Chapter 1.3

‘She’s not looking at me.’

Johannes was displeased by the way she tried to avoid his gaze.  

From the moment he entered the ballroom, Serena was all he could see. Even if she was in the farthest corner, he could find her with just a glance.  

Wrapped in the gift he had given her, she seemed to be wearing his mark all over her body. He found that thought very pleasing.  

But she wouldn’t even look at him properly, which made him sulk.  

Johannes knelt on one knee and met her eyes as she looked at the floor.  

Startled, Serena tried to step back.  

But before she could escape, he caught her wrist. His warm lips pressed gently to the back of her hand.  

The young men and women, who had been openly watching them, gasped in surprise. Their admiration went beyond envy as they marveled at the striking pair.

“Your Grace, Sir Fermel…! Please, get up.”

Serena, her face bright red, spoke in a barely audible voice.

“If you will grant me a dance, I shall rise.”

“All right! Please, stand up. Your Grace, you don’t need to behave this way.”

Flustered, Serena grabbed his thick arm. He, savoring her touch, stood up very slowly.  

The Emperor, watching the two with pleasure from afar, signaled to the orchestra. Understanding his intent, they began to play a sweet melody.  

Johannes took Serena’s hand and led her to the center of the ballroom. All eyes were on them, shining with admiration.  

The warmth of his strong arm around her waist felt unfamiliar to Serena. Placing her hand on his shoulder felt like a dream.  

While Serena was nervous and awkward, Johannes never took his gaze off her blue eyes. His green eyes were full of gentle affection, yet there was a predatory intensity, as if he had caught his prey.  

Johannes pulled Serena closer, tightening his hold on her waist. Their bodies pressed together, sharing their warmth.

“Ah…!”

Startled by the heat, Serena let out a small sound before she realized it.  

Feeling his body so close was a new experience. She could sense the outline of his muscles through the white uniform.  

Before her face could turn any redder, the dance began.  

Johannes held Serena’s waist firmly and placed her hand upon his arm. Then he leaned close to her ear.

Serena tried to pull away in surprise, but his strong arm around her waist held her in place.  

His gentle voice at her ear finally brought her back to reality.

“The dress suits you well. Do you like it?”

“…Pardon?”

Serena, nervous from being so close to him, answered belatedly.

‘Ah, could it be…?’

‘Was it Sir Fermel who had gifted my the dress?’

“If you don’t like it, please tell me. I’ll gladly give you another anytime.”

Serena realized that the one who had given her the dress was Johannes, and her eyes widened.

“Ah, no! I really like it as it is.”

Already, boxes of clothes gifted to her were piled up like mountains at the mansion.  

‘Why had he gifted me a dress?’ 

Johannes had no reason to give her such a present.  

After all, there was nothing between them yet.  

Countless questions swirled in Serena’s mind.  

However, Johannes’s gentle voice echoed in her ears, and she could not continue her thoughts.

“That’s a relief.”

He exhaled softly, looking reassured, and smiled gently.  

Serena’s heart beat rapidly and her body grew warm, so she lowered her gaze to the floor.

“Thank you… for the gift.”

She barely managed to thank him in a faint voice.  

Johannes smiled at her and then spoke.

“I heard that while you were in the capital, you continued to care for the wounded. Among them were several of my men. I should be the one to thank you, even if it’s late.”

Serena looked up without thinking, and her eyes met his.  

Johannes’s green eyes were endlessly kind.

“I didn’t do anything special. Your Grace, you saved the country.”

Serena replied with a gentle smile.  

She wondered how he knew about her, just a nurse working in the rear.  

Serena had no idea that her reputation had spread throughout the Empire while she cared for patients and prayed for Johannes.

“Thank you for saving the country. And I’m glad you returned safely.”

“……”

Johannes was at a loss for words.  

He had always dreamed of being welcomed by her with such a beautiful smile, but he never imagined it would actually happen.

“By the way, how did you hear about me? I was just an ordinary nurse…”

“Rumors about a beautiful lady travel fast, you know.”

As the dance ended, Johannes once again kissed the back of Serena’s hand.  

