Chapter 12

Heila had breakfast in her room and read the letters and invitations addressed to her.

If she went out looking like this, it was obvious how much the servants would gossip, so even though it felt stifling, staying in her room was more comfortable.

In about a week, the bruises would fade, so she only needed to endure until then.

Still, it wasn’t as if no one would come in and out of the room, so she felt self-conscious and sat in front of the vanity, applying powder.

After that, unless someone looked closely, it was hardly noticeable.

Feeling a bit lighter, she was about to get up when Heinrich came to see her.

Beside him stood a boy who looked about sixteen or seventeen.

He was about a head taller than Heila but standing next to Heinrich made his thin frame appear even more frail and pitiful.

“This is the personal guard you mentioned yesterday, my lady.”

Heinrich said to the boy,

“What are you doing? Hurry and greet her.”

“I will devote my life to protecting you, my lady.”

Elliot knelt on one knee.

“He is young, but diligent and upright in character. He is the only one in the knights’ order who is of similar age to Her Imperial Highness, so he would also make a good companion. He is skilled as well, so even if something happens, he will be able to handle it to some extent.”

“I trust your judgment.”

After Heinrich left, the three of them remained in the room.

“Sir Elliot.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”

“What is your family name?”

She had never had this kind of conversation before.

They were people who would protect her, and people she had to protect.

They were precious connections she had met again through an impossible chance, so she would cherish them.

“Flair. It’s a humble family, so you’ve probably never heard of it. I’m related to Baron Flair, and I joined the order through his recommendation.”

“Your age?”

“I am seventeen this year.”

“I look forward to working with you. I’ll have many tasks for you.”

His posture was as rigid as a wooden stick, discipline fully drilled into him, and even at a glance, he looked completely stiff with tension.

With gentle eyes and a clear, delicate face, and to make it worse, even his hair and eyes were a clean silver, almost white, giving him the appearance of an angel.

On top of that, his pale, translucent skin and eyelashes seemed longer than those of most women.

His already youthful face was stiff with tension, and just looking at him made her want to smile.

Heila gazed at him with a soft expression.

She had already lived one life and died at the age of twenty-four.

Perhaps because of that, even though he was clearly her peer, the boy before her felt like a much younger brother—endearingly so.

“Thank you for the handkerchief. If following me ever becomes difficult or uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to tell me.”

“I will.”

Elliot absentmindedly lifted his head, but the moment his eyes met Heila’s, he quickly lowered his gaze again.

His soft, pale cheeks, as if he were shy, flushed a rosy color.

***

The sun had set.

“Uriel.”

A short knock was heard, followed by Kersian’s voice.

When Uriel weakly told him to come in, the door opened and he stepped inside.

His pale, flawless skin looked even more noble, and his long, sharp eyes held a deep, darkened gaze.

Still as imposing and handsome as ever, he held a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

Kersian placed the bouquet on the table beside the bed and approached her.

“Uriel, are you feeling a bit better?”

Uriel let out a soft groan as she pushed herself up.

With a fragile expression, she lowered her gaze.

“Your Grace, I’m sorry. I heard you were coming, but I’m still not feeling well, so please forgive me for greeting you like this.”

Unlike usual, her face was lightly made up, and her long, wavy hair hung loose without any adornment.

One side of her cheek was badly bruised, yet she was still beautiful.

“It’s fine, there’s no need to be formal. Just stay seated.”

Kersian stopped Uriel as she tried to stand, settling her back onto the bed before sitting beside her.

He gently cupped her cheek.

Uriel flinched and let out a small gasp.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Startled, Kersian tried to pull his hand away, but she quickly caught it and rubbed her cheek against his large hand.

Her eyes, as beautiful as a lake, were filled with affection.

“It still throbs, but I’m fine.”

Kersian withdrew his hand with a worried expression, then pulled Uriel into his arms and stroked her hair.

Resting quietly in his embrace, Uriel glanced over his shoulder at the bouquet he had brought.

It was her favorite—red roses.

“Your Grace, I was so scared… and it hurt so much.”

Uriel wrapped her arms around Kersian’s neck, clinging to him as she cried.

Kersian waited until her tears subsided, then gently pulled away and spoke with a pained expression.

“To beat you this severely… the Count has gone too far.”

“Her Imperial Highness forced my father to beat me until I nearly fainted. My father must have had no choice since it was her command.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“There are things I need to take care of. Do you have something to say?”

“Your Grace, because of my father’s orders and my current condition, I can’t even go out. The Imperial Princess frightened and threatened me, so even if I want to see you, I’m afraid to go to the ducal residence.”

She sat on Kersian’s lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Her loosely arranged clothes slipped slightly, making her appear even more alluring and seductive.

Slowly lifting her head, she looked at Kersian with a desperate expression.

Her large eyes were filled with tension.

“So… will you keep coming to see me from now on?”

Kersian placed a brief kiss on the unbruised side of her cheek, then looked at her as if she were adorable and spoke.

“Did you make such a tense face just to say that?”

Though Kersian had sharp features, when he smiled, he looked endlessly warm.

Even though she had seen that face for a long time, Uriel still couldn’t help but feel her heart flutter every time she saw him like this.

With eyes curved beautifully like a crescent moon, he spoke in a calm voice.

“Since your body isn’t well, think of it as recuperating for a while and rest here at the Count’s residence. I’ll come by whenever I have time, so don’t worry… As before, when you come to the ducal residence, there’s no need for you to be mindful of anyone.”

***

On a quiet afternoon, Heila held a quill pen, writing with a serious expression.

She had lost a bit of weight compared to her wedding day, making her features appear sharper, and the vitality that once filled her cheeks and lips had faded.

Yet, the look on her face as she concentrated now was even more beautiful than before.

Elliot stood quietly beside her like a shadow, keeping his place.

Though he was still tightly disciplined, he seemed slightly more at ease than a few days ago.

He blankly watched Heila as she focused on her writing, then snapped out of it at the sound of someone opening the door.

“His Grace didn’t return again today. I heard he stayed overnight at Count Bettia’s residence.”

Marlene spoke with a flushed face, clearly furious.

Her voice trembled as if she could barely contain her anger.

“If even you know about it, then the whole estate must be buzzing with that story.”

Just as Heila said, Marlene had overheard the maids gossiping in the garden and rushed over.

She had wondered why the atmosphere in the estate felt so unsettled today, and upon realizing the reason, she couldn’t suppress her anger.

Yet the person concerned, Heila, showed no reaction even after hearing it.

Instead, it was Elliot who watched nervously, his expression darkened.

“Since I blocked the Count Bettia’s daughter from entering the estate, he must have gone there instead. At the very least, it means there won’t be any disturbances within the estate for a while.”

“My lady, how can you stay so calm? Don’t you know who’s at the Count Bettia residence? His Grace definitely went there to see that fox-like woman.”

Marlene said, stamping her feet in frustration.

“Kersian has known the Count’s daughter far longer than he has known me. So, if those two wish to meet, how could I possibly stop them?”

At that moment, there was a knock.

At Heila’s signal, Marlene opened the door, and a maid stepped inside.

Heila’s eyes narrowed slightly when she saw her.

“I heard the light in your room was on all night, so I thought you might have insomnia. I brought some tea that’s good for it.”

The maid poured the tea with a faint smile.

Steam rose from the reddish liquid.

Though it wasn’t a difficult task, her hands trembled.

The maid then held out the cup toward Heila.

In her gaze as she looked at Heila, there was both tension and anticipation.