~Chapter 97~
“……Sir?”
Sensing Zeon’s eyes sweep over her from head to toe, Anette awkwardly broke the silence by calling out to him.
The same distance as before—unchanged. Confirming her strangely uneasy demeanor, Zeon unconsciously clenched his fists.
At last, he spoke.
“You seem well. His Grace the Grand Duke must cherish Your Highness greatly.”
“……”
He hadn’t meant to speak so sharply.
Startled, Anette paused, gazing at him with unfamiliar eyes.
But Zeon’s composure, already cracked, crumbled under the weight of extreme unease and undeserved anger.
From her dress to her jewelry, everything looked expensive. Though he didn’t want to admit it, she looked comfortable as well.
Watching her with eyes twisted in frustration, Zeon spat out his words.
“You were so desperate to escape—are you satisfied here?”
“……What?”
Anette’s eyes widened at the blatant mockery.
Zeon, who had always kept his distance politely—though never especially kind or gentle—had never once shown such biting sarcasm.
And then—
“You said it was your duty to shield Luke? That your injury wasn’t his fault? Of course you’d say that. You stepped in knowing full well you’d get hurt.”
“……!”
Anette inhaled sharply, like a beast struck in a vital spot.
Zeon’s eyes, usually calm and indifferent, today looked chilling, as if they could pierce straight into her very core.
Meeting that reproachful gaze, she suddenly felt pain in her left hand again—though the wound had long healed and left her perfectly fine.
The crack, the snap of bones shattering in her wrist, the tendons torn beyond repair…
It was the memory of that excruciating agony.
Receiving Anette’s love confession, Kardin barely had time to bask in happiness before letting out deep sighs.
Because at that very moment, he couldn’t stop fuming with jealousy, thinking of Anette facing Zeon and Luke in the reception room.
‘I should’ve gone with her…….’
He’d spent his life deploying beauty as a weapon, never imagining he’d fall victim to it himself.
〈There are still so many things I want to ask and hear from Your Highness, but I suppose this must be dealt with first.〉
In the middle of a perfect moment, unwelcome guests had barged in, and Kardin had burned with fury.
But his princess calmly declared she would face Zeon and Luke herself.
Now that she had regained her adult body, there was no longer any reason to stop her from meeting them.
And yet, knowing full well Zeon Millard’s feelings for her, she still chose to go.
Kardin’s expression darkened.
Sensing his mood dip, Anette slipped close, took his arm, and whispered softly:
〈Don’t be jealous. Sir Millard will never love me.〉
Kardin flinched, shoulders trembling as he met her eyes.
Her earnest gaze told him she truly believed he was just blinded by jealousy, misinterpreting Zeon Millard.
Relief washed over him, and instead of denying it—insisting it wasn’t a misunderstanding—he offered a sheepish smile.
Better she believed he was jealous of every man around her, than for her to know she was aware of Zeon’s heart and troubled by it.
‘Yes… it’s not right to speak of another man’s feelings without his consent.’
Even if that hadn’t been his intent, Kardin reflected, admitting to a mistake he hadn’t meant to make.
And then—
〈Besides, I have no intention of leaving this Grand Duke’s castle. Unless Your Grace decides you no longer want me……〉
〈How could I ever not want you, Princess! That could never happen.〉
〈You never know.〉
〈Are you doubting my heart right now?〉
〈……Isn’t that what you wanted? You said you wanted me to be suspicious, so I tried it.〉
Anette scratched her cheek shyly, blinking innocently—and Kardin nearly lost his breath at how utterly lovely she looked.
So when she continued, he nodded as if entranced.
〈Anyway, don’t worry about a thing. I’ll go handle this, so just wait patiently for me. All right?〉
〈Yes…….〉
By the time he regained his senses, Kardin found himself waving her off.
But with her coaxing and sweet reassurance, how could he bare his petty jealousy by begging her not to go—or worse, demanding to go with her?
Slumping his shoulders, Kardin thought:
His princess not only had the power to drive a man mad but also the rare talent of lifting him up and setting him down at will.
