Chapter 14

After parting ways with Betty, Neria headed alone to her next destination.

‘A proper lady should read good books regularly.’

On a wooden sign, the words ‘Madame Bonet’s Specialty Bookshop’ were embossed alongside the shape of a book. She opened the green door with round glass windows, and the bell chimed.

The scent of paper and herbs seeped into her chest as soon as she entered. It was a comfortable, pleasant aroma.

From the corner of the shop, gentle music from the East masked the ambient noise.

“Welcome.”

Neria bowed in response to the greeting from the clerk and walked between the tightly packed shelves, her steps confident as if she’d visited more than once.

In the corner was a wooden staircase leading underground. As she descended the stairs, which creaked slightly with each step, Neria headed to a particular spot.

One book caught her eye.

「Oh, Rene’s Heart-Thumping Romantic Desserts」

Also known as org*sm. She pulled out the code book, and soon a shadow appeared behind the shelf.

Neria leaned close to the empty spot left by the book and whispered just loud enough for the person on the other side to hear.

“There’s supposed to be a new item in.”

“The password?”

“Main red wine.”

“Confirmed.”

After the secretive exchange, the woman on the other side slotted a book into the empty space.

Feeling like a secret agent, Neria took the new book, tucked some bills into the org*sm book’s jacket, and put it back.

“Thank you.”

The clerk glanced at the book in Neria’s arms. Seeing the red bookmark poking out, the clerk nodded briefly, signaling she didn’t need to pay.

“Come again next time.”

Neria left the specialty bookshop, receiving the clerk’s friendly but indifferent farewell.

After just a few steps, she happily peeled back the book cover to check the original title.

「The Juicy Taste of Watermelon」

Clever Neria instantly grasped the subject of the new release and was pleasantly shocked. She glanced around the street, then skimmed through the book before reading it properly.

“Oh, my goodness.”

It was truly content that broadened her horizons.

“Reading really is nourishment for the soul.”

Neria smiled contentedly, then let out a disappointed sigh.

“If only I’d read this before having that dream!”

She grinned, lost in thoughts of Aaron from her dream. The Duke, teased and ravished by tentacles. Her face turned rosy.

***

Aaron was out alone, without his aide Dagon.

His destination was the city’s largest library, surrounded by bookstores—a true district of knowledge.

He was searching for a way to escape the witch’s spell and learned that he needed to find a witch hunter.

‘A witch hunter in this day and age…’

Unsure whether to believe it, Aaron shrugged.

If there were exorcist priests, there was no reason witch hunters wouldn’t exist. Looking deeper into the materials, Aaron was shocked by what witch hunters did to captured witches and quickly closed the book.

‘Burning at the stake…?’

The book insisted that witches must always be burned, and suddenly, he felt sick.

Strangely, Aaron had never considered k*lling the witch who tormented him and brought him shame in his dreams. He hadn’t even found her repulsive; sometimes, he’d been more excited than she was.

He wondered if he’d been brainwashed… but burning a witch didn’t sit right with him.

Pulling his deep hooded cloak tighter, Aaron left the library with a heavy heart. Instead of returning directly to his city mansion, he wandered aimlessly to clear his thoughts.

That’s when he saw a familiar woman exiting a building.

“Hmm?”

She had soft brown hair like coffee with milk, violet eyes, and a gentle gaze contrasted by a determined mouth—an impressive woman.

Neria Warwick.

Aaron had never given a second glance to passing women, even those he knew.

But he recognized Neria because she felt different from the usual crowd.

‘…Maybe it’s because of the secret connection we shared at the temple.’

Or perhaps… because she was somehow linked to the witch.

Aaron leaned casually against the building wall, quietly watching Neria as she entered his field of view.

She wore gray stockings, neat black shoes, and a clean dark green dress, holding a book in her arms as she walked.

Her cheeks were flushed like apples, and her smile was so happy that passersby turned and smiled with her.

Aaron frowned, rolling his tongue against his cheek.

After that uncomfortable match and awkward temple encounter, facing Neria Warwick again was something he found unnecessary.

Besides, Neria—who’d looked at him with resentment—would hardly welcome him.

‘That’s why she slipped out of my arms so coldly at the temple, left first, and didn’t look back. Not even once…’

By now, Aaron’s mood had soured even more. He’d forgotten that he’d ruined his own image at the match by saying things he didn’t need to.

