The Male Lead's Sickly Aide Is My Type - Chapter 28
Translator and Editor: Nana and Nabi
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Chapter 28
“The Duke is not here at the moment.”
It was a phrase she had heard many times before. Thankfully, seeing that he had returned to his slightly pale complexion, he must have been eating and sleeping well.
Carinne boldly pushed open the door that Archen had left half open.
“I know. I will go in for a bit.”
Archen let out a small sigh as he watched Carinne confidently walk into the mansion. He couldn’t bring himself to stop her and calmly followed behind her. As he had suspected, their journey didn’t last long.
“The drawing room is not that way.”
“Ah, really? Then, here?”
“Not that way either.”
“Then this way, right?”
“… I’ll lead the way.”
It couldn’t be helped.
Carinne grumbled as she stepped back. She thought she could find the way easily since she had been here once before, but apparently not. Archen, like a ghost, navigated through the maze-like mansion and eventually led her to a familiar place.
The drawing room, with a sofa and table, was brightly lit by a chandelier. She plopped down on the sofa as if it were her own home.
“Long time no see, this space.”
“You can wait here.”
“Alright, then sit down for a bit.”
Carinne pointed to the opposite side of the sofa with her hand.
“Just for a moment. Really, just a moment.”
Archen frowned slightly, unable to hide his displeasure at her words, but he did as she said. Though he may show his reluctance, he still followed orders well.
A sudden thought occurred to her.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Um, you know.”
“….?”
“During the trial… You went through a lot of trouble.”
She wasn’t confessing anything, so why was she so nervous? Carinne had to muster her strength to untangle her twisted tongue.
“I really appreciated it.”
“If you’re trying to express your gratitude, it’s not necessary.”
He responded as if he had been waiting for it.
“It’s not that… Or maybe it is in a way…”
“….?”
“Well, you see…”
How should she start? The ellipsis grew longer as Carinne continued to hesitate, and Archen gazed at her with a puzzled expression as she struggled to find her words. This wouldn’t do. She should just show him and tell him.
If she showed it, something should come out eventually.
At the thought, Carinne took out the item she had brought from her pocket and placed it on the table. It was a small box tied with a ribbon.
“I prepared a small gift.”
Exactly! The anticipation hit the right note, and her tongue finally cooperated.
Archen seemed slightly surprised as he gazed at the box in silence.
While he reached for the gift box without a word, Carinne was curious about his reaction upon seeing the contents. She hoped he would be pleased. It would be even better if he smiled brightly while wearing it.
With these thoughts in mind, she was filled with excitement. However, when he touched the box, he lightly pushed it back toward Carinne, surprising her.
“I won’t accept it.”
…Why?
He looked at her, who was taken aback, and firmly refused.
“I didn’t ask for anything in return.”
She was flustered by his unexpected reaction and lightly bit her lower lip with her front teeth, not anticipating this outcome. She had been worried whether he would like the gift or not, but she never thought he wouldn’t accept it at all.
“I know that. Who wouldn’t? It’s just a token of appreciation.”
“Still, I can’t accept it.”
As she pushed the gift box forward again, he stubbornly pushed it back to the other side. The box became a puck in their air hockey game.
“Come on, just take it. There’s no one else I can give it to but you.”
“Duke Lucas…”
“Don’t bring up Duke Lucas. He didn’t do anything during the trial.”
“….”
At that remark, Archen tightly sealed his lips. There was nothing he could say to refute the truth.
“Please, just…”
As she pushed the box back again, he grabbed her wrist.
“Isn’t there Duke Tricia?”
“Do you honestly think my father would suit this?”
She blurted out, realizing that it would be like adding insult to injury for him to wear the refined tie pin.
After she exclaimed, she thought she might have been too much, but looking at the expression that appeared on Archen’s face a moment later, she realized she made the right choice a hundred times over.
“Curious about it?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
“Come on, open it. I carefully picked it out, wondering if it would suit you or not. It’s incredibly sophisticated and beautiful.”