‘I’ll never win against her… not in this life.’
Not that he ever planned to win.
To carry out Anette’s order to “wait patiently,” Kardin retreated to his office and tried to distract himself.
But he’d already finished all the work that had piled up recently. After checking the last reports and sending word to the imperial family of Anette’s recovery, there was nothing left to do.
Maybe some training at the practice yard would help?
He quickly shook his head.
With his mind full of his princess spending time with other men, taking up a sword would hardly be wise.
Unable to stop thinking of Anette, he sighed and rested his chin in his hand.
What was she talking about with Zeon and Luke right now?
Before, he would’ve fretted—worried they might seduce her with pitiful words, afraid she might decide to leave the Grand Duke’s castle.
But now that they had confessed their feelings for each other, the only thing that consumed him was bitter jealousy—that those men had her attention even for a moment.
His body twitched, ready to bolt to the reception room, but he recalled Anette’s words and restrained himself. Then he resolved:
‘When she comes back, I’ll ask for a reward for waiting patiently.’
And he already knew what he wanted.
To finish what they’d started before being interrupted.
“Gods, what do I do.”
Just imagining it made his whole body flush.
The thought of asking Anette for a kiss as his reward turned his face, ears, and even his neck crimson. Kardin pressed his lips, fighting to hide the grin spreading across them.
Suddenly, heat coursed through him, and he began fanning himself urgently—when clink, an ice-filled cup landed on his desk.
Looking up, he saw Samuel smiling pleasantly.
“You looked warm, so I brought this. Drink up while you think. And if ever you need the advice of a loyal aide, just say the word!”
“……”
Kardin’s expression chilled instantly as he snorted.
From morning, Samuel had been sneaking glances, clearly dying to know what had happened yesterday.
He could act so attentive when he wanted, and yet most of the time only ever talked back. Kardin found him unbearably irritating.
Turning his head away, Kardin ignored him. Samuel’s face drooped in disappointment.
But his curiosity was eating him alive.
From his master’s behavior—touching his cheek absentmindedly, grinning to himself, blushing furiously—Samuel was sure something special had happened between his lord and the princess.
‘He usually tells me everything without even being asked, but now he keeps his lips sealed? Unfair!’
As he schemed how to pry open Kardin’s mouth again, something caught his eye.
“Hm?”
Still lingering by the desk, Samuel tilted his head.
“Isn’t that Larisa?”
Why would Larisa, who should be at the princess’s side, be outside? Curious, Kardin shot to his feet and peered out the window.
Whether by accident or design, she stood where he could clearly see her from his office—together with someone.
And that someone was…
“Luke?”
What the hell was he doing here again?
Before Kardin could speak further, Samuel swiftly flung the window wide.
Voices drifted in.
“Why do you keep calling my lady your lady?”
“I already told you. I’ve resolved to devote my life to the commander. So of course I’ll lay my bones in the Grand Duke’s household, and it’s only proper I call her ‘my lady.’”
“Heavens above. Lay your bones here? Do you think the Grand Duke’s knights are something so trivial? Are you even a real knight? You look so feeble.”
“I am a knight! Maybe not the strongest, but still… And even if not as a knight, I’d gladly serve as a servant, so long as I could call her my lady and serve her faithfully.”
“Unbelievable! Do you think servant positions at the Grand Duke’s castle are just handed out like candy?”
“No, that’s not what I meant……”
Hearing this much, Samuel cautiously glanced at his master.
Knowing Kardin, who loathed any man near the princess, surely he would erupt at Luke’s declaration to live and die for her.
But—
“……My lord?”
When had he disappeared?
The shadow that had stretched across the window was gone in an instant.
Samuel shook his head. It seemed getting his master to open up today was hopeless.
Anette froze, breath caught in her throat, as Zeon’s words—that she had been hurt on purpose—stabbed through her.
“Was I wrong?”
Pressed by his question, her stiff lips parted slowly.
“You…… knew?”
“……”
At that, Zeon’s left cheek twitched, as if pricked by an invisible needle.
