IRGS 20

Chapter 20

Hmm… what should I embroider?

Come to think of it, Arne had been sleeping in the garden earlier. The image of the boy asleep like a forest fairy among the profusely blooming flowers came to mind.

Right, I should embroider the garden scenery with Arne sleeping in it.

As soon as I placed the needle against the embroidery frame, the man watching beside me asked in a puzzled voice,

“You’re not drawing a pattern first?”

“Why would I need one?”

I’d been embroidering for over thirty years across both my past and present lives, after all.

At my answer, the man chuckled softly and rested his head against my shoulder.

He smelled nice. A subtle woody scent mixed with vanilla dusted with cinnamon.

“I’m starting to feel intimidated for proposing to such an incredible woman.”

Feeling a little shy, I replied,

“Is that really something the eldest son of this country’s ducal house—soon to inherit the title of grand duke—should be saying?”

“I actually already inherited it. The imperial approval came through yesterday. Since I’m the eldest son, I’m a grand duke now.”

Oh my. No wonder he had looked exhausted yesterday. He must have been dealing with all the inheritance-related matters.

“So now you’re Grand Duke Glentino?”

“No, you should simply call me ‘Owen,’ my lady.”

Who said I was your lady?!

“I never said I’d marry you.”

“I know. Then may I at least call you ‘Sophia’ instead of ‘my lady’?”

I ended up laughing. That had been his goal from the start.

“Do whatever you want.”

“Yes, Sophia.”

He answered immediately. Compared to my siblings’ names, I had always thought mine sounded too old-fashioned, but hearing it from him made it sound sweet.

Breathing in the scent of the man leaning against my shoulder, I immersed myself in my embroidery.

How much time had passed?

When I finally looked up after finishing the handkerchief for Arne, the man had fallen asleep.

‘He must really be tired.’

A strange child had suddenly appeared, there was the succession issue of the ducal house, Arnold’s funeral, and even suppressing the related newspaper articles. His mind must have been in complete chaos.

When I shifted slightly, his head slipped from my shoulder. I hurriedly caught him and carefully laid his head on my lap. I kept watching his expression in case he woke up, but he didn’t stir at all. Thankfully. Giving someone a lap pillow while fully conscious was a little embarrassing.

“…Seriously.”

How could someone look this unreal? Even Kaise, famous for his good looks, would pale in comparison to this man.

And this man was in my room, on my bed, sleeping with his head on my lap.

I cautiously brushed back his hair. As the dark blond strands fell away, his handsome forehead and striking features were fully revealed.

Growing a little bolder, I lightly touched his eyelashes with my fingertip. My heart pounded at the thought that he might wake up.

At that moment, the corner of his lips lifted slightly.

Startled, I quickly pulled my hand away.

“……”

My heart hammered from the tension. As soon as I removed my hand, his lips relaxed again.

He’s not awake, right? He really is asleep, right?

I felt strangely uneasy.

After hesitating, I whispered softly,

“Grand Duke Glentino actually isn’t my type.”

“……”

Hmm, no reaction.

Maybe one more try.

“That was a lie.”

“……”

“But I do prefer younger men.”

“……”

Good. I passed the test.

Relaxing at last, I loosened the tension in my body. It was true that I generally preferred younger men over older ones. But if you counted my previous life too, Owen was technically younger than me as well. Much younger.

Besides, this man was handsome enough to completely destroy any standards I’d ever had for an ideal type.

I gently pressed a finger against his lips. Soft and warm. Probably the only soft part of his otherwise firm and solid body.

That was why I liked them.

I played with his lips a few more times before finally pulling my hand away.

A large ring he had given me sparkled on the ring finger of my left hand.

Right. Today, this man had proposed to me.

That was by far the most unreal thing that had happened all day.

After a brief moment of thought, I eventually took out another piece of linen cloth and placed it into the embroidery hoop.

After all, it seemed I should make a handkerchief for this man too.

“Sophia, you need to wake up.”

“Mmm…”

“Sophia.”

Someone was calling me in a gentle voice.

Sunlight filtered through my closed eyelids. I was still wandering through sleep.

Tap.

Someone lightly touched the tip of my nose. Half-asleep, I smiled.

“May I kiss you?”

My eyes snapped open.

“No way!”

The moment I recognized the owner of the voice, I hurriedly covered my mouth with one hand and sat up.

As expected, it was Owen.

At some point I had ended up lying neatly in bed under the blankets, while Owen lay beside me, propping up his head with one arm as he watched me.

