Xander’s mood had already eased considerably by the time he arrived home.

The moment he stepped inside the mansion, Butler Rupert greeted him respectfully.

"Welcome home, Master."

Xander gave the old man a polite nod, but his eyes instinctively wandered upstairs as though searching for someone.

Even he didn’t seem to realize why.

Butler Rupert noticed immediately.

"Are you looking for Madam?" he asked knowingly after catching Xander glance toward the second floor again.

Since Leo was currently staying at the Old Emerson Residence, Butler Rupert highly doubted the young master was searching for anyone else.

Xander paused briefly before clearing his throat lightly.

"Hm."

The response came in the form of a low hum, neither confirming nor denying it.

Still, that alone was enough to make Butler Rupert smile.

"Madam is in her room," he informed him warmly.

Xander simply nodded once more before calmly heading upstairs.

"Call her for dinner," he said before disappearing from their sight.

The corners of Butler Rupert’s lips curled upward instantly.

"Master seems to be in a good mood today," Jenny whispered from beside him.

Her words only made Butler Rupert smile wider.

Ever since Xander and Ivy had spent time together the other day, rumors had spread rapidly throughout the mansion.

The servants were practically surviving on gossip at this point.

Some were delighted to see their usually cold and distant master finally showing interest in a romantic relationship with Madam.

Others had already let their imaginations run completely wild and secretly believed little Leo would soon have a younger sibling.

Butler Rupert coughed awkwardly, trying—and failing—to hide his own excitement.

"I’m sure Master must be eager to spend some alone time with Madam," he whispered shyly before letting out a quiet giggle.

Jenny immediately covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud as Butler Rupert went to call Ivy.

***

Meanwhile, inside her room, Ivy was busy burying her face into a pillow while mentally cursing herself for being an idiot when a sudden knock on the door made her flinch violently.

"Madam, dinner is ready. Master would like you to join him at the table."

Butler Rupert’s voice came from outside the room, instantly making Ivy freeze.

’Dinner?’

Her eyes widened in horror.

’Why does he want to have dinner with me? Alone?’

Her imagination immediately spiraled out of control.

But she quickly shook her head.

"No... maybe he just wants to lecture me for sending those hearts," she muttered anxiously. "Yeah... that has to be it."

Raven had never flirted with a man in her entire life.

Forget flirting—even having remotely indecent chats was something she had never imagined herself doing.

And now?

Now she had accidentally sent double heart emojis to Xander Emerson of all people.

Just thinking about facing him made her entire body tense strangely.

If he questioned her in front of everyone downstairs, she would genuinely die from embarrassment.

"No. I can’t go," Ivy whispered dramatically. "Absolutely not."

But just as she prepared to refuse dinner—

Grrrlll. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Her stomach growled loudly.

Ivy stared at the ceiling in betrayal.

"...Traitor."

"Think of something," she muttered frantically while pacing around the room. "Come up with an excuse. Anything!"

Just then, Butler Rupert knocked again.

Ivy’s eyes widened before suddenly an idea struck her.

Without hesitation, she threw herself onto the bed, wrapped the blanket around her entire body, and covered herself dramatically until only her face remained visible.

"Come in," she called weakly.

The door slowly opened.

The second Butler Rupert saw her trembling underneath the blanket like a terminally ill patient, his eyes widened in alarm.

***

Meanwhile, Xander had already changed into a fresh pair of casual clothes and was waiting at the dining table.

But when he noticed Butler Rupert rushing toward him with an anxious expression, his brows furrowed immediately.

"Butler Rupert, what happened?" Xander asked while standing up. "Where’s Ivy?"

"Master... Madam..." Butler Rupert panted nervously.

Before the old man could even finish speaking, Xander was already moving.

After Ivy lost consciousness the other day, Xander had become unusually cautious regarding her health. The doctor had already warned him to make sure she rested properly and avoided stress.

Thinking something serious had happened again, Xander reached her room within seconds and pushed the door open without hesitation.

His eyes widened instantly at the sight before him.

Ivy was curled up on the bed, trembling dramatically underneath the blanket.

Without wasting another second, Xander strode toward her and sat beside the bed.

"What’s wrong?" he asked immediately, genuine concern filling his voice.

But when he saw her practically cocooned inside the blanket with only her face peeking out, he frowned slightly.

"I-I..." Ivy’s voice trembled pitifully. "I think... I’m not feeling well..."

Xander’s expression darkened at once.

"Where does it hurt?"

Ivy froze internally.

’...Where does what hurt?’

She panicked for a split second before weakly placing a hand over her forehead dramatically.

"My entire body..." she whispered like a tragic heroine. "I suddenly feel very fragile."

Xander immediately reached out and placed his hand against her face.

Ivy’s entire body stiffened beneath the blanket.

Because unlike her acting skills, his hand was actually warm

"Ahh..." Ivy yanked his hand away, catching him off guard.

"Don’t touch me!" she suddenly blurted out, her eyes widening in shock the moment Xander’s hand touched her cheeks.

Xander paused mid-motion and blinked once.

His gaze slowly shifted from his hand... back to Ivy’s face.

The room fell awkwardly silent.

Realizing she had reacted way too strongly, Ivy instantly forced out a weak smile.

"I-I mean..." she laughed nervously beneath the blanket. "I don’t want you catching my fever because of me."

To make her performance more believable, she even faked a tiny sneeze afterward.

"Achoo."

"...."

Xander stared at her quietly for a long moment.

Something about this entire situation felt suspicious.

Very suspicious.

Because despite her dramatic acting, Ivy looked completely fine to him.

In fact, the only thing unusual was the pink tint spreading across her cheeks.