The annex was an old building that stores things that are not used according to the season, like clothes, garden tools, water bottles, etc.

There were not many people coming and going, and servants only stopped by occasionally when needed.

Few of them made it to the old attic.

‘Aren’t you supposed to come to the main building to see the new room by now?’

Ian wrinkled his eyebrows with the pen resting on the edge of the inkwell.

It was Sophia who asked if the room had changed after returning home yesterday..

He finished his work and stood up.

When he went downstairs, the servants found him and they were quiet.

“You.”

Picking one and calling her, the maid rushed over.

“Didn’t I say that Sophie’s room should be moved today?”

“Yes.”

“It looks like it hasn’t been moved yet.”

“The preparation of the room was finished in the morning.. I’ll check it out, young master.”

No one in the main building was interested in whether Sophie had moved rooms.

The maid then found Jenny carrying flowerpots.

“Jenny!”

“Yes?”

“Has Miss Sophia moved rooms?”

“I don’t know.”

At Jenny’s words, the maid looked at Ian.

In the end, the frustrated Ian came out.

“Are you the maid in charge of Sophia?”

“Yes, young master.”

Jenny lowered her head, hiding the expression that she was caught.

“Where is she?”

“I went in the morning and she was sleeping late.. I left my seat so that she could rest in peace.”

Ian’s eyes narrowed.

“You’ve only been there in the morning?”

The nape of her neck was cold at the sharp gaze.

Morning has already been long gone, and it is late in the afternoon.

“I haven’t checked it yet because I had a lot of work to clean up in the main building.”

Jenny gave an excuse.

It wasn’t completely false.

Because of Ian’s sudden return, things got messed up in the main building and she needed to help.

Besides, since he moved Sophia’s room, she had to tidy up even the new room in the main building..

Slap!

Jenny’s head turned while making excuses.

The servants around them stiffened with their mouths open.

“Incompetent.”

Tears welled up in the corners of Jenny’s eyes at the cold glance.

Her cheeks were flushed red.

Ian left her cold stillness behind and moved his steps.

The annex was somewhat far from the main building.

The Frauss mansion consisted of four buildings, with the main building, the guest annex, and the lodgings of the servants.

Only the multi-purpose annex was located far away in the corner of the garden.

The scenery of the annex building standing alone was particularly eerie today.

Even the servants did not pretend to be busy around here because it was a time when they had nothing to do.

It was as if the whole world did not know that there was someone in the attic of the annex.

In the overly quiet atmosphere, Ian thought that maybe Sophia might not be here.

Ian entered the annex.

The inside was cluttered with miscellaneous things from the servants.

Buckets, rakes, garden shears, rolled up iron duvets, thick wool curtains, outdoor tables, and carpets for party use only.

Even things that looked pretty good when used were put here, and now it looked like old and abandoned junk.

It was an unfamiliar scene for Ian, who rarely came to the annex.

He went up the stairs.

He reached the third floor and the stairs were cut off.

The stairway leading to the attic was in a separate corner on the third floor.

He climbed the stairs to the attic through a narrow passageway with piles of luggage.

The plank creaked with every step of his foot.

As he reached the attic floor, his head hit the low ceiling.

As far as he could remember, he has never come this far.. At least it was well over ten years ago.

When he was very young, he never came up here except for jokes.

He didn’t even think at that time that this slanted ceiling was so low.

So, this was his first visit to Sophia’s room since.

He saw an old, small door in front of him.

In the attic, there was no wall and it was directly connected to the stairs. However, his mother built a barrier by turning it into Sophia’s room.

It was there to ensure a minimum of privacy for the lady.

Her mother was very pleased with that, too, and Sophia, who had been kicked into the attic, was simply grateful.

‘But why did I come all the way here?’

When he was faced with an unfamiliar door, he had a question.

He thought about the purpose of him coming here.

His foot moved first, followed by his head.

And then his brain came up with the answer.

‘I need to know exactly what happened with the Grand Duke yesterday.’

Yes, that was it.

He wanted to ask what she did with Killian Viprons Rivelon all day yesterday.

