CHAPTER 25……………………………………
Maybe it was because it was the first time he had ever shown me such a warm smile,
or maybe it was just that the moonlight made his face look especially beautiful.
Either way, my heart was helplessly pounding.
Frustrated by his vague words that left me feeling suffocated, I impulsively grabbed his arm tightly with the hand that had been holding his.
“Does that mean… you like me?”
“It doesn’t mean I like you. But if that’s what you want to take it as.”
Yes! I had no idea how I was going to convince him before this,
but now—finally—I had a legitimate and official reason to stay close to Peredil.
If that’s the case, seducing him will be a piece of cake.
“Then I’ll be counting on you from now on!”
Smiling, I reached out my hand to Peredil, who had no idea about my true intentions.
“Likewise.”
He smiled faintly and took my hand.
“Then since tomorrow’s a holiday, rest up, and let’s start the lessons the day after.”
“I don’t mind if we start even later.”
That face clearly says please start later.
Well, even if he’s doing this reluctantly, so be it.
It’s not like there’s a better way to get close to him than giving him acting lessons myself.
“Seeing how much you’re looking forward to it, I should hurry home and start preparing for class.”
“You call yourself an actress, yet you can’t even interpret my words properly?”
“And you never thought that maybe I can and I’m just pretending not to?”
With that exchange of polite, mechanical smiles, it was time for each of us to return to our respective mansions.
As I turned to leave after bidding him a courteous goodbye, his hand suddenly stopped me.
“What’s wrong?”
I already had a good idea why he stopped me, but I asked anyway. He hesitated before speaking.
“That man earlier… what did he say to you?”
“Earlier? When?”
Feigning ignorance, I tilted my head. He tried to sound casual but his words came out curt.
“The whisper. What did he say?”
He asked as if he didn’t care about the answer, but it was obvious he did.
If you’re going to stop me and ask, you must be dying to know.
“It’s a secret.”
He looked indignant, clearly expecting me to tell him.
“Why is it a secret?”
“Because he said it was.”
“Is it really a secret?”
“Yes. Really.”
How unfair—to be interrogated when I’m telling the truth.
Theo had literally whispered into my ear: “Seeecret~.”
It was clearly meant to provoke Peredil—a mischievous move. Clever guy.
Seeing that I wasn’t going to tell him, Peredil’s face twisted with frustration.
“Why are you even curious? Whatever Theo said to me, what business is it of yours, Your Grace?”
Hit right where it hurt, his lips twitched into a forced smile.
“Well… he looked me right in the eye when he said it. I was wondering if he insulted me.”
Not a bad excuse, actually.
“He didn’t insult you. He literally said ‘secret.’ Were you so curious that you had to stop me to ask?”
“Forget it. As long as it wasn’t an insult, I don’t care. I don’t want to know what some silly secret is.”
Funny—him grumbling like that somehow looked cute.
He may seem cold as ice, but once you get closer, his emotions are easy to read.
I gestured for him to lean down.
He frowned slightly, but did as I asked.
One of my hands went beside his lips; my own lips drew close to his ear.
Once we found our positions, I filled my lungs and whispered—
“He said ‘seeeecret.’ Literally! Se-cret!”
When he finally understood, he covered his ear with his hand, face turning bright red as he stumbled back.
“I already knew that earlier!”
“Really? I thought you didn’t.”
Flustered, he hid his face and muttered—
“Enough. Just go inside already.”
“Strange. Who was the one who stopped me, again?”
“I said go inside.”
He gave me a gentle push on the back, and pretending to resist, I let myself be ushered into the mansion.
In the deep of night, silence blanketed the Seymour mansion.
Though their master slept, two maids remained awake.
Assigned to night duty, they fought sleep by keeping each other company.
Susan, whose eyes were half-shut, suddenly jolted upright and shook her dozing companion.
“Didn’t you hear that just now?”
“Hear what? I didn’t hear anything.”