She hadn’t expected such a direct compliment from him, and her cheeks flushed red again.

‘That’s right, the arranged marriage.’

Looking at Johannes’s handsome face, Serena suddenly remembered why she had come here. Just as she was about to bring it up, people swarmed in from all sides.

“Your Grace, Sir Fermel!”

“Hello, Your Grace the Duke! I am from the Marquis’ household—”

As if everyone had been waiting for their dance to end, people of all ages crowded around Johannes. Serena was naturally pushed aside and separated from him.  

Not wanting to disturb him, she quietly slipped out to the balcony.  

With the door closed and the curtains drawn, the ballroom felt like another world. Serena leaned against the balcony railing and let out a long sigh.

“Haa….”

“Why are you sighing like that?”

Startled, Serena quickly turned around.  

There stood Johannes, gazing at her with a gentle smile.

“Your Grace, Sir Fermel? Weren’t you just speaking with the others?”

“I couldn’t leave my partner alone. Besides, I prefer quiet places too.”

He spoke kindly as he stood beside her.  

Johannes’s green eyes never left her for an instant. Embarrassed by his gaze, Serena turned away.

‘Actually, this is good. Now’s the time to talk.’

She needed to discuss the arranged marriage orchestrated by the Emperor.  

If he had agreed against his will, she needed to tell him to follow his own heart.

‘She doesn’t look well.’

Johannes thought as he looked at her pale face. She already looked so delicate and fragile, and now her complexion was even paler, which made him worry.  

Just as he was about to say something, Serena spoke first.

“Your Grace, Sir Fermel. His Majesty the Emperor has commanded us to enter into an arranged marriage, hasn’t he?”

Serena, nervous, blurted out her words.

“These days, even nobles often marry for love. No matter what the imperial order, Your Grace, you don’t have to marry against your will. If you don’t wish for this marriage…”

Serena mustered her courage and looked up. The expression in Johannes’s eyes as he looked down at her was icy cold.

“Is there perhaps a man you have feelings for?”

As Johannes uttered the words ‘a man you have feelings for,’ he bit down slightly between his teeth.

‘Why is he acting like this…?’

If he had someone else in his heart, he should have welcomed her words. Yet, strangely, he looked angry now.  

Serena couldn’t figure out why he wore such an expression.

“…There’s no one like that.”

‘There’s no one in my heart but you, right in front of me.’

Serena couldn’t bring herself to say the rest and looked away from him.  

Only after hearing her answer did Johannes return to his usual self.

“Serena, I will honor this marriage arranged by His Majesty.”

‘He says he will honor our marriage… But didn’t he have someone else in his heart?’

For his sake, she should have told him to break off the marriage and follow his heart, since he would surely obey His Majesty’s command otherwise.

“Do you feel the same?”

Johannes asked Serena. His gaze was gentle but firm, urging her for an answer.

“I…”

But she couldn’t bring herself to refuse, because of the desire rising in her heart.  

Serena nodded.

“Of course, I will honor it too.”

“That’s all I need.”

Only after hearing her answer did Johannes finally smile. He took Serena’s hand gently and placed a soft kiss on it.  

His lips burned against her skin like fire.  

Serena flinched and shivered.

“His Majesty will soon announce our marriage.”

“At the celebration for the victory?”

“He said it’s best for everyone to know good news.”

It was just like the bold Emperor.  

But for Serena, everything was moving too quickly. She had only learned about the marriage today.  

Johannes naturally took her hand as she stood there in a daze, and together they returned to the ballroom.

The hall was already buzzing with people’s admiration. The Emperor had already risen from his seat and was announcing their marriage.  

People were surprised by the sudden news, but soon nodded in approval at the sight of the radiant couple.  

The dignified Johannes and the beautiful Serena looked perfect together.  

The Emperor also raised his glass in a toast, beaming at them. The nobles did not hold back their congratulations for the couple.  

Serena could not bring herself to smile at their cheers.

‘To marry without even knowing Sir Johannes’s true feelings…’

No marriage in this world could be like this.  

While everyone else was smiling, only Serena’s face grew pale. And all the while, Johannes was watching her from beside her.