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Sunlight poured through the half-drawn curtains, spilling over the two people lying on the bed. Lucius, squinting against the intense light, stirred and slowly sat up.
“…….”
Still half-asleep, with slightly unfocused eyes, he glanced at the movement beside him.
“Mm…….”
Tiana, still not fully awake, buried her face in the pillow, frowning as if the bright sunlight annoyed her. Seeking the shade, her face regained its peaceful expression. Lucius, watching her utterly absorbed in sleep with affection, reached out and touched her disheveled hair.
“Mm…… Lucius…….”
“……Tiana.”
Carefully brushing the hair that tangled around his fingers, his hand traced her face, landing on her soft, plump cheek. The tender, moist texture made him absentmindedly linger, until a small movement and sound from Tiana startled him, making him pull back.
He worried he might have woken her, but thankfully, she was still asleep. Perhaps the touch tickled her, for she furrowed her brow and then grabbed his hand resting on her cheek, using it as a pillow.
Lucius, staring at that adorable sight, let out a soft, amused chuckle. His hand had become a hostage, yet it was far from frightening. Such a sweet little “hostage-taking” was always welcome.
“You really are…….”
As always, everything about her—every small gesture, every movement—captivated him. Even the slightest change in her expression was fully visible to him. To him, she was the center of the world.
The only person who had broken through the gray walls of his lonely world. After meeting her, his world had overflowed with color. It was a view he could never have seen without her.
‘All the happiness I feel now is because she’s here. If… things had ended as they were between us…’
He would never have seen her again, nor felt this happiness. Lucius exhaled a sigh of relief and, with his other hand still free, gently touched Tiana’s face.
He still remembered that day, when she had turned away, leaving him with cold and sorrowful words. A memory so dreadful he had wished it were just a dream. Until that day, no matter how much humiliation he endured, he had never faltered—but that day was different.
‘I don’t love you.’
‘I hate you.’
Her cold voice had pierced him like a sharp dagger, leaving an unhealable wound throughout his body. Yet he let her leave and turned away, stepping out of that place. That day had been the first time he ever wanted to escape after meeting her.
It had been a nightmare. And he had thought their connection would end there—but it didn’t. He had been shocked and worried upon hearing of the accident, but there had also been fear. Yet when he met Tiana again, he felt an opportunity had come.
‘And now, I’m here with her.’
Had she not been the Tiana he saw now, he doubted it would have been possible. She resembled the Tiana from the past, yet somehow different—but being with her felt safe, comforting, and made him smile naturally. He had never been able to relax fully, anywhere, with anyone—but with her, he could.
‘Why is that?’
He had met many versions of Tiana, but why did he feel this stronger connection with her now?
He was confident his feelings had not changed. Before she became the Tiana of today, even if she had been cold and avoided him, he had thought he would accept it and never change his heart. But the heart is a tricky thing—even his own heart could not be fully controlled.
Since their marriage, while living happily with the current Tiana, he sometimes remembered her past self—cold eyes, a dismissive demeanor. Looking back, he felt an irritation that he couldn’t even speak to her back then. At the time, no matter how harsh the words, no matter how she ignored him, he had felt an obligation to accept it. He felt he must not reject her.
‘Now, I don’t feel that at all. How can it be so different?’
It was undoubtedly the same person. But though her appearance was the same, her aura and behavior toward him were completely different. She seemed like a different person altogether.
“Mm…… Lucius, don’t go…….”
“Tiana……”
Seeing her pull his hand closer, he couldn’t help but smile. Her warm breath against his skin seemed to clear his tangled thoughts.
Even if she were someone else, his heart reacted to her—the one before him. His emotions surged because she was real.
“No matter who you are, I’ll never let go.”
Lucius pressed a gentle kiss to her still-closed eyes.
“Your Highness, the carriage is ready.”
“Understood.”
Lucius, having finished preparing to leave, stood up at Warren’s call. Slipping on his coat, he realized he had forgotten the envelope on the desk and picked it up.
