DYWD 39

Chapter : 39

The first time I felt that sensation was when I went to the Kingdom of Etoile to bring Rebecca back.

Luciano had felt something strange when his hand touched Rebecca’s.

It felt as if warmth was radiating from his chest.

“This is really strange.”

Luciano felt the odd sensation again and grabbed Rebecca, who was about to leave.

“Your Highness, Princess!”

“What is it, Duke?”

Rebecca looked at Luciano, who had grabbed her wrist, with wide, round eyes.

“Ah, no, Your Highness. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“No, it’s really fine.”

Rebecca smiled brightly, nodded briefly to Luciano, and continued on her way.

“Your Highness, that’s not like you… to grab the princess’s wrist.”

Luciano’s aide, standing nearby, spoke to him.

“I need to go to the ducal residence immediately. I’ll explain it properly to His Majesty.”

“What?? Your Highness!! Why are you doing this?”

The aide shouted after Luciano, who was running, but he didn’t listen and headed toward the ducal residence.

“Your Highness, why have you come?”

“Was my father’s study on the third floor?”

“Yes, Your Highness. But why are you going to the previous duke’s study?”

“I think I’ll find out if I go there.”

Luciano gave Ed a brief answer and went up to the third floor.

When he opened the study door, dust-covered bookshelves filled the room—no one had used it in a long time.

‘It should be somewhere around here…’

Luciano carefully examined the shelves, searching for a particular book.

“Here it is.”

The book he pulled out was about the power of the sun, which only manifests in those with royal blood.

While looking at the table of contents, Luciano found the section about pre-manifestation symptoms and began flipping through the pages.

“Could it be…?”

Luciano’s expression turned serious as he examined the book, and he called Ed.

“Ed. Come in for a moment.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Send a message to the Helios Temple asking if we can visit as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

It was still uncertain. While all those with royal blood could potentially possess the power of the sun, Luciano himself had diluted royal blood.

He couldn’t be certain that the sun’s power had manifested in him.

“The power of the sun…”

Although the sun’s power manifests more frequently than the moon’s, it had been almost a hundred years since a manifestation had appeared.

If Luciano were to manifest the sun’s power, the imperial throne could be at risk.

So far, the sun’s power had mostly appeared in the emperor and his children—not in the ducal family. If it were to manifest in the ducal family, it could attract those with rebellious intent.

That could strain the relationship between the ducal house and the royal family.

‘What a headache.’

Luciano rubbed his throbbing head and left the study.

As he left, he saw Estelle climbing the stairs.

“Madam!”

He called to her and went down to the second floor, where Estelle had stopped and was waiting for him.

“Where were you?”

“I was in my father’s study. Where did you go?”

“I didn’t stop anywhere in particular. I just went for a walk.”

Luciano smiled and held out his hand to her.

“I have something to discuss with you. Could you spare a moment?”

“Of course. I’ll change into something more comfortable. Wait for me a moment.”

“Then I’ll wait in my office, Madam.”

As Estelle went to change, Luciano headed to his office.

‘We need to consummate the marriage.’

As the elders had suggested before, Estelle and Luciano had never consummated their marriage.

Up until now, their relationship had been strained, and Luciano had deliberately avoided it.

But since the elders kept bringing it up, avoiding it was no longer an option.

Even if they didn’t truly have a relationship, it was better to at least appear together in the same room once a month to avoid interference from the elders. It would be easier for both of them.

“Bring some tea. She should be arriving soon.”

After instructing the maid, Luciano waited for Estelle and heard approaching footsteps.

“May I come in, Luciano?”

“You may, Madam.”

The door opened, and Estelle entered the office in a comfortable indoor dress, smiling.

“What is it that you wished to discuss?”

“I asked the maid to bring tea. It would be better to sit and talk.”

Luciano gestured for her to sit, and Estelle sat across from him.

The maid brought the tea at the right time, and they drank together.

“I have a proposal for you.”

“Go ahead.”

Although she had been fine earlier, Estelle’s face seemed to flush as Luciano brought up consummation.

“…Luciano?”

“I think we should consummate our marriage regularly.”

“Consummate…?”

Estelle’s eyes widened in surprise, and she couldn’t respond, only blinking.

“Of course, I don’t mean a real relationship. Just to satisfy the elders, we should share a room once a month. Madam.”

Only after Luciano said this did Estelle nod in understanding.

“I understand what you mean.”

“Then I will come to your room tonight.”

“Tonight…?”

Estelle asked again but didn’t say anything else.

‘Was that too hasty?’

Luciano immediately regretted saying it but shrugged it off.

“Not tonight?”

“No, it’s just too sudden.”

Estelle smiled and nodded.

“Alright. Then we’ll go with that.”

Luciano held her hand as she got up and led her to her room.

“I’ll see you this evening.”

After talking with Luciano, Estelle entered her room, where the waiting maids were.

“Tonight, you will be spending time with Luciano, so prepare yourself.”

The maids reacted wildly to her casual statement.

“Could it be…? Are you two going to…?”

‘Huh??’

It was completely unexpected.

The maids excitedly fussed, saying they would make her the most beautiful tonight.

“Tonight, you will be the most beautiful, Madam!”

“Yes! The duke will be captivated at first sight!”

After sending the noisy maids out, she lay on her bed alone.

“I’m crazy… I’m going to… with Luciano…”

She had expected this day eventually but had just told Luciano she wanted a divorce a few days ago—she hadn’t expected to share a bed now.

“Why is it so hot?”

Looking in the mirror, her face was bright red, and her heartbeat sounded loud.

As the sun set, the maids led her to a bath.

She laughed seeing the bathtub filled with more rose petals than before.

The maids gently cleaned her skin as if she were a child, applied oil, and dressed her in a thin slip.

“Isn’t this too thin…?”

“No, Madam! This is how it should be!”

The maids insisted firmly, applied light makeup, and seated her at the vanity.

“How does it look?”

‘Feels like we’re about to…’

Even though it was just one night in one bed, it felt strangely intimate.

“Madam, the duke has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

When Luciano entered, the maids left.

“Madam.”

He was dressed similarly to her, and his physique made it hard to know where to look.

“You’re here, Luciano?”

Sitting down, she noticed wine and fruit the maids had prepared.

“Would you like some, Madam?”

“Yes.”

Luciano poured wine and handed it to her.

Even though nothing would happen, the atmosphere felt strange.

After drinking, they lay together on the bed, looking at the ceiling without meeting each other’s eyes.

“Good night, Madam.”

“Good night, Luciano.”

That night, she felt she wouldn’t sleep properly.

She only fell asleep in the early morning.

When she woke to sunlight and birdsong, the first thing she noticed was Luciano’s chest.

‘Huh?? Why am I like this?’

It was strange and confusing. They had slept apart, yet she had ended up in his arms.

‘Crazy… Did I just hug him in my sleep?’

As she wondered how to get out, Luciano opened his eyes.

“Madam…”

He had just woken up and wasn’t fully alert, yet it was somewhat seductive.

“Th-this is…”

She stared at his face, panicked, and wriggled out of his arms.

“Sorry! I usually talk in my sleep.”

She stammered, and Luciano chuckled.

“It doesn’t bother me, Madam. So don’t worry.”

“Ahaha… alright.”