Chapter 3

Octavia felt a bit nervous, her palms clenching involuntarily.

Leopold clearly couldn't see, yet somehow she just felt a cold gaze falling on her.

After a long while, she heard a low, slightly mocking snort.

"Empathy?"

Octavia tightened her fingers, making her expression look firm and calm.

"I realize that might sound arrogant, considering my eyes are fine and I can still perceive the world around me."

She paused, her voice dropping lower.

"But I really just wanted to experience it..."

"At least this way I can know what it's like to worry about bumping into things when walking, to search for someone's direction when talking to them, to wonder if they're still there, and maybe when eating, to wait for others to put food in front of me..."

"If I've deeply experienced all these things, maybe then I can truly be by my husband's side."

Feeling she'd said a bit too much, she smiled shyly.

"Even though our marriage was the result of an arranged union, now that I'm living with the Seymour Family, I ought to contribute something, shouldn't I?"

Leopold didn't respond.

Only the ticking of the wall clock remained in the study.

Octavia remained in place, the blindfold hiding the majority of her features, leaving visible only her tightly closed mouth and a somewhat stiff jawline.

What she didn't know was that a flash of surprise crossed Leopold's face.

From his impression of Claire, she was an arrogant woman who had been repeatedly humiliated on her first day marrying into the Seymour Family—she should have been crying and making a scene.

This reaction was beyond Leopold's expectations.

Octavia stood there for a while, noticing that Leopold didn't seem to want to kick her out.

Her thoughts hurried along. She had already spoken her piece, so she couldn't instantly reveal her wish to depart.

Furthermore, judging by Monica and Patrick's demeanor, they would certainly refuse to release her and might intentionally detain her here to cause her distress.

She'd probably have to stay with the Seymour Family for a while.

To get through this period smoothly, she needed to find a way to coexist long-term.

As for Leopold, at least right now, he didn't seem as volatile and difficult as the rumors suggested.

With that thought, she smiled once more, appearing sheepish. "I'm sorry, I think I've been rambling. Do you happen to know where Mr. Seymour is?"

After another long pause, she heard Leopold's cool voice again: "What do you need?"

Octavia looked surprised and delighted. "You're Mr. Seymour?"

Just as she finished speaking, she heard Leopold say, "Take off the blindfold."

Octavia froze, then heard Leopold repeat emotionlessly.

"Take it off."

"Are you addicted to playing blind?"

Octavia reflected for a brief moment before replying uncertainly, "I've attempted it previously, and I can't remove it on my own."

Soon, she heard the electric wheelchair moving, as if Leopold had come in front of her.

"Squat down."

Following his instructions, Octavia carefully squatted down and lowered her head.

A hand reached toward the side of her face, pausing very briefly when it touched her cheek, then moved to the back of her head, finding the clasp of the blindfold.

A subtle, pure, agreeable fragrance surrounded Octavia, causing her to involuntarily stop breathing for a moment.

That hand must be slender and strong—it quickly undid the hidden clasp that had left her helpless.

The blindfold slipped off. The light in the room was quite dim, but Octavia still instinctively closed her eyes, then slowly opened them to see the man before her clearly.

Even while seated in a wheelchair, Leopold maintained an upright back and a calm, collected demeanor.

On that face voted the most handsome in Emberfall City by gossip magazines were refined features and a high-bridged nose, but his beautiful eyes lacked focus, staring at some point in empty space.

Younger and better-looking than she remembered.

Leopold suddenly spoke: "Cat got your tongue?"

And ruder than she remembered.

Octavia pursed her lips, but when she spoke, her tone was gentle.

"Mr. Seymour, you probably know I graduated from medical school."

Leopold: "Mm."

Remaining partially crouched before the wheelchair, Octavia asked with genuine concern, "What was the doctors' opinion regarding your eyes?"

After a pause, Leopold's voice grew colder: "Don't ask what you shouldn't."

Octavia said, "For me, it shouldn't count as something I shouldn't ask, right?"

While talking, she involuntarily leaned closer, placing her hands gently on Leopold's knees.

Even though he couldn't see, she looked at his face seriously.

"You might not know, but I studied some medicine at school."

"I'm not an expert, but I've seen some cases. Would you let me try?"

"Maybe it could work."

Leopold said nothing.

Octavia waited for a while, growing nervous, not noticing she'd gotten quite close to him.

Leopold's lashes fluttered gradually, and due to his blindness, his head naturally angled a little in Octavia's direction.

Octavia didn't notice.

Leopold said flatly, "You're the first person who dares to bring this up in front of me."

Octavia said, "Maybe they don't know how to say it."

Leopold's voice was cold. "They just think blind people should know their place."

"I simply believe," Octavia responded earnestly, "that this isn't entirely without hope, so why not give it a shot?"

As her words fell, she heard a scoffing laugh.

Octavia automatically glanced at Leopold, only to notice his mouth corners quickly turn downward, forming a firm, straight line, with a chilly and dissatisfied look on his face.

Oh no, was he angry?

Octavia quickly thought of how to fix this, but suddenly heard him say:

"What I said at the banquet, I haven't forgotten, and you shouldn't have either."

Octavia opened her mouth, about to speak, but didn't get the chance.

Only Leopold's disdainful voice reached her ears.

"All that empathy talk won't fool me."

"Think of the real reason before you speak."

Before she could think of another reason to stay, Leopold gave the order for her to leave.

"If you can't think of one, get out."

Noticing Leopold's unhappy look, she had no choice but to rise and go, still employing her previous manner of speaking, which revealed her discomfort.

"I'll go then, Mr. Seymour, please take care of yourself."

She cautiously exited, unaware that behind her, Leopold had rotated his head and, despite his blindness, continued to gaze in the direction of her departure.

Downstairs was the dining room. Octavia was stopped by an overbearing voice.

"Who said you could take off the blindfold?"

She turned around. Monica was sitting at the dining table, Patrick too.

Octavia returned to her normal speaking manner: "I saw Leopold, he took it off for me."

"He removed it for you? No way!" Monica was skeptical and gave her a thorough once-over. "Quit acting so solicitous. Leopold is not the kind of person you can easily get near!"

She pointed at Octavia angrily, but Octavia suddenly asked, "Miss Seymour, do you know what time Leopold got up today?"

Monica was taken aback. "What?"

Octavia continued, "Before you came to the dining room for breakfast, did you check on Leopold?"

Monica was stumped. "That's ridiculous, what business is it of yours!"

"The doctor's orders—do you remember them? Blindness caused by an accident will inevitably bring other discomforts. How much do you know about that?" Octavia asked word by word. "Do you know if he wants to talk to someone, if he has insomnia at night?"

Monica's face gradually flushed red with embarrassed anger at being questioned.

Octavia replied evenly, "If you genuinely cared for Leopold, none of these inquiries would need to be asked. Rather than standing here blaming me, a stranger, while being unable to respond to even one of them."

Monica's face turned red, trembling with anger, but couldn't come up with any rebuttal.