CHPATER 141……………………………………
Sincerity
How far had they walked? Before they knew it, the two had long left the banquet hall behind and were strolling along a path through the forest surrounding the parliament.
“Your Excellency, where exactly are we going?”
Even in broad daylight, the forest had been dim, but now, as the banquet hall faded into the distance, it was swallowed by complete darkness. Only occasional moonlight pierced through the branches to illuminate their path.
“……”
“I just can’t understand why you’re angry. If I did something wrong, you should tell me so I can fix it…”
“You’ve done nothing wrong.”
The duke muttered in a voice lacking its usual confidence.
Seeing the usually arrogant and self-assured duke so drained, Anje’s pace gradually slowed, until she eventually came to a complete stop.
The duke, a few steps ahead, also stopped and stared at her silently.
Had he lost weight from sleeplessness? The moonlight faintly highlighted his sharp jawline and nose, catching Anje’s attention first. Then his blue eyes, unusually heavy with a melancholy she had never seen before, pierced her view painfully.
Anje reached out to touch the duke’s face but clenched her fists instead. Hadn’t he always hated clingy women? Perhaps that was why things hadn’t worked out with the beautiful Hildegard, too.
“You must have looked into the fate of the King of Nayan as well, right?”
The duke, who had been staring at her for a long while, suddenly spoke. But the words were so unexpected that Anje’s eyes widened.
“Even so, why? Are you planning to go to war with the kingdom again?”
“No, it’s not that…”
Frowning, the duke stepped closer to Anje. His braided hair and the soft blue tint of his dress suited him remarkably well.
With a lonely gaze, he carefully examined her, then took an opal necklace from his chest and gently fastened it around her neck.
Thanks to his body heat, the jewel felt anything but cold against her skin.
“This is…”
Was he about to give a parting gift, something he hadn’t been able to say before? Was that why he was giving her the necklace?
A dozen thoughts flashed through her mind, yet Anje couldn’t utter a single one and simply looked at the duke.
“The moment I saw it, I thought it was made for you. I’ve spent these past few days trying to find something better, but it was impossible. No matter how hard I looked, there was nothing. So what I’m curious about is…”
He paused, unusually cautious of her reaction.
“Whether you and the King of Nayan are compatible.”
Anje, expecting farewell words like ‘Take care’ or ‘Thank you for everything’, blinked in disbelief and furrowed her brows. Her tense anticipation suddenly felt futile.
“Huh? Compatible?”
Even if the sun were to rise in the west tomorrow, nothing could have felt more random or absurd. Yet, seeing the duke staring intently at her lips, waiting for her answer, she couldn’t just remain silent.
“I don’t know why you’re asking, but I’m not incompatible with His Majesty, the King of Nayan.”
Hearing her answer, Duke Side’s face darkened further.
“I thought so. Naturally, he would be better than me.”
“Better? You mean compatible?”
The conversation was increasingly senseless. Anje couldn’t understand why she was being asked to check her compatibility with a king she barely knew, nor why he compared it to himself…
Wait. Could it be…?
Narrowing her eyes, Anje stepped closer to the duke.
“I’m not incompatible with Your Excellency, either.”
At her words, the duke lifted his previously lowered head. For a brief moment, disbelief softened his expression, only to sink back into gloom.
It was like the sun briefly peeking through clouds. A small smile tugged at Anje’s lips.
Tilting her head, she observed his morose expression.
“Your Excellency, did you hear some rumor somewhere? Why this sudden concern… I mean, why are you so curious about my compatibility with the King of Nayan? Regardless of compatibility, there’s not the slightest chance of anything happening between us.”
The duke’s gaze fixed on her, insistent, as if he wanted to know what she was thinking.
Yet Anje herself wanted to know why he was acting like this. If the reason was what she suspected…
“But since His Majesty the Emperor has decided to connect the two of you…”
“The Emperor is not the kind to force someone who refuses. And I have not the slightest interest in the King of Nayan.”
A fleeting light passed through his eyes before vanishing. Biting his dry lips, the duke spoke.
“Why? The King of Nayan is young, attractive, and wealthy. Unlike his late father, he’s capable. Didn’t you see how all the ladies of the empire rushed to the banquet just to catch a glimpse of him? It was a frenzy.”
“Didn’t they gather to attend the Emperor’s wedding and coronation?”
“Consider it a bonus, then.”
“In any case, I’m not interested.”
“Why?”
“Because I already love someone. Though the possibility of us ending up together is slim…”
“Who? Someone I know?”
“Probably.”
“Elliot? Or Gray?”
“Huh? Who? Are you crazy? Who goes out with their brother?”
Frowning, Anje turned and resumed walking. She wanted to confirm the duke’s feelings, but human hearts weren’t so easily unraveled.
Besides, they had been away from the banquet hall too long. By now, rumors would spread — perhaps absurd rumors of her and the duke being up to something in a dark corner…
‘If it actually happened, I wouldn’t even be upset.’
With a displeased expression, Anje pouted.
“It’s better to head back before any strange rumors start. You hate troublesome rumors anyway.”
“No… I’d rather a few rumors circulate.”
Had the cold made him delirious from standing outside too long? Hearing nonsense, Anje turned and saw the duke smiling.
“Why are you laughing?”
“As far as I know, besides Gray and Elliot, there isn’t anyone notable around you. I was worried because Elliot has a fiancée, but thankfully, that’s not the case. Gray… I’ll just give him some compensation later. Now, who is this man you love?”
Anje was at a loss for words. She hadn’t expected him to probe every detail of her statements so persistently.
She turned and walked briskly back toward the banquet hall. She ignored the duke’s laughter behind her; escaping this place was the priority.
Gathering her heavy dress, ready to run, the duke quickly caught her arm.
“Where do you think you’re running off to…!”
Come to think of it, she always ran when things seemed unfavorable. Not when fate struck as Davie’s lies suggested — rather, she confronted misfortune head-on.
Letting out a deep sigh while struggling against his grip, Anje said,
“Your Excellency, let me go. I am no longer your servant.”
“I know. But if I don’t want to see you suffocate, you’ll have to answer. Who is he? The man you love.”
Instead of answering, Anje struggled again to free herself from Duke Joseph Side’s grasp. But the strength of a war hero was far beyond her own.
Closing her eyes tightly and opening them, she surrendered.
“Fine. You win.”
“Who is it….”
Persistent as always, the duke pressed on.
Anje shot him an annoyed look. She wanted, just once, to hit this beautifully handsome man squarely in the face.
“Your Excellency. It’s you. Are you satisfied now?”
Seeing his blue eyes widen and his face brighten only made her more exasperated, and her desire to hit him grew stronger.
