Chapter 9 – It’s A Misunderstanding, Captain! (Part 3)

It was a cool afternoon with the sun high in the sky. The pleasant beach path led to the southern gate of the lord’s castle.

The emerald sea water surged in waves, and the sand, sparkling in the sunlight, crunched underfoot.

Leaning against his shoulder, Lena dozed off and only started to wake up as they neared the lord’s castle, stirred by his gentle kiss on her eyelids.

“We’re here, cheeky little lady.”

“Hmm…”

Habitually hugging his neck and rubbing her cheek, Lena suddenly came to her senses. She had grown accustomed to his embrace after a few naps.

“Okay, put me down now!”

“Why? Didn’t you want to go like this?”

“We’re here, so put me down.”

Holding the struggling Lena tighter, Alhendore walked firmly into the lord’s castle.

“What if someone sees us!”

“Didn’t you ask to be carried?”

“No, I didn’t!”

The outdoor party venue behind the lord’s castle.

Each table was filled with guests celebrating the wedding, making the place lively.

Finally entering the lord’s castle in Alhendore’s arms, Lena changed her clothes and entered the party venue.

Just as Lena thought she had finally escaped Alhendore’s teasing, another issue began to bother her.

With a pout, Lena glanced around.

‘Does she think she’s some kind of princess?’

Behind her, a young woman was fanning herself and smiling broadly.

The young woman’s wide-brimmed hat was adorned with frills fluttering in the breeze. Her dress was equally extravagant, covered in blooming embroidered roses. The voluminous skirt was entirely adorned with frills and roses, and the entire outfit, from hat to dress, was a striking pale pink. 

To make matters worse, it suited her perfectly. Her soft, peachy skin looked like it would blush red at the slightest pinch. Her red lips were charming, and a single mole under her eye added a touch of sensual allure.

The young men attending the wedding couldn’t take their eyes off her. Lena, too, glanced at her and sighed softly.

Sheara Ferdando, the only count’s daughter from the Ferdando estate. The woman who received the love of all men was, unfortunately, eyeing her man.

‘Why does she keep looking?’

Lena puffed out her cheeks and turned to Alhendore. She then found herself locking eyes with him, who was staring intently at her.

“Wh-what?”

Startled, as if caught doing something wrong, Lena’s cheeks turned red. Alhendore, quietly observing her, slowly curved his lips into a smile.

“Are you jealous?”

“No, I’m not!”

She quickly turned her head, her gaze landing on Sheara Ferdando. Sheara’s eyes, which had been glaring at Lena, widened in surprise.

Before Lena could figure out what was happening, she felt a warm breath tickle her ear.

“It seems like you are jealous.”

“Ah!”

Alhendore had leaned in close to her, chuckling.

“Captain, are you really a pervert?”

“Where can you find such a handsome pervert?”

Lena, blocking his lips with both hands, quickly pulled back. She didn’t want any public displays of affection here.

But then…

“Ah!”

A moist sensation swept across the palm blocking his lips. Startled, Lena quickly withdrew her hand and began hitting his chest in a panic.

“Stop it, seriously!”

“Okay, okay.”

He raised both hands in surrender, though his lips couldn’t help but twitch into a smile. 

Finally, his Lena was feeling jealous. He was so pleased that he had to suppress the urge to devour her whole.

While Lena was still fuming, a familiar voice came from the side.

“…Your Grace, what brings you here?”

“Gasp!”

She quickly turned around to see her father, Baron Leshuriel, looking at Alhendore with a displeased expression.

How much had he seen?

Worried, Lena glanced at Alhendore, thankful that her father hadn’t seen him licking her hand.

Lena’s eyes darted between her father, who sat in front of her, and Alhendore, who sat beside her.

“Nice to meet you.”

Alhendore greeted Baron Leshuriel politely, like a son-in-law meeting his father-in-law. The baron, still displeased, returned the greeting and shook hands briefly.

“D-Dad, what brings you here?”

Baron Leshuriel was an aide to the Lord of Ferdando.

Naturally, he should have been by the lord’s side, so his presence surprised her.

“What do you mean? The lord said to spend some time with my daughter after a long while.”

“Is that so?”

“Why are you so flustered?”

Seeing Lena visibly trembling, Baron Leshuriel eyed her suspiciously. Then, he turned to Alhendore.

He sensed that Alhendore was the reason his daughter seemed uncomfortable.

“…Your Grace, what brings you here?”

“Captain is… here for a visit!”

