Chapter 48

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Chapter 48

Seth, unable to take his eyes off Min-ha’s face, frowned slightly as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“By the way, now that your anxiety has been resolved, I think it’s time for you to resolve the anxiety in my heart, too.”

“…Anxiety? You?”

“What’s that reaction?”

“No, I just thought that it was a bit surprising. Well, what are you worried about?”

“Actually, it’s more of a feeling of dissatisfaction than anxiety.”

“Dissatisfied…? What is it?”

What was his dissatisfaction with her? Has she ever done anything that hurt his heart?

When Min-ha tilted her head and asked, Seth deepened the gap between their forehead before answering the question in a slightly blunt voice.

“Why are you only talking comfortably to Noah?”

“…Yes?”

“Of course, it’s not that I don’t understand how you feel because Noah is cute and polite for his age, but I’m your husband nonetheless. I don’t know why you speak up and talk more comfortably only to Noah.”

“…What? You didn’t like that?”

“Even though Noah is my younger brother, Noah is your brother-in-law, though you and I are a married couple. Considering close relationships, it would be me rather than Noah, but I wondered why you were only treating me with distance.”

“….”

Seth’s dissatisfaction was utterly different from what she had expected. Min-ha stared at him with a bewildered expression.

Seeing her expression, he narrowed his eyebrows even more as though she had no clue. His face seemed as though it was saying, ‘I know your heart by just looking at your face, although you did not notice mine at all.’

Because of that, Min-ha panicked and stuttered.

“Oh. No, no—I mean… You kept acting like you don’t like me, and you were going to break up with me if the Vatican grants permission. Besides, you’re a duke and you’re older than me, but if I just talk nonsense, people’s eyes will sting even more. So, that’s why…”

“Recently, I think I have expressed quite a bit of my love for you.”

“I know! I know… I was trying to pretend I didn’t notice.”

“Why?”

“Before accepting your feelings, I wanted to tell you about ‘my identity,’ without hiding anything…”

“….”

“Because just a little while ago, I thought you might push me away if you knew everything about me.”

“I see… Then, what about now?”

“Yes?”

“You know how I feel already. So, would you be comfortable talking to me now?”

Gazing at Seth, who was staring into her eyes as if he would not back now, Min-ha was burning red.

She had been drawing a line with him until now because she was afraid that if he found out all her secrets, he might distance himself from her. Min-ha was both embarrassed and happy at the sight of Seth, who had narrowed the distance in an instant.

Not used to it yet, she carefully spat out the words that only lingered in her mouth.

“Well then, if I call you comfortably—Okay, Seth…?”

“….”

“Oh, it’s still awkward, right? Haha.”

“No, it’s not awkward.”

“Ah…”

“From now on, please continue to treat me comfortably like this without hiding anything.”

Seth, who had a momentarily surprised expression at her words, smiled brightly and placed his forehead against hers. Then, as he slowly raised his head and kissed her exposed forehead briefly, he stroked her hair with his fingers as though combing her hair.

Min-ha, who felt her heart pounding as if she was about to explode, grabbed his hand which was gently brushing her hair tightly.

“However, if I suddenly talk comfortably like this, other people might think it’s strange? Like Mrs. Pompa and Ella, everyone might think that I abruptly speak friendly with the husband…”

“Well. It could be.”

“As expected, right?”

“Then, shouldn’t I speak politely and comfortably with you from now on as well?”

“…What?”

“You’re right. Every couple should be polite to each other… I was foolish, Madam.”

“N, no. It’s not like that!”

‘Why is the story flowing the way this person wants?!’

As if reflecting on his words, Min-ha hurriedly waved her hands in surprise after seeing Seth speaking respectfully to her with a serious expression. It was awkward… So, even though she said she would talk more comfortably than she was now, it was incredibly embarrassing to see Seth talking formally like that.

Nevertheless, Seth continued his words with a consistently stern face as if it had been bothering him until now.

“No. I didn’t think much. Now that you and I are bound by the laws of the Empire and in our hearts as well, it’s right for me to respect you as my wife.”

