chapter 17
“If you had the ability to see into my pitch-black insides, you’d know you shouldn’t be doing this right now.”
Yuan’s throat went dry at the desire Sereret had stirred up.
In Yuan’s eyes, as he looked down at Sereret, dangerous lust flickered.
His gaze slid from Sereret’s eyes down to her nose, then lingered long on her red, plump lips.
Sereret tilted her head back to meet his gaze, her eyes sharp as blades. That rebellious glare was much like the one she had when she’d smashed a vase over his head.
“Are you planning to kill me?”
Her voice was as sharp as her eyes. Even at her savage words, Yuan’s mind was filled with nothing else.
“Killing one naive, clueless woman is nothing for you, is it, Duke Frektuster?”
What is this woman saying with that innocent face of hers? Yuan frowned slightly.
Ever since the day she’d swung the vase, Sereret would sometimes spit out strange, cryptic words like this.
It was fresher and more entertaining than when she merely blushed and smiled shyly—but also unsettling. He couldn’t tell if she meant them sincerely.
He’d thought she was a woman easy to read, but right now she felt like a labyrinth. A complicated maze, easy to lose one’s way inside.
“I’m not a monster.”
Yuan spoke with the look of a man who’d lost his way.
“To someone, you might be worse than a monster.”
Sereret’s chin trembled as she let the words out.
She brushed past him, but the thought that she was running away made Yuan immediately grab her arm.
He spun her back toward him—and met her eyes, brimming with tears. Startled by those tears, Yuan let go of her arm without realizing it.
Sereret glared at him and then walked away toward her room. Soon, the sound of a door shutting left Yuan alone in the hallway.
A stabbing pain pierced his heart.
“Show me. Just once.”
Sereret’s voice echoed in his head like it was being hammered in.
But when and where had she said that? And what had she asked him to show her? He couldn’t remember.
A sharp ringing filled his ears, followed by a crushing headache.
“Ha…”
Pressing hard on his temples, Yuan staggered into his room and collapsed onto the bed.
Sereret’s sorrowful voice and her tearful face whirled chaotically through his mind.
The worse they echoed, the sharper the pain grew, until breathing itself became difficult. At last Yuan tugged the bell rope.
“Did you call, Your Grace?”
Moments later, the butler entered the room.
Seeing Yuan slumped against the headboard in disarray, the butler rushed toward him with alarm.
“Are you unwell, my lord?”
“A terrible headache. Bring me medicine.”
“I’ll summon Doctor Kane.”
“Medicine will do.”
Yuan waved a hand, making it clear a doctor was unnecessary.
“Yes, my lord.”
The butler hurried away and returned minutes later with medicine, which Yuan took immediately.
“If the pain doesn’t ease, please say so. I’ll fetch Doctor Kane at once.”
Yuan nodded and gestured for him to leave.
Left alone, Yuan let out a long sigh. Exhaustion crashed over him, pulling him quickly into sleep.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
That night, Yuan dreamed.
Whether it was the medicine or sheer fatigue, he couldn’t tell—but it was a nightmare.
Blood dripped along the corridor, leaving dark red stains.
Not knowing whose blood it was, or why it was there, Yuan followed the trail with unsteady steps.
The blood led him to a room.
He pushed open the slightly ajar door.
Inside, a woman lay sprawled on the floor, a pool of deep crimson spreading around her.
He reached out to turn her face and see who it was.
At that moment—Bang! A gunshot rang out. The world shook.
“—Hah!”
Yuan gasped awake in bed, drenched in cold sweat.
The pounding headache had eased thanks to the medicine, but a dull pain lingered at his temples.
“Damn it.”
He cursed under his breath and sat up.
What a strange dream. A woman covered in blood… It left him uneasy, his mood dark even in the early morning.
Then came a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
At his reply, the butler entered, studying him with a concerned face.
“Are you all right, my lord?”
“Yes.”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Yuan pushed his hair back from his face.
“I’m relieved to hear you feel no discomfort.”
The butler approached, holding a letter in hand.
“An invitation from the Imperial Palace has arrived.”
He extended the envelope toward Yuan.
“Show it to Lady Inohater.”
Yuan took it without surprise, as if he’d been expecting it.
At yesterday’s party, he had asked the Crown Prince for two favors. One of them was to invite himself and his fiancée.
Knowing full well what the letter contained, he didn’t even bother opening it before instructing the butler to give it to Sereret.
“Yes, my lord. Shall I prepare breakfast right away?”
“Prepare for Lady Inohater as well.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Ah, no—I’ll deliver the invitation myself.”
Stopping the butler as he turned to leave, Yuan took the letter back.
He wanted to hand it to her personally. He wanted to see her expression with his own eyes. A pleased smile curved his lips.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
“Breakfast again…”
Unlike Yuan, whose mood had lifted, Sereret was irritated from the morning. It was his suggestion to dine together.
