Don’t Tame It [Novel]

10.

Irene, who had been staring only at her teacup at Baron Rios’s question, slowly lifted her head. She still dared not reach out to the porcelain rim.

This was not school, and there was no food portioned out for her.

Only then did Irene blink slowly. What did he mean by “is it true”? The fact that she graduated at the top of her class? Or that she had refused his offer to be his personal physician?

“Hopeless… unni.”

Irene’s brow furrowed faintly at the unfamiliar address. Leticia, wearing a forced smile, had trembling lips.

“Father is asking if it’s true.”

“It is true that I passed the medical exam at the top of my class. It is also true that I refused the Grand Duke’s offer to be his personal physician.”

Irene answered both questions, hoping at least one was the response he wanted.

Diego looked at her with shimmering eyes, but Irene refused to meet his gaze.

Leticia bit her lower lip, then released it, instantly draping a gentle mask over her features. She parted her lips, and a tone Irene had never heard before flowed from them.

“Grand Duke. There must be a reason why my sister dared to refuse your offer. I hope you will understand with your generous heart.”

“A reason, you say?”

Diego arched one eyebrow, turning his head toward her. He knew exactly what Leticia was thinking.

It would have been difficult not to. He had lived in the royal palace his entire life, enduring situations like this until he was sick of them.

Nevertheless, he didn’t reveal that he knew, simply because he was curious about what Leticia would say next. How much amusement would the Baron’s shrewd daughter provide him?

“In fact, my sister is…”

Leticia, wearing a gloomy expression as if the words were too heavy to speak, quietly added, “She is a bit different from normal people.”

“In what way is she different?”

When Diego showed interest, the corners of Leticia’s mouth twitched.

*So clumsy, honestly.*

Diego stared at Leticia with a feigned expression of curiosity.

“It’s hard to explain in words, but, um…”

Leticia trailed off and glanced at the Baroness. The Baroness, sensing the intent, hurriedly stepped in.

“Irene is a child who has difficulty getting along with others. We have tried everything since she was young, but we couldn’t fix her prickly personality. That is why she hasn’t even been able to debut in high society. It is a shameful thing.”

The Baroness dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. Diego, watching her dry eyes—not a single tear in sight—turned his head toward Irene.

Even hearing insults leveled against her, she showed no change in expression. Like a doll.

Or perhaps, she simply acknowledged their words as truths.

Suddenly, Diego’s mood soured. He didn’t know why, but he felt an inexplicable, mounting irritation. Even though he had orchestrated this meeting, he felt it had been a waste of time.

Irene remained composed in the face of his status and power. That was why he had thought to use her family. If the pressure of her kin could alter her decision, why shouldn’t he use them?

Diego was far more heartless and cold than his public image suggested. He thought nothing of using others to achieve his ends. He simply knew how not to look like it. How to be ruthless without appearing so, how to be cold without appearing cold.

He was the generous, benevolent Grand Duke Cassis, the man who wouldn’t even raise his voice at a servant.

Today’s events were nothing new; he had manipulated others in far more subtle ways.

But why did he feel such disgust? Everything was going according to plan, so why did it feel like something was off?

Diego ignored Javier’s gaze and offered the Baroness a picture-perfect smile.

“Baroness Rios.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Please, speak.”

The Baroness bowed her head with a cultured air. Diego spoke in a tone that didn’t match his gentle expression.

“What I need is not a flower of high society, but a competent doctor.”

“Pardon?”

“I am not looking for a lady who wouldn’t lift a finger for fear of dirtying her expensive dress. I need a doctor who doesn’t care if her hands are stained with blood, one who can sew up the torn intestines of myself and my soldiers. If Lady Irene can save my dying soldiers, her personality is of no concern to me.”

“…Yes.”

The Baroness looked away with a sour expression. Leticia glanced between her own dress and Irene’s, then pressed her lips together.

Diego smiled brightly, as if he hadn’t noticed the chilled atmosphere.

