Lexion and she were completely incompatible, like people with different souls. After moving her lips for a while, she spoke with difficulty.

“I… think love should be pure by itself. Without any calculation or conditions.”

“My feelings for you alone are consistently pure.”

“As I said before, our values regarding marriage are too different, so we would be unhappy. Above all, I don’t have feelings for Your Highness.”

“Miss Estelle, you will eventually come to me. You say you hate it, but you love me.”

“That’s an absurd delusion.”

“Your eyes.”

Lexion put the steak into his mouth with an elegant gesture, chewed quietly, and continued.

“Sometimes the way you look at me is unmistakably the eyes of someone in love.”

“……”

“It seems your rebellious phase is a bit long, but I’ll work to match your pure love, Miss Estelle. After all, I’m the one desperate for marriage.”

Estelle feared his arrogant confidence. Was she still unable to completely shake off her lingering feelings, as he said? Was that why the remnants of her emotions were clearly visible to him?

“Please eat. You’re still recovering, so shouldn’t you eat well?”

Estelle lowered her gaze and picked up a spoon with slightly trembling hands.

* * *

Dressed in a comfortable ivory dress that didn’t constrict her body, Estelle stood with a single luggage bag, watching a carriage approaching from afar.

It was the day she had to leave for Jeff’s territory. The people seeing her off were few—only Lexion and his aide.

Laura would not accompany her but would return to House Arcis to stay by Count Merlin’s side. Unable to predict what would happen in the future, Estelle had suggested this first, not wanting to involve her in a potentially dangerous journey.

‘A month felt like a year.’

Estelle felt a sense of relief just from the thought of leaving the stifling imperial palace and Lexion’s side.

“At times like this, it’s truly fast.”

Lexion, who had one hand gripping Estelle’s small shoulder, frowned as if something displeased him.

Estelle, pressed against Lexion, also felt uncomfortable. His scent, stronger due to their proximity, and the weight of his firm arm around her were unpleasant. It felt like being trapped in a prison she could never escape.

Soon after, a luxurious teal carriage pulled by two horses stopped in front of them. As the carriage door opened, Jeff stepped out with a face brighter than the shining sunlight, gave an awkward greeting to Lexion, and placed a respectful kiss on Estelle’s hand.

“Saintess, I’ve come to escort you.”

Meeting his kind green eyes, Estelle felt a surge of emotion. She felt an absolute sense of stability, and her churning insides seemed to calm down.

“Duke Alexis, I greet—”

“I didn’t know the Duke was someone who could arrive on time.”

Lexion cut off Estelle’s words, interjecting with a distinctly sarcastic tone.

“You’re always late for appointments, so I thought the sun rose late in the east, but seeing you today, it seems fine.”

“Depending on whom one meets, steps can become either heavy or light.”

Jeff answered nonchalantly with a bright smile. He extended his hand to Estelle. As she took his hand and began to move, the hand on her shoulder tightened.

“……?”

Estelle looked up at Lexion with a puzzled gaze. He had a slightly bewildered look. It seemed like an unconscious action.

“Is that… all of Lady Arcis’s luggage?”

Jeff looked at the single modest bag and asked the aide.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

It looked like it couldn’t even fit one set of dresses. It was too simple to be considered a noble lady’s travel belongings.

Jeff briefly glanced at Lexion like he’s looking at a petty man. As he had felt when they met before, it seemed certain that the treatment she received at the imperial palace was inadequate.

‘That bastard……’

Lexion noticed the meaning in his eyes and frowned irritably. After breakfast, he had offered her several gifts, but Estelle had completely refused them as if they were disgusting marriage proposals.

[I think my attitude has given Your Highness the wrong impression. I don’t want to accept anything from Your Highness. If my meaningless actions have made Your Highness misunderstand, I apologize for that.]

A voice that seemed to draw a line. Her demeanor as a proper lady was more unpleasant than when she had shouted and shown anger.

[I don’t love Your Highness.]

Foolish Estelle. She didn’t seem to know that strong denial often indicates affirmation.

