Chapter 60
Kyl sat on the sofa in the Emperor’s room with a rare smile on his face.
He felt refreshed, thinking he had finally managed to deal a solid blow to Raymond.
Feeling good after taking his frustration out, he temporarily pushed aside thoughts of his cousin and turned his attention to his fiancée.
“Eilene…”
She had left a deep scratch on his heart—so now it was her turn to get hurt.
But before that, he had something to confirm. He had some suspicions.
He glanced to the side, toward a full-length mirror in the room. Reflected in it was himself, draped lazily in a robe on the sofa.
A man so dazzlingly handsome that even the word “brilliant” felt too dull. His golden hair looked like real gold thread, and his sharp features could be seen clearly even from 100 meters away.
“No normal woman would reject someone like me.”
So there had to be a reason. Kyl suspected that the reason might be another man.
The most logical explanation was that Eilene was seeing someone else.
So he had someone tail her. And now, there was one clear suspect.
“Adrien Lunn, Your Majesty.”
The spy kneeled before the emperor and reported.
Kyl, who had been looking in the mirror while a maid brushed his hair, turned toward him.
“Adrien Lunn? The eldest son of the Lunn family?”
“Yes. She’s been with him every day for the past few days. She even stayed over at his estate and visited a bookstore with him.”
“Hmm…”
Kyl frowned, displeased. He still didn’t have enough information to be sure.
“What’s his relationship with Eilene?”
“The Cowet and Lunn families have been close for generations. They’re childhood friends.”
“Childhood friends, huh…”
He wondered if their relationship had grown deeper over time.
But just then, the spy interrupted his thoughts.
“There’s a rumor going around about Lord Lunn.”
“What kind of rumor?”
“…That he’s in love with the Grand Duke.”
“What?!”
Kyl’s eyes widened in shock.
“Is that true?”
“It’s not confirmed, but the rumor is spreading like wildfire in high society.”
“Raymond? So that’s why he never seemed interested in women…”
Kyl’s expression became… complicated. Learning this unexpected truth about his cousin’s preferences stirred something in him.
Taking such a difficult path in life… he felt a tiny bit of sympathy.
“Understood. You can stop tailing them, but keep basic surveillance in place.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The spy bowed and left.
Meanwhile…
I had been invited to tea at the Lunn mansion by Navienne, so I took a carriage there. Unlike last time, this was a private invitation—not a big group—so I felt much more relaxed.
When I arrived, Adrien himself came out and opened the gate to greet me.
Charles barked at me again, but quieted down after Adrien scolded him.
“Sis, you’re here!”
Once I entered the house, Navienne stood up to greet me. The three of us sat at a table and enjoyed tea and desserts.
As we chatted about life, Navienne suddenly seemed to remember something and gave Adrien a curious look.
“Oh, right! Adrien, what’s going on between you and the Grand Duke?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Adrien munched on a cookie, not getting it.
“I heard you two are… like that.”
“Yeah! I heard from Claire and was wondering too!”
“Pffft!”
He spit out the cookie he was eating, completely shocked. Crumbs flew and landed on Navienne’s clothes.
“Ugh! Adrien, gross! Have some manners.”
“W-Where are people hearing this stuff?!”
“I need to change. Eilene, excuse me for a moment.”
Navienne stormed off with a maid, leaving Adrien sitting awkwardly. His eyes naturally turned toward me.
“So… that rumor is all over high society?”
“Yep.”
His face went pale in disbelief. In the noble world, one wrong rumor could ruin your chances of ever getting married.
“Adrien, remember when you asked me if I liked Raymond?”
“Huh?”
“Is this your way of getting revenge or something?”
“What? No! What are you talking about?!”
“So… do you like the Grand Duke?”
“Wh-what?! No way!!”
He suddenly jumped up and shouted in panic. He looked genuinely flustered.
Wow. If it’s not true, why is he yelling so much? It only makes him more suspicious.
