Chapter 2: Let’s Get Married
“I made a new friend.”
Elise said this cautiously, raising her hand. Her words had quite the effect.
Clemence, who had been biting on a cigar, suddenly turned his head with a frown.
Even Huerion, who was usually indifferent, looked curious.
“A friend? Who?”
The one who asked was Clemence.
He was a rather striking man, the only son of the Count of Cruseus, and a close friend of Elise, Lydiana, and Huerion.
Though he often teased Elise, he genuinely cared for her and worried about her.
“Do you know the daughter of the Abecherene family? Her name is Iris. It means ‘iris flower.’”
“What?”
Clemence tilted his head and scowled.
“…That’s ridiculous. Even if noble dignity is fading, someone from a loan business calling themselves nobility?”
“Loan business?”
Elise blinked and repeated the term.
She understood what he meant. Usually, “loan business” referred to moneylending or loan sharks.
“Yeah. That family bought their title. They made their money lending to other nobles.”
“Oh…”
“You didn’t know? That family has tricked more than a few nobles out of their money. Damn, who would introduce someone like that to you…?”
Then Clemence’s sharp eyes turned toward someone.
“Lydiana!”
“What? What?!”
“You? You’re the one who introduced them, right?”
Lydiana flinched.
“Come on, Clemence. It’s not what you think. Iris is a good person.”
“Iris? You’re already friends with a loan shark’s daughter?”
Lydiana frowned.
“I know the rumors about her family. But seriously? Do you think I’d introduce Elise to someone shady?”
“You have terrible judgment.”
“What?! Then are you saying bad parents make bad kids, too? Say that, and I’ll really hate you.”
Clemence was always bickering with Lydiana, but he couldn’t win against her.
“…No. That’s not what I meant.”
And she wasn’t wrong.
If having bad parents made the children bad, then Elise herself wouldn’t be exempt. She, too, had a notorious mother.
Realizing his mistake, Clemence rubbed his face in frustration.
“Ugh… yeah, I was too rash. I’m sorry, Elise.”
“Hm? It’s okay. I know you said that because you care.”
Elise smiled gently.
Clemence sighed when he saw her smile.
“Yeah, having friends is good. Just… be careful, okay? If anything happens—”
“I have Lydiana.”
“Right…”
Clemence swallowed the rest of his words.
‘But it’s Lydiana I’m worried about…’
As the heir to a family of informants, Clemence often came across rumors. And one recent rumor bothered him:
The Clotilde family—Lydiana’s family—was in financial trouble.
But he decided it was best not to mention it.
With that, the four friends continued drinking and chatting into the evening.
By the time Elise noticed, it was already night.
Clemence chewed his cigar and muttered, “There’s word the emperor’s mistress is stirring things up again.”
“Someone might hear you!”
Elise whispered nervously.
Clemence just grinned and pointed to the corner of the room.
“Relax. We’re in the far corner of Russell Hall. No one’s around to hear us.”
“Still! If my mother hears—”
“Come on. We’ve got a duke’s heir here, remember? If anything happens, our handsome little duke will handle it.”
“Clemence!”
“Right, Huerion?”
Huerion, who had stayed quiet all evening, finally lifted his head.
His golden hair shimmered, and his warm golden-brown eyes, a trademark of House Iberk, turned to Elise.
As the heir to the Iberk Dukedom, Huerion’s cold expression melted the moment he looked at Elise.
“For Elise, anything.”
Elise quickly lowered her head, flustered.
Clemence chuckled and patted her head.
Elise had liked Huerion for six years—ever since she was thirteen, she fell in love at first sight.
She had never told anyone, and only Clemence had figured it out. He’d kept her secret all this time.
“Oh! This is so good!”
Lydiana suddenly stood up, swaying her wine bottle.
“This wine is my masterpiece! Feel honored to drink it.”
Her family, Clotilde, was known for producing and selling alcohol. Lydiana herself was a skilled brewer and often shared her creations.
“Ugh, it’s so strong!”
“I made yours extra strong, Clemence!”
“…This girl’s having too much fun teasing me.”
As usual, it was Clemence who ended up on the receiving end of her antics.
But then he stopped and widened his eyes.
“Wait—Huerion, are you okay?”
Normally, Huerion barely drank. But tonight, he kept downing wine like water.
All three of his friends stared at him, concerned.
“I’m fine.”
Huerion smiled.
“I’m just not in the best mood today.”
“Is it about the ships? That recent storm…?”
“….”
The Iberk family managed a shipping business, and Huerion had recently returned from a difficult trip overseas.
