Chapter 4.6

It was Bianca, who had seemed like she would never set foot outside the carriage. Yet here she was, emerging from the crowd—or rather, rushing out of it.  

Perhaps she had been searching for the Grand Duke, her breath was ragged, as if she’d been running.  

“Lady Elena, you’re here too.”  

Only after spotting Elena did Bianca’s face twist into a scowl. Then, noticing the ice cream in Elena’s hand, she covered her mouth with her hand and sneered.  

“Oh my, eating street food without any dignity.”  

“Oh my, this was something the Grand Duke bought for me…”  

Elena deliberately mimicked Bianca’s gesture.  

“T-The Grand Duke… bought it for you?”  

Bianca looked at the Grand Duke with a face full of disbelief. The Grand Duke, as always, stood silently with an indifferent expression.  

“Yes, it’s so popular that the line was incredibly long. Maybe that’s why it melts so delightfully in your mouth.”  

‘Where in the world is there ice cream that doesn’t melt in your mouth?’ 

Elena thought as she licked her ice cream as irritatingly as possible.  

“By the way, didn’t you say you would rest in the carriage, Lady Bianca?”  

Bianca, who had been standing with a perpetually sour expression, flinched and avoided Elena’s gaze.  

“Ahem. I wanted to rest, but Gabriella kept begging me to look around with her, so I’m just taking a quick look.”  

Bianca’s maid, Gabriella, gave an awkward smile beside her.  

‘Hmph. Is that the story you’re going with?’  

It was obvious. Instead of simply stepping out, Bianca must have nagged Gabriella to create a pretext for her.  

“But why are the two of you together? Where are the others?”  

This time, Bianca asked sharply.  

“Do I need to explain every little thing to you?”  

“I wasn’t asking you; I was asking the Grand Duke… This just seems unfair.”  

Bianca’s voice, which had been subdued by the Grand Duke’s cold attitude, grew louder as if she felt wronged.  

“I don’t understand what’s so unfair.”  

“You keep spending time alone together!”  

“I don’t recall spending time exclusively with Lady Bellacita.”  

“Even now, and back at the Rose Garden…”  

Bianca, who had been accusing them outright, suddenly clamped her mouth shut.  

‘The Rose Garden? Could she be referring to the day when the Grand Duke carried me on his back? When did she even see that?’  

“It was just because the crowd got too large, and we lost track of each other for a moment. We were already looking for everyone else.”  

Sensing that things might take a turn for the worse if she remained silent, Elena decided to calm Bianca down.  

And just then, Dean found them.  

“There you all are. The ship we’re boarding has arrived. Let’s head to the dock now.”  

Following Dean with silent praise for his impeccable timing, Elena noticed Bianca’s piercing glare trailing behind her.  

Bianca’s clenched fist trembled, as if her anger remained unresolved.  

‘She must really dislike me.’

Elena thought.  

***

The ship they boarded was neither large nor small—just an ordinary passenger vessel.  

There were cabins inside for resting, but since the island was only two hours away, most people chose to stay on the deck to enjoy the sea view rather than remain indoors.  

Elena, too, found the inside a bit stifling and opted to stay on the deck.  

The ship slowly cut through the water as it moved forward.  

Leaning against the railing, Elena spent a long time watching the small waves break into white foam.  

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when a man’s voice suddenly came from right beside her.  

“What’s so interesting? There’s nothing out there.”  

When she turned her head, she saw the side profile of a man who looked oddly familiar.  

‘Who is that?’  

As the question popped into her mind, the answer followed right after.  

It was him—the man who had promised to buy her ice cream and then ran off.  

“Didn’t I tell you we’d meet again soon?”  

With a pleasant smile, he turned to face her.  

No matter how bright his expression was now, she wasn’t about to let it slide.  

“It was 5000 krangs.”  

“Hahaha.”  

She hadn’t said it to make him laugh, but the man laughed heartily as if he found it amusing.  

“Do you have any idea how much trouble I was in because you just left after saying you’d buy it?”  

“I’m sorry about that. If I’d stayed there any longer, I might not have been able to board this ship.”  

‘What nonsense is he saying? I was the one who almost missed the ship.’  

If she hadn’t met the Grand Duke, she would’ve been caught for eating without paying.  

“For someone who’s on the same ship, your excuses are rather pathetic. You had plenty of time.”  

“Did I? Haha. Please forgive me this once. I’ll definitely repay the debt next time. Now that I think about it, I haven’t even introduced myself. I’m Lennon Ruicen.”  

‘Ruicen? That Ruicen?’  

“Judging by your expression, it seems you’ve heard of me?”  

It would’ve been impossible not to know the House of Ruicen, one of the three major ducal houses of the empire, along with the House of Roiza, which Diana belonged to.  

She vaguely remembered hearing that the Duchess of Ruicen was the younger sister of the late Emperor. That would make him cousins with the Grand Duke.  

She had suspected he might be part of the Imperial Family, but she hadn’t expected him to be from the House of Ruicen.  

“I’m Elena Bellacita. I apologize for my rudeness…”  

As she briefly lowered her head in greeting and looked back up, her vision suddenly went dark, obstructed by something.  

