Chapter 2 (Part 2)

The Duke took the injured student inside the academy. After stopping by the infirmary and entrusting the student to the physician, he finally came out.

Until then, Therese, waiting for him in the corridor, had mixed feelings.

‘Though I disguised myself quite well…….’

It was unsettling that he didn’t recognize her at all.

‘Does he not know I’m his wife?’

Then she remembered that she and Duke Richard weren’t that close.

‘Right. He doesn’t really know my face well.’

It was a plausible thought. Staring at his sword placed in the corridor, Therese bit her lip.

“Should I just leave?”

Waiting like this felt foolish, and meeting him in this attire didn’t seem like a good idea. Just as she was about to turn away, a long shadow enveloped Therese’s body.

“The student only has minor scrapes, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

Duke Richard explained to her as he reattached his sword to his waist. Therese cleared her throat and spoke. Her naturally low tone made it easy to sound like a boy.

“Th-that’s a relief.”

“It’s thanks to you, kid. I noticed something was wrong because you were fidgeting there.”

Being called a kid repeatedly was quite annoying. She was an adult, past the age of majority, and already married.

“I’m not a kid.”

“Then are you older than me?”

Having said that, she had nothing more to say.

“Not really, but….”

As she was about to say her goodbyes and leave, the academy’s principal approached and greeted the Duke.

“Have you not finished your business yet, Your Grace?”

“No, I was just about to leave.”

“The scholarship you provided will be put to good use.”

Duke Richard made a troubled expression, and the principal quickly covered his mouth with his hand.

“Then I’ll be off.”

‘So he came here because of the scholarship.’

It was the first time she heard that he supported the academy with scholarships. While Therese was lost in thought, the Duke tapped her shoulder.

“Why aren’t you following?”

“…Why should I?”

“That’s disappointing. I thought we helped someone together today.”

“I didn’t do anything….”

…It’s just uncomfortable being with you like this.

She swallowed the rest of her words, but the Duke didn’t let her go.

“If you’re not busy, won’t you accompany me somewhere?”

“…Huh?”

The place she was dragged to was a cafe on Oxford Street, which she had passed earlier. Sitting across from each other at an outdoor table, Therese kept her head down as much as possible.

‘I shouldn’t have come here….’

She had meddled unnecessarily and ended up meeting the Duke. Just as she was about to regret it, the ordered items arrived, and Therese’s gloomy face lit up.

‘What’s all this?’

The table was filled with a variety of items. Macarons, scones, cookies, parfaits, strawberry trifles, and tea on a three-tiered tray. These were the kinds of things she had wanted to try with friends when she was a child.

“I haven’t eaten all day. Can you keep me company for a while, even if it’s inconvenient?”

At his request, while sipping tea, Therese nodded silently.

‘Even a war hero can’t eat alone, huh.’

Seeing the sweet desserts and tea, her stomach signaled as well.

‘I haven’t done anything significant today, yet I haven’t eaten a single meal.’

Though it was an uncomfortable setting, she was hungry, and the food looked appetizing. Deciding to keep things simple, Therese picked up a scone and spread jam on it. As she took a bite, she felt a strong gaze.

“……?”

Duke Richard was looking solely at her.

‘Did he find out?’

In fact, it would be stranger if he hadn’t noticed. She pondered how to explain pretending to be a boy when he reached across the table.

“Are you saying you’re not a kid after this?”

His large hand wiped the scone crumbs from her cheek. The spot where he touched seemed to burn. When Therese avoided his gaze in embarrassment, the Duke laughed aloud.

“I suppose I was like that when I was young, so there’s no need to be so embarrassed.”

It wasn’t the scone smudges that embarrassed her, but the fact that he touched her. But she couldn’t say such things, so she just muttered in a sulky voice.

“I’m not embarrassed at all.”

Not wanting to continue the conversation, she picked up a spoon and started eating the parfait. She thought of it as a gesture of thanks for helping the student earlier, but she wanted to leave quickly.

