Chapter 26
Lucius slowly swept his gaze across the room, which was filled with quiet, restrained tension.
Among the attendants carefully sorting through stacks of documents, he stood with immaculate composure, as though he had stepped straight out of a portrait. Every line of his posture was refined and flawless.
“My lord, I’m terribly sorry, but we couldn’t find anything regarding the ‘young lady of the South’ you mentioned.”
For the briefest moment, a shadow crossed Lucius’s face.
One of his aides—and also his foster brother—Kabel wetted his dry lips.
The confusion he’d felt when Lucius had suddenly summoned everyone and asked about a ‘young lady of the South’ connected to himself still lingered. Choosing his words carefully, Kabel asked,
“Could there be any other information you remember?”
“I heard she was a woman who almost became my fiancée. Doesn’t that ring any bells?”
If she had nearly become his fiancée…
That had been over two years ago.
The memory was hazy, but for the sake of his master, who had lost his memories, Kabel was determined to grasp even the smallest forgotten fragment.
Fortunately, it wasn’t long before something seemed to click.
“Ah! Come to think of it, among the ladies once considered as your prospective fiancée, there was one who was called the Princess of the South.”
“The Princess of the South?”
Leaning casually against the window, Lucius lowered the document in his hand from beneath his chin.
“Yes. She’s the eldest daughter of Marquis Larendel. Her family effectively controls the grain supply across the entire southern region. She’s renowned not only for her beauty but also for her intelligence and refinement. Among the southern nobility, she’s treated almost like royalty.”
“And she nearly became my fiancée?”
“There were roughly three ladies considered at the time. Their family standings were all comparable, and both His Grace and the Duchess thought highly of them.”
Kabel carefully set down the papers he had been organizing before glancing sideways at Lucius.
“The reason Lady Larendel was considered the strongest candidate…”
He hesitated.
“…was because there were rumors that the two of you had once been lovers.”
“…”
“In fact, Lady Larendel never tried to hide her feelings for you.”
Lucius’s fingers lightly scraped against the windowsill.
When Kabel finished speaking, Lucius quietly closed his eyes before opening them again.
His gaze remained steady, but his thoughts spun endlessly.
“So… I once had a lover…”
His voice carried an unmistakable note of bitter self-mockery.
Frowning slightly, Kabel answered carefully.
“It was never confirmed. They were only rumors.”
“You said you’ve always been by my side. Even you don’t know the truth?”
“Well…”
Kabel scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“I’m afraid I don’t. You were never the type to speak about your private affairs. Especially when it involved a lady—you would never casually discuss such things.”
Even as he spoke, Kabel continued watching Lucius’s expression.
Noticing the concern in his gaze, Lucius quickly composed himself.
His breath trembled faintly before disappearing into his chest.
Finally, Kabel ventured another question.
“But… why are you suddenly asking about this?”
Why indeed?
Why would the marquis’s daughter—the woman hailed throughout the South as its princess—seek him out to speak about their future?
Lucius swallowed the question before it could leave his lips.
Even entertaining the possibility left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.
As Eleanor said… because of Celia…?
A mother was asked to tell the lady not to come for the time being… but perhaps that alone was never going to resolve the matter.
One thought gave birth to another, until countless possibilities tangled together, tightening around his mind.
Forcing his expression back into calmness, Lucius spoke evenly.
“I happened to hear about it while asking Mother about my past. My curiosity has been satisfied now.”
“I’m relieved to hear that. Is there anything else you need?”
Night had begun to descend, bringing with it a cool breeze.
The wind felt refreshing against his skin, yet he found himself wanting to look away from the sunset slowly sinking beneath the horizon.
Stepping away from the window, Lucius rested one hand on the table.
His fingertips pressed ever so slightly against its edge.
The pressure was so faint that even he didn’t notice.
“…Celia.”
“Yes?”
“I arranged to see Celia tonight.”
After a brief pause, he added,
“Could you prepare some warm tea beforehand?”
As Celia drew closer to Lucius’s room, her footsteps gradually slowed.
