The Survival Strategy of the Contract Duchess - Chapter 79

The carriage moved swiftly and soon arrived at the Duke’s residence. It was the same carriage Sasha had taken that morning. Rose had already instructed the maids to finish their tasks and had sent Pavan to check around the mansion. Now, she waited alone to welcome the carriage.

“I’m really fine, so go look around the grounds. What if someone sees you coming back like that and starts asking questions?”

Rose pushed Pavan lightly on the back as he hesitated. He seemed to understand what she meant, grumbling softly while imagining what kind of situation she might be worried about.

“Call me right away if anything happens.”

“As if I wouldn’t. Now go on.”

With that, Pavan turned and disappeared toward the back of the mansion.

Rose had seen many kinds of noble ladies over the years. Some preferred to be treated like royalty, expecting everyone around them to move at their command. She had learned this while serving the former Duchess and accompanying her to visits with other noble families.

Some noblewomen liked to be greeted with formality every time they went out or returned home. They wanted several servants present when they dined, and even more when they bathed or dressed. It was a way of demanding the same respect and recognition their husbands received.

But Sasha was different. She preferred to handle the basics of daily life on her own. She did not like others fussing over her when she ate or washed. She would even pick up a cloth and clean something herself without hesitation.

She was the kind of person who might feel uncomfortable if too many people greeted her or saw her off when she left the house.

“I hope nothing went wrong.”

And the situation she had described to Pavan earlier was not imagined.

Sasha had gone to the Imperial Palace at Midienna’s request. Rose had been uneasy the entire time, unable to rest, knowing how odd it was that the Empress still had not let go of her master. She had sensed the tension in their relationship lately and had been afraid that the Empress might cause trouble.

While Rose was deep in thought, she heard the sound of hooves. She lifted her head quickly and saw the carriage approaching. Rak gave a short wave in greeting from the driver’s seat.

Judging by his calm demeanor, there did not seem to be any immediate trouble.

The carriage rolled to a stop in front of her. The coachman did not move to open the door, so Rose stepped forward and did it herself.

She was ready to smile, take Sasha’s hand, help her down, and walk with her back inside. She wanted to ask how her visit had gone, if anything had happened, and why the Empress had summoned her. She thought she might need to tell the Duke something important, so she hoped Sasha would mention it herself without needing to be pressed.

Just as she reached for the handle, a sharp voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Get out of the way.”

A chill ran down Rose’s spine. Slowly, she looked up.

Why was the Duke coming out of the carriage?

She had assumed Sasha would be the first to step out, but it was Kyler she saw sitting inside, his eyes cold and unreadable.

Before he could repeat himself, Rose quickly moved aside, startled. She had not expected him to return with Sasha, especially after being away since the day before.

Had she mistaken the carriage? Was Sasha’s carriage behind this one?

But no, Kyler reached into the carriage and helped someone out.

It was Sasha, just as she had been waiting for.

“W-welcome back, Duke. Welcome back, Sasha.”

Rose stammered, still flustered. Kyler glanced down at her briefly, but said nothing more. As Sasha stepped down beside him, he walked past Rose and gave a simple instruction.

“Have Sasha’s snacks brought to my room.”

“Yes, Duke. Right away.”

Rose bowed again, now calmer, and watched as Sasha followed him with quiet steps. She was still holding his hand.

Once they were inside, Rose let out a long breath and muttered under it.

“Did they finally make up?”

She had been so overwhelmed that she had not noticed their expressions. But now that they had returned together, she felt a little relieved. She hurried back inside to pass on the order about the snacks and let Pavan know the Duke had returned.

Meanwhile, Kyler had led Sasha straight to his room, still holding her hand. Sasha had a slight pout on her face. He noticed, but did not ask her why. Something about her expression made him hesitate.

She sat quietly for a while, then suddenly stood from the sofa and looked directly at him. He was watching her but still said nothing.

Her eyes searched his, and though his expression remained unreadable, she could feel it. He looked distant, but there was a hesitation behind it, a silent question.

It was strange and somehow, she liked it.

“I’ll go change my clothes. I dressed up a little since I went to the Imperial Palace.”

“Ah, okay.”

He responded softly, and now he looked visibly relieved.

Sasha stepped out of his room and walked into her own. Instead of the clothes she had taken off that morning, fresh indoor clothes were already hanging neatly on the partition.

Rose, who had quickly picked up on Sasha’s preference for doing things alone when washing or dressing, always prepared clean clothes and fresh water for her in advance. She never tried to force the customs of the household onto Sasha. Instead, she noticed what Sasha wanted and did her best to meet her quietly.

And Sasha was not the type to overlook that kind of thoughtfulness. She understood it clearly and always felt grateful for it.

When she returned after simply washing her hands and feet, Kyler was waiting in his room.

“You’re here.”

His voice was low and awkward, but he still greeted her.

He had already changed into more comfortable clothes and was seated on the sofa. She found it surprisingly quick. Then she noticed the table in front of him. There were cookies, scones, and tea laid out, as if waiting for her.

“I thought you probably didn’t have lunch… I asked them to bring some snacks, and they brought this. Should I tell them to bring sandwiches instead?”

Kyler spoke in a quiet voice, almost carefully. Seeing him explain something so small made him feel like a completely different person from the one she had first met. Sasha smiled a little and sat beside him.

Kyler tensed slightly when she sat very close, then looked down at her and, without saying much, casually placed his arm around her shoulder.

“Are you okay now?”

Their relationship had started to change after the day with the monster. No, even up to the moment he fixed the horse and saved her, he had been nothing but gentle. But the moment that stayed in her memory was the meeting, when he shouted while speaking with Dylan. It had not felt like he was raising his voice just to argue. It had sounded more like a cry to protect something important.

“I’m not… No, I’m okay.”

Kyler gave her a strange answer, as if he had not fully understood what she meant. He stared at her with a blank expression.

His eyebrows were slightly drawn together. His gaze was deep, his mouth serious.

She looked at him quietly. For that moment, she stopped thinking about everything else. Wasn’t he a little too handsome? She caught herself thinking about it again, just as she had before.

While she was caught in her own thoughts, Kyler’s brow furrowed even more.

“My ears are fine now. But I can’t say I’m okay about anything else.”

“Your ears seemed the worst that day… That’s a relief. I’m glad they don’t hurt now. You looked like you were in so much pain, shouting like that.”

She remembered the night she saw him holding his head and groaning, unable to sleep because of the pain. But what stayed with her more than anything was the look on his face the day he had shouted. That memory still hurt her heart the most.

Kyler looked down at her. His hand stayed around her shoulder for a long moment. Then, slowly, he moved away. He let go of her shoulder, and his body shifted to create distance.

Sasha felt it right away. She looked up at him, puzzled.

But as soon as he moved away, an unpleasant sound echoed in his ears. It was a sharp, creaking noise that made him wince.

That morning at the Imperial Palace had been relatively quiet, but now it felt like everything was stirring again. His ears had started to ache. The situation with the rebels was still under control. No major moves had been made yet. But Geranel… he was the problem. That was the place. Now was the time to act.

He had already made up his mind. He would solve this without Sasha being involved.

But seeing her now, being just as she had always been with him, made his thoughts waver. Maybe it was not the right way to simply go forward alone. Maybe there needed to be something in between.

He had worried about looking weak or uncertain, but in the end, he had already decided.

He would not leave her behind.

He would not go alone.

He would take her with him.

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