“Duke…?! Not a hospital?!”

The lady herself had even told them the location of the hospital, so why?

“We’re going to the hospital! Mom is at the hospital!”

“Quiet! What do you know to be talking like this?”

Deborah, who was suddenly shouted at, was frightened by the angry butler and kept her mouth shut. She couldn’t argue back even though she wanted to.

The butler, who didn’t seem to care about her at all, clenched his fists as if he were very angry.

While the exact situation needed to be confirmed, something was definitely wrong.

‘Again that Luna Peils!’

If she was just a woman from a lowly family, she should have stayed quiet and lived quietly. Why did she keep getting involved with the Duke’s family?

“I’ll find out as soon as I get back to you, so just wait. It might be a trap.”

The butler, who had been cursing Luna for a long time, finally calmed down and opened his mouth. Even though he had been angry, Deborah wasn’t someone he should be angry with.

Deborah first thought that it was a trap for someone as insignificant as herself and that it made no sense even though she was scared, was about to ask what it meant.

“…!”

And a maid who had been staring at her face came over and held Deborah’s hand shortly, as if to say, ‘Just stay still.’

It wasn’t an atmosphere that told her not to say anything. It was more like stopping her.

Although she didn’t say anything, Deborah felt that she should follow the maid’s lead, so she didn’t speak and held her breath.

The carriage, surrounded by silence, arrived at the Duke’s mansion, and the butler immediately began to prepare to go out again.

“Wait in your room. I’ll find out and let you know.”

Although Deborah still looked anxious, the butler didn’t forget to tell her not to worry.

He left the mansion again, looking very uneasy. Thanks to that, Deborah was left behind in her room, unable to hide her worries.

While she was anxiously waiting, the maid who had gone out with her returned and knocked on the door.

She looked tense, unlike her cold first impression.

“After reading, please return it.”

The maid handed her a letter without explaining anything. Deborah couldn’t hide her bewildered feelings at the abruptness, but the maid urged her to read it quickly.

“Please read it before anyone else comes.”

Following her instructions, Deborah quickly tore open the letter, and to her surprise, it was from the Duchess who had left the mansion a while ago.

The letter began with the words that she would write it in the carriage because it would be too late once they arrived at the destination.

[Keep an eye on that side and give it to her only if the situation allows. It might be difficult, but for now, it’s better to listen to what he says.]

Since the Duke believed that everything in the world would go his way, the letter aimed to make him lower his guard.

[I will help you during that time. So I hope you will help me as well.]

The letter ended by saying that she would let her know what help she needed after receiving word that she would do so.

It was a very rude message, so she was about to ask the maid what it meant.

“You may not like it, but please accept the Duke’s offer.”

“…Yes?!”

What kind of nonsense is that? So, are they really telling her to sleep with someone who is said to be the Duke’s son?

Deborah, who had decided not to do so, became thoughtful. The maid, realizing what she was thinking, opened her mouth again.

“Act like you’re going along with it. If it’s difficult, I’ll help you.”

The maid waited for Deborah’s answer, saying that was the only way to get out of this situation safely.

Deborah considered for a moment. Her mother didn’t even know what was happening, and she was in a state of captivity. She couldn’t cry out that she didn’t want to.

Finally, Deborah nodded, and the maid explained slowly.

* * *

Luna, who had arrived at the hospital with the patient, anxiously awaited the results.

It was the first day, so there were relatively healthy patients among the patients, but many medical professionals rushed to treat a patient who couldn’t even move.

“Why is it taking so long? It’s not a serious illness, is it?”

How could she be so worried about a woman she had just met today? Antes, who wondered, asked her not to worry unnecessarily.

“If it were that serious, they would have moved quickly.”

If the person was in critical condition and something serious would happen right away, they would have given her any treatment. Thankfully, as Antes had said, the woman’s life wasn’t in immediate danger.

“Originally, her health wasn’t good, and she got pneumonia from a cold, on top of not eating properly due to severe malnutrition and overworking for a long time…”

However, that didn’t mean she was completely fine. Luna became thoughtful as the explanations continued.

“Can she be treated?”

“Yes. Fortunately, it seems that she has been taking antibiotics regularly, so there are no serious complications. It will take some time, but with enough rest and nutritional supplementation, she should be able to recover.”