In truth, she fell in love with it at first sight, though she lied without even moistening her lips. If it meant getting him to accept the gift, she could wear a clown costume and dance in the middle of the city.
“It’s a limited edition. I waited in line and bought the last one.”
She continued.
“There were ten more people behind me, and they all left disappointed. Oh, if only they had come ten minutes earlier!”
Her exaggeration seemed to have an effect.
Eventually, Archen couldn’t resist his curiosity and finally picked up the box. With his gloved hand, he grasped one end of the ribbon, and the ribbon unraveled gracefully as if meeting its owner.
He finally opened the box and saw what was inside. A silver tie pin that sparkled on the crimson velvet cushion was secured. The gem embedded in the tie pin shone brightly in his blue eyes. He expressed awe without uttering a word.
It was a legendary piece.
“I was right, wasn’t I? It’s incredibly beautiful, isn’t it?”
“….”
“Exquisitely stunning, right? It suits you perfectly, doesn’t it?”
“….”
“I hope the next time we meet, you’ll be wearing this.”
Archen wearing the tie pin she gave him… just the thought made her smile brightly.
‘Two rare expressions in one day!’
There was a reason why her horoscope was favorable yesterday. Her heart swelled with joy, but the joy was short-lived.
He stood up, holding the box.
“The Duke will be back soon.”
As soon as she heard those words, her excitement died down.
Did he still think she liked Duke Lucas? Impossible. She had shown enough signs of disliking him until now. Anyone with eyes and ears would know… no, come to think of it, she might have realized there was a possibility.
Carinne vowed to firmly impress upon him that she had no interest in the Duke. Even if she couldn’t admit to liking Archen, she could say she disliked the Duke.
“I absolutely didn’t come to see the Duke. Never. I didn’t come to see you on the pretext of meeting the Duke either. It’s not like I was just passing by and dropped by to see him. I came to see you with pure intentions. Since I’ve given you the gift, I’ll take my leave now.”
That should be enough. Emphasizing it three times should make even an elementary school student understand.
Carinne stood up from the sofa, feeling refreshed. Although she wanted to invite him to have tea together, she didn’t know when Duke Lucas would return, so it seemed too risky.
“I can leave on my own. I came from that way.”
She spoke as he tried to follow her.
Carinne waved her hand dismissively, knowing about his busy schedule. She didn’t want to take any more of his time. She had given him a gift and seen his smiling face; that should be enough.
Then, she flashed a bright smile at him and waved her hand.
“Take care.”
As Archen bowed his head in response, she replied with a nod and walked cheerfully out of the drawing room.
Everything was going according to plan, and she felt extremely happy.
Her steps had a rhythmic bounce.
She wondered how many different expressions of Archen she had collected so far—from the astonished face she had collected on a rainy day to the first smile he made when he saw her on the way to meet Marta and the concern in his eyes for her.
Not to mention the laughter he burst into on the day of the trial; it was a fantasy in itself. Lastly, today’s elegant smile couldn’t be left out.
With this, she might have collected all the expressions she could.
The completed album was absolutely perfect, and Carinne closed the last page with satisfaction. If she continued like this, discovering his secret during the Ashite Flower Festival would be a piece of cake.
She was now looking forward to the Ashite Flower Festival even more.
Once she found out his secret, she would definitely rescue him… and perhaps become his companion for life while she was at it.
Pondering these thoughts, Carinne continued down the corridor. Her steps were so light that even from a considerable distance, one could sense her mood… or rather, someone was actually watching her.
There was a man who couldn’t take his eyes off her, even when her wavy red hair disappeared beyond the corridor, out of sight.
He was holding a small box in his hand.
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Andi
Ugh, these two are too cute. He is actually touched! Why, why do I feel like Archen is like the Little Mermaid? Except, once he disappears, instead of just turning to sea foam, everyone forgets about him too.
Zepelim
💘
Mangagirl4
He’s so cute!! I feel like this will be a she fell first he fell harder story 🥹