“Damn……”

Not knowing that…….

Enoch banged his head on the innocent desk. He felt pain but didn’t care at all. Without doing so, the resentment toward himself would surge and be unbearable.

Thinking about it, Luciella had never uttered blatant discriminatory words. It was all his own assumptions.

‘……I should formally apologize after all.’

Simply apologizing wouldn’t seem sufficient.

Enoch lamented not having even a clue how to wash away his rudeness.

‘She’s probably trying on the altered wedding dress by now……’

Enoch stood up hesitantly. He felt like seeing Luciella’s face, even briefly, would improve his mood a little.

* * *

Knock knock.

Standing before Luciella’s door, Enoch knocked a couple times. When did he used to barge in without knocking — this was uncharacteristic behavior.

“Come in.”

Only after Luciella’s permission came from beyond the door did Enoch carefully enter.

What greeted him upon entering the room was Luciella in simple attire. She must have just finished changing, as a splendid wedding dress hung on the clothes hanger.

Though he had come to find her, he had absolutely no idea what to say.

He had just come because he wanted to see her face, so there wasn’t particularly anything to say. Originally, they weren’t in the kind of relationship to sit face to face and have cheerful daily conversations, so that was natural.

While the large Enoch stood hesitantly by the door, Luciella tilted her head curiously.

“……Is something wrong?”

Then she asked with genuine concern. Enoch’s current appearance was definitely awkward.

“Ah, well……”

I just came because I wanted to see you…….

Enoch couldn’t bring himself to confess the truth. After briefly pondering, he just trudged over to the sofa and sat down.

“I came because I was curious if the altered dress fits well.”

When did he speak naturally and briefly — Enoch’s speech had become polite again.

Luciella, who keenly noticed that change, raised one eyebrow. But she didn’t bother asking why his speech pattern suddenly changed.

“Yes, it fits well.”

“I see.”

“Yes.”

“……”

The conversation quickly ended. Silence descended in the room. The maids helping with organizing hurriedly read the atmosphere and quickly vacated the area. Thanks to this, only the two of them remained alone in the room.

How much longer did that uncomfortable silence press down on Enoch? Eventually, unable to bear it, he was the first to speak.

“……Your Highness.”

In a very polite tone.

“Yes, Marquis.”

“I have something I’d like to ask.”

“Please speak.”

Luciella spoke in a gentle tone like telling him to speak comfortably. Even so, Enoch hesitated and fumbled again briefly.

“……I’m curious about exactly why you avoided marriage with me.”

“Ah……”

Hearing the question, Luciella sighed briefly and bit her lips. Then she seemed lost in thought. He could see her sparkling silver eyes rolling around here and there. That sight was quite lovely, so Enoch’s face heated up.

‘Damn……’

He dry-washed his face to calm himself. But even during this, no answer came from Luciella. Eventually, anxious Enoch subtly added a word.

“Was it because of your infertility?”

“……That reason was significant.”

Luciella carefully nodded and answered. With that answer, Enoch exhaled a short, low sigh. It was a sigh mixed with relief and self-reproach.

“It wasn’t because you hated me as a person.”

Enoch muttered in a very small voice. Then Luciella immediately responded like she was dumbfounded.

“What? How well do I know you, Marquis, to hate you or not?”

She had a genuinely absurd expression.

“And I’ve never hated you, Marquis.”

If Luciella had really hated Enoch, she would have devised ways to escape instead of asking him to cancel the marriage. Also, when she met Sejef, she would have already confessed everything and asked for help.

“You’re not a bad person, Marquis.”

“Is that so?”

He had done so many terrible things, yet she said he wasn’t a bad person. Enoch’s heart grew even heavier from Luciella’s generous assessment.

Enoch, who had been pondering briefly, carefully opened his mouth.

“……I’m sorry.”

“What? Suddenly what……”

“I thought Your Highness avoided marriage because you hated me.”

Luciella’s already large eyes opened even wider. Her pure, deer-like eyes blinked several times while gazing at Enoch.

“Because I’m of commoner origin…… I misunderstood that you found it unpleasant……”

“What, what?”

Luciella was truly dumbfounded beyond words. She had occasionally felt suspicious about some things Enoch said to her, but she had never even imagined those remarks stemmed from such a misunderstanding.

‘No, did I seem like someone who discriminates against people for such things?’

Luciella could confidently say she had never thought that way, which only made her feel more wronged.

“I swear I never… cared about such things.”

Luciella’s expression was full of indignation. Thanks to this, Enoch’s heart grew even heavier.

He had no idea how to apologize for this rudeness.