Deborah didn’t avoid any unpleasant tasks, and it was thanks to that she fed her mother the medicine.

Although the antibiotic was diluted and sold at a much higher price than its original cost, it seemed to help without aggravating the illness.

“Please take care of her.”

Luna asked the medical staff. She was full of hope for a woman whose name she barely knew, hoping that she would recover her health as soon as possible.

“Don’t worry. She will recover soon.”

The medical team responded that they would do their best.

Since planning this venture, they found Luna a good person, contrary to the rumors that had been rampant for a while.

Seeing the face of the middle-aged woman who had fallen asleep due to strong antibiotics, Luna left the hospital room with Antes. Staying any longer would have just been a disturbance.

“It’s just as the young lord said. I’m really relieved. Were you a doctor in your past life?”

“I just know a lot.”

His answer felt like it was missing the prefix ‘I’ve been struggling since I was young,’ which left her speechless.

“Thank you for your help today. Thanks to the young lord, we were able to transfer the patient smoothly.”

As Luna expressed her sincere gratitude, Antes, who seemed to have expected as much, suddenly grabbed his arm, wincing in pain.

“It seems my arm hurts from exerting too much strength after such a long time.”

“Is that so? Then you should rest. Thank you.”

Despite his enormous strength that could probably break walls with a punch, Luna wondered why he was like this. She thought maybe he wanted to hear words of praise.

Luna thanked him again, and suddenly, Antes said something unexpected.

“No, not enough to rest. But I am hungry and need to eat.”

“Oh, come to think of it, I skipped lunch too. Let’s eat.”

In just a bit more time, it would be dinner. But Antes didn’t seem satisfied with that response.

“Eating alone is a bit… well, you know.”

“Then eat with the coachman.”

He must be hungry too. Antes playfully nudged Luna with his waist and opened his mouth again.

“Are you doing this on purpose? Using people and then just sending them away is too much.”

“…When did I ever use you?”

Of course, she couldn’t deny the fact that he always helped her with difficult tasks. She also thought of others who would be happy if she went with Antes.

“Okay, let’s go to the mansion.”

“No, I want to eat outside today.”

“Outside?”

In the past, when she offered to treat him to a meal outside, he had refused. Thinking of this, she asked, and Antes calmly replied.

“The situation is different now. There won’t be any unnecessary quarrels or misunderstandings.”

Luna quickly understood his meaning.

Every time they went out, they ended up in a fight or misunderstanding with that man named Fersen, which caused rumors about a boss who was useless.

In just half a year, the situation had changed after dealing with Fersen. Now, there was no need for that, so he suggested eating out.

‘How can every word you say be so sad?’

Luna felt sorry to refuse him.

Although Luna also had misunderstandings and was criticized, it was nothing compared to what Antes experienced.

“Okay, let’s go to the most luxurious and delicious restaurant in the capital. Since you’re struggling so much, I should treat you properly.”

“No, let’s go somewhere I know.”

Even though she wanted to lavish him with a treat, Antes, lowering his head, extended his hand as if to escort her.

Thinking he might be trying to take advantage of the situation, she remembered she owed him a lot, so it didn’t matter. Luna took his hand naturally and asked where they were going.

“It’s a place that will surprise you if you find out.”

“…There’s such a place?”

She hoped it wouldn’t be something too bizarre, like eating something still alive or consuming something revolting that others couldn’t bear to look at.

With all these thoughts, they got into the carriage, and Antes briefly told the coachman their destination.

The carriage then headed towards a road leading to the outskirts of the capital, far from the bustling city center.

“Where are we going? Is it really a restaurant?”

Since they had been traveling for quite some time, Luna asked skeptically. Shrugging his shoulders, Antes replied:

“I just said it’s a place I know, never said it’s a restaurant.”

“…What!”

You said you were hungry! You said you were tired!

His personality was such that he always seemed to provoke others midway.

Luna, who thought that he somehow resembled Fersen, then shook her head in surprise and shook it off.

It may be a little too bold to say it, but how can that idiot be compared to Antes?

“Don’t worry. You will surely like it.”

“I hope it’s not otherwise.”

After traveling for a while, when they finally reached their destination, Luna, pushing her windblown hair back, asked Antes:

“Did y