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chapter 57
I barely slept all night.
After the royal party ended, I returned to the Kamar Academy dormitory, but instead of feeling exhausted, my mind was so restless that I couldn’t fall into a deep sleep.
Whenever I closed my eyes, I kept thinking of what Teansis had said:
─Today is the first day we’ve been dating.
I knew it wasn’t a dream, but somehow I just couldn’t believe it.
“I’m actually dating the Duke…”
My heart thumped wildly.
I imagined introducing Teansis to others as my boyfriend, and us going on dates together—and before I knew it, the sun had risen.
For some reason, the sunlight streaming through the window felt different today.
“So, today is the second day we’ve been dating?”
Just thinking that made my cheeks heat up. I buried my face in the pillow and silently rejoiced.
“Ah, what am I going to do…”
I felt like I could die from happiness.
If I went by how I felt now, I might even be able to fly.
While wriggling joyfully on the large bed, I suddenly heard a knock at the door.
“Miss, it’s time to get up.”
I could now recognize the maids just by their voices. The one who had come to wake me was Hailey.
Even though there weren’t any lectures today, I had been getting up early every day to study medicine. I propped myself up in bed and replied:
“I’m up. Come in.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Hailey entered the room, wearing her usual gentle smile.
“How would you like breakfast?”
“I ate too much at the royal party yesterday. I don’t think my stomach has fully digested it yet. No need to prepare anything special today.”
“Very well, then today…”
Before Hailey could finish her sentence, Marlen burst into the room, panting heavily.
She had clearly run urgently and immediately placed her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.
“Miss! A visitor has come!”
“A visitor? At this hour?”
I couldn’t even guess who would come to see me this early in the morning.
Reading my expression, Marlen quickly caught her breath and said again:
“It’s Duke Acruze! Duke Acruze is waiting for you outside!”
“…What?”
I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at the unexpected news.
I never imagined Teansis would come to see me so early in the morning.
I hurriedly got ready and went outside.
When I opened the door, I saw Teansis standing there, back turned. His tall figure and perfectly shaped triangular body were even more impressive than words could describe.
It was the first time I had seen him since we agreed to start dating at the royal party last night. Honestly, I didn’t expect to meet so soon.
I calmed my racing heart and said:
“Duke…”
Hearing my voice, Teansis slowly turned his head to look at me.
This simple moment strangely moved me, making my heart flutter.
My reflection caught in Teansis’s violet eyes, and his faint smile as he looked at me felt like it would be engraved in my memory forever.
“So, after just one day, you’re calling me Duke again?”
“Ah, Te-Teansis.”
Teansis strode forward with those long legs, quickly reaching me, and took my hand with his bare, gloveless hand.
“Try to call me Xian, if you can.”
My heart raced for no reason, and I just nodded.
I didn’t look back, but I knew all the staff in the dorm were probably hiding and watching us.
“What brings you here so early?”
“I wanted to see you.”
Hearing Teansis say it so casually left me speechless. He had no hesitation expressing his feelings.
“I-I see…”
I stammered foolishly, my face heating up instantly. Seeing me like this, Teansis’s eyes softened.
“Is that all it takes to embarrass you?”
I couldn’t deny it. It was embarrassing, but something I’d never heard from a man before. He wanted to see me…
“I couldn’t sleep because I kept thinking about you.”
Eek! I unconsciously drew in a breath.
I couldn’t handle Teansis’s sweet words. All the heat in my body seemed to surge straight to my head.
When I froze, unable to respond, Teansis teased lightly:
“Didn’t the lady want to see me? It seems I like you more than you…”
“N-No! I did too! I stayed awake all night thinking about you, Duke!”
Teansis stopped speaking and gazed at me quietly.
His eyes looked intense, but I gestured to my dark circles under my eyes as evidence.
“Look at this. I couldn’t sleep, see?”
He might like me, but he couldn’t possibly like me more than I liked him.
“So, I like you more.”
Technically, there was no need to compete over who liked whom more, but I wanted him to know how much I liked him.
Teansis listened silently for a moment, then chuckled softly.
Curious about his sudden laughter, I looked at him—and he opened his arms to hug me. I’d been in his arms last night too, but my heart raced like crazy.
I could almost hear the maids gasping behind us.
“P-people are watching…”
“What does it matter? I’m hugging my beloved.”
“Are you okay with rumors spreading?”
I worried that our relationship might become bad gossip, considering he had only recently ended things with Reijeni.
“I came to deliberately start a rumor.”
“Excuse me? Why…?”
I didn’t want a secret romance, but I didn’t want everyone to know everything either.
Though we had just started dating, I wanted to handle things in a way that would be good for Teansis.
“To make sure no one else approaches you. I’ll make it known that you’re mine.”
I never expected that reason. Surprised, I looked at him, and Teansis smiled faintly.
“I can’t allow anyone who doesn’t know about us to get close to you.”
“T-There’s no one. Nothing has ever happened.”
I had never been confessed to before. Hearing that there was no reason to worry made Teansis’s expression change subtly.
“You don’t know your own worth, Lady.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re so beautiful. What if someone else falls for you? I’d be worried sick.”