“Besides, I am already in the middle of a flower garden. I am surrounded by all sorts of flashy flowers. Wouldn’t it be greedy of me to want even more?”

For a moment, Leticia’s expression hardened. She realized exactly what he meant by the “flower garden.”

Once, at a capital banquet, she had waited three hours just to greet him. He had been surrounded by countless people—half of them beautiful women, stunning enough to make one’s eyes pop. Leticia had been just one of many; the time allotted to her was barely ten seconds, and when they met again, Diego hadn’t remembered her at all.

Leticia bit her teeth together to swallow the surge of emotion, maintaining her composure with all her might.

“…”

Meanwhile, Irene was gazing at Diego earnestly. Even so, a peeled potato was still a peeled potato. But at this moment, she thought he looked more like a sweet potato.

*Any personality is fine.*

*Being just as you are is fine.*

That was something Irene had never heard before. The Baroness always disapproved, and Leticia called her a nuisance or a lost cause. Lucas didn’t bully her openly, but treated her like an invisible ghost. It had been ages since they’d held a conversation. And Baron Rios was simply indifferent.

Irene’s situation had been the same at the Royal Medical College. People always said there was something wrong with her.

Irene agreed with them. Things that were as easy as breathing for others were always difficult for her: carrying on a conversation, eating together, bursting into laughter at silly jokes.

And yet, Diego said he needed her. As a doctor. To save lives.

Just then, Diego turned his head. Their gazes tangled in the air once more. Diego smiled, crinkling the corners of his eyes.

He really was a sweet potato, not a potato.

“…”

“…”

A potato is a perennial plant of the nightshade family. A sweet potato is a morning glory. They were similar in appearance, but entirely different plants. Whenever sweet potatoes were served, Irene would secretly scoop up two portions. Since she yielded her portion on the days potatoes were served, she thought it wouldn’t be too greedy to take a little extra on sweet potato days. Her heart would pound as if it might burst, but no one scolded her for it. She would savor the two precious scoops with relief.

So, there was no way the Grand Duke of Cassis was a sweet potato. He was a person who stood at the polar opposite of Irene.

Irene turned her head and looked down at her teacup again. The tea, which she hadn’t touched even once, had already grown cold.

* * *

*Thud.*

The door closed behind her. The housekeeper saw her off with a sulky expression; none of her family came out to bid her farewell.

It was fine. Irene didn’t particularly care. She wasn’t hurt, either. She only felt foolish for having brought a bag, not knowing if she might have to stay the night.

“You aren’t seriously thinking of becoming the Grand Duke’s personal physician, are you? His Grace must have made that offer because he doesn’t know you’re a nuisance and a lost cause. If he knew what you were really like, he would surely be disappointed. So don’t even dream of it. You, as the Grand Duke’s physician… that’s the funniest joke I’ve heard all year.”

Unlike her words, Leticia didn’t laugh. Her cold gaze pricked at Irene like an ice pick.

“It’s okay.”

Irene muttered the words like a spell. As if it would really become okay.

Irene hefted her heavy bag, turned her back, and took a step forward. She pulled the lapels of her coat tightly together.

Although there was a hint of spring in the air, the wind that brushed her cheeks was still cold. She had a lot to do today. It would be best to hurry.

But at that moment.

“Lady Irene.”

A familiar voice sounded from behind. Irene stopped and turned, but the sidewalk was empty.

Her gaze shifted to the side. A carriage that looked luxurious even at a glance sat on the road, and Diego was leaning his face out of the window.

Irene’s eyes held a momentary look of wonder. Why was Diego, who had left before her, still here?

“I will give you a ride to the Royal Medical College.”

“I am fine.”

Irene shook her head immediately. She knew there was no such thing as a favor without a price. When the Sea Anemone gave up her portion of sweet potatoes, it meant she wanted her to dissect a corpse in her stead. When Elegance called her “unni,” it meant she wanted her to pretend not to see the plate she had broken.

Irene began to walk quickly again.

“The wind is cold, but the weather is perfect for a walk. Don’t you think so?”