“It came from the duke’s bedroom, I swear…”
“Yawn~ I didn’t hear a thing, Susan.”
“Don’t tell me… the duke’s been possessed by a demon?”
Terrified, Susan’s imagination ran wild as she shivered.
“You’ve got quite an imagination. That sort of nonsense only exists in fairy tales. And I told you—I didn’t hear anything.”
“Then maybe an earthquake? I definitely heard thumping noises!”
“You’re probably just tired. Rest your ears a bit; I’ll wake you if anything happens.”
But Susan’s hearing wasn’t failing her—it was exceptionally sharp.
What she had heard was the sound of Peredil kicking his blanket in frustration as he lay in bed.
Why did I even stop her and insist on asking? I thought if I asked, I’d be able to sleep better… but now it’s worse!
He was secretly disappointed she hadn’t told him the “secret,”
and embarrassed that he’d badgered her just because he was jealous.
And worst of all, the memory of Joyce’s warm breath against his ear made his face burn.
I think… our lips might have brushed a little…
What was he doing, acting like some lovestruck teenager?
Shaking his head, he tried to clear his thoughts, but the more he tried, the hotter his face grew.
Conflicting feelings—wanting to sleep but being too flustered to—tangled in his chest,
and before long, the thump, thump of him tossing in bed echoed through the Seymour mansion all night.
“I’m here to see Duke Seymour.”
Showing the pre-approved entry pass confidently to the imperial guard,
I was let through without issue.
I timed my arrival at the palace to match the end of Peredil’s official duties.
Like a spy in a movie, I glanced around to make sure no one was watching.
It wouldn’t do for rumors to spread that a duke with a fiancée was secretly meeting a woman in his office.
Using every stealth trick I knew, I slipped through the halls and reached his office without anyone noticing.
The moment he saw me, he frowned.
“What on earth are you wearing?”
“This cape and the sunglasses? I thought you might back out halfway,
so I came disguised—just in case. Once you show results, I’ll reveal that I was your teacher all along.”
“You’ve really got it all planned out, haven’t you?”
Too winded from running here to care about his sarcasm,
I plopped down in the chair across from him.
As soon as I did, he stood up.
“Did you prepare for the lesson properly?”
Without looking at me, he busied himself with something at his desk as he spoke.
“Of course I did—wait, hold on. Why are you suddenly speaking so informally?”
After setting a glass of water in front of me and sitting down, he replied matter-of-factly—
“Well, you’re employed by me now. That makes me the employer and you the subordinate.”
So he was a bit of a snob.
I downed the water he gave me in one gulp and fired back—
“Then how about you properly call me Teacher, Your Grace? Or Master, if you prefer.”
“Enough, teacher. If you’ve had your drink, let’s get this lesson over with.”
He cut me off coldly, showing zero interest.
“First things first—put this on.”
I laid down the outfit I had prepared for him.
Well, custom-ordered, not hand-made, but close enough.
“You expect me to wear this?”
“What do you mean, this?”
“It’s too loose and floppy. The fabric’s soft and shapeless. In other words—”
“Comfortable.”
This time, I cut him off.
“To move freely, you first need to relax your body.
Those tight, stiff clothes you’re wearing now won’t let you move naturally.”
“I use my body just fine, thank you.
You’ve only ever seen me working at my desk—you’ve no idea how much sword training I do.”
“Do you even know why you practice swordsmanship?
It’s to learn to use your body freely according to the situation.
I even picked blue for you, Your Grace—just for you.”
“You think I like blue just because it’s the color of my family crest?”
“So you don’t like it?”
“…”
Guess not.
“Then stop complaining and go change.”
“You’re the one wearing that long, uncomfortable dress.
If anyone needs to change, it’s you.”
At that, I reached for the ribbon tied at my chest and untied it—
and the dress slipped off in one smooth motion.
“Wh–what are you doing?!”
