Chapter 45

“We meet here, Your Highness.”

My heart skipped a beat, but I tried my best to appear calm as I greeted him.

Then, he, who had been sitting on the bell tower looking down at me, landed lightly on the ground.

Despite the considerable height, his movements were so light, as though he felt no weight at all.

“…….”

Standing at a height of 190 cm, with broad shoulders, he looked even more striking in his well-fitted new clothes.

When he stood close, the aura around him was overwhelming… and more than that…

‘My heart is pounding…’

Thump, thump, thump.

I felt like my heart was about to leap out of my chest.

The cool breeze gently tousled his hair, and a refreshing scent filled the air, brushing against my nose.

Standing before me, Etias, with his unreadable blue eyes, stared at me silently for a long while.

He simply continued to look at me.

What on earth was he thinking?

‘But somehow…’

Is it just my imagination? His cheeks seemed slightly redder than usual.

Wait a minute. Could Etias be sick?

I quickly reached out and stood on tiptoe.

Then, I placed my other hand on his forehead.

My hand touched his forehead, feeling the warmth.

‘No fever…’

There was no sensation of heat compared to my forehead.

“I’m relieved. I thought you might be sick.”

A sigh of relief escaped my lips.

Of course, I made sure to maintain my usual composure.

“If you’re sick, it might affect how you handle Fadelmon’s affairs.”

What I had learned today was… the shocking possibility that my father, Duke Elemoer, might have caused the death of his mother.

Even though I had taken over this body, I didn’t deserve to have feelings for him.

Slowly, I removed my hand from his forehead, but he suddenly grabbed my wrist firmly.

“…….”

Still silent, he continued to stare at me.

It seemed like he was trying to find an answer to some difficult question.

His cheeks were still flushed, or perhaps they had become even more flushed.

His lips were even redder.

My gaze slowly shifted toward his lips.

Soft, red lips of Etias.

‘Get a grip, Katrin Elemoer. This isn’t the time to admire your favorite lips…’

“It hurts.”

Suddenly, Etias’s voice came from those lips, and I flinched.

He pulled my wrist toward his chest.

Soon, my palm was against his broad, firm chest.

“…!”

I looked at him with wide eyes.

“It hurts.”

Etias’s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and his blue eyes seemed to be filled with pain.

“For the first time, because of you… it hurts like crazy.”

With a jolt, I felt my heart quiver.

Soon, the pounding of my heart could be felt throughout my body, and I couldn’t tell whose heartbeat it was anymore.

Was it his? Or was it mine?

What I did know was that my chest tightened with an aching sensation as I saw his face contorted in distress.

I couldn’t even understand what he was saying.

‘Is he blaming me?’

My favorite person was in pain because of me. The last time Etias grazed his cheek, I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

Hearing him say this… my feet felt as if they were sinking into the ground.

His red lips parted again.

“You’re… playing with my heart…”

His low voice pierced deep into my soul.

“…You’re toying with it.”

My eyes wavered as I looked at him.

Etias’s face was staring at me with an intense gaze, as though he wanted to consume me.

The painful and erratic beat of my heart was a blur.

‘What… is he saying?’

I couldn’t understand.

I had no idea why he was saying I was toying with his heart.

Was it a good thing, or a bad thing?

As a reader of Star of Revolution, I was used to predicting and analyzing the subtext and dialogue, but hearing these words from him directly…

‘I can’t interpret this!’

Then, Etias loosened his grip on my wrist, and I was able to pull my hand away from his chest.

He was still looking at me.

“What are you?”

His burning eyes asked.

‘I should say something, but I have no idea what he’s saying or how to respond.’

At that moment, I heard a voice from a distance.

“Lady!”

Relieved at the interruption, I gently pushed Etias away and quickly turned, running toward the direction of the voice.

“Katrin.”

I ignored his strained voice from behind.

My cheeks were burning with embarrassment.

“Damn Elemoer!”

After the party ended and the guests were sent off, Aglaia trembled with rage, cursing alone.

“I will never allow them into my house again. Those damn creatures!”

Everything she had planned before the party had fallen apart.

Even the huge sum she had hoped for after hearing from Fadelmon was now nothing.

“Duke Fadelmon Elemoer has come to see you….”

“Tell that scoundrel he is not suited for me. Tell him to never contact me again! And make sure his arrest order is passed quickly!”

Her subordinates lowered their heads and retreated in silence.

She gazed out the window, biting her lip.

‘But… why did that woman say such things?’

• “If you try to play with Etias’s life again, I’ll kill you.”

‘Did she get emotionally attached because I entrusted her with Fadelmon’s case? No, that vile Elemoer couldn’t have done that. Why, suddenly…?’

Though confused, Aglaia had no way to act differently now.

She now knew what the Elemoer woman was holding.

Aglaia took a moment to calm herself and thought it over.

The deal with Fadelmon was a failure, but her position remained the same.

She could continue as the Speaker of Parliament, enjoying respect and honor, and pretending to protect Etias.

For now, I just need to keep playing the game…

“Aunt.”

Suddenly, a low voice came from behind, and Aglaia’s brow furrowed.

She barely composed herself, turning to look at Etias.

“Etias. I was a bit flustered earlier. You must have been on a date with Lucia, and I suddenly had to send her away. But, you see…”

Aglaia sighed deeply before continuing.

“I’ve heard some bad things about her father, Fadelmon. I thought it was just slander, but it seems he really was plotting treason. I almost introduced a woman to our precious nephew without knowing anything. Forget about her.”

Aglaia walked closer to Etias, smiling as if pleased with herself.

Etias, with his face sculpted like a divine work of art, was still wearing the imperial crown he had earned by her protection.

She had even received money from lower nobles to arrange a connection with Etias for their daughters.

“Instead, I’ll introduce you to a much better lady. The daughter of Count Alman is six years older than you, Etias, but she is deeply religious and very upright…”

“I refuse.”

“…Etias.”

Aglaia’s eyes twitched at his firm rejection.

“I only did it because I wanted what was best for you…”

“Did you take money from Fadelmon for my sake?”

Aglaia’s pupils shook with surprise.

Etias, with a cold glint in his eyes, looked at Aglaia and twisted his lips into a smirk.

“Though the payment was probably large, there must have been an upfront fee as well. If I dig deeper into Fadelmon, I might uncover more about your true nature, Aunt.”

“E… Etias… What do you mean by that?”

Aglaia’s hands trembled.

Etias had always been willing to fulfill even unpleasant requests for her.

This cold attitude from Etias was unfamiliar to her.

“Perhaps you’re upset with me…?”

“The reason I trusted you, Aunt, is because our enemies were the same.”

Aglaia’s pupils wavered at Etias’s words, his eyes cold as ice.

Her once innocent nephew now felt like a beast hiding his true nature.

As Etias took one step closer, Aglaia instinctively took a step back.

“You feared him, and I hated him. The essence of our feelings might be different, but…”

Etias’s lips moved again.

Aglaia stood frozen, watching him.

“Did you… overhear what I said earlier?”

A deep loneliness flickered in Etias’s blue eyes.

Then, he recalled the eyes of someone who had made him realize the truth.

“Now that you know, don’t ever think of using me again.”

He spoke with a cold voice.

Aglaia stood frozen, dazed, while Etias turned his back on her.

His steps as he walked away were filled with resolve.

It felt as though everything he had been holding back had been released, leaving behind only a sense of clarity and liberation.