Chapter 10

The body of her son, marked by the scars left by war, was covered all over with wounds. Dowager Duchess could not bear to look at the winding, red, snake-like marks, so she turned away.

“Anyway, since Her Highness the Princess is to be invited to the mansion, you must also join us for dinner that day.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Perhaps feeling unwell, the Dowager Duchess’s face looked pale.

Kaiden also did not continue the conversation any further. The Dowager Duchess, barely holding her place, read an unspoken order to leave from her son.

She felt hurt by how cold he was, to the point she wondered if he was truly her own child, but there was nothing she could do. While she hesitated, Kaiden completely took off his shirt.

“I’ll tell the secretary the date.”

The Dowager Duchess, avoiding his gaze, reminded Kaiden once more of the promise with the Princess, as if to say that the promise with the royal family was the most important.

Without a word, Kaiden grabbed the golden buckle. At that, the Dowager Duchess, her face turning bright red, quickly walked out.

Bang. Only after the door closed did Kaiden let out a long breath. When he lifted his head, a mirror came into view. Reflected in it was his scarred upper body.

Since joining the army, Kaiden had fought in countless battles, large and small. The scars he received in those battles, which he had thrown himself into, were so many that even his mother, the Dowager Duchess, turned away from them.

When he saw the gunshot wound on his side, which had festered and caused him trouble for a long time, a hollow laugh escaped him.

『You said you’d make me the Marchioness’ husband, didn’t you?』

Upon his bare skin, memories of the days spent with Astrid came flooding back.

During his time at the Academy, he had excelled in both the civil and military arts, and since his older brother would inherit the family, he planned to take the civil service exam.

Around graduation, Astrid suggested he become the Marquisate Consort of Hamilton, and Kaiden gladly accepted.

If things had gone that way, he might now be happily commuting to the palace as a Marquisate Consort and official.

He would not have had to fire his gun like a demon in the Irvine battle, or trample the enemy under his boots.

Astrid.

At first, he was just glad that she, whom he thought was dead, had returned alive. But then, when he was in crisis after losing the title competition three years ago, he resented her for not coming to find him.

When he heard that ‘Brielle’ had awakened, he went to her side, but she was asleep, and only to found out she was Astrid.

Kaiden gazed at her long, thick eyelashes and listened to her gentle breathing.

At last, when Astrid fully regained consciousness, Kaiden had meant to tell her that now that she was back, everything was alright, and that they would never be apart again. But Astrid mentioned a name he could not have imagined.

The moment the name Declan came from her red lips, he was swept up in an indescribable emotion.

Seeing her look after the Mason Merchant Guild as if it were family also drove Kaiden mad.

As… do you know what happened to me after you disappeared? 

He had lived like a madman, with a hole blown through his chest.

He savored the sorrow he could not bring himself to say aloud, and turned away from the mirror.

His side, where the bullet had lodged, throbbed.

* * *

In the late afternoon, his secretary Michael brought news of Astrid.

The discharge date had been set, and a message was delivered asking what she should do next. There was also a letter, and under the neat handwriting was the signature ‘Brielle Selinger’.

Fortunately, the woman his brother had met was of a fallen noble family. She had been living with relatives when she caught the eye of the young duke.

Because Brielle had at least the minimum education and bloodline, the Dowager Duchess Raselles reluctantly allowed the pregnant woman into the mansion. If she could not get rid of both the child and the woman, she would rather keep them close and watch them.

Kaiden ran his fingers over the fine handwriting. The neat yet strong script seemed to reflect Astrid’s character exactly, and he liked it.

“Master, shall I prepare a reply?”

Michael’s question pulled Kaiden’s mind back to reality.

When Kaiden nodded slightly in agreement, a clean sheet of stationery was immediately placed on the desk. The Raselles crest shone splendidly upon the paper.

Once, Astrid had also used stationery and envelopes embossed with the Hamilton Marquess family crest.

Then, at some point, she began to use the flower-pressed stationery that became popular among noble ladies.

Some days she sprayed it with perfume, on others she enclosed a small feather or fruit. He had wondered why she gave such childlike gifts to a grown man, but the answer she gave was simple.

『Because it’s pretty. Like you.』

『As, do you know how tall I am?』

『Even if my body grows, you’re so beautiful it takes my breath away. Sometimes I’m left speechless in front of you.』

Astrid would calmly say the very things he wanted to say, reaching out without hesitation.

Astrid liked to stroke Kaiden’s eyebrows and cheekbones with her slender, white fingers, and he would entrust his body to her like a gentle animal.

While Astrid caressed the back of his head, he buried his face in her nape. He liked her soft, sweet scent, and when he stroked her white jaw, the woman would startle in surprise.

He always wanted to touch her soft skin as much as he wished.

Being close to Astrid made his heart pound uncontrollably, but he could not show his true feelings for fear of frightening her.

Kaiden almost wished Astrid would express her feelings first. Holding her warm hand was not enough.

Since she seemed to like his appearance quite a bit, he wished she would be a little greedier.

If Astrid wanted it, Kaiden was prepared to become anything her lover wanted—Marquis Consort of Hamilton, a palace official, whatever it might be.

『Kaiden, why are you looking at me like that again?』

『What?』

『Sometimes you look at me like you’re going to devour me.』

Whenever Kaiden revealed his raw emotions, she would give him a quick kiss on the cheek and slip out of his arms. If he looked up at her, missing her warmth, she would return a picture-perfect smile.

『Just wait a little. Until I graduate from the Academy.』

Recalling the promise that had scattered into the air, he could not bring himself to touch the stationery.

Kaiden stared blankly at the pure white paper. Since becoming Duke, it was the first time he had taken so long to write a letter.

Kaiden decided to stop this pointless struggle. It was a waste of time to cling to the letter.

“Michael, prepare the car right now.”

“Yes, Master. What should I tell the driver is the destination?”

“To the hospital where Miss Selinger is admitted.”

At those words, Michael, who had been politely folding his hands, looked up. Leaving behind Michael’s confused face, Kaiden walked ahead.

He had to see her, even if just a little more.

As if reciting a spell, he found an excuse suitable for covering up his strange behavior. There was an important business meeting that afternoon, but before that, he had to see Astrid.

* * *

On the table lay several newspapers, all filled with special reports on the landslide in the West.

Soon, his golden eyes moved to the report Astrid was writing.

As befitted a Royal Academy talent and Mason Merchant Guild employee, the key points of the article were summarized concisely. The opinions written beside it were also impressive enough to make anyone nod in agreement.

But the moment he found the phrase to be sent by telegram, the smile lingering on his lips disappeared. As he grabbed the paper without hesitation, Astrid, who had been sorting the newspapers, was startled.

“Kaiden, give it back.”

“Is this for Declan?”

“He must be very worried.”

With a deeply furrowed brow, Astrid stood on tiptoe to snatch the paper back.

As she came closer, her scent tickled Kaiden’s nose, and he grabbed her small, struggling hand. Startled, Astrid tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip.

Worried, huh. 

The woman who had burned his entire life to ashes looked up at Kaiden with innocent eyes.

After Astrid Hamilton, the Marquis’s daughter, disappeared, two rumors spread through high society.