Chapter 46
Melodian, who was in charge of developing the tourist site, flopped down on the bed feeling the joy of labor.
It suited her much better than embroidering or attending aristocratic culture classes. Though her body was tired, Melodian felt proud, thinking she had made good use of her day.
Her breathing gradually slowed.
As she fell into a deep sleep and time passed, the sun peeked out from the horizon. Dawn light settled over Melodian’s face.
She squirmed, trying to avoid the light pouring onto her face, but soon let out a choking sound and shuddered. Melodian abruptly sat up. She had just had a nightmare.
“Why do I always have to dream about that guy? That duke is seriously the worst!!”
Melodian shuddered, baring her teeth.
She hadn’t liked Deneb to begin with, but after that incident, she hated him even more. She’d gone from strong dislike to extreme disgust.
Her throat felt dry from anger. She gulped down water from the bedside drawer, recalling the argument she had with the duke.
Her mind was filled with memories of the day she left Altair Duke’s castle.
“I came to say goodbye. Thanks for the stay, Duke Altair.”
“You’re wasting your time. You can just leave if you want.”
Though she hadn’t said it aloud, Melodian’s face was full of countless curses.
“I didn’t want to say goodbye either! But because of Arin, I had no choice but to keep seeing his face. I was just trying to keep basic manners!”
“Was there ever really a need for manners between us?”
“Wow…”
“Just because of Arin, you say we have to keep seeing each other constantly? How can you be so sure?”
“…?”
“If Arin cut ties with you right now, we wouldn’t have any dealings.”
“Why would she cut ties with me? If anyone’s cutting ties, it’s you. We’re so close!”
Melodian was so annoyed she hated even Deneb’s breathing. Filled with irritation, she sulked.
“Arin and I sleep together, share secrets, honestly, I’m closer to her than you are! We’re like sisters.”
“That’s ridiculous. Do you think a silly sisterly bond is stronger than lovers?”
“Anyone would think she’s my girlfriend!”
“She soon will be.”
“Who says?”
“I’ve never lost what I thought was mine. She’ll definitely come to love me.”
Snapping out of the memory, Melodian puckered her lips and mimicked Deneb.
“난 내 그시라 생극흔 거슬 흔 븐도 놓친 적 읎어. 븐명히 날 스릉하게 될 그다.”
(I’m not going to do the romanization, but this is her mocking his speech.)
Because she viewed him through a “hate filter,” even the cool scenes were naturally distorted.
“I don’t mind if Arin comes, but I really hate the duke coming.”
Today was the day Arin was supposed to visit Melodian’s private land. Thinking about Deneb chasing after Arin gave her a headache.
Melodian glumly stared out the window.
“No bad thoughts. Only good thoughts. Good thoughts!”
She tried to cheer herself up by imagining chatting and playing with Arin.
Melodian often looked toward the entrance of the private land, eagerly waiting for Arin even while supervising. As if sensing her anxious heart, Arin’s group arrived early in the morning.
“Sis!”
Melodian greeted her while doing a little shoulder dance, making Arin giggle.
“How have you been?”
“Good, but I do miss living in the duke’s castle. Didn’t you say Ard and Yello were coming too? Where are they?”
“They’re sleeping in the carriage because of motion sickness.”
Recalling the rough roads, Melodian guessed the journey must have been tough. Wanting to see Ard and Yello, she hurriedly opened the carriage door but locked eyes with Deneb, who raised his eyebrow in a delinquent manner.
No matter how sour Melodian’s expression was, Deneb kept patting Ard’s back, who was asleep as if fainted.
‘Suddenly playing the caring type,’ she thought, feeling strange at the sight of a tiger pretending to be a cat.
“We should put Ard to bed. Where’s the place we’re staying?”
“Follow me. I’ll show you.”
Both Arin and Deneb chose their words carefully and acted coy as they led the way.
They showed Melodian a two-story building full of a fresh new feeling.
“It was just completed recently, and it’s the best private house here.”
Arin, holding the passed-out Yello, exclaimed happily. She was glad their design was well reflected.
Melodian puffed up proudly at Arin’s bright smile.
“The design turned out well, right?”
