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Chapter 47
Watching me fidget and look uneasy, like a puppy about to relieve itself, Morgan asked,
“Is it uncomfortable that I’m here?”
“Huh? Ah, no. That’s not it…”
I felt a little awkward.
The truth was, seeing him made me happy and relieved. Unlike before, looking at him now gave me comfort.
But thinking that he had seen my previous words and actions made it impossible to speak them aloud out of embarrassment.
“If that’s not it, then why are you so restless? You don’t want to say you’re unhappy I came…”
“No, no, it’s not like that.”
I hurriedly cut myself off because I didn’t want him to misunderstand.
“I’m just embarrassed because you saw me cursing and punching the air.”
I didn’t know where to look, so ashamed.
Morgan’s eyes flickered. He looked as if he didn’t know how to respond.
“That’s fine. Don’t say anything. It’s more embarrassing if you keep talking.”
Seeing his wavering gaze, frustration bubbled up in me, and I unintentionally spoke in a blunt tone.
“Ah… I see.”
The faint smile of relief on his face made me give a small, wry smile in return.
“By the way, Your Highness, what brings you here…”
“I thought I’d go to bed early tonight, so I was standing by the window. I saw you heading toward the path where we used to walk. I stayed quiet because I didn’t want to disturb you, but I wanted to see you. I also wanted to check on your condition with my own eyes. Did I bother you?”
“No, not at all. I was actually planning to visit you and greet you, Your Highness. I had delayed it only because you’ve been so busy.”
He smiled as if relieved.
“That’s a relief. But… which fool made you so angry? It wasn’t… me, was it?”
Morgan seemed to suddenly realize that he might be the one in question and quickly corrected himself.
“Oh, no, absolutely not, Your Highness. You’ve been so good to me.”
“…I… have?”
He carefully asked with a hopeful expression.
“Of course. That day when I collapsed, the enormous consolation gifts you sent made the whole neighborhood know how much you care about me. Thanks to that, that bastard Kazri has been quiet too.”
When I finished speaking, Morgan looked at me like I had said something he wasn’t supposed to hear.
At that moment, I realized my slip.
“‘That bastard’? Oh no.”
Words that should never come out of a lady’s mouth—at least not in front of the Grand Duke—had slipped.
“That bastard Kazri… ugh.”
Another wave of anger rose within me.
I should have filtered my words, but I had let them out too bluntly.
But what could I do? I had to fix it now.
“Ah! Kazri… ahaha… I, um, spoke a bit harshly… ahaha.”
“That bastard can be cursed. So, was he the one you were cursing just now?”
Morgan’s expression changed as he asked seriously.
“Yes. I don’t even want to say his name.”
I felt disgusted beyond mere dislike.
Just thinking about him made me want to smash him into a pulp.
“……”
Had I said something wrong?
When Morgan remained silent, I instinctively looked at him.
He looked like someone trying to suppress anger. Then, noticing my gaze, he relaxed and asked,
“Are you really all right physically…?”
“Yes, I am.”
I spoke calmly.
“Ever since the day after I collapsed, I’ve been fine. The delay in returning home was only because my parents were overly worried, not because I was unwell. And thanks to your concern, Your Highness, I felt comforted and energized. Thank you.”
“I’m glad it helped. But…”
“……”
I waited for his next words, but he was hesitating considerably.
He seemed to be thinking of a question that was difficult for him to ask.
“Are you… hesitating because it’s a difficult question for me to answer? If I’m mistaken, I apologize…”
“No. You’re right. It is a question that’s difficult for you to answer.”
He quickly continued, as if he had been waiting for my response.
“Then, you’re curious about what Kazri said to you, right?”
“…Uh… yes, I guess I have to say so.”
“I’m sorry, but that’s something I can’t tell you. My parents begged me to tell them too, but I didn’t.”
Not only did I despise having to say that filthy story to anyone, but I also didn’t want anyone else to feel that disgusting emotion.