Estelle Arcis was petty. Like the unsophisticated dress she was wearing. Not to mention himself, who had been rejected by such a petty woman.

When had she blushed and thanked him? Now she showed a cold attitude just because he bared his teeth a little at breakfast. His pride was momentarily hurt by his expensive kindness being pushed aside for that unsophisticated dress, and he almost had to suppress his temper from tearing her clothes and forcibly dressing her.

However, he thought that rather than receiving such a look from that insignificant bastard, perhaps he should have just acted as he pleased.

The aide loaded the trunk onto the carriage, and Estelle twisted her body to escape from Lexion’s grasp.

“Well then, Your Highness. We’ll be going now.”

With a brief greeting, Jeff turned around and escorted Estelle.

“……”

Lexion blankly stared at Estelle’s back as she stepped onto the carriage stairs. She looked unburdened, showing no lingering attachment or farewell.

Why did he feel like she would never return?

“Estelle.”

Lexion called out to her urgently.

“I’ll take good care of your family, so don’t worry.”

“……”

The dry purple eyes that turned sharply revealed an emotion close to contempt. Did it sound like a threat…? It didn’t matter. It wasn’t as if he had no such intention at all. What mattered was that her gaze had rested on him, even if just for a moment.

After a silence, her pink lips, which had been trembling, closed firmly again as Estelle withdrew her gaze. He found that somewhat regrettable. If he had known this would happen, he wondered if he should have taken her when countless opportunities had presented themselves, leaving him with regret.

Regret…? A question mark floated in Lexion’s mind.

What am I thinking right now?

Was he regretting that he should have tamed her physically like a damn whoremonger?

Lexion had prided himself on living a life far from the word “regret.” Yet here he was, regretting because of a mere woman. He felt disappointed that she showed not the slightest regret at leaving him.

‘This is so stupid……’

Lexion wore a somewhat incredulous expression.

It was possessiveness. Possessiveness close to petty spite. It was like the unpleasant feeling when a dog you’ve raised ignores its owner and wags its tail at someone else—that kind of trivial sentiment.

‘F*ck……’

Lexion gritted his teeth as he watched her disappear into the carriage. Honestly, he wanted to crush Jeff’s hand that had touched her body and take Estelle back right away.

Does it make any sense for an owner to feel such jealousy because of a dog they’re raising? It was a surprisingly petty feeling.

Cooling his heated head, Lexion lowered his gaze.

No, it must only be a temporary irritation because the situation wasn’t going according to his wishes.

Was it this difficult to charm one woman? Receiving hatred instead of affection was unfamiliar, causing him to have these pointless thoughts. If only he had tried to seduce a woman even once…

He was used to women confessing their love with just one glance, so he didn’t know how to seduce someone first.

Should he have treated her better instead of teasing her? But how could he have treated her any better?

He had already treated her more than well enough, but all he got in return was a response telling him not to act like a dog.

Estelle was too difficult for Lexion. They say sincerity moves people’s hearts, but that was all bullshit.

This was the first time he had ever confessed his innermost feelings so completely, but she still refused to open her heart.

Estelle definitely loved him. This wasn’t arrogance. He could tell from the sorrowful eyes she occasionally showed him. It was an emotion he was well accustomed to receiving.

Lexion sighed and pressed his temple firmly. His composure was disappearing. Even he hadn’t expected his emotions to run so wild at seeing her beside another man.

“Duke Alexis.”

Watching Jeff turn his head, Lexion wore a gentle smile completely at odds with his turbulent feelings.

“I entrust her to you.”

Jeff hesitated momentarily before sending him a cold gaze.

“Your Highness, there’s no need for that. She is now ‘my’ responsibility to protect. Your Highness need not concern yourself.”

Jeff politely rephrased what essentially meant ‘mind your own business,’ gave Lexion a crooked smile, and boarded the carriage.

“……”

Lexion’s displeased gaze followed until just before the carriage door closed.

He felt somewhat relieved that Jeff sat across from Estelle, not beside her. And as the carriage departed, Lexion once again berated himself for the insignificant emotions he had just felt.