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CHAPTER 42…..
Kylez ignored Larienne and started walking toward the warp platform.
Larienne hurried after him.
“Wait, Lord Kylez! Since fate has brought us together like this, how about we travel together? As I mentioned, I’m on my way to attend my younger sister’s wedding, so…”
“……”
“Lord Kylez? Excuse me?”
“……”
“W-what the…?”
This wasn’t just ignoring—this was supreme ignoring.
Larienne stared at Kylez in disbelief.
A person was talking to him, and he just walked right past. Never in her life had she been treated this way.
Whenever someone met Larienne, they would either be captivated and fall in love… or take an instant dislike to her. It was always one or the other.
“…Ha.”
Larienne stopped walking and crossed her arms. Ever since Etisha went north, nothing seemed to go her way.
‘So annoying.’
She glared at Kylez’s retreating back. Tall, broad, and dressed in black—he looked just like a black pillar.
‘…Wait.’
A pillar?
A pillar, really…?
Lightning struck in her mind.
She remembered the man she had bumped into in the alley earlier. She had been in a rush at the time and hadn’t thought much of it, but now… that black-haired man from the alley looked exactly like Kylez.
Black hair. Black eyes.
‘Wait… does that mean the man I bumped into earlier was actually Lord Kylez?’
It was possible.
She had no idea why he would be lurking in such a shady alley with a suspicious robe over his head, but maybe he had been irritated when she bumped into him and yelled.
‘So now he’s ignoring me to get back at me? How petty for a former duke.’
Larienne quickened her pace to catch up with him again. Smiling brightly, she offered an apology.
“Oh! Lord Kylez, I should apologize first. I’m really sorry for bumping into you in the alley earlier.”
“…Alley?”
“Yes, I was in such a hurry at the time. I didn’t even realize it was you and just rushed on my way. But you’re partly to blame too, you know. With that huge hood over your head, of course I’d mistake you for a commoner.”
“……”
At that, Kylez stopped walking.
He slowly turned his head and looked down at Larienne.
“Are you sure you didn’t mistake me for someone else? I’ve never been to such a place.”
“What? But I’m certain it was you. You looked exactly the same.”
“…Is that so.”
His gaze became sharp, almost piercing through her, as if trying to gauge exactly what she had seen—and how much.
“Anyway, sorry for yelling earlier. I was just in too much of a rush.”
Despite his intense stare making her nervous, Larienne somehow managed to finish her apology.
Kylez looked pensive for a moment, then unexpectedly accepted her apology with little fuss.
“It’s nothing. Not worth apologizing for.”
“So… that means it really was you I bumped into earlier, right?”
“…Yes. Seems we met briefly before.”
Larienne beamed. Now we’re getting somewhere.
“This really must be fate! Which is why I think we should travel north tog—”
“I’ll travel with you.”
He cut her off before she could even finish her sentence. Larienne blinked her bright blue eyes in surprise at the sudden change in tone.
“And as for that wedding in Wintel—”
“Oh, no need to go that far. You can stay at Wintel Castle.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’ll invite you as my guest.”
The former Duke Kylez’s demeanor had changed as if he were a completely different person.
Larienne opened her mouth, then closed it again.
She wanted to believe it was her charm that had swayed him, but deep down she knew that wasn’t the case.
‘Weird.’
Why was the former Duke acting this way?
His sudden change in attitude was odd enough, but the strangest thing was his eyes.
‘Something’s… off.’
Larienne swallowed hard and glanced at his eyes again.
More than the piercing stare, more than the sharpness unbefitting a man his age—what bothered her most was the color.
‘…They’re blue.’
She checked again to be sure, but there was no mistaking it.
She knew because she herself had the same vivid blue eyes.
‘I’m certain the man I bumped into had black hair and black eyes. I remember it clearly.’
One had blue eyes. The other had black eyes.
No matter how identical their faces were, that alone proved they were different people.
‘Then why pretend to be the same person?’
Whatever the reason, Kylez seemed intent on hiding the existence of that other man.
‘Hiding? Or… covering for him?’
Maybe it was some kind of weakness or secret.
Larienne decided not to dig deeper. Such things were only dangerous to get involved in.
If she exposed the dirty laundry of someone like the former Duke of Wintel, she’d be the one to suffer.
‘Not like I’ll be seeing him much after this. He’s letting me into Wintel Castle, and that’s all I need.’