Rumors had spread among the nobles that the Iberk family’s major business venture was in danger.
Trying to cheer him up, Clemence raised his glass.
“Hey, drink up. That’s what friends are for.”
Seeing this, Elise hesitated before offering her own cup.
She had kept it aside, worried he might get too drunk—but now, she thought maybe it would comfort him.
“You’re giving this to me?”
“Yeah.”
Huerion chuckled at the sight of Elise offering the glass with both hands. She looked like a squirrel handing over an acorn.
“Thanks.”
His gentle voice made Elise’s cheeks flush.
“Oh right, the coming-of-age ceremony is soon, isn’t it?”
They started talking about the “Rose Banquet,” the grand celebration two months away.
Though they were technically already adults by birthdays, but the ceremony hadn’t happened yet.
“I heard the Duke of Russell might attend. Is that true, Huerion?”
“Maybe. My father hasn’t said much.”
“The current Duke is, what, two years older than us?”
Huerion nodded.
“Yeah. But honestly, if I were him, I wouldn’t want to come.”
Huerion’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“There’s a rumor… that His Majesty killed the former Duke and Duchess of Russell.”
Even bold Clemence held his breath at that.
Elise hiccuped from shock.
Lydiana quickly looked around.
“Hey, don’t say things like that out loud! No one knows if it’s true!”
The former Duke and Duchess of Russell had died in a carriage accident. But some whispered that the emperor had them killed and took their gold mines.
Though there was no proof, the rumor spread quietly.
After all, it involved the emperor, currently praised as a wise and virtuous ruler.
“Change the topic! Please! We’ll lose our heads at this rate!”
Clemence grumbled.
Some time later, the wine was nearly gone.
The first to get drunk was Lydiana.
“Ughhh, I’m gonna be sick…”
Clemence clicked his tongue as she collapsed onto his shoulder.
“This girl never listens.”
“She’s always like that.”
He lifted her up with a sigh and turned to Elise.
“Guess it’s my job to clean up. You’ll be okay? Can I leave Huerion to you?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
Elise smiled reassuringly.
Both she and Clemence knew the duke’s carriage would come soon.
Clemence waved goodbye and left with Lydiana.
Elise sat beside the sleeping Huerion, watching him quietly.
‘He’s not waking up at all.’
Even asleep, he was stunning. He had always looked beautiful to her—never once less than perfect.
That’s why he always felt so distant.
‘Should I go get some air?’
Just as Elise stood up, something fell from the table with a clatter.
Startled, she turned—only to see Huerion opening his eyes.
“Hue?”
“Yeah.”
He looked up at her, eyes half-lidded, and smiled like an angel.
“Elise, come here.”
He grabbed her wrist.
“I like you.”
Elise trembled.
…Was she dreaming while standing up?
But the warmth of his hand felt too real.
“Hue…?”
“I like how you call me that.”
“…”
Everything felt surreal. It had to be a dream.
Otherwise, how could something she only wished for come true?
Huerion was looking only at her, smiling like this.
It was what she’d longed for all these years.
Even though it was night, her heart burned like midsummer.
“I’m sorry. It took me too long to realize.”
His drowsy eyes curved as he looked at her.
His voice was low, but clear.
“I love you.”
Heat surged through the hand he held.
“Stay with me from now on.”
That night—between spring and summer, beneath a sky full of stars—Elise’s six-year-long love finally came true.
She would never forget the moment she saw herself reflected in his eyes.
***
Tweet-tweet.
Morning arrived.
“Mm… morning?”
Elise reached beside her, but her hand hit something firm.
‘Wh-what is this…?’
She opened her eyes—and her face turned red.
A tanned, muscular chest. Defined muscles below.
She shot up in bed.
The blanket slid down, making her gasp and yank it back up.
That’s when a strong arm wrapped around her waist.
The muscular arm pulled her back down.
“Mmm, Elise… sleep more…”
“H-Hue…”
As she struggled in his grip, Huerion opened his eyes halfway and looked at her.
His breath tickled her neck. His well-toned body was clearly visible.
“H-Huerion…”
Then he rubbed his sharp nose against her neck and whispered low.
“Every time you call me Hue… I imagine things.”
“W-what kind of things?”
“Bad things.”
He gently placed her hand on his chest. His firm body was burning hot.
She could feel the strong muscles of his legs too—there was no hiding her red face now.
“Elise.”
Thump, thump. His heartbeat pulsed beneath her hand, matching her own.
“Let’s get married.”
