Chapter 6

Grand Duke of the North 

Meanwhile, Selen set down her utensils, dabbed neatly at the corners of her mouth, and asked,

“I’m planning to go out today. Is there anything I should know beforehand?”

Anna’s gaze sharpened.

She had assumed the Grand Duchess merely intended to take a short walk.

Was she actually talking about leaving the castle grounds?

Anna answered immediately, as though the matter required no consideration at all.

“I will accompany you.”

Though her eyes remained lowered and her tone respectful, there was an unmistakable firmness that left little room for refusal.

Selen decided to spend the day with Anna.

***

Varas remained shut inside his office throughout the entire morning.

It felt as though his mind had stopped working.

No matter how deeply he thought, he couldn’t find an answer.

He needed a reason.

A reason to lock her away.

Of course, he could confine her without any justification at all.

But doing so would be too…

Too much like treating her as an object.

Even while recognizing the hypocrisy of his own thoughts, he still wanted a proper excuse.

Yet nothing came to mind.

Nothing except the image of the woman who had softly snored beside him the previous night.

A short while later, the door to his office flew open and then slowly closed behind him.

He had been heading toward Selen’s room when his steps gradually came to a halt.

Something strange had caught his eye through the window.

There sat Selen at a table in the gallery—a table that had not been used in a very long time.

Anna stood nearby, attending her.

After exchanging a few words, Selen rose to her feet.

Varas retraced his steps through the corridor while keeping pace with her through the window.

Then he realized she was heading toward the outer castle gates.

His stride immediately quickened.

The thought that she might run away threw his mind into chaos.

Anna is with her.

He tried to reassure himself.

But what if?

What if she slipped away in a crowded area?

Under normal circumstances he would have dismissed the possibility entirely.

Yet even he knew he wasn’t thinking clearly anymore.

The corridor ended.

A gloomy staircase appeared.

The windows vanished.

The moment Selen disappeared from sight, his walk nearly became a run.

Soon the stairs ended.

Brilliant sunlight poured into his eyes.

Squinting, he saw Selen’s retreating figure just as she stepped beyond the inner castle.

For some reason, it looked exactly like someone fleeing from him.

The sight dragged his mood straight into the mud.

Outside, Selen seemed refreshed by the cold breeze.

She brushed back her hair and tidied it absentmindedly.

Varas suddenly wanted to seize her.

To spin her around.

To drag her back roughly and throw her into her room.

And with precisely that intention, he began striding toward her.

Anna noticed him first and bowed respectfully.

Varas ignored her.

He was about to snatch Selen—

Then a soft humming reached his ears.

A tiny, delicate tune.

Weak and gentle.

It sounded exactly like her.

Selen hadn’t noticed his presence at all.

Gradually, Varas regained his senses.

He knew perfectly well that there was no possibility of escape.

Selen’s instincts were weak.

She lacked the awareness and sensitivity that warriors developed.

Meanwhile, Anna had once risen to the rank of Royal Knight of the Empire.

There was absolutely no chance Selen could evade her.

Not even a one-in-a-million chance.

The possibility of Anna losing sight of Selen approached zero.

Varas quietly gestured for Anna to continue her duties as though nothing had happened.

Anna immediately returned her attention to Selen.

Now nothing stood between him and her.

As long as he kept his eyes on her, he could reach her in a single stride whenever he wished.

The realization that Selen could not go anywhere eased his mind.

His pace slowed.

Count Zart Hain August.

A vassal of Grand Duke Varas Bellias.

He had served faithfully as Varas’s adjutant on countless battlefields and possessed swordsmanship remarkable enough to guard the Grand Duke’s back in war.

Even from a distance, he immediately recognized his lord.

Seeing Varas sprinting as though possessed had nearly shocked him speechless.

He had followed after him at first.

Then he spotted the Grand Duchess ahead.

Suddenly everything made sense.

Zart stopped walking.

Then simply turned around and continued on his original path.

For a moment he considered worrying about the deeply troubled expression on his lord’s face.

But Varas always looked terrifying.

So perhaps it wasn’t worth concern.

Varas slowed further and further until he was walking at exactly the same pace as Selen.

Though they remained far apart, it somehow felt as if they were walking together.

Still, he couldn’t entirely dismiss the possibility that she might suddenly bolt and try to outrun Anna.

His gaze sharpened.

Of course she would fail.

But an attempt itself would be evidence.

In fact, perhaps that would be ideal.

If she showed even the slightest sign of running away, he could tie her to the bed.

Then he would finally possess a perfectly legitimate excuse to confine her.

