CH 50.2

When Angela started knocking, Duke Kyar opened the door and came out.

Isabella quickly hid herself at the corner of the wall.

“Happy birthday, Your Highness.”

Angela said sweetly while giving him the present.

“Thank you.”

“I’m glad to celebrate your birthday here at Rubella Castle, Your Highness. Perhaps your mother in heaven is watching over you with joy.”

He went silent for a while when Angela started talking about his mother.

Perhaps, Duke Kyar was recalling his memories with her every time he looked at Angela because she closely resembled her mother.

“If you have time, why don’t you come inside, Angela?”

“But it is Your Majesty’s bedroom. Wouldn’t you mind if I go in?”

“It’s all right, Angela. Come on in.”

Isabella’s blue eyes trembled in shock at what she heard while hiding behind the wall.

Isabella returned to her room and opened her desk drawer to put the wooden box containing the supplements she had prepared as a present for Duke Kyar inside.

Next, she took off the bracelet and necklace he had given her and put them there.

She didn’t mean to leave them there in a hurry.

She just didn’t want to see the Archduke today.

Honestly, Isabella wasn’t confident of seeing his face when she was this dazed and confused.

She was too afraid that she would get jealous and tell him bad things on his birthday.

After closing the desk drawer, she quickly picked her quill up.

<I’m going out for a while because I have something to do. I’ll be back in time, so don’t worry..>

She wrote it down on the note and placed it on her desk.

Then, Isabella looked at Ignis sitting by the window.

“Ignis, I’m going out for a while. When Ria comes for me, tell her that I will be at the greenhouse.”

“Where are you going this early in the morning?”

“I just want to get some fresh air.”

Isabella usually spends her time alone whenever she is upset.

Walking around aimlessly calms her nerves and gets rid of her frustration.

As she strolled out of the castle, Isabella looked back grimly.

She just wanted to show him her happy face the moment she returned.

Isabella should only say nice things to him on his birthday.

**

Duke Kyar stared at Angela silently while she glanced around his bedroom with flushed cheeks.

She must have felt that his undivided attention was on her and that she covered her heated face with her hands.

Every time Angela moved, the scent of marigold, similar to his mother’s fragrance, permeated the atmosphere.

It was annoying that Angela resembled his mother very much.

His mother was the only person who knew him more than anyone else, and Duke Kyar usually hated it when others invaded his personal space.

***

Isabella couldn’t believe that Duke Kyar was the man who would suggest a woman enter his bedroom first.

It wasn’t just anywhere else.

It was his bedroom.

She would try to understand if it was his office where people were allowed to come and go quickly.

No matter how much this Angela resembled his mother, Duke Kyar had only seen this woman for a day!

Turning her head, Isabella faced forward with a stiff countenance.

***

Raphael told Duke Kyar in advance that Angela looked like his mother.

It surprised him at first because it felt like his mother was alive in front of him.

The resemblance wasn’t just limited to her appearance.

Angela’s gestures, speech, and even her tiniest movements were similar to his mother’s.

It was like a human-sized doll made after her mother.

Yeah, that was probably it.

Just a doll.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

He concluded that Angela was simply a doll the Emperor had created to win his heart as he looked at Angela.

Angela glanced up at him nervously, as if she had noticed the shift of coolness in his gaze.

“Why? Why are you looking at me like that, Your Highness?”

Her voice trembled when she asked.

He stared at her coldly and spoke, “Do you want to take it off, or should I?”

Angela’s brows furrowed in confusion.

“What are you talking about?”

“That thing on your head.”

“What? What’s on my head?”

He stretched his palm over Angela’s dark blue hair and grabbed it.

The dark brown hair that was hidden underneath appeared.

Angela’s amber eyes shook in fear.