It was only after his return as Kalang’s Supreme Commander and war hero that Edric reclaimed the title of Duke Descartes and began to step out of the shadows—starting with his marriage to Yuis.

But now, the beautiful princess seated before her claimed to have seen Edric’s face even before all that had happened.

“Oh, please don’t misunderstand, It was a state meeting, nothing more.”

Yuis forced a faint smile, her trembling lips barely holding the curve.

‘A state meeting…’

What kind of state meeting, exactly?

Would Edric even answer if she dared to ask him later?

Suddenly, sitting there felt unbearably uncomfortable.

“Your Highness, if you have said everything you wanted to say, may I take my leave?”

The princess smiled faintly, paused for a moment, then replied.

“Yes, let us go.”

As they walked side by side out of the garden, Amelie glanced down at Yuis violet eyes and spoke again, her voice small but clear.

“But still… you’re not quite what I expected.”

“Yes?”

“You’re nothing special.”

It was a direct judgement.

Shame burned up the back of Yuis neck as she gripped the fabric of the dress the princess had given her, her hand tightening its grip. As her knuckles turned white, Amelie continued in a calm, soft voice.

“You’re beautiful. But isn’t that all? What do you have besides your appearance?”

Yusi was unable to answer when faced with that question. The memory of her afternoon tea with Terian flashed through her mind.

Compared to Terian’s sharp, cutting words, the princess’s soft, almost gentle tone had wounded her far more deeply.

“I hope you hold onto your position well. Edric would want that too, wouldn’t he?”

Hearing this, Yuis felt as if her heart had plummeted all the way to her feet.

They were the very same words that Edric had always said to her.

“Just protect your place as Duchess.”

Yuis remained silent, her expression frozen, as Amelie turned and gestured gracefully towards the tea table where Edric was waiting.

“Edric, I’m so sorry. I ended up dressing your wife in far too many gowns because she’s just so beautiful! I lost track of time.”

Edric’s gaze passed right over Amelie, who stood as though she owned the garden, and settled on Yuis.

She stood beside the princess with her hands folded neatly in front of her.

Edric’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Her eyes, already red, were more swollen than usual.

Fixing his gaze on her, Edric finally spoke.

“It’s fine. Come here, my dear.”

Yuis glanced briefly at the princess before carefully walking towards Edric.

Her steps, which were always as light as walking on water, were even more cautious than usual now.

The sharp gaze that followed her seemed to pierce every inch of her. Yet, oddly, the weight of Edric’s penetrating blue gaze brought her a strange sense of relief.

As his glittering gaze lingered on her tearful eyes, he reached out and took her hand.

“My wife seems rather tired. Would you mind if we finished our tea here?”

Amelie approached, feigning concern as she took Yuis’s other hand.

“Are you all right, Yuis? I must have worn you out.’

“I’m fine. I suppose the long journey has simply caught up with me.”

The princess’s gaze dropped subtly to the area just below Yuis’s collarbone, hidden beneath the gown.

Realising exactly what the princess was looking at, Yuis’s expression stiffened briefly before softening again.

“I failed to properly consider my guest, who travelled such a long way, I’m sure we’ll meet again someday, won’t we?”

Yuis offered a smooth response, giving a carefully drawn smile.

“Of course, Your Highness. It would be my honour.”

Edric nodded politely to the princess by way of farewell, then took Yui’s hand and led her away.

As the two of them slowly disappeared from view, Yuis beautiful smile never faltered.

***

Silence fell as they made their way back.

As they turned onto a quieter road, the sounds of the city gradually faded away.

Yuis felt suffocated by the heavy air, so she opened the window.

A breeze carrying the scent of early summer swept in through the small gap in the window, bringing with it the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers.

The princess’s garden had been beautiful, but Yuis hadn’t been able to fully appreciate it.

Instead, it was the trees flashing past outside, the budding flowers and the soft breeze that brought her a quiet sense of comfort.

Unlike the carefully crafted smiles she had worn earlier, a gentle, genuine smile now spread across her face, tinged with a quiet kind of happiness.

Edric had been looking at her, clearly concerned about what had happened to the princess. At that very moment, he saw her smile.

His gaze lingered on her features.

If he asked her about the princess now, her fragile smile would surely disappear in an instant.

Whenever he saw that expression on her face, he felt a small ripple stir within him.

Like when they left the ballroom after their wedding. Like yesterday evening beneath the crimson sunset. And now, as he watched her quietly enjoying the cool summer breeze.

It was a sensation he had never experienced before.

An unfamiliar emotion that made him want to reach out and hold her in his arms completely.

Edric acknowledged and accepted this troublesome feeling.

‘It must be desire.’

After all, she was a beautiful woman with a delicate allure that awakened a man’s instincts.

She was the woman that the king of Darec had found and sent to arouse his desire.

Therefore, his attraction to her was only natural. There was no need to deny it.

He was naturally drawn to a woman of such beauty and grace.

Edric felt this desire most intensely in moments like this, when tears still shimmered faintly in her reddened eyes, yet her lips curved gently into a smile.

Just like now.

Her violet eyes glistened, as though on the verge of tears, and curved gently into a crescent.

That unmistakable, delicate smile bloomed at the corners of her lips.

A breeze swept through, stirring the woman’s long, black hair.

As it fluttered in the wind, Edric was reminded of how it felt to hold her close and lull her to sleep. His fingertips itched at the memory.

Perhaps it was because she so rarely smiled like that, affecting him so profoundly.

It was only natural to desire that which could not easily be possessed.

Now, this woman’s smile belonged to him, too.

Edric knew where her smiles were usually directed: at her maid, Laura; at Isaac, the guard he had assigned to protect her; at the steward, Miles; and at the countless servants. And sometimes — occasionally — to him.

As he watched her, a satisfied smile slowly spread across his face.

At that very moment, Yuis turned her head and met his gaze.

Their eyes locked in mid-air; his blue eyes gleamed transparently in the light.

For a moment, Yuis stared at the subtle curve of his lips as his faint smile lingered.

Just then, the summer breeze returned, carrying the rustle of leaves and the sweet scent of flowers with it, filling the space between them.

Although Yuis’s smile had faded the moment their eyes met, she continued to feel a faint tickling sensation deep inside her chest, as if pollen were dancing within her, until the carriage arrived at the hotel.