Prologue

“Are you here again?”

Isla, the florist, recognized Eleanor and smiled brightly. Eleanor visited the flower shop once a week to buy flowers, making her a valued regular customer to Isla.

“Would you like white crocuses again?”

Isla asked, wiping her wet hands on her apron.

“No, I’m thinking of getting something different today.”

Eleanor’s answer made Isla’s eyes widen in surprise. It was an unexpected response. Around this time, Eleanor always asked for white crocuses. When asked where she would place them, she said they were to decorate her bedside.

“Why the change?”

Isla asked, surprised, and Eleanor gave a faint smile.

“It’s time to change my mind.”

Isla tilted her head at the cryptic answer but soon smiled as usual. She figured Eleanor’s taste had changed. As long as she was buying, it was good for her.

“Then what flowers would you like today?”

“Daffodils, please.”

At Eleanor’s request, Isla energetically replied, “Yes!” and quickly turned around. While Eleanor waited by the entrance, Isla wrapped a neatly trimmed bouquet of daffodils in paper.

“Are you heading straight home?”

“I should. It looks like it’s going to rain soon.”

“My knees ached as soon as I woke up, so it seems like it.”

Isla complained about her aching knees. Eleanor embraced the bouquet of daffodils Isla handed her and paid for the flowers.

“But where is the maid you usually bring with you? The Duke will scold you.”

Logan Claven, the Duke of Claven’s overprotectiveness towards Eleanor, was well-known. Everyone living near the Claven estate knew about it.

It had all started when Logan, despite his family’s opposition, declared that he would make Eleanor Hudson, a fallen noblewoman, into Eleanor Claven.

He first made her his fiancée, then surrounded her with his people so that no one could dare approach her with bad intentions.

Even her mother-in-law, Cindy Claven, was famously scolded by the Duke for mistreating Eleanor.

“He’s not like that.”

Eleanor smiled innocently. Isla almost mentioned that only Eleanor, the future Duchess, thought so. If the Duke wanted Eleanor to remain as she was, Isla feared speaking out might bring trouble.

“I’ll be going, Isla.”

Eleanor, who at first seemed plain and ordinary, had a delicate charm the more one looked at her. Her fair, translucent skin, gray eyes, and long blonde hair combined with the Claven family’s wealth created perfect beauty. Recently, there were even women trying to imitate Eleanor.

They believed they could be loved like a dream by men. It seemed possible only with her face and aura, but many believed it.

“Take care, Eleanor.”

Isla, smiling like a perfect merchant, saw Eleanor off. A single spring raindrop fell on the dirt where Eleanor’s footsteps had been.

* * *

“Sorry I’m late.”

“Taking a bath at this hour, you must have gotten caught in the rain outside.”

Logan briefly glanced at Eleanor, guessing. Eleanor couldn’t lie and smiled awkwardly. Rosie, the maid standing behind Eleanor, hung her head, sensing she would hear unpleasant words later.

“Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

Logan gestured to Eleanor’s plate.

“I went out to buy flowers.”

“Did you?”

Instead of picking up her utensils, Eleanor spoke about where she had been. Logan asked softly, though he hadn’t touched his favorite well-done lamb steak and was just swirling his wine, hinting at his unsettled mind.

“I bought daffodils today.”

The flower language of daffodils is ‘Return Love.’

Logan’s hand, which had been spinning the glass aimlessly, stopped. Eleanor cautiously met Logan’s aquamarine eyes, which seemed to pierce through her.

“Today is the last day of the 3-year promise with Usher.”

There was no reason to avoid his gaze now.

“I’ve decided to accept it.”

“…….”

“That Usher died on the battlefield 3 years ago.”

Eleanor bit her trembling lip. At the same time, Logan placed his wine glass on the table.

The small sound echoed loudly in the dining room.

“Can I interpret what you just said my way?”

Logan moistened his lips with his tongue and asked cautiously. Eleanor nodded slightly. Logan, who had been staring at Eleanor blankly, seemed to regain his senses and laughed, rubbing his forehead.

“Do you know what it means for me to interpret it my way?”

Logan asked. His voice was the same as usual, but underneath, there was a strange heat. It was the moment he had been waiting for, longing for.

“Yes.”

At Eleanor’s simple answer, Logan stood up abruptly. The servants waiting to serve their meal were startled and looked at the Duke.

“Don’t follow us.”

Logan said, taking Eleanor’s wrist and helping her up. As they ascended to the second floor, Eleanor’s face showed a mix of surprise and bewilderment.

“They must be surprised…….”

But before she could finish her sentence, as soon as the bedroom door closed, Logan hurriedly embraced Eleanor. Startled, Eleanor almost pushed Logan away but paused. She had told him to interpret it as he wished, knowing he desired her.

“That doesn’t matter now, Eleanor.”

“…….”

“Right now, nothing else matters.”

Logan whispered, and each time he did, his warm lips brushed against the nape of her neck where he buried his face. They were that close. Eleanor involuntarily trembled at the hot body temperature she felt from the man’s solid frame under her palms.

“If you didn’t mean this, tell me to stop. Right now.”

Logan spoke in a low, growling voice. Even as he expressed his strong desire, he acted as if he could retreat at Eleanor’s word. Despite waiting so long.

If there was no hesitation, it was a lie. But she didn’t want to torment the man who had waited for her with lingering feelings any longer.

‘Ellie, if I cannot return even three years after the war ends…….’

‘Usher!’

‘Then it means I have died. Or I have become so disabled that I cannot move. So, don’t wait and live your life.’

The man she loved had already died in the war. Logan had delivered the somber news with a heavy heart. It was time to accept it.

“Call me Ellie now.”

“…….”

“Logan.”

Eleanor gently cupped Logan’s chin with one hand and whispered.

“Ellie.”

His aquamarine eyes, clear as tears, were filled with emotion. Logan cautiously lowered his head. Feeling Logan’s face drawing nearer, Eleanor slowly closed her eyes.

The arms wrapped around her waist, the warm breath on her lips, and finally, his lips touching hers were all trembling.

It was their first kiss.

Finally, Eleanor opened her lips. Logan, who had hesitated until their lips met, surged forward.

Like a soldier who never missed a moment’s lapse, he poured himself into Eleanor, exploring her and taking her breath away. Logan’s hand, supporting Eleanor’s head as it tilted back, was firm.

“Your Grace.”

It was then. The butler knocked repeatedly, calling for Logan. Logan couldn’t ignore him and stopped kissing Eleanor.

Their lips parted, leaving a sticky trace. But as if he couldn’t bear not having contact, their foreheads remained touching.

“I told you not to follow.”

His voice was full of displeasure, and the butler repeatedly apologized. Eleanor belatedly became aware of the loud sound of rain hitting the window. She realized with embarrassment that she had been so absorbed she hadn’t even heard the rain.

Yet, Logan’s strong arms still held Eleanor close. She had to awkwardly meet Logan’s gaze, as he looked at her from a distance where their lips could easily meet again.

This gentleman wouldn’t do such a thing. Yet, Eleanor felt as if Logan was a large beast bending down to bite her neck.

“There’s an important guest…….”

“Why, has the King come?”

Logan sarcastically asked the butler while keeping his eyes on Eleanor’s lips.

“U-Usher Fitzman has arrived.”

Lightning flashed, and the unexpected name she thought she’d never hear again froze time.