Chapter: 20
Too Much Sin to Confess
4:30 a.m.
Brandon’s day began earlier than most people’s.
The moment he opened his eyes, he saw a single chocolate hanging from the ceiling.
And beneath it, a dessert box with its ribbon still perfectly tied.
“Mm. Still safe and sound. No one stole you.”
Good, very good.
He muttered in his sleepy voice, confirming the safety of the two precious items.
Only then did Brandon sit up.
As he did, all sorts of miscellaneous items that had been piled on top of the blanket tumbled onto the floor.
It hadn’t even been six months since he started staying at Rose’s house.
Yet Brandon’s bedroom was already crammed with all kinds of odds and ends.
The room wasn’t small, but with so many things in it, it looked cramped.
The walls were tightly covered with framed paintings in a peculiar style.
The floor was scattered with strange objects—antiques, dolls, or items that looked like ritual tools.
Getting out of bed, Brandon kicked aside whatever bumped against his feet and left the bedroom.
“You’re awake, Your Grace?”
Hill, who had risen early to prepare breakfast, greeted him.
“I’ll have your bath drawn in advance.”
Still half-asleep, Brandon gave him a vague wave.
After that, he immediately began his physical training.
After roughly three hours of training,
he took a bath and spent time on personal grooming.
“Your Grace, I’ve hung today’s outfit in your bedroom.”
If he had been at the ducal estate in the capital, five servants would have fussed over him at once.
But coincidentally, he preferred being alone to being surrounded by many people.
Since childhood, Brandon had considered self-care important.
The reason was simple.
He didn’t want it to show that he had received no care from his parents.
To show weakness wasn’t something that earned sympathy—
it was simply disgraceful, in his view.
A custom-tailored suit. A carefully selected perfume.
Only after spending the entire morning on personal grooming did he finally sit down for a meal and his work.
Normally, he would devote the entire afternoon to his duties.
“Ha…”
But today was a little different.
Before noon—
that is, before Dorothy’s visit—
he took a moment to steady his heart.
“All right. Yes, that’s fine. That’s a good idea. No, I haven’t eaten yet. Let’s eat together. I should prepare tea and a place for us to sit.”
At the memory of last night surfacing, Brandon took a deep breath.
The way he had behaved yesterday…
“I’ll go prepare the meal. I need to ask Hill for help. I’ll also prepare something to drink after we eat.”
Leaning against the front door, he repeatedly rubbed his face dry.
Last night, he had behaved like an untamed wild horse.
Especially that damned mouth of his.
It felt as though his head, mouth, heart, and limbs had all been moving separately.
He couldn’t control himself at all.
But what happened last night would never happen again.
Knock, knock.
“Good morning again, Dorothy. Did you sleep well?”
Brandon possessed a mask thicker and sturdier than any suit of armor.
Even the tension squeezing his chest like a stone was hidden beneath that mask.
There was no mountain he needed to overcome—
not even a small hill in the neighborhood.
“Oh, hello, Your Grace.”
Fortunately, Dorothy didn’t mention yesterday.
She wasn’t the type to bring up something that might embarrass the other person.
“My sister is sleeping in again today.”
“It seems Lady Rose has been sleeping in quite often lately.”
Dorothy said that with a slightly awkward expression.
After all, she was Rose’s guest.
But this was entirely Brandon’s doing.
Today as well, Rose’s clock was set to ring two hours late.
Rose did try to hide her clock in her own way.
But it was difficult to fool Brandon’s eyes.
He had even begun planning to break his beloved sister’s clock before long.
“Well, that’s actually better.”
“Pardon?”
“That means Dorothy becomes my guest instead of my sister’s.”
Brandon said with a gentle smile.
“You don’t mind being my guest, do you, Dorothy?”
“Ah… of course not, Your Grace! Thank you for saying that.”
“I’ve kept you standing at the entrance too long. Please, come in.”
Fortunately, his mask was functioning properly.
Even if it cracked slightly after three seconds of eye contact, this much was manageable.
“Have you had breakfast?”
Brandon naturally guided the conversation while taking her coat.
“Yes! Mrs. Horton prepared something for me before I came. What about you, Your Grace?”
“I haven’t eaten yet. I overslept.”
“Really? Wow…”
Dorothy gasped in innocent admiration.
“You overslept, and yet you still look so perfect, Your Grace.”
“Oh dear, perfect? That’s embarrassing. I overslept, so I didn’t even have time to properly check myself in the mirror.”
Basically, Brandon knew how to win people’s favor.
Moreover, he was well aware that his appearance was useful in gaining women’s affection.
But Dorothy was not an easy opponent.
“No, you really do look perfect.”
She didn’t compliment people to win their favor.
“I’ve always thought so. Every time I see you, you look perfect.”
On the contrary, she offered praise with pure intentions, without pretense.
If he approached recklessly, he might end up caught instead.
Stay calm.
He mustn’t lose himself over her compliments.
“Thank you for saying that, Dorothy.”
Brandon cleared his throat, tightening the mask that threatened to crack again.
“Since I haven’t eaten yet…”
There were still at least two hours before his insomniac sister’s alarm would ring.
So he needed an excuse to converse naturally with her.
“Would you keep me company until my sister wakes up?”
He suggested it, even though she had already eaten.
“Ah, yes! Of course. I have to wait for Lady Rose anyway.”
“Thank you. Hill, could you prepare lunch?”
Brandon called out gently.
“Pardon? But you clearly ate earlier— … I’ll prepare it at once.”
“Thank you, Hill.”
Soon the meal was served, and as planned, he was able to spend time with Dorothy.
Quick-witted Hill even set aside fruit Dorothy could eat.
Thanks to that, she naturally sat at the table with him and chatted.
Now, everything was going according to plan.
There were no more mountains left for him to overcome.
“If there’s anything you need, just let me know.”
“What you’ve already given me is more than enough. Thank you.”
Though he was slightly nervous, he was able to talk with her as usual.
Even without his sister present, their relationship was no longer awkward.
“By the way, I’m a bit worried, Dorothy.”
“What are you worried about?”
Although Brandon had never seriously dated a woman before—
“My sister sleeping in is definitely a good thing. She used to have trouble falling asleep, so it’s fortunate she’s getting proper rest now.”
He was confident.
Confident that he could grow closer to Dorothy.
If they continued to spend more time alone like this,
naturally, their relationship would deepen.
That was why he was confident.
“But I worry that you might end up waiting around too long.”
“Oh, that’s fine—”
“Since you’re waiting anyway, how about we take a walk together?”
Brandon asked gently.
“Lately, you see, I sometimes feel rather empty. I’ve thought it would be nice to have someone by my side to talk to.”
“Then of course I should help you, Your Grace!”
“Really? I was worried I might be bothering you.”
“As if!”
At Dorothy’s outcry, Brandon was filled with joy.
Everything was falling into place exactly as he wanted.
Now there was no wall left that could stop him—
“Of course I can help you—as a friend.”
A… friend?
Brandon blinked.
“Haha, me? Like someone? That’s ridiculous.”
Fragments of old memories surfaced.
“I would never do something so irrational and inefficient.”
He blinked at the shocking words he himself had once spoken.
“So I hope you and Dorothy remain good friends as well.”
Ah.
“I was hoping to become good friends with you too, Your Grace!”
Seeing Dorothy speak so innocently, his mind went completely blank.
The great mountain he needed to overcome…
was his own big mouth.
