Chapter 9

But still, he kept running away.

The more he did so, the more twisted Sophia’s desire grew. Unlike the mess inside her, the sunset settling in the greenhouse was beautiful.

As the sun set, the broadleaf trees, said to be brought from the south, were dyed an even deeper rose color. It seemed as if the Duke might walk through the threshold at any moment, but his long shadow never appeared.

She actually saw Kaiden more often back when he worked as an administrator at the royal palace.

Hm. At that moment, Marchioness Douglas cleared her throat once more. Then, the Dowager Duchess smiled elegantly.

“I will send you a formal invitation soon. At that time, Kaiden will greet you at the front door, Your Highness the Princess.”

“Yes, I’ll look forward to it.”

At last, having secured a promise, Sophia offered a dignified farewell and rose from her seat with Marchioness Douglas.

Passing through the long corridor, they arrived at the entrance, where the carriage was already waiting.

Sophia turned her head and looked at the people she would soon command.

All the servants bowed their heads in perfect order.

Seeing this, she felt reassured that she could manage the lower ranks without trouble even if she became Duchess. As expected of a ducal house as venerable as the royal family.

When Sophia smiled with satisfaction upon boarding the carriage, Marchioness Douglas pouted her lips.

“I’m sure the Duke heard that you were visiting, Your Highness the Princess, so what is keeping him so busy that he’s late coming home, really.”

“Aunt, the Duke of Raselles is a capable businessman, so it can’t be helped. The Dowager Duchess has promised to invite us formally next time, so it’s fine.”

Hmph. Marchioness Douglas snorted briefly, her irritation with Kaiden not yet settled. She also complained that while the Raselles family’s greenhouse was beautiful, the chairs were uncomfortable and the afternoon sun was too strong.

As Marchioness Douglas’s voice grew louder, Sophia turned her head to look out the carriage window. Since she wasn’t yet Kaiden’s official fiancée, she couldn’t come to the dukedom alone, so she had come with Marchioness Douglas—but, as expected, the time together was tedious.

But she had to endure.

Sophia had fallen for Kaiden from the moment she first saw him.

His rare silver hair and golden eyes were strikingly beautiful, and his arrogant, cold temperament was so noble that she was drawn to him. However, Kaiden showed no interest at all in Princess Sophia.

While she hovered around Kaiden, the adults pushed for her engagement to his older brother, Norton.

On the day of the engagement, Sophia felt as if she had become the tragic heroine overnight. To be engaged to the brother of the man she loved.

Despairing, Sophia cried out, but still could not give up on Kaiden. So, whenever Norton went to the Academy to see his younger brother, she made every excuse to accompany him.

The rebellious boy frowned every time he saw her, but even so, she was glad just to see Kaiden.

At least, until she heard that he was dating Astrid Hamilton.

The Marquis Hamilton family was a great noble house and wealthy in the south, but to Sophia, who had grown up in Duddingston, they were nothing but country bumpkins.

Moreover, Astrid, who worked like a man to help run the territory and the merchant guild, neglected high society and failed to build any connections.

She tried in every way to trip her up, inviting southern ladies to gossip, but everyone was only eager to bad-mouth Astrid, not knowing her real weaknesses, so it was no help at all.

Because of a wild girl like her, and I’m a Princess!

Kaiden and Astrid brought Sophia nothing but humiliation and shame. In the end, Sophia, tormented by an impossible love, prepared to marry Norton.

Then, as if God had taken pity on her, her prayers were answered.

Astrid Hamilton, the thorn in her side, disappeared, and her fiancé Norton died.

Kaiden returned to the kingdom as the hero of the Irvine battle.

It was the perfect ending Sophia had wished for.

Now, all she had to do was invoke the promise between the royal family and the Raselles Duchy and marry Kaiden, but she simply could not see him.

Since the two parties couldn’t meet, the engagement could not move forward.

Did they think I would give up so easily?

Sophia grabbed her skirt tightly.

It was a hard-won opportunity.

She could never let it go. She would become the Duchess of Raselles no matter what. Even if she had to break Kaiden’s arms and legs.

Sophia stared out the window with wide eyes. Even as she gazed at a world seemingly wrought from silver, the fire burning in her chest would not die down.

She turned back toward Marchioness Douglas, who was still chattering obliviously.

“Aunt, you said the Duke of Raselles isn’t seeing any other women, right?”

“Yes, unlike other nobles, he’s clean in that regard. After his romance with the former Marquis Hamilton’s daughter at the Academy, he’s been quiet…”

Marchioness Douglas, speaking as she pleased, shut her mouth the instant she saw Sophia’s expression. Flustered, the Marchioness quickly changed the subject, but Sophia didn’t let it go.

“Don’t mention that woman in front of me.”

“Yes…”

With Marchioness Douglas finally silenced, Sophia listlessly gazed outside.

Before she knew it, the sun had set completely and dusk was settling on the ground.

* * *

As soon as Kaiden returned to the mansion, Dowager Duchess Mary Raselles hurried to find him.

Normally, she would have gracefully sent her intentions through the head maid, but today she seemed to have no such leisure.

“Kaiden, why are you so late?”

At the reprimanding, domineering tone, Kaiden frowned.

Sensing the Dowager Duchess’s mood was different from usual, Kaiden’s quick-witted secretary, Michael, quickly dismissed the servants. Michael also left, closing the door behind him.

Kaiden calmly took off his watch as if nothing was wrong. By the time his large hand moved to his cufflinks, the Dowager Duchess raised her voice.

“What could you possibly have to talk about with that woman? Her Highness the Princess waited so long she returned to the palace.”

“Miss Selinger was so distraught over losing her child that she said little. I plan to bring her to the mansion soon.”

“Because of that lowly thing, poor Viscountess Eden lost her life. If only she had died too!”

Since the sudden deaths of his father and brother, his mother often lost control of her emotions. Whenever she was alone with Kaiden, she would pour out harsh words without restraint.

He found all of this frustrating, but Kaiden, feeling sorry for his shocked mother, had tried to be as considerate as possible. But at her last words, he lost his composure.

“If only she had died… is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s right. It’s a relief that the child who would have tainted our blood is gone. It would have been even better if that child had taken the mother with. It was all the blizzard’s doing, so what can you do?”

Sparks flew from the Dowager Duchess’s eyes. If the woman had been there, she might have grabbed her by the hair.

Kaiden swept his mother with a cold gaze and let out a short laugh.

“If Brielle Selinger is gone, I’m the one in the most trouble. Don’t forget that.”

“Hm… Of all times, she had to wake up yesterday. More importantly, Her Highness the Princess. She’s truly beautiful and considerate.”

The Dowager Duchess, perhaps embarrassed, changed the subject. She poured out everything she had talked about with the Princess and Marchioness Douglas during tea time, but Kaiden showed no sign of interest.

His mind was filled only with the image of Astrid. The woman who drove him mad still shook his world with her unchanged presence.

That was why he had told her to become Brielle Selinger.

Fortunately, Astrid had the same blonde hair and green eyes as Brielle. Neither of them was known in Duddingston high society, so no one would connect Astrid to Brielle.

“We must hurry and arrange your engagement to Her Highness the Princess. A promise with the royal family cannot be broken lightly. Kaiden, are you listening to me?”

Unable to hold back his patience any longer, Kaiden began to unbutton his shirt. As his bare skin gradually appeared, the Dowager Duchess, who had been speaking passionately, gasped for breath.

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.