Duke and Duchess Reunion - Chapter 90

Everyone present had already noticed that Carlos’s long-time unrequited love had finally borne fruit.

As the heads of families observed the two with varying sentiments, Russell turned to Aneta with a probing question.

“So, you won’t regret losing your status as the owner of a Glory? Although there were circumstances, the fact remains that the glory has vanished. You can’t expect to be treated the same as before.”

“I’ve already prepared myself for this,” Aneta replied calmly.

It was unthinkable to remain in her position without a Glory. She had no regrets, even as she accepted that she would have to give up everything she had enjoyed until now.

Aneta recalled the world she had briefly visited—a world she once called the ‘unattainable light.’ But now, that world no longer held any meaning for her.

All meaning now rested solely in Carlos. She was beginning to understand the blind emotions he had shown her until now.

‘I’m just glad I realized it, even if it was late.’

Aneta didn’t feel regret but relief. If the Miracle had forced her hand any sooner, her choices might have been different. In that case, what would have been left behind could only be regret.

“Even if I were to go back to that moment and stand at the crossroads again, I would make the same choice, over and over.”

There was no hesitation in Aneta’s voice.

Seeing that she had no lingering attachment to the illusory world created by the Glory of Miracle, Russell’s expression softened. His previously probing gaze became less intense.

“I respect your decision, Marquis Adenauer. However, despite each Glory being the property of its respective family, they are still national treasures. The extinction of Miracle will be made public as soon as this meeting adjourns, and everyone present here will be witnesses to that fact. Be aware of this.”

“Yes, I understand,” Aneta replied.

With that, Russell rose to his feet.

As he descended from the platform, his gaze shifted between Aneta and Carlos, lingering for a moment on Carlos’s pale face.

“You may leave now. You look tired; go home and rest.”

Although Russell had dismissed them, the other heads of families remained seated. Aneta realized that the command to leave was meant only for her and Carlos, so the two of them quietly left the council chamber.

They headed straight for the front gates, where the carriage was waiting. On a normal day, they would have gone straight to Lennox, but today, they were both concerned for each other’s well-being.

Aneta instructed the coachman to take them to the Duke of Baltimor’s estate. She wanted to drop Carlos off first, knowing that his butler, Linden, would be anxiously waiting for him.

“…”

Inside the gently swaying carriage, Carlos seemed deep in thought. Not wanting to disturb him, Aneta reflected on the events that had taken place in the council chamber.

‘It’s truly over now—all matters related to the Glories.’

She would no longer stand as an equal with the other heads of families, nor would she attend the ceremonies led by the Glory of Observation.

Yet, listing off all the things she could no longer do didn’t stir any negative emotions within her.

Aneta felt composed, and if there was any emotion she held onto, it was a sense of gratitude toward Tereza, who had openly shown her trust.

The unsettled feelings she had when watching Vernon leave had long since dissipated.

To her surprise, she felt an immense sense of relief.

Aneta snapped out of her thoughts when she felt Carlos’s gaze. She lifted her head, meeting his eyes as he looked at her. She waited patiently, knowing he was about to speak.

“Are you alright?”

Carlos echoed the very question Aneta had asked him on their way to the palace.

Though one might expect such a question to stir up sadness, Aneta remained calm and nodded.

“You told me, didn’t you? That you wouldn’t let me have any regrets.”

Yet Carlos’s face still showed concern. Sensing his worry for her, Aneta recalled his words.

“I believe in you, and that you’ll keep your promise. So there’s no reason for me not to be alright.”

In life, one often gains something at the cost of losing something else.

Aneta now believed that nothing in the world mattered more to her than Carlos.

“To be honest, I feel relieved. The Miracle was an entity I couldn’t control, and I never knew what it might do next. Rather than live in constant fear, it was better to destroy it.”

Her words might have sounded cold, but they were true.

“Don’t you agree?”

“You’re right.”

Carlos agreed, not just because it was Aneta who had said it, but because he genuinely believed so. Even if someone else had said the same thing, or if he had been in her position, he would have made the same choice.

“But what would you have done if I had said I wasn’t alright? Were you going to give me your Sky Glory?”

“No.”

Aneta had asked playfully to ease his worry, but his answer was unexpected.

She hadn’t planned to accept it even if he had offered, but she didn’t expect him to refuse so quickly. Curious, she looked at Carlos with interest.

“That’s surprising. I thought you’d say you’d give me anything I wanted. I guess it’s not like that?”

“No, it is like that. But not something like this. Take me instead, Aneta.”

Carlos reached for her hand. As soon as he spoke, his wrist buzzed softly.

