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Chapter 35
Sereret stepped off the train and took a deep breath. The air of Mosheli filled her lungs, and her heart felt at ease.
“Home really is the best.”
Hannah, standing beside her, smiled brightly, her expression peaceful. No matter how much one might praise the capital, there was nothing as comfortable as one’s hometown.
“Hannah, if you’d rather stay in Mosheli…”
“No, never! I’d rather be by your side, my lady.”
Before Sereret could finish speaking, Hannah waved her hands. Sereret stared at her quietly.
“Just one more year. Hold on one more year.”
Sereret whispered to herself.
To prevent Hannah’s terrible death, Sereret had decided to take Hannah with her when she married. Hannah had agreed without hesitation, and Yuan had said the same.
Divorce was important, yes—but saving Hannah was far more important. Sereret swore she would not let Hannah die.
“The carriage is ready, let’s go.”
Just then, Yuan approached and held out his hand. Sereret took it and climbed aboard the carriage.
The closer the carriage came to her house, the brighter Sereret’s face became. She missed her father dearly.
In her previous life, after her marriage, she had never once seen her father again. Even after returning to the past, she had only met him briefly—it wasn’t nearly enough to ease the longing in her heart.
At last, the carriage stopped before the house. As Sereret stepped down, she spotted Viscount Inoheter waiting at the entrance. Releasing Yuan’s hand, she rushed toward her father.
“Father!”
“Sereret, you’ve returned safely.”
The viscount greeted her warmly and exchanged pleasantries with Yuan.
Looking around the house, Sereret’s face softened with comfort. After a long journey, it truly felt like coming back to a safe and familiar place.
Once inside, she greeted the few servants warmly and sat down to have tea with her father.
“You look tired, Sereret.”
“I suppose the travel fatigue has caught up to me.”
At her father’s words, Sereret smiled faintly.
“Now that you’re home, rest well and you’ll feel better.”
“Home… I really love that word.”
Her chest warmed at the thought. Yes, her true home was here in Mosheli. The duke’s estate had never once felt like home.
“Sereret.”
The viscount called her name with a thoughtful expression.
“Yes, Father?”
She set down her teacup and looked at him.
“I’ve been thinking while you were away.”
“About what?”
“About your engagement.”
“Oh, that.”
So, he wants to persuade me again, Sereret thought, opening her mouth to reassure him—but her father spoke first.
“If that’s what you truly want, then annul it.”
“…What?”
Sereret blinked in surprise.
She hadn’t expected him to say such a thing. She thought he would keep urging her to marry until the very end.
“The duke earnestly asked me for your hand, and you yourself agreed, so I gave my permission. But in truth, it never sat well with me. I was always worried whether you could endure such a place.”
“Father…”
“A child with such a bright smile as you—it’s too heavy a burden. The seat of Duchess of Preqtuster.”
“…I know.”
Sereret replied with a soft smile.
It wasn’t just Yuan and Lydia’s affair that had weighed her down. As her father said, the duchess’s position was a crushing role for her.
Running the duke’s household demanded endless energy—hosting parties, managing servants, always speaking carefully, never laughing freely. Yuan was always away, and she was left floundering alone among servants who subtly looked down on her.
“I was afraid you would lose that smile of yours.”
“Father…”
Her nose stung at his words. Once again, she felt deeply that her father was her unwavering ally.
“I’ll do my best to persuade His Grace.”
“…Actually, Father, I want to hurry the marriage.”
Sereret spoke awkwardly.
“You… want to hurry it?”
The viscount’s face showed pure bewilderment. Only days ago, she had been determined to call off the engagement, and now she wanted to rush the wedding? He could hardly believe it. Sereret went on with an embarrassed look.
“I’m sorry for worrying you. I was just being petulant. It’s just… it felt like His Grace didn’t really care for me.”
“Sereret…”
At her words, the viscount’s expression turned pained.
So he noticed too—that Yuan’s heart was elsewhere.
The thought that she had caused such sorrow in her father made Sereret’s heart ache.
“You know how much I like him.”
Though that feeling was in the past, she pretended otherwise for her father’s sake. She couldn’t tell him the real reason—that Jeremy had sold their house deed.
“I see. You did, indeed. What do you like so much about him?”
The viscount asked teasingly.
“Because he’s handsome.”
