The Survival Strategy of the Contract Duchess - Chapter 62

Kyler stopped in front of Sasha’s door, hesitating. All he had to do was knock and go in, yet he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He raised his hand and lowered it again several times. He reached for the doorknob, then pulled his hand back, simply pacing around in indecision.

His blue eyes, usually cold, were filled with concern. Even after several days had passed, he hadn’t been able to let go of his worry. He just kept lingering near her room, unable to act.

Once again, he turned away. In the end, Kyler passed Sasha’s door and returned to his own room.

As his door closed with a quiet click, footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs.

Rose was carrying a small tea set in her hands. After reaching the top of the stairs, she placed the tray on a side table and knocked on Sasha’s door.

“Lady Sasha, I brought you some tea.”

“Yes, come in, Rose.”

A strong voice answered from inside. Hearing her response, Rose opened the door and stepped in. Sasha was watering the potted plants on the terrace, her left arm in a cast and secured in a sling.

“The sunlight is nice today. Would you like to have your tea out on the terrace?”

“Yes, that sounds good. I need some sun.”

Her slightly sulky tone made Rose smile softly as she pushed the tray toward the terrace.

“The children usually take care of the plants. Why are you doing it yourself, Lady Sasha?”

“There’s nothing else to do in here. It’s my left arm that’s hurt, so I can still open doors and read books. My legs are fine. Why am I even eating all my meals in this room?”

Even someone who didn’t enjoy being active would feel restless from doing absolutely nothing and being stuck inside all day.

“It’s only because everyone’s so worried about you. Doesn’t that show how much they care? I’ve never seen His Grace so lost and anxious before. Truly.”

Rose, who was usually calm and reserved, even let out a small laugh as she remembered that day.

She could smile now, but back then, the entire mansion had been in a state of panic. Everyone had been running around frantically, barely able to keep their heads straight.

It hadn’t even been that serious of an injury, but once they heard what had happened, most people were too shocked to think clearly.

Rose and Pavon had stayed calm thanks to their experience and quickly called for a doctor. Ironically, the one who lost his composure the most was Kyler himself.

“I understand it must have scared him, but it’s surprising. He’s someone who’s faced so many monsters, yet he was shaken like that.”

Seeing a monster up close had been terrifying, even for Sasha. But Kyler had seen many monsters before and survived each time. For him to act so overwhelmed because of a minor fracture felt strange.

“He must have been truly frightened. He didn’t go out there expecting danger. He just wanted to enjoy some time with you, and then that happened.”

That was true. Even now, thinking about it made her feel dizzy. The way she tossed and turned at night was something she hadn’t told anyone. But that wasn’t the real reason she was upset today.

“If he’s that worried about me, why won’t he come see me?”

Since the day they returned to the mansion and laid her down in this bed, Sasha hadn’t seen Kyler once. Today was the fifth day. When she asked for him, they said he wasn’t around. Even though she asked to be told when he returned, no one ever did.

Instead, they just told her to rest and not leave her room. It was frustrating. Sasha pouted as she sat in the sunlight, sipping her tea. Rose looked at her with a gentle, sympathetic smile.

“I’m not sure how to explain it either. He’s been going out every day. Maybe he’s investigating something.”

The one caught in the most difficult position was Rose. Sasha had asked to be informed the moment Kyler returned, while Kyler had given strict orders not to tell Sasha anything about him.

If only she could ask him why he was avoiding Sasha. If he would just say something, then Rose could at least explain it gently to Sasha. But Kyler didn’t say a word.

“I know there’s no point in asking you. Kyler told you not to say anything, and you’re just following orders. Don’t worry about it. He doesn’t want to see me, and there’s nothing I can do about that.”

At first, she thought he was just overwhelmed. Like Rose said, he was probably the most shocked by what happened. Maybe he felt guilty too.

But even so, this didn’t make sense. She had told him several times that she wanted to see him. If he truly felt sorry and worried, shouldn’t he have come by now to check on her?

She had been terrified too. It was only because Kyler had arrived quickly that she had felt safe. It was because he came that she was still unharmed.

