He was about to run inside the room and jump on Cecelia but realized someone was standing before the door.
"Who are you?"
"I am…" Dereck paused, asking, "But who is it asking? Is not it a very civilized thing to start by introducing oneself?"
"Shut up and answer what you have been asked. Who are you? Are you from our family?"
"Your family? I don't even know who you are."
"I am Tigris Hazard, the fourth son of Triston Hazard. Are you from the Hazard family?"
"No." Dereck didn't even hesitate.
"Who are you, then?"
"Do I need to introduce myself to you?"
"You!?" Tigris was about to spray some slurs but remembered that only the people, other than those related to the Hazard family, who entered the Duke's palace were the ones who held a high position in the kingdom.
He changed his tone, continuing, "Young master, you are at the wrong place. This part of the palace is only restricted to family members."
"So, I am allowed here."
Tigris glared at him, trying to understand whether he was joking. "You bastard." And the punch came as expected. Also, the gust of wind blasted him off.
Just like two passive skills like [mana compression], which Dereck had accumulated throughout a thousand missions, she also earned three active skills that can be used in any world regardless of the mana.
These three skills resulted from his achievements in the real world. That doesn't mean he doesn't use them, in other words.
Dereck raised his hand before the frightened face of Tigris and used [memory manipulation]. The more his mana penetrated his body, the sleepier Tigris became. Soon, he fell asleep.
"What are you doing?" The sudden shout made him realize that other people were in the room. This was the first time Dereck looked at Cecelia directly, only to discover that she was bleeding from her forehead.
"Who are you?" She wanted to do something else. However, seeing him raise his hand in front of her face, she tried to move back, only to realize that she was already backed against the furniture.
"You can't beat him, and he can't beat me. So, you can't beat me." Dereck said as she squeezed her eyes in fear.
The next thing Cecelia felt was an incredible feeling covering his head. It relaxed her body as she heard him say, "Your wound has closed. The inflammation will go back to normal soon."
Cecelia touched her forehead in utter disbelief, only to check that it had already closed.
"Who are you?" She asked the question again. This time, however, the tone is different.
Before he could answer, Tigris woke up. Cecelia was quick to scatter to make some distance between him and her.
Despite her restless movement, he paid no attention to her. Instead, he looked around, not knowing what was happening around him.
"You had never loved her or intended to do anything to her. You respect her because she was your sister-in-law, and you helped her survive when she struggled. You want nothing in exchange for all the gifts, food, and clothes."
He expected Cecelia to be surprised.
Without explaining, he continued, "You have been in love with the third princess, Tanisha, for a long time. You are going to propose to her on your grandfather's birthday."
Tigris nodded as an obedient student before leaving the courtyard under Derceck's command.
"Who are you?"
Instead of answering her repeated inquiry, Dereck waved his hand before putting the thing in its supposed place. There wasn't much to be broken in the room.
Although the earthen glass had survived, the water jug had shattered. He threw them out with the wave of his hand.
"WHO ARE YOU?"
Dereck covered one of his ears, expressing that she was hurting his ears. "Is that how you treat someone who saved you from your fate?"
"My fate!" she mumbled before giving a deed bow to Dereck. "Thank you, young master, for saving me. However, this is an internal issue for the Hazard family. You must not delve into the matter."
This was the first time Dereck had seen her up close. Even with her unkempt appearance, she looked pretty cute with straight, dark black hair and a dimple on the left cheek.
"I think you would look more beautiful with long hair."
"Young master." Cecelia glared at her, adding, "You shouldn't say something like that to a widow like me."
Dereck was perfectly aware of the rules of society. The unmarried woman must keep her hair tied, while the married woman would keep her hair open in public.
However, when a woman loses her husband, they are supposed to cut her hair shorter than their shoulders.
"Didn't he say you were going to become someone's concubine? So, you are not a widow anymore?"
"What do you know?" Cecelia shook her head, explaining, "Whoever is in a sane mind would take a widow as a concubine. All they want is…"
Cecelia paused and looked at Dereck, not understanding why she was suddenly talking about all these things with a stranger.
"Please leave, young master. As you know, I am going to be married to someone. I shouldn't bring another man into my bed chamber."
"I understand. But I think you should have run away when you had the chance."
"Ran away? Do you think my mother-in-law would have let me go if I hadn't mourned properly for my husband? She would have…" Cecelia paused, not understanding why she was so talkative today.
"Please…" Cecelia didn't get to complete her words before the door of the courtyard opened again.
There were four maids, along with four guards, who came in. Cecelia didn't know how to react. She still stepped forward, asking, "What do you want?"
She feared that Tigris had gone and complained to his mother, resulting in the guard arresting the young master. No matter how much she wanted that not to happen, the guards still passed her and walked right towards the young man.
