20. No, I Love You

Daphne blinked slowly, trying to assess the situation as she gripped his firm shoulders, facing him with only a few centimeters between them.

A strand of her red hair slowly slid down her cheek, falling near Celestian’s eye. He closed one eye, seemingly tickled.

Celestian held Daphne’s waist, trapping her in his embrace.

In the strange silence, only the buzzing sound of the fluorescent light’s choke coil reminded them that time was passing.

The man looking up at her with his head tilted was indeed the one she had dreamed of, the one who always seemed to catch her eye like an obstacle.

‘He’s too close.’

That brilliant blonde hair, skin so pale it seemed to have never seen the sun, features that appeared to know no darkness, and the mole above his right eyebrow like the finishing touch.

Why were his eyes so red? It was a handsome face that made her want to reach out and touch it immediately.

‘Is there even a human who wouldn’t fall in love looking into these green eyes?’

Daphne was startled at that thought and quickly stood up. She almost fell over as the corner of the table hit the back of her knee. Celestian carefully caught her and sat her on his lap.

“Careful.”

“I don’t like this.”

Daphne’s stomach churned. She felt like she could really vomit her heart if asked.

Moreover, the thin nightgown she was wearing allowed her to feel every part of his body clearly. Daphne slid her hips off his thigh and moved to the side. Her legs were still on his thighs.

“I don’t like being pulled and moved around at your whim. Am I your doll?”

“No.”

He shook his head immediately when she scolded him. Meanwhile, Daphne lifted her legs onto the table. Celestian fidgeted with his now-empty lap.

“You don’t love me.”

Celestian stated, like he was declaring a fact. His cheeks seemed puffed up, pouting.

“I love you.”

Daphne replied, her eyes wide open.

Celestian visibly flinched and let out a tiny sigh. He quickly got up, went back to the bed, and lay down on his side. His long legs stuck out awkwardly.

‘Why is he suddenly acting like this again…’

Daphne sighed deeply, soothing her pounding heart. She drank another glass of water and picked up the documents.

* * *

She finished with five file folders.

“If they’re told to do something, they should just do it. Why do they have so much to say? Maybe I should just kill them all and then kill myself…”

She had finished today’s work. Daphne stretched with her arms on the sofa backrest and looked behind her. Celestian was reading a book with his arm stretched out into the air.

“Prince.”

Silence.

“Celestian.”

“……”

“Celestian Teriosa.”

No response.

“H…ello. Won’t you answer?”

Daphne fluttered, trying to recover from almost calling him ‘honey’ as she usually did with her friends.

“Cele.”

“Yes.”

‘Is he sulking?’

Daphne crawled onto the floor and lay down on her side next to him. This was only the second time they had lain together on the same bed.

“Is that a romance novel? Where did you get it from? You didn’t take it from Narid, did you?”

Celestian glanced at Daphne and lowered his arm. Daphne tapped his deltoid with her fist.

“From the library.”

“What’s the title? Is it interesting?”

He answered, turning the pink book cover.

“Rain Falling on Claudia?”

It was a novel title in the Imperial language. The content was in Secradionian. ‘Falling rain’ had a s*xual connotation, and hearing it from Celestian’s mouth was a novel experience.

“Your thoughts?”

“Third-rate pornography.”

“Is that considered p*rnographic?”

“I don’t understand who writes and reads such things. Is it yours?”

“I read them. Everything in this house is mine.”

To think he considered that p*rnographic. The pink ones were relatively tame, and the red line editions were difficult to obtain even with money.

“Try reading the red ones. It’ll be a whole new world.”

“I’d rather not.”

His reaction remained indifferent throughout.

‘What exactly is he sulking about?’

If he was upset about her saying he was a hindrance, it was even more incomprehensible. Daphne raised her upper body and grabbed the see-through robe that was placed at the head of the bed as she stood up.

“Then keep quiet and sleep. Tomorrow, let’s sleep until the afternoon… and then go shopping.”

“Where are you going?”

“To drink.”

Today really seemed like a day that couldn’t end without drinking. Narid would be waiting for Daphne in the glass greenhouse, having prepared everything.

“When will you come back?”

“I’m not coming back. Why ask such things when we sleep separately anyway?”

“It’s raining, Beaucater.”

When she fell silent for a moment, it was indeed raining heavily, just as he said. She wondered why she hadn’t heard it until now. But there would be umbrellas, and the greenhouse was practically right in front. Daphne nodded a couple of times and approached the door.

“I just thought of something curious.”

Daphne suddenly realized that Celestian had never once called her by name.

“Do you know my name?”

When she turned to look at him, confusion clouded Celestian’s eyes. In turn, Daphne was also confused.

“You don’t know?”

“Da…”

A bright white lightning struck, making the window flash. It was followed by a thunderous boom, as if a tidal wave was crashing.

“Diana.”

“Oh…”

Daphne raised her hand to her mouth in apparent amazement. Celestian seemed quite proud, the corners of his mouth curling up.

“Is that right? Diana…”

“…right?”

Diana, of all names.

