DDPLG 4

Episode 4

In the end, I sat back down and listened attentively to Sophia’s words, staying with her until she popped the last cookie into her mouth and chewed slowly.

“So, you’re saying I appeared in your dream?”

“Yes, my lady—and that man, too. It may be hard to believe, but in my dreams I see the past and the future. If it’s in black and white, it’s the past. If it’s in color, then it’s the future.”

“No, I believe you.”

I knew better than anyone else that Sophia dreamed prophetic dreams—I was, after all, the reader of the original story. Sophia had been the very first to witness the fall of her kingdom through a dream.

“Me crying over the duke? Impossible. I’m planning to run away. Maybe it’s just a mistaken prophecy.”

Whether Sophia’s dream was true or not would only be proven with time. Since I had never once cried because of the duke in the past, what she spoke of must be a vision of the future.

Even so, my heart dropped heavily in my chest. Why was I being tied to the duke even in someone else’s dreams? And to make matters worse, crying without a shred of dignity? Dream or not, it was still disgraceful.

If Sophia had cried bitterly and ruined the wedding over this, I could hardly blame her. Showing up in her dreams once a week—no wonder she was resentful. I felt embarrassed over something I hadn’t even done.

“My lady, you were pregnant with his child.”

…What?

Never had I imagined such words would come out of Sophia’s mouth. I forgot to breathe.

Hardly anyone knew about the lie I had told Duke Fiar. He had insisted on absolute secrecy, warning that the early months of pregnancy were delicate. Only a handful of people within the mansion knew—so how on earth did Sophia, living in the royal palace, find out?

Perhaps noticing the flush spreading across my cheeks, Sophia leaned in closer. She checked once again that no attendants were nearby—even though I had already dismissed them all—before whispering.

“But that man… he cast you aside cruelly, drove you away. And my family also…”

She cut herself off with a snap of her lips, realizing she had said too much. Straightening her back, she pretended nothing had happened. I sipped my tea, letting the bitter taste linger on my tongue, as though I had heard nothing.

Still, the heat in my cheeks only deepened. Hearing my shameless lie repeated from another’s lips was far more mortifying than I had expected.

I couldn’t understand how a falsehood I had concocted was taking form in Sophia’s dream. Yet from her words, at least I could guess at the depth of her emotions.

“Luén, I was waiting for you.”

When I returned to my room, someone was there. Startled, I asked sharply,

“What brings you here at this hour?”

The duke looked genuinely hurt by my tone.

“I was lonely. There’s no one with me anymore. I wanted to be with my wife. Aren’t you lonely too, Luén?”

“You have no one because you personally dismissed all your mistresses…”

The day after I had confronted him, he had driven away every one of his lovers. I had wanted to leave, but instead, it was they who had been expelled.

Dozens of women gone all at once—it was only natural that the mansion now felt so quiet. If I could have, I would have traded places with them. But fate had crossed our paths differently, and none of us got what we wanted.

“Shh.”

He silenced me with a hurried gesture. Sometimes, in moments like this, he seemed like a boy again. His clear, bright air made it impossible to imagine the tragedy that awaited in the future. These glimpses of him often made my resolve falter.

I set aside the shawl draped over me and stepped further into the room, when I noticed something was different from that morning. The room felt crowded—not just because of his presence.

“Do you like it?”

“What is all this?”

Reading my expression quickly, he asked me a question of his own. Piled high on the sofa between the wardrobe and the bed was a mountain of gift boxes.

“I wanted to thank you—and also apologize.”

For what, exactly?

Before I could ask, the duke guided me forward, not giving me the chance to hesitate. Bewildered, I followed him toward the sofa.

“Go on, open them.”

I had never received so many presents in my life. The boxes were stacked nearly as high as me. I stood there staring, while he urged me to hurry.

I reached for the first one that caught my eye—a small box with a lopsided ribbon. As I ran my fingers over the messy bow, he looked almost sheepish.

“It’s my first time wrapping gifts… I wasn’t very good at it. You don’t dislike it because of that, do you?”

Something welled up inside me, making me unable to answer. He kept glancing at me nervously.

“You…”

You’re supposed to be the villain.

You’re supposed to love Sophia. Why are you being so kind to me?

So many questions fought to escape, but I didn’t know where to start—or if I would get any answers.

No… I was supposed to be abandoned by you.

You’re destined to fall in love with Sophia. And yet… why do I keep wanting to believe the warmth in your eyes?

“Your Grace…”

I whispered softly. He met my gaze, eyes filled with nothing but earnest, pure affection—so much that I couldn’t bear to look back.

When I averted my eyes, he clasped my hand. It looked graceful at a glance, but calluses covered his skin—marks of a life spent wielding a sword.

