CH 75.2

What irreversible mistakes had she made to the Archduke when she decided to return to the past?

It frustrated her that she couldn’t figure out the exact cause of Duke Kyar’s condition.

The only thing she could do was examine him further and study his cure.

“You must be tired, Your Highness. You should hurry up and sleep now.”

He nodded and laid himself down on the bed.

Isabella watched him close his eyes as she sat on the sofa.

It was nice to see him close instead of watching him behind the tree.

Old thoughts flashed through her mind.

Isabella smiled when she recalled their first night at the barracks and their unexpected vacation to the hot spring.

Perhaps, she was being punished now for ignoring him then.

She felt sorry that she realized too late how much she loved him.

If she had known that their time together was that short, she would have made more efforts toward him not to have any regrets.

She knew that regret was useless, but the feelings of self-blame had piled up inside her heart several times that her chest might explode one day.

Isabella thought Duke Kyar was already asleep, but he woke up suddenly.

It was too late.

Their eyes met before she could avoid his dark gaze.

A breathtaking silence filled the bedroom.

Duke Kyar broke the tension by asking in a slightly subdued voice, “I have always wondered why you always look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Whenever you stare at me, you look like you are about to cry.”

Isabella had no idea she looked like that.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

What should she tell him?

It would be hard for her to tell him that she cries every time she sees a handsome person.

“Don’t try to make another ridiculous excuse, Isabella.”

That made her speechless.

The Archduke seemed to know that she planned to lie.

He wore such a scary expression that it urged her to answer.

“You look like someone I liked.”

She didn’t even know what she was talking about.

However, it was too late to take the words she uttered back into her mouth.

“Did that particular man and I look alike?” He asked with a laugh, dumbfounded by it all.

Nodding, Isabella lowered her head.

“So the reason you were peeking at me from behind a tree every time I train at the mountains was that I looked like someone you liked.” He mumbled in a deep baritone as he nervously swept his dark hair to the side.

“That’s why you–No. Where is the man? Did he run away from you? Is that why you always look at me as if you are about to cry?”

No matter how urgent it is, why did she make that excuse?

Isabella resented herself for not being creative.

“Why can’t you talk? Did he die in front of you–”

Goosebumps broke out on her skin, and she cried at his thoughtless words.

“Oh, I just said that without thinking, but I guess he did die before you.” He muttered as he watched the tears streaming down her face.

“I’m sorry.” Isabella hurriedly wiped her tears with her hands.

“I’m sorry, too. I didn’t intend to bring up your emotional scars either.”

“I know. I’m sorry for crying all of a sudden, Your Highness. Don’t worry about it, and go to bed soon.”

With a sigh, Duke Kyar stared at her and lay his back down on the bed.

Isabella lowered her head and tried not to look in his direction.

It was so embarrassing for her to cry in front of him when she should have suppressed her emotions.

But it was too painful for her to remember that Duke Kyar was dead.

**

Strangely enough, Duke Kyar was too annoyed.

He bit his lip in frustration and glanced at Isabella, who lay on the sofa while pretending to sleep.

Isabella didn’t even look at him even once, as if she was embarrassed to be caught staring at his handsome face.

Now, she realized why she always stayed in his vicinity.

Honestly, Duke Kyar thought she had fallen in love with him at first sight, but it turned out it was only an illusion brought by his arrogance.

A dead man who looked like him, huh?

Every time she looked at him with those eyes, it appeared like she couldn’t forget him yet.

He got so annoyed that he wished her excuse was a lie.

He couldn’t figure out why he was so annoyed.

Perhaps, he was upset that she was seeing another man through him.

How dare she think of another man in front of him?

His pride was so hurt that he couldn’t bear it and he also felt dirty for being that bastard’s substitute.

But why was he feeling this way?

He frowned at the thought.

Maybe it was because he had never been treated like this in his entire life.

His noble pride was shattered to pieces.

Yes.

Archduke Kyar was just being like this because of his ego.

It was never because he envied the man who looked like him and who was loved by that woman.