Chapter 59. A Promise Before Departure

Often when Theo looked at Yuelina, his body would heat up like a beast’s.

It was the same now.

Even though Yuelina was being spiteful towards him, the sight of her in a thin nightgown exuding a rich floral scent made his mind hazy.

Theo struggled to maintain his fading rationality as he looked at Yuelina.

“Yuna, I’ve never thought of you as a pet.”

“Then why do you pat my head and say I’m pretty?”

“Because you are pretty.”

Yuelina froze at Theo’s direct answer.

He kept his gaze fixed on Yuelina as he continued speaking.

“I admit I was clumsy in expressing myself. I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

“……”

“But you looked so pretty when you ate well, went on walks well, and smiled while eating sweets.”

Theo’s sincere voice seemed to tremble slightly.

Yuelina’s eyes softened a bit.

“T-then would you like it if I patted your head for eating well and gave you candy for being pretty?”

“Yes.”

Theo answered without hesitation. Now it was Yuelina who was too flustered to speak.

“I would like it. If you patted me.”

“……”

Yuelina hung her head low.

But Theo was sincere.

Yuelina would pat his head and dote on him saying he’s pretty?

If such a thing happened, he could die right then without regrets.

But would such a thing really happen?

Yuelina, who was hanging her head low now, didn’t seem like she would pat his head.

How angry must she be to hang her head and not even look at him?

“Yuna.”

“……”

“Won’t you look at me?”

Yuelina shook her head.

She didn’t need a mirror to know. How red her face must be right now.

When Theo looked straight at her and said he would like it, Yuelina’s anger had already melted away.

His blue eyes, his soft lips curving gently as they opened to say he would like it if she patted his head…

How could she stay angry after that?

Yuelina took a deep breath to calm herself.

She needed to cool the heat in her face quickly.

“I-I want to rest a bit today. Please leave.”

“…You really won’t show me your face?”

“J-just go!”

But her heart pounded knowing Theo was right in front of her, watching her.

Yuelina couldn’t bring herself to raise her head.

She turned her body completely away from him.

Meanwhile, Theo’s heart sank again, seeing Yuelina turn away from him.

It felt like her flowing beautiful hair and her flower scent would all run away from him.

But Yuelina being this angry was all his fault.

“I understand. Rest well.”

Theo left, completely deflated.

Even as he crossed the bridge connecting the tower and mansion, his heart felt heavy.

It felt like walking in pitch darkness where nothing could be seen.

What if she really runs away?

What if she gets fed up with her stupid, slow-witted husband and goes home for some air?

“Your Highness, did the conversation go well?”

Ulysse asked when Theo returned to the study.

Theo shook his head briefly.

“Ulysse, this won’t do. There’s no way.”

“That’s not allowed!”

Ulysse and David had repeatedly insisted that he absolutely must not confine Yuelina.

But Theo had no idea how to turn Yuelina’s heart around.

“Call Khan.”

“Your Highness!”

Ulysse shook his head vigorously, turning pale. He knew why Theo was calling for Khan.

Khan was a knight among Theo’s Shadows who excelled in swordsmanship and stealth.

Calling for Khan meant he intended to have the Grand Duchess Yuelina watched.

“Ulysse, I don’t have a wife who will take care of me and find me pretty.”

“What?”

“Who would want to do such things with me?”

“Y-Your Highness! Her Highness the Grand Duchess is just angry now, once that passes…”

“It’s natural for her to be cold to me.”

When Yuelina turned away sharply in the attic and told him to leave, Theo felt devastated.

He truly felt dizzy and helpless.

Just the thought of her leaving him, not looking at him, made him feel faint and anxious.

“It’s fine if she’s cold to me. I don’t mind if she hates me.”

Theo roughly unbuttoned his shirt.

Yuelina was his wife anyway, and he had no intention of letting his wife escape.

* * *

Theo came out of the mansion. The navy carriage was also ready for him .

He stood in front of the carriage and turned around. The tip of the tower was barely visible in the distance.

The weather wasn’t as cold as expected. The sky was clear without a single cloud.

It was the kind of day that Yuelina, who loved walks, would be most excited about.

Theo sighed with his hands behind his back.

Having entrusted Yuelina’s surveillance to Shadow Khan, she would still be in the mansion when he returned.

Of course, if she tried to escape, she would be locked up in the tower attic rather than the mansion.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke!”

Just then, Ulysse waved from afar. His glasses were crooked, making his running figure somehow amusing.

“!”

Behind him, Theo saw Yuelina hurrying along.

The corners of Theo’s mouth twitched.

“Yuna.”

“I came… I came to say goodbye.”

Yuelina said, catching her breath.

Ulysse looked proudly back and forth between the two. He had begged and pleaded so much so that she should see the Grand Duke off.

Ulysse praised himself as he stepped back to give them space.

Yuelina and Theo stood facing each other.

An awkward atmosphere hung between the two as they stood silently.

Theo broke the silence first.

“You didn’t have to come out.”

“Ah… Should I go then?”

“Where to?”

Theo took a step closer to Yuelina.

Yuelina met his gaze while clutching her skirt.

“Were you going to leave without saying goodbye to me?”

“…I thought you wouldn’t want to see me.”

“You said you’ll be gone for two weeks.”

Yuelina looked at Theo with a hurt expression.

“I’ve been thinking a lot, Theo.”

“Speak comfortably.”

“I don’t think I can pat you. I can’t tell you you’re pretty either.”

Theo nodded with a calm expression.

It was what he expected.

“That’s fine.”

“You’re too tall for me to pat you.”

“What?”

“No matter how much I stretch my arms, I won’t reach your head.”

Theo tilted his head at Yuelina’s unexpected words.

“And you’re not pretty. Just kind of… dependable.”

Yuelina’s face began to turn red. The corners of Theo’s mouth twitched again.

These words from her were not what Theo had expected.

So to Theo, they felt like a miracle.

Yuelina was always like this.

From the first moment he saw her, she was always a mystery to Theo.

So that’s why he was anxious.

Because Yuelina kept making impossible things happen for him.

Theo was beginning to understand the cause of his anxiety.

“Instead, I can do this.”

“!”

That’s when it happened.

Yuelina’s slender arms spread open and slipped between his arms.

She hugged Theo tightly.

Theo froze like a statue.

“Theo, travel safely. Stay healthy.”

Yuelina placed her hands on Theo’s back.

“Yes. I’ll return.”

Theo also raised his arms and slowly stroked Yuelina’s back.

Yuelina, who fit so perfectly in his arms, was really small, and she smelled so sweet he wanted to crush her in his embrace.

Above all, she was very warm.

Warm enough to gently melt Theo’s heart with her whole body.

“Yuna.”

He called Yuelina’s name affectionately. Yuelina looked up at him.

“Tell me what you want. I’ll buy everything for you.”

Theo wanted to buy anything for Yuelina in his arms. If she wanted the principality, he could hand it over without hesitation.

No, if Yuelina asked for his life, he felt he could gladly plunge a knife into his heart.

“I’m fine! I’m living well without lacking anything!”

“Still.”

“…Hmm.”

“Still, I’m leaving.”

Theo took Yuelina’s hand.

As his large hand intertwined with her small fingers, Yuelina’s heart began to pound again.