“Sister, do you know why I like the Duke?”

The princess, wearing an adorable beret over her cute face, asked while eating cake.

She had specifically requested tea time this evening, saying she had something she wanted to talk about “just between women.”

“Why is that?”

Rohana asked, enjoying the cuteness of the moment.

“First of all, he’s incredibly handsome, isn’t he?”

They say children can be more perceptive than adults. Rohana raised her eyebrows and nodded.

“He’s the tallest, the most handsome, and his voice? It’s amazing.”

Children’s ears are sharp too, apparently. Rohana unconsciously nodded again.

“And also, the fact that he’s mixed-blood!”

Kaiden’s mother, the late Princess Yurie Rentworth, was the lord of Delcliff, who had married Dustin Delcliff, the head of the Demon Realm.

And this was during the iron-fisted rule of the first emperor when the extermination of the Kark tribe was in full swing.

Looking back now, it must have been no ordinary feat.

Now that she thought about it, there hadn’t been any news of the first emperor’s death yet.

It was already mid-winter. Although it was happening later than in the original story, an incident that would mentally strain Bardi was bound to happen soon.

“But… to be honest, that’s not the main reason.”

Serin stopped munching, swallowed the cake, and paused for a moment.

“I liked that he used formal language with me.”

A brief silence followed.

“Even counts and viscounts of the empire don’t treat me like that. Sure, maybe it’s because I’m just a kid.”

“Princess, how old are you, by the way?”

“I’m eleven! And I know I look younger, so don’t say it.”

Rohana quietly looked at the princess. Her beautifully cascading crimson hair was lovely.

“Your Highness has a keen eye. That’s not an easy thing to notice.”

At Rohana’s whispered words, the princess’s green eyes sparkled as she looked up at her.

“You already have the ability to find someone much more impressive than Kaiden later on.”

“There’s no one better than the Duke.”

Serin grumbled as she took a bite of strawberry shortcake. She was a princess with a good appetite.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Oh no, I don’t want to leave yet.”

Serin stretched out her hand holding the fork and collapsed onto the table. But the face that entered was not what she expected.

“Heath?”

“You must step outside for a moment. And Princess Serin, it’s time for you to head back.”

His face was dark. Sensing the serious atmosphere, Rohana straightened up.

* * *

“What happened?”

Rohana whispered, but even Heath, with his stiffened expression, didn’t respond.

As soon as they stepped out into the main hall, Rohana’s expression mirrored his. Soldiers in the imperial royal guard’s red uniforms stood in two lines of ten. The man at the front spoke.

“Sister.”

It was Brandt. His violet eyes, so much like Rohana’s, flickered in the candlelight.

Kaiden stood behind, glaring down with piercing blue eyes.

“Brandt.”

If he had come on personal business, it wouldn’t be this grand. Unease and a hint of warmth clashed within her.

“What’s going on this time? You didn’t send any word.”

Before Brandt could answer, Lord Arthur of Shartonwell and Austin spoke first.

“Well, we’ll take our leave for now.”

“Sorry, but we’ll say our farewells here.”

At Kaiden’s words, the two quickly shook their heads and disappeared. Serin, holding Austin’s hand, waved goodbye with a worried look on her face.

“Rohana.”

Then, a cold voice came from behind. Kaiden handed her a scroll bearing the royal seal. The red velvet and gold decorations were ostentatious.

Rohana took the scroll and pulled it open. Her violet eyes chilled as she read.

<Duchess of Delcliff,

Emperor Bardi Constance Rentworth of the Empire has scheduled the trial date for the criminal ‘Emily Cobb’ on the next auspicious day.

You, Duchess Rohana Marcia Delcliff, as both witness and victim, are hereby officially summoned.

The imperial family deeply regrets the unfortunate incident that occurred in Noptal, as well as last autumn’s assassination attempt on the young lady.

We humbly accept the criticism of the citizens of the empire and will take every measure to prevent a recurrence.

Emperor of Ardgold, Bardi Constance Rentworth.>

A sigh escaped from between her lips.

Hadn’t R.D. or Aurelia’s side handled this? Why was this child handed over to Bardi?

While she was relieved that Emily was alive, her mind was a jumble.

“So, I am to be summoned.”

Rohana’s icy voice made Brand flinch slightly. His sister was reacting differently than he had expected.

“Sister, what’s wrong?”

In the back of her mind, Bardi’s departing words resurfaced.

