream she had been having all night rushed into her mind. He, who was always on top of her, eager to shake her waist, didn’t do so this time for some reason. Dylan, who appeared when her head was about to break from the pain, placed his hand on her forehead and changed the cool towel.

‘It hurts.’

‘I know.’ ‘It hurts so much.’

She knew it was a dream. Dylan was in Rhodia and couldn’t come right away, and If he actually appeared before her, she might lose her mind and rush at him. Because it’s not easy to control emotions when you’re in pain. But at least in the dream, wouldn’t it be okay to resent the person in front of her as much as she wanted and indulge in the affection he gave?

‘Why did you do that to me?’ ‘……’ ‘I hate you. So much.’

Why didn’t you act cruelly from the beginning? You shouldn’t have been kind.

Why did you say those things to me and make me expect things? ‘I’m hurting because of you.’

‘Yeah, I know.’

‘I’ll never forgive you.’ ‘Okay. Don’t forgive me.’ ‘I hope you hurt as much as I do, I hope you’re more desperate than I am.’ ‘I will be.’

Dylan in the dream dared to say things that she would never actually say. ‘It’s unlikely, but if possible, I wish you really loved me.’

‘Why?’ ‘That way, you’ll hurt for a long time when I abandon you. I can’t think of any other way for you to hurt.’ Feeling the heavy cool towel placed on her head, Mia recited things that would never happen.

‘I can’t cry, Dylan. I hope you cry all the tears I would have shed. I hope you struggle for a long, long time. I wish you would.’ ‘Okay, I will. To do that, you have to shake off the pain and get up.’ ‘I will.’

‘…Don’t hurt.’ Recalling Dylan’s voice, which seemed to scatter at the end, Mia opened her eyes. She saw her own face in the mirror, looking sunken.

Even though her condition had clearly improved and this was reality, it felt like Dylan’s remnants were still lingering. Mia blinked her blurry eyes a few times and placed the white handkerchief she always carried on top of the scented candle that was taking up space on the dressing table.

Once it disappeared from her sight, it seemed like the scent also disappeared, and the thoughts of Dylan that had been making her restless also seemed to have taken a step back. Only then did Mia’s stiff lips relax a little.

Mia then spent time in the study. After briefly reviewing things that needed to be checked, the servant who had carried out Mia’s orders returned and reported the fact.

What she had planned was coming to fruition.

Even after the servant left, Mia stayed in her seat for a while. When she finally came to her senses, the sun had already set. Just as she was about to get up, a polite knock and a familiar voice were heard. “Madam, it’s Aaron.”

Mia put down the fountain pen in her hand and replied. “Yes, come in.”

As soon as her permission was given, the study door opened smoothly. Aaron entered the room with calm steps. Mia met his dark eyes. “I’m very glad that your condition has improved, Madam.”

“I’m sorry for making you worry over nothing.” Mia smiled and replied. Reading her expression, Aaron cautiously brought up the reason he had come to see Mia. “Actually, I just received a call from the newspaper. I came to confirm if there was a misunderstanding.”

“Ah.”

“Yes, they said they plan to publish an article about the charity events you will be attending and the relief efforts you will be doing in the future.” “I already conveyed that matter directly through the servant earlier, so you don’t have to worry about it.” Aaron’s face turned ashen. He probably came here convinced that there was a misunderstanding. Mia calmly explained the exact reason why she had decided to do such things.

“Rumors that I’m not the real princess are continuing to spread quietly, and I don’t think it’s right to do nothing.”

As soon as her permission was given, the study door opened smoothly. Aaron entered the room with calm steps. Mia met his dark eyes.

“I’m very glad that your condition has improved, Madam.”

“I’m sorry for making you worry over nothing.” Mia smiled and replied. Reading her expression, Aaron cautiously brought up the reason he had come to see Mia.

“Actually, I just received a call from the newspaper. I came to confirm if there was a misunderstanding.”

“Ah.”

“Yes, they said they plan to publish an article about the charity events you will be attending and the relief efforts you will be doing in the future.”

“I already conveyed that matter directly through the servant earlier, so you don’t have to worry about it.” Aaron’s face turned ashen. He probably came here convinced that there was a misunderstanding. Mia calmly explained the exact reason why she had decided to do such things.

“Rumors that I’m not the real princess are continuing to spread quietly, and I don’t think it’s right to do nothing.” “Madam, that part is……”

“Wouldn’t it look even stranger to outsiders if the Duchess of Richardt, who is skilled in social circles, doesn’t do anything?”

Aaron’s mouth closed at Mia’s words. Contrary to the expectation that the rumors would be quelled if she went to the royal banquet, gossip related to Mia was still spreading in the capital.

The reality was that Mia hadn’t shown any action related to the rumors at the banquet, contrary to people’s expectations, but she didn’t tell Aaron the truth. After hesitating for a moment, he cautiously asked.

“Then, how about postponing the schedule a little?

I checked the schedule sent by the newspaper, and it starts tomorrow.”

“……”

“Although it was just a passing fever, I think it would be good to monitor your condition for a few more days.”

She waited for Aaron to finish speaking. When Aaron finished speaking and closed his mouth, Mia called him in a soft and relaxed voice, as usual.

“Sir Aaron.”

Aaron’s face brightened for a moment at the voice that seemed to grant anything, but his face turned ashen again at Mia’s reply that followed.

“If you’re worried about my health, I’m fine.”

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