IAYA 51

chapter 51

“D-Duke!”

I couldn’t believe Teansis had tracked me all the way here, so I had no choice but to stare at him with wide eyes.

Step by step, Teansis approached me.

I felt like my feet were glued to the ground—I couldn’t move. Now that we were face-to-face, there was no chance of running away.

“I said I would chase you no matter what, even if you ran, but I never imagined you would go this far to avoid me.”

“Ah, well…”

I wanted to offer some excuse, but I had, in fact, been avoiding him, so I had nothing to say. Teansis, as expected, seemed to know everything.

Before I could figure out what to do, Teansis came right up to me. With his mysterious violet eyes, he looked at me and said:

“Got you.”

I felt exactly like prey caught by a hunter.

Of course, even in this situation, seeing Teansis was still a pleasure. Meeting him was always something that made me happy. But there were so many complications.

I felt guilty for avoiding him unilaterally, and I didn’t know how to navigate this encounter.

“I’ve been watching to see how far the lady would go, but I can’t bear it any longer. If you enjoy playing hide-and-seek, you may continue, but if you wish, I can start enjoying the chase as well.”

“Ah, you knew?”

“Unfortunately, I’m a man quite capable beyond what you might expect.”

His words carried many implications. I didn’t need an explanation to understand just how much the Duke of Acruze, Teansis, could do.

Teansis reached out and took the glasses I was wearing.

“Ah…”

“Everything looks beautiful to me, but I think it’s better if you don’t wear glasses.”

I was startled for only a moment by his sudden action. Hearing that I looked beautiful no matter what made my face heat up.

Teansis carefully touched the marks on my nose left by the glasses and spoke in a soft voice.

“I didn’t want you to be upset by these marks.”

A trace of worry crossed Teansis’s face. Was he really concerned about such small marks?

Instinctively, I stepped back without realizing it.

I had anticipated this. Whenever he whispered sweetly in that husky voice, I would be unable to refuse, which is why I had been avoiding him.

Thump… thump… thump…

My heart felt like it would explode.

Teansis paused for a moment, possibly interpreting my retreat as something else. But then he stepped forward the same distance I had moved back and spoke.

“You seem to have already forgotten.”

I looked at him with a puzzled expression, unsure what he meant. He spoke softly.

“I said that when you look at me with those eyes and try to run away, it makes me want to catch you.”

Suddenly, I remembered him licking my lips when he had said this.

I quickly covered my mouth with both hands. There was no way I wanted to be kissed by him again.

It wasn’t that I disliked physical contact with Teansis—I just didn’t want to feel any stronger attraction to him. It was already overflowing.

Teansis watched me quietly for a moment before suddenly chuckling.

Confused by his unexpected laugh, I looked up. He spoke in a playful tone uncharacteristic of him.

“When you cover your lips with such a red face, I can’t help but notice what the lady is thinking.”

“…!”

I silently screamed in my mind.

He had seen that I covered my mouth because I had thought about kissing him, and perhaps he even realized I hadn’t been able to forget that day.

Teansis held my face gently, running his thumb along the corner of my eye as he spoke softly.

“I don’t know why you’re avoiding me, but as long as your eyes reveal your feelings for me, it’s going to be difficult. I have no intention of letting you go.”

I had often been told I couldn’t hide my feelings, but I didn’t realize my fondness for Teansis could be so visible in my eyes.

I couldn’t hide my gaze, which made things even more complicated.

Blinking rapidly, trying to conceal my eyes unintentionally, Teansis laughed louder than before.

This was the first time I saw him laugh like this, genuinely enjoying himself.

Frozen in surprise, I watched as he leaned close, and suddenly, his lips touched the back of my hand covering my mouth.

It felt like magic. The place he touched heated up, as if every cell in my body was reacting to him.

I looked at Teansis with wide eyes as he whispered softly, softening his gaze.

“You’re unbearably cute.”

My face was so hot I felt like it might explode.

Teansis’s casual mix of formal and informal speech made my heart race uncontrollably.

“P-Please treat me formally, like before.”

“Don’t you like it?”

It wasn’t that I disliked it—it was just that every word he uttered made my heart race.

Before I could think of an excuse, Teansis spoke first.

“You’re not a student anymore, are you?”

“B-But…”

“There’s no need for us to be formal as students. Even if you’re older, it doesn’t matter. Besides, once you leave Kamar Academy, you’ll mostly be speaking formally to me anyway.”

It was true. Inside Kamar Academy, it was customary to use formal titles with professors, but outside, very few people would address him formally.

So even without saying anything, Teansis and the faculty always addressed each other formally. No one dared to call him anything less.

“Technically, you don’t have to be formal to me anymore, right, teacher?”

Hearing “teacher” again after so long made my heart flutter. Even if it sounded silly, being called that by Teansis while so close made my heart race.

I steadied myself and cleared my throat.

“Then don’t even call me by my name.”

“Why?”

Because hearing my name made my heart skip a beat.

I had to make an excuse.

“Because I haven’t… given permission yet.”

“If it’s unfair, then you can call me by my name too. Teansis.”

“I-I can’t…!”

“Even better if you call me Sian.”

I hadn’t realized Teansis could be this playful. I thought he was cold, but he could tease skillfully.

Just thinking about us being close enough to call each other by name made my head spin.

“When will you stop hiding that pretty face?”

Teansis tapped lightly on the back of my hand covering my mouth. His playful gesture made me realize how long I had been covering my lips.

