The young Duke?

How?

My thoughts spiraled—shock colliding with confusion, curiosity threading through both.

Why was he here?

I glanced down at Tommy. He was still writhing on the ground, howling curses in pain, completely unaware of who had intervened. His world seemed reduced to nothing but agony.

Instinctively, I stepped back. I had never witnessed violence so sudden and decisive. It left me unsettled.

When I lifted my gaze again, the young Duke stood unmoved. Calm. Composed. His expression betrayed no emotion as his eyes rested on me alone.

I retreated another step.

Only then did his gaze shift to Tommy. With a small, effortless motion of his hand, he gestured.

Two guards appeared almost instantly, as though summoned by the air itself. In a single, fluid movement, they seized Tommy and lifted him as if he weighed nothing. Knowing how heavy Tommy truly was, I stood frozen, disbelief rooting me to the spot.

They carried him away as he continued to cry out, his voice fading with distance. Where they took him, I could not say.

But it no longer mattered.

The young Duke finally moved, walking toward a horse waiting nearby. Only then did I realize he was not alone.

Two boys stood with him, dressed in refined hunting attire—tailored coats, polished leather boots, belts fastened with modest metal clasps. They carried themselves with ease, yet beside them, the young Duke’s presence was unmistakable. Even at such a young age, authority seemed to rest naturally upon him.

If he already looked like this now, I could only imagine what he would become in time.

Of course… I knew that better than anyone.

Imperial bearing suited him all too well.

An older man approached—Mr. Hudson, the Westwond household butler. With practiced care, he assisted the young Duke onto his horse. The other two boys mounted theirs soon after.

They appeared to be friends, speaking casually as they prepared to depart. Their words didn’t reach me. Before turning away, the young Duke cast one final glance in my direction, then urged his horse forward.

The others followed. One of the boys looked back briefly before riding on.

“Clare!”

Cole rushed toward me, hands immediately hovering as he searched for injuries.

“I’m fine,” I said, but he wasn’t convinced. He paced in panic until I grabbed his face firmly.

“Listen to me. I said I’m fine. Do you hear me?” I raised my voice.

That finally snapped him out of it. Instead, he pulled me into a tight embrace.

I laughed softly. “It’s really okay.”

He didn’t release me right away, so I eventually shoved him off with effort.

“Get off me!”

When I did, I noticed his eyes were red, tears spilling freely.

I cupped his face at once. “Why are you crying? I said I’m fine—or did you get hurt?” I turned him around, checking.

He shook his head. “N-no. I’m just… upset. I couldn’t protect you. I almost let you get torn apart.”

I sighed in relief and smiled gently. Loyal to a fault, this one.

“It’s alright. You did well. Look—we’re safe. That bully got what he deserved, so don’t worry.”

He nodded, finally calming.

“From now on, I’ll train harder,” he said through sniffles. “I’ll grow stronger so we won’t fear anyone like that again.”

He smiled despite the tears, looking almost ridiculous. I ruffled his hair without thinking.

“You’re too cute for someone older than me.”

He laughed and leaned into my hand.

Suddenly, Cole was pushed aside and I was pulled into a firm embrace.

“Thank goodness you’re safe,” Albert said. “I heard what happened. I’m sorry, Clare. I promised to protect you and still arrived too late.”

He held me so tightly I could barely breathe. I patted his back until he finally noticed—though it took him a moment.

“Oh—sorry,” he said awkwardly. “Are you alright?”

I nodded. “I’m fine, Albert.”

Still, a strange thought crossed my mind. Since when had we grown close enough to hug like this?

“Hey! Get away from Clare,” Cole snapped sharply. “You’re making her uncomfortable.”

I blinked. I had never seen him look like that—not even earlier when facing Tommy.

Albert raised a brow and glanced at me, studying my expression. I was slightly uncomfortable, but I hid it. I didn’t want to hurt him.

Albert turned back to Cole, unfazed. “I don’t see the discomfort you’re describing. Perhaps you misunderstand.”

Cole clenched his fist, ready to act—until voices rang out.

“Clare!”

“Clare!”

“Who dared hurt my baby sister?!”

Oh no.

Since when did I become this popular?

Eventually, everything settled. The incident was reported to Sir Andrew, who handled it swiftly and decisively.

Tommy was hospitalized. New rules were established—no bullying, no abuse of authority, and no raising a hand against girls under his supervision. Anyone who broke these rules would face severe punishment.

I welcomed the change gladly. For some time now, some resented me for being both an inner servant and a girl—perhaps seeing me as a burden.

But in the end, I stood my ground.

At dawn, I was summoned by Sir Andrew.

At first, I was surprised. Then uneasy.

Cole tried to comfort me, holding my hand, but I swatted it away. “I don’t need comforting. No one’s dying.”

I followed the path to a small cabin. It turned out Sir Andrew lived there, separate from the servants’ quarters. The cabin was modest in size but finely built, crafted from quality timber with a design unfamiliar to me. It felt warm, lived-in.

Sir Andrew noticed me at once and stepped outside. A simple table and chair stood before the cabin, and he gestured for me to sit.

I greeted him. He nodded.

“Forgive me,” he said. “I have nothing prepared.”

I shook my head.

His manner surprised me. Who would have thought he could be this welcoming?

He settled into his chair, sighed, and gazed up at the sky.

“Today was a strange day,” he said.

I could only agree. Very strange. Not something I wished to recount in detail.

I relaxed slightly. It seemed I wasn’t in trouble after all. Relief washed over me.

Sir Andrew noticed my expression and let out a soft chuckle, startling me.

“Eh?” I blinked. I hadn’t expected that. So he could laugh after all.

He chuckled again. “Don’t let it trouble you. I was simply wondering how you managed to involve yourself with the young Duke.”

I froze.

“Ehhh?”

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