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Chapter : 29
The first day of the New Festival banquet ended just like that.
All I learned were the High Priest’s strange words and a little about the Kingdom of Etoile.
“Are you not tired, my lady?”
Luciano asked me as we rode in the carriage back to the ducal estate.
“I’m a little tired.”
“It would be best if you slept at least until we arrive, my lady.”
At his words, I leaned against the carriage window and tried to sleep.
“Mmm…”
“My lady? Are you awake??”
When I opened my eyes again, I was already wearing a nightgown and lying in my own bed.
“Sera? Why am I here??”
“His Grace carried you himself when you fell asleep, my lady.”
“I don’t remember that.”
“You were deeply asleep. His Grace ordered us not to wake you and to quietly change your clothes.”
“Then Sera, you changed my clothes?”
“Yes, Cassia and I changed you.”
“What time is it now?”
“It is three in the morning, my lady. You returned around midnight, so you haven’t slept long.”
I hadn’t even thanked Luciano, so I got up, intending to find him.
“I need to go see Luciano.”
The maids had already said that Luciano slept only around dawn, so I assumed he’d still be awake.
Outside, even with the curtains drawn, only Luciano’s office glowed with light.
‘Still awake, I see.’
I knocked twice and entered.
“Luciano…?”
Expecting him to be awake, I was surprised to see him fast asleep, collapsed over his desk.
“He must be exhausted.”
I couldn’t lift him onto the sofa, so I settled for fetching a blanket and covering him.
After a grueling imperial banquet, he came home in the early morning and worked anyway—
the sight was responsible and strangely admirable.
“Good night, Luciano.”
I was about to return to my room after watching him sleep when—
“My lady…?”
Luciano grabbed my wrist, barely awake, eyes only half open.
“Luciano? Weren’t you asleep?”
“I woke because I sensed your presence.”
“Oh… so I woke you. Sorry, Luciano.”
“No need to apologize, my lady. I should thank you.”
He stretched and spoke as though nothing was wrong.
“I still have business to finish, so it’s fortunate I woke. Thank you, my lady.”
He was nodding off while still trying to work, so I told him firmly,
“Luciano, you should sleep today.”
I pulled the pen from his hand and insisted.
“There is a mountain of tasks to complete.”
“Even so, sleep is more important right now. You look exhausted.”
Holding his large hand tightly, I led him out of his office and into his bedroom.
It was wide and almost empty—just a bed, a small side table, a mirror, and a bathroom.
“All right. I’ll sleep tonight.”
His easy agreement felt suspicious, so I dragged a chair to his bedside and sat down.
“My lady?”
“I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”
“You must be tired as well. You should rest.”
But I refused to leave his side.
“No. I already slept earlier. Luciano, please sleep.”
After a long sigh, Luciano closed his eyes.
“Good night, Luciano.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
That night was not one Luciano could fall asleep easily.
It began in the carriage.
“My lady? Are you sleeping?”
Exhausted, Estelline fell asleep the moment she closed her eyes, even bumping her face against the window as the carriage swayed.
“Mmm…”
Watching her carefully, Luciano leaned toward her and gently rested her head on his shoulder.
‘Roses…’
That familiar, faint rose scent of hers reached him.
“Your Grace, we’ve arrived.”
When they arrived at the ducal estate, he considered waking her, but the moment he saw her peaceful face, he abandoned the idea.
He lifted her carefully and stepped from the carriage.
“You’ve returned, Your Grace.”
“Shh. Quietly. Bring the duchess’s maids to her room.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Luciano slowly climbed the stairs and laid Estelline on her bed.
“Change her carefully without waking her.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
While the maids fetched her nightclothes, he removed her shoes and waited outside.
“My lady has been changed into her nightgown, Your Grace.”
When the maids exited, Luciano reentered.
Unaware of anything, she slept like an angel fallen from heaven.
Luciano watched her for a long moment before heading to his office.
“Your Grace, it’s Ed.”
“Come in.”
Ed entered with tea to relieve fatigue.
“Are you not tired, Your Grace?”
“I’m fine. There’s work, so it must be done.”
Despite his concern, Ed’s gaze was met with silence as Luciano continued his duties.
Time passed. His eyelids grew heavy, and he closed his eyes briefly.
In sleep, the faint rose scent returned. And a soft blanket settled over his back.
Even half-asleep, he knew it was Estelline.
“Good night, Luciano.”
As she tried to leave, his hand reached out on instinct.
“My lady…?”
Her wide eyes showed she hadn’t expected him to wake—instantly sobering him.
Estelline, worried for him, dragged him to bed, insisting she would stay until he slept.
‘How am I supposed to sleep like this…?’
Luciano almost laughed.
Expecting him to sleep while she sat beside him in nothing but a nightgown—it was impossible.
But her stubbornness won. He turned his back to her gaze and forced himself to rest.
When he woke, the clock read 6:10 a.m.
Beside him, Estelline slept awkwardly in a chair.
“That must be uncomfortable…”
He stroked her hair, then carefully moved her onto his bed.
“Ed? Are you outside?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Ed entered at once.
“You called?”
“Prepare a meal for the duchess once she wakes. And inform her we won’t attend today’s imperial banquet.”
“As you command, Your Grace.”
Luciano changed and went straight to his office, smiling faintly at the thought of Estelline.
“I’m losing my mind…”
When had it begun?
He didn’t remember when he started caring—when every little thing she did made his heart flutter.
He had always denied it.
Estelline was the one who had disgraced his parents’ deaths and forced this marriage.
She begged for his affection, his bed, his love—none of which he wanted.
There should have been no reason to like such a woman.
And yet now he couldn’t help but laugh at himself for doing exactly that.
Warm sunlight woke me.
Fearing I had overslept, I checked the clock—nearly eleven.
“I’m doomed!”
To attend the imperial banquet, preparation had to start by ten at the latest—but it was already eleven. Panic set in.
“Dahlia! Cassia! Sera!”
I called for my maids, but none entered. Instead, Ed stepped inside.
“You are awake, my lady.”
“Why are you here?”
Only then did I notice the room—this wasn’t my familiar bedroom.
It was Luciano’s bedroom from last night.
‘Don’t tell me… I slept here?’
My cheeks burned.
I’d insisted I’d stay until he slept—and ended up sleeping in his bed myself.
How would I face him now?
“His Grace ordered preparations so you may dine as soon as you wake.”
“No—aren’t we attending today’s banquet? Why did no one wake me?”
“His Grace chose not to attend today. Thus Her Grace may rest and save strength for tomorrow—the final night.”
After throwing on a shawl in my own room, I rushed to the dining hall.
Just as Ed said, a feast awaited me.
It almost worried me that eating so much would make me gain weight, but I consoled myself—after all, the chef had worked hard.
“It’s delicious…!”
The chef’s food never failed to amaze me—enough to make me regret the idea of divorcing Luciano.
“I wonder if Luciano has eaten…”
He often neglected everything when working, meals included.
“If you’re that worried, why doesn’t my lady cook and bring him food yourself??”
Cassia, overhearing my mumbling, suggested it.
A talented chef’s food would surely taste better—but thinking of Luciano’s recent kindness, I wanted to cook for him myself.
“Yes! I’ll do that!”
