CHAPTER 166…………………………………….
“I saw Miss Inferna again this time. I didn’t realize everything you said at the tea party was sincere.”
“Oh, at the tea party hosted by Bianca, you said you would marry the one you love, right? I thought that was surprising, but now that I’ve met Duke Obern, I completely understand.”
“That’s right. He’s so handsome that you can’t help but stare. But overcoming the family’s opposition isn’t easy, so I was truly shocked.”
“Yes, it was. And even more shocking that the lady who married her benefactor—the one who saved her life—is Miss Inferna herself.”
I could hear all the whispers among the young ladies, but there was nothing unpleasant.
Perhaps because of the play circulating in the capital, no one tried to slander or criticize me.
After the party ended, I felt a deep sense of relief that the engagement mission had gone smoothly.
Though it wasn’t a real engagement, I wanted the ceremony to proceed flawlessly, without shame, wherever it might be seen.
Not just for my own sake, but for Kyle’s as well—and because it was the first time for both of us.
“The night air is cold.”
As a chilly breeze blew, he draped his jacket over my shoulders.
Walking back to the Princess’s Palace alone with him, an unfamiliar, awkward silence settled between us.
“…I guess it’s because of the kiss.”
I had never confessed even once to Kyle.
So in a situation where I had to share a formal kiss, I had pressed my lips against his and refused to let go—he must have been so surprised.
No wonder my cheeks burned whenever I recalled the engagement ceremony.
“Thanks to you, I feel warm. Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me for everything like that.”
Embarrassed, I turned slightly to glance at him as we walked side by side.
Meeting my gaze, Kyle smiled softly, as if to say it was perfectly natural for him to do this.
At that moment, I realized that as a noble, it was only proper for him to observe formal etiquette, and I felt a bit sheepish.
“Oh, come to think of it, Kyle is right. I am his fiancée now. It’s only natural that he looks after me. Haha.”
Formally or not, I was now Kyle’s fiancée.
I realized that all his care for me was not just for my sake, but also reflected his own intentions.
I clenched both fists and smiled brightly, sending a look that said I understood his meaning perfectly.
“That’s not what I meant. I just meant you don’t need to thank me for everything I do. I do it because I want to, not for anyone else.”
Perhaps feeling burdened, Kyle replied gently, assuring me that his actions were indeed for my sake.
Even at moments like this, I couldn’t stop thinking of his lips.
“Yes. But today, I really wanted to thank you.”
Feeling shy and thinking it might be rude, I averted my gaze. He leaned down and met my eyes, as if worried he had upset me.
“Then say it while looking at me.”
His sharp eyes looked straight into mine.
“…Did I really have my first kiss with such a beautiful man?”
Once again, Kyle’s soft, moist lips dominated my attention.
I worried that my secret, naughty thoughts might be completely revealed.
“El?”
“Ahem… thank you for becoming my fiancé, Kyle.”
I said it loudly, biting my lips tightly afterward.
Kyle’s face flushed crimson in the moonlight, and he turned his head slightly.
“If that’s your greeting… then I…”
Unable to meet my gaze, Kyle seemed slightly shy. Was his pride making it difficult to say thank you?
I stopped walking for a moment to watch him. Seeing him look at me with a red face, he covered his face with his large hands, as if he couldn’t hold back.
“Let me go first. Thank you for pushing through this difficult engagement for me, despite the Count’s opposition.”
“If it were Kyle, it wouldn’t matter—it would have been a marriage, not an engagement.”
Shaken by his sweet voice—or perhaps by the gentle atmosphere that made my heart flutter—I confessed my honest feelings rather foolishly.
Kyle blinked in surprise, then let a bitter smile spread across his face, as if to say that nothing would come of it.
“Come to think of it, there’s the matter of the resort. Have you thought of any place?”
Tilting my head at the sudden question, I wondered why he brought up the topic.
Yet it didn’t seem like he was desperately trying to change the awkward conversation.
Seeing my confusion, Kyle smiled lightly.
“Now that the engagement ceremony is over, the procedure for leaving for the resort tomorrow remains.”
“Was there such a procedure?”
‘We’re not even really engaged… do we have to go through all these formalities?’
“The Crown Prince Lefenon mentioned it himself, so it should be true.”
“But it’s not a real engagement. Even if we travel together, is it alright? I worry that I might be taking too much of Kyle’s time with all this.”
“If you thought that way, you’d be disappointed.”
“……”
“This is me being stubborn because I want to monopolize your time. You’re not losing time—you’re gaining it, in a way.”
I wasn’t sure if I completely believed Kyle’s words.
As Duke, he was always busy performing duties assigned by the Emperor.
Previously, I had been puzzled why the Emperor assigned him work.
But now, knowing that he was Duke Obern, everything made sense.
“I’m just worried because we’re attracting too much attention. Will it be alright like this?”
I felt upset because our engagement seemed loud and showy, like an empty cart making noise.
Everything seemed perfect—except for one thing: our ambiguous relationship.
Too hot to call it friendship, too lukewarm to call it love.
“They said that if we don’t leave at this point, when all eyes are on us, it will be easy for gossip to arise. But if you dislike it…”
“I’m fine with it.”
Selfish as it might be, I liked being with Kyle.
Though Kyle was only “good-looking” to me on the surface, I still wanted to create more memories with him.
“I want to go somewhere with a view of the sea. A place with clear water and the pleasant sound of waves.”
Cock-a-doodle-doo.
When I opened my heavy eyes to the rooster’s crow from the palace kitchen, the sun had already risen.
It was a morning that made me smile unconsciously.
Unlike the other roosters crowing from dawn, this one was late, and I laughed at how amusing it was. My mind drifted to the resort.
“Milady, you’re already awake?”
A maid entered my room and hurried over upon seeing me.
“Yes. Has Her Highness the Princess risen?”
“Yes. She asked about you, but when I told her that the engagement party ran late, she said not to wake you early.”
“That’s a relief. I thought she’d find me immediately. Any other news?”
“Oh, by the way, from early morning, Duke Obern’s carriage has been waiting in front of the Princess’s Palace.”
Everything felt like a dream—especially now. A dream so vivid it felt unreal.
“What? Kyle’s here right now?”
“No one has been seen leaving the carriage, so no one can confirm. If he’s here, he’d inform you through the attendants, wouldn’t he?”
Though not impossible, I somehow felt that Kyle was truly waiting inside the carriage.
I quickly got ready, and the maids attending to my grooming became busy as well.
After packing a few essentials, I stepped out with the maids carrying my bags.
There it was—a golden carriage encrusted with real jewels.
“Miss Inferna, we’ve been waiting for you.”
The driver hurried over and bowed as soon as he saw me.
He took the bags from the maids and smiled warmly at me.
“His Grace the Duke is waiting inside. I’ll store your luggage in the compartment, so don’t worry.”
As the carriage door opened, I saw Kyle reviewing documents. He looked like a living painting, and I was momentarily speechless.
Regaining my senses, I hurried to board, and Kyle extended his hand.
I grabbed it quickly, climbed up, and sat opposite him.
“I’m sorry you had to wait so long because of me.”
Out of breath from hurrying, I gasped lightly.
He noticed my expression, reached out slowly, made a soft tapping sound, and handed me a glass of cool water.
Unable to refuse, I drank, and his eyes softened.
“My time is different from yours. I can wait as many times as needed.”
“Today I’m late, so I have no excuse. But I don’t want to make you wait in the future either.”
“……”
“So Kyle, don’t make me wait, and don’t wait for me either—just come running.”
