HEAD 27

~Chapter 27~

Blake unfolded the count’s letter carelessly.

“Let’s see how much this worm begged… ‘To the most respected and great Duke Blake Uffus…’ Too many pointless words.”

“Your Grace,”

Aide Il Dexter felt uneasy.

Right now, Il was the only one in Blake’s office, but as time went on, it would be harder to keep this incident a secret.

But Blake was firm.

“Wait, let’s just read the letter first. Skip the greetings… Here’s the fun part. ‘I am ashamed that my unworthy wife has caused trouble for Your Grace. If you allow my people to enter, I will take her home at once…’ The rest is useless.”

Il Dexter tried to stop him. He pushed up his new silver glasses.

“Your Grace!”

“Too many pointless words, and the rest is useless. It has a nice rhythm. Too many words, rest is useless…”

“Your—Grace.”

“It’s funny, isn’t it? He really thinks he can get Lily back. What an idiot.”

“At least you can’t keep this secret from Miss Lily!”

“She won’t find out for now. Just keep quiet.”

Blake had made up his mind—if he was going to make trouble, he would do it properly.

If Lily found out too soon, he could already picture what she’d do in his head.

She was always ready to leave.

All her stuff could fit into one small box, ready to go any time.

‘You’ve protected me enough. I don’t want to cause any more trouble for the duchy, so I’ll go back now. Thank you for everything.’

Blake could already see her saying goodbye like that.

‘That stubborn girl… Where would she even go? She has no place to return to.’

So Blake had to keep it a secret from her until he sent a reply to her ex-husband.

He planned to write back that he wasn’t going to send Lily back, and that he’d be her guardian now. The count could sue or send an army if he wanted—it didn’t matter.

And he’d send that reply as late as possible.

“I’m going to tell Miss Lily!” Il said.

But Il didn’t understand Blake’s thinking.

“This is crazy. Something huge is happening. The capital already hates the duchy, and now you’re giving them another reason? And if Miss Lily finds out late, she’ll faint!”

“I’ll give you a promotion.”

Il stopped his speech in surprise.

He repeated the word as if he was hypnotized.

“Pro…motion…?”

“I’ll make you chief aide at the right time. That’s a job with a pension for three generations.”

Il’s mind filled with thoughts.

Promotion was the one thing he always wanted.

But then, he pictured Lily, maybe playing with a young horse right now…

“No, I can’t… Still, I—”

“I didn’t know Il Dexter could refuse a promotion. Miss Lily really is something.”

Blake shook his head.

Normally, Il would jump off a roof for a promotion.

So Blake made another offer.

“Then at least wait until three more letters come. The count will get mad and make a bigger scene. That will be the perfect time for all-out war.”

“But—”

“That’s an order. After that, I’ll tell Lily the truth myself.”

With the word “order,” Il couldn’t refuse anymore.

He felt the clear line he couldn’t cross with Blake.

“If this goes wrong, I’ll spread the story to everyone in Winter Castle.”

“I’ll have to be careful, then. They care about Miss Lily so much. I don’t want to die by cannon.”

The bespectacled aide just sighed.

A while later, Blake left Winter Castle and walked out the main gate.

The world was still white with snow, but the weather was nicer and the midday sun was warmer.

He was strong, so he wore light clothes.

Just then, Lily was returning alone from the stables.

“Blake, you look happy today.”

“Is it that obvious?”

Blake couldn’t hide his good mood.

He was secretly happy, waiting for a reply from that “Fox” guy.

Lily’s face also brightened as she walked with him. Happiness is catching.

“You look like you’re about to start dancing.”

“Not a bad idea.”

“Then, would it be all right if I asked the princess for a dance?”

“What? Of course you’re joking. If you’re serious, I’ll say no. I’ve never danced with anyone at a party.”

Noblewomen never accepted dance invitations from a man like Blake.

And he’d never asked, either.

So when Lily actually reached out her hand, he was surprised.

“…There’s no band and we’re not even indoors?”

“You really know how to turn me down gently. You’re a perfect noble.”

She took his hand and led him gently.

“Come on, let’s go.”

Their steps left clear tracks in the snow.

They started with the latest popular dance, the quadrille.

Her small footprints mixed with his big ones, sometimes meeting, sometimes parting.

There was no shining chandelier or red carpet, but it was enough.

The winter wind made music for them as it blew by.

“See? I really am strange.”

Blake mumbled as he moved roughly to her lead.

“I can’t hear you. It just sounds like someone is grumbling weirdly because of the wind.”

Lily smiled softly. She hadn’t danced since her marriage, but she was still graceful.

This was more fun than any formal ball.

Her hair glimmered in the afternoon sun as she spun.

Sometimes they moved apart, then came close again.

Lily spun on the snow and landed in his arms.

He felt her warmth.

“…”

Blake suddenly froze.

He felt his heavy breathing mix with her peach scent.

Suddenly, every touch from Lily felt like a shock.

He felt his blood racing.

They moved from the quadrille to the waltz.

It was a dance with closer contact—where two young people could feel each other’s warmth.

“You’re pretty good at waltzing too.”

Now Lily and Blake danced together, close and slow.

“Really? I doubt it. I only learned when I was a kid, and now I forgot it all. Who would ever waltz with me anyway?”

“I get it, I get it. It feels awkward for me too. My ex-husband didn’t like dancing either.”

She said it kindly, because even though Blake was clumsy, she moved smoothly as water.

“So he couldn’t dance either? He’s like me, then.”

“What did you say?”

Lily raised her eyebrows and laughed.

Her ex-husband was a noble, taught to dance at parties, while Blake was off shooting crossbows.

“Yeah. That was a dumb thing to say.”

Blake grumbled.

Lily twirled and started laughing.

“If you didn’t learn much, of course you’re clumsy. Don’t worry, I’m sure there’s something you’re better at than my ex-husband.”

“How many things?”

“Oh, good question. If I look hard, maybe one or two…”

Right as she said that, Blake spun her around a few more times.

“You’re making me dizzy!”

“That’s the point.”

Their footsteps made lots of patterns in the snow.

Blake liked seeing Lily smile.

He remembered when she first came to Winter Castle—she was so bold.

She was playful but graceful, quiet but in control.

She had changed him completely—turned him from a rough man into someone called “princess” and “mother hen.”

She must have always been like this, even before.

She had made even angry young Blake look forward to trips to the capital.

She was clever even back then.

That’s why he couldn’t forgive her ex-husband at all. How dare he hurt someone who reached out to Blake?

He wanted to give the man a punishment worse than being hanged in the street.

Because Blake…

“…”

He stopped dancing, shocked.

He moved so suddenly that Lily bumped into him.

“What are you doing? Even someone from 50 years ago wouldn’t pull a trick like that.”

She tried to joke and step away, but Blake didn’t let go.

He looked deeply confused. Lily worried for a second—maybe his old war trauma was back.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“No.”

He was not okay.

Because Blake—