Our Summer Isn't Over Yet - Chapter 46

Mia quietly read Aaron’s expression. He seemed to be gauging how many people he should assign to her when she went to the outskirts of the capital.

At the same time, it was clear he was also agonizing over how to tell Dylan about this. Clearing her throat, she asked him in a soft voice, “Are you worried about telling Dylan?”

“No, I’m not.”

“You don’t have to hide it like that. I think I have a vague idea of what you’re worried about.”

Perhaps embarrassed that she had read his expression, Aaron quickly returned to a blank face. Mia calmly organized her desk and said, “I’ll tell him myself.”

“You will, Madam?”

“I’d like to hear his voice, too. And he must have been surprised to hear that I suddenly fell ill.”

She was pretending to care for Aaron, but that wasn’t the real reason. It would be better to talk to Dylan directly to understand him.

‘Normally, I would have offered to call instead of Aaron.’

And she couldn’t show even the slightest difference from her usual self. Dylan was so good at reading people’s minds that if she gave him even the slightest opening, he would notice it immediately.

‘Who knows what he might do then.’

It was better to be careful and calculating in every way. Aaron clearly had no idea what Mia was thinking. She smiled at him and nodded.

Aaron realized that he couldn’t stay here any longer and quickly said goodbye to her. “Then I’ll prepare to connect you to Rhodia right away.”

“I’ll just finish up what I’m doing and head to the main building.”

Hearing her answer, Aaron left the office.

Mia was worried about how to talk to Dylan and gnawed at her desk with her fingers for a long time. She couldn’t come to a good conclusion.

She had no idea how he would react to her tone and actions.

Stopping her actions abruptly, she cleared her throat a few times and spoke.

“Dylan.”

Noticing that the ending note was a little shaky, Mia repeated his name several times. Only after she was able to produce a calm and peaceful voice, just like usual, did she get up from her seat.

“Dylan.”

Contrary to her worries, her voice was peaceful.

There was no hint of illness, and she didn’t waver with betrayal.

Mia.

Dylan’s voice made her flinch for a moment, but it was fleeting.

How are you feeling?

His worried voice now felt only disgusting. Mia rubbed her fingertips and replied, “It was nothing.”

Nothing?

“I think I just had a fever from being tired.”

Dylan’s voice deepened, but Mia didn’t care and answered. Casually, as if nothing had happened.

With her other hand, the one not holding the receiver, she continued to gnaw at her nails. She had been scratching at them since she was at her desk, and even though they were worn down a lot, Mia didn’t realize it.

The irregular sound of her fingernails hitting each other and Dylan’s voice mixed with static from the receiver filled her ears layer by layer. She felt nauseous for some reason and moved her lips. Not many people get a fever just from being tired.

“Dylan, do you think everyone in the world is the same?”

A sharper answer than usual popped out. After a moment of silence at Mia’s reaction, Dylan replied in an unchanged tone.

I heard your fever didn’t break all night. And it persisted for a while even after you took antipyretics.

“But as a result, nothing happened, and I’m fine now.”

A heavy silence fell.

Mia knew why Dylan was silent. There was nothing in what she had said that could be criticized.

An excessively clean answer, a reasonable explanation.

These were the things Dylan usually pursued. If their relationship hadn’t become strangely entangled, she wouldn’t have had to add anything here, but…

Swallowing a sigh, Mia frowned as if spitting out bitter words.

“Still, I was grateful that you sent a doctor. I thought I would be sick for a few more days.”

It was something I had to do. I told that doctor to stay at the mansion, so if you get sick, don’t hesitate to call him.

“…Okay.”

It was too much.

Excessively so.

But Mia stopped thinking deeply. She judged that stopping Dylan’s actions here would be poison to her.

Holding her throbbing head, Mia recalled why she had decided to talk to him and opened her mouth. “More than that, Dylan, I don’t know if you heard from Aaron, but I have something to say, so I asked for a direct phone connection.”

This time, Dylan closed his mouth.

It was clear that he didn’t want to talk about it. After letting out a short sigh, he carefully began to speak.

Mia.

“I’m listening, speak.”

How about not doing this relief effort?

Superficially, it was a ridiculously funny thing to say from someone who knew perfectly well why Mia was doing this.

Mia calmly recited what Dylan was trying to ignore. “The rumors that I’m not the ‘real’ one are still rampant in the capital. I need to quell the rumors quickly.”

It’s not something you have to do.

“Dylan, I told you. I want you to get what you want safely. I also said that your wish is my wish, so how can I just stand still?”

On the surface, it was a very sweet thing to say.

But Mia’s face, as she spoke, was extremely cold, and there was no way Dylan, who was only listening to her voice, could have noticed that fact.

That’s what she was thinking, but Dylan’s voice deepened.

Mia.

At his call, Mia gripped the receiver tightly. She stopped scratching her nails and even stopped breathing.

Had he noticed that she was different from usual?

The Fourth Prince may be near the capital.

At the unexpected words, Mia finally released the breath she had been holding.

Looking at the relief activity map I received earlier, most of it is on the outskirts. It could be dangerous.

“Ah!”

So, how about not doing the relief effort?

Dylan’s voice was filled with worry and affection.

If she hadn’t known about his betrayal, she would have melted into that worry and answered that she understood.

“I’m sorry, but Dylan, I want this situation to calm down as soon as possible.”

“I promised you.”

“To give you what you want, as we first promised. I have to move like this in order to get what I want from you. So please understand my choice.”

A bitter smile spread across Mia’s lips.

She should have realized that Dylan was changing the subject whenever the story of the contract came up.

The moment she realized how ridiculous she had been all along was so miserable.

“Dylan, don’t worry. It seemed like Aaron was picking out people to protect me.”

That alone is not enough.

“And it’s not just me who’s attending, other noble ladies will be there too.”

The relief activity that Mia would attend was originally scheduled to be visited by several noble ladies. Moreover, since Mia had shared the schedule widely, nobles who wanted to talk to Mia would visit there.

It would be a problem if too many people gathered, but that was something Morgan would take care of, so she didn’t have to worry too much about it.

“There will be more people than usual, so there won’t be anything to worry about.”

I will ask His Excellency to pay attention to your surroundings.

She had deliberately chosen a relief activity that soldiers or heads of households with strong physiques didn’t usually go to, but Dylan was trying to pour cold water on the situation as if it were nothing.

But since this was also within the expected range, Mia replied calmly.

“Wouldn’t it be strange if someone as busy as you visited me without any justification?”

Justification can be created.

“Okay, but don’t force His Excellency too much.”

After giving a clean answer, Mia stared at the desk clock on Dylan’s desk. It seemed like quite a bit of time had passed since she started the call, but only eight minutes had passed.

Since there was nothing else to say, Mia hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.

“Then, Dylan.”

Just as she called him quietly, Dylan brought up something she had completely erased from her mind.

I heard that a scented candle has been made for you.

Scented candle.

Mia’s brow furrowed. Dylan’s forgotten promise came to mind.

I heard they’ll send it to the mansion soon.

Tick-tock. The sound of the clock was especially loud in Mia’s ears.

Try to use it. It will help you sleep.

Dylan filled the silence on his own, even though Mia didn’t answer.

It was mostly about meals, sleep, and health. Mia couldn’t answer anything. She felt like the question of why he was worrying about her would burst through her throat.

Around the time the second hand of the clock had made two full revolutions, she finally opened her mouth.

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