IAYA 55

I was startled by Medina’s unexpected appearance, but the imperial party—my first—was still enjoyable. How could it not be, with Theansis by my side?

He picked up a blue cocktail from a waiter’s tray and handed it to me.

“It’s non-alcoholic. I heard women like it because it’s sweet. Would you like to try it, my lady?”

“Ah, sure.”

I took a sip of the cocktail he offered. Just as he said, it was sweet—more like a delicious soda than anything alcoholic.

Smiling, I said to him,

“I think this is the best cocktail I’ve ever had.”

Truthfully, I hadn’t had many cocktails before, but this one was definitely the best I’d ever tasted.

He smiled back at me.

“I’m glad.”

As we strolled through the party, I couldn’t help but feel like I was dreaming. I’d never imagined a day like this would come for me.

“I like you, my lady.”

Theansis’s confession still lingered in my ears.

To be loved by someone I’d admired for so long—it was bliss. Every time his warm gaze fell on me, my heart raced.

Until now, I only wanted to become an apothecary and live independently…

But that simple wish had grown into something far larger, something greedy.

At first, I just wanted to prove that I could live well on my own, even without the title of the Farrington estate or noble status.
I wanted to live by my own will—not forced into a convent, not sold off to some old nobleman.

That was all.

But now, I wanted to stay with Theansis. I could no longer bring myself to push him away. No—more and more, I didn’t want to.

I want to be with you, too, Your Grace.

Even knowing I was more than ten years older than him, I still shamelessly desired him.

If only this elegant dress and powerful family name truly belonged to me—how wonderful that would be.

If I had youth, wealth, or status—just one of them—I’d never have done something as foolish as rejecting Theansis.

But I had nothing.

That was why I’d pushed him away—because accepting his feelings made me feel guilty.

Foolish me… he’s only seen the fake me anyway.

Theansis didn’t know the real me—my age, my face, my background—nothing.

So even if he resented me later, I couldn’t blame him. The deception was mine alone to bear.

“Your ladyship’s identity, age, or status—none of that matters. As long as your heart isn’t false, nothing else does.”

Still, I wanted so badly to believe those words.

Even though I knew he could only say that because he didn’t know the truth, I wanted to lean on that hope—pretend I couldn’t resist—and accept his love.

It was greed.

A desire growing beyond my control.

While I was watching him with a complicated gaze, I saw a waiter discreetly hand Theansis a note.

Huh? That waiter…

I remembered seeing that same waiter earlier—with Lady Reijeni.

Theansis unfolded the note without expression, scanned it briefly, then crumpled it in his hand.

It looked like he might throw it away—but then he seemed to change his mind. He clenched the crumpled note and said,

“My lady.”

“Yes?”

“Someone sent for me… I’ll need to step away for a moment. I won’t be long.”

“Ah, okay.”

I nodded blankly. For some reason, I had the strong feeling that “someone” was Reijeni.

He started to walk away, then turned back to me.

“While I’m gone, please don’t dance with any other men.”

I blinked, caught off guard. He smiled faintly and added in a teasing tone,

“Your dancing might give you away, after all.”

Remembering how I’d trampled all over his feet the last time we danced, my face burned red.

Seeing that, his smile deepened.

“I’ll be right back.”

And with that, he walked away.

Watching him disappear into the distance, a strange unease settled over me.

I suddenly remembered the last time I’d seen Reijeni—when she had humiliated Theansis, accusing him of being… impotent.

“Everyone knows the Duke of Acruge recently had his engagement annulled. It was me who called it off—after I discovered his, well… deficiencies. I mean, the Acruge family is tempting, but I can’t stay celibate for life, can I?”

I knew Theansis could handle himself, but… still, Reijeni had once been his fiancée. If things had gone differently, they might have been married.

No. It’s none of my business.

Whatever they talked about, it wasn’t something I should interfere with.

And yet…

As his back grew smaller in the distance, I found myself following him before I even realized it.

Even though I knew I shouldn’t, my mind kept imagining Reijeni reconciling with him—and that anxious thought drove my feet forward.

Theansis headed toward a quiet outdoor garden. I wasn’t familiar with the palace grounds, but he seemed to know his way well.

The moment he stepped into the wooded garden—

“Duke Acruge.”

Reijeni’s soft voice.

I quickly hid myself behind a tree and peeked toward them—then froze at the shocking sight.

Ah…!

Reijeni stood before him, wearing nothing but a sheer slip so thin it was nearly transparent. Her gown from earlier was gone—her every curve visible. Honestly, being naked would’ve been less suggestive.

I covered my mouth, afraid I’d make a sound.

“I knew you’d come when you got my note.”

Theansis’s face was hidden in shadow, but his voice was cold—completely devoid of emotion.

