Chapter – 16
“D-Duke.”
“Please, continue, Your Highness.”
“…….”
“You were speaking of the late sovereign. I trust you will do so with the honor of your noble lineage and the responsibility of your position as a royal,” he added.
His eyes returned to their usual calm as if nothing had happened. Only then did Bellona manage a small, awkward smile.
Had she been more perceptive, she might have noticed the subtle shift in the Duke’s gaze—but she was too blinded by him to see it.
Watching the princess continue her story with such prim composure, Decarno’s sharp eyes once again drifted toward the balcony on the second floor.
◇ ◆ ◇
After the princess’s party, Evangeline and Decarno grew more distant. Their relationship had never been especially warm, but they had at least avoided awkward avoidance. Decarno had always maintained a courteous, measured respect, and Evangeline had been busy performing her duties.
But from that day, everything between them changed subtly.
The already busy Duke now had even less time to see her, and she felt increasingly foolish. From the moment she opened her eyes to the moment she closed them, she was engulfed in responsibilities, yet suddenly, she was forbidden from doing anything—meeting people, going out, or even laughing freely.
Above all, her relationship with Decarno had become the hardest to bear.
When they had been busy, she hadn’t noticed her frustrations, but now, the awkwardness and unspoken resentment weighed heavily on her. Learning that he planned to sell lands in the south to pay off her debts only added to the shame and despair. The coldness in his demeanor since that day was almost impossible to ignore.
I can’t keep living like this.
Finally, Evangeline summoned some courage. She went to the main residence around the time the Duke usually had breakfast. Decarno, finishing his meal with a cup of coffee in hand, looked at her with mild surprise. His icy gaze, which seemed to probe every hidden corner of her mind, made her heart flutter despite herself.
“I… thought I’d see if you were inside.”
She knew it was a foolish thing to say, yet seeing him in person made her chest beat uncontrollably. They had often shared meals before, but now even that simple act felt unbearably awkward.
He stared at her as if questioning her reason for coming, and she stood her ground across from him.
“Ah… you’re here,” he said.
“Sit.”
“…….”
“You didn’t come here just to stare, did you?”
Decarno gestured toward the chair opposite him. The servants brought her tea as if expecting her. Now, being tended to in this way felt almost uncomfortable, though he naturally commanded others with just a glance.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
“It’s not exactly that… I just thought you’ve been busy lately.”
What would ordinary lovers say at such a moment?
Her sigh went unnoticed even by herself. Maybe she would joke that she came because she missed him, or that she came because he didn’t appear—but she knew better. Any careless words might tip Decarno’s already fragile balance even further.
He despises troublesome people.
“…I suppose seeing you well is enough, then. I’ll leave.”
“Evangeline.”
“I’m sorry if I interrupted your breakfast.”
Realizing she would leave so quickly, Decarno frowned slightly as he rose with her. But he wasn’t the type to offer gentle words to make her stay.
“You’re not telling me everything you wanted to say.”
“Why do you think that?”
“You’re trembling.”
“Ah……”
Evangeline blinked dumbly and lowered her head. Why was she like this? Her slightly trembling hands seemed absurd. If her late mother-in-law had witnessed this, she would have shaken her head in disapproval.
“…I’m sorry. I’m not sick, and I don’t even know why I’m like this,” she said.
“Give it here.”
Her hands, trying to escape, were caught. Unlike the last time in her room when he had grabbed her wrist, now he simply held her hand. Except when dancing, it had been a long while since someone held her hand like this. Her chest jolted involuntarily.
“It’s really nothing…”
“That’s not something you decide for yourself.”
Decarno stared at her hand resting in his. It wasn’t a tender gaze, yet somehow her trembling subsided. Perhaps coming to him first had not been a mistake. Her breathing calmed slightly.
I’m glad I came.
Encouraged by the rare peace, she lifted the corners of her mouth and spoke lightly, trying to act normal despite her nervousness.
“Will you be late again today?”
“Hm.”
“Very late?”
“Probably.”
Even this brief conversation made her smile. If he had forced a gentle tone, it would have seemed odd—now it felt perfectly natural.
This man really intends to end things between us.
“Then I suppose you’ll have breakfast before going.”
“Seems so.”
“I… I think I’ll meet some guests today as well.”
“…….”
Evangeline’s hand stopped trembling completely. She smiled gently, meeting his gaze. He said nothing, as usual. Used to his quietness, she quietly withdrew her hand, not thinking much of it.
“I actually met an old friend at the last party. I thought I’d speak with them again, but perhaps inviting them over briefly would be better than going out for now…”
“Such thoughtful consideration.”
“……Excuse me?”
“Did he want to visit where you live?”
“…….”
Evangeline’s eyes widened as she gradually understood his words. Her previously still hand began trembling again. She could have reacted angrily, but his cold smile left no room for it.
“What do you mean? If you mean Kyrion…”
“How close must one be to you, the future Duchess, for you to remember even a mere naval officer’s name so carelessly?”
“…….”
“Well, of course. That’s why you’d insist on inviting him to see you under… these circumstances.”
Under these circumstances…
Every word stirred her deeply. She bit her lip in pain from the rising indignation.
“Kyrion is my friend. He was the only person at that party—man or woman—who spoke to me first.”
“Do you truly think that was pure kindness?”
“What do you mean?”
“If you don’t understand, it means you still know nothing of the world.”
Even after all that, she remained silent. The unspoken words seemed to fill the space between them. Evangeline, swallowing hard, lowered her head.
“Yes…”
The previously calm expression on Decarno’s face twitched ever so slightly. He must have sensed something wrong, but her face was already a mask of serenity. Though he might not notice changes in a woman’s emotions, it was worlds apart from the bright smile she had shown on the balcony that day.
“You’re right, Duke. I still have much to learn.”
“Evangeline.”
“I got a little carried away meeting an old friend. Had I more discernment, I would have focused more on my current situation.”
Her pink gaze wandered nervously. Decarno instinctively reached for her trembling shoulder, but she stepped back, bending her knees as if wound with a mechanical spring.
“I’ll cancel the invitation. It was thoughtless of me.”
Even her apology for disturbing him, and the implied grace of it being his home, was elegant beyond measure. Her delicate steps seemed almost ready to vanish into the air.
