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Chapter 59
Studying the Anaxis household records by attributes, preparing the banquet and guest rooms, and redecorating the mansion—it would have been impossible without the help of veteran servants Henderson and Sarah.
And Dante had added his considerable strength to the effort as well.
Daphne was reading the noble list Dante had written one last time.
“Madam.”
Hearing the voice from behind, Daphne looked up at the mirror to see who it was.
Teophanes, dressed in his uniform, was approaching her.
Watching him for a moment, Daphne spoke a beat too late.
“Ah, Teo.”
Lately, she had been realizing more often just how much she focused on appearances.
When Teophanes’ eyes met hers, he gave a faint, painted-on smile.
Seeing that smile made Daphne’s heart skip a beat.
“Don’t smile.”
She looked away as she spoke, and Teophanes chuckled softly.
“It’s because you’re so cute, Madam, that I can’t help smiling.”
At his words, Daphne glanced up and met his eyes in the mirror again.
Once more, her heart skipped a beat.
The corners of his eyes had crinkled slightly but not completely, which meant he wasn’t smiling sincerely.
“Lies.”
Daphne murmured, almost hypnotized, and Teophanes’ expression shifted subtly.
She couldn’t bear to look him in the eye any longer, because if she did, she felt she might understand the emotions hidden within them.
“Lies? Madam, you wound me. I assure you, my saying you’re cute is sincere.”
He spoke as he quietly gazed at the slender nape that led from her round head down her delicate neck.
“Teo?”
At Daphne’s voice, Teophanes smiled and lifted the corners of his mouth.
He took a necklace from his pocket.
“I thought this would suit you.”
Daphne flinched slightly at the cool metal against her neck.
After a brief look at the necklace, she turned her eyes to the mirror.
In the reflection, she saw Teophanes leaning in to fasten it.
His long lashes dipped and lifted as he worked carefully.
“It’s done.”
The necklace was adorned with a purple gemstone, matching the color of Daphne’s eyes.
“Spinel,” he said.
“Spinel comes in purple?”
“It’s a rare color, not common, but it does exist.”
As Teophanes explained, Daphne lightly fiddled with the necklace with her fingers.
“Um… Master, I need to finish preparing Madam now.”
There was no more time, so Becky, who had been waiting beside them, stepped forward.
“Ah, I see.”
Teophanes gazed at Daphne and nodded with a faint smile.
“I’ll wait outside. Finish your preparations and come out.”
Though his kindness had never changed, something about him felt different now.
“The Duke is always so kind,” Becky said.
Daphne flinched at the remark.
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes. The way he looks at Madam is always dripping with honey.”
“If you see it that way… then perhaps.”
Something had changed, yet no one else seemed to notice except her.
“I’ll finish up for you.”
“Yes.”
For some reason, the subtle change made Daphne’s heart drop.
Teophanes gazed at his own hands.
He had to seduce her to make Daphne fall in love with him.
Things were going smoothly. Daphne seemed not to dislike him either.
He believed he could easily reclaim what was his.
“….”
But a variable had appeared: his own feelings.
No matter when, Daphne’s face came to mind. He wondered what she was doing, what she was eating.
He couldn’t tell if this was lingering emotion from the past or something new.
Teophanes exhaled deeply.
If he couldn’t control these feelings, his plan would fail.
“I must hide them. Desperately hide them.”
He had to. That way, he would never be betrayed again.
Closing his eyes tightly, he muttered to himself and slowly opened them.
His gaze, which had been wavering with emotion, now seemed resolute.
At that moment, the door opened, and Daphne emerged.
“Teo.”
Teophanes smiled softly at her.
To make her fall in love, he had to act as though he himself were already blinded by love.
He had to play the role of a foolish man ready to give his entire heart and body to love.
It was remarkably easy.
“I always think, you are beautiful, Madam.”
Embarrassed by his flustered compliment, Daphne smiled awkwardly.
“You’re the more beautiful one, Teo.”
Even if she easily noticed others’ strengths, she never realized her own beauty, making it effortless for him to seduce her.
“Will you honor me by allowing me to escort my beautiful Madam?”
Teophanes extended his hand theatrically, like an actor on stage.
Daphne laughed and offered her hand.
“Of course. I shall grant the honor to such a fine gentleman.”
He stared at her hand in his, dazed.
This was too strong to be dismissed as mere lingering feelings.
Looking at her shy lips and sparkling eyes, he could think of only one word in his mind: foolish.
She had a face that seemed disinterested in the world, yet she smiled brightly just for him.
The sensation of her calling only for him, of her gaze fixed solely on him, made his chest flutter.
“Ah, Madam.”
The resolve he had so carefully held up crumbled instantly, as if a sandcastle on the shore had been swept away by waves.
He could barely stand on his feet.
“Teo? Are you okay? Does anything hurt?”
“No… no, I’m fine.”
“Your face is pale. Saying you’re fine doesn’t make sense.”
Seeing her step close to check on him, he felt something break inside him.
“Teo? Your eyes…”
He held her arm and guided her gently, supporting her back against his chest.
Then he pressed his face to her neck and inhaled deeply.
Her scent etched itself onto his soul once more.
This hideous, sticky feeling was only one thing: love.
Yes. It was love.
Then he must take it from her.
Such love would not obstruct him.
After all, when a wretched person harbors wretched feelings, nothing catastrophic can happen.