What the duke had to say about Lady Chanelia’s newsletter, whether there was talk of a breakup, and why he bought the dress.

There were many questions that needed to be answered.

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In an instant, he nodded his head up and down.

But Ian stood in front of the door and hesitated again.

He had never been a polite young man, but he was not rude to enter a woman’s bedroom recklessly.

Neither did he want to knock affectionately.

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“Sophia.”

Eventually he announced his visit by voice instead of knocking.

But there was no answer from inside.

“Sophia.”

He called her name in a slightly louder voice and listened.

But the only sound he could hear was the rustling of the wind.

There was no soundproofing in the attic, so if she were inside, she would have heard his voice.

He felt like he was doing something stupid.

At that moment, he wondered if Sophia was really not here.

“Cough..!”

A coughing sound was heard from inside.

She pretended not to know and didn’t answer, so he was upset.

“Sophia, I know you’re inside.”

Ian warned as he ruffled his hair in an annoyed tone. But instead of answering, only coughing sounds were heard.

“Sophia, you..”

Ian opened the door and went inside.

Above the bed occupying a corner of the narrow attic, he could see a lump of blankets wrapped around her.

“Sophia!”

As he ran to her bed and grabbed her, he felt her scorching heat.

Crouching under the thin blanket, her body was shivering with chills.

“Hah..”

He could feel the pain through the heavy breathing.

Her cheeks were flushed red from a high fever.

“Calm down, Sophia.”

Even at his call, her eyes, which were heavy with heat, did not open.

When he touched her forehead, it was unusually hot.

Like a candle in front of the wind, her breath seemed to be dying out.

“Hey!”

He shouted downstairs, but there was no answer.

Ian’s eyes widened as he remembered that no one had seen him from the annex as he climbed.

“Shit..!”

He didn’t even have time to think. He chewed on the evil curse and held Sophia in a flashy embrace.

The skinny body was light.

He grabbed Sophia wrapped in a blanket and ran straight down the stairs.

When the servants found him leaving the annex holding Sophia, the servants ran to him in amazement.

“Young master!”

“Call the doctor right now.”

“What?”

“Call the doctor, now!”

Ian shouted at the servant who couldn’t understand his words at once.

The servant hurried to call the doctor.

Ian carried Sophia up to the main building.

Sophia’s new room? Maybe there.. He went to the bedroom and laid Sophia down.

After breakfast, the count and his wife went to meet other nobles for their weekly work, so they were the only ones in the house.

It will take some time to call the doctor.

He ordered the butler to prepare a fever reducer and a wet towel, and Ian bit his lips in nervousness.

A body that was about to crumble at any moment made one part of his chest feel uneasy.

How stupid.. If it hurts like this, you should have called someone..!

She was acting fine yesterday.

Then he remembered the dark fatigue that had reflected on Sophia’s face yesterday.

He didn’t notice it because she was dressed more flashy than usual.

He knew that her condition was not good.

He then saw a hand holding the blanket tightly. Her trembling knuckles were fading white.

Without realizing it, he reached out and grabbed her hand.

Sophia caught the warmth that reached her in the midst of confusion.

“No.. Stop, don’t hit me..”

Her hot lips spat those words out through her rough breaths, with him not knowing who she’s talking to.

The scar on his blade yesterday was visible from the back of her neck as she turned painfully.

Emotions cracked across Ian’s face.

~*~

It was late evening when Sophia woke up again.

It was dark outside, so she was confused as to whether she had just slept and woke up.

Her body was drenched in sweat, and her body, wet and heavy, felt unpleasant.

Her mind was still dizzy and she couldn’t figure out the situation. But she frowned at the unfamiliar scenery that soon caught her eye.

“This..”

A new room?

A comfy bed with a canopy, beautiful arched windows and a burning fireplace on a white marble wall.

It was not the attic.

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Who moved her to a new room while she was sleeping?

She was well aware that this was not a family that would give such devotion.

‘Then I..’

It was when Sophia rubbed her body.

“Are you alive now?”