Chapter 14

Shh.

Enveloping her in his embrace, he whispered into her ear.

“Someone’s coming.”

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

By the time Anais, frozen by the sudden movement, began to understand what was happening, the Grand Duke was already leaning in, listening through the crack in a barely opened door.

Still held in his arms, she forgot even to cry. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she went completely still.

Anais stood quietly, her back nearly pressed against the inside of the door, and glanced up awkwardly at the Grand Duke, who was standing close, barely a hand’s width away. He stood with his back to the far-off window, the moonlight casting a glow behind him.

The room was so dark she couldn’t even tell where they were exactly, but his face hovered just above hers, his shallow breath making his features seem almost too clear.

Thick, arched eyebrows, eyes beneath them icy and piercing, and a sharply defined nose.

His face was expressionless and cold, yet she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

At that moment, the Grand Duke, still focused through the crack in the door, leaned in even closer toward where she was standing.

“….”

Anais averted her gaze downward, as if recoiling from his proximity, and listened quietly.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The sound of footsteps from beyond the door gradually grew louder. As they drew closer, Anais’s mind went blank, and she blinked silently in the dark.

It was late at night. Someone was walking through the mansion.

For her, encountering someone from the viscount’s estate or being discovered eavesdropping on their hidden secrets would spell disaster.

She remained still in the Grand Duke’s arms, waiting quietly.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

A moment later, the footsteps fade away, disappearing somewhere upstairs.

“They went into the room above us.”

Realizing the person was Rex, Anais let out a faint sigh of relief.

The Grand Duke flinched slightly, then finally stepped back from Anais and asked in a gentle voice once more,

“Shall we go outside now?”

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

Under the moon’s surprisingly bright glow.

In a quiet corner of the garden, where even the servants rarely came, Anais eventually let go of the Grand Duke’s hand, which she had been holding tightly without even realizing it.

“This is where you can see the moon best.”

“It’s lovely.”

The two sat side by side on the bench. Just like before, about a hand’s width of space remained between them.

“Do you like chocolate?”

Anais, no longer trembling and with her tears completely dried, looked much calmer now. Far more composed than she had been earlier, she gazed at the Grand Duke who had brought about this almost magical moment.

“I think it’d be good for you to have one.”

Then, he pulled out a few wrapped chocolates from inside his coat and opened his hand to show them to her.

The foil wrappers shimmered like silver in the bright moonlight. Had she ever received such a radiant gift? She had never truly received anything for herself—not even a small trinket, let alone a jewel. Even the few gifts she had received had always ended up in the hands of the Orelcian. 

Her situation almost felt laughable, but in that quiet moment, grateful for the small kindness he offered, Anais found herself smiling without meaning to.

“I’m not sure… I’ll try it.”

“This one’s better.”

The Grand Duke unwrapped a piece of chocolate and gently placed it in Anais’s mouth, then unwrapped another and popped it into his own.

Watching him, Anais relaxed and let the chocolate melt slowly on her tongue. The sweet chocolate quickly dissolved and clung to the inside of her mouth. To her surprise, the flavor he had given her suited her taste perfectly.

As she blinked, absorbed in savoring the chocolate, the Grand Duke watched her and gave a quiet, amused smile.

“Well? Was I right?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

A bright smile soon bloomed across Anais’s face.

Just a little while ago, she had felt like the world had cast her aside… yet here she was, smiling. She marveled at herself. But what surprised her most was that it was all thanks to the Grand Duke.

“If you want more, just say so. I’ll always have one ready for you.”

To her, it felt like he was saying something more, that if moments like this ever came again, he’d be right there beside her. Still searching for traces of the sweetness left behind by the chocolate, she looked at him and asked.

“Why… are you so kind to me?”

She turned her head and met his eyes directly, finally voicing the question that had been weighing on her heart.

“You had to marry me because of an imperial order, and even paid so much to do it. So… why are you being this kind to me?”

For a moment, the Grand Duke seemed full of things he wanted to say. But instead of speaking, he simply stared at her in silence, as if holding it all back.