Chapter 95: The Winner of the Bet

Daniel Origin was a diligent eccentric. Because he came looking for me early in the morning, Maya was busy preparing me from dawn. She carefully applied lipstick, did my eye makeup, and even sprayed perfume.

“This is when we need Rosetta.”

“Yes…”

“She should at least report where she’s going before leaving. How reckless!”

Maya, who was angry, suddenly closed her mouth. She seemed concerned about upsetting me. While brushing my hair with a luxury brush, she deliberately spoke in a sulky voice.

“Ah, what is this first thing in the morning. Are all geniuses like this?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

I want to make the holy power storage device quickly too. But doing this right after breakfast is a bit much, isn’t it?

Even now, Daniel must be standing right outside that door waiting. I couldn’t ignore him standing there with his arms full of research materials.

Even though I told him we’d meet later, Daniel’s mind was already somewhere beyond Andromeda.

‘I-I’m fine! I’m not tired at all, Duchess!’

I remembered his flustered, naive appearance as he declined.

Oh come on. I’m the one who’s tired. Besides, I’m not even a morning person. Surely we don’t have to do this every morning?

“Maya, did I dig my own grave?”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind.”

Xavier didn’t appear at breakfast. He didn’t even come to my room last night.

Did I do something wrong?

No matter how much I thought about it, there wasn’t anything.

Xavier wasn’t the type to hide his feelings and sulk.

“Maya, Xavier must be having a hard time.”

“Yes, he must be.”

“There was the terrorist attack, and he must be exhausted from the long journey.”

Maya’s hand stopped brushing as she heard my words.

“You always tell me I’m dense, but you don’t know this?”

“What don’t I know?”

“How can you not know what everyone else knows? Even I know it!”

“Ugh.”

It hurt my pride that even my sharp-eyed maid was like this. But I really didn’t know, so I could only pout without responding.

“What is it?”

“One day a crazy crown prince shows up and sticks around the residence. Another day, a doctor you met on the street comes into the house. How jealous must he be? Even I would find it difficult.”

“Come on, Maya, you don’t understand. That duke being jealous?”

A whistling sound escaped my lips.

“Oh? Just wait and see. Whether my words are right or wrong.”

“No way, I’m telling you.”

“Isn’t it a healthy reaction between spouses?”

“Is… is that so?”

The problem is that we’re not an ordinary married couple. Maya wouldn’t know that even in her dreams.

“Madam, shall we make a bet?”

“A bet?”

“Whether the duke is jealous of that eccentric doctor or not?”

I became slightly interested.

“Alright! What should we bet?”

“Three gold coins!”

Maya countered without backing down.

“F-fine!”

*

“Albert, get me some glasses.”

“Pardon?”

Albert, who had come into the office to report on finances, asked back in surprise.

“Glasses? Has your eyesight deteriorated?”

“Yes. It’s very blurry.”

“I see.”

Xavier lowered his gaze to the documents with a sour expression after meeting Albert’s meaningful smile.

“We made great profits from the successful barley and wheat cultivation this time.”

“That’s good. How much?”

“Here.”

Albert, standing in place, held up the document and pointed to one spot. Xavier looked straight at where the butler was pointing without much thought and said.

“500,000 gold…”

“Your eyesight is still very good, I see. It looks like ants to my eyes.”

Xavier coughed at his words.

“Do you like it that much?”

“What?”

“You’re jealous of the doctor now, aren’t you?”

“Albert, do you want to get fired in your old age?”

Albert turned his head and laughed with his shoulders shaking. Xavier’s face hardened immediately.

“You’re laughing?”

“You’re adorable.”

“What? A-adorable?”

“Yes. I can still clearly see how full of aegyo you were when you were young. After your sword training, you would run to me to show off…”

Wrinkles formed around his gentle eyes as memories of the past gathered in his pupils.

A groan-like word was thrown from Xavier’s tightly closed lips.

“Forget about such things quickly.”

“It’s just a small piece of memory left for an old butler. I’ll keep it until I close my eyes.”

Xavier slightly raised the corner of his mouth as he watched the butler’s crown that went down and came back up.

“You’ve only grown more stubborn with age.”

“Instead, I’ll get you glasses right away.”

“I told you I don’t need them.”

“What kind of frame would you like? Black, gold?”

Xavier moved his lips before reluctantly opening them.

“Gold.”

*

‘Why did I do such a thing?’

I got caught up in the moment and made a bet with Maya. Still, a strange expectation settled in one corner of my heart.

Well, what if it’s not true? It’s something I already know. That I’m the only one who likes him.

“D-Duchess, you’re out!”

When I opened the door and went out, the innocent doctor greeted me.

“Yes. You said you wanted to see me?”