“W-Well…”

“I’ve been dying watching the lady run away these past few days. I said I was curious how far you’d go, but I couldn’t bear it any longer.”

Teansis’s strong hands held my wrists. I didn’t resist, and my hands naturally lowered.

As I removed my hands, he smiled faintly and continued:

“I missed you.”

Only then did I realize what he meant by “I can’t bear it anymore” was that he couldn’t bear not seeing me.

My heart fluttered so much I felt like I could die.

Teansis stood before me like a painting, and even the gentle breeze blowing around us felt wonderful.

Swoosh—

The trees in the beautifully landscaped surroundings swayed in the wind.

Though it wasn’t spring, this moment felt like spring to me.

I realized it wasn’t just that I looked younger—my youth had truly returned.

“I told you I’d say it thousands of times if needed.”

I lifted my head to hear Teansis’s husky voice, and he looked at me with full affection.

“I like you. I’ll chase you no matter what, but if possible, don’t go too far—let me catch you.”

It was clear he liked me. Without grand declarations, I could feel his heart.

I could hardly believe it—I was being loved by Teansis.

The royal party that Zer had mentioned came quickly.

Though the date had been approaching, the hectic days had flown by.

Normally, I focused on my studies to avoid wasting time, but Teansis’s aggressive affection often distracted me.

Going back and forth between love and studies, the time to attend the royal party Zer had mentioned arrived.

When I came out in the prepared dress and the finest accessories from the Fredoff Marquis family, Marlen and Hailey were left speechless.

“Ah, Miss! You look stunning today!”

Following Marlen’s admiration, Hailey also praised me.

“You’ll definitely shine the most at today’s royal party.”

Hearing their compliments, I looked at myself in the mirror.

I looked so elegant in my luxurious dress and sparkling jewelry that I barely recognized myself. Anyone who knew me in the past probably wouldn’t believe it was the same person. I looked like a noble lady of high rank.

‘Will the Duke come to the party today?’

I quickly shook my head at the thought of Teansis. Wanting to show him this side of me was troubling. Even though I had resolved to keep my distance, I kept thinking of him.

Marlen, who had received something from another maid, came to me.

“Miss, the Marquis has arrived on the first floor.”

“Tell him we’re ready and I’ll go down immediately.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Suppressing thoughts of Teansis, I descended to the first floor where Zer was waiting.

Holding my long dress carefully, I heard faint voices of Zer and Nick conversing below.

“When will the lab be usable?”

“It’s fully restored, and we’re installing the machine the Marquis mentioned. It should be finished in a few days.”

“I see…”

Hearing my footsteps, Zer turned his ashen eyes toward me, wide with surprise.

‘Why is he so shocked?’

My curiosity was short-lived. Nick called out to Zer, who seemed lost in thought.

“Marquis?”

“Oh… where were we?”

Zer seemed flustered, uncharacteristically so. I couldn’t help but stare.

“The lab will be usable as soon as the new machine is installed.”

“I see. We’ll discuss details later.”

“Yes, Marquis.”

Nick bowed and withdrew, thankfully not accompanying me to the party.

I preferred to avoid him, so I quietly exhaled in relief and proceeded to the first floor.

I could see Zer still staring at me, seemingly in a daze.

“Professor?”

Only then did Zer regain composure and respond hastily.

“Oh, preparation finished sooner than expected.”

“Yes. I selected the dress and jewelry in advance, as you instructed, to ensure everything went smoothly. Is this okay for the royal party?”

I had never attended a royal party, so I asked. Also, as the daughter of the Fredoff Marquis, it mattered that Zer approved.

I expected him to give lukewarm praise, but his reply was unexpected.

“Perfect.”

“Pardon?”

I questioned, and Zer, with an unreadable expression, looked at me and said:

“You look more than beautiful, it’s almost excessive.”

“Ah…”

Unexpected praise. I scratched my cheek awkwardly, and Zer continued in a slightly dissatisfied tone:

“Don’t dress up this much in the future. At a party, there are many flies trying to catch the beautiful flowers.”

“Flies?”

I didn’t understand. Why would flowers and flies come up at a royal party?

Before Zer could explain, a coachman approached cautiously.

“Marquis, as instructed, the carriage is ready.”

“…Very well.”

Zer stopped speaking and extended his hand toward me. I placed my hand on his without hesitation, knowing he would escort me.

He stepped toward the carriage and murmured:

“Let’s go.”

Though his expression seemed normal, I noticed his hand trembled slightly as he held mine. It was so subtle I could hardly detect it.

‘Maybe he’s cold?’

It wasn’t a cold day, but as people age, they feel cold more easily. Zer was of a similar age, so it was possible.

I didn’t ask directly, fearing he might feel embarrassed, and silently held the thought as we boarded the carriage.

The Fredoff family crest was engraved on the outside of the carriage—a common practice among noble families.

For some reason, Zer remained silent after boarding. The atmosphere was so difficult to converse in that I naturally looked out the window.

Then, I suddenly noticed another carriage passing by.

It bore the crest of the Hesling Marquises—the family my eldest sister, Medina, had married into. I couldn’t forget it.

Startled, I leaned out to look, and Zer asked curiously:

“What is it?”

“N-Nothing.”

The carriage had already disappeared into the darkness, so I couldn’t confirm the crest again.

It was dark since the sun had set, and we were moving quickly, so it was likely my imagination.

I tried to calm my uneasy feelings.