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Chapter: 17
‘ That Man’s First Secret’
When he spoke so generously, a strange emotion washed over her.
Was it really possible to have a conversation like this with him… and with Ruflion?
She didn’t regret throwing away the divorce papers and letters, but there was a faint sense of emptiness.
Why did he act cold whenever he could see her freely, yet suddenly chase after her, stubbornly refusing to allow a divorce?
Still, her resolve was quite firm.
Wasn’t she the stepdaughter who, even on the day she recommended divorce, tried her best to please the Duke? All that effort had now turned to ashes.
A woman whose feelings for him had largely evaporated wasn’t about to offer a pleasant answer.
If Ruflion wanted to change her mind from now on, he would have to work tremendously hard.
“Y-yes…”
“I understand. Still, I hope you’ll accept my protection as much as possible. Hm… I don’t like this hotel at all. A house where outsiders don’t casually come and go…”
After withdrawing from her, he looked like he was lost in thought.
Finally freed from his grasp, she darted back to her room like a squirrel.
Before Ail could catch her breath, Ruflion had summoned Sir Bay.
It didn’t take long to see whether Serena had been entrusted to another trustworthy knight.
The Duke, who had been staring at him, suddenly spoke.
“…Sir Bay.”
“Yes.”
“I have always trusted that you perform your duties to the utmost of your ability.”
A chill ran down Sir Bay’s spine.
Could it be that the Duke was about to reprimand him for chasing the runaway Duchess and the young lady without permission? He could accept a pay cut or scolding, but he could not accept an order to leave the young lady’s side.
If… if that happened, and his successor lacked consideration, Serena’s secret could be exposed to the world!
Just as Sir Bay, pale-faced, was about to offer several excuses, the Duke continued.
“So, I want you to answer me honestly.”
A final chance, perhaps. Sir Bay swallowed nervously and replied,
“Ask me anything, Your Grace.”
“What should one do for a wife who wants to part because of a distant relationship?”
Ah, a question about the Duchess. Sir Bay felt the tension ease and answered casually,
“Return to the passion of the early days of marriage, I suppose.”
“….”
Oh no, did he relax too much? Sir Bay remembered that, due to special circumstances, the Duke and Duchess had not consummated their marriage, and quickly added,
“Well… you know, the things women usually like. Various means to be used when necklaces or gold coins aren’t enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“A sweet kiss with roses, a lingering gaze while placing a gentle kiss on the back of her hand, reciting a romantic poem…”
Why was he asking such questions? He knew all of this. The young lady’s loyal knight awkwardly chuckled while listing things off.
“Haha, aren’t these trivial games that any man does in his youth? Your Grace already knows, so I suppose I’ve wasted my breath with unnecessary talk.”
“Hmm…”
The Duke’s reply sounded more like a groan swallowing a fireball. Sir Bay, noticing the expression, froze in embarrassment.
…Could it be? He can’t do even such simple things? Why?
No way. The Duke of Cran would not be the type to be clumsy with women.
Look at him! Sir Bay was big, but next to the Duke, he seemed like a shrub beside a towering tree.
Besides, Ruflion was born to be a Duke, so women would have approached him constantly.
Even just mimicking the minor gestures listed earlier, he would have learned hundreds of ways from women.
So naturally…
“….”
“Your Grace?”
The man finally opened his lips with difficulty.
“Explain in more detail.”
Good heavens.
Sir Bay, forgetting how rude this question might be, stammered out,
“Your Grace… have you ever… talked about such things with a woman? Not even once? Even on the battlefield, it’s customary to greet the camp followers kindly in the morning…”
“…No.”
Good heavens!
Sir Bay examined the Duke closely.
His face, which should have looked mature, bore the expression of a boy embarrassed and uncertain. That look of not knowing what to truly do for lonely Ail!
Wait… why are his ears red under that neatly trimmed hair? If she asked him to serenade, he might explode!
‘No choice.’
Sir Bay gave up asking what exactly “no” meant. Solving the urgent situation was the priority.
He glanced at the closed door, approached the Duke, and began a long, secretive lecture.
How many hours had passed since she was alone?
Resting quietly in her room, Ail suddenly widened her eyes while sorting her things.
‘Huh?’
