Chapter 4
A Duke Who Can’t Write Letters
For the past few days, Alfonso Raypier had been in a daze.
It was the aftermath of publicly proposing to the woman he had loved from afar for so long—Lacey Lils.
Unfortunately, because her younger sister had suddenly fallen ill, he hadn’t received an answer, and everything had ended ambiguously.
‘That child…’
Alfonso thought of Katarina Lils.
Lacey’s half-sister—who looked nothing like her, despite Lacey’s silver hair and cool blue eyes that resembled the southern sea.
If that child hadn’t suddenly run up, clung to his leg, and shouted “Daddy,” his proposal that day would never have happened.
He would have continued hesitating endlessly over Lacey’s condition—that she would only marry a man who could be like a father to her sister.
‘It almost felt like she chose me.’
Though her reasoning—calling him “Daddy” because he was handsome—had left him bewildered.
Still, it meant he had passed Lacey’s most important condition: her sister.
Even if—
There had been no contact from Lacey since.
Alfonso crumpled up the thirtieth draft of a letter.
He had always prided himself on his writing, having loved books since childhood—
Yet he couldn’t even write a single proper line to her.
“It’s me, Lacey.”
Rejected. Reason: too arrogant.
“Do you… know who I am?”
Rejected. Reason: sounds like a pathetic ex.
“I write to hear your answer from that day.”
Rejected. Reason: how dare I use such a commanding tone toward Lacey!
He repeated this cycle of writing and rejecting his own words over and over.
Time passed quickly.
After a week of failing to send even one letter, Alfonso let out a deep sigh—at both his own pathetic state and Lacey’s complete silence.
“My lord…”
“Jade, leave me. I want to be alone.”
He needed solitude to endure this turmoil.
Alfonso waved dismissively at his butler, Jade, who had entered cautiously.
But Jade didn’t leave.
“There’s… something you should hear.”
“What is it…? Has Lacey contacted me?”
Alfonso’s sudden excitement made Jade raise both hands.
“No, not that.”
“…Then later—”
“Instead, Lady Lils’ younger sister is here.”
Alfonso froze.
Lacey’s sister?
He looked as if to confirm whether he’d heard correctly. Jade nodded.
“However…”
“However what?”
“She’s… in quite a critical condition. You should see her.”
Alfonso’s eyes widened.
The beloved younger sister of the woman he loved—half-dead in his home?
“Where is she?”
“In the drawing room.”
“I’m going now.”
With long strides, Alfonso brushed past Jade and hurried downstairs.
He didn’t know how Katarina had ended up here—
But she had to be alright.
Throwing open the door, he demanded:
“How is the young Lady Lils? Is it serious?”
A maid stepped back from the sofa where Katarina lay, a damp cloth on her forehead.
Thomas, a knight of the Raypier household, stepped forward.
“She has a fever and signs of dehydration. The physician says it’s not serious—she should recover with rest.”
Relief washed over Alfonso.
At least the worst-case scenario had been avoided.
He steadied his breath and gestured sharply.
“Explain.”
“Well… she suddenly appeared near the left wall of the estate.”
Thomas, the first to find her, explained.
He had seen a small girl emerge from the bushes, pale and dragging one foot.
“Child, what are you doing here? This is private property—you shouldn’t wander around.”
Half wary, half concerned, he had spoken.
The girl had trembled but answered clearly:
“I’m Katarina Lils of the Count Lils family. I came to deliver a letter to Duke Raypier, so if you could—”
Before finishing—
She collapsed.
“She came… to deliver a letter?”
Alfonso raised an eyebrow.
“What letter?”
“She collapsed before handing it to me. It should still be on her.”
“……”
“She likely walked all the way here. Without a carriage. Without a maid.”
Thomas fell silent.
The distance between the Lils estate and the Raypier estate was no joke.
Even an adult would struggle.
And yet—
A small child had come all that way.
‘Why didn’t she take a carriage?’
After Count Lils’ death, the family had been under the care of Viscount Pedro.
Everyone in the capital knew that.
The viscount appeared to be dutifully caring for his nieces—
But he wasn’t Katarina’s blood relative.
‘Is she being neglected… because she’s illegitimate?’
It was possible.
Common, even, among nobles.
Children born from affairs were rarely welcomed.
‘Why does this trouble me so much…?’
Was it because she was the sister of the woman he loved?
Or because she was such a small, fragile child?
As Alfonso sighed silently—
Katarina’s eyes slowly opened.
My plan had failed spectacularly.
I had intended to sneak in, observe the estate, slip the letter under the front gate, and leave unnoticed.
Instead—
I got caught immediately.
And before I could even finish asking a knight, “Is the duke perhaps unwell?”
I fainted again.
Just like at the party.
And when I opened my eyes—
A devastatingly handsome face greeted me.
Ah… my poor heart.
“Are you alright?”
I nodded.
Relief flickered across his face.
“It’s fortunate you collapsed near a knight. You were brought inside immediately and treated.”
So the brown-haired knight had helped me.
Good.
“Now then—you said you came to deliver me a letter?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Why such recklessness… You could have sent it through a maid.”
I don’t have one.
Instead of explaining my pitiful situation, I pulled the letter from my clothes and handed it to him.
His red eyes scanned it slowly.
“…You wanted to see me?”
“Yes.”
“Why? We only met once.”
“Umm… I just did. Is that not allowed?”
I had already used the “because you’re handsome” excuse too much.
So I fumbled.
But he shook his head.
“That’s not what I meant. It’s just… surprising.”
“Me?”
“I’ve never made a good first impression on children your age.”
…That made sense.
He was incredibly handsome—
But also intimidating.
If I were truly six, I might’ve been scared.
But I wasn’t.
So I smiled brightly.
“I like you because you’re like a prince.”
“…I am?”
“Yes! And my sister is a princess!”
Pairing them together made his face redden slightly.
If I hadn’t been paying attention, I might’ve missed it on that fierce face.
As he cleared his throat, I carefully spoke again.
“By the way… can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Have you been very busy?”
He didn’t seem sick.
So I wondered if he had other reasons.
“No. Not particularly.”
“Then why didn’t you visit my sister? Or send a letter?”
“…That’s…”
He hesitated under my slightly accusing gaze.
“I couldn’t decide… how to begin the letter.”
“…What?”
“I couldn’t decide how to properly greet your sister in writing.”
…
I nearly collapsed again.
He hadn’t contacted her—
For a week—
Because of that?
As I slumped forward, he quickly reached out.
His large hand covered my forehead—almost my eyes.
“Are you alright? Should I call the physician?”
“I’m fine.”
“You have a fever and dehydration. Don’t overexert yourself.”
“I’m really okay.”
Leaning into his warm hand, I heard his low, blunt—but oddly gentle voice.
“If you’re not, tell me immediately.”
“…Okay.”
“And don’t think of it as a burden.”
Even though I clearly was one.
He’s kinder than I thought.
I nodded softly.
After resting for a while, I raised my head.
“Your Grace… I think greeting my sister is actually very easy.”
“…?”
“For example—”
I looked around the room, then pointed at a flower vase.
“You could say you saw flowers and thought of her. Or the sky. Or delicious food.”
I phrased it childishly—
But what I meant was simple:
“I thought of you when I saw this.”
A classic.
Romantic.
Judging by the slight shake in his eyes—
It seemed he understood.