I narrowed my eyes and asked seriously:
“Really?”
“Ugh, you’re driving me crazy…”
He pounded on his chest in frustration, mumbling something I couldn’t understand.
Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?
Later…
“My Lady, what are these books?”
“They’re by the author of Night of Ecstasy in Paradise. This one’s the sequel: Beast of the Dangerous Night.”
“And this?”
“That’s their debut work, Strange Sounds of the Night.”
“Wow, you bought four books?”
The grown men looked at the books with huge grins on their faces, like kids who just got new toys.
When Eden and Drew asked questions, I shared all the tidbits I’d learned from the bookstore clerk. They clapped and got excited. Chloe was already deep into one of the books, completely absorbed. Even Evan, who wasn’t really into novels, flipped through them with curiosity.
Just then, we heard footsteps and the door opened.
“What are you all doing in here?”
“Oh! Melas, is the Grand Duke here too?”
Evan, Eden, and Drew quickly stood and bowed to Melas and Raymond, who had arrived together.
Chloe, still unaware, had to be nudged by Evan before she noticed them and scrambled to her feet in panic.
“Y-Your Grace…”
“What’s got you all so distracted?”
“Lady Eilene bought us some books! Haha…”
Eden cheerfully explained.
“Eilene bought you books?”
“Yes! It turns out we have similar tastes. I saw them at the bookstore and thought of everyone.”
Raymond looked puzzled, so I explained.
After seeing the Grand Duke’s subordinates fight over the last romance novel I borrowed, I had a revelation—they all liked the same spicy stories I did.
Since I couldn’t buy them under my own name, I figured I could just give them to the guys. They’d enjoy them, and I could borrow them later—win-win!
Plus, fangirling over these books together helped me bond with them much faster.
“So simple… tsk tsk.”
Melas clicked his tongue, but even he came closer to flip through the books.
Funny—he probably didn’t even realize he was on my suspect list too.
“Well then, Eilene, shall we go?”
Raymond gently tugged my arm, and I followed him out without resisting. From behind us, I heard the men shouting happily:
“Lady Eilene, you’re the best!”
“Thank you so much! Can’t wait to read!”
“No fighting! Share nicely!”
I waved and left the room.
Later in Raymond’s Room…
We sat side by side by the window in his room. Since I came to see him at night, I figured we could enjoy the moon together.
The cool night breeze flowed in through the open window, filling the room.
Raymond looked at me, his voice full of concern.
“You must be tired, going to the bookstore during the day and visiting here at night.”
“Not at all. It’s actually refreshing! It’s been a while since I came out at night.”
For me, this was healing time with my favorite person. As long as he was beside me, day or night—it was always a perfect moment.
“Soon, I’ll be able to go out during the day too.”
Hearing my cheerful answer, he smiled and gently tucked my hair behind my ear.
That sweet gesture reminded me of something.
“Oh, right. Raymond, I heard some weird rumors about you and Adrien.”
“Ah… that…”
His peaceful face immediately scrunched up at the mention of Adrien. He rubbed his forehead like it was giving him a headache.
“I have no idea how that started.”
Then suddenly, as if something was bugging him, he looked at me directly.
“Eilene… you don’t believe those rumors, do you?”
“What? I totally believe them.”
I made a mock shocked face, teasing him. His face turned pale.
“T-That’s not true!”
He grabbed both my arms in panic.
His deep blue eyes were filled with sincerity—almost begging me to believe him. He clearly wanted me, of all people, to trust him.
“…I’m joking, obviously.”
I quickly reassured him with a smile.
Maybe because we were sitting so close, the distance between us had shrunk without us realizing it.
His deep gaze slowly lowered—not to my eyes, or even my nose—but a little below that.
Then…
Suddenly, he leaned in.
And gently… his lips landed on mine.
—‼️‼️‼️—
Wait. Did… did our lips just touch?!
I froze. My eyes widened as I stared at Raymond’s face right in front of me.