‘Did I just sleep in the same bed as this man?!’

Still covering my mouth, I blinked rapidly.

Even in the morning, the man was absurdly handsome.

Clicking his tongue, he said,

“Sophia, are you aware there’s a polo match being held by the imperial family?”

“So?”

“You should participate as a defender for the Empire’s team, my lady. You’re truly exceptional at blocking things.”

Wow. Very funny.

I wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth and got out of bed. The completed handkerchief sat on the bedside table along with the needles and embroidery frame, all neatly organized. It seemed he had cleaned everything up.

Popo also woke up and came running toward me. I caught the little creature as it leaped into my arms and spoke to the man.

“Did the young master—no, Your Grace—sleep well?”

“It’s Owen. And yes, I did.”

“Then please leave quickly. The servants will be coming in soon.”

Despite my cold attitude, the man only grinned and leisurely got up.

“I think it’s already too late for that.”

“Huh? What do you mea—”

Before I could finish speaking, there came a knock at the door.

Knock knock.

The moment I whipped my head toward the door, a familiar voice called from outside.

“My lady! You’re awake, right? It’s Bessie. May I come in?”

“!”

Absolutely not!

But if I shouted that, I’d only be announcing that I was awake.

I hurriedly shoved the man off the bed and whispered,

“Hide, quickly!”

“Where exactly am I supposed to hide?”

Hmm. Fair point.

I frantically looked around.

The white wardrobe.

Right, there.

As I smacked his back repeatedly and pointed at the wardrobe, the man obediently moved.

Another knock sounded.

“My lady?”

“Bessie, wait a moment!”

The man awkwardly crammed his large body into the wardrobe. What kind of sight was this—one of the empire’s grand dukes squeezing himself into a closet?

Trying not to laugh, I hurried over and slammed the wardrobe door shut.

“Urgh, Sophia, my finger…”

Gasp. Owen’s index finger had gotten caught in the door.

“Oh no, I’m sorry.”

What if it really hurt? I grabbed his finger and blew on it softly.

In the meantime, the man briefly kissed the back of my hand.

I was about to glare at him before remembering we didn’t have time, so I shut the door again.

This time, I carefully checked to make sure no fingers, toes, or pieces of clothing were sticking out.

Good.

After confirming everything was hidden, I raised my voice toward the door.

“You can come in now!”

Bessie cautiously entered.

“My lady…? Is everything alright?”

“Y-yeah, of course.”

Thankfully, Bessie didn’t ask anything awkward. She simply entered with another maid carrying a basin of water floating with rose petals.

I calmly returned to my seat and let the maids attend to me.

Bessie and Lizzie. Both belonged to the Lirapha faction—in other words, they were on my side.

Thank goodness.

If maids from the Lion faction had come instead, I would’ve died from embarrassment in front of Owen.

Sneaking a glance sideways, I saw the wardrobe door quietly crack open.

Owen ta Glentino—the man stuffed inside the wardrobe—was watching me.

Our eyes met.

The man smiled, his eyes curving softly.

Even from that distance, I could tell.

Even during such an ordinary morning routine, my heart pounded wildly.

“Oh my, where did these flowers come from?”

At Bessie’s sudden question, I nearly jumped.

She was looking at the bouquet on the tea table.

The bouquet Owen had brought last night!

Flustered, I hurriedly made an excuse.

“U-um, for my birthday… I wanted to feel festive, so I bought them myself.”

“My lady… bought them personally?”

Bessie looked at me with deep pity.

Damn it.

Now I looked like some pathetic woman buying flowers while saying, “Happy birthday to me.”

‘What? There’s nothing wrong with buying yourself flowers.’

Bessie gently inhaled the floral scent.

“My lady, the flower meaning of lisianthus is ‘unchanging love.’ Someday, you’ll receive a bouquet from a wonderful man. A man incomparable to Young Master Arnold.”

Sorry, already happened.

The other maid, Lizzie, chimed in heatedly,

“Now that no one’s around, let me say this—did Young Master Arnold ever even give you flowers? He cheated on you and treated you terribly. Before he died, someone should’ve cut that thing off!”

Unfortunately, his older brother was currently hiding in the wardrobe listening to all of this.

I laughed awkwardly.

Then Bessie spotted a shawl lying on the floor.

“Oh my, my lady. I’ll put this back in the wardrobe.”

And Bessie reached for the wardrobe door.

…Wait, the wardrobe?!