The evening light had long disappeared from the corridor.
Not another soul was present to hurry her along.
The endless hallways of House Windmere were lined with ancient portraits whose piercing gazes were so lifelike that it felt as though the painted eyes followed her every step.
Every last one of them has the same unpleasant eyes.
Why had Lucius chosen today of all days to summon her?
At night, no less.
I did say I’d seduce him… but I wasn’t planning to start today.
Yet her father’s orders bound her in place.
She had no right to refuse Lucius’s summons.
And she couldn’t ignore the invisible eyes and ears Edmund undoubtedly had scattered somewhere nearby.
Don’t overthink it.
She repeated her mission to herself.
She had to whisper love into his ears.
Blind him.
Deafen him.
Slip into the most private corners of his life and uncover the secrets he himself didn’t realize he possessed.
Pretend to love him.
Pretend to be kind.
…
But how exactly was she supposed to do that?
Was it enough simply not to yell at him?
Not to insult him?
Not to try defeating him every chance she got?
Is that even possible?
Swallowing a twisted breath, Celia continued down the silent hallway.
There had been a time when she hated Lucius even more than she did now.
And despite that…
They had shared a bed.
It was a revolting truth.
One she hated remembering.
For three long years—and yet only three years—they had worn the mask of a perfectly ordinary married couple.
Sharing a bed had been unavoidable.
When the deception surrounding their wedding night was discovered, the temple priests had forced them to spend another humiliating night together before their very eyes.
They had narrowly avoided the priests crossing the threshold to witness everything firsthand, thanks entirely to Lucius’s furious objection.
…Or was it because I completely lost it?
I remember screaming that I’d rather die than sleep with him in front of everyone.
The memories clung to her like a shadow that refused to leave.
The harder she tried to forget…
The clearer they became.
“If you’re going to look that miserable… then just cry.”
She could no longer remember what expression he’d worn.
What remained vivid instead was the desperate effort she’d made not to let her tears fall.
The unfamiliar sensations that washed over her…
Whether they had been pain or pleasure, she still couldn’t tell.
She only remembered resisting them while enduring the touch of his hands.
…Disgusting.
Every time she thought about that night, nausea rose inside her like bile, leaving her feeling utterly wretched.
Will tonight… be just like that night?
One unpleasant memory after another resurfaced.
At the same moment her heart whispered,
I don’t want to go…
Edmund’s voice sliced through the darkness of her thoughts.
“If you can’t do it, I’ll send Diana in your place tomorrow.”
She had no choice.
Once Edmund had decided something, there was no path left for her but obedience.
Trying to settle her churning stomach, Celia rubbed her arms over and over.
Before she realized it, she was standing outside Lucius’s room.
Without even bothering to knock, her inconsiderate hand reached straight for the doorknob.
Her cold fingers turned it.
The door swung open.
“Celia?”
Not wanting to show even the slightest hesitation, she strode inside the moment the door opened.
Lucius, dressed only in a loosely draped robe, looked up from where he sat on the edge of the bed.
Apparently, her abrupt entrance had caught him by surprise.
His eyes widened ever so slightly.
“You came alone? The corridors must have been dark at this hour.”
She stopped a short distance in front of him.
Setting aside whatever he had been reading, Lucius rose to his feet.
Droplets of water slid down the back of his neck, traced the curve of his collarbone, and disappeared into the fabric of his robe, leaving behind tiny dark spots.
“I was going to come escort you, but I lost track of the time.”
Celia’s gaze unconsciously followed the beads of water.
“I wanted to talk with you about something—”
Just as a droplet fell from the tip of his chin, she stepped closer, cutting him off.
“You called me because tomorrow is the night we’re supposed to share a bed… didn’t you?”
The faint smile on Lucius’s lips froze.
“…What?”
“Fine.”
Her fingertips hesitated.
Even against her will, she felt heat rushing into her cheeks and ears.
Gathering every ounce of courage she had, Celia gripped the edge of her robe.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a day early…”
She looked straight at him.
“Let’s do it tonight.”
