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CHAPTER 65…………:
I Am Your Fiancée
Arthur bared his teeth and smiled at Reina.
“Touch mine one more time, and I told you I’d throw you to the monsters.”
At Arthur’s words, Reina scoffed with her arms crossed.
“Duke Cervantes, stop talking nonsense and give me back what you stole.”
“You were planning to use this for Celia, right?”
“What does that have to do with you, Duke? Whoever I give it to is none of your concern.”
“…Ileon raised his sister very poorly.”
Arthur drove the dagger in his hand straight into Reina’s neck.
Reina’s eyelids slid shut.
“Today, we’re going somewhere for a bit.”
After finishing lunch together, Dietrich said this to Celia.
Celia nodded as if she understood.
“We’re going outside the palace. Change into something as comfortable as possible before we leave.”
Though Dietrich didn’t keep maids in the mansion, he made sure Celia was comfortable.
Even just the dresses in her wardrobe numbered dozens.
The comfortable dresses that Celia could change into on her own pleased her greatly.
Her favorite was the white satin dress Dietrich had gifted her for the first time.
Celia changed into the white satin dress and stepped out of her room.
Leaning slightly against the wall, Dietrich waited for her, dressed in a black uniform.
The black uniform fit his firm body perfectly, the collar framing the line of his neck—it suited him very well.
A breeze drifting through the open window brushed across Dietrich’s smooth cheek.
Admiring his face, Celia only then realized that he was holding a white bonnet in his hand.
Dietrich approached Celia and carefully placed the bonnet on her head, even tying the ribbons meticulously. Then he extended a hand to her.
“Shall we go?”
Celia took his hand.
She was curious about their destination, but she didn’t ask. She knew wherever they went, Dietrich would protect her rather than harm her.
Stepping out of the mansion, the fresh summer air enveloped her.
Even though Ileon had discovered her origins, she wasn’t worried because Dietrich was beside her.
Hand in hand, they left the vast palace grounds.
As they passed through, all eyes—from palace maids and knights to ministers—fell upon them, but the two paid no attention to others, focused only on each other.
Outside the palace, an endless street spread before them.
The street was lined with all sorts of shops.
From boutiques and salons to dessert shops and fresh produce vendors.
Merchants selling freshly caught fish, customers haggling to lower prices.
The busy, noisy street went silent as Celia and Dietrich entered, as if a curtain had been drawn.
Dietrich, in his black uniform with sleek black hair, and Celia, in a white satin dress and white bonnet, shocked everyone present.
Everything on the street seemed black and white, but the two of them looked as if color had been painted onto them.
“Wow…”
A merchant’s astonished voice broke the silence.
Holding Celia’s hand, Dietrich matched her pace as they walked side by side.
People in the capital outside the palace knew all the rumors about Dietrich.
Countless women had courted him, yet he had never allowed anyone to stand by his side.
Being fastidious to the point of disliking anyone touching him, he was now walking hand in hand with a woman, matching her pace.
Everyone knew the woman walking with him.
The one woman in Abelon with the beauty to steal souls.
Her distinct features under the white bonnet.
Dazzling silver hair flowing softly in the breeze from under the bonnet.
“The Angel of Brillion.”
A beauty one could only see by offering a fortune.
As rumored, Celia, the first love of all, was breathtakingly beautiful, though some viewed her with disdain.
Even the emperor and crown prince who desired her, despite being royalty, met tragic ends.
She was like a poisonous flower.
Desired by all, but deadly to those who sought her.
“…Witch.”
Someone muttered under their breath.
Dietrich’s gaze fell sharply on the lady who had spoken.
Just meeting his gaze made the woman feel as if a blade was cutting through her.
Feeling the murderous intent from Dietrich, she quickly lowered her eyes.
Dietrich led Celia to a small shop at the end of the street with no signboard.
Inside, an elderly woman welcomed them warmly.
“Welcome…”
Though small, the shop was filled with fascinating items.
Celia’s eyes swept over delicately decorated porcelain, scabbard ornaments, and colorful necklaces displayed on a white cloth.
‘An antique shop?’
While Celia looked around, Dietrich spoke to the elderly woman.
“The thing I requested before…”
“Oh, we got it, but it was difficult to find. The original owner was reluctant to sell, so the price…”
Before the woman could finish, Dietrich handed her a bundle of gold coins.
Hearing the weight of the coins, the woman’s face lit up.
“Just a moment. I’ll bring it right out.”
She disappeared through a side door, returning shortly carrying something wrapped in thin cloth.
When she removed the cloth, a metal birdcage was revealed.
Inside, a red parrot was tearing at its feathers with its beak.
“No matter how much it was taught to speak, it only repeated ‘The princess who never learned.’ The previous owner… was the fourth owner, I think.”
Celia froze, staring at the parrot in the cage.
The parrot, stressed, was plucking its red feathers.
Ten years ago, on the day the kingdom burned, Celia had released Popo, a parrot in a cage, into the sky.
Back then, she assumed it had died.
Ten years later, she could recognize the parrot before her.
Her father’s birthday gift, a red parrot with yellow spots on its chest—just like this one.
“…Popo.”
At Celia’s voice, the parrot stopped plucking its feathers and looked at her quietly.
Its dark eyes studied her carefully before flapping its wings and calling out:
“Princess! It’s the Princess!”
Celia hugged the cage containing Popo.
“Princess! Princess!”
“…I missed you.”
“I missed you! I missed you!”
Seeing Popo repeat Celia’s words, the elderly woman looked astonished.
‘They said no matter who taught it, it only says “princess.”’
But a long-running shop relies on trust.
The woman, understanding that pretending ignorance could help earn money, discreetly gave them space.
“If you need anything, knock on the door. This old lady isn’t feeling well and will rest a bit.”
With a soft thud, the side door closed. Celia tore her eyes from Popo and looked at Dietrich.
“Dietrich, how did you know I raised a parrot?”
“…I know everything about you.”
Dietrich added gently:
“I am your fiancée, after all.”
Celia realized she hadn’t even known Dietrich’s real name until now.
He knew so much about her, yet she hadn’t known he was her fiancé and hadn’t done anything for him.
This weighed on her heart.
Noticing her expression darken, Dietrich looked at her worriedly.
“Are you alright?”
“It’s not that… I feel like I haven’t done anything for you…”
“No. Just having you by my side is enough.”
“Enough!”
Popo echoed Dietrich’s words.
Celia couldn’t help but laugh.
