EDTATO 17

Chapter 17

Dekiel’s red eyes remained perfectly calm, showing not the slightest trace of agitation.

He acted as though he hadn’t even heard me say that I knew him.

Instead, he looked down at me with an utterly impassive, imperious gaze.

So he really does know that I kept what happened at the temple a secret.

Feeling strangely as though I had lost, I gave Ian a bright little smile.

“I heard about you from Hubert. About the close friend who has been such a great help to you.”

“I, too, have heard quite a bit about the young lady.”

“What have you heard?”

“That you are more beautiful than a doll.”

The duke became even more confident, apparently convinced that I had no intention of exposing his lie.

“Seeing you up close, I must say the rumors were true. You really are dazzlingly beautiful.”

How many people could utter a compliment like dazzlingly beautiful with such coldness that it sounded like winter?

And yet, despite the coldness of his words, Dekiel’s lips were so alluring that whatever they said made me want to believe it was true.

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

Then I came to my senses when I felt Ian’s hand gently wrap around my waist.

My body, which had been standing somewhat awkwardly, was drawn closer to him.

“Personally, I owe Dekiel quite a lot. If it weren’t for him, I might already have been buried beneath my workload, unable even to make it home.”

In truth, I wanted to quietly hide behind Ian and exclude myself from their conversation.

But Ian, considerate of how silent I had been, drew me into the conversation between them.

As a result, my eyes met Dekiel’s directly.

“We’ll probably be seeing each other often from now on, so perhaps we should arrange a meal together soon.”

“Don’t exaggerate.”

The red eyes that calmly responded to Ian’s words were strange.

The vivid color looked as though someone had torn out a person’s heart and set it into his eyes. Like chains, that color wrapped itself around my entire body.

His blood-dark eyes seemed to flow through me, burning hot.

It felt as though my entire body had been made from those eyes.

“Anyway, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Dekiel extended his hand.

Unable to hide the trembling at my fingertips, I reluctantly shook it.

Dekiel’s hand welcomed mine with a cool temperature.

Because of that coldness, my palm where we touched stung as though I had grasped a naked blade.

The sounds around me melted away, as though I had sunk beneath a distant sea.

“Lady Heine. Your name is as beautiful as your appearance.”

Dekiel kissed the back of my hand.

Then, imitating the look I had given him moments earlier, he spoke.

Wearing a splendid smile that seemed to say:

This isn’t our first meeting, is it?

I had faced countless situations that were every bit as filthy and hopeless as this one, yet for some reason, maintaining my composure at this moment was difficult.

All I could do was smile helplessly like a doll.

If I stayed here any longer, I was certain he would toy with me.

I quickly turned toward Ian.

“I think I’ll head back first. It must have been a long time since you two last met, so although it’s unfortunate, I should probably leave you to yourselves.”

“I appreciate your consideration, my lady.”

The duke intercepted the response that had been directed toward Ian.

Then he gestured toward the café, signaling that Ian should come inside so they could talk.

I had expected Ian to be swept away by Dekiel just like that, but instead, he firmly met my eyes.

“Will you be all right?”

“Yes. I want to hurry back and talk with the children. I want to show them the necklace, too.”

“Alone…”

“Alone? Hubert is with me, isn’t he? Please don’t worry.”

I gave him a playful wink to reassure him.

I couldn’t tell whether he had been fooled by it or merely pretended to be, but Ian reluctantly released my hand.

Ian couldn’t help but sigh quietly as he watched Heine return alone.

Her body is in a very weakened state. She needs to take medicine regularly, and it’s best that she doesn’t stay outside for long periods.

The words of his older brother suddenly came back to him, weighing heavily on his mind.

Payden was renowned not only as the High Priest but also as a highly skilled physician, and he had left Ian with strict instructions.

Don’t leave her alone unless absolutely necessary. Don’t take your eyes off her.

That was why sending Heine away alone in the carriage bothered him even more.

He didn’t want to leave his fragile fiancée alone for even a moment.

But it was Heine herself who had pushed him away.

Alone? Hubert is with me, isn’t he? Please don’t worry.

She had said it with a shy smile.

She naturally, yet firmly to the very end, refused his offer to accompany her home.

