The dawn’s blue light began to peek through the curtains, but Olivia’s room was still lit by a flickering candle that was almost burnt out.

The atmosphere was deathly quiet, with only the sound of Javien’s heavy breathing and the soft tear of cloth as Olivia pulled it away.

Javien sat on the edge of the bed with his back to Olivia. His broad shoulders looked tense, and the veins in his arms bulged every time he tried to endure the pain.

"Javien... don’t move yet," Olivia whispered. Her voice was raspy from staying awake all night.

Olivia took a piece of the softest white silk from her personal collection one she had been saving for another day and began layering it over Javien’s wounds, which still looked red and sensitive.

The moment Olivia’s cold fingers touched Javien’s hot skin, the man flinched slightly.

"Sorry... I’m trying to be gentle," Olivia whimpered, her tears nearly falling again, though she quickly wiped them with her shoulder.

"It’s okay, Olivia. Just keep going," Javien replied. His voice was low and deep, echoing in the narrow room. He didn’t turn around, but Olivia knew Javien was clenching his teeth with all his might.

Olivia began wrapping the bandage around Javien’s chest and shoulders. Because Javien was much larger and taller, Olivia had to stand very close, almost hugging him from behind to pull the bandage forward.

The masculine scent of Javien mixed with the herbal scent of Avelvion’s medicine hit Olivia’s nose. For a moment, Olivia fell silent.

She realized how close they were standing. She could feel the heat radiating from Javien’s body, and Javien could feel Olivia’s breath on his neck.

"Just a bit more..." Olivia whispered, trying to shake off the awkwardness.

Once the bandaging was neat, Javien slowly reached for his uniform shirt. Every time he raised his arms, the silk Olivia had placed rubbed against his wounds.

Javien closed his eyes, his face deathly pale as cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.

"Do you really want to wear that metal armor too?" Olivia asked, her voice trembling with restrained anger.

"Javien, you know the weight of that iron could make your wounds open up again!"

Javien took a deep breath and stood up straight. He turned to face Olivia, his sharp eyes softening. He placed his hand on Olivia’s head without even realizing it.

"If I don’t wear this armor, I’m just the weak Javien in the Duke’s eyes. But if I wear it... I am..." He didn’t finish his sentence. Instead, he said in his heart:

Your protector... Olivia.

Javien pulled a thin, sincere smile, as if the weight of the iron meant nothing compared to Olivia’s safety.

"Don’t make a face like you’re about to cry. People will know you’re worried about me," Javien teased before he started putting on his heavy silver chestplate.

The clanging sound of the heavy iron felt like a death sentence to Olivia’s ears.

She could only watch Javien’s upright back, acting as if nothing had happened last night, even though she knew that underneath that iron, Javien was struggling through immense pain.

"General, I —" Olivia said with a choking voice. She stopped for a moment, noticing a piece of his shirt still sticking out from the edge of the armor he was wearing.

"Javien, the shirt is still sticking out on the side," Olivia said softly. Javien glanced down at his side. He tried to pull it, but...

"Argh..." Javien’s groan sounded soft against Olivia’s eardrums.

Without hesitation, she helped Javien carefully. However, the heavy arm was difficult to move. Javien couldn’t stay still because of the pain.

"Just put your arm on my shoulder," she said while busy fixing the shirt that was sticking out.

Olivia was still busy fixing Javien’s shirt tucked between the armor plates.

Because Javien had to rest his arm on Olivia’s shoulder for balance, they looked very close as if they were hugging in the middle of that dim room.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door before it opened. Ophilia stepped in with a face full of worry.

"How is he, Olivia? Can he get up yet?" Ophilia asked in a low voice, afraid of being heard by the guards in the corridor.

Ophilia stopped in her tracks when she saw Olivia’s position, appearing as if she was hugging Javien’s waist. She paused for a moment, her eyes shifting from Olivia to Javien, who looked deathly pale.

Celine, who was packing the medicine nearby, gave a mischievous smile. She saw a golden opportunity to tease her best friend.

"My Lady, look at that... these two are really something. I wanted to help too, but Olivia wouldn’t let me. She said only she can hold Knight Javien," Celine teased, raising an eyebrow at Olivia.

"Celine! No way! I was just helping fix his shirt because his arm hurts!" Olivia replied, her face turning bright red.

Ophilia laughed softly, feeling amused for a second despite the tension. She approached them and touched Javien’s forehead.

"Your body is still hot, Javien. Do you really want to go out for duty this morning?"

Javien tried to take a deep breath, even though his chest felt tight as the iron chestplate pressed against his wounds.

"I have to go out, My Lady. If I’m not in front of My Lady’s room, the Duke will start asking questions. I don’t want him coming to search this area."

Ophilia sighed, her eyes turning to Olivia, who was still faithfully holding Javien’s arm so he wouldn’t collapse.

