Chapter 85 …
Seeing the Villain’s Future is Disturbing
This question was directed at Aaron. I wondered why he had left Mia alone, and right by my side, no less.
“The Count knew I was that person’s lover while investigating the incident. I confessed that I had informed him of the young lady’s whereabouts.”
It felt like a blow to my head.
So there had been something between Aaron and Mia…
Why did Aaron leave Mia alone? Why didn’t he mention a single word to me? If he had known, I would have surely asked why he kept Mia near me.
“I thought I would naturally be punished and locked up, but the Count just let me go. Instead…”
My eyes sharpened as I looked directly at Mia.
“Instead?”
Mia hesitated as if the words were difficult to say, then finally blurted out the words she had been hiding.
“He told me to observe and report on Her Highness, the Grand Duchess. To watch for anything suspicious or unusual…”
Her expression as she confessed this was far more anguished than when she had told me about the carriage incident earlier.
It was clear how much guilt she had felt doing this.
“So you were acting as Count Aaron’s spy.”
Seeing me speak with a hollow expression, Mia’s eyes welled up with tears.
“I’m sorry. You could just kill me, and I wouldn’t have a word to say. You treated me so well… sob…”
Mia sank to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
Honestly, I didn’t feel like helping her up. She had been acting as Aaron’s spy right next to me…
Having been blindsided by both Aaron and Mia at the same time, my head was spinning.
“Why are you confessing your conscience now?”
I asked in a hollow voice, but Mia just continued to sob.
“Honestly, it’s a bit shocking. I expected Mia might be connected to the carriage incident, but I never thought she’d deceive me too…”
Now, she restrained her tears and spoke carefully.
“I will accept whatever punishment comes for my sins. You could kill me, and I wouldn’t argue. But even so, telling you now makes me feel a bit relieved.”
Seeing her say this, I could understand just how much she had suffered mentally over this.
“I need to think a bit more about what to do with you. For now, my head hurts, so I should rest.”
Pressing my throbbing temples, I left Mia where she was and returned to my room alone.
Walking, I thought quietly: not just Mia, but Aaron left me with a deep sense of betrayal.
I had thought he had been sincere toward me, even just a little. Now I had no idea what part of him was genuine.
‘Then what was all that about?’
When he agreed to marry Shiraz, he had truly seemed disappointed and distressed toward me. If even that had been an act… the thought sent chills down my spine.
‘Ah, my head.’
It throbbed. Why had he gone that far with me? Was I really so suspicious that he had to place a maid to report on me?
No matter how many questions I asked myself, no clear answer came.
There was no way to find out except to ask Count Aaron himself.
But by now, my heart had drifted too far from him. Whatever he said, I didn’t think I could feel disappointment or betrayal anymore.
The time we had spent close, like friends, had crumbled like dry leaves underfoot.
“Haah—um.”
Mikhail yawned lazily as he walked down the corridor, and Huey gave him a disapproving look.
“Huey. Already up?”
“Already? The sun is already high in the sky.”
Huh?
Mikhail squinted and looked outside, but it was still early morning.
“Don’t be so strict. Even His Highness wouldn’t be out today after the first night. Oh, my head feels like it’s splitting from last night’s overdrinking.”
Mikhail complained, annoyed that he had been called out this early.
“His Highness is already in the office. Hurry in.”
Startled, Mikhail immediately straightened up.
“In the office? But last night was the first night!”
He stared at the office door suspiciously.
“He drank with us late into the night yesterday…”
Mikhail scratched his head, unable to understand. Even a meticulous master wouldn’t normally be in the office the morning after their wedding night.
Usually, there was a tacit understanding that the groom could be late or take leave for a few days after the wedding.
‘Ah, humanly.’
Mikhail realized too late that the Grand Duke didn’t fall under that category. His face reflected his astonishment.
“But wouldn’t it be lonely for the bride to wake up alone on the first day of marriage…”
“Nonsense!”
Huey’s sharp retort made Mikhail smile sheepishly.
The two who entered the office together wore completely different expressions.
