CH 17.1

Not wanting to be caught, Duke Kyar stared at Isabella with a blank expression.

“What’s going on?”

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

She walked carefully towards him, and at that moment, Duke Kyar gestured at Mark to make himself scarce.

Catching his signal, Marc dragged the food trolley immediately and left the office.

“It’s the first time you’ve come to see me in person. What’s wrong?”

“Oh, I have a favor to ask of you. Master Kyle said he wanted to go on a trip with me on his birthday. I heard he had never traveled before.”

And here he was, wondering why she came to see him, but it turned out that she was simply informing him that she would go on a trip with Kyle.

He knew it was childish, but he couldn’t help but get jealous of his younger nephew.

He clenched his fists in frustration.

Duke Kyar didn’t want Isabella to know that he was jealous.

He clenched his fist tightly, not wanting to be caught in childish jealousy.

“So? You’re going on a trip with Kyle?”

Nails digging deeper into the palm of his hand, his eyes darkened when he looked at Isabella.

“No, but it wasn’t just that. I thought it would be nice to go with you, Your Grace. Do you have time?”

The nerve-wracking irritation he felt melted like snow when Isabella said they would go together.

“Do you want me to go with you?”

Smiling, she nodded slowly.

He had a problem with that smile because he found it so cute.

Even her reluctant nod made him feel some type of way.

“Well, if you want that, let’s go together.”

An awkward smile spread across Isabella’s face.

He knew why she was making this suggestion.

It’s because she wants to make Kyle’s memories special on his birthday since he always spends them sad and alone.

He was still jealous of her thinking about Kyle instead of him, but Kyle was still Duke Kyar’s precious nephew.

Yet, it was hard to express his feelings properly.

He had inherited the Dukedom at Kyle’s age, and he even took the responsibility of raising the boy.

He had to be stronger so that no one could ignore and underestimate their family.

That was the only way he could protect himself and Kyle.

He always wore a cold, inscrutable mask so that he wouldn’t come across as a fool to others.

As a result, his heart gradually turned into ice.

He turned into a detached adult who did not know how to express this jealousy inside of him, but he was grateful that she cared about Kyle.

If Kyle had an aunt like this…

He halted his thoughts immediately and let out an inward sigh.

“Where are you planning to travel?”

“What is a good place to travel? I’ve never been on a trip.”

Like her, he disliked traveling as well.

“I’ll think about the place.”

Luches was the expert in this area.

“Then please.”

Her bright smile made her heart pound against his will.

‘This was all because of the love potion.’ He thought as he tried hard to ignore the stirrings of his heart.

**

When she went to the Dining Hall for breakfast, Kyle was the one who greeted her first.

“Good morning, young master Kyle.”

“Yes, sister. Good morning.”

“By the way, the Archduke decided to go on the trip with you.”

“Really? My uncle is going on a trip?”

“Yes, he will be the one to decide the travel destination—”

Isabella couldn’t finish her words because Duke Kyar had entered the Dining Hall.

Both of them stopped talking to bow their heads at Duke Kyar as a greeting.

Then, they sat in their respective seats.

“Some people might be a little lazy, but I think southern Arpeon would be a good destination.” He said before he started eating.

Isabella recalled the information about Arpeon that she saw from the novel.

Prince Victor of the Southern Arpeon was trouble personified.

Even in the original novel, Duke Kyar was bothered by Prince Victor’s existence.

Prince Victor was three years older than Duke Kyar, but both were in the same class during their academy days.

Strangely, Prince Victor, who was also known to be cold-blooded and ruthless, was a bit cute.

Rumors said that he was a person with a unique taste.

Southern Arpeon was close to the Lillit Kingdom, where Seria’s female protagonist came from.

After conquering the Lillit Kingdom, she remembered Duke Kyar and Ceria traveling to Arpeon.

Arpeon was described as a hot and beautiful area, unlike the brutal beasts in the North.

“Oh, I think I’ve heard of it. I heard it’s a beautiful place.”

“If you like it, I’ll go to war with Prince Victor and take his Kingdom away for you.”

Isabella quickly waved her hand in refusal at Archduke Kyar, who seemed severe.

“I respectfully refuse.”

The problem was that his jokes never sounded like jokes.