Chapter 71

“I love you.”

Hearing his confession several times a day made her shy, and she avoided his gaze. Theodore, looking dejected, said,

“If you dislike it, I’ll stop.”

He looked utterly downcast and troubled. Seeing him like that, Meia decided to speak honestly.

“I don’t really know what love is.”

Theodore nodded.

“I don’t know what love is either. But the only word that can express my feelings is ‘love.'”

Theodore continued earnestly.

“You are so precious and dear to me that I never want to leave your side, Lady Meia.”

The word “precious” was something she hadn’t heard since her parents.

“Lady Meia, you are the most precious to me, even more than my own life.”

They only looked at each other’s faces from a distance where they could almost feel each other’s breath. The man who initially couldn’t even meet her eyes and only ran away now calmly looked into her eyes and said,

“You will come to love me too, Lady Meia.”

“How can you say that so confidently?”

“I’ll make it happen, so just allow me to stay by your side.”

He was asking for permission. His steadfast black eyes conveyed without wavering.

That he was sincere…

His words weren’t burdensome or unpleasant. Rather, they were welcome and thrilling.

Why do his words make me feel so good? Why doesn’t my heart stop pounding?

Her lips kept curling into a smile. Meia cupped Theodore’s cheek with her hand and asked him in a low voice,

“If I allow it, will I fall in love with you, Grand Duke?”

Theodore held her wrist and looked at her with profound eyes as he spoke.

“If you don’t like it, push me away.”

Whether it was because of his fingers touching her wrist or her heart pounding too much, the hot sensation rising from her toes seemed to melt her all the way to the top of her head.

Her whole body tensed at the unfamiliar sensation. It felt like he was drawing out a side of her she didn’t even know existed.

“Lady…”

His warm yet calm voice repeatedly whispered his love, settling in her ears.

*

As dinner time approached, Lady Nordic, Ash, and Diana were the first to arrive at the dining room.

Deputy Butler Kelvain, who had approached unnoticed, pulled out a chair for Lady Nordic.

They were told there would be one more guest besides themselves today. They agreed to have dinner together, but Lady Nordic wondered who the guest visiting Grand Duke was. She asked Kelvain.

“Can you tell me who the guest of the Grand Duke is?”

“It’s not the master’s guest, but Lady Meia’s guest.”

Lady Nordic furrowed her eyebrows. It was already outrageous that a lady from another empire was at the Grand Duke’s residence, and it bothered her that she was also taking over the household duties Nordic had managed. Moreover, the fact that His Grace personally welcomed her guest made it seem like he was treating Meia like a Grand Duchess, which was displeasing.

Lady Nordic needed to find a way to drive her out of here. If she weren’t a mage, she would have kidnapped her and gotten rid of her…

As Lady Nordic clenched her jaw, a grinding sound came from her teeth.

“Madam, is there something bothering you?”

“There’s nothing bothering me. But I haven’t seen Butler Venable since earlier.”

Normally, Venable would come out to greet them and personally guide them to the drawing room, but today Kelvain did, which was puzzling.

“He is currently attending to Lady Meia’s guest.”

“I see.”

A silent moment passed, and then Venable entered with a knock. Upon seeing him, Lady Nordic smiled kindly and said,

“Butler Venable, it’s been a while.”

“Hello, Lady Nordic.”

“Yes, how have you been?”

“I’ve been well. Are you feeling better now?”

“I’m much better. Enough to help with the Grand Duke’s household again. You seem busier than usual, Butler Venable.”

Lady Nordic’s tone seemed to question why Deputy Butler Kelvain had guided them.

Venable raised his eyebrows slightly and said,

“I was attending to Lady Meia’s guest.”

“A guest?”

Then, upon seeing the guest who followed Venable in, Diana exclaimed in surprise,

“Designer Clairira! What brings you here?”

“Lady Nordic! Fancy meeting you here. What brings me here? I came at the invitation of Lady Meia, hoho.”

Kelvain had mentioned that Meia’s guest had arrived, but Diana hadn’t expected it to be Clairira. She greeted her with a mix of surprise and delight.

“So, the guest of Lady Hatzbellua was Designer Clairira?”

“Yes.”