Mikhail, unaware of the deeper context of this marriage, smirked playfully as he observed his master, while Huey remained unusually cautious.
The Grand Duke sat like a painting against the wide window.
Despite having married just yesterday, there was no sign of fatigue.
Huey thought perhaps his demeanor had changed slightly, but dismissed it as imagination.
There was no real change—this wasn’t a true marriage after all.
“We will be sending thank-you letters to the guests who attended the wedding today.”
Shiraz nodded at this expected report.
“Now that you’re married, nobles will likely compete to invite the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess…”
Huey looked troubled, but Mikhail gave a baffled expression. It seemed natural to accept such invitations.
“Now that there’s a lady of the house, we must maintain active interactions with the capital’s nobles…”
Before Mikhail could finish, Shiraz cut him off sharply.
“The war is still ongoing, so it’s best to politely decline for now.”
“Understood.”
Huey responded promptly. Mikhail, realizing he had spoken unnecessarily, shut his mouth with an awkward expression.
“Check and report on all military supplies tasks previously handled by Carlisle. Nothing should be left unchecked.”
“Yes, understood.”
“I also want to inspect the cavalry training grounds. We must ensure proper management.”
“Yes, sir. I will schedule it as soon as possible.”
Shiraz closed the approved report and stood.
“And Count Pino?”
“He’s handling the duties transferred from the Marquis without any issues. In fact, he’s more competent than the Marquis, so no complaints have arisen.”
“Good.”
Shiraz, satisfied, crossed his arms and walked toward the window.
His gaze landed on the Grand Duchess.
Leaning slightly against the window frame, he watched her silently for a long while.
Huey and Mikhail noticed. Somehow, a faint smile seemed to appear on his master’s lips.
“Come to think of it, we should go there instead of a honeymoon. Prepare for it so we can go together.”
Still looking outside, Shiraz ordered.
“The cavalry training grounds, you mean? Understood.”
At Huey’s response, Mikhail couldn’t help but bring his fist to his mouth to stifle a laugh.
A honeymoon at a cavalry training ground… how romantic (?) a place. At least for the Grand Duke.
Mikhail couldn’t help but feel a little sympathy for the new lady of the house.
Feeling unsettled after hearing Aaron’s story from Mia, I trudged alone to the herb room.
Simply organizing the herbs often helped calm my restless mind.
Walking along the pretty path leading to the herb room, someone suddenly appeared from behind a tree.
“Your Highness?”
I was startled to see Shiraz, who hadn’t been in bed this morning either, suddenly appear before me.
“What if you were alone and met a thug? You’re not still mistaking me for a mere maid, are you?”
Though he spoke cautiously, the corners of his lips curled in a playful smile.
“Ah… Alicia and Mia were with me just now… I wanted to be alone for a bit. The Countess just left too.”
My words stumbled out like excuses, but he didn’t seem to be listening at all.
To be precise, he was only watching my lips, waiting to see when I would stop speaking.
“Mm.”
No sooner had I finished speaking than his lips covered mine.
“Y-Your Highness!”
The same lips that had inflamed me last night pressed against me relentlessly again.
The more I tried to speak, the deeper his kiss became, leaving me speechless.
Though the path was secluded, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of anxiety and thrill, fearing someone might pass by.
In broad daylight, in a place where servants could appear at any time, he acted so boldly…
I hadn’t imagined Shiraz would do this. After pouncing on me all night without tiring…
It was as if he had been waiting for this marriage, expressing his affection without hesitation.
“Hmm.”
Even a kiss alone made my legs weak, and I felt like I might collapse.
The exquisite sensations from last night began to stir in my body again.
Though we were pretending to be a married couple, it felt like we were enjoying a real honeymoon.
This strange, thrilling, and slightly sinful feeling was entirely new. Knowing I shouldn’t, I was nonetheless swept up in this dangerous, sweet temptation. My entire body craved him more and more.
As his lips traced from my mouth to my neck, I realized I needed to regain my senses.
“Your Highness. Here…?”
