Chapter : 22
Could it be that he was still waiting for an answer to the question Edelonian had asked?
“Why are you acting like this today?”
I approached Duke Casiar subtly, forcing a smile as I whispered.
“Why, you ask? Because I’m curious about your answer.”
Wait—why did that suddenly become a matter of curiosity?
His interest was in the power I possessed, not me.
“If I have to choose just one, of course it would be you, Duke.”
I didn’t want to utter such an embarrassing line myself.
Moreover, saying something so flirtatious in front of Edelonian—who knew my personality and that I wasn’t one for sweet talk—made me feel completely exposed, as if I were standing bare.
Yet somehow, a satisfied smile spread across Duke Casiar’s lips, as if he had eaten something way too sweet. Could it really be because of my answer?
“This is remarkable. To see Duke Casiar smiling like this,” I said.
“You speak as though you know me well.”
“You are quite the celebrity, aren’t you? No one in the capital is unaware of the so-called ‘walking ice rink’ you are.”
I covered my mouth with my hand to suppress the laugh that threatened to escape.
A “walking ice rink”?
It was a nickname from the original story, but hearing it in person hit even harder.
I understood it was meant to show his cold, ruthless nature, but calling him a walking ice rink was just so childish.
Apparently, Duke Casiar didn’t take it lightly either.
His handsome brows had furrowed the moment he heard the nickname.
“And also because I personally have some acquaintance with His Majesty,” Edelonian added.
“You… you have acquaintance with His Majesty?”
Even I was hearing for the first time that Edelonian was personally acquainted with the Emperor.
Wasn’t Edel just a normal knight belonging to the Royal Knights?
Even so, since he protected the royal family, perhaps the Emperor took a special interest in him?
Still, the Royal Knights had a number of members, and he couldn’t possibly have personal ties with all of them.
Now that I thought about it, I actually didn’t know anything about Edelonian’s specific role or duties as a knight, apart from the fact that he worked with the Royal Knights.
Usually, after training, he’d just drop off gift bundles at the Marquis’s residence and leave, so there was never any reason to ask deeply about his work.
“Yes, that’s right. So I’ve often heard stories about you, Duke, and know a bit. Of course, it’s all just hearsay, so you likely don’t know me.”
When Duke Casiar realized Edelonian had ties to the Emperor, he somehow looked annoyed.
“I see. Then are you still on duty?”
“Of course not. I had planned to spend the entire day playing with Riel, but you intervened, didn’t you, Duke?”
Edelonian expressed his displeasure at his private time being interrupted.
Even though this was supposedly the first time Edelonian had met Duke Casiar, he interacted with him as if he were an old friend.
And indeed, as Edelonian said, the one who had interrupted was the Duke, so he had nothing to argue.
“Can’t be helped,” Edelonian said, resting a hand on the table as he stood and looked at Duke Casiar.
“You’ll have to take responsibility for the last few precious hours of my sweet rest, Duke Casiar.”
A meaningful smile appeared on Edelonian’s lips.
“Ah, how long has it been since I breathed this fresh air?”
A little later, Edelonian and I arrived at a famous handmade dessert shop in the capital.
“Someone might think we just got out of prison,” Duke Casiar, who had agreed to be Edelonian’s wallet for the day, remarked.
“Try being locked in a training ground for months. You’ll realize that life there isn’t much different from being imprisoned,” Edelonian replied, steadfastly inhaling the bustling street air despite the Duke’s teasing.
How the three of us ended up together—and that Duke Casiar, the reluctant companion, was coming along as Edelonian’s wallet—could be explained as follows:
‘Why am I responsible for your vacation?’
‘Riel and I already had plans. She wanted to play with me freely, but there are eyes watching, so it’s difficult. This has disrupted my once-every-two-weeks vacation.’
‘So?’
‘I must find a way to enjoy myself. If the Duke accompanies us, nothing untoward will be said even if Riel and I are together. Plus, he can handle the payment; isn’t money no object to you, Duke?’
Edelonian had become brazen in my absence, even demanding that the Duke pay for everything.
Usually transparent as jelly, Edelonian’s intentions today were difficult to discern.
‘What if he doesn’t want to accompany?’
‘As I said, this is precious time I rarely get. If the Duke refuses, Riel and I will disguise ourselves and go out anyway. Sometimes Riel finds her cumbersome dresses uncomfortable, so she hides her hair under a hat to dress like me. No one will know she’s the future Duchess. What will you do?’