Chuckling, Melodian opened the door of the biggest room. It greeted them with a large king-sized bed and tasteful soft lighting.
She tapped the mattress with a bounce.
“Put Yello and Ard to sleep here. I’ll give you a tour of the inside.”
After laying Yello and Ard down on the bed and carefully covering them with blankets, Melodian started showing them around.
“The private hot spring inside the house is amazing. Can we use it later with the kids?”
“Of course. I’ll bring some boiled eggs too. Let me join!”
Arin laughed heartily at Melodian’s joke about the eggs.
“Wow, the balcony is bigger than I thought.”
“It got a bit bigger because we installed facilities for barbecues. Let’s grill some pork belly tonight!”
“Deal.”
After showing everything from the first to second floor, Melodian stood at the entrance saying she had to get back to work. Since they had just arrived, Arin decided to shower and rest before inspecting the site.
“Sis, see you at the site in two hours.”
“Okay, see you then.”
Melodian opened the front door and half stuck her body outside, staring at Deneb.
“Duke, what are you doing? Not coming out?”
“……”
“The duke’s quarters are ready, so come out of Arin’s room immediately.”
Melodian was firmer than a hardened pumpkin.
Deneb, who had decided to ease his obsession somewhat, promised to make many concessions here. He stood at the doorway with a worried look.
“Arin, see you later.”
For some reason, Arin’s earlobes warmed up at his sweet greeting.
After touring the construction site, they gathered on the balcony of Arin’s lodging for a barbecue party.
“Put the washed lettuce here.”
“Got it. Should I leave this here?”
“Yes! Put it there.”
Melodian pursed her lips watching Deneb prepare the barbecue exactly as Arin ordered.
He seemed changed today. The intense obsession and possessiveness had softened somewhat.
Before, when he stuck to Arin, he would glare fiercely or give subtle scoldings, but now those signs were gone.
Of course, he still didn’t like Melodian, but the strong hostility had mellowed into mild caution, which made Melodian uneasy.
He was strangely obedient to Arin, making Melodian frown, wondering about his true intentions.
Charcoal, meat, and various vegetables were prepared. Arin hastily started grilling. She distributed the charcoal-smoked meat quickly.
[“I want it whole! Meat is best when torn apart in big chunks.”]
Yello used sharp teeth to bite the meat in big chunks, and Ard opened his mouth wide to match him.
Because using a fork was difficult, Ard’s mouth was covered in sauce and grease. Seeing this, Arin carefully wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.
“You got it on you too.”
Deneb suddenly said this, and Arin wiped her mouth roughly.
“Not there, here.”
He reached out and rubbed Arin’s lips. The soft touch on her lower lip made her neck flush pink.
Melodian, watching this, widened her eyes in disbelief.
‘This guy is playing games! Nothing’s on sis’s face!’
After that, Melodian’s vision blurred many more times.
It was on the way to the outdoor sulfur hot spring after the construction finished.
“Arin, the floor is slippery.”
Deneb casually held Arin’s hand, saying the marble floor was slippery. Though the excuse sounded reasonable, everyone except Arin knew it was a ploy.
The next time Melodian visited Arin’s lodging, Deneb was sitting on the sofa with his butt glued there every time. The excuse was that he was playing with Yello and Ard.
“You’re here again, Duke…”
“You’re the one who keeps coming, young lady. …You’re such a nuisance.”
His expression was so calm and indifferent that Melodian doubted she heard right.
‘Did he just say I’m a nuisance? To me!? Now!?’
She was about to retort sharply but shut her mouth when Arin came out. She couldn’t show her silly side to her sister.
A few days later, having witnessed Deneb’s coyness and frequent subtle touches, Melodian became sure: he was seriously trying to seduce Arin!
Seeing Deneb’s foolish moves, Melodian clenched her teeth and signaled him to stop flirting. But he was a strong opponent, and her interference failed effortlessly.
She had no choice but to watch the scene unfold.
Meanwhile, Arin felt that Deneb was gradually losing his obsession with her and that her importance in his heart was fading.
She used to want that so badly, but now, this sudden freedom was unwelcome. Arin still wanted him to obsess over and focus on her—at least until she had somewhat let go and was okay.