“…Do you have work for her even during her leave?”

The baron’s expression grew colder at Lena’s words. It was well-known among her family that Alhendore often overworked her without giving her proper leave.

‘My big mouth, sigh.’

Who would have thought we would develop a romantic relationship? 

Regretting her words, Lena wondered how to ease the awkward atmosphere.

“It’s not for work, just-.”

“The Captain wanted to come to the beach too!”

Before Alhendore could say more, Lena quickly interjected. He looked at her curiously.

‘Why?’

‘Surely you’re not going to say we’re officially dating, are you?’

Lena blinked several times, furrowing her brows. Alhendore, still puzzled, shrugged.

‘But we are.’

‘No, we can’t!’

He raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders. Lena shook her head frantically.

Though her movements were subtle, Alhendore, ever observant, noticed.

His face filled with confusion.

‘Why?’

‘Why would you ruin the mood at someone else’s wedding?’

‘Why would our relationship ruin the mood?’

Lena sighed deeply and shook her head. His expression grew more puzzled.

Baron Leshuriel, who had been watching them exchange signals, cleared his throat heavily.

The strange tension between his daughter and her superior made him uncomfortable.

“Ahem, Lena. I heard about the matter with the Earl Paraton family. That man cheated on you, didn’t he?”

“Ah…”

“I guess I wasn’t careful enough. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay, Dad.”

At the sudden mention of Galverd, Lena quickly shook her head.

The incident of Galverd kidnapping her was kept secret from her family. They already felt bad enough; there was no need to make it worse.

Lena was puzzled by the conversation that seemed to exclude Alhendore.

“So, Lena, your aunt Narcilla is looking into marriage prospects for you.”

“Aunt?”

“Yes, she thinks the Earl Agentai or Earl Lombredi families might be suitable.”

“Oh, Dad! Wait a minute, marriage all of a sudden?”

Shocked, Lena glanced at Alhendore.

‘Gasp!’

Though he wore a faint smile, there was a chilling aura. She suddenly worried about the future of the two mentioned families.

Lena quickly reached under the table and held his hand.

‘No!’

‘If you keep saying no, what am I supposed to do?’

He looked at her with a displeased expression.

Lena blinked rapidly and entwined her fingers with his.

‘I’ll handle it! Don’t you trust me?’

Pouting, she saw Alhendore sigh deeply.

His eyes still showed disapproval, but it was a start. Lena, who had been smiling weakly, quickly composed her expression.

“Dad, I want to be more careful in choosing a marriage prospect this time.”

Baron Leshuriel felt a surge of emotion. He almost asked if it was because of that dark duke but swallowed the words.

For the past three years, the tales of the duke’s tyranny through his daughter were infamous. She often missed meet-ups with Galverd because of sudden overtime or business trips.

‘Didn’t she miss the cruise invitation that her Aunt Narcilla worked hard to get?’

Baron Leshuriel’s gaze burned into Alhendore. The clear hostility made Alhendore flinch.

Everything he had done to keep Lena away from Galverd seemed to be coming back to him.

Meanwhile, Baron Leshuriel sighed deeply.

“…Alright, do as you wish.”

Since it’s the wedding of young master Ferdando today, he chose not to cause further disturbance and quietly stepped back.

He still didn’t approve of how Alhendore had won over his daughter. The opponent was none other than the only duke of the empire.

‘This can’t happen, absolutely not.’

Though he still wished for Lena to marry into a good family, the duke was out of the question.

‘How much would she be compared and looked down upon?’

From the perspective of a duke’s family, a baron’s family was barely different from commoners. It was all the same.

Baron Leshuriel resolved to push for Lena’s engagement quickly.

“Thank you, Dad.”

“Sigh, alright…”

As the atmosphere grew tense, the wedding began.

With a proud face, Duvelln entered the hall. Beside him, a shy-looking woman in a white dress walked in.

After the bride and groom’s procession, a brief vow ceremony, and the exchange of rings, the ceremony quickly concluded.

‘Wow, she’s beautiful…’

Throughout the ceremony, Lena watched the bride in her pure white dress with sparkling eyes.

She imagined herself in the bride’s place.

A round floral crown on her wheat-colored hair, golden ribbons on her shoulders and bodice, and frills flowing down the middle of her voluminous dress.

What color suit would suit the man holding my hand? Black? Navy?

Imagining Alhendore walking down the aisle with her, Lena shook her head, her cheeks flushing.

‘What am I thinking!’