“Yes! I prepared right after arriving last night. I think we can modify the holy power absorber I made before. Let’s go to the laboratory quickly!”

The laboratory that Daniel would use for the time being was set up in the rear building of the duke’s residence. Since an entire floor was given for use as a laboratory, the servants had busily carried research tools and books into it.

‘Oh, Xavier.’

Though he showed his dislike, Xavier had diligently prepared everything. Without even being impressed by that, Daniel was deeply immersed in research from day one.

Upon arriving at the laboratory, Daniel began endlessly placing research materials on the table in front of him.

“You did all this overnight?”

“Y-yes! Having the Saintess right in front of me like this, my heart is overflowing with the ability to complete experiments I couldn’t do before. First, if you could provide just a small sample, I can show you results within a week.”

Strangely, he didn’t stutter while doing research. I had the illusion that Daniel’s face was glowing.

“Where should we start? Melvin said a part of the body acts as a medium.”

“What do you mean where?”

“Ah, hair perhaps?”

Before I could answer, Daniel gently stroked my blonde hair.

“I’ll take just one strand, if you don’t mind.”

“H-hey.”

A sharp pain flashed for a moment.

Ah, my hair!

The golden hair in his hand sparkled as it caught the sunlight shining into the laboratory.

“What should be next?”

“Doctor Origin?”

“Ah, because of sweat, my glasses are getting in the way.”

Suddenly Daniel took off his glasses and placed them on the table, bringing his face close to mine. His face without glasses was quite handsome.

“I’m sorry. My eyesight is poor.”

“What?”

“Wow, seeing up close like this, your sky-blue eyes are really pretty.”

Daniel’s breath tickled my face as it almost touched me.

“Ah! Could you open your mouth? I need to collect cells.”

C-cells?

I shook my head, but he came even closer with sparkling eyes.

“Don’t be afraid, just say ah~”

He even pressed my lips firmly with his finger to open them. Research is good, but I needed to speak sharply. I grabbed Daniel’s thin wrist and said in a low voice.

“Doctor, would you remove your hand?”

“Doctor, would you remove that hand?”

Xavier’s voice was heard from the entrance at the same time. Xavier was leaning against the wide-open door.

“Xavier?”

Why are you wearing glasses?

The expensive-looking gold-rimmed glasses on his face reflected light and sparkled. He looked even haughty as he grabbed the frame and pushed it up.

“I didn’t make this laboratory so you could put your hands on my wife.”

“Ah. I-I’m sorry!”

Daniel hurriedly hid his hands behind his back as Xavier approached with long strides.

“Yuria, I’d prefer if you refrained from coming to the laboratory alone from now on.”

“Alright, Xavier.”

Satisfied with my immediate answer, Xavier smiled slightly before looking at Daniel with a serious face.

“The medium can be the Saintess’s tears, so stop trying unnecessary tricks from now on.”

“T-tricks?”

“Well then, carry on.”

Xavier grabbed my hand and led me out of the laboratory.

“What if he refuses to do research because of this?”

“I called tricks what they were — if he quits over this, that’s all he amounts to.”

“No way.”

“I know men better than you do.”

He didn’t need to be so firm about it. Daniel Origin is just someone obsessed with research.

But Xavier kept fiddling with his glasses while meeting my eyes. He seemed to want me to notice the glasses but couldn’t say it.

“The glasses suit you well.”

For a moment, Xavier’s cheeks turned slightly red. Though nothing would look bad on his handsome face.

“But Xavier, why did you suddenly start wearing glasses?”

“Recently, the healer said… my eyesight has gotten worse.”

“I see.”

“I didn’t know glasses would suit me this well either.”

I couldn’t help but smile because Xavier shrugging his shoulders was so cute.

“Yes. They suit you so well I might fall for you.”

“Really?”

“Yes~”

Xavier’s cool lips slightly raised and lowered at the single compliment.

How should I interpret this man who is genuinely happy about being complimented that glasses suit him well.

‘He’s jealous!’

Maya’s words kept bothering me.

The great Xavier Auguste being jealous? Should I pretend to be crazy and ask?

“Um, Xavier.”

“Yes?”

Xavier answered with a somewhat excited face.

“Are you perhaps jealous?”

“What?”

Seeing him show displeasure at my question, I realized my mistake but couldn’t take back the words I’d already said, so I continued explaining.

“O-of course that couldn’t be the case, but this makes me think that you like me.”

My heart was pounding.

Though I knew what he would say, my heart beat without permission because I was also a bit expectant.

Xavier also seemed quite tense, perhaps surprised by the unexpected question. He slowly opened his mouth.

“I…”

I doubted my ears. Despite it being such an obvious answer.