Chapter 3 (Part 4)

Rivilious entered the VIP room. Employees followed, displaying mannequins dressed in new dresses.

“These are new dresses that haven’t been shown to the public yet.”

Yuliana looked at the navy dress in front of her. It seemed as if the hem was sprinkled with finely crushed diamond dust. Rivilious began to explain the dark navy dress that caught Yuliana’s eye.

“This dress is called ‘Night Sea’. It was inspired by the sight of stars reflecting on the sea under the dark night sky. Depending on the angle of movement, the embroidery patterns and jewels shine beautifully. It’s a seductive yet elegant dress. It will suit you, Lady Loengrin, well.”

“It is indeed beautiful.”

“And if you wish, you can cover the exposed shoulders with lace. See? It adds elegance and cuteness. And this dress…”

Rivilious explained while draping a cute lace bolero over the shoulders of the navy dress.

“I’ll explain the other dresses too. This blue dress…”

Rivilious passionately introduced each dress displayed on the mannequins.

“They’re all so beautiful that it’s hard to choose.”

“Rivilious.”

“Yes, Duke Rockbellion.”

Anthus, who had been quietly beside Yuliana, called Rivilious.

“Send all the dresses shown to her to the Earl Loengrin’s residence.”

“Thank you, Duke! Hohoho.”

Yuliana was taken aback by Anthus’s sudden gift of dresses.

“Duke Anthus! That’s too generous.”

“Yuli. Using the VIP room under the Rockbellion name requires purchasing this much to maintain our dignity. If you don’t like my gift or find it burdensome, you can donate it.”

Anthus lovingly looked at Yuliana, who was staring at him with wide eyes, and brushed his thumb over her eye. Yuliana’s heart pounded.

“I wanted to gift you a dress. Will you accept it?”

Yuliana turned her gaze slightly and nodded.

“Alright, I’ll accept it.”

“Thank you for maintaining my dignity, Yuli.”

“Lady Loengrin, Duke Rockbellion. Shouldn’t you also look at the jewelry, shoes, and hair accessories that go with these dresses?”

Rivilious smiled, looking at Anthus’s red eyes.

“Yuli.”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any plans today?”

“No. I was planning to shop with Selenia and then go home.”

“Then… how about looking at the jewelry, shoes, and hair accessories Rivilious wants to show you?”

“If it’s just looking… it’s okay, but I know you won’t stop at just looking, Duke.”

“You saw correctly.”

“Then I don’t want to see anymore. Even the dresses are too much of a gift.”

“Then, would you help me choose some jewelry to gift my mother?”

“If it’s that…”

“Rivilious.”

As soon as Yuliana gave her permission, Anthus’s red eyes signaled something to Rivilious. Quick-witted Rivilious understood the signal.

“Would you wait a moment? It takes quite a long time to prepare the jewelry and shoes. Please enjoy the refreshments on the table while you wait, both of you.”

“We can wait as long as needed, Rivilious.”

“I will show you only the best items.”

Anthus smiled satisfactorily.

Once Rivilious closed the door and left, the room fell into silence. Just being alone in the room with him made Yuliana’s palms sweat.

Yuliana felt nervous just being in a confined space with the man who had confessed his feelings to her.

The memory of their kiss kept coming back. Her heart pounded, and an intense wave of emotions filled her heart.

“What’s wrong? Yuli… Your face is red.”

“It’s hot.”

Anthus slowly approached Yuliana with a face that looked like a puppy wagging its tail in excitement.

“Being this close… reminds me of the first time we met.”

“The first time we met?”

“9 years ago, it was my first time participating in a war, and I felt anxious and uneasy. Bearing the name Rockbellion, I couldn’t show my anxious feelings.”

Anthus said, lowering his eyebrows. At that time, his father, Philip, who was Duke Rockbellion, was dragging out the war, and Anthus felt frustrated. He advised his father on tactics to win, and after their victory, Philip asked Anthus to handle the tactics in the war.

“I hated the war.”

Although Anthus found strategizing tedious, he felt a sense of achievement every time the enemy fell into his traps, so he diligently worked on tactics and led the war to victory.

“But to protect the Empire, I picked up a sword and killed enemies who were someone’s precious person. I hated killing people. I didn’t want to kill, but I kept killing… and killing… But I accepted that to protect my precious Empire, I had to kill. My heart felt heavy and tormented.”

“Duke…”

“People call me cold-blooded, but… I’m actually a coward. The first time I stabbed someone with a sword… I vomited all night and had nightmares. Even now, the horrifying sensations from killing people in the war still scare me.”

Watching him speak uneasily beside her, Yuliana thought that the rumors of his cold-blooded nature were not the whole truth.

“In the midst of such anxiety, I saw you treating and helping people. You looked weaker and younger than me, yet you encouraged and smiled at people. I became interested. I wondered if you weren’t scared in the war, if you were okay, if you were forcing a smile. I kept thinking about you… I wanted to talk to you properly, but… it didn’t go as planned.”

