I’m definitely finished now. Vivian’s complexion began to lose its color. Knox wasn’t aware of her slight change but the physician on the other hand, was absolutely different. The physician proceeded to smile brightly at her and began speaking nonchalantly—despite having seen that face of hers.

“Fortunately, there’s not so much of a big issue with your body. It must have been due to the treatment yesterday.”

“I think I’ll need to leave now.”

She just couldn’t bear to keep on listening to his words any second longer. She was then struck with a mild dizziness as she quickly got up, but Vivian couldn’t care less.

“Without even resting a bit more?”

“No, it’s fine. Besides, I’ve been occupying the bed—unabashedly, even—for far too long.”

“You can actually stay a lot longer.”

Vivian couldn’t manage to reciprocate that annoying smile of his. She quickly located her hat before rising from the bed completely.

“Alexia.”

Vivian’s body instantly paused—just like a lie—when Knox had called her out with the Young Lady’s name. The Grand Duke straight away wrapped her waist from behind just as though he was trying to catch a hold on that disappearing warmth of hers.

“Do you really have to go?”

“I can’t keep on bothering the Grand Duke, who is still unwell.”

“Aren’t you sick as well?”

“I was merely in shock for just a moment, that’s why it’s fine. Furthermore……”

Vivian slowly turned around before staring at the physician. Her glaring eyes were explicitly fixed on the physician’s lips, which no one could determine just when they would part themselves opened.

“The physician had kindly examined me already.”

“If that’s so, I won’t stop you then. But still, you should get plenty of rest even after you have arrived.”

Vivian gave a nod to the words that she was unable to resist as Knox had kindly uttered them.

“…I understand.”

She bid him a light farewell before quickly leaving the room—accompanied by the physician, who had followed her immediately.

Vivian, who was busy walking without ever looking back, turned her head all of a sudden when she finally reached the garden with no peering eyes. As the doctor gazed at Vivian with surprise in his eyes, her lips that were clamped tightly together while being covered under the hat eventually parted themselves.

“Why didn’t you tell the Grand Duke?”

“Then, would you like me to tell him?”

No way! Vivian swallowed back the words that she wanted to scream right at the top of her lungs.

She honestly thought that everything was over, but she eventually realized for a fact when she saw how Knox was acting the same as usual towards her. And the fact was that the physician still hadn’t revealed her secret to the Grand Duke.

“…What are you even planning?”

Her sharp words were clearly aimed towards the physician himself.

“Well… Honestly, I haven’t completely decided on what to do just yet.”

“This is not a mere problem that you can just treat it lightly.”

“Why do you think I can’t? I’m one of his Highness’ subordinates, you know?”

Vivian closed her eyes tightly as soon as she heard the physician’s words.

Their encounter yesterday was definitely a mistake. No matter how frustratingly dismayed she was, she shouldn’t have left the Count’s mansion like so.

Vivian’s clenched fist, which was filled with fury, trembled before it loosened itself powerlessly.

“…Please don’t tell him about this.”

“That voice belongs to the Young Countess, no? How could you even do that? It’s really fascinating.”

“If you ever speak of this to him, I might get killed off.”

“Hmmm.”

The physician prolonged his subtle silence without any consideration towards Vivian’s fury that was already bubbling inside of her.

“Why do you even do this kind of thing? I think there is a need for me to know—not as the Grand Duke’s subordinate, but rather as his friend.”

Vivian heaved a deep sigh when she noticed that the physician had finally broken the silence only to show that he had no intention of letting this pass easily.

She hesitated for a while before slowly parting those lips of hers. Vivian then started to divulge everything about her—including the reason she had to act like that—before she quickly added.

“You now understand, don’t you? I’ll make sure not to bring any harm towards the Grand Duke at all times.”