Suddenly, her eyes stung. Sasha turned her head toward the terrace, trying to hide her face, but the tears had already welled up and rolled down her cheeks. She bit her lip hard.

Rose saw the way Sasha’s lips and chin trembled, and the quiet teardrops falling. Her heart ached for her lady, and for the Duke as well.

“Lady Sasha, may I sit with you for a moment?”

Rose pointed to the chair across from her. Sasha nodded without turning her head, still wiping her tears. Rose quietly pulled out the chair and sat down without saying anything. She wanted to give Sasha time to collect herself.

“I don’t think His Grace will be able to say this himself, so if you don’t mind, I’ll tell you instead.”

Rose took a breath, preparing to speak in her usual calm and graceful voice. Sasha turned her head away, quickly brushing her hands in front of her face, then turned back.

There were still signs that she had been crying, but Rose met her eyes without drawing attention to it.

“What happened? Why are you the one telling me this instead of Kyler?”

There was something truly painful. So painful that even Rose couldn’t hide the sorrow in her expression.

“Until the late Duke and Duchess passed away, His Grace lived like any ordinary noble boy. He got along well with children his age, studied swordsmanship and classical education. He was bright, cheerful, and had many friends. I’m not saying he’s not like that now, but back then, he smiled often and played freely with others.”

Most children were like that once, but it was still difficult to imagine Kyler as a playful boy, laughing and running around.

Watching Sasha tilt her eyes upward, trying to picture it, Rose gave a bitter smile.

“His Grace was twelve when he lost both of his parents. They were fleeing from a monster attack. Even after leaving the mountains and entering the forest, the monsters kept chasing them. If they hadn’t done something, the monsters would have reached the nearby village. So, the late Duke hid his wife and son between two large rocks and went to fight them alone.”

Between the rocks.

“Hide between the rocks.”

That was what Kyler had told her that day, in his voice. Maybe it was the same thing his father once told him. Sasha didn’t know what happened next, but her chest tightened at the thought.

“While the Duke was fighting, the Duchess couldn’t stand by and watch. She left her son hidden and went out to fight alongside her husband. She wasn’t a strong mage, but she could use some magic, and she gave all she had. The two of them fought the monsters together while their son watched.”

They fought hard. Their skills were superior, but the monsters were too many. The knights arrived eventually, but far too late.

“His Grace watched his parents die in front of him. Everyone had let their guard down, thinking the fight was nearly over. But in that moment, it happened. The knights tried desperately to kill the monsters and save them, but it was already too late.”

To watch someone you love die because of a monster, right in front of your eyes. To think Kyler almost had to go through that again because of her made Sasha shiver. Her body trembled.

“Kyler saw all of it?”

Rose nodded, pressing her lips together. Her chest felt tight, as if she couldn’t even take a deep breath. The story was so overwhelming that Sasha found herself thinking it might have been better if she had never existed at all.

“I remember how I used to worry every single day, afraid something would happen to His Grace. He wouldn’t eat. He wouldn’t speak. He wouldn’t even look at anyone. We were all terrified he would break completely. And when we feared we might lose the young master too, the entire household held its breath and waited for him to return to us.”

Sasha could picture a twelve-year-old boy locked away in his room.

She imagined him in darkness, shutting out every bit of light, moving between his bed and the couch, curled up and alone. A boy who had cried so much, he had forgotten how to cry. A boy who could never stop seeing that moment replay in his mind, again and again. He didn’t try to forget. He just kept watching it, over and over, until he was completely consumed by it.

That kind of guilt, buried so deep inside, was something no one could escape from on their own.

“It took him a full year to step out of that room. Most of the staff had already left by then. Only Pavon and I stayed. We did everything we could to care for him and wait for him. When he finally came out, I was so grateful. I can’t even put it into words.”

Now Sasha understood why Rose had chosen to tell her all of this. Her lips, which had been pouting moments ago, relaxed quietly. This wasn’t the time to be angry at him.

She finally understood what it meant to worry so much that you couldn’t bring yourself to go and see the person you cared about. Somehow, she knew exactly how Kyler must be feeling.

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