Knowing wouldn’t change anything; it would just upset people—especially my parents.
And Morgan too. He’s an outsider, and somehow, just speaking about it to him felt humiliating.
Anyway, I didn’t like it.
Worried that my words might drag on too long, I stood up abruptly from the bench.
“Your Highness, I will… take my leave now. Have a comfortable night.”
I greeted him politely and began to move away.
Just as I was about to step off the bench, Morgan grabbed my wrist.
“I want you to tell me. What did that bastard say? I need to know.”
“Excuse me? Why, Your Highness…?”
I was startled that he had grabbed my wrist, but even more so by the low, firm tone in his voice.
“It’s important.”
“Why is it important to you? It might be important to me, but—”
“I said it’s important to me too. What he said affects my course of action.”
“Your Highness… I’m sorry, but this is extremely personal. Whatever you say, I can’t tell you.”
“Even if it’s personal, it’s important to me. If I decide it’s important, it becomes a matter of the Grand Duke’s house. So I want you to tell me.”
He was still holding my wrist tightly, looking down while speaking.
Did he really look that serious, or was it my imagination?
“And if I refuse?”
“Then… I’ll have to enforce it.”
“Eh?”
“The reward I would have claimed instead of conceding to Fleur. I’ll collect it now.”
“What? You’re going to do that here, now?”
I couldn’t help but raise my voice in disbelief.
“I need to know, and you can’t tell me, so there’s no choice, right?”
“No, is it really that important? Why… something so personal…”
My words came out fast in anger. I worried that I sounded disrespectful.
But what came out of his mouth was completely unexpected.
“Because I want to protect you.”
I froze.
“Protect me?”
He wanted to know my private matters just to protect me? Why? Why go that far?
But I decided not to press further.
If I dug deeper, he might say something I couldn’t handle.
Yet, a thought crossed my mind: if I’m that important, maybe I could negotiate a deal?
I had realized that after encountering Kazri, it wasn’t just about avoiding involvement in Fleur’s kidnapping.
Looking at the puzzle, it became clear—even though the original story didn’t mention it—that Kazri’s perverted obsession with Maricel likely caused her to be involved in the kidnapping incident in the first place.
Thus, as long as the Zelkova family exists and Kazri is alive, Maricel and Manuaga aren’t safe.
The problem is, Manuaga doesn’t have the power or influence to take down the Zelkova family.
“Haah… Manuaga is just too kind.”
So we need help. Fortunately, the Grand Duke’s house, which I belong to, is the strongest ally.
It’s geographically opposed to Zelkova, has friendly relations with the royal family, and is the second most powerful family after the throne.
The problem is, I need a proper justification to ask for help. Luckily, Morgan is saying that I am important in the Grand Duke’s house and that he wants to protect me.
What more reassuring words could there be? What stronger justification?
“Am I really that important to the Grand Duke’s house?”
Without hesitation, he nodded.
“If so… I’ll tell you. But I have one request. I hope you grant it.”
“I’ll listen, and if it seems reasonable, I’ll agree.”
He looked at me seriously and carefully pulled me to sit on the bench again.
I stared into his desperate eyes, fell silent for a moment, and then managed to speak.
“When I first met Kazri, he confessed his love to me.”
His hand, still holding my wrist, stiffened immediately.
“Ah!”
I winced in pain.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
He quickly released my wrist, startled.
“It’s fine…”
I gently rubbed my wrist and sat back on the bench.
“Then he tried to send a marriage proposal and attempted to touch my face. Of course, he failed.”
Technically, I defended myself once and failed once, but I didn’t want to tell him that Kazri actually touched me.
“……”
I could see his expression harden instantly.
‘I didn’t want to tell him because I knew this would happen…’
“The second time…”
I recounted everything: the legitimate and illegitimate wives, the murder threats, the memories Kazri had caused me to recall—all of it, plainly and calmly.
Throughout, Morgan clenched his fists tightly, stiff as a rock. It seemed like he was holding back his anger.
