HBM 17

chapter 17

Julie ran lightly toward the Sunset Room where Grace was.

“Miss?”

Grace had been staring blankly out the wide-open window but turned around in surprise.

“Oh, Julie, you’re here.”

“Why are you staring like that?”

“Hmm? Oh, no, it’s just… a strange feeling.”

Grace looked back at the sunset on the horizon.

She saw scattered clouds and a few birds flying high in the sky.

It was a peaceful, quiet scene.

It also looked very free.

Even though it was just an empty plain.

The barrenness of nothingness felt strangely comforting.

The grass swaying lazily in the wind.

Uneven, wild patches of turf.

The endless, open green land.

“Hmm, this is a really beautiful place.”

“Yes, it is.”

Grace felt a strange emotion.

Her daily life was usually calm and uneventful.

But the week she had met that man was more exciting than her whole past year.

Running away, chasing, trembling in fear, laughing, getting scared again.

And now she was waiting for dinner at his mansion with him.

“…Life is unpredictable.”

She didn’t understand it at all.

Staring blankly at the sunset, Grace suddenly widened her eyes.

“Oh, right!”

She couldn’t just space out like this!

Something she had forgotten suddenly came to mind.

“Hmm… I hope he won’t be disappointed.”

Grace nervously fiddled with the edge of a neatly folded handkerchief, worried.

As mealtime approached, she grew more anxious because she hadn’t prepared a gift for Lucas Black.

Finally, she searched her bag and found something: a handkerchief.

Luckily, the silk handkerchief she had washed the day before was clean.

But she still felt it was too plain, so she quickly drew a picture on it.

It was the Black family emblem—a black horse.

“It’s thoughtful, and you’re skilled enough that His Excellency will be impressed,” Julie said.

“Do you think it might look childish?” Grace asked uncertainly.

Julie shook her head firmly.

“Not at all. What child could draw such an elegant, brilliant horse? This drawing could sell for hundreds of crowns! It’s wonderful.”

Grace laughed at Julie’s kind but slightly exaggerated praise.

“You always know how to make people feel good.”

“That’s my greatest talent,” Julie said.

Just as Grace was about to tell Julie she had hundreds of other talents, someone knocked on the door.

“Grace, dinner is ready. Shall we go down?”

It was Lucas Black’s voice.

Julie and Grace exchanged glances and quickly stood up.

Julie was busy checking Grace’s appearance one last time, while Grace panicked, unsure what to do with the handkerchief.

“May I come in, Grace?”

“Yes, yes! Please come in!”

Grace quickly put the neatly folded handkerchief into her pocket.

She wished she had brought a ribbon too.

Quietly, she watched the door open, her heart pounding nervously.

Grace clenched her trembling hands into fists to steady herself.

Julie ran to open the door.

“Oh my!”

As soon as the door opened, Julie gasped in admiration.

Lucas stepped a bit further inside, no longer hidden by the door.

Grace finally understood why Julie had exclaimed.

“What is this…?”

“I actually prepared this for you when we arrived at the mansion, but since you came with me, I missed the timing,” Lucas said, approaching Grace with a huge bouquet.

The colorful hyacinths dazzled Grace’s eyes.

“Oh my… Lucas Black with flowers?”

Grace couldn’t believe her eyes.

Lucas held the bouquet in one hand and offered it to her.

“Grace. Thank you for accepting my invitation to dinner.”

His voice was polite and soft.

The sweet scent of the hyacinths mixed with his low voice made her feel dizzy.

“Oh… I…”

Grace stared blankly at the bouquet being offered to her.

It felt unreal that the intimidating Lucas Black had prepared this for her.

“Of course. These flowers match the color of your eyes perfectly,” he murmured as Grace took the bouquet.

Her face buried in the flowers, it didn’t feel strange at all.

‘He chose well,’ she thought.

Lucas smiled slightly, proud of himself.

Seeing his smile made Grace feel even more dizzy.

‘Why is he like this?’

She buried her face in the fragrant flowers, cheeks flushing red.

‘Could it be… he likes me?’

…That had to be a delusion.

It must be a delusion.

How could he feel affection for her after seeing her father’s rude behavior?

Besides, she had kept making mistakes in front of him.

Fainted, stumbled, even gotten attacked.

Yet he had helped her dress and smiled at her.

“Do you… like it?”

…He was giving her flowers.