She answered jokingly.
“I never liked that he was too handsome.”
The viscount chuckled, and Sereret laughed with him.
“Don’t worry about me.”
“You’ll always be my baby. How could I not worry about my baby, Sereret?”
He took her hand gently.
Sereret’s eyes glistened as she smiled. Feeling his love, she squeezed his hand tightly.
Since Father always protects me so steadfastly… I’ll protect him, too.
That evening, after dinner, Yuan and Sereret strolled in the garden. He had suggested it in front of the viscount, so she had reluctantly agreed.
“You must be joking.”
Sereret forced a smile, staring at him in disbelief.
“I thought you liked hippos. Was I mistaken?”
“That was only because I’d never seen one before—they were fascinating. But not so much that I’d want a zoo in your duchy just to raise them.”
“I see.”
He had just suggested building a zoo in his duchy as a wedding gift, so she could keep hippos.
At her incredulous reaction, Yuan’s lips curved. Whenever he teased her, her responses were amusing—and that only made him want to tease her more.
“And besides, it’s sad.”
“Sad?” Yuan tilted his head.
“They’re kidnapped, after all. Taken from their homeland.”
Indeed, hippos were captured abroad and imported. “Kidnapped” wasn’t entirely wrong. Yuan chuckled softly at her unique phrasing. Who else would think like this?
“They must have wanted to stay happily in their homeland. With their families.”
Her downcast expression made Yuan wonder if she was speaking of herself—comparing her fate to that of the hippos. Was he, then, the monster duke who had stolen away a beautiful young woman who only wanted to stay happily with her family in Mosheli?
“Do you feel the same way, Sereret?”
“Pardon?” She looked at him blankly.
“I wonder if you feel kidnapped by me.”
“And if I said yes—would you send me home?”
“No.”
Of course not. She’s mine now. Why would I ever let go?
“You didn’t even hesitate before answering.”
“Because it’s a question that needs no thought.”
“…Right.”
Sereret forced a stiff smile, as if she understood perfectly.
She had no idea—no idea how often she made him want to become a truly cruel man. Yuan, still wearing the mask of a gentleman, smiled at her.
After their walk, Yuan returned to his guest chamber, read for a while, then headed to Viscount Inoheter’s study at the appointed hour.
When he knocked, the viscount opened the door immediately, as if he had been waiting. A brief, awkward silence passed.
“Please, come in, Your Grace.”
The viscount guided him to the sofa. On the table lay a porcelain teapot and two cups. He poured warm milk liqueur and handed Yuan a cup.
Yuan took a sip. The mixture of sherry and milk was rich and smooth. The Inoheter family’s milk liqueur was always superb—better than anything served at the duke’s estate.
“Normally, weddings are held at the ducal seat. But since we’re hurrying, how about the Grand Cathedral in the capital?”
Yuan looked at the viscount as he spoke.
Before coming to Mosheli, he had already secured permission from the cathedral. A couple who carried both the emperor’s letter and medal had no trouble gaining approval. Even without them, it would not have been difficult.
“Won’t there be too little time to prepare?”
The viscount asked with concern.
“Sereret wants a simple ceremony. It shouldn’t take long.”
At first, Sereret had suggested a modest vow exchange in the duke’s garden. But considering the prestige of the Preqtuster name, and the emperor’s recognition, such a paltry event would not do. In the end, they decided to make it as simple as possible while still doing everything properly.
“You call her ‘Sereret’… my child.”
The viscount smiled warmly. Yuan’s lips also curved.
Her name, spoken on his tongue, stirred a deep possessiveness. It would be even more satisfying once the name “Preqtuster” was added behind it.
“Please, speak freely with me now.”
“To me, you are still my liege lord. Even if my daughter marries you, that does not change.”
“The Inoheter family has always been loyal vassals. But now, you will be family.”
Yuan’s tone was formal but earnest.
“…Very well, Yuan.”
The viscount finally addressed him by name. A smile spread across Yuan’s face.
But it faded quickly as he grew serious.
“There is something I must tell you.”
He had to say it—the difficult truth. He needed permission to hold Sereret’s weakness in his hands.
“Go ahead.”
The viscount nodded.
Yuan, uncharacteristically tense, took another sip of milk liqueur before speaking.
“I am in possession of your family’s house deed.”
To be continued…