Seeing Anthus speak with a flushed face, Yuliana smiled.

“I remember when I first met you, Duke Anthus, too.”

“The first time we met?”

“You asked me if I didn’t know who you were.”

“I’d like you to forget that… At that time, you treated my injured hand so quickly… I wanted to stay by your side longer, but you said goodbye… So I blurted out anything.”

“Is that so?”

Yuliana widened her eyes in surprise. Anthus nodded with a red face.

“At that time, you said you couldn’t remember everyone you treated and apologized with a smile. I was even more captivated by that.”

“In fact, I knew, but I missed the timing to say so and pretended I didn’t.”

Anthus gazed intently into Yuliana’s golden eyes.

“From the moment I first met you… now and forever, I will love you.”

Yuliana could only stare at Anthus’s red eyes without saying a word. His sweet whisper was gradually seeping into her heart.

“I will try my best… so please think only of me.”

Anthus gently caressed Yuliana’s cheek as if she were precious, and softly stroked her hair. Smiling, Anthus slowly embraced Yuliana tenderly.

* * *

No matter how busy he was, Cloud made sure to gather his family once a month for tea and conversation.

“Our Crown Prince Ian seems to have grown even more since I last saw him, brother.”

“Doesn’t he look just like brother Cloud?”

Cloud, a doting father, laughed heartily at his sisters’ compliments.

“You should get married and have children soon. But no matter how much I love my nieces or nephews, my own child is always more precious.”

Cloud said, holding Ian.

“I have something to ask you, brother, regarding that matter.”

With a serious expression, Ophelia looked at Cloud.

“Speak, Ophelia.”

“Please let me marry Duke Anthus.”

“Impossible.”

“I feel like I will die if I can’t marry him.”

“No.”

Hearing her words, Cloud held his head.

Despite his clear refusal, she insisted. He wondered if he had spoiled her too much. Cloud looked at Ophelia, who was sitting opposite him with a troubled expression, with a voice full of annoyance.

“Ophelia, there are things that can’t be helped no matter how stubborn you are.”

“I can’t give up my love just because it can’t be helped, brother.”

“He already has someone he loves.”

“Is that Lady Yuliana Loengrin?”

“Yes, you know it well.”

“It’s impossible not to know with all the rumors. I considered Duke Rockbellion as my future husband. But now there are rumors about him with another woman. I can’t just stand by. Please help me, brother.”

“Your Majesty.”

Empress Monica, who had been sitting quietly, stood up with an expressionless face.

“It’s time for Ian’s nap, so we will take our leave.”

“I’ll come to see you later, Mocha.”

Cloud sighed deeply as he watched Monica leave.

“Ophelia, today is a family gathering for tea and conversation. Did you have to bring up such a topic and make Monica leave?”

“You wouldn’t understand my feelings because you are with someone you love, brother. I like Duke Anthus… I waited for him to open his heart…”

Ophelia was deeply troubled by the rumors she heard in society. She had set her sights on Anthus as her future husband, but she had heard that he was escorting Yuliana to operas and restaurants.

“Please, brother, use your imperial authority to make me marry Duke Anthus!”

Hearing Ophelia’s unreasonable request, Cloud rubbed his aching head. She was making a completely childish demand.

“The Duke is my loyal subject and close friend. If I force him to marry you with an imperial order, what do you think he will think of me?”

“No noble can refuse an imperial order, brother.”

“Ophelia.”

“I must marry him!”

“He has the right to refuse. Ophelia, you don’t know Duke Rockbellion at all.”

“Brother!”

Listening to their conversation, the second princess, Seria, struggled to suppress her laughter at her sister’s childish words.

“If Lady Loengrin hadn’t broken off her engagement, none of this would have happened… Isn’t that right? Did you hear the rumor, Ophelia?”

“What rumor?”

“The rumor that Lady Sophia, who likes Young Lord Beonar, orchestrated their breakup.”

“What?”

“Young Lord Beonar has been saying he will marry Lady Sophia right after breaking off his engagement with Lady Loengrin. Didn’t you hear, Ophelia? It’s strange… You’re usually so well-informed about social rumors, but you missed this one.”

Ophelia’s brows furrowed.

“Isn’t Lady Sophia one of your close aides? You even planned to appoint her as a lady-in-waiting.”

“Seria, stop. Look at Ophelia’s face. She’s angry.”

“Yes, brother.”

“Ophelia.”

“Yes, brother.”

Princess Ophelia looked at her now-cold teacup with a very displeased expression. Seeing this, Cloud warned her seriously.

“Don’t mess with Lady Loengrin. If you provoke her and Anthus gets angry, I can’t do anything. Having him as an enemy will cause a lot of trouble. This is not advice; it’s a warning.”