IWAP 12

Chapter – 12

Rivièt Elenium, the Marchioness, was born in Iarid.

Her parents held the rank of Count and often served the Duke and Duchess of Pidelanis.

Because of that, they were always invited to parties held by the ducal family, and Rivièt often attended with them.

And every time she went, she would see a boy growing more and more upright, always serious and composed.

Rivièt believed without doubt that, since her family served the ducal house faithfully, Ranzea would become her reward one day.

But even after she confessed her feelings and gave up her pride, Ranzea never accepted her.

In the end, Rivièt married the Marquis of Elenium and became a marchioness.

Still, whenever she saw Ranzea, those memories always came back.

‘But… but how can he just bring in a princess from another kingdom as the Duchess so easily?’

Rivièt felt like she would only be satisfied after seeing the Duchess’s face herself.

So she deliberately arranged this banquet to match the arrival of Ranzea and the Duchess in Iarid.

‘I’m going to see that so-called perfect face for myself.’

And now, Rivièt stood right in front of the Duchess she had been so desperate to see.

At the same time

‘If I turn my head now, it might be dangerous.’

I felt a burning gaze on me and sighed, sending a help-seeking look toward Ribed.

“……”

Ribed said nothing.

And I didn’t even need to interpret his silence to understand.

Do your duty properly, but stick to what you’ve been told.

That was what it meant.

So I calmly turned and faced the Marchioness of Elenium, who had greeted me.

“Hello, Marchioness Elenium. Thank you for welcoming me to Iarid.”

Okay. That should be fine.

Feeling a bit calmer, I gently lifted the corners of my lips into a polite smile.

After all, people say you can’t spit on a smiling face.

“Congratulations on your marriage with the Duke. But this is Iarid. We must always prepare for monster attacks and be ready to fight.”

“…And?”

“And now that I see the Duchess in person…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, but her eyes were clearly filled with hostility.

It was the kind of gaze that screamed dissatisfaction.

It always irritated me.

That kind of look… no matter who it came from.

Especially because I had seen those same looks when I was living like nothing.

But I couldn’t do anything. I knew better than anyone how low my position was.

So I just stayed silent and waited for her to stop looking at me.

But power changes everything.

The reason I accepted Princess Eos’s dangerous proposal wasn’t only money… of course money was the biggest reason.

But there was also power.

Even if just for a moment, I wanted to stand on a bright stage and be the main character of my own life.

I had lived in the shadows my whole life.

So I thought it was okay to be a little selfish, just once.

“I stand here as one of the Duke’s assets.”

So in this moment, the words I spoke to the Marchioness were not from Eos—but from me.

Even if I was a substitute, I still had the ability to help Ranzea.

“I have healing powers. If the Duke is ever injured, I will stand by his side and help him.”

At the word “him,” the Marchioness’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

I wasn’t the type to start conflict, but if someone insisted on it, wasn’t it only fair to respond?

“…I see.”

After a long silence, she finally spoke.

Her lips still moved slightly, like she had more to say.

But my energy was already drained.

Still, I didn’t regret it.

It honestly felt like a scene straight out of a romance novel.

“Duchess, then—”

“Princess Eos.”

The persistent Marchioness called me again as I tried to step back.

At the same time, another familiar voice called my name.

“Duke?”

Ranzea had already approached behind me without me noticing.

Under the light, his black eyes looked even deeper and more beautiful.

“Your heel.”

“…?”

Confused, I looked down at my heel.

It stung slightly, but I had ignored it earlier.

Now that he mentioned it, it suddenly hurt more.

“Ah.”

When did he even notice?

He had an annoyingly sharp attention to detail.

“Is there a resting room?”

“There… there is.”

This was my chance.

My chance to escape this awkward situation.

“Then I’ll go to the resting room. And Sir Ribed, please stay here. I’ll come back after resting.”

It was also a chance to escape Ribed.

Ribed looked like he wanted to follow me, but—

Not a chance.

Before he could stop me, I quickly followed the maid and left.

At the resting room

“Ah… I feel alive again.”

Silence really is the best.

Being alone in an empty resting room felt amazing.

I ate a macaron from the dessert plate the maid had brought and thought to myself.

Money is good—but sometimes having it causes more trouble than not having it.

Also… when did he even see my heel?

I looked at the small injury again.

I had ignored it earlier, but somehow it had become the reason I could escape the party.

Good looks, wealth, personality… I don’t know yet, but with that kind of attentiveness, isn’t Ranzea basically the male lead?

The rumors about him always painted him in a certain way.

Cold-blooded. Ruler of the North. Merciless.

Very cliché “main character” traits.

I’m getting sleepy.

A quiet room, a slightly open window, cold wind mixing with warmth…

It gently lulled me.

I shouldn’t fall asleep…

I really shouldn’t…

I…

Clatter, clatter.

A steady sound of horse hooves echoed in my ears.

“Ugh…”

I slowly opened my eyes.

What…?

I only took a short nap in the resting room… why do I hear carriage sounds?

The wind felt stronger too.

And my body felt like it was leaning against something hard.

‘Where… am I?’

A familiar scent reached my nose.

Fruit?

No. It couldn’t be.

But the more I thought about it, the more certain I became.

The familiar interior of a carriage.

The faint scent.

This was the Duke’s carriage.

“……”

I tried not to move.

It probably wouldn’t help anyway—he notices everything.

But my neck was stiff, making it hard to stay still.

‘Ugh… my neck…’

I had been leaning for too long.

Carefully… slowly…

I waited for the carriage to shake, and at the right moment, I lifted my head from his shoulder.

Ranzea didn’t move at all.

Success.

“……”

The carriage was completely silent now, except for his soft breathing.

Is he really asleep?

I turned slightly.

He was leaning back with his eyes closed, arms crossed neatly.

Even while sleeping, he looked perfectly composed.

Like a painting.

Then suddenly—

His eyelids trembled slightly.

And—

“…!”

His black eyes opened, deep like the night sky.

We stared at each other.

No words came out.

Honestly, I didn’t even know what to say.

Our faces were extremely close—just about one centimeter apart.

I panicked and blurted out—

“I didn’t do anything…”

“……”

He didn’t answer.

He just stared at me quietly.

The pressure between us grew heavier.

I only wanted one thing now.

Please let this carriage arrive faster…

Thud.

Finally, the carriage stopped.