Chapter 67

Adelia could hardly make eye contact with the Grand Duke. Just looking at his face brings back the memory of that day. The dim moonlight that illuminated him. The calmness of his gazed. The way he looked at her. 

She felt heat rising on her face. Adelia lifted the cup in front of her for no reason and moistened her throat. 

How many cups have I emptied?

“You must be thirsty.”

“…I guess it’s because I walked a lot today.”

Adelia slowly put the cup back on the table and lowered her eyelids. Ivan almost laughed for a moment as she desperately avoided eye contact. He could see what Adelia was thinking.

I guess you can’t wait to get out of here. 

Ivan’s eyes narrowed gracefully.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other like this.”

“…Is that so?”

“It’s the first time since the ball.”

For a moment Adelia’s shoulders shriveled. Adelia raised her head, trying to remain expressionless as much as possible. Ivan smiled at Adelia, who was now looking at him.

“That day… never happened….”

“I can’t pretend that day didn’t happen.”

Adelia looked at Ivan with her mouth closed. The composure on his face was somehow annoying.

“Yes… We can’t pretend that it didn’t happen.”

“Do you regret it?”

“…….”

Adelia could not immediately answer Ivan’s question.

Honestly, if you asked me if I regretted it, I could say yes.

If she hadn’t kissed the Grand Duke that day, she wouldn’t be in such an uncomfortable situation with him.

But Adelia couldn’t say she regretted it. Even if she can go back to that moment, or maybe something similar happens now. Adelia wasn’t sure if she’d flatly pushed the duke away and said no.

What should I do?

Feelings resembling disappointment made Adelia’s head dizzy.

I came here with a desire to take revenge on those who ruined Rohen.

There was no room for anything else. However, it was undeniable that she had different feelings for the man in front of him. Adelia kept getting caught up in strange emotions when she looked straight into his eyes.

She had no choice but to admit it. That she is led by the Grand Duke. However, she could not open her heart easily because of her inferiority complex. He was a brilliant man, a successor to the blood of the Huizeniak, and also the master of the Grand duchy. And she was a wicked woman who was almost banished from the empire.

Suddenly, she remembered the words of Izar, her former fiancé, who casually told her.

‘Sometimes I think you’re quite selfish. That look in your eyes, the look of longing for affection puts pressure on the other person. Sometimes I feel suffocated looking at you.’ 

He was a man who she didn’t want to be associated with, but Adelia agreed with him.

She wanted absolute affection that nothing could break. She was greedy even though she knew that such affection doesn’t exist. 

Now that she thinks about it, it was funny that she wanted Izar to give her affection even though she doesn’t love him.

Adelia’s gaze slowly fell down. A complex emotion floated over her face. A sigh flowed from Ivan’s mouth when he saw her face. Adelia’s lips moved slowly.

“Your highness and I… Honestly, is not a good fit.”

The Grand Duke’s eyebrows flinched. He frowned and looked at Adelia as if he had heard something strange.

“Why do you think so?”

“It’s … because you’re too much for me?”

The duke shook his head and spoke.

“That’s not the right answer. It’s wrong from the beginning.”

“…What?”

“What do you mean ‘too much’? Are you talking about my background?” 

Adelia listened quietly to Ivan.

“Most of what surrounds me is given to me from birth. I’ve only created a few things on my own.”

The duke slowly crossed his legs and repeatedly refuted Adelia’s thoughts.

“If you look at ‘Ivan’ without all the modifiers, he may be a very ordinary man.”

For a moment Adelia almost burst out laughing. Ivan Hamilton as an ordinary man.

“So, what you say about being too much is that it’s an idea that stems from this fallacy.”

Adelia’s mouth closed tightly. She didn’t know what to say to a man who claimed to be normal. After a long thought, Adelia revealed her true feelings.

“To be honest… I’m afraid, I might depend on you for everything, your highness … Wouldn’t that make it suffocating….”

In Adelia’s eyes, an indelible fear came.

“I don’t think that’s bad.”

Adelia opened her eyes wide and looked at Ivan. She found a faint smile around his mouth.

“If you’re not sure, it’s not a bad idea to experience it once.”

“Experience…”

Adelia recited quietly. Seeing her agonizing look, Ivan opened his mouth again.

“Don’t be afraid. From what I’ve seen, you are a very clever and wise woman.”

A spotless look of trust.

Adelia was helplessly drawn to his eyes.

“…Yeah. It’s not bad to experience it once.”

It was as if she was drunk on something. Adelia could not understand herself as she grabbed the Grand Duke’s outstretched hand.

What will be the end of this irresistible attraction?

At the moment, she didn’t dare to expect anything. But Adelia decided to take courage. She knew very well that she couldn’t grow as a person if she didn’t accept the change.

***

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Adelia and Ivan rode the carriage and went back to the castle. All the way back to the castle, Ivan had a pleasant smile around his mouth.

Adelia saw the smile and turned her head away from the window. At last, the carriage reached the castle and the carriage stopped completely.

Adelia took Ivan by the hand and got out of the carriage. Then the bitter cold of the Duchy brushed Adelia’s shoulder.Adelia and Ivan hurried into the castle. Then, warm warmth melted the frozen skin of the two.

Ivan asked, looking at Adelia whose cheeks turned red due to rapid temperature changes. 

“Do you have time tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? Ahmm….”

Adelia brooded over her schedule the next day.

I don’t have a particular meeting tomorrow….

Adelia answered immediately, confirming that tomorrow’s schedule was free.

“Tomorrow just happens to be free.”

“Then why don’t we go to the opera tomorrow?”

“An opera?”

Adelia’s eyes turned round. Ivan nodded and explained about the opera.

“The Ivonev theater company just came to the Duchy. They’re going to show a piece called Duchess.”

“Oh, I’ve heard of it. When I was in the capital, there was a lot of talk about the Duchess. By the way, you haven’t watched it yet?”

Adelia quizzically asked. She thought he’d already seen it since it’s a popular piece. 

Ivan answered Adelia’s question with a playful smile. 

“I didn’t have anyone to go with.”

Adelia laughed at the moment. Why wouldn’t he have no one to go with? He probably didn’t go because he didn’t like it or he wasn’t interested. Thinking like this suddenly made her feel strange. 

It was the first time being asked for a date,

She went to the opera occasionally with her ex-fiancé, Izar, but she is always the one asking him to go. 

Adelia said with a small smile.

“Okay, let’s go see it tomorrow.”

“I’m glad you accepted it.”

Ivan’s eyes are curled up. His impression of being stiff and insensitive was completely reversed.

“I’m going now.”

Adelia turned away and climbed the stairs. Then, Ivan’s voice came from behind.

“Adelia.”

Adelia stopped and turned her head.

“Was the meat pie you had last time delicious?” 

Meat pie.

Adelia recalled the meat pie delivered by the maid Libby. The flavor that had spread smoothly in her mouth. 

“It was great.”

“I’m going to make another one tonight.”

“…I’ll happily eat.”

Adelia’s earlobes were dyed with pale pink.

***

As soon as she entered the room, Adelia opened the balcony window. The cold breeze of the Duchy cooled Adelia’s heat.

“Ha…”

A white breath came out of Adelia’s lips with a sigh. Adelia looked up at the dark sky with complicated eyes. The stars shining in the clear sky caught Adelia’s eye. She felt like her dizzy head was being cleaned up a little.

“An opera performance….”

It has been two years since she last saw an opera. Adelia was thrilled after a long time. Then, something white flew in from afar. For a moment she was confused, but when she heard a familiar cry, Adelia backed away.

Beep!

Eustaf’s holy being showing off its white feathers hovered around Adelia.

“Come on in.”

Beep!

The clever holy being understood Adelia’s words and came into the warm room. Adelia closed the window and took the letter from a small bag tied to the holy being’s ankle.

“Is it a reminder to interpret the Bible?”

Adelia hurriedly opened the letter. It wasn’t a reminder to interpret the Bible. He was wondering how the forthcoming tenth disaster and war between humans would break out. And he was worried about her safety, saying, “I hope you are doing well and healthy.”

Eustaf must have a lot of worries in his own way.

She wrote a reply saying that she would think about it and put it in the bag attached to the holy being’s ankle.

“Please deliver it well this time, too.”

Beep!

The holy being flew up vigorously after receiving a snack from Adelia. The holy being completely disappeared, Adelia tried to close the window. At that moment a bird with blue feathers flew into her room.

“Hmm?”

Adelia followed the sparrow-like bird with her eyes full of confusion. The bird soon sat on Adelia’s desk.

“Who are you?”

Beep, beep.

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The bird stared at Adelia for a while. It was like she’s being watched. That strange confrontation lasted for a few minutes.

Adelia reached out to kick the bird out. But the bird escaped Adelia’s hand and went out of the window again.

“What’s going on?”

Maybe the room was warm and so the bird flew in. Adelia wondered, but thought little of it and closed the window.

[T/N: Are they officially dating now?]