ETCHY 06

Chapter 06

The temperature of the air surrounding them seemed to drop sharply. Sensing Erich’s heart grow distant from the suddenly changed atmosphere, Crescentia hastily added.

“Instead, I’ll make as much time as possible before departing tomorrow. Let’s talk again. You’ll come, won’t you?”

“I’m not sure. I have prior engagements tomorrow.”

Erich said coldly and turned his body away. The moment he turned his back to her, bright lights simultaneously flickered on inside the party hall, and gasps of admiration erupted from the crowd.

But Crescentia didn’t even glance toward where the lights had come on. Erich was her only concern.

“Grand Duke, I’m truly sorry. But I’ve already delayed my schedule just to attend tonight’s party…”

“I’m sure you have. I understand.”

Erich coldly cut off Crescentia’s excuse.

Despite his words of understanding, he wouldn’t even look at her. Watching the scene inside the building with indifferent eyes, he adjusted his attire and spoke icily.

“It seems the lighting ceremony has begun. I should be going now.”

“Wait, please!”

Crescentia jumped down from the railing and urgently called out to Erich. But he walked into the party hall as if he hadn’t heard her voice.

Crescentia chased the man’s disappearing back with vacant eyes. In a world brightly illuminated, only her own world had grown dark.

*The lighting ceremony ended safely the next day.*

Hilda busily moved about to prepare her mistress. There wasn’t enough time to get ready for the return home.

“All the luggage is packed, so you just need to eat and head straight to the harbor.”

“In just a few hours, you’ll see His Majesty the King. Aren’t you excited?”

“…”

“Princess?”

The hand that had been carefully brushing her fine silver hair with a dense brush came to a halt. Hilda, who had been tenderly tending to her mistress’s hair, looked at the woman in the mirror.

“Did you not sleep at all last night?”

As Hilda said, Crescentia’s face, seated before the vanity, was a complete mess.

Her eyes were red and swollen as if she had cried all night, her once-bright eyes had lost their luster, and her delicate lips were pressed tightly together as if they refused to open.

“There is. I heard a ship from Regina arrived a little while ago.”

Wondering if she might be suffering from homesickness, Hilda relayed the news she had heard from Anton. But contrary to her expectations, Crescentia’s eyes filled with deep despair.

“Why are you like this again?”

Hilda anxiously tried to comfort Crescentia. The precariousness of the situation, as if she might burst into tears at any moment, made Hilda’s heart burn with worry.

If it wasn’t homesickness, then something must have happened at the party yesterday.

But no matter how many times Hilda asked, Crescentia wouldn’t open up about what was on her mind.

It had been the same last night. Crescentia had only sighed deeply while watching Hilda pack her things. In the end, Hilda had to repeat the question she’d been asking since morning.

“Are you unwell somewhere? Shall I call for a physician?”

Crescentia shook her head gloomily. She claimed nothing was wrong, but her expression looked utterly lifeless. Hilda, at a loss seeing her mistress in such a state for the first time, changed the subject.

“Oh, right! What would you like for lunch? You must be hungry, right? You skipped breakfast too.”

“…I don’t feel like it.”

Crescentia finally spoke. But what came back was a firm refusal.

Undeterred, Hilda imitated her mother’s tone—the royal nurse—and spoke warmly.

“Don’t be like that. This is your last meal in the Empire. You should eat well.”

“Last…”

Crescentia’s voice trembled delicately as she listened quietly to Hilda.

It was the last.

Yesterday had been the last with the Grand Duke.

—

*’Surely you’re not saying you’ll leave tomorrow?’*

—

The cold response that followed the heated kiss. As Crescentia recalled the Grand Duke’s indifferent voice, her eyes filled with tears.

‘That it was the last…’

Her small chin began to tremble, and soon, clear tears burst from her large eyes.

“Hic, sob…”

Crescentia collapsed onto the vanity and wept sorrowfully. Bead-like tears streamed endlessly down her round cheeks.

Last night. The Grand Duke, who had vanished into the crowd cheering the lighting ceremony, had returned straight to his residence.

Crescentia couldn’t find him anywhere in the party hall. Helplessly, she had to return to her lodgings.

But even lying in bed, Crescentia couldn’t fall asleep.