When a male passerby turned to look at Neria with interest, Aaron’s legs moved on their own.

Aaron wasn’t the type to act on impulse. As the king’s brother, even the smallest gesture could be misunderstood or judged.

Yet now, why…

Why was he moving toward a woman who wouldn’t welcome him?

He didn’t know, but quickly came up with a rationalization.

‘If I just let a noble lady walk alone without attendants or maids, it might bring me bad dreams tonight.’

With that thought, Aaron forgot that the Warwick mansion was only twenty minutes away on foot, and that the area was a safe, wealthy neighborhood with only main streets in broad daylight. In just a few steps, he entered Neria’s line of sight.

Worried she might not recognize him, he raised his hood just enough for her to see his face.

“…?”

Her soft brown hair, swinging like a tail, stopped abruptly.

Her violet eyes glanced up and widened. Her moderately full lips parted, showing her cute front teeth before hiding them again.

Aaron took in every detail of Neria in that brief moment and was about to greet her.

But something truly unexpected happened.

“Huh? Uh? Huh?”

Seeing Aaron appear, Neria was flustered, glanced around, and pinched her cheek hard.

“…Why are you here in front of me when it’s not a dream?”

Muttering to herself, Neria panicked…

“Lady Neria.”

When Aaron called out to her, she suddenly turned and desperately ran away.

“Hm?”

Aaron, puzzled, touched his own face, wondering if something was wrong with his appearance.

But he looked just as good as ever. He’d checked his outfit in the mirror multiple times before leaving home.

No matter how awkward the encounter, Neria Warwick was a well-mannered noblewoman. She couldn’t treat a Duke like this.

There was something else odd. Neria had muttered as if Aaron Denicar shouldn’t be there.

‘She said, “Why are you here in front of me when it’s not a dream?” …Could it be? No way?’

He immediately dismissed the idea as impossible, but he himself was experiencing impossible things.

Aaron made up his mind and acted at once.

He chased after her.

Neria was quicker than the average woman, but her pursuer was Aaron Denicar—a top graduate of the military academy and a knight.

Aaron easily caught up with Neria and cleverly manipulated the escape route.

“Haah, haah…?!”

As a result, Neria found herself at a dead end, feeling defeated.

When she turned around, Aaron—who’d been calmly pursuing her—entered the alley. There was no escape.

‘What is this! What’s happening!’

Neria blinked in confusion. Meeting someone so unexpected had thrown her off, making her act in ways she normally wouldn’t.

She’d never expected Duke Aaron to chase her. And so persistently.

‘And I’m proud of myself for not dropping my naughty book!’

Neria clutched the book tightly to her chest. Regardless, Aaron strode toward her in big steps.

“Did you run all the way here?”

Unlike her, panting for breath, his handsomely calm face showed no sign of exertion. Even his clothes weren’t wrinkled. It was infuriating.

“No.”

“So are you going to keep running?”

“No, but why are you chasing me?”

Aaron tilted his head and shamelessly replied,

“Isn’t it natural to chase someone who runs away?”

“Is that a real reason?”

“Well. Maybe it’s just the instinct of a higher life form.”

“I’m not like that.”

“So, Lady Neria, you must not be a higher life form. Just kidding.”

‘This guy, no, this man really…!’

Neria’s small fist trembled, as if it might flutter like a butterfly and sting like a bee at any moment.

She glanced around the sealed alley and closed windows to check for witnesses, but even if there were none, she couldn’t just punch him.

Giving up on violence, Neria demanded instead,

“Did you chase me just to insult me again?”

“Of course not. Do I look so idle?”

‘Yes! Extremely!’

Neria glared at Aaron with the heart of a philosopher shouting ‘know thyself.’

Aaron found Neria’s wary look unconsciously cute and extended his arm.

“Sorry for startling you. I truly had no intention of insulting or embarrassing you.”

“……”

His gentle voice, polite manner, and—surprisingly—Aaron’s flawless appearance made Neria feel awkward.

Without realizing it, Neria had built up a sense of familiarity and a touch of guilt toward Aaron, all because of the intimate dream.

“Lady Neria?”

He called her name in a mature and kind tone, like the scent she’d noticed up close, and her prickly heart softened instantly.

‘Well, we did have that encounter at the temple…’