“……Let’s go.”
He eyed the red envelope with a moment of tension before tucking it safely inside his coat and leaving the study. Warren followed him down the stairs at a brisk pace.
In the first-floor lobby, the servants were lined up to see Lucius off. Feeling slightly embarrassed by their orderly presence, he looked straight ahead and walked forward.
Two butlers opened the front doors, and as Lucius stepped outside, the awaiting carriage and mounted knights came into view. He paused for a moment before speaking to Warren.
“Ensure my wife gets plenty of rest. Even if she sleeps late, do not wake her.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Ensure the escort is vigilant, as I instructed yesterday. There must be no lapse in her protection.”
“Understood. I will relay the instructions to the knights in charge of her escort.”
“Good. Then let’s go. I may be late, so there’s no need to prepare dinner. Make sure she’s informed.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Leaving Warren behind, Lucius climbed into the carriage. Once the doors closed, the carriage and the mounted knights departed. From early morning, his destination was the imperial palace.
A weekend morning. Without a state council meeting, the palace was almost empty of nobles except for the staff. The quietness, with only essential personnel on duty, allowed Lucius to relax slightly.
Upon arrival, only the head steward came out to greet him, likely having been informed in advance.
“Welcome, Grand Duke. His Majesty awaits you.”
“Lead the way.”
“Yes, this way.”
The steward guided Lucius, who had his hand on the inside of his coat over his chest, taking a deep breath as he followed.
Instead of the audience hall, he was led to the emperor’s secret garden where he had previously come with Tiana. Surrounded by lush flowers and trees, a small table and two chairs were set up, and nearby stood Rayel in a long red robe, eyes closed in the shade of a tree.
“Your Highness, the Grand Duke has arrived.”
“…….”
Rayel slowly opened his eyes and met Lucius’s gaze. Lucius froze, tension crossing his face, as Rayel remained still, staring back.
“Then you may speak.”
The steward quietly bowed and withdrew. As he left, a faint red barrier appeared at the garden entrance.
“Meow~.”
Perhaps having entered before the steward left, Rose walked out from the entrance, rubbing against Lucius’s legs. Rayel, noticing, spoke.
“Let’s sit first.”
“…Understood.”
A brief exchange occurred, yet neither man looked at the other properly. Even as they took their seats, an awkward misalignment lingered.
Rayel’s gaze often strayed, while Lucius struggled to turn fully toward him. In this tense, uneasy space, Rose approached the table and mewed softly, settling between them. Rayel let out a small laugh.
“Such ridiculous behavior for a human.”
“Indeed,” Lucius agreed, bemused. Had Tiana been there, she would have found Rose adorable. He regretted she wasn’t there to see this.
“….”
Thinking of Tiana holding Rose, calling him lovingly, he couldn’t help but smile.
Rayel noticed Lucius’s softened expression and spoke in a gentler tone.
“You can make that face now.”
“…! Ah……”
Surprised, Lucius brought a hand to his face. Rayel smiled faintly.
“It suits you. So you needn’t hide it.”
“…Your Majesty.”
Rayel had relaxed into his usual self, and Lucius gradually eased his tension.
“Today, I prepared flower tea. I hope it’s to your liking. Adjusting the water temperature is trickier than it seems.”
“You prepared it yourself? That alone is more than enough. I will drink it well.”
“…Very well.”
Seeing Lucius nod shyly, Rayel smiled slightly. As he waved his hand over the teacups, warm steam rose from the previously cool tea. Rayel sipped first, and Lucius followed.
‘Ah… marigold flower tea.’
The same marigold tea he had first tasted with Tiana in Sinadelli. Its familiar scent and taste calmed his mind. It was a tea filled with memories important to him, though unknown to her—his favorite flower tea.
Seeing him smile softly, Rayel placed down his cup.
“It’s been a long time since I saw you like that. Your face… like this.”
“…?”
“…Surely, it wasn’t that woman?”
“…!”
The weight of his words widened Lucius’s eyes.
