Chapter 36

The realization, though it came late, brought a bitter, cynical smile to Anais’s lips. Meanwhile, Nectar, now overcome by rage, his face flushed red, began to raise his voice.

“You! You ungrateful wretch! I won’t let this—”

Anais cut him off, her tone even.

“It seems you’ve forgotten that I’m now a Lisandro. Remember, every action you take toward me is an insult to His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“What! You insolent…!”

Unable to contain his rage, Nectar tried once more to raise his hand against Anais, but he failed.

“Viscount, it would be unwise to ignore my warning.”

It was because, just then, the Grand Duke’s unyielding grip clamped down upon his shoulder.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

Diego had just finished his meaningless conversation with the crown prince and was on his way back when he caught sight of Nectar approaching the table.

As Diego narrowed his brows, Nectar advanced as if to strike Anais.

In that instant, he quickened his pace and seized him by the shoulder. His grip tightened until it nearly crushed the bone, and Nectar let out a pained groan.

“Ugh.”

“Anais is now my wife. You shouldn’t treat her carelessly.”

If you value your life.

The unspoken words pierced Nectar’s mind like a blade. It felt as though the duke’s grasp would shatter his shoulder, and he could hardly breathe.

“Apologize, Viscount.”

Mumbling incoherently, Nectar stammered.

“I-I’m sorry. Forgive my rudeness to Your Highness…”

“No. Why are you apologizing to me? You should be apologizing to the Grand Duchess.”

A wicked smile curled Diego’s lips, his crimson eyes glinting with a cold warning. At last, cowed by Diego’s presence, Nectar could do nothing but bow his head to Anais.

“I-I was discourteous to the Grand Duchess. I-I’m sorry.”

“It’s quite all right, Viscount. I trust you will be more careful in the future.”

She nodded, forcing a faint smile.

Nectar clenched his teeth. Anais, once firmly within his grasp, now stood before him with an air of regal elegance, utterly beyond his reach.

‘Damn it. That wretched girl… Ugh.’

But Diego’s grip only tightened further. Nectar, ever weak before the strong, couldn’t muster any resistance and hastily stepped back, avoiding Diego’s gaze.

“Th-then, I’ll take my leave.”

“Please do.”

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

At last, Nectar faded from sight, but Anais couldn’t feel at ease.

The murderous glint in the Grand Duke’s crimson eyes, which he had turned on Nectar, was one she knew all too well. It was the same cold gaze she had seen so often in her prophetic dreams, the look he gave her when his anger simmered. It was a look she had always wished to avoid.

“….”

At that moment, the Grand Duke approached her. As she held her breath, he spoke.

“Are you all right? You’re not hurt, are you?”

The murderous glare she had seen in her dreams was gone without a trace. He was once again the gentle man she knew so well. Reassured by this, Anais finally let out a deep breath.

“…No, I’m fine. Thank you.”

Hearing her words, he slipped off his coat and draped it softly over her shoulders before holding out his hand to her.

“Let’s go somewhere quieter. There are far too many prying eyes here.”

Thanks to the commotion Nectar had caused, the stares of the nobles gathered at the Grand Duke’s table were innumerable. Anais rose quietly from her seat. As he escorted her, he murmured in a low voice.

“If something like this ever happens again, don’t hurt yourself and just throw a glass of water. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Pardon?”

Her violet eyes, puzzled, followed the Grand Duke’s crimson gaze. He was looking at her hands.

In that moment, her eyes quivered.

Whenever she stood before her father or grew anxious, she always clenched her fists. It was an old habit. As a result, her palms bore deep marks, accumulated over countless moments just like this. Though she had not shown him directly, it seemed he knew everything.

“Ah.”

Instinctively, she tried to pull her hand away from his and hide it, not wanting the marks to be seen, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he slowly unfolded her fingers and enclosed her hand within his own.

“If you do this, it will be warm.”

As warmth spread from his cool hand, she gazed at him in a daze. Meeting her eyes, the Grand Duke gave her a gentle smile, as if nothing at all had happened.

“Shall we go?”

As she followed after him, Anais felt heat rising in her cheeks. And then she realized.

It wasn’t his warmth that left her so unsteady. It was that, whenever she faced him, the coldness within her own heart began to thaw.