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Chapter 08
Emily lowered her head and bent at the waist as she cautiously watched Caspian’s expression, looking every bit like a servant who had been helpless in the face of her master’s tyranny.
Ha… Is she seriously trying to drive a wedge between us?
The situation was so absurd that Lea could only let out a dry laugh.
“Lady Dahlia, our marriage has not yet been finalized. Until then, I would appreciate it if you were more mindful of your conduct. Needless rumors would benefit neither of us.”
Caspian’s usual detached, almost mocking tone left a fresh wound in her heart.
“N-No, that’s not—”
“They should have arrived by now. You should return to your room.”
The words she had been about to say in her own defense died on her lips.
Her mouth puffed into an indignant pout, and her brows knitted tightly together.
Furious, she sprang to her feet, clenched her teeth, and strode past him without another word.
Anyone could tell from her exaggerated movements that she was saying, I’m angry.
Caspian’s eyes silently followed her as she marched away.
Emily’s lips curled into a satisfied smile before she hurried after Lea.
“Commander… don’t you think that was a little too much?”
The voice belonged to Brody Marillen, the second vice commander of the Aldeno Knights, who had been quietly standing behind Caspian the entire time.
“Too much? How so?”
“What do you mean, how? You were far too cold toward the lady.”
“I merely said what needed to be said. What’s so cold about that?”
“That… that’s the sort of tone you’re only supposed to use on us.”
Brody’s face twisted awkwardly.
It wasn’t as though he could lecture the commander he revered like the sky itself.
“Enough.”
Caspian shot him a glance.
“Do you want to be my sparring partner today?”
Brody immediately snapped his mouth shut.
He hurried after the others, but not before casting one sympathetic look toward Lea’s retreating figure.
Caspian Felix—the head of House Felix and commander of the Aldeno Knights—might be blunt and cold…
But he wasn’t a bad man.
Every knight in the Aldeno Order knew that.
Unfortunately…
A delicate young lady like Lea could never possibly understand.
***
What in the world is going on?
When the still-fuming Lea returned to her room, she found it overflowing with dazzling white wedding dresses.
“So this is Lady Dahlia.”
A graceful woman bowed politely.
“My name is Séverine Montmois, owner of Montmois Boutique.”
“N-Nice to meet you. I’m Lea Dahlia.”
They exchanged greetings, but Lea couldn’t make sense of the situation at all.
“Emily.”
She beckoned the maid over to the window and lowered her voice.
“What is all this?”
She still intended to confront Emily about what had happened earlier.
But understanding the current situation came first.
“Madam Montmois is here to prepare your wedding gown, Lady Dahlia.”
Emily smiled proudly.
“The owner of Montmois Boutique isn’t someone who comes just because she’s invited. She’s considered one of the Empire’s greatest designers.”
…That’s not what I asked.
For the first time, Lea genuinely wanted to throw Emily out the window.
“I’m asking why we’re already choosing a wedding dress.”
It had only been two days since the contract marriage was agreed upon.
Why was she already being fitted for a wedding gown?
“How should I know?”
Emily shrugged.
“I’m only here to assist Lady Dahlia with choosing her dress.”
Watching the annoyingly smug maid, Lea silently vowed that one day she would absolutely put Emily in her place.
“Um… Lady Dahlia?”
Madam Montmois called gently from across the room.
“Are you not ready yet?”
“O-Oh, no.”
Lea hurried over with an awkward smile.
“What should I do first?”
As Montmois looked at the approaching young woman, a strange excitement flickered in her eyes.
She had met countless noble ladies throughout her career as a designer.
But this lady…
She was different.
Even Delailou Gwyn—renowned as the greatest beauty in the Akarzen Empire—would fade into the background beside Lea Dahlia.
It wasn’t simply her breathtaking beauty.
It was the mysterious aura surrounding her…
The graceful, delicate lines of her figure…
Her impossibly soft-looking skin…
Her crystal-clear complexion…
More than anything…
That hair color.
A sky-blue unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
It resembled either a perfectly clear summer sky or the shallow waters of a tranquil sea.
And it made her seem even more ethereal.
Her brilliant emerald eyes completed the image.
“I’ll show them to you one by one.”
“If anything catches your eye, please let me know.”
An overwhelming thrill surged through Montmois.
It felt as though she had encountered the greatest muse of her lifetime.
There was only one thought in her mind.
I absolutely cannot let this woman slip away.
Her determination as a designer blazed like fire.
***
Why isn’t she eating?
Caspian had specifically instructed the servants to prepare plenty of fresh vegetables because Lea seemed to enjoy them.
Yet she simply sat there without touching a thing.
She doesn’t look very happy, either…
As he watched her quietly, she finally spoke.
“Your Grace… I have something I’d like to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Has our wedding date already been decided?”
“Yes.”
Without looking up from the steak he was cutting, Caspian answered calmly.
“It’s in one week.”
His tone was so casual that it sounded no different from saying,
“Let’s have tea in the garden tomorrow.”
One week?
Lea was dumbfounded.
Their contract marriage had only been agreed upon two days ago.
Was this normal?
Do humans always rush weddings like this?
She rolled her eyes thoughtfully.
Well…
Maybe it’s better this way.
If they married quickly…
They could divorce quickly.
And she’d regain her freedom that much sooner.
Still…
There was one thing she absolutely had to clear up.
Otherwise the frustration would keep eating at her.
“Your Grace.”
“Caspian.”
“…Huh?”
“We’re supposed to be lovers hopelessly in love.”
He looked at her evenly.
“I don’t think such formal titles suit us.”
“Call me by my name.”
“My little bird.”
“Oh…”
Only then did Lea glance around the dining room.
Emily.
The maids.
The servants.
Who knew how many of Delailou’s spies were hiding among them?
Emily herself was already an obvious one.
Everything Lea and Caspian said here would eventually reach Delailou’s ears.
But…
Does Caspian already know that Emily is Delailou’s spy?
Or is he simply warning me because there are too many people listening?
The more she thought about it, the longer her untouched meal remained untouched.
“Eat first.”
Eventually, Caspian lost patience.
She reluctantly picked up her fork and absentmindedly poked at the vegetables.
She had barely eaten lunch earlier.
The entire afternoon had been consumed by endless wedding dress fittings.
Madam Montmois’s enthusiasm had nearly squeezed the life out of her.
She had endured it all because she was looking forward to finally talking with Caspian.
There were so many things she wanted to ask him.
Simply sitting here eating was becoming increasingly irritating.
She stabbed at her vegetables again before finally lifting her head.
“Caspian.”
Hearing his name spoken so suddenly, he looked up in surprise.
“Go on.”
Outwardly, he remained composed.
But inwardly…
The sound of her voice calling his name echoed through his mind.
Hearing his name spoken in that clear, refreshing voice…
It felt strangely pleasant.
“Caspian…”
“I’d like all the servants to leave.”
“Why?”
His gaze carefully searched her face.
“Because…”
She met his eyes.
“I want to talk with you alone.”
Caspian quietly set down his knife and fork.
After a brief silence, he gave the order.
“Everyone, leave us.”
One by one, the servants bowed and departed.
Watching them go, Lea couldn’t help thinking this should have been done from the beginning.
Emily lingered until the very end, repeatedly glancing back at them.
Lea answered her with an unmistakably cold, mocking smile.
Thud.
The massive dining room doors finally closed.
At last…
The two of them were alone.
Caspian leaned back leisurely.
“I doubt you’re asking for a private conversation just to whisper sweet nothings to me.”
“So…”
“What is it?”
