"Ah!" Gracelle covered her face with the blanket before pulling it down just enough to reveal her eyes. "I... I... I didnāt... Iām not interested in your fiancĆ©... the doctor... b-besides... heās a Prince and your fiancĆ©... I... I donāt want to ruin anything..."
Liana smiled, giving her another sly glance.
"You know how nobles and royals are, right? A man of status, especially a Prince, rarely sticks to just one wife. Itās not unusual for them to have multiple partners, especially someone as capable and charming as that handsome Doctor. So even if you were interested, it wouldnāt be a problem~"
Gracelle pulled the blanket down from her face, revealing a pure, sweet, genuine smile.
"Mm~hm." She shook her head gently and glanced at Liana. "No... I still have a promise to the boy I made a vow to years ago. Iāve held onto it all this time. I canāt just let it go now."
Liana smiled behind her mask, a warm feeling stirring in her chest.
Ah~ If only she knew that the boy she promised herself to is the very same handsome doctor who saved her life.
But I like her. Sheās someone who keeps her promises, even after all these years.
And her heart only belongs to Young Master, even when she doesnāt realize heās already standing in front of her. This is why I donāt mind her becoming part of the circle. This is why I wonāt reject her as one of us.
If a girl like this wants to be part of Young Masterās harem, then... I can welcome her with open arms.
Liana smiled again, her voice softening. "But what if that boy you promised turned out to be fat? Or childish? Would you still keep your promise?"
Gracelle smiled warmly and shook her head. "Mm-hm. No. I donāt mind. It doesnāt matter how he looks. What matters is that heās alive, and that I can finally see him again."
Liana smirked again, leaning in just slightly. "And what if the boy you promised has more than one wife? What if he already has five wives? Would you still not mind?"
Gracelle narrowed her eyes, pursed her lips, and mumbled softly.
"That... I donāt know..." She paused, then smiled softly again. "But... knowing that he was once a noble... itās kind of normal for nobles to have more than one wife, right? I think... if thatās the case... I could learn to accept it. As long as I can still be with him."
Liana shook her head, a fond smile on her lips. "You sure about that?"
"Why do you say that?" Gracelle glanced at Liana, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.
"Who knows~" Liana smirked behind her mask.
Gracelle pouted, narrowing her soft glare at her. "Mou! Iām sure whatever you say must be true. Since you were his maid, you must know everything about him..." She paused, her expression shifting to curiosity. "Is he... fat?"
Lianaās eyes sparkled with amusement.
Now... I want to see more of her adorable reactions. And since Young Master is muscular, handsome, tall, and charming... I canāt exactly say heās fat.
Hmm... what should I say? Ah~ I want to keep seeing that adorable face squirm with curiosity.
Liana glanced at her and smiled slyly.
"I canāt say heās fat... but heās big~"
Gracelleās eyes widened, her curiosity piqued. "R... really?"
Liana crossed one leg gracefully over the other and rested her chin on the back of her hand, her expression calm and composed.
"Yes."
"Umm..." Gracelle paused before looking up at Liana again. "So... how big?"
"Well..." Liana smirked slyly behind her mask. "Big~"
"Oh... is he tall?" Gracelle asked again, her tone innocent.
Liana chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh~ Itās long."
Gracelle narrowed her eyes in confusion. "Umm... how can a person be long? Do you mean his legs?"
Ah~ If only she knew I wasnāt talking about his height...
"Mm~ You could say that."
Gracelle tilted her head again, her expression thoughtful. "Is he... you know... muscular?"
"Oh~ Itās hard and strong."
Gracelleās eyes narrowed, a hint of suspicion creeping into her expression. "Why does your answer... sound weird?"
Liana let out a soft laugh, thoroughly enjoying the confusion on Gracelleās face.
Gracelleās cheeks flushed a deep red. "Iām not asking about your fiancĆ©!" She covered her face with her blanket and turned around, letting out a soft huff. "Hmmph!"
She pulled the blanket down just enough to peek at Liana.
"Mou! Iām asking seriously here."
Liana, who had just finished her soft laugh, wiped a tear of amusement from the corner of her eye with her finger and smiled.
"Alright~ So what do you want to know about Young Master?"
"Hmph! Iām sure youāre just going to tease me again." Gracelle huffed and covered her face again.
Liana let out a soft exhale and smiled. "Like I said before, heās alive, well, sometimes childish, loves inventing things, and enjoys his freedom. Heās big, but not fat... I guess." She smirked when Gracelle pulled the blanket down again to look at her. "Heās pretty much enjoying his life now."
"So what happened to him and his family after the war?"
Liana glanced up at the ceiling after leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. "Nothing much. Just the usual, you know."
"But..." Gracelle pursed her lips. "Armand is now a nation after the war, right? That means itās ruled by a new king... and your fiancĆ© is a prince..." She paused, her eyes searching. "Does that mean... Javier and his family were spared by the new ruler?"
Liana smiled, her eyes glinting with hidden amusement.
Ah~ She doesnāt know much since sheās been bedridden. But if I explain everything now, Iāll lose the chance to see that beautiful, surprised face when she finally realizes the truth.
I want to see that expression~
So... how should I answer without giving it all away?
"Hmm... Itās hard to explain. But thatās not whatās important for you right now, is it? All you need to know is that heās alive and happy, right?"
"Mm... thatās true... but I also want to know what happened to him..."
Liana smiled softly. "Itās better if you hear it from him directly."
"Oh... right." Gracelle glanced up at Liana. "But that means... Iād have to wait even longer..."
Liana exhaled, then smiled warmly. "Gracelle?"
"Hmm?"
"I think... I should arrange for you to meet him sooner."
"Ehhh!!!? But I donāt want him to see me like this!" Gracelleās face flushed with shyness and panic.
Liana shook her head and gave her a gentle smile. "You donāt have much of a choice, Iām afraid. I donāt think heāll have much free time after this."
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"I donāt think youād understand even if I explained. Besides, I did tell you earlier that I wonāt be working as his maid anymore after this, right?"
"Ehhhh!? For real!? I thought you were just joking..."
"No, I wasnāt. What I said is true." Liana hid her smirk behind her mask. "So I think itās best if you meet him sooner. Soon, youāll be transferred to the Armand Healing Facility, and after that... you might not get another chance to see him for a long time."
"But... what if he feels disgusted... when he sees me like this?"
Liana smiled warmly. "Iām sure he wonāt. If he does, then heās not the person youāve been waiting for. Someone who truly cares for you wouldnāt be swayed by appearances, especially after everything youāve endured."
Gracelle pulled her blanket up to cover her lips before mumbling softly.
"When?"
Liana smiled.
"Tomorrow morning."
( End Of Chapter )