Just in case—just in case—the Grand Duke might come looking for her. For fear that she might fall asleep and miss the chance to say goodbye to him.

But Erich never came looking for Crescentia. Not until the ship from Regina arrived, not until the sun reached its highest point.

Even as the last moments when she and he would be on the same continent drew near, there was no word from him.

Was this really the end?

A past flame—would he forget her just like that?

That—that was something she couldn’t bear.

If she returned to Regina like this, everything that happened in the Empire would be as if it never was. And she would have to live the life that had been set out for her.

Carrying the Grand Duke in her heart, she would have to marry some unknown person for the sake of national interest.

‘I don’t want that.’

Crescentia’s nose stung. The destiny of a princess, which she had always accepted as natural, suddenly made her feel sick.

“Hic, sob, wh-what should I do, Hilda…”

As her delicate body shuddered and her skirt became stained with tears, a flustered Hilda scrambled to soothe her.

“Wh-why are you crying! Did I make a mistake? I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. So please don’t cry, Princess. Please?”

“Hi-Hilda… I…”

“Yes, yes, tell me. Hilda is right here.”

Crescentia, who had been crying in kind Hilda’s arms for a long while, hesitated before finally confiding her feelings with difficulty.

About the Empire that would end today, about the person she now had to leave behind. About a man who was selfish, cold, and difficult—her feelings for him flowed from her red lips.

—

*At the Petrov family’s townhouse.*

A carriage arrived at the massive townhouse located in the heart of Boren, the Empire’s capital.

The footman who came out through the front gate to receive the guest listened to something from the coachman and hastily summoned the butler.

A short while later, a cloaked woman descended from the carriage. Because she had pulled the hood of her cloak down low, only her full lips and slender chin were barely visible.

The secretly arriving guest entered the residence under the butler’s courteous guidance.

The woman arrived at the drawing room, where deep navy and ivory were harmoniously combined. After looking around, she fixed her gaze on the butler. Sensing her attitude as if seeking the master of the house, he spoke respectfully.

“Please wait here for a moment. I will bring the Grand Madame.”

“The Grand Madame? What about the Grand Duke?”

“The master is currently away. I apologize.”

Crescentia was flustered by the unexpected news.

She had confided in Hilda about her connection with Erich and, with her help, barely managed to persuade Anton.

Only after promising to return within an hour had she been able to get out of the royal palace.

She had come all this way with such difficulty. But the very person who made her take such risks wasn’t at home.

‘So his words about being busy today weren’t an excuse.’

Recalling Erich’s cold words from yesterday’s party, Crescentia bit her lip. She was pleased that his refusal hadn’t been a lie, but at the same time, she was disturbed by the fact that she couldn’t meet him.

‘This is enough. Let’s go back.’

Crescentia, who had been feeling anxious, let out a sigh.

Coming this far was more than enough. The fact that she had come all the way to his residence and still couldn’t meet him must mean that her connection with Erich went only this far.

She had made the effort to meet him again, so that was enough. At least she wouldn’t have any regrets.

“The Grand Duchess is here.”

Just as Crescentia was rising with a heavy heart, the butler reappeared to announce the mistress’s arrival.

“Apparently we have a distinguished guest.”

At the sharp voice, Crescentia’s gaze turned toward the doorway. The blue-eyed noblewoman, her beautiful black hair pinned up, bore a striking resemblance to Erich. Especially her haughty and arrogant gaze—it was exactly like her son’s.

Seeing Crescentia with her cloak pulled deep over her face, she narrowed her brow.

“Showing up unannounced suggests you don’t know basic etiquette. And where are your manners, hiding your face in front of others?”

At the shrill voice, Crescentia flinched momentarily. The Grand Duchess clicked her tongue and continued.

“I am not a woman of leisure. I only came down because the butler insisted I must see you. But from the looks of it, you’re just a peddler. There’s nothing more to see. Alphonse!”

“Grand Duchess.”

Crescentia approached the noblewoman who was about to call for the butler, who had already left the room. Then she raised her white hand and threw back her cloak.

“Forgive my discourtesy. I am Crescentia de Lodovini.”

“Princess…?”

The Grand Duchess, who had been staring as if mesmerized by Crescentia’s silver hair, widened her eyes enormously.