Seeing Lucas carefully watch her reaction, Grace didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

In her life, had any man ever been so considerate?

No one had ever been so careful or mindful of her like this.

‘Something is wrong. This… this is strange. Why is this man…?’

Grace’s heart raced abnormally.

“Throbbing” would be more accurate.

Something overwhelmed her, made her heart pound, and caused a strange ache in her chest.

“Yes, I like it,” Grace said, gripping the bouquet with trembling fingers, looking at Lucas.

Seeing her, Lucas smiled faintly, and she no longer felt only fear.

She only felt more confused.

“Shall we go downstairs to eat now?”

Lucas extended his hand politely.

His large hand, rough from hard work, waited for her.

“Yes.”

‘Can I… tell this man about breaking off the engagement?’

For the first time, Grace felt a little unsure of herself.

The dining table was set outdoors in the mansion’s garden.

It wasn’t huge but neat, with a high stone platform in the middle, and pillars entwined with vines adding a romantic feel.

Along the path Lucas and Grace walked, dozens of gentle candle lights shone.

Grace was stunned.

What… is all this?

And when did he prepare it all?

Walking along the path decorated with flowers and lights, she wondered if she was even in the right place.

It wasn’t unpleasant, but…

‘…It’s too much. Too extravagant.’

It was a path so elaborate that anyone could think she was being proposed to.

At the end, a foreign chef with a tall hat waited for them.

“Welcome, both of you! Greetings, lovely lady!”

A black-haired chef with a triangular beard bowed and stepped back, holding his head high.

“I am the head chef of this mansion, Cottiamont Larko Nerner La Densh, and I prepared this meal with all my heart for your enjoyment.”

“Hello… Cottiamont Larko Nerner La… Densh?”

“Please call me Cotti. In my hometown, Cotti means ‘handsome man.’ Quite fitting, right?”

“…Huh?”

Grace paused at the sudden mention of “handsome man.”

Lucas cleared his throat softly to stop Cotti.

“Cotti, enough.”

“Hahaha. It’s been so long since I had guests; I got excited! Sorry. Now, please enjoy the meal I prepared with all my heart.”

Cotti stepped back, exaggerating his bow.

Grace smiled at his dramatic gestures and gently sat down as Lucas pulled out a chair for her.

Lucas sat across, catching champagne poured elegantly by Cotti from almost a meter high—without spilling a drop.

Grace glanced at Lucas apologetically.

“Your Excellency…”

“Speak, Grace,” Lucas said, tilting his head slightly.

Grace thought he looked even more handsome in the candlelight.

His face wasn’t very expressive, and his dark eyebrows and jaw scar made him intimidating—but with the romantic candlelight, it seemed enchanting.

‘Scary and handsome… scary in a new way.’

Shaking slightly, Grace tried to speak calmly.

“I… didn’t prepare a proper gift for your invitation.”

“Oh! I didn’t invite you for a gift, Grace,” Lucas said.

Grace insisted, “Still, it’s only natural to return the favor. Next time, I’ll…”

She paused mid-sentence.

‘Next time? There’s a next time?’

Lucas noticed her pause.

“Next time?”

“…You don’t have your hanky, do you?”

Instead of answering, Grace pointed to his empty vest pocket.

Lucas looked down, nodded, and said,

“I guess I forgot it while adjusting my tie.”

An idea came to Grace. She raised her head and asked,

“May I… excuse myself for a moment?”

“Excuse yourself?”

Grace stood quickly and approached Lucas.

As she came close, he also stood, putting them face-to-face.

She was so small that she barely reached his chest.

Even so, Lucas felt a strong presence from her.

He had made many nobles kneel for King Ludwig.

And yet, Grace made him feel this presence—he was amazed.

She looked up at him. Her purple eyes shimmered mysteriously.

As she smiled shyly, Lucas felt something heavy in his chest.

‘…What is this?’

He pressed his lips together, trying to hide his shock.

At that moment, Grace reached out and placed something into his chest pocket.

Lucas froze mid-arm movement.

“This is my handkerchief… I dyed it myself. It may be small, but it’s all I can give you right now.”

“Oh.”

Lucas’s ears turned slightly red.

Grace hadn’t seen his face as he adjusted the handkerchief in his pocket.

He looked up at the sky for a moment, then closed his eyes.

Quietly, he whispered to himself,

‘Ah… this idiot.’