IWAP 13

Chapter  – 13

“Your Grace, Your Highness. We have arrived at the ducal residence.”

As soon as the sound of horse hooves stopped, the driver’s loud voice rang out.

And I had never been so relieved to hear a carriage driver’s announcement in my life.

“Th… then shall we get down?”

At that moment, Ranzea slowly moved and stood up, opening the carriage door and stepping out first.

“…R-right.”

Compared to his calm attitude, I didn’t want to show my nervousness.

So I took a deep breath, followed his pace, and accepted the hand he offered before stepping down from the carriage.

My heart still wasn’t beating normally, but as long as I didn’t show it, it was fine.

Instead, I fixed my gaze somewhere in the distant air, not at him.

“Welcome.”

As we reached the front of the ducal residence, the carriage door opened at the perfect timing as if it had been waiting.

A line of servants from the ducal house stood there to greet us.

Mary was among them.

She looked extremely excited, as if she wanted to hear every single detail of what happened.

Later… I’ll explain it later…

But I was too exhausted to even speak. So I silently apologized in my heart and went straight upstairs.

“Then please rest well. You must be tired.”

“…You as well, Your Grace.”

After slowly climbing the stairs and reaching my room, I finally let go of Ranzea’s hand with a natural excuse.

“Your Highness!”

Madam Hailey was waiting at the door. As soon as she saw me, she let out a deep sigh of relief.

Yeah… if I were her, I wouldn’t trust me either.

She looked very relieved that I had returned without incident.

It was a little upsetting, but considering my personality, it was understandable.

“I’m back.”

My voice was hoarse with exhaustion.

Hailey noticed it immediately and opened the door quickly. I walked straight inside.

“Well… please rest. You look tired.”

“…Yes. Thank you. I’ll tell you everything tomorrow.”

“I’ll help you change.”

“No, I can do it myself. You must be tired too, so please go rest.”

“But—!”

“Please. I feel bad that you stayed up so late because of me.”

“…Then I will.”

Madam Hailey still seemed reluctant, but I truly wanted to be alone.

The dress was designed in a way that made it easy to remove, so I could change by myself.

“Good night.”

“You too.”

Forcing a smile, I finally closed the door and collapsed onto the bed.

Thud.

The soft mattress wrapped around my body, easing my tension.

And then…

‘I didn’t do anything…’

‘……’

The memory I wanted to forget came back strongly.

This damn situation.

No matter what excuse I gave, it wouldn’t have worked.

But still… of all things, “I didn’t do anything”?

It was the worst possible misunderstanding.

Ranzea’s face blinking slowly also came back to me.

“Ahhhhhh!”

How stupid must I have looked?

Embarrassment surged like a wave.

I grabbed the nearest thing and slammed it hard.

Thump.

It was a pillow.

Even after that, the embarrassment didn’t disappear.

I sighed and finally sat up.

I should at least change clothes before sleeping…

I took off the dress quickly and changed into the white slip Hailey had prepared.

Then I lay back down and closed my eyes tightly.

Please… don’t let Ranzea appear in my dreams…

Two weeks later

“Everything is ready!”

“Reports say the gate is already turning red. It should open soon!”

Two weeks had passed since the party.

Had anything happened?

No. Nothing at all. Or rather, there wasn’t even time for anything to happen.

Ranzea was busy with weapons development due to the early appearance of the Rune Gate in the Forest of Monsters, and I spent my time learning about Iarid.

So of course, we barely saw each other.

And honestly, that was a relief for me.

After that embarrassing day, I needed time to calm down.

“Shia, I just received word that the Duke has finished all preparations.”

Ribed’s voice came as Madam Hailey was fixing my hair.

Mary was busy helping with Ranzea’s departure preparations, so she wasn’t here.

That’s why Ribed called me “Shia.”

“And if the Duke is ready… that means it’s time to go out.”

As the Duke’s wife, whether she loved him or not, she was expected to see him off.

And since departures could last at least two weeks or even a full month, it was tradition in Iarid to wish for their safe return.

“Right.”

“Let’s go then.”

After quickly preparing, I headed to the entrance with Ribed and Madam Hailey.

There, I saw Ranzea preparing equipment in front of the mansion.

I took a deep breath and called him.

“Ah.”

He didn’t hear me at first and didn’t turn around.

Only the second time did he look up.

He was wearing a commander’s uniform, his hair neatly styled back.

Like it or not…

His appearance was always striking.

Yeah…

Good-looking people really win.

“You came to see me off?”

“Yes.”

“…I see.”

Silence fell again.

But this time, there were others watching, so it couldn’t stay quiet.

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes.”

“Anything else needed…?”

“Everything is prepared.”

Short answers.

It seemed Ranzea was not good at conversation.

…Or maybe I simply wasn’t his “female lead.”

Just then, the familiar voice of the driver broke the silence again.

“You may depart now.”

“Be careful on your way, Your Grace.”

Even if I felt awkward, I still had to say a proper farewell.

After all, he was going somewhere dangerous.

Maybe that’s what people mean by giving an extra gift to someone they dislike.

“Then.”

Ranzea turned toward me slowly.

His black eyes looked even more focused than before.

“Safe travels, Duke.”

He took my hand, knelt on one knee, and pressed his forehead against the back of my hand.

“…!”

I almost pulled my hand away in shock.

If I get exposed, I’m dead!

That thought instantly calmed me.

If I acted unlike a princess, everyone could be in danger.

I forced myself to stay still.

After a moment, I even managed to calm myself by counting imaginary sheep.

Seriously… you push away my blanket, and now this?

I remembered how I once tried to cover him with a blanket and he pushed it away.

“Let’s go.”

And just like that, Ranzea mounted his horse.

He led the group out of the mansion.

I stood there and watched him leave.

We were not meant to be together for long anyway.

All I could do was accept things as they were.

That was my role as a fake princess.

“That’s it.”

I finally murmured as his figure disappeared into the distance.

Ranzea had left the ducal residence.

Which meant I also didn’t have much time left here.

During these two weeks, I had studied Iarid and attended many tea parties as the Duchess.

As the Duchess of Pidelanis in the northern region, I had to appear at many events.

Fortunately, Ranzea handled most speeches, and I only had to smile.

But there were still difficult parts.

“There are more tea parties scheduled today, Your Highness.”

Noble women’s tea parties.

Events hosted by influential wives of powerful families in Iarid.

I had to study and memorize a lot just to keep up with their conversations.

It felt like studying harder than for an exam.

Of course, everything I did in the mansion could be reported to Ranzea, so I always behaved properly.

But now he was gone on the gate expedition.

“No attendance today, Mary. I’m not feeling well.”

“W-what? Are you very sick?”

Mary looked panicked and ready to call a doctor immediately.

Ribed and Madam Hailey were also there, but they didn’t stop her.

It seemed they allowed me some rest today.

Then…

I should accept it.

“It’s not that serious.”

I gently shook my head.

“I just need rest. I’ll go back to my room. Call me if needed.”

Before she could argue, I quickly went upstairs.

Now all I had left was time.

Hmm…

My new concern was simple.

What should I do now?