Her lips, which had seemed strangely anxious, probably revealed that she didn’t want him to give something up because of her.

In the end, Ian nodded and sent her off with a brief kiss on her forehead.

Even after the Grand Duke’s carriage had completely disappeared from view, he remained consumed with worry.

With concern still written across his face, Ian entered the café.

Inside, the rich scent of freshly roasted coffee beans mingled with the sweet aroma of syrup.

The café was a favorite of both Dekiel and Ian because of its intimate atmosphere, with partitions separating each table and providing a degree of privacy.

The young duke, who had arrived first and was already seated, casually ran a hand through his hair.

Golden strands shimmered quietly between his fingers.

“I wondered if she was so frail that you hadn’t even shown your rumored fiancée to me. And yet here I find out you’ve been out on a date.”

Dekiel exaggeratedly gestured toward his friend, making a show of how hurt he was.

Unlike Ian, who had dressed in a light formal suit for his outing with Heine, Dekiel appeared to have come straight from his duties in the council, still wearing his official uniform and insignia.

“I suppose I’ve been inconsiderate.”

Ian gave a simple smile as he hurried to take his seat.

Then he raised a hand and ordered his coffee.

There was plenty of distance between the tables, but people who recognized Ian and Dekiel beyond the partitions let out excited gasps.

“My goodness! What a stroke of luck!”

“To think we’d get to see the young duke and the duke together!”

They regarded the sight as though it were a gift, completely captivated by the two men’s imposing presence.

Perhaps Ian felt guilty for disappointing his friend, because he offered a small apology with his characteristically gentle eyes.

“I know I’m very late in introducing her, but I hope you can understand. I only informed the Grand Duke with a few letters myself.”

Even as Ian apologized, his blue eyes were filled with affection.

His face curved with quiet happiness.

Anyone could see that he had completely fallen for her.

Dekiel scrutinized Ian sharply for a moment before mimicking his innocent smile.

“Still, shouldn’t you introduce her to everyone soon?”

Ian had just reached for the teacup that had been placed before him when he let out a quiet sigh.

He knew perfectly well that Dekiel didn’t need to remind him.

This year was the year of the Oracle—the once-in-a-decade revelation.

Coincidentally, the coronation of the next Grand Duke would take place as well, meaning that the excited atmosphere in Eints was expected to linger throughout the entire year from the very beginning of spring.

And Ian was the heir to that position.

When winter returned and the crown was placed, it would be on his head rather than his father’s.

Therefore, Ian knew better than anyone that his fiancée could not remain merely a fiancée, and that the weight of her position would be entirely different from that of other women.

“An introduction… I suppose someday.”

When Ian gave a small nod of agreement, Dekiel leisurely leaned forward.

He adopted a gentle demeanor, like a predator offering false kindness to a deer that had wandered into its territory.

“Coincidentally, I know just the perfect occasion.”

“The perfect occasion?”

At Ian’s questioning, Dekiel propped his arm on the table and looked at him warmly.

“There’s going to be a hunting festival soon. And this year, it happens to be our side that’s hosting it.”

Ian nodded quietly and reached out.

His large hand gave Dekiel’s sturdy shoulder a few encouraging pats.

“Come to think of it, it’s coming up soon. You must be working hard preparing for it.”

“All the high-ranking nobles, as well as prominent figures from every field, will attend. It’ll be a good opportunity.”

“…”

“I mean your fiancée. Wouldn’t you feel more comfortable having her make her public appearance naturally at a hunting festival rather than at an uncomfortable ball?”

“That’s true, but…”

Ian withheld his answer and gazed silently out the window.

Outside the café, bright sunlight befitting spring filled the streets.

The peaceful Duchy of Eints, a country overflowing with prosperity.

And within it stood Bonacea, said to have become the capital because it possessed the most beautiful scenery of all.

If only the most beloved woman in the world could live here, surrounded by this dazzling city.

Only then did Ian take a sip of his coffee, gently setting the cup back down.

“All right. I’ll ask Heine, too.”

Dekiel welcomed Ian’s agreement with a smile that narrowed his eyes.

With the same red eyes as Heine, he wore a smile just as beautiful—and just as sharp.

“She’ll definitely say yes.”