No matter how many times I heard that I was beautiful, it never got old—especially coming from Teansis. I felt ecstatic.
“Th-Then…”
As I stammered, cheeks red, Teansis released my arms and looped my arm through his.
“For that reason, how about we go on a date now?”
“Eh?”
I was stunned.
Teansis was an incredibly busy man. Even without classes at Kamar Academy, he ruled the north—there was no way he could be free.
Yet here he was, showing up at sunrise, asking me on a date. It felt like he truly wanted to see me.
I felt so happy I could melt.
“Tell me anywhere you want to go. I’ll take you wherever you want.”
“Ah…”
“Or just nod your head. I’ll handle the rest.”
Being in a relationship was nothing like the vague fantasies I had imagined. Every word and action from Teansis made the world feel new.
Though the scenery was the same as yesterday, his presence made everything feel different—the air, the smells, even the atmosphere seemed transformed.
It felt as if the entire world was sparkling, tinted pink.
“Wait a moment. I’ll tell the maids and get ready for our outing.”
Teansis smiled faintly, knowing that was my approval.
“Very well. Take your time.”
“I’ll be quick. Just wait a little!”
I hurried to my room. It was our first date, and I had rushed out earlier, so I needed proper preparations.
Before I could call the maids, they followed me.
Marlen, at the front, asked excitedly:
“Miss! Are you really dating Duke Acruze?”
I nodded slightly, and the maids screamed in unison.
“Kyaa!”
Blushing, I shushed them:
“Quiet, the Duke will hear.”
Finally, they covered their mouths and whispered excitedly.
“Oh my! No one has ever been publicly known as Duke Acruze’s lover. Are you the first?”
“What a wonderful thing!”
But among the maids, only Hailey followed behind, her eyes sparkling with a meaningful expression.
The maids were even more enthusiastic than me. Hearing about our date, they brought the latest dresses and matching accessories.
Even though it was our first date, I hesitated—it felt almost excessive compared to how I had dressed for the royal party.
Marlen encouraged me:
“Miss, a woman is always best when she looks beautiful. That’s all that matters.”
“Really?”
“Yes! Don’t worry, just dress your best and enjoy.”
Though embarrassed at how much effort I was showing, I didn’t want to appear less pretty than I could be. I wanted to show Teansis the best version of myself.
Once I was ready, I headed to where Teansis was waiting.
Tap-tap-tap—
Hearing my footsteps, Teansis turned his head. Seeing me, his eyes widened slightly, then he smiled.
I loved everything about that moment—his gaze filled with affection, as if it were a dream.
He took my hand and kissed the back of it.
“You’re so beautiful, I don’t want to show you to anyone.”
Hearing that, I realized dressing in the maid-selected outfit was a great choice. Behind him, I saw the maids clenching their fists encouragingly.
I smiled faintly, and Teansis continued:
“If there’s nowhere special you want to go…”
“No! There is somewhere.”
Surprised, he asked:
“Where?”
“To your residence, Duke.”
“Residence…?”
“Yes. I wanted to visit your residence again.”
Teansis looked at me, unconvinced. I quickly tiptoed and whispered in his ear:
“To see if Lulu is doing well.”
“Lulu…”
Teansis’s expression hardened. He frowned, looking displeased, and spoke softly:
“Was all this dressing up for that?”
“Well… I wanted to show Lulu that I’m doing well too.”
Even with my cheerful answer, his expression didn’t soften. He murmured:
“I shouldn’t have said I’d take you anywhere.”
“Huh?”
I didn’t understand, so I asked again. He frowned and smiled faintly.
“You, Lady, are oblivious.”
“Me?”
I had never thought that before—if anything, I had often lived cautiously.
Teansis leaned close and whispered:
“I want it to be just the two of us.”
I stared at him in shock. He smiled mischievously, a look I had never seen before.
“This is the first time I’ve realized I can get jealous of something that isn’t human.”
The word “jealousy” made my head spin. Teansis was jealous of me…
I gulped as I looked at him, then held onto his sleeve as we walked together.
“I think there’s some misunderstanding…”
Teansis’s violet eyes met mine. Though embarrassed, I mustered the courage to speak:
“…I want to spend the whole day with you, but if it’s just the two of us, I don’t think my heart can handle it.”
For a moment, surprise flickered in his eyes.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be with him.
“Perhaps you don’t know, but I’ve admired you from afar for a long time. This situation is still unfamiliar. Would you like to hear my heartbeat to prove it?”
I expanded my chest, as if to show it wasn’t a lie. Teansis pressed his hand to his forehead, embarrassed.
Somehow, his ears were red.
“…I forgot.”
“Pardon?”
“No one has ever been as forward as you toward me.”
I couldn’t tell if that was good or bad. I blinked, confused, and he removed his hand from his face.
Teansis had never looked this flustered before.
“I’ll give you time to adjust so your heart isn’t overwhelmed, even if we’re alone.”
“Ah, yes.”
Relieved, I nodded, and Teansis gently released my hand from his collar and held mine properly.
“Now that I think about it, I also need that time.”
