CH 129

“Your Excellency, are you going to the palace again today?”

Archen asked his master, who was getting ready to go out.

“Of course.”

Ben answered as if it was obvious and put cufflinks on his sleeves. The button was studded with mysterious jewels shining in red and purple.

“You’re finally wearing it.”

“There’s no way I will return it…”

Ben answered while looking at the cufflinks.

It was a gift from Cersinia a few days ago. The precious and special thing that she chose and gave him as a gift, saying that the color of the jewelry resembled them.

Ben was so happy that he regarded the cufflinks as heirlooms. It was definitely a gift for him to wear, but he was worried that the jewelry might be damaged or lost, so he kept it. Because it was a gift from her, not anyone else. After all, Cersinia, who couldn’t understand his actions, said something just yesterday.

“Ben. If you’re not going to wear it, give it back to me.”

The fact that it was so precious to wear that he couldn’t afford to wear it, but from the POV of the person who gave it, it seemed like he didn’t like the gift. He never wanted to disappoint her, so he wore the cufflinks today.

“It suits you well.”

Archen laughed as if he was glad to see the cufflinks finally being used. His master, whose difference the public and private affairs and cold with everyone, becomes a different person when it’s the matter of Lady Cersinia.

‘He’s going to go this far? That’s enough.’

Archen, who always served the two close, became a little curious. How does it feel to love a person blindly? To even cherish a mere gift this much.

“I’m sure the Countess will be delighted. She must have given it to you because she wanted you to wear it.”

Ben, who nodded to Archen’s words, didn’t forget to pick up a jar of chocolates. It was something he took every time he went out to meet Cersinia, who said that eating sweets made her feel better when she was tired.

Ben carefully held the jar, checked his appearance in front of the mirror one more time, and moved his feet. His pace was so fast that all the servants who tried to say greetings to him couldn’t do that. Nevertheless, he didn’t slow down. Because he wanted to see her as soon as possible.

In the blink of an eye, he reached the front of the carriage waiting in front of the main door and asked Archen who was behind him.

“Did you get everything I ordered?”

“Yes. We will set it up perfectly until you return.”

“Good.”

He got into the carriage with a faint smile at the satisfactory answer. As soon as he got on, the carriage slowly accelerated and ran. The carriage is heading to the Imperial Palace. All the way to meet her, Ben imagined her face when she found that he wore the cufflinks, then he made a smile. The smile never left his lips.

* * *

“Then you’re leaving tomorrow morning… Is May joining you?”

“Yes, we decided to go down together.”

“I see…”

Verne fiddled with the teacup and lowered her gaze. At that look, Cersinia felt sorry for Verne. Because of her vacation, there will probably be few outsiders that will visit Verne.

For Verne, who entered the palace alone to become the Crown Princess, her only pleasure was meeting Cersinia. Since she didn’t come from a noble family in the first place, she didn’t have close friends.

Cersinia opened her mouth, vowing to help Verne when she returned from her vacation.

“Lady Verne, if you need anything, please let me know. I will bring it when I get back.”

“N-No. It’s nothing.”

Immersed in Cersinia’s favor, Verne flinched and shook her head quickly. Her face lit up in embarrassment that Cersinia had noticed she had expressed her pity. 

“Bring it.”

Verne changed her expression and gestured hastily to the servant behind her. As if waiting, the servant held out a red cushion with a beautifully wrapped gift to Cersinia.

“Countess, take this. I heard the sun is stronger in the down estate than in the capital. If you apply this cream on your face, it protects you from sunburn.”

“Thank you. It’s something I need.”

Cersinia smiled and bowed her head to the meticulous gift that contained Verne’s warm affection.

“I’ve been with you too long. The Grand Duke must be waiting for you. Rumors are circulating in the palace. The fact that on the day the Countess comes to the palace, the Grand Duke will also come to the palace.”

“Ah…”

Cersinia’s face flushed with embarrassment at Verne’s words, who seemed delighted with the rumors. There seemed to be rumors in the palace that Ben picked her up every day she entered the palace.

“Go ahead.”

“Yes, I will be on my way.”

Cersinia left the room with Verne’s delightful see-off.

When time passed, the sun was setting in the sky. Her pace grew faster and faster at the thought of Ben waiting.

Ben came to pick her up on the day she went to the palace. She already told him it must be troublesome, and he didn’t have to do it, but he said it was just his greed to be with her as soon as possible. She didn’t stop her because greed also existed in her.

Cersinia was still living in the Grand Duchy. She got an estate granted by the Emperor, and she had enough money to build a mansion in the capital, but she didn’t prepare the mansion. The reason was simple. Because they already promised to get married, and she’s already gotten used to living in the Grand Duchy. So there was no need to think about another mansion.

