# 49
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Episode 49
Ruelia stared at Kyles as he entered the office.
Same expression as yesterday. The same confident steps.
However, she felt her ears burning.
'No imagining!'
She secretly slapped her cheeks.
“When exactly is tea time?”
Kyles asked as Senior took his coat.
“In ten days. But I can go alone.”
“It can't be. It's said that the relative of the person who holds a grudge against you will attend the party.”
"from?"
“Marquis Greene’s wife, the prisoner’s aunt. She might try to harm you, so I will accompany you.”
Almost realizing the Duke's feelings, she found it difficult to reject him firmly.
'This is embarrassing, but…'
Ruelia needed a chance to speak with Marquis Greene's wife alone.
If the Duke accompanied her, the Marquis's wife would probably avoid her.
“If they knew that I was waiting at the entrance until the tea was over, no one would dare treat you badly.”
Cayce read her expression and quickly continued without blinking.
Ruelia laughed in spite of herf.
“Yes, thanks.”
In front of the Duke's serious face, no one could refuse. I felt his sincerity.
“But, have you obtained the permission of the imperial family?”
“Not yet. It seems that His Majesty will not agree easily. He cherishes Marquis Greene, and does not want to cause a dispute.”
'Sly old man.'
Ruelia stared at the upside-down princess doll on the duke's desk.
“If I wander over there, Marquis Greene will definitely react.”
Ruelia nodded, understanding Caelce's intentions.
Kyles sat down. But, by mistake, he hit the desk with his bandaged hand.
The bandage was wrapped too tightly.
“Are you well, Sir Duke?”
Ruelia's eyes widened with worry.
Caelus looked at her face, then at his hand.
Short silence.
He replied with a frown.
“It doesn't hurt.”
'Your face says the opposite of what you say!'
His expression was very fierce.
While Ruelia was hesitating and shifting her feet in confusion, the butler suddenly intervened.
“Miss Assistant, will you change the Duke’s dressing? I must tell the cook to prepare dinner.”
Caelus turned to the butler sharply, with a shocked face.
“The bandage is still clean, there is no need to change it.”
Cales Senior quickly answered.
But Senior said with a hard face:
“That is not possible. Didn’t the doctor say that she needs regular treatment?”
Does this mean that he has to confess before his lie is discovered?
Caelus stared at the butler with raised eyes.
Senior, with a calm face, handed a basket containing medicine and bandages to Ruelia.
"Yes, correct."
Ruelia answered firmly and approached the Duke.
When she stood in front of him with the basket, Kyle's eyebrows twitched again.
"I'll do it myf. I'm usually pretty good at it."
“How do you wrap a bandage on your own?”
Especially since his right hand is “injured,” and he uses his right hand.
Ruelia placed the basket on the desk. Then, with a stern mother's face, she approached him.
“I trained a lot. I'll do it until the doctor comes back.”
She extended her hand towards his naturally.
Kyle's eyes twitched anxiously.
But he did not resist violently.
Meanwhile, Ruelia took out a pair of scissors and cut the knot of the bandage.
The long bandage went down.
“The wound is not deep, it is not a cut.”
Caelus said as if making an excuse.
"Really? But there was a lot of blood yesterday."
“It was that man’s blood. It looks like his mouth exploded when I hit his face on the ground. It probably splattered on me.”
Ruelia's eyes widened in astonishment.
Then she smiled gently.
"I did well."
Cayce laughed involuntarily at her sudden compliment.
Senior came out, watching the scene with satisfaction. By then, the bandage had completely come off.
“Ah…”
Ruelia frowned after loosening the bandage.
There was a large blue bruise spread across the Duke's hand.
“It's because I didn't control the power yesterday. It's not your fault, so don't frown like that.”
He didn't cause the bruise intentionally.
He woke up in the morning to find her. His strong muscles rarely bruised, which was surprising.
Deep down, Caelus was happy.
Now he could confidently attract Ruelia's attention and worry.
“It's not an injured bone or ligament, right?”
Ruelia couldn't touch the affected area, and asked with teary eyes.
“The doctor examined it. He said it was just a bruise.”
"truly?"
Ruelia looked at the remains of the old bandage on the desk.
She looked very wrapped compared to the injury...
Noticing her doubt, Caelus spoke in justification:
“He said reducing stimulation helps with faster recovery, so wrap her often.”
“So?”
“The tumor has decreased, so it is enough to put the medicine on. The bandage is just to prevent the medicine from falling out.”
Ruelia nodded, then rolled up the duke's sleeve. She took out a medicine box from the basket.
The creamy ointment had a refreshing scent. She took a little with her fingers and carefully rubbed it on the edge of his hand.
The texture was different from holding his hand to accompany her.
'Even here it's soft for the Duke.'
His palm was relatively hard and rough.
Ruelia applied the ointment with a trembling hand.
Kyles narrowed his eyebrows.
“Did I press too hard?”
Ruelia pulled her fingers away in panic.
“...No, he was tickling me.”
Kyle said, closing his eyes and then opening them.
“Sorry, sorry.”
Ruelia's cheeks turned red.
She remembered the note on her desk.
'Should I ask him what it means?'
She took more ointment and glanced at the desk furtively.
Kyles followed her gaze.
“Ruelia?”
“Ah, wait. I'm almost done.”
Ruelia quickly rolled her eyes and moved her fingers in small movements.
'Wait? 'Hardened?'
The edge of the Duke's hand, smooth moments before, now seemed taut. The muscles in his forearm also seemed tight.
This scene was not new.
A month ago, she saw him during group training with the knights.
When the Duke was exercising half naked.
'Yes! No imagining!'
Ruelia blinked hard and finished applying the ointment.
As she went to get a towel to wipe the medicine off her hand, Caelus clenched and unclenched his fist regretfully.
“Now I'll wrap the bandage.”
Ruelia grabbed the end of the bandage and began to wrap it slowly as she had practiced.
She passed the fabric between her thumb and index finger, pulled it slightly, and repeated twice. Then I knotted it.
Caelus mumbled her name quietly.
“Ruelia…”
"Wait? Did I make a mistake?"
Maybe she used to tie the ropes looy without securing?
The knot, compared to what was previously wrapped around his hand, was poor and loose.
“Just a moment.”
She untied the knot and re-twisted it several times.
But it got worse. The more Ruelia sweated in embarrassment, the worse things got.
'Ah, look at the Duke's face.'
He looks angry. A face that says he doesn't want to pardon even his favorite assistant.
Ruelia frowned and untied the bandage again.
At that moment, Caelce held her hand in his.