“Tell him I’ll come.”
She spoke to the butler. She’d considered refusing, but decided to endure it—it would be the last time, after all.
When she came down, Yuan was already waiting for her.
Last night he had seemed furious, offended that she’d returned to the mansion without speaking to him.
But now, as if nothing had happened, he looked cheerful. His good mood only fueled Sereret’s rising annoyance.
“This will be my last breakfast in House Frektuster.”
She spoke with a crooked smile far from polite.
“Whether it’s the last or not, we’ll see.”
Smirking, Yuan handed her an envelope.
Her face froze at the sight of the imperial seal. A bad feeling seized her.
She took it and opened it. An invitation—from the Crown Prince and Princess Consort.
“Tomorrow?”
It invited them to a tea time at the Imperial Palace.
Though addressed to Yuan, the message specifically said they hoped Lady Inohater would attend.
Sereret stared at the letter, troubled.
It wasn’t just anyone—it was the Crown Prince and Princess. She couldn’t refuse without serious cause.
“What time does your train leave?”
Yuan asked, savoring the sight of her flustered face.
His delighted expression made her scowl. Clearly, he was enjoying this.
“You seem pleased.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Who could dislike a summons from His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Sereret’s grip on the invitation tightened, his smugness grating on her.
“Yes, of course.”
“It seems you’ll be staying a few more days, Lady Inohater.”
“So it seems.”
She ground the words out between clenched teeth. Yuan chuckled and began eating.
He’s really enjoying this. Watching his fiancée squirm seems to amuse him. Sereret shot him a glare before picking up her fork.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Barely touching her breakfast, Sereret went back to her room and sat gloomily at the tea table.
She had meant to return home, but now she was stuck here two more days. She wanted nothing more than to get away from Yuan.
Frustrated, she heaved a sigh and stood.
What’s done is done. Moping about it would only hurt her.
A day or two’s delay in the engagement break-off wasn’t the end of the world.
“Hanna! We’re going out!”
She called as she stepped into the hall.
She was about to descend the stairs when she heard footsteps. Instinctively she turned toward the sound.
Yuan had come out of the study and was now standing in the corridor, watching her.
Her brows knitted instantly. The gloom she’d shaken off surged back. Yuan Frektuster—just seeing his face made her angry.
“Going out, are you?”
He walked toward her.
Why even acknowledge me? Sereret stared at him with her frown unsoftened.
“I’ll accompany you.”
“You’ll accompany me?”
She scowled deeply.
“Yes.”
“That won’t be necessary, Your Grace.”
“As you wish.”
At her firm refusal, his lips curved in a crooked smirk.
He took her hand and kissed the back of it. The gesture was gentlemanly, but his expression anything but.
Then he turned and walked back to the study.
Left alone, Sereret fumed silently until Hanna appeared.
“You called, my lady?”
She came up the stairs toward her.
“Let’s go out. Get me ready.”
“Already? The train doesn’t leave for a while yet.”
“We’re not going back today. We were invited to the Imperial Palace. We’ll have to stay a few more days.”
“Really?”
Hanna looked delighted at the news. She’d wanted to spend more time in the capital—this was good news to her.
“Yes. So get me ready. Staying cooped up here is suffocating.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Hanna beamed.
Sereret returned to her room, did her hair, and changed into an outing dress.
When everything was ready, she picked up a parasol—and frowned.
It was the one Yuan had bought her. The thought of carrying something given by a man she couldn’t stand was distasteful.
“It is pretty, though.”
“It’s really beautiful. No wonder—it came from the department store.”
Hanna, catching her muttered words, gazed at the parasol with sparkling eyes.
Seeing that look, Sereret pressed it into Hanna’s hands.
“Hanna, you take it.”
“Wha—me? The parasol? But His Grace bought it for you! How could I possibly—!”
Hanna jumped in shock.
“It’d be a waste to throw it away. So you take it.”
“If I walk around with this, everyone will think I stole it. Absolutely not, no way!”
Hanna shook her head vehemently.
“Fine. Then keep it safe. When we return to Mosheli, we’ll sell it. You can keep all the money, Hanna.”
“Is it all right to sell something His Grace gave you?”
“Better than throwing it out.”
Sereret tugged on her hat. Hanna fretted constantly about the way her mistress treated the Duke.
Whenever they dined together, she worried Sereret might stab him with a fork or knife.
Whenever she spoke curtly to him, Hanna couldn’t help but notice the servants’ disapproving stares.
They already whispered that Lady Inohater wasn’t gentle enough with the Duke.
“My lady, couldn’t you be a little sweeter to His Grace? The servants keep looking at us strangely.”
Hanna said, tying the ribbon of Sereret’s hat.
