Chapter 19
Chapter 19
“Ugh…?”
Angela hunched against Bianca’s arm.
“Why are you like this?”
“I don’t know, I suddenly felt cold. Maybe I caught a cold?”
Bianca glanced at her for a moment, then gave a very practical answer.
“…Then could you step back a little?”
“Why?”
“Because the cold will spread if we stay close.”
Even in this world, people knew that contagious illnesses could be passed to those nearby. Of course, they attributed it to bad air or toxins, but the basic principle wasn’t wrong: being close could transmit disease.
At those words, Angela stiffened.
“Uh… huh?”
“Now, please let go.”
“Mm…”
Angela was a good-hearted person. She didn’t intend to spread illness while using a cold as an excuse to cling.
So she released her hold obediently.
Only after letting go did she realize:
‘Ah. If I’d just said [actually, I’m not sick] before letting go, I could’ve stayed close a little longer…’
But it was too late. The opportunity had drifted away.
“Is that everything you came for?”
“There are many matters, but we’ll likely have several more conversations in the future. It’s better to end today here.”
“Right. I also have another guest waiting outside.”
Luang remembered Bianca’s presence outside.
Giovanni hadn’t forgotten either. It was just that the fact that someone from the Lascachi family had personally come was still a bit hard to believe.
“I didn’t expect someone from the Lascachi family to come personally.”
“Does the Goldrun family have no ties with the Lascachi family?”
“They buy goods—mostly premium products made by Angela,” Giovanni briefly explained.
Old noble houses like the Lascachi usually run their own trade networks. So, even if they trade with Goldrun, they avoid showing a direct connection.
“Instead of sending servants directly, they send trade personnel. It’s their way of avoiding creating a link with us.”
“Don’t high-ranking nobles generally do that?”
“…Yes, they do.”
Goldrun was noble, but not recognized as traditional nobility. Their title came from the former emperor. In the eyes of other nobles, they were just new nobles with the scent of gold.
Yet a daughter of the Lascachi family came directly. That alone made this visit unusual.
‘It’s probably not just about goods.’
Luang thought so.
Bianca herself was also quite unusual. She had come personally to apologize for her own mistake. Even in modern times, people who admit their mistakes are rare. Noble society, obsessed with authority and face, is even harsher.
A few bow their heads and admit fault. Bianca was one of those rare exceptions.
Knock, knock.
“Master, I’ve brought the two of them.”
“Let them in.”
The door opened, and Bianca and Angela entered.
They weren’t holding hands anymore. Angela seemed hesitant to stay close to Bianca.
At first glance, they looked like strangers.
‘Are they pretending?’
Luang interpreted it as Bianca’s strategy—hiding the fact that she was close to Angela, keeping an extra card in her hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Bianca Lascachi, of the Marquess Lascachi family.”
“Greetings. I am Giovanni Goldrun, head of the Goldrun family.”
They exchanged brief greetings and took their seats.
Angela hesitated for a moment, then sat on the sofa slightly apart.
Luang felt oddly aware of it. Until just a moment ago, she had clung to Bianca like a puppy. Now she kept her distance.
Giovanni didn’t mind his daughter’s awkwardness. He hadn’t properly taught her etiquette. There was no formal tutor, and he himself wasn’t well-versed in traditional noble manners. He had no right to scold her here.
“What brings you here today?”
“I wished to have a brief private conversation with Miss Angela.”
Private conversation. Something light, personal, not meant for others.
Giovanni didn’t press for details. Instead, he naturally suggested:
“Dinner is almost ready. Would you join us?”
“I would be grateful if you invited me.”
“I’m fine with it too.”
Bianca answered politely, and Luang casually agreed.
Giovanni, however, showed no concern and instructed the servants to prepare an extra two meals.
“While the meal is being prepared, would you like to stroll in the garden?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Very well.”
As the two stood, Angela immediately tried to follow.
But Giovanni stopped her.