“Rohana, just wait a little longer. I’ll be back soon.”

Surely…

He couldn’t have planned this far ahead when he said that, could he?

A chill ran down Rohana’s spine. It was clear that the actions of the Arin tribe were becoming more ominous.

As Brandt watched his sister’s scornful face, he spoke with an uncharacteristic sense of resolve.

“It’s the emperor’s command.”

Of course it was.

“Kaiden.”

Rohana turned, took a few steps away from the group, and spoke to Kaiden.

“I understand that I must go.”

Before she could finish, Kaiden cut her off and began walking back toward Brandt.

His imposing yet calm demeanor made Brandt shrink slightly.

“I understand. However…”

Brandt’s eyes widened.

“The duchess is unwell, so traveling at night is impossible. We will leave tomorrow morning.”

As Brandt stood in confusion, Kaiden continued speaking.

“Treat her with the utmost respect.”

As the servants bustled and the soldiers exchanged nervous glances, Rohana was about to bow when something gripped her delicate hand firmly. It was Kaiden.

His slow steps gradually quickened. She wanted to say something, but no words came out.

A tension and an unspoken feeling spread through her body, tightly wrapped in a perfectly fitting dress.

They passed through marble corridors, multiple doors to sitting rooms, and entered Kaiden’s bedchamber, as though being pulled in.

The door slammed shut, and he briefly let go of her hand.

The entire opposite wall was made of glass, and through the beautiful, tall windows, starlight poured in.

Standing before it, his figure was like a painting.

“Why do you think Emily crossed over to their side?”

Rohana was the first to speak. Kaiden stood silently, showing little reaction.

“Did you find out anything while I was lying down?”

“It was R.D.’s side, but it’s strange for her to be under the Imperial Palace now, even by my standards.”

“R.D. must have blackmailed Jody, right?”

Thinking of Jody, who couldn’t speak after seeing Aurelia, made Rohana feel like her heart was being crushed.

“Our emperor is either more informed than we thought or has made some kind of deal with R.D. It’s one or the other.”

Silence followed.

“Things will be okay, right?”

“I’ll make sure they are.”

He shrugged off his outer coat, tossing it onto the sofa, revealing the hard muscles beneath his thin shirt.

Some time passed.

Rohana sighed, her head clouded with thoughts, and Kaiden approached her in long strides. Without warning, he placed his hands on her waist and hips. The heat radiating from him was intense as he drew closer.

“Rohana.”

His voice was so primal, it stirred something instinctual inside her, though she knew there was no need for it to.

“There’s something I need to clarify beforehand.”

She had to tilt her head back far to look up at him. His broad shoulders loomed above, his face so near it was almost touching hers.

“You’re staying by my side, at least until the contract period is over.”

Rohana blinked slowly.

“Until then, you have to belong to the people here.”

His rough voice and breath made her face flush. She wanted to hide against his broad chest, but she held her ground. She had to meet his gaze.

“I’m persistent. As you saw in the garden that day.”

His thumb slowly stroked her hip, while his other fingers gripped the small of her back, making her feel as though even the slightest movement might cause her to explode.

She remained still, only her large violet eyes locked onto him.

“Will you allow that much, at least until then?”

His growling whisper sent chills from her spine down to her toes. He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear.

“My obsession.”

Rohana’s heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst. She was scared and uncertain whether this was the right path.

But.

The answer had been decided long ago.

When Kaiden saw the faint nod of her head, a more satisfied smile than any from earlier in the day spread across his lips, making him look stunning.

“Then that’s how it will be.”

There wasn’t even time to react before his rough lips descended on hers. His large hands traveled up her body, threading through her hair.

Between their passionate, unrestrained kisses, any sound that escaped her was swallowed by him.

As her head tilted back, her long hair swayed past her waist. His fingers gently held her chin beneath her parted lips.

With his large hands encircling her waist and ribs, he securely held her as he lowered her onto the bed.

Kaiden leaned forward, kneeling beside her legs.

Their gazes intertwined. His eyes, dark and intense, were unlike any she had seen before, making her forget to even blink.

‘So this is what he meant.’

As her loosened dress slipped off, revealing her pale shoulders, his lips roughly traced down her neck and along her collarbone.

‘When he said he’d become obsessed.’

Her fingers clenched so tightly they turned white. Both her wrists were held securely in one of his hands as he swallowed every breath that escaped her.

TL NOTE: Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories