CH 37.1

He spoke with a somewhat confused expression.

“A few days ago, Lady Pellimont suddenly asked if I would like to attend a banquet at the Grand Duke’s castle. I agreed. I had a chance to meet His Grace, and most of all, I wanted to see if Miss Angroanne was doing well.”

“I see. As I said yesterday . . . I’m doing well here, so there is no need to worry.”

Salton’s uninvited attendance was actually due to Sienna’s invitation. In the end, the Grand Duke and her just had different misunderstandings. However, even if she had known the situation in advance, he would have held onto the slightest problem and blamed her anyway.

As they continued their words softly, Anne looked at the door. She was afraid that the Grand Duke would come without notice.

Seeing her glance at the door continuously, Salton picked up one of the dried fruits and leaned towards her.

“Countess Libelois is not here, so don’t worry . . .”

Salton, who was about to speak, was startled and his voice trailed off. The moment Anne turned her head, he saw her neck. In the past, he would have turned his eyes away from shame, but all over her white bare skin were naked traces of lovemaking.

Shortly after Anne left the lounge yesterday, he saw the man in the host’s seat hurriedly following her. He had a strange premonition, and another man stopped him when he tried to follow that man. It was the Grand Duke’s assistant. And he realized that the man he was going to follow was the Grand Duke.

Unlike the Grand Duke who returned later, Anne did not return until the banquet was over. So perhaps . . . Salton’s head fell heavily.

Anne, who had not seen Salton’s expression as her attention was on the door, saw him approaching, and pulled her torso back.

“Thank you.”

Anne took the refreshments from Salton and shoved them into her mouth. As she chewed the dried prunes, a sweet taste engulfed her tongue.

Seeing her smile while eating, Salton pulled his back too belatedly. Now he had to get up, but his feet didn’t seem to move.

“Really . . .”

“Yes?”

As Anne looked up at Salton worryingly, he shook his head.

“It’s nothing. Well, if you have any further questions about the Libelois family, I will look into it properly and send you a letter.”

“No. Sienna will be offended if we continue to correspond. I will find out for myself.”

“If you need my help later, please let me know. I want your Ladyship to be happy.”

Salton’s face, wishing for the other person’s happiness, was filled with regret. The bitterness that the woman he loved being unable to live comfortably here was heartbreaking.

* * *

Afterward, Salton visited the West Wing’s office at the appointed time with the Grand Duke. When he opened the door, he was greeted by a cool room that resembled the owner— no warmth at all.

The Grand Duke who was sitting in front of the dark desk slowly raised his red eyes.

“Did you say you wanted to see me separately?”

The Grand Duke slowly got up and sat himself down on the sofa, and Salton sat across from him.

His dark hair and drowsy red eyes. Seeing the unrealistically beautiful man, Salton was enveloped in a strange feeling.

It feels like yesterday.

There was a dazed feeling he had felt from the first time he met the Grand Duke in the banquet hall. No, the feeling was stronger than it was yesterday, probably because the two of them were face to face now. It was a feeling he was terribly familiar with, but never pleased with.

This unfamiliar feeling of intimidation. The cool, low voice, and the eyes like that of a beast’s. He felt suffocated as if every feature was pressing his heart.

“Is this the first time we’ve met each other?”

As Salton struggled to speak, the Grand Duke twisted his head slightly and spoke with a smile on his face.

“Why are you asking such a question?”

“We must have met somewhere.”

Clearly, somewhere in his hazy memory, he had met the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke was a man with a strong impression that was difficult to forget. So Salton must have remembered if he had seen the Grand Duke, but he couldn’t figure it out no matter how much he looked back in his head.

A light smirk lingered on the Grand Duke’s slightly raised lips.

“I’ve never been to the capital, and you said it was your first time here, so we probably never met.”

“Is that so?”

“Perhaps, I don’t know. It may just be that I don’t recognize you.”

The Grand Duke, who had muffled incomprehensible words, immediately looked bored. Salton read the sign that Grand Duke no longer wanted to continue the conversation on this topic.

“Then let’s listen to the main point of your visit to the castle.”

“I have come to ask why you are still putting pressure on our family.”

“Pressure . . .”

The boredom that had been clinging to the Grand Duke’s eyes quickly dissipated.

“Aren’t you pressing Whitmore? My father told me to tell you. Keep your promise.”

“My condition was simple. The Lord should immediately marry another Lady. But I know you are still alone.”

Blue veins settled over Salton’s fist, which rested on his lap. How long did he have to put up with this outrageous behavior?