Chapter : 12
When did he get so close?
Trapped between Knox and the fireplace, Dayna let out a cautious breath.
This kept happening whenever she was with Knox.
Was he like this in the original story?
No. She immediately shook her head in her mind.
After the previous Duke and Duchess of Betelgeuse died, Knox was raised under the strict guidance of his aunt, Lady Hillary, who became the family head in his place. He grew into a rigid, emotionally restrained man.
Utterly indifferent, uninterested in others, and, according to the original story, terrifyingly cold toward Stella!
That’s why our precious girl went astray.
Ahem! Unconsciously taking Stella’s side, Dayna cleared her throat awkwardly.
But why does he keep…
She glanced up at Knox.
…getting so close?
Her head started to throb.
As if the delay in securing a swift and safe divorce wasn’t headache enough, why wasn’t he acting like the original story dictated?
“Stella, please answer.”
Knox’s voice settled in her ears again.
Unable to hold back any longer, Dayna spoke.
“I wasn’t thinking anything or intending anything. As Sir Hertus said, we do have plenty of firewood, but as you know, my family’s situation isn’t great, so we have to conserve it.”
“…”
“Sir Hertus manages his own fire, so I can’t do much about his room, but for yours, I guess my usual habits slipped out while trying to help. I’m sorry. If it’s uncomfortable, I can relight it.”
No immediate response came.
Dayna, who’d been avoiding his gaze by staring at the floor, cautiously looked up.
“…?”
Her eyes met his golden gaze, which had been watching her the whole time.
Ugh.
Startled, she quickly lowered her head again.
Knox, still watching her, lifted the corner of his mouth and spoke.
“No, I’m the one who should apologize for asking a foolish question. You’ve simply made a practical choice as the mistress of the Viviwood mansion.”
“Well, yes, but…”
“It’s impressive, too. I recall you’ve been in Wizberry for less than two years since leaving the capital, yet you’ve managed this large mansion so well without even a single maid. It must have been nothing but hardship for a noble lady.”
Yes, though it was me, not Stella, doing the managing, and it was incredibly tough.
Recalling her grueling past, Dayna suddenly looked up.
Wait, is this it? Is this the moment?
This seemed like the perfect chance to naturally bring up their marriage and segue into the divorce discussion.
Making up her mind quickly, she spoke.
“Duke.”
“Speak.”
“It’s about what I tried to say during our walk. The truth is, managing this big mansion alone is getting overwhelming.”
Swallowing hard, she looked up at Knox, standing close.
He gazed back at her without a change in expression.
“And… Wizberry is so cold. I miss the capital, where it’s warm all year round…”
As she spoke, she kept gauging his reaction.
Come on, say something after all this!
“What I mean is, we’re technically married, but since we were so young, we each had a lot to learn in our respective families… so we haven’t seen each other much, but now we’re grown, and…”
“I understand what you’re saying, my lady.”
Knox interrupted, stopping her mid-sentence.
Dayna looked at him with a face full of anticipation.
“I was actually planning to discuss that matter with you as well.”
Yes!
Dayna mentally clapped her hands.
Pretending ignorance, she tilted her head and asked, “You had something to say?”
Knox quietly studied her excited expression. His gaze darkened.
To be blunt, he couldn’t fulfill her expectations.
His entire purpose for coming here from the capital was to deliver divorce papers, not to take her back with him.
The avalanche had delayed him, but it was only right to settle the matter before returning to the capital.
So he couldn’t give her what she wanted.
“…”
Yet his heart felt strangely uneasy.
A reluctance he couldn’t explain gnawed at him.
The confusion of not knowing what he truly wanted only deepened his turmoil.
Unable to bear it, he spoke.
“My lady, could you give me some time?”
“Time?”
“There are some documents I need to sort out before we discuss this.”
Documents… he means the divorce papers, right?
The question rose to her throat, but she held it back.
Things seemed to be moving in the direction she wanted, so it was probably best to leave it at that for now.
From what he’s saying, it sounds like he’ll bring up the divorce soon…!
Nodding with satisfaction, Dayna replied, “Alright, Duke. I’ll wait, so please let me know once you’ve sorted things out.”
The snow would melt soon, and Knox would leave.
It felt like Knox and Stella’s safe, happy divorce was finally within reach.
* * *
“I feel so relieved!”
“Relieved? More like freezing.”
“But even though everything’s going smoothly, why do I feel this strange unease?”
“Tell me about it.”
Muttering beside Dayna, Jade nodded in agreement.
“Well, the Duke won’t mess this up.”
“What, you’re talking about the Duke?”
“Huh? Then what are you talking about?”
“The fireplace.”
Snapping out of her thoughts, Dayna followed Jade’s gaze.
After leaving Knox’s room feeling lighthearted, she’d been lighting the fireplace in a guest room on the first floor for a shivering Jade.
Blinking, she stared at the cold fireplace.
“What’s this?”
“The fire won’t catch.”
Oh, really?
Looking down at her hands, Dayna realized she’d been fanning dry wood and matches for minutes, yet the fire still hadn’t taken.
“What’s wrong with this?”
“You’re quick to notice, huh?” Jade teased.
Flustered, Dayna waved the fan harder to stir the air.
When that didn’t work, she blew on it and even enlisted Jade, but the embers refused to spark.
“Why is this happening…?”
Crouching beside her, Jade peered into the fireplace and said, “This hasn’t been used in a while, has it?”
“I don’t think it’s ever been used.”
When it was just her and Stella, there was no need to bother with the fireplace in a secluded guest room like this.
Knox and Clian were the first visitors in two years, after all…
“Probably clogged with dust or debris, blocking the airflow.”
“It’ll be cold to sleep here, right?”
“Yup.”
“Too cold to tough it out?”
“Definitely.”
So what do we do?
“Maybe, though it’s a bit late, I could ask Sir Hertus? See if you can share his room until this fireplace is fixed.”
“That bear-sized guy with doe eyes? No way.”
Bear-sized with doe eyes?
…Genius.
It was a perfect description of Sir Hertus. A valiant knight with unnecessarily soft, dewy features.
Impressed by Jade’s way with words, Dayna asked, “Why not?”
“Guys with that kind of jawline snore like crazy. I’m sensitive when I sleep.”
“You’re so picky.”
“I get that a lot.”
Jade replied nonchalantly.
So what now…
She couldn’t possibly ask the Duke to share his room with her friend.
“Then the only spare room is…”
“Your room?” Jade interjected.
My room?
Dayna turned to look at him.