Strangely, that thought improved his mood.

Selen couldn’t help admiring how detailed this world was.

The market outside the castle walls was crowded and chaotic.

But it was also vibrant and full of life.

She felt as though she had stepped directly into a medieval fantasy film.

Absorbed in sightseeing, she gradually drifted deeper into the crowd.

At the far end of the market stood a large open square centered around a massive fountain.

People snacked on treats.

Families and friends gathered together.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Selen sat on the edge of the fountain.

Anna stood silently beside her, maintaining a vigilant watch over their surroundings.

Slowly, Selen organized her thoughts.

The original novel no longer seemed particularly useful.

Varas wasn’t behaving anything like the terrifying figure she remembered.

If anything…

Wasn’t he actually rather kind?

The memory of the strong arm he had offered her during yesterday’s walk surfaced in her mind.

Without realizing it, she smiled.

She had never dated anyone before.

But perhaps…

Perhaps this was what the beginning of a romance felt like.

The tiny spark of hope that arose inside her was quickly crushed.

It was foolish.

Nothing significant had changed.

She simply hadn’t been locked away.

She had been allowed a walk.

That didn’t mean his personality, past, instincts, or nature had transformed.

Realizing she had spent the entire day thinking about Varas made her mood sink.

Even if her feelings weren’t deep yet—

She had already begun liking him.

Alone.

After cycling between excitement and melancholy for some time, Selen finally stood.

The sky was already beginning to darken.

She would need to hurry back.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t arrive before nightfall.

Varas spent the entire afternoon simply watching Selen sit beside the fountain.

Strangely enough, he never became bored.

Only after she rose and started heading back toward the castle did he realize how low the sun had already sunk.

Though Selen clearly thought she was moving quickly, her pace remained leisurely.

Varas followed behind.

Whenever his gaze landed on someone, they startled and immediately bowed.

No one dared raise their head until he had passed.

His massive frame and ruined left eye served as unmistakable identification.

Everyone recognized him.

And everyone feared him.

The common people of the duchy felt tremendous relief knowing Varas Bellias ruled over them.

At the same time, they felt even greater relief whenever he remained inside the castle.

The butcher said to be worse than a demon inspired safety from afar.

Meeting the man in person was another matter entirely.

Varas understood exactly what they thought from the looks in their eyes.

He pretended not to notice.

His attention remained fixed solely on Selen.

And so he walked.

***

After soaking in warm water while waiting for Anna to bring dinner, Selen stepped out wrapped in a soft towel.

The cool air touching her heated skin felt refreshing.

Her mood improved immediately.

Maybe I should leave the window open a little.

The thought lasted only a moment.

She crossed the carpet and opened the window.

Fresh, slightly chilly air filled her lungs.

It felt wonderful.

Just then, a knock sounded.

Anna must have arrived with dinner.

Keeping her eyes on the stars emerging in the night sky, Selen called out,

“Come in.”

The bedroom door opened.

More cool air flowed through the room.

Being touched by the wind felt surprisingly pleasant.

Then came the click of the door closing.

The breeze lessened.

Selen continued watching the sky while waiting for Anna to set down the meal and leave.

The night sky here held so many stars it seemed ready to spill over.

A moment later, another knock sounded.

Knock. Knock.

“It’s Anna.”

Selen’s expression froze instantly.

Anna?

Then who was already inside?

Before she could even turn around, a deep voice settled heavily against her ears.

“Come in.”

At the sound of Varas’s voice, Selen’s shoulders jerked.

The bedroom door opened again.

A rush of cool air entered.

This time, however, she couldn’t enjoy it.

Anna entered quietly.

She placed dinner on the table by the window.

Then she left just as quietly.

Selen clenched the front of the towel wrapped around her body.

Her eyes squeezed shut.

She couldn’t turn around.

She couldn’t move.

Selen wasn’t the only one caught off guard.

Varas was struggling just as much.

He had intentionally waited a long time before coming.

Long enough for her to finish bathing comfortably.

During that time, he had bathed himself.

Finished dinner.

And prepared jewelry to give her as gifts.

Then he heard her voice inviting him in.

He opened the door.

The breeze from the window stirred her pale golden hair.

Through the shifting strands, her slender shoulders appeared and disappeared.

Again.

And again.

The stretch of thigh visible beneath the towel was so white that it looked as though powder might cling to one’s fingertips—or even nose—after touching it.

The sight reminded him of the sweet scent he’d caught when he had supported her during her fall.

And before he could stop himself, a thought surfaced.

What scent would she carry there?