~CHAPTER 65~
Harbih received an unexpected reply.
[To the playful judge,
Lincia, you are far too generous.
I feel it would be unbecoming to start a letter this way, but I must speak.
You sent a postcard in return for the flowers I sent as an apology, and now, if I keep sending letters because I want to collect your postcards, what will you do?
I assure you, writing replies will soon become quite bothersome for you.
Even so, I know the truth.
I will not find joy in this task.
To send a letter, we must be apart, and that is the most painful part for me.
The postcards you drew yourself are far too beautiful to compare with flowers, but if I have to endure this pain to collect them, I fear it will be too difficult.
To want both your postcards and to see you—is that too greedy?
Look, Lincia.
You have already made one man greedy enough.
So, be a judge who is generous only to me and stern to others.
One greedy man by your side is enough, is it not?
Seeing the schedule you wrote in your reply, it seems all is well.
What did you discover while inspecting the inner castle?
Judging by your tone, it seems not serious, yet I am somehow tense.
If you are demanding an explanation, I suppose I must hurry back and satisfy your curiosity.
Before returning, I will add a word: while touring the inner castle is enjoyable, it is cold, so be sure to dress warmly.
Even indoors, I know the chill lingers, and I worry you might catch a cold.
If you remain healthy and warm until I return, there is a place I wish to show you.
But if you fall ill, I might be so saddened that I forget what I wanted to show you.
How is it, Lincia?
Do you understand the heart of a man who only wishes for your well-being?
Fortunately for you, I should be able to return soon.
So, please work hard for victory.
I love you.
The man who received your postcard, thrilled beyond measure,
A silly man.]
The man in the letter had a cute side.
Lincia caught sight of the excitement in his words and smiled faintly.
She immediately took out a letter.
She sealed the envelope, and just as she was about to call Erna, there was a knock.
“Your Grace, the Grand Duke has arrived.
Shall I help him prepare?”
Lincia placed the letter in the drawer and rose from her seat.
After a brief preparation, she headed to the main gate.
The man who entered with the knights was covered in snow.
It had been nearly seven days since she last saw him.
Harbih, conversing with the knights, noticed Lincia and his face brightened.
He motioned the knights aside and strode toward her.
Harbih handed his outer coat to the butler and stood before Lincia in an instant.
Even in the castle, it would be cold to stand without a coat.
“Why did you take off your coat?”
Before Lincia could finish speaking, Harbih pulled her into his embrace.
“I cannot do this in wet clothes.”
Being held, Lincia smelled the cold winter air clinging to Harbih.
Yet, unlike the scent, his embrace was warm.
Against him, a heartbeat that could belong to anyone echoed through her chest.
“You must be cold.”
Lincia understood he had taken off his coat out of consideration for her.
“Do not worry about me.”
Blushing, she buried her face in his chest.
Harbih gently stroked her hair.
“I want to do more, so I’ll go wash first.”
Harbih looked at the sky long past dark.
He wanted to return to the bedroom as quickly as possible, but the matter seemed too serious to leave immediately.
Fortunately, it was not the problem he had feared most.
But it was neither insignificant nor minor.
The revealed situation was human trafficking.
Pretending to help villagers fleeing in the night, they were lured, imprisoned, and trafficked to the Kingdom of Rensier via brokers with their identities falsified.
Understanding the circumstances, Harbih felt his blood run cold.
He was already aware of a similar route.
On the day he figured out the trafficking method, Hyu visited him.
“I’m sorry.
I did not realize there were signs of human trafficking.”
“I suppose you did not intend it.”
Hyu apologized with a pale face.
“…I will apologize to the Grand Duchess as well.”
“Do not mention it now.
You must not shock a pregnant woman like that.”
However, he had not expected the incident to be linked to human trafficking.
Hyu had also provided personal protection to Lincia, making it unlikely she would have been enslaved.
Still, imagining the worst-case scenario made his vision blur.
“Identify the ringleader as soon as possible.”
“Understood.”
Given Hesta Territory’s small population, any sudden increase in people was conspicuous.
Hyu caught the ringleader and secured evidence before Harbih’s anger erupted.
Fortunately, the ringleader was not from the north.
His accent gave him away, as did his build.
“Since when have you been doing this?”
The man committed suicide immediately after being imprisoned, likely to hide his origin.
Yet his small body alone proved he was not from the north.
Harbih had to check if other facilities existed in the territory, if traces of slave trading remained, and how to divide people for the delegation demanding answers from the kingdom and the royal palace.
“Once dawn breaks, organize the delegation thoroughly.”
“Understood.”
After giving Hyu a brief command, Harbih headed to the bathroom.
He washed as quickly as possible, then, seeing the dim sky, left for the bedroom without drying his hair.
He wanted to see Lincia’s violet eyes.
Since some time had passed, he thought it was fine if she were asleep.
Yet Lincia had been waiting for him.
This somehow moved him deeply.
Harbih stood quietly at the door until Lincia rose from the bed before entering.
“You worked hard.
Was the matter resolved well?”
Lincia slowly approached and hugged him tightly.
Her soft, supple skin and fragrant scent enveloped him.
Harbih felt an intense impulse from her sweet and fragrant personal scent.
“Lincia.”
Calling her name, Harbih watched Lincia peek up from his embrace.
He lowered his head and pressed a brief kiss to her forehead.
Startled, Lincia’s eyes widened.
The sight was so cute he bent slightly to kiss her again.
He could feel her body stiffened with tension.
Even pressing only lips together, the sensation was so sweet it made his heart flutter.
Harbih slid his hands around Lincia’s neck.
Not missing the gap between their lips, he carefully deepened the kiss.
Was sharing breath with a loved one always this sweet?
Realizing he had been unaware of this before, he felt as though he had lost two years of married life.
Thank you very much 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺
♥️♥️