In addition, once she talked about the other mansion as a passing word, at that moment, she saw Ben’s expression was gloomy, as if the world was collapsing, so she never brought that up again. And she didn’t like being away from him either.

How long did she walk? Passing through the familiar landscape, she had just passed through the corridor connecting to the main palace. A tall silhouette at the far end of the corridor caught her eyes. It was quite a distance, but Cersinia, who recognized the silhouette at a glance, opened her mouth with a smile.

“Ben.”

A low voice rang in the corridor. She wondered if it might not reach him because her voice wasn’t that loud, but Ben just turned around as if he could hear her.

“Cersinia.”

Recognizing her, he called her name in a pleasant low voice. Soon after, his feet, which had stopped, began to move. Walking fast with a big stride, he was in front of her instantly.

“Are you done?”

“Yes. Sorry for coming a little late. Have you been waiting long?”

“No, I just arrived.”

He touched her hair with a friendly touch and lied to her without batting an eye. He had arrived at the Imperial Palace two hours ago, but he didn’t say anything about it. Because he can wait for that long only for Cersinia.

“Huh?”

Cersinia, who was smiling and receiving his friendly touch, recognized the cufflinks on his sleeves and gave a short exclamation. Yesterday’s threat seemed to work, and Ben finally wore it.

“As expected, it suits you well.”

When she saw the cufflinks on his sleeves, she couldn’t help being proud. As expected, her taste couldn’t be wrong. Of course, whatever gift she gives Ben, with that body and face, everything will be good on him.

“I’ll cherish it so that it doesn’t scratch.”

“It’s okay. If that happens, I can present you with a new one.”

Cersinia smiled cheerfully and shrugged her shoulders. It was a triumphant smile that she could buy as much as he wanted.

Ben smiled as he saw Cersinia’s smile. It was the smile he had hoped to see all the way to the Imperial Palace. At the same time, the corners of her lips were curved into a good-looking shape, making his heart pound.

Ben was overcome by the urge to swallow her red lips at once. His fingers were tingling as he endured it, pondering for a short time about how strong his desire was. But this was the Imperial Palace. After kissing her several times, Cersinia had a look that she didn’t like the open spaces very much.

“Cersinia.”

“Yes?”

Compromising with reality as much as possible, he lowered his lips toward Cersinia, who opened her eyes wide. His lips touched her eyelids briefly and fell. It was a kiss full of regret. It was a surprise kiss, but Cersinia smiled as if she knew it would happen and waited for the next word he would say.

“I have something I want to show you.”

“You want to show something? What is it?”

“I have it ready in the Grand Duchy. Would you like to go back together?”

Ben reached out to Cersinia as usual. With unchanging kindness, Cersinia smiled.

“…”

His lips clenched like a clamshell, not intending to open. Furthermore, he secretly averted his gaze. Cersinia didn’t expect it, but it happened again. Ben had bought all the items in the store as a gift for her, just like the last time.

“Ben.”

“…I couldn’t pick just one.”

Ben held her hand even tighter with a voice much smaller than before. He’s afraid she will let go of his hand first. Everything would look good on her, but how could he choose just one?

“You’re really…”

He had to listen to Cersinia’s nagging until they eventually reached the mansion. Even her nagging was only heard as a lovely melody in his ears.

* * *

Finally, the four of them went on vacation to Cersinia’s estate. Her estate, which was bestowed upon her by the Emperor, was originally one of the territories of Duke Kailos.

Among them, Glory is the largest territory. It was the golden land of the Duke’s estates because that land was evenly fertile.

“Wow!”

May couldn’t hide her excitement throughout the ride and sparkled her eyes.

“It’s the Countess’s estate. I heard that the Denvers River and its bridges are so beautiful!”

May really looked like a tourist going on a trip. Archen didn’t express it, but seeing his expression was a little different than usual, he seemed to be looking forward to it.

“Isn’t it hard?”

Ben opened the water bottle and held it out to Cersinia. He was taking care of her by the side so that she wouldn’t have a hard time traveling in a carriage for a long time.

“Not at all.”

Cersinia firmly shook her head. This was the first time she had visited her own estate, which had been granted by the Emperor and reported only on paperwork.

She didn’t suffer from the travel. Rather, she was looking forward to it. It’s been a long time since she had been away from the capital, and the thought of spending a little more time with Ben and forgetting her busy days made her even flutter.

During the vacation, she will stay up late, have a leisurely meal with Ben, drink tea, and look around. Then, when it gets cold, she will return to the mansion and watch the stars all night, and the next day goes to the famous Heness Street. She heard that the jewelry made of opal is famous there.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Cersinia was proud of her plan and hoped the carriage would arrive as soon as possible. But it didn’t take long for her excitement to fade.