The familiar scent tickling the tip of her nose clued her in—it was the Grand Duke’s back.  

“Grand Duke! Did you come out to look for me?”  

“Why would I? I just came out to get some fresh air.”  

‘Hmph, acting all cold for no reason.’  

Just earlier, he had bought her earrings and ice cream.  

“What are you doing here?”  

She was about to say she had just been watching the sea, but it seemed the question wasn’t directed at her. Judging by the response from the other side, it was meant for him.  

“Oh dear, even though I’m your cousin, you’re addressing me so casually as ‘you’?”  

“Have you ever done anything to deserve being treated like family?”  

So they did know each other. 

She couldn’t see the Grand Duke’s expression since his back was to her, but judging from their exchange, their relationship didn’t seem particularly good.  

“Whoa, whoa. Don’t get angry. I’m here under orders from His Majesty.”  

“…What orders? I was told to handle the matter of Anes Island myself.”  

‘What could the Emperor’s orders be, and what does he mean by handling the matter of Anes Island? Wasn’t this supposed to be a leisure trip?’  

“Well, I suppose His Majesty didn’t trust you to handle it alone. Now, would you mind stepping aside? I was in the middle of a conversation with the lady.”  

At Lennon’s words, the Grand Duke’s expression hardened instantly.  

Lennon’s tone, which had been playful and mischievous, was now outright insufferable. Even Elena, watching from the side, found him irritating.  

“What could you possibly have to talk about? Do you know each other?”  

“We were just starting to get to know each other.”  

“Grand Duke, the man I mentioned bumping into before boarding the ship—it’s him. That strange man is him.”  

Fearing that there might be some misunderstanding, Elena quickly whispered from behind.  

“Oh dear, calling me a strange man as your first impression? That hurts my feelings.”  

‘How did he hear that?’ 

His ears were sharp.  

Feeling a bit embarrassed for openly badmouthing him, Elena hid further behind the Grand Duke’s back.  

“So I was right. I had a bad feeling just from seeing his back. What are you up to something?”  

“What am I up to? It was just a coincidence.”  

‘Coincidence.’ ‘Up to something.’ These were oddly familiar words.  

‘Where have I heard them before?’  

“Ha, coincidence? Do you even hear yourself?”  

‘Why does this feel so much like déjà vu?’  

“It’s the truth. You really don’t trust anything people say, do you?”  

Indeed, the pattern of their conversation was eerily similar to the one she often had with the Grand Duke.  

Whenever the Grand Duke had questioned her motives, she had always insisted it was a coincidence.  

‘So that means… this man isn’t here by coincidence either.’  

He must have already known that she was a candidate for the position of the Grand Duchess. That would explain why he had said things like, ‘We’ll meet again.’ 

“It’s a curiosity to me as well. They say if a coincidence happens three times, it’s fate…”  

Lennon smirked slyly and tilted his head slightly to the side, peeking at Elena, who was hiding behind the Grand Duke.  

“So, if we meet just once more, does that make us fated?”  

‘Hmph. He doesn’t know anything. If that logic held, I’d already be married to the Grand Duke and have children by now.’  

As she grumbled inwardly, her vision was suddenly blocked entirely.  

The Grand Duke shifted his body, completely shielding her from view.  

“Ha.”  

Lennon let out a scoff, then burst into laughter.  

“Hahaha! You’re acting like a child. Are you jealous or something?”  

‘What? Is this really jealousy?’  

“What’s so funny? Isn’t it stranger to stand by and watch a man flirt with someone who might become my Duchess?”  

‘Might become… the Grand Duke’s Duchess.’  

‘The Grand Duke’s… Duchess.’  

‘Am I dreaming right now?’

“Yes, as you said, it’s only natural for a man. I wasn’t laughing at you; I was just surprised. I didn’t think it would apply to you. Weren’t you the type to not care about such things?”  

The Grand Duke, who had been silent for a moment, finally spoke.  

“That seems to change when someone I dislike is involved.”  

Wait a second. So what does this mean?  

The conclusion wasn’t jealousy or possessiveness—it was just that he disliked Lennon?  

‘Ha, I almost misunderstood again.’  

Elena calmed her racing heart and quietly pulled down the corners of her lips, which had risen on their own.  

“Tsk, I thought you’d changed a bit, but you’re just the same. You really don’t understand women’s hearts at all.”  

Lennon clicked his tongue lightly, saying exactly what Elena wanted to say.  

“Well, since we’ve run into each other like this, let’s have a quick chat. You must have something you want to ask.”  

“I have nothing to say.”  

“But there’s something you’ll want to hear. I have a message from Kailus.”  

The Grand Duke, who had been acting coldly, flinched slightly at the mention of the Emperor’s name.  

“Miss Elena, was it? I must excuse myself for now. We’ll see each other again soon.”  

With his signature bright smile and what seemed like a habitual farewell, Lennon disappeared toward the cabin.  

The Grand Duke, who had been watching Lennon’s retreating figure, turned around as if to say something to Elena. However, after letting out a short sigh, he ran his hand roughly through his hair and silently followed Lennon.