Chapter 100.1

Lia’s gentle touch caressed his cheek, her eyes fixed on the blood staining the back of his hand. Claude chuckled, stealing a glance at his wound before dismissing it with a wave of his hand. “It’s nothing,” he assured her, though his body was battered and bruised from the minor beatings he’d taken. Scratches lined his face, marring his rugged features.

She held back her anger as she applied the ointment Owen had brought, tending to his injuries with a delicate touch. After the incident, Owen was banned from the second floor for three days, an appropriate punishment for touching the owner’s belongings without permission. Though Claude could have dealt out a more severe penalty, he chose mercy over retribution.

“It’s over now,” Lia whispered as she draped a peppermint-scented shirt over his shoulder. The man who had been silently sitting on the couch lifted his arm through the sleeve while rubbing his red earlobes. She wiped her hands on a damp towel and stepped closer to him.

“I still don’t understand. Why did you risk your life going into that collapsing building? Even if you were trying to save people…” she trailed off, her fingers deftly buttoning up his shirt. It was a relief that he hadn’t broken down in tears at the sight of the rubble, but she couldn’t help but wonder what drove him to such reckless behavior.

Claude chuckled again, watching her pink fingertips dance as she worked.

“The crumbling building was already declared a hazard, and the residents were instructed to evacuate. Even though the sudden collapse was unforeseen, I was more aware of the structure’s condition than anyone else,” Claude explained.

Lia breathed a sigh of relief, “Thank goodness you made it out alright. You weren’t afraid, even with the building on the verge of collapsing?”

“No, I wasn’t scared. In fact, I was surprised. I owe you my life. Were you worried about me?” Claude asked with a playful smile.

Lia blushed, “Of course, what kind of question is that?” As she lifted her head, she found herself staring into his blue eyes, so close she could feel his breath on her face.

Claude wrapped his arms around her and whispered, “I want to repay the person who saved my life.”

Lia shook her head, “Then I should repay the Duke every day?”

“Just by being here, you’re repaying me,” Claude said, as he pulled at the ribbon on her blouse.

Lia’s cheeks turned red as she watched him closely. Why does this man say such things without hesitation?

Claude smiled and touched her skin with his lips, causing Lia to momentarily forget her doubts. However, a distant voice echoed in her mind, filled with curse-like screams that she should never have been born. She wiped the back of Claude’s head, feeling an unexplained urge to cry.

But her love for Claude was genuine, and he smiled as he sensed it in her touch. “If I ever find myself in trouble again, will you save me, Canillia?”

Lia’s expression hardened, “There won’t be a next time.”

Claude chuckled, “I believe you will.”

Lia sighed, resigned to his recklessness. She laid her head on the desk, her fingers running through Claude’s hair as the light in the room dimmed. “I want to go on a date,” she said quietly.

Claude’s eyes lit up with lazy amusement, “Sure, let’s do it. Let’s go on a date.”

***

Lia couldn’t peel her eyes away from Claude’s striking gaze as he surveyed the aftermath of the accident. The collapsed fence lay in a precarious position, holding up the building like a reluctant savior, while the workers, giddy with relief, chattered on about the simplicity of the demolition work.

Ivan, who had approached the scene with trembling steps, stood beside her, his youthful scent wafting toward her. Jasmine had been summoned to attend to the accident, leaving Ivan to keep Lia company.

“Luckily, no one was seriously hurt, and the property damage is minimal. It’s all thanks to you, miss,” one of the workers exclaimed, gratefully acknowledging Lia’s heroic efforts.

“Thank you, Ivan,” Lia whispered. “I didn’t do my job properly. I should have stopped the master,” Ivan lamented.

“If it weren’t for you, the Duke would have been in danger,” Lia countered, trying to assuage his guilt.

But it was Claude who interjected, his arm snugly wrapped around Lia’s shoulder. “No, it’s all thanks to you, miss,” he said with a hint of sarcasm.

Ivan slinked away as if he’d never spoken, leaving Lia with her jaw hanging open. But before she could retort, Claude nudged her. “Can’t you chat with me like that?”

“I chat like that every day,” Lia retorted, her grip on his arm tightening.

Claude rolled his eyes and strode away, taking long steps that Lia had to scurry to keep up with. She felt his hand wrap around hers, holding it tightly.

“Let’s go on a date,” he said with a smile.

“Where to?” Lia asked.

“There’s a little place that serves the lemon sherbet you love,” he replied.

“Really?” Lia’s face lit up like the morning sun.

Lia’s cravings for a dessert that would set her mind alight demanded something tangy and sweet, but the confections from the mansion’s head chef didn’t quite match up to her exacting standards. Yet, Lia couldn’t help but smile as she tried to find the dessert shop that Jasmine took her to last time.

After they threaded their way through the messy intersection, they found the shop nestled among small buildings in the alleyway. The shop owner greeted them, calmly presenting a display of cakes and pies. His hesitance mounted as he observed Claude’s face and the guards standing outside the shop. Lia’s mouth watered as she glanced around the shop, taking in the sight of the cakes piled high with sweet cream. She secretly wanted to try them all, but there were too many to choose from.

They ordered two pieces of cake, a slice of pie, a lemon sherbet with honey, and coffee, and then sat down at a table. As Lia waited, Claude’s gaze remained fixed on her with a radiant smile.