CHAPTER 142………………………………………………
Where the Heart Points
When she came to her senses, she was in the duke’s arms. The duke, holding Anje tightly without leaving a gap, showered her with kisses across her forehead, nose, cheeks, and lips.
The funny thing was that the same Anje who had just wished to hit the duke now found herself reacting to his kisses.
Her mind insisted she should push him away immediately, yet her hands were already clutching his waist. When the duke’s lips touched hers, a shiver ran from her head all the way down to her toes, stiffened with tension.
The duke, who always mocked and scolded Anje whenever he saw her, surprisingly kissed her gently and carefully.
After giving a few short kisses as if asking, “May I touch your lips?” he looked into her eyes and smiled softly.
In the end, it was Anje who surrendered first to the teasing kisses. When she bit his lips as they tried to pull away after a light kiss, he let out a groan that sounded alarmingly serious.
“You started it first. I was trying to hold back.”
With the growling tone of his voice, much of Anje’s memory for the rest of that time vanished.
“Being like this… I feel like I’ve become the villainess of the century.”
In the sacred halls of the council building, what audacity was this? The council had been a solemn institution supporting the empire for centuries, and countless great figures had walked through its halls.
She was certain there had never been a secret tryst between lovers here—at least not like this.
Glancing around the small reception room attached to the duke’s office with a fresh sense of curiosity, Anje let out a small moan when the duke nibbled at her shoulder with a teasing grin.
“Your Excellency… stop. It hurts.”
At Anje’s whimper, the duke let out a low chuckle. He must be wearing that mischievous, impish look.
When she tried to turn away to create distance, the duke immediately pressed himself closer and now nibbled at the nape of her neck.
Sighing, Anje turned to face him.
“My reputation… it’s going to fall irreparably, Your Excellency. Don’t you feel any pity for me? People are already talking since I came from the slums…”
Anje felt wronged in many ways.
Even if people insulted her for being from the slums, she had lived more diligently than anyone. What happened last night had been an accident beyond her control. But she knew exactly who people would blame.
Of course, everyone would think that a noble-born duke had succumbed to Anje’s temptation.
“Who dares to speak ill of us?”
Joseph Side’s murmuring voice was unclear, as he was busy pressing his lips to Anje’s smooth skin. Yet even beneath the calm, she could sense hidden anger and irritation.
“Everyone will think that. That the innocent duke was seduced by a witch.”
“I’m no witch… but yes, I did seduce you.”
“What? That’s absurd! When did I—?”
At Anje’s indignant reaction, the duke laughed.
“You did every moment. Sometimes I felt disgusted with myself for wanting to kiss you so badly. At least in those moments, you were my witch.”
Leaving a light kiss on Anje’s furrowed brow as she looked confused, he continued.
“It was maddening. Every night I stayed awake with insomnia, thinking of you. What you were doing. Whether you had eaten. What you were wearing. And…”
He fiddled with the opal jewelry around her neck.
“Why did you return this? I worried that you might have grown tired of me and disliked everything I gave you.”
“It turned out to be far too expensive. The guild staff who saw it were all amazed. They said opals of such quality were rare. Since I had already received so much from Your Excellency, it felt improper to keep it, so I returned it.”
After speaking, Anje kissed the duke’s straight nose.
“But I have a question too.”
“What is it?”
“Why did you suddenly decide to send me away and not see me? Of course, I had to leave the mansion eventually, but it was so sudden.”
“That…”
While hesitating whether to speak, Anje continued.
“I worried I might have made a mistake unknowingly. No matter how much I thought, I couldn’t figure it out. So I thought… maybe Your Excellency had grown tired of me. Even the most devoted lovers sometimes drift apart over small things, so why should I be so upset?”
“I apologize for that.”
The duke’s lips touched her forehead again before pulling away.
“Actually, Davi told me. Being with me would only bring you misfortune. So it would be best if you disappeared.”
“Davi… said that?”
Anje’s expression hardened. Though, in reality, it only slightly creased her small nose, making her look even cuter to the duke.
“Yes. And thinking about it, Davi wasn’t entirely wrong. If you hadn’t been with me, you wouldn’t have been poisoned or kidnapped by Hildegarde. Hearing Davi’s words made me feel guilty and regretful. If something worse happened to you, I don’t think I could bear it.”
“After saving me, you go spouting nonsense…”
Hearing her mutter, the duke looked down at Anje in his arms.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing. But you didn’t ask me anything, you just cut me off like scissors?”
“Do you know what happens when someone is injured in war?”
“……”
It was the first time the duke had ever spoken of the war. Just recalling it had been painful. His chronic insomnia was entirely due to it, and his dreams were always soaked in the blood and suffering of battle.
But last night, even if briefly, he had slept soundly. Holding Anje left no room for intrusive thoughts. Even if it was only in a dream.
“Alcohol is essential on the battlefield. It disinfects wounds and numbs the pain by drinking to dizziness… Cowardly as it seems, I couldn’t cut you out of my life without anesthesia. So I asked Elliot for help. I’m sorry, Anje. I’m so sorry.”
Pressing his face to the crown of her head, the duke kept apologizing.
“Davi… this person, showing no gratitude for saving me! Next time, I’ll sew that mouth shut.”
Hearing her fierce muttering, the duke laughed again.
“Still, unlike Davi’s prophecy, we seem to be a perfect match. Thankfully.”
His voice sounded strangely sly—was it her imagination? Anje narrowed her eyes at him.
“Prophecy? Your Excellency—”
“Joseph.”
“……”
“I don’t want to hear ‘Your Excellency’ from my wife. Or my fiancée, either.”
She had always been irritated when she called him that. It felt like a way to keep distance. Yet calling his name felt awkward, as they were formally employer and employee.
Though she never said anything, Side Duke had agonized over countless small moments with Anje alone.
“…Joseph.”
“Continue.”
Smiling, the duke pulled her deeper into his embrace, nibbling again at her neck and shoulders.
‘Does he even want to hear what I’m saying?’
Anje pushed his lips away and spoke.
“Speaking of which, there’s no such thing as perfect compatibility. Likewise, there’s no absolutely bad compatibility.”
“If there’s no good or bad, then why check? Isn’t it a waste of time?”
Dodging her hands, the duke pressed his face against her hollow collarbone.
“It’s just guidance. No matter how long couples have been together, they can’t know everything about each other. The most important thing is love. Did I say I love you?”
“No, you didn’t.”
With a mock-serious expression, the duke muttered before bursting into laughter. Love? Anje loving him!
“I love you too. Maybe even back when you were Hans.”
“What? How did you know… I was dressed as a man back then.”
“Not just that. You were filthy, disobedient… and somehow you came to save me. Incredible.”
“And yet you loved me?”
“Yes, strange as it is. I’m not usually like that, but I couldn’t forget you. Even from afar, just seeing your back, I recognized Hans wasn’t dead. So I investigated—and it turned out to be you. Isn’t that fate, and proof of perfect compatibility?”
The duke looked at Anje with a gaze full of tenderness as she pondered seriously. Lowering his head, he lightly pressed his lips to hers, and she laughed.
A ticklish warmth blossomed in her chest. Joseph’s smile was contagious, and he smiled too.
Only now did Anje understand. Fate isn’t absolute. Before fate, the heart must always be consulted first.
Looking into Joseph’s loving eyes, her expression was filled with happiness.