“You really don’t know? Don’t lie. Didn’t you say royalty doesn’t lie?”

“I know, Da, Da…”

“This isn’t funny. I told you not to lie, okay?”

Celestian bit his lower lip slightly. Daphne brushed her bangs up. A bitter laugh escaped her. She suddenly remembered the damned rule that royalty doesn’t hide facts or lie.

“If I had a stone tablet in my hand, it would be perfect to hit you with. Ah, that’s Anne. Anyway, you should be grateful I don’t have a tray in my hands.”

“You’ve never told me your name. What is it?”

“How should I know?”

“How can you not know your own name?”

“The noble businesswoman of Secradion has no name to share with the lowly prince.”

“Are you angry?”

“Uh, no.”

“You seem angry…”

“Sleep well.”

Daphne quickly left the room.

She felt conflicted. She had been making her presence known to her favorite person almost daily, but all he remembered was just ‘Da’. Sadly, there were no bodyguards or secretaries to point it out from behind.

‘A fan can’t join the club.’

This seemed to be true even in this life.

‘And yet you try to seduce me?’

Once again, she recalled the prince who had willingly entered her arms. That handsome face came to mind, making her breathless in a subtle way. But that feeling was quickly overshadowed by irritation.

Daphne, who was about to go outside with the umbrella the butler had prepared, stopped and headed to the study. Kisha was sitting crookedly in front of the desk, writing a love letter in messy handwriting.

“Kisha. You know my name, right?”

Startled by the young lay’s sudden appearance without greeting, Kisha quickly flipped over the letter. His face seemed to say, ‘What’s wrong with this young lady again today?’

“Of course. Should I call you by name from now on?”

Daphne was about to give a light tap on Kisha’s forehead, who was smiling mischievously, but stopped and growled instead.

“Don’t get cheeky.”

“What’s wrong with you again?”

“From now on, never tell the prince my name. Just pretend you don’t know.”

“The Grand Duke doesn’t know your name, Miss?”

When Kisha didn’t immediately agree and tilted his head, Daphne’s face turned fierce.

“Yeah.”

Right on cue, a loud crash of thunder and lightning struck. Kisha quickly nodded his head.

* * *

Celestian threw the book he was holding. The book, showing its pink cover, slid under the sofa.

“Daphne, you’re doing this on purpose.”

Celestian, who was irritably ruffling his hair, glanced down at his chest. Then he quickly buttoned up the three buttons that had been undone.

Daphne’s actions were very affectionate, contrary to her words. It was frustrating that this affection wasn’t limited to just him. While she seemed to like it when he made advances, she ultimately pushed him away, making him even more desperate.

Only Celestian, that is.

“This is impossible.”

He voiced his frustration aloud, but there was no one to hear it.

The romance novel that the maid of this house had recommended he read when bored was trite. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it contained everything he had tried so far. And from the result he had just experienced, Celestian understood that Daphne had an equation that didn’t yield results.

He briefly recalled a thought he had in this room some time ago. Didn’t he say he could be satisfied with this much for now? What foolish nonsense. Having her by his side, right next to him… If he doesn’t grab her, can he even call himself a man with all limbs intact?

‘Idiot.’

He faintly heard Daphne’s gentle voice.

Celestian opened the door and went down to the first floor. As soon as he came down the stairs, he could see the rain pouring madly through the window directly in front of him.

For no reason, the scar on his right palm throbbed. Celestian clenched his fist tightly and then opened it before heading to the study.

After finishing their afternoon duties, the servants either leave for their own homes in the evening or retire to their rooms. So Daphne’s room was deserted, without even an ant in sight. Celestian’s footsteps on the blue marble floor were almost inaudible.

* * *

Kisha, who had been folding his ruined letter into a paper airplane, stood up in an instant. Celestian gestured for him to sit down. Kisha sat down, his back stiff and straight.

‘Something felt natural just now.’

Kisha briefly stroked the hair at the nape of his neck that was tingling, then picked up his pen again. From the corner of his eye, he saw Celestian holding a red book that had appeared from somewhere.

“The young lady went to the greenhouse.”

“I know.”

“Are you going to follow her? Should I get an umbrella for you?”

Celestian shook his head once and sat down on the central couch. Then, as if out of habit, he clenched and unclenched his fist as he turned the pages. Kisha started writing his letter again from “Dear Chine,” unaware that the spelling was incorrect.

A few minutes later, Celestian put the book on the table and asked,

“Where do you receive letters? There are several annexes.”

“Misha checks the ones that come for the young lady and incinerates the useless ones. Many weird guys send dog-like things. Why, are you expecting a letter?”

Celestian stroked the side of his neck with his hand and lowered his gaze. Then he shook his head.

“Does your young lady say ‘I love you’ often?”

“Why do you ask that?”

Celestian’s green eyes turned to the floor. Kisha belatedly realized that something must have happened between the growling Daphne and the timid Grand Duke before him.

“I’ve never heard it even when we slept together.”

Just as the blonde man closed his mouth, thunder rumbled once again.