It was gone.
The one item that should absolutely be there, which she had taken from the Duke’s residence.
Before becoming the Duchess, there were almost no important possessions. As the extremely poor daughter of a count, she had no inherited jewels, and her parents hadn’t given her anything special for marriage.
Except for one.
A silver necklace her late grandfather had specially given her for her fifth birthday!
The simple necklace had no pendant or ornament. It was so plain that no one would even think to take it. Would a pawnbroker offer her a glass of water out of pity?
Yet it was gone. The silver coin purse in her suitcase remained, but the necklace wrapped in paper had vanished. How could this happen? Wouldn’t money be more logical to steal?
She muttered nervously to herself and began rummaging through the suitcase.
“Where did it go…?”
She was certain she had brought it from the island.
After moving to the Freesia Hotel on Sir Bay’s suggestion, she hadn’t had time to check. Normally, she didn’t wear it, keeping it hidden deep in a drawer.
Even after emptying her few clothes, it wasn’t there.
She truly had lost it—unacceptable.
‘Maybe I left it at the inn?’
Perhaps she carelessly set it down the night she stayed there alone. If she had dropped it while opening the suitcase, who knew if it was still there?
She spun around in a panic, and as she left the room, she ran straight into Ruflion. He glanced into the room and spoke.
“Ail, is that really all the luggage you brought?”
“Your Grace, I’m in a hurry…”
“…My goodness. I can’t believe this. You brought only this and came on a crowded regular ship to settle here? Ail! You need to understand how fragile you are.”
Her husband’s ridiculous lecture was the last thing she wanted to hear.
“The necklace is missing!”
“The necklace?”
Ruflion finally stopped his rambling and looked at her face. She seemed more anxious than when confronting him in the lobby or on the top floor. The servants said she hadn’t brought anything, yet she had the precious necklace.
Relieved by her insistence, he was soon shaken by her next words.
“It’s my grandfather’s… a silver necklace he gave me. It has no jewels, and it’s not here.”
“I see.”
The Duke had never seen the silver necklace she mentioned. The mention of her late grandfather, the previous Count Milton, sparked a faint delight.
If she retained even a small memory of her childhood, perhaps there was hope. The fatigue from Sir Bay’s lecture seemed to vanish completely.
While he was lost in thought, Ail spoke busily.
“I must have dropped it at the inn before coming to this hotel. I stayed there for one night, and the next morning met Sir Bay as soon as I opened the door.”
“I will send someone to search for it.”
She didn’t have that much patience. She had always cherished her grandfather’s silver necklace above all else. Losing it was impossible!
“No! I need to see it myself. The rooms are cramped, so no one else can find it easily. I must get it as soon as possible to be at ease.”
“Very well.”
He immediately prepared the carriage and accompanied her. On the short ride, he sought an opportunity.
According to Sir Bay’s lecture, an appropriate topic had arisen—he could naturally open a conversation and succeed.
“Remember, if you try to touch to get close, people and animals alike will shy away. First soothe the heart, then the body.”
‘I see.’
The man rolled his dark eyes and spoke gently.
“You will definitely find your grandfather’s silver necklace.”
“I’ll make sure to get it.”
What he wanted was a perfect ending—finding the necklace with his own hands. Only then would Ail be moved enough to soften her heart. Above all, he didn’t want her to struggle searching.
Not wanting to miss the conversation, the Duke continued.
“Ail, I….”
“We’ve arrived.”
“I’ll go first!”
“……”
Before he could even open the carriage door, Ail sprang out like a spring. She completely ignored any escort, leaving him frustrated.
Without looking back, she entered the inn and had already begun running to the second floor. He felt utterly useless, unable to follow her.
“Guest, the wooden stairs are narrow, so please go up slowly…”
“…You stayed here for a night?”
The Duke, arriving late, was astounded.
Even seeing the first floor, he could roughly guess the state of the rooms.
He had endured war and commanded as a general, but someone unfamiliar with harsh living conditions could survive. She, however…
It was unbelievable that Ail had slept in a place where even a minute inside would be unbearable.
Sir Bay, following behind, quietly remarked,
“I was surprised when I first found this place as well.”
“You arrived nearly at dawn, didn’t you?”