"Young master." They saluted.
"Well, there is not much to do. Just guard the gate." Dereck then turned to the maids, ordering, "Cleaned the bed. I need to take a rest. Also, help her sort her stuff."
There were so many things Cecelia wanted to ask, but a pair of maids pulled her away while the other pair was quick to prepare the bedroom.
The room was prepared before Cecelia could return from the other room. As Dereck rested on the bed, the maid prepared refreshments from his mother's courtyard.
He was indulging in the exotic fruit he never had in the real world when the door opened, and Cecelia came. She was wearing a luxurious dress with a silk veil covering her head.
Her hair was short, so it couldn't be tied, nor could she wear any hair ornaments. But from her bright red dress, it was clear to read the intention of the maids.
The pair of maids brought in some scented candles and fragrance sticks before saying to Dereck, "Young master, if you need anything, we will be waiting outside."
They didn't even wait for his response. All four of the maids bowed and left. The door closed, and Dereck continued eating.
Cecelia stood there motionless while staring at the floor.
"What are you doing there? Come here and eat. I don't think you have eaten anything today."
"My lord." Her voice sounded shaky.
"It is already late for lunch. Eat some fruit for now. You can eat more when they bring dinner."
"Please forgive me, my lord." Her knees hitting the floor were so loud that even Dereck had to look at her.
"Come here and eat."
"But, my lord…"
"Don't make me repeat myself. Now…"
"Yes, my lord." Cecelia stole a glance at him. The details the maid had given about Dereck met his face. However, his temperament didn't match his age.
"Sit down on the bed."
"Yes, my lord."
"Open your mouth."
"Please, my lord, I can…"
"I said, open your mouth."
There was no way she could disobey. So, all she could do was swallow.
Dereck couldn't help but take another look at Cecelia. "Don't you know to chew before swallowing?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Chew first, then swallow."
Derceck wasn't too hungry. In the end, besides the fruit he loved, he fed Cecelia the rest.
After cleaning the plate, Dereck lay down and closed his eyes to rest. However, he soon had to open his eyes as he felt someone was massaging his leg.
He looked at 'someone,' asking, "Do you think I am old enough that I would need you to massage my leg?"
"Absolutely not, my lord."
"Then, why are you doing it?"
"I…I…" She didn't know what to say. She couldn't say it was what she was taught at home.
"Don't you have anything to do?"
She hurriedly shook her head.
"Then lay down here."
Her heart skipped a beat. She looked away as her face blushed. She inched closer to the spot and laid down on her back. She didn't dare to see what would happen next. She kept her eyes closed.
Her heart was like a drum, making her chest move up and down like crazy. She clenched on the bed sheet, waiting for the moment to come. She waited and waited…
"My lady, please wake up."
"Huh!" She wasn't sure who was calling her. But she heard someone say the next moment, "She is just tired; let her rest."
"Yes, young master."
"You can leave now. Have your dinner, too."
It wasn't until the door closed that she realized what had happened. Even if her bedroom was in the best situation out of all the rooms in the courtyards, it still wasn't perfect. One could see sunlight leaking through the roof during the day.
'Did I just sleep through the evening?' Cecelia jumped up on the bed.
"Oh! You are awake?" Dereck smiled at her and said, "Come here and eat. It will get cold."
"My lord…"
"Eat first."
No matter how much she wanted to talk, she followed his order. The food was tasteless to her, but she finished it under his pressure.
The room was cleared, and Dereck climbed the bed and lay down. After a few moments, he realized Cecelia was still standing in her original position.
"What are you doing?" He patted the bed beside him, adding, "Come here and sleep. We are going to have a busy day tomorrow."
Cecelia jumped up on the bed but didn't lie down. Instead, she grabbed his hand, pleading, "My lord, please don't do this to me."
"Huh!" Dereck sat on the bed, asking, "What did I do to you?"
"I know I have made a mistake." Cecelia paused before correcting, "I made a few mistakes. I have failed to identify my lord. I have fallen asleep instead of serving you. But please don't do this to me."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
And she started crying. It took him a lot of coaxing before he could finally get her to calm down.
"Is it because I am a leftover woman that, my lord, isn't giving me any chance to serve you."
"Huh!"
"My lord, I have already failed to serve my husband once. Please don't take away the chance to serve you. If you don't let me, I have nowhere to go."
"What the hell are you talking about? I just want to rest. I am just tired."
"That's impossible."
"What?" Dereck couldn't help but laugh.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"The maid said, You have kept your woman awake every night for a week. And you haven't been with one for more than a week. There is no way you can be tired."
Dereck had no idea whether to laugh or cry.