Betrayed, I Knocked Demon Lord's Door - Chapter 66: Chapter 66

Germaine stared longingly at the giant thermos in Caitlyn's hands.
It had taken forever to find a thermos that size. She'd spent over a hundred dollars on it, washed it herself, and was just about to use it—only for Leon to swoop in and snatch it away. Honestly, that stung.
The only thing that made her feel a little better was that at least Caitlyn was the one using it.
Caitlyn took tiny sips of the steaming egg soup. Noticing Germaine's eyes glued to her thermos, she blinked and asked, "Do you want some, Germaine? It's sweet—Leon made it for me. Tastes pretty good."
"Right. Leon made it just for you, huh?" Germaine pouted, her tone oddly teasing.
Caitlyn shot her a look, not sure why Germaine was suddenly being so weird.
Germaine went on, "Lady Caitlyn, it must be so nice to have a guy hold you and keep you warm when you're on your period, and even give you gentle belly rubs... That sounds like heaven. Too bad I have no idea when I'll ever find a guy that perfect..."
"How do you know all that?" Caitlyn's cheeks turned a little pink.
Germaine's lips curled into a sly smile as she looked at her. "Take a guess—who do you think Leon went to for advice on what's good for you right now?
"Once he asked, I just took the chance to dig a little deeper...
"Honestly, Lady Caitlyn, maybe you should give Lord Radford a lesson on how to pick up on hints. Sometimes he's just so clueless..."
Caitlyn fell silent, complaining inwardly, 'What an idiot Leon is!'
Germaine couldn't help but burst out laughing at Caitlyn's embarrassed, conflicted expression. "Oh, relax... Lord Radford might be a bit slow, but he did brag to me about how amazing you are... Too bad he doesn't know that the Lady Caitlyn he dreams about all day and night—well, I've already gotten close to her myself."
Caitlyn said with disgust, "You perv! When did I ever let you get that close?"
Germaine tilted her head. "Lady Caitlyn, don't tell me you've forgotten all those times we used to bathe together. I used to help you and Lady Kathleen wash up all the time... with..."
She trailed off, a blush suddenly blooming on her cheeks. She glanced away, twirling a lock of hair around her finger, eyes lowered in embarrassment.
Caitlyn's eye twitched, her gaze involuntarily drifting to Germaine's rather impressive assets.
Her fists clenched tight.
That bath mitt of Germaine's really was something else.
Caitlyn pointed at her. "Germaine, if you keep making things up, it's very likely that I'll toss you in the dungeon! I don't remember ever letting you get away with that nonsense. But Kathleen... she always did love sticking to you."
Germaine spread her hands. "Oh, come on. You and Lady Kathleen are sisters, so being close to her is basically like being close to you! And it's not like I haven't given you a proper back scrub before. Honestly, I've seen—and touched—way more than Lord Radford ever has. Got a problem with that?"
Germaine stared straight at her.
Caitlyn just huffed and looked away, refusing to answer.
Germaine sighed inwardly. 'Looks like the progress bar isn't moving anywhere special today...
'But then again, maybe Lady Caitlyn's just really good at hiding her feelings. Maybe I just haven't managed to trick her into revealing anything yet...
'Still, it's worth poking a bit more. I really wonder how she feels about Lord Radford right now...'
Germaine narrowed her eyes slightly and pressed her attack. "But honestly, Lord Radford is just amazing... He's super thoughtful, and even though he's so strong, he's not the least bit macho.
"He's the type who even cooks delicious meals for his wife... Actually, if you look at it another way, maybe he's selfish to the extreme—he only ever spoils one person, and that's a kind of individualism too...
"To be treated like that, who wouldn't be over the moon? Lady Caitlyn, I'm honestly so jealous I could die."
"Jealous? I'm not jealous. Since when does he have a wife? That's news to me." Caitlyn replied coolly, not falling for the trick at all. The clever Caitlyn wasn't about to let her sly subordinate get the upper hand.