“What do you want?”

He cut straight to the point. Even confronted with her indecent appearance, his tone didn’t waver.

“Is that all you have to say after seeing me like this?”

“You’re the one who said you had something to discuss. So what is it?”

Even her seductive tone couldn’t shake him. If I were her, I’d have been mortified.

I shouldn’t have followed him…

I’d known it was a bad idea, but now I regretted it even more. I considered leaving when I heard her say—

“Wasn’t it too heartless of you to break off our engagement so suddenly?”

“You make it sound like we were actually engaged.”

“We would’ve been, if things had gone as planned—”

“Didn’t your father tell you? I’ve received more political marriage offers than I can count.”

I blinked. That many?

Then again, it made sense. Theansis was one of the empire’s most eligible bachelors.

His husky voice continued, sharper now.

“So you spread those absurd rumors about me out of spite? You should be grateful I didn’t bother to respond.”

“I—I only did that because I wanted to see you again. I thought if I started that rumor, you’d come find me.”

I gasped silently. So that’s why she did it?!

Maybe her feelings for him were real—but her method was utterly wrong.

Theansis sounded weary now.

“So that’s why you called me here? If that’s all, I’ll be going.”

“Wait!”

Reijeni hurried to block his way, still practically naked.

“Didn’t you come here hoping for this?”

“I don’t know what you’re implying. If I’d known you’d be waiting in that state, I wouldn’t have come.”

“Then why—”

“Because if I didn’t, I was afraid you might take your anger out on someone else. I couldn’t stand the thought of that person being hurt. So yes—my overconcern brought me here.”

I realized instantly—he was talking about me.

Even though no one could see me, my face burned. My heart pounded violently.

He… he really meant me.

“You can’t mean…”

“You know who I mean,” he said quietly. “And consider this a warning—don’t test my patience again. You’ll regret it.”

“I—I can give you more than she can! My family’s wealth and influence are no less than the Fredoff’s!”

Theansis didn’t respond. He simply started walking past her.

But as he moved, Reijeni suddenly clung to him from behind.

“Don’t go, Your Grace. Spend the night with me.”

Theansis immediately shoved her away in disgust.

“Don’t touch—gh.”

But then his body suddenly stiffened.

From where I stood, I could tell why. He wasn’t wearing gloves.

I remembered what had happened before—how a girl in the apothecary had been thrown back when she touched him barehanded, engulfed in his blue aura.

If he’d touched Reijeni directly, it could trigger the same reaction.

Reijeni also seemed to notice something was wrong.

“Your Grace?”

I couldn’t stand by any longer. I rushed out of hiding.

Reijeni’s eyes went wide when she saw me appear from the darkness. Then, realizing what little she was wearing, her face flushed red.

“Lady Fredoff, what are you doing here?”

“If you don’t want to get hurt, move.”

I meant from Theansis’s aura—but she clearly took it another way. Her face twisted in anger.

“Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?”

I didn’t bother explaining. There was no time—and honestly, I wasn’t about to yield Theansis to her.

“Didn’t you hear earlier? I’m the one he loves.”

Her face hardened in fury.

I didn’t care. I moved past her toward Theansis, speaking coldly—

“Move.”

She glared at me, hatred blazing in her eyes.

“Fine, Lady Fredoff. Enjoy it while you can. You’ll regret this.”

With that, Reijeni stormed away.

Ignoring her, I went straight to Theansis, whose skin had already begun to break out in welts. I supported him gently.

“Are you all right?”

Despite the pain, he let out a small laugh.

“I didn’t expect you to say something like that.”

“Then you misjudged me. I can do even more than this.”

“Apparently so. I never thought you’d follow me here.”

“Ah, well…”

“It’s fine. I knew. I’m not so dull that I wouldn’t notice someone trailing me.”

I blinked in surprise. He’d known from the start?

He smiled faintly.

“I liked it, though. It means you care about me that much.”

I froze, speechless.

Trying to compose myself, I looked down at the welts on his skin.

“I have some medicine…”

But I couldn’t finish—the moment I reached for my satchel, he caught my hand.

“No. I don’t need painkillers.”

“But—”

“What I need right now is something else.”

He pulled me into his arms before I could react. The world tilted, and I fell against his chest.

Pressed against him, I could hear his heart pounding wildly—maybe even faster than mine.

“I want to feel your warmth,” he murmured. “I never knew how comforting another person’s touch could be—until I met you.”

I wanted to ask why his body reacted this way, why he always suffered from those welts—but before I could, he exhaled softly, his breath brushing through my hair.

That calm, relieved sigh made my heart flutter uncontrollably.

And without thinking, I whispered back—

“…I love you, Your Grace.”