HBM 12

chapter 12

“…Grace, I think it’s about time you lift your head.”

Inside Lucas Black’s black carriage, Grace kept her face buried in her knees and couldn’t lift her head.

Several minutes passed.

Lucas had been quietly waiting for her to sit up. But when her shoulders began to tremble slightly, he grew startled, wondering if she was crying, and called her name.

Her shoulders flinched faintly, but she still didn’t raise her head.

She’s not… actually crying, is she?

Lucas narrowed his eyes a little and observed her.

He couldn’t see her face because she was bent over, but the tips of her ears were red.

Grace had the palest skin Lucas had ever seen.

It wasn’t just pale—it was so fair it seemed to reflect light.

Because her skin was so white, the blush on her cheeks always looked different.

Sometimes it was a soft orange-red like a sunset.
Sometimes it was bright red like a rose.
And sometimes it was a gentle pink, like a pink diamond.

Now that I think about it, a pink diamond would suit her well.

He easily imagined a pink diamond shining beside her ear.

Just as naturally, he began wondering whether a pink diamond had ever been found in the Black family’s diamond mines.

At that moment—

Grace suddenly lifted her head and shouted,

“Oh my goodness!”

She looked at Lucas with the brightest expression he had ever seen on her face.

Her shining purple eyes looked as innocent as a child’s.

With a wide smile, she said,

“Wow! Did you see their faces earlier? Your Grace, are you really allowed to do that? They’re completely going to misunderstand! But those expressions—they were just…! Hahaha! It was so funny!”

Her clear laughter filled the inside of the carriage.

Lucas was the one who was surprised this time.

Until now, Grace had felt like a delicate flower planted in a pot. But at this moment, it was as if that flower had become human and was bursting with life.

Was that strange?

…Of course not.

Hearing her laugh made Lucas feel slightly excited himself.

He had never felt like this before.

It felt as if he were watching a legendary flower turn into a spirit and dance before his eyes.

His future wife truly had a strange charm.

“I didn’t know you had such a mischievous side, Your Grace,” Grace said, looking at him in genuine surprise.

Even though she was looking straight at him, she didn’t feel afraid at all—what had just happened had been too shocking and amusing.

Lucas quietly stared at her for a moment, then let out a small smirk.

“There are still ninety-nine charms of mine that you haven’t seen yet. If you’re already surprised, that could be a problem.”

“Ninety… nine what?”

He looked at her confused expression and moved his lips.

“Char—”

Surely he wasn’t going to say—

“—ms.”

Right.

“…Pfft.”

Grace quickly covered her mouth when laughter burst out of her.

But it was too late—he had already heard it.

One of his dark eyebrows lifted slightly.

She quickly looked away, though she couldn’t stop the corners of her lips from trembling.

“What’s so funny?”

“N-No, I’m not laughing— mmph.”

“…Hmm. Is the word ‘charm’ that funny?”

…No. It’s you saying that with that completely serious face that’s funny.

Grace secretly glanced at him as he rubbed his chin.

She had always thought he was only frightening, but he seemed to enjoy teasing people more than she expected.

Well… someone who isn’t bold wouldn’t have done what he did earlier.

It actually wasn’t that big of a deal.

Lucas had been lying on the ground. He took Grace’s hand and stood up in one swift motion.

He dusted off his clothes casually, stepped outside, ignored all the watching eyes, then staggered slightly and leaned against Grace.

“Damn it… this chronic anemia.”

…For such a huge, intimidating man with the aura of a wild beast to say “chronic anemia.”

No one believed him, judging by their expressions. But he was shameless.

Even while signaling for the carriage with a flick of his finger, he held his forehead dramatically and muttered,

“If Lady Grace hadn’t caught me, I would have collapsed to the ground. What a terrible embarrassment…”

He let out an exaggerated sigh, then looked around at the crowd with a frightening smile—his lips curved up, but his eyes did not.

“I ask that you keep today’s shameful sight of me a secret. Especially from the Oelin Marquis family—I’d be far too embarrassed if they heard of this. So please, don’t go wagging your tongues… If you keep your mouths properly shut, I’ll remember all your faces and send you my greetings personally.”

He sealed their mouths with that smiling threat.

It was called a request, but it was practically a warning.

Just then, his secretary brought the carriage. Grace was pushed inside almost without realizing it.

Before closing the door, Lucas turned toward the blond Viscount Hopkins, who looked excited as if he had witnessed something amusing.

Lucas pointed at himself, then sharply pointed at Thomas Hopkins.

The meaning was clear.

I know you.

With a slight smile, Lucas shut the carriage door, leaving Thomas Hopkins frozen.

Even then, Grace was still stunned—until she noticed Julie fidgeting nearby. She quickly helped Julie climb up to the coachman’s seat.

Once they had completely left the city—

“…Pffft.”

Grace finally buried her face in her knees, unable to hold back her embarrassment and laughter.

And on top of that, seeing the unexpected side of the man she had always found frightening.

She had laughed so much that her stomach hurt—especially where Norman had hit her before.

When was the last time her stomach hurt just from laughing?

The laughter wouldn’t stop.

As she wiped tears from her eyes and tried to calm down, Lucas watched her with a gentle smile.

Seeing her laugh… isn’t bad.

He thought he should create moments like this more often, to help her relax whenever they met.

…Though if she falls for me even more, that could be troublesome.

He considered it seriously, then quickly decided it couldn’t be helped.

What’s done is done.

And for a couple engaged to be married, growing closer wasn’t a bad thing.

Lucas looked at the white nape of Grace’s neck, glowing in the sunlight.

Her slender, straight neck. Her deeply carved collarbones. Her pale skin that somehow looked almost restrained and pure.

Yes, a pink diamond would be best.

He imagined her wearing a pink diamond necklace at their engagement ceremony.

It suited her perfectly.

He felt the urge to immediately order Haem to secure a pink diamond.

Thinking about the Marquis of Oelin left a slightly bitter taste in his mouth, but the one who would live with him after marriage wasn’t the Marquis—it was Grace.

If a new person enters the house, it will need redecorating. The couple’s bedroom should probably replace my current one—

Lucas suddenly felt his face grow warm.

How far are you thinking on your own, Lucas Black?

He sighed and brushed a hand over his heated face.

It wasn’t unusual for engagements among nobles to be broken, even after a formal ceremony.

There was a reason people said nothing was certain until the oath kiss was exchanged.

And yet, he was already imagining Grace decorating their new mansion—and even their bedroom.

Was he really that desperate to build a family?

Or… had he fallen in love with her at first sight?

When?

The only thing she had done on that day was tremble while drinking tea, call his name, and faint.

…Though that wasn’t actually our first meeting, was it?

He suddenly remembered a fleeting moment from the past.

Lost in thought, he looked outside, and a strange silence filled the carriage.

Only then did Lucas notice that Grace was staring at him.

He glanced back at her.

For some reason, she didn’t look away this time.

Their eyes met.

In the quiet carriage, with only the two of them inside, the air grew slightly warm as their gazes tangled.

He found her steady gaze unexpectedly bold.

Her eyes seemed to hold something—something she wanted to say.

And then—

A light seemed to switch on in his mind.

He instantly guessed what she was about to say.

I see.

Lucas looked at her with slightly tense eyes.

A confession…?