“Oh, no. Why are you sorry? It’s all right… No, I got it! Then, let’s do this!”

“…Hmm?”

“When it’s just the two of us, we can speak casually. And, when we can speak politely when we’re in front of others. What do you think?”

“That’s fine.”

“Yeah? It’s okay, right?”

“As expected, you’re wise. You’re too much for me.”

When Min-ha suggested halting Seth’s respectful words with a serious face, he readily accepted.

As he continued to gaze at her with a loving gaze, Min-ha bit her lips bashfully. At first, she was always busy with her heavy heart. However, right now, it was both embarrassing and good to see him engraving every word she said.

‘…I am glad I liked this person.’

Thinking so, she slowly lowered her head to his shoulder. Seeing that, Seth gave her a shoulder to lean on. Min-ha rested her head comfortably on his shoulder as she watched the sun rising little by little over the horizon of the lake.

“Duke, Madam! Are you there?”

“Your Excellency! Madam…! Where are you?”

It was then.

Leaning on Seth’s shoulders, the two of them greeted the dawning morning together, when they suddenly turned their heads to the voices of Pompa and Lancelot calling them from the side of the forest. It seemed that they were worried about the two of them walking for a long time and decided to look for them.

In other words, it meant that they came out without a word to anyone, other than the soldiers at the entrance.

The two of them, who had a slightly apologetic expression at their voices full of concern, eventually glanced at each other.

“Shall we go back?”

“Yes.”

Seth, who got up first, held out his hand. Min-ha took it and stood up.

Walking alongside, he slowly matched her steps as they strode towards the direction where the voices came from. Min-ha smiled happily as she held Seth’s hand, which was holding hers tightly.

The morning sunshine on the day when they confessed their feelings and their hearts aligned was as beautiful as a jewel.

“Where in the world have you been! Have you been at the lake all this time?”

“…Hahaha. That’s—”

“How worried I was when I thought what had happened to the Duke and the Madam! And, what’s with that look! Why is the corset loosened up? Could it be that the two of you did something unusual like, lik—like, like that?!”

“Oh, no! Nothing like that.”

“It’s perfectly natural for a young couple to enjoy a secret meeting late at night. Still, even so, why did the Madam spend time like that without saying anything? Ah, do you know how much this old woman was worried about you two?!”

“I should’ve told you, I’m sorry.”

“…I’m sorry, Mrs. Pompa.”

Min-ha felt sorry for Pompa, who gazed at the two of them as if worried with her feisty face. Meanwhile, Seth, who was standing next to her and listening to Pompa’s nagging, approached her and turned to Lancelot, who was supporting her.

“I was worried that there might be a danger to your life, Your Grace.”

“I told the knights who were guarding the road. Did they not report anything?”

“No, I’ve heard reports from the knights. Still… I apologize, Your Grace didn’t come back until morning. I think my concerns went too far.”

“No. It was me, I didn’t think much. Although Loengram Castle is getting closer, we never know what the enemies are up to.”

“….”

“From now on, I’ll make sure to tell you in advance as well.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What are the knights and servants doing?”

“We’re waiting for you and the Madam to return. And, after packing up the luggages, we’re preparing breakfast for you two and Noah.”

Hearing the conversation between Seth and Lancelot, Min-ha’s heart grew heavy. It was because she seemed to have put a risk on their lives and worried others because she asked to talk to him alone.

‘Maybe, I should have asked him to just talk in the tent, not the lake…?’

With that thought, her hands that were holding Seth’s shook a little.

Noticing that, he turned around and she nodded slightly. At that, Seht naturally lowered his head at the sight of Min-ha, who nodded as if she had something to say. She uttered in a low voice into his ear as he lowered his upper body so that she could whisper comfortably.

“…Sorry. Because of me.”

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.”

This time again, Seth answered with a smile as if he knew everything about her.

‘This person reads my mind again… Does my face show it that much?’

Thinking that, Min-ha rubbed her face with the other hand, which was not caught by Seth and followed him, walking side by side toward the empty lot where the servants and knights were staying.

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