Chapter 2.9

Honestly, she had thought the Grand Duke wouldn’t care even if she cried right in front of him.  

Even when she ran simulations in her head, all she could imagine was his cold, indifferent face turning away.  

But seeing him so flustered and unsure of what to do, there was only one thing she could say.  

“My favorite person is you, Grand Duke.”  

At her words, the Grand Duke paused for a moment but then continued walking as if nothing had happened.  

In the end, there was no response, but it didn’t matter. She had said everything she wanted to say.  

The setting sun cast a single shadow beside them. Leaning against his back, she quietly, continuously gazed at it.  

Perhaps she would remember today for the rest of her life. Just like that day five years ago.  

As she watched him grow more endearing with each passing day—more tomorrow than today, and more the day after tomorrow than tomorrow—the unforgettable days would increase as well.  

And someday.  

Someday, she hoped he would love her too. She wished for it, over and over, all the way back.  

* * *  

Gabriella, the maid assigned exclusively to Bianca, had been experiencing firsthand what it truly meant to feel drained over the past few days.  

Gabriella was a veteran maid, considered one of the most competent in the Grand Duke’s residence.  

When everyone had been too afraid to approach Bianca on her first day, she had been half-volunteered and half-assigned to take care of her. At the time, she hadn’t been too worried.  

Quick-witted and naturally suited for her work, Gabriella had always taken great pride in her ability to handle anything.  

But it was Bianca who shattered her confidence in an instant.  

Bianca was by no means an easy person. She was temperamental and finicky, easily the most challenging individual Gabriella had ever dealt with.  

“Why is it so hot in here?”

It was the height of summer, so the heat was to be expected. Though the Castia territory, located near the sea, was cooler than the capital, everything about it irritated Bianca.  

“Shall I open the window? The sun will set soon, so it should get a bit cooler.”  

Gabriella, who had grown somewhat accustomed to Bianca, calmly offered a solution.  

Although she asked, “Shall I open it?” this wasn’t a question that truly required an answer. If she waited for a response, she would surely be scolded for being slow and lacking awareness.  

Gabriella quickly walked to the window and opened it, but as she looked out, she couldn’t help but let out a small gasp of admiration.  

“Oh my!”  

It was a rare mistake for someone as seasoned as her. When working in a noble household, the rule was to pretend not to see or hear anything, no matter what.  

But outside the window was a scene so astonishing that it made her forget even the most basic principles.  

“What? What’s out there?”  

“Ah, well…”  

“What is it? Don’t be vague; just say it properly.”  

There wasn’t enough time to come up with an excuse. If she delayed her answer even a little, the teacup in Bianca’s hand might come flying at her.  

She had already cleaned up three broken teacups since earlier that day.  

“His Grace is out there.”  

“What? The Grand Duke?”  

Bianca, her face lighting up, ran to the window, but her expression quickly twisted.  

“What is that?”  

Her sharp voice rang through the room like a crack. Gabriella, as if expecting it, tightly shut her eyes.  

Bianca couldn’t believe what she was seeing.  

The Grand Duke was coming out of the garden, carrying a woman on his back.  

And that woman, clinging tightly to the Grand Duke’s neck, was none other than Elena Bellacita.  

Her bright platinum blonde hair shone unmistakably, even under the fading red sunlight.  

Heat boiled up furiously inside Bianca’s chest.  

‘Does this even make sense?’  

He had outright rejected her invitation to go for a walk, doing so in front of everyone, and in such a cold manner.  

And yet, not only had he gone for a walk with that woman, but he had even carried her on his back?  

The sight outside the window was like pouring oil onto the fire of her already wounded pride.  

And when she recalled the previous incident on top of it all, the more she thought about it, the more enraged she became.  

“That sly fox.”

Although it was Helio who had ignored her, Bianca’s anger was entirely directed at Elena.  

It was only natural since Bianca had already fallen completely for Helio. From the very moment she first saw him years ago in the Imperial City, Bianca had been captivated.  

There was a unique aura about him that couldn’t be found in the men of her age group. Bianca couldn’t take her eyes off the distinct mystery that surrounded him.  

‘I want him.’  

But there was one thing that stood in her way—Helio’s black hair.  

His jet-black hair, as dark as the night, was strikingly beautiful and suited him perfectly. However, it was also a symbol of illegitimacy and a mark of the lowly bloodline of a minority group.  

Because of this, certain rumors and labels always followed Helio like a shadow.  

Bianca couldn’t bear the thought of those labels being attached to her if she were to be with him.  

So, she gave up.  

Helio would have been dumbfounded if he had known, but Bianca truly believed that marrying him would have been no challenge if she had truly wanted it.  

After all, there had never been anything she desired that she couldn’t have.  

When Helio declared his intent to remain single and left for the distant Castia territory, Bianca, unlike the devastated Elena, felt relieved.  

Even if she couldn’t have him, she thought he was far too precious to let anyone else have.  

And now, he was planning to get married?  

The official announcement of candidates for the position of Grand Duchess stirred up feelings of her forgotten first love, as well as a competitive desire not to lose him.  

Bianca had weighed and deliberated over many things before coming to this place.  

First, there were the rumors that had always followed him.  

The former Emperor had neglected Helio, treating him as a disgrace. But the current Emperor was different. With the wholehearted support of his brother, Helio was no longer openly disrespected by anyone.  

Moreover, Helio’s increasingly refined appearance had made him the “most desirable man to marry” among the young noblewomen.  

If she were to marry him now, many would envy her. That sense of superiority thrilled Bianca even at the mere thought of it.  

Her next concern was having to leave the capital. She had no intention of giving up her life in the capital.  

Though the Castia territory was a prosperous and flourishing place, for Bianca, who always sought the very best, leaving the capital was unthinkable.  

But if his beloved wife were to ask for it?

Wouldn’t it be possible to leave the estate in someone else’s care and move up to the capital? The Emperor would welcome it with open arms rather than oppose it. Yes, it all depended on her efforts.  

With that conclusion, she had come this far.  

Making up her mind had been difficult, but once the decision was made, she thought there would be no further problems.  

However, reality kept diverging from her expectations.  

‘Elena Bellacita. It’s all because of that woman.’  

No matter how she thought about it, the source of all these complications seemed to be Elena.  

On the first day, despite being exhausted, Bianca had hosted a tea party to express her intentions. But from the moment Elena had argued that she couldn’t give up the Grand Duke, Bianca had taken a dislike to her.  

And now, seeing this scene made her desperately want to get rid of Elena right away.  

Even being carried on the Grand Duke’s back like that—it had to be some sly trick of hers.  

Unable to contain her rising anger, Bianca hurled her teacup, which shattered into pieces as it collided with a distant table.  

The spilled tea quickly soaked into the thick carpet beneath the table.  

If she was going to throw it, she should have aimed for a spot without a carpet.  

Gabriella let out an invisible sigh and skillfully cleaned up the broken teacup.  

“I’ll write a letter. Father will do something about it.”  

Biting her lip anxiously, Bianca muttered before snapping sharply.  

“Bring me stationery and a pen. Right now.”  

The unfortunate Gabriella wasn’t even given time to remove the carpet for cleaning.