At those words, Diana bit her lower lip. Despite purchasing so many dresses, Clairira had never once shown her face at a gathering.

“You must be very close to Lady Meia.”

“I came because I want to become close to Lady Meia, Lady Nordic.”

Did she come just because she was invited, even though they weren’t close? 

Diana’s pride was further crushed by Clairira’s words. A servant entered the dining room, opened the door, and announced,

“His Grace the Grand Duke Florence and Lady Hatzbellua are entering.”

It sounded as if they were announcing the entrance of a Grand Ducal couple.

Ash stared blankly at Meia as she entered, escorted by the gentle-faced Theodore. The soft shoulder line revealed beneath her elegantly styled silver hair and her slender, white neck were captivating. The outfit, clinging tightly down to her knees, was both splendid and full of grace.

Ash admired Meia as she walked in. He could only think of how beautiful she was.

He had met many women before, but he had never seen such a captivating and elegant beauty.

Suddenly, he was filled with boiling jealousy as he looked at Theodore, who was holding her hand and entering together.

Sensing Ash’s gaze, Theodore also glared at him coldly.

An awkward atmosphere momentarily hung in the air.

Noticing the awkwardness, Clairira stood up and said,

“Grand Duke, thank you once again for inviting me to dinner, hoho.”

Theodore nodded and gently pulled out the chair for Meia to sit.

“Thank you, Grand Duke Theodore.”

“It’s only natural.”

Diana hated Meia, who sat with a haughty expression as if accustomed to Theodore pulling out her chair. She clenched her fists but had to keep her composure.

Meanwhile, Clairira remarked with a blissful expression,

“Indeed, there’s no one else who can do justice to my masterpiece of masterpieces like you, Lady Meia. You look absolutely beautiful!”

Diana looked at Clairira and asked,

“Is that dress of your creation? I’ve never seen anything like it in the store.”

“Of course. That dress is a one-of-a-kind piece made solely for Lady Meia.”

At those words, Diana suppressed the tingling jealousy rising within her and said,

“But I heard that Lady Meia doesn’t wear Clairira’s dresses and auctioned them off.”

Clairira replied as if she truly didn’t understand,

“Putting them up for charity auctions is only natural, Lady Nordic.”

“Charity… auctions?”

There are two types of auctions. One is for profit, and the other is a charity auction involving noblewomen and young ladies.

Meia relaxed her lips and looked at Diana with a leisurely gaze.

“Lady Nordic seems to be unaware of the meaning of putting a dress up for auction.”

Meia could clearly see that Diana was trying to twist her words to belittle her. It was a statement of knowing one thing but not the other.

The auctions Meia participated in were charity auctions. It involved selling good items and using the money to help struggling commoners. Thus, cheap items could never be put up for charity auctions.

That would be a flaw. As the Crown Prince’s fiancée and a Lady, putting up cheap items would be disrespectful to the noblewomen hosting the auction.

For nobles, charity auctions were a way to showcase their wealth and an act of noblesse oblige.

Designer Clairira considered it an honor for her dresses to be put up for charity auctions.

The same was true for other designers.

So, making a clumsy remark about auctions was like saying, “I’m ignorant; I’ve never participated in such charity auctions.”

“Perhaps Lady Nordic has never participated in charity auctions.”

Diana’s expression showed embarrassment.

“Oh dear, what a pity.”

Seeing Diana’s expression twist with her earlobes turning red, it seemed her pride was quite hurt.

“Grand Duke Theodore, are there no charity auctions in the Sirius Empire?”

“There are. They are usually held in the palace, and I will invite you next time.”

“Thank you, Grand Duke Theodore.”

Meia inwardly clicked her tongue at Diana, who sat with a face that looked like she was about to cry even before the meal started. It was amusing that she was picking a fight over such a trivial matter.

“Designer Clairira.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Please make the dress for Lady Meia’s coming-of-age day without considering the cost.”

Meia’s coming-of-age day had become a very important day for Theodore as well.

He had confessed and conveyed his feelings to her when they were alone in the drawing room.

His heart felt like it was going to burst with pain. Her gaze melted his entire being.

He was happy because it felt like she was accepting his feelings.