aerie
Stories
12
Chapters
857
Words
4.7 M
Comments
32
Reading
16 d, 8 h
A long silence passed. Eventually, he pulled his gaze away, a bitter expression crossing his face. His reflection faded from the window, and only then did Anais find herself staring blankly at the rain. All she could see outside was a blurry gray world, everything washed out by the storm. ︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵ Crystal Hall, Imperial Palace. A grand space often opened up and rented out for noble gatherings. They had both arrived early…- 190.1 K • Ongoing
- Anais tilted her head. ‘Was there a title I was supposed to start using?’ She was already calling him ‘Grand Duke,’ and just because she was now the Grand Duchess didn’t mean she had to stop calling him that. But then his next words made her pause. “Diego. Please, call me by my name.” “....” “It’ll look better both officially and for anyone watching like we’re actually a loving couple.” He wasn’t wrong. As long as they were married, they had to act the part.…
- 190.1 K • Ongoing
- This time, too, he didn’t answer immediately. He just quietly studied her for a moment. There was a hint of sadness in his red eyes she couldn’t quite place, and for some reason, it made her heart ache a little. “....” Her head tilted slightly at the unfamiliar emotion. In that moment, the Grand Duke finally spoke, his voice low and gentle. “All I ask is that you promise not to disappear without telling me.” “....” She was taken aback for a moment by his request. In a way, it…
- 190.1 K • Ongoing
- “Let’s focus on staying alive. That’s all that matters.” Her once tangled thoughts became clear. With new determination, her steps were steady as she made her way directly to the dining room. The Grand Duke was there, just as the servant said. “Oh, Lady Anais.” He seemed surprised and quickly rose to his feet. The chair he had been sitting in scraped loudly against the quiet room, but for some reason, he couldn’t open his mouth. Silence settled between them again. Anais…
- 190.1 K • Ongoing
- “I’m sorry. I never meant to cause you trouble. I’ll assume you’ve rejected the request.” As she lowered her head, the sound of a chair being harshly dragged across the floor filled the silence. “Trouble? No. If you want the truth, it’s just tiresome.” He strode toward her, closing the distance in heavy steps, then grabbed her chin and forced it upward. Because of that, Anais had to raise her gaze and meet his eyes. “You’re the one I bought with my own money, all on the…
- 190.1 K • Ongoing
- ‘I’ll definitely survive.’ Anais was clutching her necklace pendant, repeating her vow to herself. The Grand Duke, who was sitting beside her with a hand’s breadth of space between them, asked. “That’s your mother’s keepsake, isn’t it?” She remembered explaining the pendant to him when she was showing him around the estate. Anais tucked back inside her dress and replied. “Yes, it is.” “I suppose it’s found its rightful owner at last.” It was a remark only the…
- 190.1 K • Ongoing
- “Go on now. The Grand Duke must be waiting for you.” Still, Anais didn’t take a single step. When she stood frozen in place, she felt Nectar plaster on a friendly expression and tried to soften his tone. “I’ll write often, so don’t feel too sad. I’ll come by to visit as well. I’m sure His Highness won’t mind something like that.” Anais, who had been silently listening until now, finally spoke in a calm tone. "I’m glad to hear how much you care about me." Despite her…
- 190.1 K • Ongoing
- “This is my proposal.” A radiant smile, one she had never seen before, briefly flickered across his face beneath the moonlight before fading away. That expression, clearly visible even in the dark, felt like a rare glimpse into his true feelings. Anais studied him quietly, then gave a small nod. For the first time, she could believe that his happiness was genuine. “I’d like to have the wedding as soon as possible.” “I was hoping for the same.” The ring the Grand Duke slid…
- 190.1 K • Ongoing
- As she mulled over his words, unable to shake the thoughts of the death that might still await her, he spoke again quietly. “There’s nothing you need to worry about. I promise you.” Gazing into his eyes, steady and deep like flames, Anais made her decision. Now that she knew of the Viscount’s crimes, she could no longer stay here bearing the Orelcian name. Having lost the ability to trust anyone, Anais calmly vowed to herself. ‘After safely divorcing the Grand Duke, I’ll abandon the…
- 190.1 K • Ongoing
- “This is a marriage forced by imperial order, even at the cost of a great deal of money. So why are you being so kind to me?” The sweet chocolate the Grand Duke had given her left a faintly bitter aftertaste, as if warning her that this warm, comforting moment could crumble at any second. Just moments ago, she had thought she would never be able to trust anyone again, and yet now, she was feeling the warmth of the Grand Duke beside her. Even though she knew this path could only end in…
- 190.1 K • Ongoing
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