The Sky Glory, now relegated to “something like this,” seemed to protest, but Carlos ignored it completely.

Aneta was the one to soothe the buzzing bracelet, gently stroking it with her free hand. Though the Miracle had been destroyed, it seemed she could still feel the lingering presence of Glory’s power. Just as she was thinking that, Carlos quickly took the hand she was using to touch the bracelet and held it within his own.

“If you want to touch something, touch me.”

“Are you… jealous of the Sky Glory?”

He looked just like a child guarding his possession. Aneta let out a soft laugh as she asked.

“Yes, I’m jealous. I want you to want me more than anything else—no matter the situation.”

Carlos leaned in, narrowing the distance between them until they could feel each other’s breath. At that proximity, he continued.

“I’m more jealous than you think. I’m even jealous of Isabel, who wakes you every morning, and even of this dress that’s wrapped around your body.”

He lifted her hand to his cheek, placing his much larger hand over hers. Tilting his head, he rubbed his face against her palm.

“So you have to take responsibility for me. You’re the only one who can.”

Carlos whispered seductively, bringing her hand close to his lips.

Smooch.

The sound that followed was soft and cute, but his next move was anything but.

Carlos gently nibbled at the palm of her hand between his lips. Aneta’s body trembled at the sensation.

He couldn’t have missed her reaction, but instead of stopping, he pressed his lips more firmly against her hand as if it wasn’t enough.

“Can I kiss you?”

The movement of his lips, as well as every breath he exhaled, was vividly felt beneath her palm.

The heat and moisture transferred from his lips left her hand flushed, still feeling the warmth where they touched.

Their gazes met intensely. Though his expression softened, Carlos didn’t bother hiding his raw emotions.

“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

“Do you dislike it?”

“…I didn’t say that.”

Before her words even finished, Carlos moved swiftly toward her. In the blink of an eye, Aneta found herself lying on the long couch, with his weight pressing down on her.

As her lips parted in surprise, his soft tongue slipped inside, showing no hesitation or restraint.

There was no trace of his usual composure; he seemed desperate. Aneta found herself oddly drawn to this side of him — to see him so impatient and eager for her.

But those thoughts quickly vanished when the tip of his tongue brushed against the roof of her mouth. At that moment, all notions of enjoying his desperation dissolved completely.

Her hand instinctively reached out, grasping at the air, searching for something to hold. Her fingers finally clung to the hem of his garment.

Carlos let out a low chuckle at that. But the sound quickly faded as he grew more focused.

His tongue began to explore her mouth more deliberately, with each movement becoming increasingly bold.

Aneta’s breath grew shallow, and in her reflex, she lightly bit down on his tongue, but Carlos persistently followed her every move.

Their tongues entwined, and the wet sounds that accompanied the kiss tingled in her ears. With each stolen breath, she felt her chest tightening, her entire being spiraling out of control. But she couldn’t stop.

Only after Aneta’s breathing became ragged did Carlos finally pull back. As their lips parted, a thin string of saliva connected them, stretching in the space between them.

“Aneta.”

Giving her a moment to catch her breath, Carlos called her name before kissing her again. The brief respite she had found was quickly lost as her breathing once again became labored.

The intensity of the kiss made lights flicker before her eyes, and the surging sensation coursing through her body constricted her throat with an overwhelming thirst.

“Carlos, stop now.”

Carlos, who had been passionately devouring her lips, pulled back reluctantly at her softly spoken plea.

But he wasn’t one to give up easily, especially after such a rare opportunity. Instead of her lips, he began trailing kisses down her slender neck.

His lips moved along Aneta’s neckline, and at one point, he pushed aside her collar to expose her collarbone. He pressed his hot lips against it.

Aneta let out a sharp gasp, but Carlos merely sucked lightly on her skin.

Though he could have used his teeth, he wouldn’t dare harm something so precious to him. With just his lips, he left a kiss mark.

The faint, almost hidden mark, red and dark, symbolized his desire.

Aneta’s hand, which had been clinging to his clothing, finally let go, weakened by the sensations coursing through her body.

In the process, her hand brushed against his lower abdomen, causing Carlos to freeze abruptly, as if in disbelief.

“This is as far as I’ll go. Any further, and I really won’t be able to stop.”

His eyes, brimming with unchecked affection and desire, were hotter than ever.

Carlos gently caressed the spot on her collarbone where he had left his mark, speaking with the satisfaction of a satiated predator.

“It’s cold out. I think you’ll need to wear something that covers up a bit more from now on, Aneta.”