CHAPTER 7 – Innocence, Corruption (Part 4)

The dreamlike journey ended after a fortnight.

Returning to the capital, the two headed to the clergy’s residence first. Cedric insisted they stay at the duchy together, but Lillian was too scared to agree… But…

“What? There are no vacant houses now?”

The clergy gatekeeper, recognizing her face, spoke awkwardly.

“The place that you, Priestess Lillian, used to reside in is currently occupied by someone else. Have you been assigned a residence by Priest Tyrion? We haven’t received any instructions…”

“……”

In fact, there are many vacancies in the manor. She came knowing this, but the gatekeeper would not let her in without an allocation from the priest’s council, hence, the gatekeeper couldn’t open the gate casually.

After finishing the conversation with the gatekeeper and returning to the carriage feeling flustered, Cedric asked.

“Can I come in?”

“No…….”

“Why not?”

She couldn’t go to the Edelgard Duchy, and she couldn’t enter her previous home either. Cedric didn’t show it, but his nerves were fraying from Lillian’s hesitation.

“It’s just that… it’s too expensive to enter your home.”

“It’s not that…….”

Lillian explained the situation earnestly. But Cedric’s mood didn’t improve.

“Then let’s go to my house.”

“…”

‘Why can’t this woman muster the courage to come to me on her own?

Even though she volunteered to join the gruesome battlefield. Everyone knew how brave she was. But why is she so passive in our relationship?

She only takes my hand when she’s pushed to the brink. She only chooses me when she has no other option…….

And she says she loves me so much.’

There was an uncharacteristic silence in the carriage as they traveled towards the ducal residence. Lillian suddenly felt terrified at the thought of how to behave at the duke’s residence, nervously chewing on her nails.

Cedric watched her trembling form anxiously. He had been so busy doubting her love that he hadn’t even realized the carriage had pulled up to the duke’s house.

“We have arrived at the ducal residence, My Lord.”

Cedric, belatedly acknowledging the coachman’s statement, gracefully exited the carriage first. Then, he extended his hand to escort the lady.

“Lillian?”

“……”

But she merely stared at his hand with wavering eyes and showed no sign of dismounting.

Having exhausted his patience, Cedric finally jerked his upper body back into the carriage.

“Come out.”

“Oh, no, I can’t, I’m not mentally prepared yet…!”

“Come out, right now.”

Cedric lightly pulled Lillian’s wrist, who had scurried to the corner like a frightened puppy.

As she reluctantly stepped out, pretending as if there had been no struggle inside the carriage, she casually adjusted the hem of her dress and lifted her chin, where many eyes were watching, despite being dragged out against her will.

Though expressionless, Cedric didn’t mock her. Even at this point, she was a woman who could flee at any moment if she felt uncomfortable.

“Welcome back, milord.”

Even though it was late at night, the servants, who heard the news of the heir’s return, bowed deeply at the door. Lillian’s complexion darkened abruptly as she became aware of them.

“It was a long journey. We’ll talk about my father’s funeral tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

After exchanging pleasantries with the butler, Cedric naturally took Lillian’s hand, and sure enough, she recoiled hastily as if to keep a proper distance, lightly pushing his back as if they were merely acquaintances.

‘Look at this.’

When their eyes met, Lillian put on a social smile. Perhaps she wanted to appear as a comrade or friend in front of others. Reading her true feelings in that fleeting gesture, Cedric felt a twist in his gut.

“Ah!”

Cedric, grabbing her slender waist, this time firmly clasped his fingers around hers, preventing her from pulling away.

“I assume the bedroom must be ready.”

“Of course, Milord. I’ve done my best to make sure there’s no discomfort for you and the lady.”

“Lead the way.”

Lillian creaked like a wooden doll at the mention of a bedroom already prepared for the two of them. Cedric whispered in a voice only they could hear as he led her into the ducal estate.

“Do you think they won’t figure out what kind of relationship we have now that we’re in public like this?”

“…”

Who would have dared to imagine that she, as the lover of a soon-to-be duke, especially during his father’s funeral at the ducal estate, would spend time together with him? Lillian’s face turned pale, murmuring as if in pain.

“Please let us use separate bedrooms. There are plenty of guest rooms anyway.”

“Well, as you wish.”

She breathed a sigh of relief unknowingly.

Despite spending a fortnight together, they had always used separate bedrooms. They hadn’t even shared love in the carriage. It hadn’t been a problem for her.

Knowing how much he valued the importance of location and environment, it seemed that he was trying to restrain himself as much as possible due to the inadequate makeshift accommodations they had during their travels.

However, suddenly having a bedroom in the ducal estate while his father’s funeral wasn’t even over yet… Lillian worried inwardly about the impropriety of their actions possibly causing trouble.

Of course, Cedric was a patient and restrained man… but recalling the incidents at Turin’s estate, it didn’t seem entirely reassuring.

Suddenly feeling hot in the face, Lillian quickly ducked her head. Her legs felt heavy as she stood in the doorway of the grand main hall.

“Are you feeling nervous? Scared?”

“Yes.”

Lillian replied, her heart pounding so loudly it felt like her words were barely forming.

“Scared, huh.”

Everything was unfamiliar. The enormous mansion that couldn’t be taken in at a glance even with her head tilted back, the countless servants standing at attention, and the gazes of respect and fear mixed together as they looked up at them…

None of these were what she had hoped for.

The marble was adorned with delicate carvings, and the Edelgard ducal estate, adorned entirely in gold, was dazzling enough to pass as a palace to a country bumpkin.

To the eyes of a stranger, it would seem like a part of heaven.

This was Cedric Edelgard’s home.

“Let’s go.”

The grip of their joined hands tightened as he firmly led her forward.

“I’ll take you there, to where I belong.”

Lillian took a step toward the unknown.

To the world he belonged to.