“Angela, stay here.”
“Huh?”
“Sit.”
“Y-yes…”
In the end, Angela stayed behind, while Bianca and Luang were led outside by the servants.
As they exited, Bianca realized belatedly:
‘Wait… it’s just me and Prince Luang going to the garden?’
Angela, who had been jumping around to draw attention moments ago, was now quietly trapped indoors.
The servants stood far off in the garden, respecting the privacy of the conversation. Of course, if Bianca screamed, they would hear.
The problem was that Bianca imagined that if she screamed, she might really have a reason to scream. Just thinking about it sent chills down her spine.
“Why are you acting like this?”
Luang asked as he returned to tending the flowers. His touch was astonishingly delicate, not disturbing a single petal. Years of sword training must have honed his fingertips to perfection.
Bianca recalled something suddenly—how firm and rough his hands had felt when they had rested on her shoulders.
Yet with those same hands, he could caress the flowers without leaving a mark.
That realization felt strangely dangerous.
“Oh… that’s…”
Bianca looked around, trying to find a topic to distract herself.
Luang stood and slowly approached her.
“Huh? Huh? Why?”
“You’re the one stepping back.”
“Well… you’re suddenly coming closer…”
As Luang advanced a step, Bianca retreated a step.
Slowly, clearly.
Repeated several times, and finally, when Luang’s hand reached toward her, Bianca closed her eyes tightly.
“If you step back further, you’ll get scratched by the bushes.”
“…Ah.”
Luang’s hand landed on her waist.
He pulled her toward him. Bianca glanced back quickly—bushes were neatly trimmed at right angles. Any closer and she would’ve been scratched.
“Thank you…”
“They’re sharper than I expected.”
Bianca looked again at Luang’s hand and noticed a thin red line running across the back.
Blood had appeared. She quickly reached for a handkerchief.
“What are you doing? Wiping it, treating it—”
“All healed.”
“Huh?”
Luang brushed the blood away with his finger. The wound beneath had already vanished.
As if it had never been cut.
Bianca stared in disbelief. The blood was real, yet the wound was gone.
“What…”
“It’s a blessing from God,” Luang said calmly. “A power that brought me back from death.”
Bianca looked up at him instinctively. His face was calmer than that day when madness had glimmered in his eyes. He seemed subdued, even strangely lonely.
Assassinations were common in noble society. But they were also considered the most cowardly, cursed acts. This world valued fair fights. Stabbing from behind was contemptible.
And this was a man who had nearly died once because of such cowardice.
That thought eased Bianca’s fear just a little.
And in the space fear left behind, another feeling rushed in.
A hand around her waist.
A firm body so close.
A distance closer than expected.
“Thank you for holding me safely… you can let go now.”
Bianca spoke softly.
Luang didn’t release her immediately. Instead, he slowly lowered his head.
“Huh? Huh?”
The distance between them shrank further. Bianca reflexively closed her eyes again.
There was no contact with lips, but a low breath brushed her ear.
“Angela already told me, so we can skip that.”
So close it was like his breath could touch her.
“Are you okay?”
“Eh?”
“I’m concerned about the rumors that might spread if you and I are linked.”
Bianca’s breath caught.
Rumors rarely reached the person involved. They spread where the subject wasn’t present, unheard. Bianca’s own whispers surely circulated somewhere.
“Um… that’s…”
“If it puts you in trouble,”
Luang’s voice dropped lower,
“I’ll help you.”
“Huh? Why…?”
He whispered very slowly:
“Because you seem like a genuinely good girl.”
Bianca was momentarily speechless.
A good girl.
She hadn’t heard that in so long. Usually, the words were:
“You’re useful.”
“Profitable.”
“Beneficial to the family.”
Not just… good.
The simplicity of it struck her unexpectedly deep.
Her face heated.
She felt embarrassed, shy, and a little… thrilled.
She couldn’t bring herself to look at Luang.