Germaine's eyes flashed, and she went all in. "Oh, you know exactly what I mean. Or is it that after enjoying so much of his special treatment, you don't even dare admit it now, Lady Caitlyn?"
Caitlyn looked straight into her eyes. "Germaine, are you and Lady Kathleen sharing the same playbook now or what?"
Germaine said sincerely, "I absolutely mean no offense. I'll always be your most loyal follower, Lady Caitlyn. No matter where you are, what you achieve, who you become, or what your status is, I'll never leave your side, not until the very end.
"But... that's exactly why I want you to find real happiness more than anyone else...
"Lady Caitlyn, be honest with yourself—before you met him, weren't you really lonely?"
"I have you, don't I? Why would you say I was lonely? Or is it that you never saw me as a friend, just as a leader, a boss, an idol?" With that, Caitlyn didn't look at her, just hugged her thermos and gazed calmly out the window.
Germaine fell silent for a moment, then said softly, "It's my honor to be considered your friend, Lady Caitlyn.
"But I've been by your side since I was old enough to remember... It's because I know you so well, and because our bond runs so deep, that I say these things.
"Maybe you don't feel it, but honestly, you always keep your feelings at arm's length.
"And yet, even with that emotional distance, you're still held back by things like family, bonds, and so-called feelings.
"You're really so gentle.
"That's why, even though you're the gentlest person I know—the one I care about most—I just want you to be happy, to not feel alone.
"I hope... that Lady Caitlyn, you won't have to sit quietly by yourself on the balcony anymore, staring off at the sky, lost in thought like the world's left you behind, like you can't fit in anywhere, like a little boat drifting all alone on a vast, endless sea."
Germaine caught her breath and looked up at her, eyes full of warmth. "Lady Caitlyn, it's like your heart is wrapped in a thick, heavy fog—so dense it blocks out the sunlight, so thick it keeps everyone at arm's length. No one can find you in that mist, but even so, the wind and rain still manage to slip through.
"You're the only one standing quietly in that fog, lost, frozen, sometimes even crying.
"It's a shame, really. I can only make out your blurry silhouette, never able to truly get close. But...
"Lord Radford, on the other hand, seems to have this gift—he can see right through the fog, part it with ease, find you, and hold you tight.
"I get it. For someone who's always been alone, who's had to act cold and distant, it's hard—and honestly, scary—to let yourself feel love. Especially for you, Lady Caitlyn, after everything your family put you through, treating you like nothing more than a tool.
"Maybe you've lost faith in feelings, maybe you've stopped hoping for anything at all. But...
"If you really didn't want this, if you truly hated it, wouldn't you have pushed him away a long time ago?
"Try being honest with yourself. You might just find happiness is closer than you think."
Caitlyn sat quietly, saying nothing as she gazed out the window, her face calm and composed.
Germaine didn't speak either, just kept her company in silence, both of them letting their minds wander as they watched the sky.
The wind rustled the leaves, and though the sky was blue today, there was still a chill in the air.
The window buzzed softly—it was winter knocking at the door.
Suddenly, Caitlyn's eyes flickered. She parted her lips and murmured, "Germaine, I'm sorry."
Germaine smiled. "You don't have anything to apologize for, Lady Caitlyn.
"After all, aside from Lord Radford, I'm already the one closest to you.
"Of course, seeing how easily he finds you and how much you care for him, I do get a little jealous, a little sad.
"But honestly, I'm happy for you—truly, I am. I'm glad you've found your happiness."
"Germaine, I..." Caitlyn's voice faltered. Her gentle brows drew together, as if she were struggling with something huge. She lowered her gaze, her words catching in her throat, wanting to speak but not knowing how to begin.
"It's alright. You just need time and a little more warmth. I understand, Lady Caitlyn.
"But maybe being a bit more honest, a bit more open, would help.
"After all, Lord Radford is someone who needs love and a warm embrace, too." Just as Germaine finished speaking, Caitlyn's phone started to ring.
Germaine grinned. "Looks like Lord Radford sensed you were here with me and is ready to steal you back."