41.
Master said nothing, merely swallowing hard. In the meantime, Judith caught her breath, which had grown ragged.
“Whew, I got worked up. Just thinking about it makes me indignant. Truth be told, I’ve grown quite fond of Mother, Father, and Karl, so I suppose I’ve become rather empathetic.”
“Haha……”
“Regardless, it means there is no chance that Young Duke Ekian Mayous will return. That is why I haven’t even entertained such a notion from the start.”
Judith smiled brightly and straightened her posture. After rolling her eyes once, she flashed a cautious, knowing smile.
“Oh, by the way, Master. Thank you.”
“Yes?”
“For saving me from that servant earlier. I am truly grateful. Even if I hadn’t done anything, the people of the Ducal Mansion would have rescued me, but still……”
Judith whispered, adding on. Now that she had voiced her gratitude, the feelings she had harbored for him this entire time seemed to amplify.
“And I’ve been thinking about it… thank you for trying to save me at The Shrine Of The Last Priestess as well.”
“What nonsense.”
Even in Master’s somewhat tense voice, laughter was mixed in.
“I didn’t really save you back then.”
“Even so.”
Judith stared intently at Master.
“The more I think about it, the more grateful I feel. That’s why I kept thinking of you.”
It was incredibly frustrating not being able to see his expression. She had no idea how he was taking her words. In truth, Judith didn’t fully understand her own heart either, but one thing was certain: having confessed feelings that had been bordering on confusing, she felt a sense of relief, yet her heart fluttered—a sensation entirely new to her.
After a moment of silence, Master cleared his throat and changed the subject.
“It’s nothing, so it’s quite embarrassing. Now, let us return to the previous topic……”
In reality, the story of Ekian Mayous was not very important to Judith. Since she didn’t know Master well yet, she only wanted to talk about him. However, for some strange reason, Master seemed intent on discussing Ekian.
“Didn’t you say you liked Ekian Mayous in the past, Judith? Surely there’s no need to denounce him as an absolute bastard right away……”
“I’m telling you, I don’t like him anymore. I have forgotten him completely, without a shred of lingering attachment.”
“But since it’s a heart that once loved him, those feelings could arise again if you face him…… Well, isn’t it true that there is currently no new man in your heart, Judith?”
A flash of bewilderment crossed Judith’s face.
“Ah……”
At that moment, the person who came to mind was none other than the Master standing right before her. She had been thinking of nothing but him anyway. She had been confused, wondering if she was falling for him. Ever since he arrived, hadn’t she been using the catalog—which she had no interest in—as a topic of conversation just because she didn’t want him to leave?
‘W-wait, but…… I’m not entirely sure yet, am I?’
Judith’s face began to heat up. It was only tonight that she had thought she might be falling for a man whose name, face, and voice she did not know. Naturally, she was bound to be confused. The whole thing had started with the question, ‘Does Master happen to like me?’ and she realized she didn’t hate the idea.
‘Or is it? Given that I’m thinking these things, is it certain?’
Master keenly noticed her momentary hesitation.
“T-that, um.”
Master, unable to hide his slightly trembling shoulders, asked carefully, “By any chance…… do you have someone?”
“Ah, that is.”
Caught in her hesitation, Judith became flustered. She couldn’t very well blurt out that he was the reason for her fluttering heart. She knew that relationships had their stages, and she had openly declared she would not date during the contract period.
“Well, it’s not some clear, passionate feeling. In reality, we are still at a stage where we don’t know much about each other……”
Judith shook both hands dismissively.
“I-I’d like to get to know them a bit more, that’s all? I’m still not sure. Ahaha.”
Meanwhile, Master’s mood seemed to be growing increasingly menacing. As his silence dragged on, Judith rambled on, making excuses for herself.
“I’m not the type to be completely oblivious, so I started thinking, ‘Could that person possibly like me?’…… and I realized I didn’t hate that idea either…… so, well, I think I need to figure out my own heart a bit more…… Oh, anyway!”
Eventually, as Judith spoke in a flustered mess, she trailed off incoherently.
“It just means I don’t really know my own heart yet. If I keep staying like this, I feel like I might develop feelings…… or maybe not……”
“I see.”
Master gritted his teeth.
“So you mean it’s not yet.”
“Well, for now?”
“But I understand that you are at a dangerous stage if you stay together longer. Even if you are confused, you are capable of falling.”
Judith nodded slowly.
“It is quite dangerous, indeed.”
She added, feeling embarrassed, “I didn’t realize I would be so fickle as soon as my debts were gone and I had some breathing room.”
“Ha.”
“Still, for now! I have to act after the divorce. I am a diligent worker, after all.”
“You are even thinking of taking action?”
“If that person likes me, and I like that person, is there any reason to hesitate? I want to have my own family quickly.”
At first, it had been fuzzy, but as she spoke, she felt a thrill. Subtly expressing her feelings to someone she was interested in was intoxicating. Not being able to see Master’s expression actually gave her more courage.
‘Is this…… what they call flirting?’
Judith smiled pleasantly and rested her chin on her hand, staring intently at Master’s mask. She was suddenly consumed by curiosity about what kind of face was hidden beneath it. He had such a fine build; if his appearance was even average, he would likely be at the top of the rankings.
“A family, you say.”
While Judith was happily lost in her imagination, Master caught his breath, his voice sounding strangely strained.
“So you want to have a family with that man? Abandoning Ekian Mayous?”
“Why would I have any reason to think of Ekian Mayous, who would surely be a bastard if he were alive?”
Judith quickly denied it, fearing Master might be bothered by her past comments. Truth be told, she had never even liked him; if a potential romance were to fail because of that misconception, it would be a tragedy.
Master stammered a rebuttal.
“Even so, starting a new family right away is too fast.”
“That is true. I think so too. Everything has its stages, of course.”
Even now, Judith kept thinking, ‘If we open up to each other and become lovers, will I be able to see his face then?’ Repeating her determination to remove his mask, she added without thinking:
“First, I have to start by taking it off……”
“…….”
Master said nothing. He remained frozen in his seat, perhaps at a total loss for words.
“T-that.”
Judith still couldn’t see his expression, so she missed the intensity of his reaction. After a long moment, Master stood up abruptly. Stuttering until the end, he bade her farewell.
“I-it’s quite late. I shall take my leave now. I, for one, have learned your romantic preferences well, Judith.”
“Yes. Goodbye.”
Judith, satisfied with her flirting, waved her hand with a pleasant smile.
…