"Olivia, take good care of him, okay? If he looks like he’s going to faint while on duty later, give me a signal immediately."

Ophilia then looked at Celine.

"Celine, you help watch my father’s movements. If he heads toward our wing, let us know quickly."

Celine gave a neat bow.

"Settle, My Lady! I’ll be the best spy this morning. But... Olivia over here, My Lady won’t reprimand her? She hasn’t let go of Javien’s waist since earlier."

"Celineee!! Stop it!" Olivia shouted in a whisper, making Ophilia and Celine laugh softly.

Javien could only give a thin smile. Even though his back felt like it was being burned alive, the presence of the three women who cared for him last night made him feel a bit stronger.

"Thank you... for taking care of me,"

Javien whispered, looking Olivia straight in the eyes.

Olivia fell silent for a moment. Her heart beat fast not because she was afraid of the Duke, but because of the deep look in Javien’s eyes.

Olivia nodded in understanding.

She took a deep breath to calm her still-racing heart. She knew their act today had to be perfect. One small mistake, and Javien’s life and perhaps her own...would be at stake.

"Javien, remember... if you feel like you’re going to collapse, find a pillar or lean against the wall. Don’t force yourself," Olivia warned again, her eyes full of worry.

Javien didn’t answer, only giving a small, stiff nod because he was clenching his teeth against the pain.

He then stepped out of the room slowly, followed by Celine and Ophilia, who acted as "protection" on his left and right so that if anyone saw them, they would just look like a normal group heading to the main wing.

After the sound of their footsteps faded down the corridor, Olivia closed her bedroom door tight. She leaned against the door for a moment, letting out a heavy sigh she had been holding in.

"Okay, Olivia... focus. You have to be the most hardworking maid today," she whispered to herself.

She looked toward her bed, which was soaked with sweat and a few traces of Javien’s blood. She quickly pulled the sheets off and hid them at the very bottom of the dirty laundry basket. No one could see these marks.

Olivia then moved to her small closet. She reached for her maid uniform, a black gown with a clean white apron.

As she put on the dress, her fingers were still trembling slightly. She remembered the scent of Avelvion’s blue liquid and the warmth of Javien’s body from earlier.

Why does this room feel so empty when he’s gone?

She quickly shook her head. "Don’t think about nonsense, Olivia! You have a job to do!"

After making sure her hair was neat and her apron was tied properly, Olivia looked into the small mirror on her desk.

Her face looked tired, her eyes a bit puffy from the lack of sleep. She patted her own cheeks to make herself look fresher.

"Smile, Olivia. Smile like you don’t know anything about what happened last night," she told her reflection.

She took the empty tray from the table, opened her bedroom door carefully, and stepped out.

She had to get to the kitchen immediately, pretending to be busy preparing breakfast for My Lady Ophilia, as if she had just woken up from a deep sleep.

Outside, the morning sun began to shine brightly, illuminating Your Grace’s residence, which looked peaceful from the outside, even though inside, their secret war had only just begun.

The atmosphere in the dining room that morning was very tense. The sound of spoons and forks clashing against porcelain plates was very clear in the silence. Your Grace sat at the head of the table, while Ophilia was on his right.

Javien stood tall behind Ophilia, static like an iron statue. Olivia, with her hands still trembling slightly, was busy pouring coffee for the Duke.

*Damn, these hands!! Looking for trouble!!*

Olivia whispered in her heart while slowly taking a breath so the vibration in her hands would decrease.

"Javien," Your Grace called suddenly without looking at the man’s face. Javien flinched slightly, but he quickly controlled his body.

"Yes, your grace."

"I heard... last night’s lashing was quite deep. But you look fresh this morning. What medicine did you use?" Your Grace asked while cutting his steak slowly.

Zreeet... zreeet...

the sound of the knife felt like it was slicing through Olivia’s heart.

Olivia, who was pouring coffee, almost spilled the water, but on the outside, she still looked calm. She saw Javien clenching his teeth.

"Just ordinary medicine, your grace. I am a Knight; such a wound will not bring me down,"

Javien answered, his voice deep and calm.

But Olivia noticed cold sweat starting to break out on Javien’s forehead. Ophilia, noticing the situation getting dangerous, immediately cut in.

"Father, don’t ask about blood while we’re eating. I’m losing my appetite. Olivia, add more cream to my coffee."

Olivia immediately moved toward Ophilia. As she passed by Javien, the edge of Olivia’s maid outfit lightly touched Javien’s hand, which was gripping the hilt of his sword. Olivia managed to whisper very softly, almost inaudibly.

"Hold on... just a bit more..."

Suddenly, Your Grace put his knife down firmly

.

KLANG!

"Olivia, why are your hands shaking? Are you sick too?" Your Grace’s sharp eyes were now looking straight into Olivia’s.