IMMCFC 14

Chapter 14

“Phew. That was exhausting…”

Cain received the paper and quickly scanned the writing with his eyes. Unlike me, he seemed quite fluent in the ancient language.

“There’s so little known about dragon-blooded physiology that even we don’t understand it well. This book might prove to be of great help.”

It was good news, but at the same time, puzzling.

‘Strange. The ducal estate doesn’t have this book?’

Judging by Cain’s reaction, as if he were hearing of it for the first time, it didn’t seem to be a common volume.

And yet something that rare had been left to gather dust in the Marquess’s library. It wasn’t as though someone had deliberately hidden it there.

Whatever the case, I was just glad it would be useful.

Soon, Cain pressed the silver bell on his desk. It seemed he was calling Conrad.

‘It should be about time for me to leave…’

Cain remained deep in thought, his gaze still fixed on the book’s title. His expression was unusual.

I had finished reporting about Jayden, and the treatment was done.

After quickly glancing around and reading the atmosphere, I opened my mouth in a small voice.

“Then I’ll be going now—”

“Before that.”

Gasp. That startled me.

‘What? Is there something else…?’

As our words overlapped, I steadied myself inwardly and forced a small smile as if nothing was wrong.

He set the paper down on the desk and walked toward me. When Cain extended his hand, a heavy weight settled over my shoulders.

His characteristic cool scent faintly brushed my nose.

He had placed his outer jacket over my shoulders.

“Put it on.”

“Pardon?”

I blinked in confusion.

Cain looked down at the woman.

As expected.

She had no idea why.

It wasn’t that she was uncaring.

Wasn’t she the one who had rushed over like a squirrel to treat him just because he was injured, even though they had just met?

‘Is she only indifferent to herself?’

“Why are you suddenly giving me your clothes…?”

Her eyes, like tender sprouts, rolled in confusion.

“Were you planning to walk around the estate in that state?”

Ah!

Only after Cain gestured with his chin toward her bandaged arm did she let out a soft exclamation.

“Well… that’s true, but… it looks very expensive…”

She fidgeted, clearly feeling overwhelmed. The dazed look from earlier had disappeared, replaced by flustered anxiety. Her expressions were remarkably vivid.

“Clothes are just clothes.”

“But still…”

She trailed off, cautiously watching his reaction. Her large eyes, brimming as if about to spill over, blinked slowly. Her pink lashes were long.

She makes expressions like this over such simple conversation.

For Cain, whose emotional changes were extremely rare, Viola’s varied expressions were fascinating. He quietly observed her.

But she seemed to mistake his gaze for silent pressure, and her slender shoulders shrank slightly.

“Th-then… thank you for your consideration, Your Grace…”

Only then did she obediently slip her arms into the jacket sleeves.

But…

At the unexpected sight, one corner of his lips curved faintly.

‘She looks less like she’s wearing it and more like it’s swallowing her whole.’

Wasn’t she a grown adult? Or perhaps not quite grown? It was hard to tell how small her frame truly was.

Then he understood. Well, squirrels were small to begin with. Though she seemed especially small even for one.

“That should do.”

Cain spoke after confirming her arm was completely covered.

Taking it as a sign that she could leave, Viola reached for the doorknob.

‘Conrad should be arriving soon.’

He was mentally reviewing the day’s tasks when—

Viola suddenly turned around as if remembering something. Her cotton-candy-like pink hair fluttered softly.

A faint feminine scent brushed past with the air. Perhaps because she handled herbs so often, she always carried the scent of grass.

‘Come to think of it, it’s not unpleasant.’

With his heightened senses, Cain often found the strong perfumes of nobles unbearable. But Viola was different.

Amid the slightly bitter herbal scent was a gentle sweetness. Her natural fragrance, growing subtly stronger with each pulse of her heartbeat, didn’t overstimulate his senses—instead, it was soothing.

Standing awkwardly by the door, she hesitated, then smiled faintly.

“Um… thank you.”

“Um… thank you…”

The woman muttered, lowering her gaze as if embarrassed to meet his eyes.

“For lending me your clothes, and for treating me so carefully.”

She pointed shyly to her bandaged forearm.

Cain crossed his arms and replied indifferently.

“I recently received some advice from someone.”

“What kind of advice?”

“That even small wounds shouldn’t be ignored. They insisted quite strongly.”

There was a slight edge in his tone. But Viola seemed not to notice at all, merely widening her eyes and exclaiming in admiration.

“Wow. That’s absolutely right! Yes, if you underestimate small wounds, it can become serious.”

She nodded vigorously. The quick bobbing of her head resembled a busy squirrel.

Cain was dumbfounded by her innocent reaction.

‘She doesn’t even imagine it was about herself.’

“You absolutely mustn’t underestimate small wounds! They can get infected and rot. This time it was fine, but next time it could be really serious!”

The day they had met on the street—she had passionately lectured him with even a comical expression.

Yet now, when he brought it up, she responded so dully, without realizing at all, that he let out a quiet scoff. Deliberately, he emphasized,

“Yes. It was such important advice that I remembered it clearly.”

Cain studied her intently, as if giving a signal.

“At the time, I never imagined the very person who said it would be so careless about her own well-being.”

“Huh? Ah…!”

Tilting her head in confusion, Viola finally seemed to realize and let out a loud gasp.

“Was that something I said? Ahaha… You have a good memory.”

“I’m glad you’ve realized it now.”

“Ugh… No wonder…” Her face flushed hotly as she pressed a hand to her forehead. “How embarrassing. I should be setting an example, not acting like this.”

Viola squirmed in embarrassment.

If he teased her any more, would she run off into a squirrel’s burrow?

Watching her, Cain unconsciously smiled—then stiffened.

It was only for a fleeting moment.

Did I just smile?

He touched the corner of his mouth. The sensation felt undeniably different from usual, as if confirming his doubt.

‘How strange.’

…It wasn’t as though anything particularly amusing had happened.

Born a cynical, emotionally muted dragon-blooded, Cain rarely smiled. A smirk of mockery, perhaps—but nothing more.

It must have been a simple mistake.

Knock, knock.

Right on time, Conrad knocked at the door.

“Your Grace, may I enter?”

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Conrad stepped in carrying a stack of documents in his arms. Only then did he notice Viola standing there and froze.

“Oh. Lady Viola is here as well. I hope I’m not interrupting your conversation?”

“No! Not at all. I was just about to leave!”

She brightened as if meeting a savior. Like a prey animal spotting an escape route, her eyes sparkled.

She quickly turned and bowed.

“Then I’ll be going now! Goodbye!”

Swiftly opening the door, she disappeared outside.

Conrad set the documents down with a thud and caught a glimpse of her retreating figure.

“……?”

Wasn’t that His Grace’s jacket just now? It was far too large to be hers.

His expression stiffened for a moment, but there was no way to confirm it. Viola was already long gone.

He shook his head.

‘No way. Honestly… what am I thinking.’

He must have imagined it out of fatigue. In the first place, Cain wasn’t particularly fond of others touching his belongings.

Perhaps oversized fits were extremely fashionable among women in their twenties these days.

Clearing his thoughts, Conrad stepped forward. For a moment, he felt as though Cain’s jacket, which had been hanging by the desk that morning, was missing—but surely that was a mistake.

While Conrad regained his composure, Cain indifferently handed him a sheet of paper.

“Look into this.”

“Ancient language? Hmm. The title is quite difficult. Is it… a thesis?”

“Who knows. Viola said she used to read this old book frequently as a child.”

“What? This?”