Chapter 88
“I plan to meet you.”
“Y-Your Grace, the Grand Duke?”
Startled by the loud thud of the door closing behind me, I called out to him, but he gave no answer, as if he hadn’t heard my voice at all.
His strong left arm wrapped firmly around my waist, pulling me close. The sudden closeness made me panic, and I hurriedly grabbed at his arm.
Since it was already late at night, I had changed into a thin shift dress, and I could feel Calliere’s warm breath brushing against the bare skin of my neck.
“Um, wait…!”
His breath tickled over my shoulder, mixing with the strands of his soft hair, making goosebumps rise all over my body.
My heart pounded loudly, thumping so hard it hurt, and cold sweat formed in the palm that clutched his clothes.
My thoughts went blank at the unexpected situation, and I froze, almost forgetting to breathe. Perhaps noticing my stiffness, he slowly lifted his head and looked down at me.
The moonlight pouring through the large window lit up the room, so it wasn’t too dark.
But with Calliere standing against the light, shadows deepened across his face, making his already sharp features look even more dangerous… more alluring.
‘W-What should I do?’
My lips went dry from the tension. I instinctively licked them to moisten them, only to notice his eyes flicker toward my lips.
My heart thundered even harder under the heat in his gaze.
“You’ll regret it.”
His voice, lower than usual, brushed against my ear.
Confused by his words, I looked up nervously. His eyes met mine, deep and unreadable, pinning me still like prey.
“What will you do if I hold you and never let you go?”
“…What?”
“Don’t ever let anyone else hold the sword’s handle but you.”
Only then did I realize—he was throwing my earlier words back at me.
He glanced at my thin attire, then picked up a robe hanging on the wall and draped it over my shoulders.
“And… I’d like it if you understood that visiting a man’s room dressed like this is dangerous.”
“A-ah…”
My face burned hot at his words.
He smiled teasingly, and after biting my lip nervously, I whispered:
“I’ll keep that in mind. But…”
“But?”
“For Your Grace… I thought it was fine.”
The moment those words left my lips, his hand hesitated where it had been fixing the robe.
He looked at me strangely, his eyes unreadable.
“…What do you mean by that?”
“I trust you.”
“….”
“I trust Calliere Esperos.”
He was that kind of person to me.
In this place full of people who only wanted to use me, he was the one who gave me a choice—who told me to use him instead.
Of course, I hadn’t thought about the fact that I was standing before him in nothing but a thin shift dress, but still…
I flinched at the deepening look in his eyes as he raised his hand to cup my cheek.
His thumb brushed against the corner of my lips, and the robe slipped from my shoulders, falling to the floor.
“Your Grace…?”
His thumb pressed against my lower lip, while his other hand slid firmly around my waist.
“The one you should never trust… is me.”
“Ah…”
“Rebellia.”
The hand pressing against my lip moved to support the back of my neck. Through the thin fabric, I felt the heat of his large hand against my skin.
His touch slid slowly across my waist, making me flinch, then traveled upward along my back.
“Y-Your Grace?”
Sensing the dangerous mood, I called out desperately.
“P-Please wait a moment.”
He only gazed into my trembling eyes, let out a deep sigh, and lowered his head toward me again.
Pulled firmly into his arms, I felt his hot breath against the side of my neck once more.
My heart thudded wildly, but I bit my lip and endured it.
Then he murmured suddenly:
“Just for a moment. Let me stay like this.”
“What?”
“I need some time.”
Time? For what?
I didn’t know, but I stayed still, careful not to provoke him, even though my awkward position made it hard to breathe.
His warm breaths brushed against my neck again and again, making me restless, but since he seemed to be enduring something himself, I did my best not to resist.
I heard a small sigh escape his lips near my ear.
Awkwardly, I raised my hands and wrapped them around his back.
Pat, pat—I tapped his back lightly.
A faint chuckle slipped from him.
“What’s this?”
“Uh… encouragement?”
“Encouragement?”
“You seemed tired. When I’m worn out, someone patting my back always makes me feel better.”
It was a serious answer, but he only laughed again, the sound low and pleasant.
‘Wh-what? I wasn’t joking…’
He hugged me tighter, his arms crushing me in his hold, before finally loosening his grip and leaning back.
There was ease on his face again, while I felt nothing but embarrassment.
I turned my gaze away and asked shyly:
“Wh-when will you return to the Grand Duchy?”
“Well… when should I?”
“…Are you asking me?”
“I don’t mind anytime. But more importantly…”
“…?”
He leaned closer until his eyes caught mine.
I tried to look away, but when our gazes collided, I flinched.
“Why do you keep avoiding me?”
“A-avoiding? Me? I-I don’t think so…”
“….”
“B-but more than that… could you step back a little? We’ve been way too close since earlier.”
But because of his hand around my waist, I couldn’t move away at all.
So instead, I leaned my head back awkwardly.
In an instant, he closed the distance, leaning down to erase the space I had just created.
“Didn’t you say I was fine? Then this distance should be fine too, right?”
The playful smirk on his lips made me bristle.
“I-I’m fine. I was just worried… that maybe you wouldn’t be.”
“Oh? So you stepped back for my sake?”
“Of course.”
At that, he raised a brow, his lips curling with a teasing smile.
“You really are a terrible liar, Rebellia…”
And then—
—I was the one who kissed him first.
His lips froze in shock, his eyes going wide as he stared at me blankly.
I pretended to stay calm and whispered:
“See? I told you—I’m fine.”
“Again.”
“…What?”
“Kiss me again.”
His gaze clung to mine, hot and demanding. Hesitant, I leaned in and kissed him once more, longer than before.
His arm tightened around my waist.
Looking straight into my eyes, his voice cracked slightly as he asked:
“If I’ve misunderstood right now…”
But I only lifted myself on tiptoe, wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed him again.
Calliere pulled me tightly against him and whispered against my lips:
“You started this.”
And with those words, our breaths tangled together.
“Would it be alright if we travel to the Grand Duchy by carriage?”
I was eating soup with mushrooms we had gathered from the forest when his sudden words made me look up.
“…Carriage?”
“Yes.”
Calliere answered casually, then picked up a napkin from the table and gently wiped the bit of soup at the corner of my lips.
His natural gesture made me feel awkward, and my face heated up. Pretending not to notice, I asked:
“May I ask why we’re going by carriage?”
“There’s a barrier around the Grand Duchy that blocks magic. That means teleportation stones or scrolls won’t work anymore.”
At his explanation, guilt pricked me, and I glanced at him nervously.
“I feel like I’ve caused trouble for you again.”
“Don’t ever ask Lafer for help with something like that again.”
“….”
“Even if the Tower Master himself—or even his master—came, it wouldn’t be easy to break through.”
His relaxed tone made me pout as I asked:
“You said it wasn’t kidnapping… then was it imprisonment?”
“Of course not.”
“…?”
“All I meant is—I’d like it if you tell me where you’re going, and when you’ll be back.”
“….”
“Don’t disappear on me like that again, making me chase after you.”
“Ah…”
A stupid sound slipped out of my mouth at his unexpected words.
Embarrassed, I coughed and said quickly:
“…I’ll do that.”
The awkward atmosphere made me fiddle with my spoon, but I could still feel his gaze lingering on me.
Tilting my head, I asked softly:
“Do you have something to say?”
“Soon, I plan to meet with a Marquess.”
“A Marquess? You mean… one from Hestonia?”
“The Marquess of Piace.”
“…What?”
“I plan to meet your father.”