Surprisingly, Duke Casiar agreed to Edelonian’s proposal.
Since developing his mania, he had disliked crowded places.
Naturally, one would expect him to avoid the busy streets.
And yet, he was agreeing to pay for everything—a clearly disadvantageous deal.
This wasn’t like the Duke I knew.
Moreover, judging by their conversation, there seemed to be a connection between the Duke and Edelonian through the Emperor.
Since Duke Casiar knew Edelonian was part of the Royal Knights, he could probably figure out that Edelonian’s real name wasn’t Roan if he tried.
Even if it was a risky move, hiding Edelonian’s identity was the best I could do for him.
“Shall we go inside now? Riel, it’s your favorite place.”
“Okay.”
“Duke, you too.”
Edelonian reached toward the dessert shop.
As we took a few steps, I halted, feeling pain in my right ankle.
I had been so focused on Edelonian and Duke Casiar that I misstepped while walking in my shoes.
“Riel, are you okay?”
Edelonian turned, concerned.
I had considered resting in the carriage, but I didn’t know what might happen between the two in my absence.
Besides, since Duke Casiar had gone out of his way to follow us, he might have his own hidden motive.
The ankle pain was tolerable, so I waved it off.
“It’s nothing. Just lost in thought. Let’s go in.”
I smiled as if nothing had happened and stepped into the dessert shop.
JPrit Dessert Shop
The shop was packed, as expected for the most popular dessert shop in the capital.
“It’s an honor that Duke Casiar has visited our dessert shop,” the owner exclaimed.
Of course, all eyes were on Duke Casiar.
Recognizing him, the shop owner ran out, presenting him with a bouquet.
As a result, Edelonian and I also drew attention.
I’m a regular here, but I’ve never received a bouquet… Wait, are the flowers made of chocolate?
JPrit’s specialty was chocolate desserts.
Not only were my favorite desserts combined into a bouquet, but it was beautiful too.
For the first time, I felt envy toward the Duke.
Unlike Duke Casiar, who showed no interest, I gazed at the bouquet with sparkling eyes.
Seeing this, the Duke accepted it into my hands.
“This seems more suitable for my wife than for me,” he said, placing it carefully in my arms.
I was overjoyed but couldn’t jump with excitement.
My right ankle still hurt, and there were too many onlookers.
“May I accept this?”
“If it brings joy to my wife, it will also be a delightful gift to me.”
The shop owner’s eyes widened when I was referred to as the Duchess.
“If the Duchess accepts the bouquet, it will be an honor for both me and this shop. It’s a small gift, so please accept it.”
The owner insisted that I accept the gift first.
It was a little bitter to see how much treatment changed just because of the title “Duchess.”
“Then I’ll accept it without hesitation. Thank you, Duke,” I said, smiling at Duke Casiar while holding the bouquet.
His large hand brushed through my hair.
“I’m glad you like it.”
The look in Duke Casiar’s eyes felt different from before.
Previously restrained, now it seemed overflowing with emotion.
Even knowing it was an act, I almost felt moved.
“Since the two of you get along well, it’s a pleasant sight. I’ll guide you to your reserved seat,” the owner said, leading us personally.
“Roan, did you make a reservation?”
“No, I didn’t expect it to be this crowded.”
If not Edelonian…
“Duke, did you make the reservation?”
“It’s better to enjoy dessert from a good seat. Don’t you prefer a window seat?”
Duke Casiar had remembered that I liked the view from the window the day we had steak together.
Is he acting too perfectly as a husband? Too perfect can be a problem.
The reserved table was on the second floor, by a floor-to-ceiling window.
The clear blue sky outside lifted all fatigue from my body.
This was true healing. With dessert added, it was heaven on earth.
While I was blissfully gazing out, a man in a black suit approached.
“May I take your order?”
“I’ll have a sandwich. Riel, a slice of red velvet cake and a cream puff, right?”
Edelonian confidently recited the order.
“I thought it was chocolate mousse cake, chocolate puff, and peppermint tea,” Duke Casiar objected.
“As her husband, don’t you know Riel’s tastes? She likes cream puffs more than meals,” Edelonian argued.
“You tell him. Which one suits your taste better?”
“Yes, you tell him, Riel,” they said in unison.
I pointed to Duke Casiar as the correct answer.
And that was when the war between the two men began.