“But Marquis.”

“Yes.”

Enoch answered with his head lowered in guilt. He didn’t have the confidence to meet Luciella’s eyes. Watching him, Luciella asked in a quite serious tone.

“I also have something I’d like to ask.”

“Please speak.”

“I’m genuinely curious about this.”

“Yes.”

Luciella paused briefly, reading Enoch’s mood about what she was trying to say. Her plump lips opened and closed several times repeatedly.

“Well…… you said you liked me.”

Luciella, who had barely opened her mouth, continued while avoiding Enoch’s gaze, seemingly embarrassed.

“Did you perhaps feel such emotions after seeing me at the auction……”

“……What?”

“Ah, well, that was where we first met after all……”

Hearing Luciella’s words, Enoch sighed briefly. It was a mixture of regret that she couldn’t remember the past at all and confusion about not understanding the question’s intent.

Enoch answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“No.”

“Ah, haha…… I see.”

Embarrassed by Enoch’s firm answer, Luciella nodded her head exaggeratedly and laughed.

‘Then when exactly did it start?’

Luciella’s question still wasn’t resolved. But she didn’t have the courage to ask further. Just this much questioning had made her so nervous that her fingertips felt tingly.

Only awkward air flowed in the room again.

“Then I’ll take my leave……”

Enoch fled like he was escaping. He felt like his face, red as a beet, would be discovered if he sat facing Luciella any longer.

Returning to his office, he had to breathe deeply for quite a while to calm his emotions.

It was absurd how his clueless lower half stiffened on its own.

Enoch forcibly focused his eyes on boring documents. Naturally, the letters wouldn’t enter his sight. Even so, he forcibly fixed his gaze on the documents. But thoughts related to Luciella kept randomly surfacing in his head.

‘Should I suggest going to the city center together this weekend if it’s okay?’

There are salons that women like gathered there…….

‘No, that’s not right.’

Her Highness clearly didn’t seem to like luxury goods.

‘Then to a peaceful suburban villa after all……’

Thinking about it, Luciella was someone with such a tender heart that she even cared about the insignificant fish in the royal palace pond. Someone like her would probably like the suburbs full of small animal friends.

‘There’s a lake nearby too, so boating would be just perfect.’

Enoch, who had made plans on his own, smiled with satisfaction.

The corner of the document that had been full of work-related content was now covered with doodles.

If he tried hard like this, could he win even a little of her favor?

Continuing his thoughts, Enoch pulled at his hair and sighed. He could only resent the terrible deeds his past self had committed.

Even so, he didn’t extinguish his hope. Since such a golden opportunity had arisen, he would definitely obtain a place by her side.

* * *

“Um, Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“If it’s alright with you…… would you like to briefly visit a suburban villa together with me this weekend?”

Dawn had barely broken when Enoch went to find Luciella’s room and spoke. His tone was very polite and respectful. He even carefully bowed his head.

Luciella still found such behavior from Enoch unfamiliar. But it was merely unfamiliar — his change wasn’t uncomfortable or hateful.

“Is this a matter where I have a choice?”

Luciella asked playfully. She had used the words Enoch had said to her before.

But Enoch was startled by that question and immediately answered, not knowing what to do.

“Yes, of course you do. If Your Highness finds it uncomfortable, I would never force you.”

She hadn’t expected him to be so flustered. Surprised, Luciella blinked and stared at Enoch as he stammered.

“Since you’ve been staying only at the estate for a while, I thought you might feel stuffy, so I asked. I absolutely had no intention of making you uncomfortable.”

Luciella felt a strange feeling from Enoch’s polite appearance.

She was no longer a princess or anything…… Even though it was something he could have forced if he wanted to, Enoch didn’t do so. He was truly an incomprehensible man.

After pondering briefly, Luciella nodded slightly and answered.

“Alright.”

“Ah, really, truly?”

Then Enoch’s face brightened instantly. The face that had been colored with confusion changed quickly. A big smile hung on his lips.

Surprisingly, his inner thoughts showed transparently through his expressions. Even this aspect wasn’t typical of ordinary nobles.

“Thank you. Then I’ll prepare everything.”

He looked like an excited child. Whatever was so enjoyable, the smile didn’t leave his lips when he left Luciella’s room.

Luciella watched Enoch with curiosity. Even after Enoch left the room, she continued thinking about him.

‘He’s really a peculiar man……’

He looked fierce but somehow seemed innocently simple too.

The thought that perhaps marrying and living with him like this wouldn’t be bad briefly crossed Luciella’s mind.

* * *