‘He said he was hungry, yet he hasn’t touched the sweet snacks.’

Leaving all this uneaten would be wasteful. 

Moreover, these snacks were of a different caliber than those sold in Manus Bazaar. Perhaps because they were tailored to the students’ tastes, they were sweeter and richer than those available in the market. 

Reluctantly, Therese tried various things, and the Duke smiled as if satisfied.

It was a chance encounter. 

In the morning, he visited the palace to see the Emperor, and in the afternoon, he stopped by the academy for his brother Gabriel’s matters and the scholarship issue. For several years, he had been secretly donating to Oxford Academy, his alma mater. The principal seemed eager to publicize it, but he refused. He was already talked about enough as it was.

Whether he wanted it or not, the name Richard often graced the front pages of newspapers. He thought he had gotten used to it, but he hadn’t at all.

Sitting on Oxford Street, drinking tea like this was a first.

‘Just like a squirrel drinking spring water.’

Initially, the kid seemed reluctant, but after tasting something sweet, the kid’s face softened like cotton candy.

‘Even though they were weaklings.’

To think of handling several men with such a physique. It was too reckless. If he hadn’t coincidentally passed by today, something serious might have happened. The thought made his heart sink.

“Next time you witness something like this, it might be better to come to a shop and tell them.”

At Jeremy’s advice, Therese’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Thank you for the help, but I handle my own matters.”

Therese mumbled with her cheeks full of macarons.

‘I should have brought a dagger.’

If she had, she wouldn’t have been treated like a kid. She might have even been able to put the Duke in his place.

“I’m Jeremy Richard. What’s your name…?”

Her throat was blocked, and she almost spilled her tea. Such a prestigious family and illustrious name, everyone here would know without him saying it. Since earlier, the cafe owner and staff had been sneaking glances at the Duke’s face.

Wanting to find fault, Therese squinted and scrutinized the Duke.

‘A uniform on an already handsome man…….’

It was like adding wings to beauty, so dazzling that it hurt her eyes.

“It’s not a name worth boasting about, so I don’t want to reveal it.”

Her voice was blunt and curt. It was true. She wasn’t of real noble blood, just from a merchant family that bought its title, a vulgar lineage. The thought made the sweet snacks feel like they were choking her.

‘What am I even doing here?’

Overwhelmed by self-reproach, Therese lowered her head.

‘I should have left when I first saw the Duke.’

As she flicked her fingers in frustration, the Duke let out a short sigh.

“Where’s your home? You seem to have neither horse nor carriage, so I’ll take you there.”

The Duke’s words brought back memories. As a child, when she was kidnapped, the Duke had safely escorted her home.

‘Perhaps he hasn’t changed much over the years.’

He didn’t ignore those in distress and took responsibility till the end.

‘He’s just not suited for married life.’

Or perhaps he just hadn’t met the right match. 

Her feelings grew more complex, and her face darkened.

It was then that a carriage racing down Oxford Street stopped in front of the café. The familiar appearance of the carriage made her tilt her head, and a familiar-faced man got off.

‘……Ah.’

Roshan, in white pants, a white shirt, and a jewel-studded red vest, bowed before her.

“Young Master, I’ve come to escort you.”

In an utterly awkward situation, Therese broke into a cold sweat. The Duke had seen Roshan’s face before, so she might be exposed for her disguise.

‘Ah, why is Roshan acting like this lately?’

Her usually discreet subordinate was making unexpected moves.

Sitting between Roshan and Duke Richard, Therese awkwardly stood up.

“I think I should be going now. Your Grace, Duke Richard.”

“Take care on your way back.”

Pretending nothing was amiss, the Duke replied to her farewell.

After Roshan escorted Therese onto the carriage and its wheels began to move slowly, the Duke finally stood and whispered softly.

“See you again, kid.”

The table, now empty of guests, was still laden with leftover snacks.