Maybe he really is a good man.

I had ignored this side of him for so long. Terrified of the future I knew, I had missed the truth of the man standing before me.

No… I mustn’t get caught up in this. Stay focused.

I held onto his warm hand for a moment before pulling away. My own voice sounded strangely heavy in my ears.

“Do you really trust me?”

The duke blinked slowly, as if startled by such a question.

“Yes, of course. How could I not trust you? If I don’t believe in my own wife, then who else could I believe in?”

It was strange—his tenderness made the moment feel more like a dream. Precisely because I knew how ruthless he could truly be, the sweetness unnerved me.

Why did it make me so anxious? Should I confess everything now?

“Duke Fiar.”

“Yes, Luén? Tell me.”

“I have something to say… about our child.”

If I hesitated here, I feared I would never escape this family, trapped forever. I had to strike where he was weakest—through the child. As expected, his expression shifted instantly.

“What is it? We don’t even know the gender yet—don’t tell me you already dislike pink shoes?”

“…What? Pink shoes?”

I blinked in confusion, until he gestured to my palm. A tiny pair of delicate pink baby shoes sat there.

He opened another box with practiced ease, as though he knew exactly what was inside.

“This is the heir of House Fiar we’re talking about. Do you think I would buy only one pair of shoes? They deserve the world, and more.”

With quick hands, he stacked more shoes into my lap—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet—like a rainbow tower of baby shoes.

Smiling proudly, he said,

“Any color would suit them beautifully, don’t you think?”

When had he even purchased all this? I stared blankly at the pile in my hands, blinking, when he suddenly moved again.

“Of course, it’s not only gifts for our child. You, Luén, are far more precious.”

At his signal, maids swarmed into the room, tearing open box after box with military precision. They must have been trained in advance—the way each group handled a specific category was too orderly to be a coincidence.

What on earth…?

My tension drained, replaced by sheer exhaustion.

“What is all this?”

One after another, dresses were hung neatly on rolling racks, dazzling jewels sorted into ornate cases, shoes arranged by color and material.

It seemed the duke had a habit of collecting in excess—every shade, every texture. Even I, who knew little of luxury, could tell how priceless these things were.

“It’s a modest wedding gift. Once again, thank you for marrying me.”

…Modest?

Did he not understand the meaning of the word “modest”?

My thoughts scattered uselessly as the pile of gifts only grew larger.

Take care. But come back soon.

I remembered how he had let me go earlier with such unexpected ease, after only a few halfhearted complaints. Had he permitted me to meet Sophia just to prepare all of this?

No. Don’t overthink it.

My head was already too crowded.

“Shall we step out for a moment, my wife?”

The duke knew exactly how to ensnare hearts. When he smiled with that fresh, clear charm, offering me something, I never knew how to refuse.

So yes, what I mean to say is—I ended up trailing after him without ever getting to the point.

Chirrrp, chirrrp.

The night air was cool at first, but the longer we walked, the more the chill seeped into my bones. The cries of insects filled the silence, but only barely.

“Luén, today must have been tiring for you.”

I didn’t deny it, and he went on, murmuring words of sympathy—how hard my day had been, how I must have struggled.

“I promise you this: in your life from now on, there will never be a day harder than today.”

His fiery vow continued.

“I cannot promise you constant happiness, but I swear you will never know misfortune. On my honor as Fiar, I vow it.”

I don’t need such promises, my lord.

Don’t speak so confidently of a heart you yourself don’t yet know.

Duke Fiar. You will love Sophia.

I still could not trust him. I had read how fiercely, how desperately he loved her.

In the end, he would choose her. That was the sad foresight—the privilege—of being both a reader of the original tale and a stranger from outside this world.

And yet… for now.

I let him lead me into the greenhouse. Inside the glass dome, the scenery was unlike the view from outside.

It was magically kept at a constant temperature year-round, a haven for nobles fleeing the extremes of summer and winter. Only the wealthiest could afford such luxury.

“Look how the flowers are in full bloom.”

“Yes. They’re beautiful.”

Normally, greenhouses displayed rare plants and animals. But because the duke disliked crowdedness, this one overflowed simply with flowers. Their heavy fragrance filled the air, making the place strangely enchanting.

“No matter how beautiful they are, none could compare to you, Luén. Sit here.”

Following his escort, I sank into a cushioned chair. He draped a shawl over my shoulders. The thoughtfulness made me wonder—why had he prepared all this? My eyes wandered over the table, where even light refreshments had been arranged.

Does he have something to say?

The teapot was still steaming, suggesting the servants had left only moments earlier. Catching my gaze, the duke curved his lips in a peculiar smile.