Rolling her eyes, Larienne stepped onto the warp platform.
As she set off for the north, her mind was filled with only one thing—Etisha.
She would soon see her beloved younger sister again.
It was a quiet afternoon. Etisha hummed softly to herself as she descended the steps of the main keep.
She was on her way to keep a promise she had made yesterday—to have tea with Lady Cirileze.
Leaving the keep, she headed toward the entrance of the Snow Castle. Just then, she heard the rumble of carriage wheels on the drawbridge.
Someone was arriving at Wintel Castle.
When she saw the carriage bearing the crest of the snow eagle, she smiled gently. She already knew who was inside.
“Welcome back, Your Grace.”
It was Kaien, returning from an inspection of the Wintel territory. It was rare to run into him like this—perhaps it was just good luck.
Etisha greeted him as he stepped down from the carriage.
“You’re back earlier than usual today.”
“Miss Etisha. Were you waiting for me?”
“…Sorry?”
“……”
A brief silence fell.
“…I see. You weren’t waiting for me, then.”
She thought she saw a flicker in his eyes, but dismissed it as her imagination and smiled.
“I was on my way to have tea with your mother. I was heading to the Snow Castle.”
“I see.”
“I visited yesterday as well—it’s such a lovely place. I even tried on a wedding dress…”
“…Ah. Yes.”
Kaien closed his handsome lips. For some reason, he seemed quieter and less responsive than usual.
Etisha studied his face thoughtfully.
‘He’s quieter than usual. Maybe he’s tired?’
He even seemed… a bit down.
It couldn’t be, but…
Concerned, she blurted out, “Should I come greet you like this every time you return from a trip?”
She didn’t even know why she said it. The words had just slipped out.
“…What?”
“Huh?”
He repeated her question, and she echoed it right back, equally flustered.
It was almost comedic.
‘Ugh, so embarrassing.’
She waved her hands and shook her head.
“No, I misspoke. Forget I said anything.”
She wanted to move past the slip quickly, but Kaien latched onto it.
“You’d come to greet me?”
“No, no, I really didn’t mean it. Please forget it.”
“…I understand. Of course. In this cold weather, it would be absurd to wait outside like that.”
“…Huh?”
“Especially given your health—you must be careful. So naturally, such a thing would be impossible.”
“……?”
His black eyes seemed to waver again—more than before.
He almost looked… not just down, but stiff.
‘He really does seem tired…’
She couldn’t read him at all. That icy man was a mystery.
“Right? If I waited outside, it would just make you uncomfortable…”
“……”
“And there are plenty of attendants and maids at the castle to welcome you anyway…”
“……”
“So don’t worry. I won’t do anything. I’ll just live quietly, invisible—like air.”
As she said it, she felt a twinge of guilt.
She had promised to be like an invisible, pretend duchess… yet here she was on her way to tea with Lady Cirileze, deepening their relationship.
If she truly wanted to stay invisible, she shouldn’t be building such close ties.
She glanced at Kaien’s expression uncertainly.
“Ah… but since today’s tea was already promised, may I still go? I’ll be careful not to visit the Snow Castle unnecessarily after this…”
At that, Kaien lowered his gaze with a quiet sigh.
“…Ha.”
Etisha grew more anxious.
“I’m sorry, Your Grace. I know this wasn’t what we agreed on at the start. I didn’t mean to break our promise—it’s just that I’ve grown fond of the north and of Wintel Castle, and I’ve let my guard down.”
“……”
“I know it may sound like an excuse, but… I’ll be more careful from now on. I won’t say things like greeting you at the gate, and I’ll try my best not to draw your attention—”
He cut her off in a low voice.
“Miss Etisha.”
His expression was… unusual.
Like a predator who had only ever eaten meat and had no idea how to graze on grass.
“Please don’t say things like that. It makes me uncomfortable.”
“…?”
“…Honestly, I don’t even know what to say right now. I just… don’t want you to speak that way.”
He frowned, then clenched his jaw.
It was as if even he didn’t understand why he was feeling so unsettled.
“Whether it’s tea time, a party, a festival—do whatever you wish. I’ve told you this before.”
“Oh… yes. You did.”
“Anything is fine. Just be at ease.”
“……”
Etisha’s lips parted slightly. She had always known Kaien was a good person—kind, even.
But this… felt different from just “kind.”
“Whether you greet me when I return, accompany me on my inspections… whatever it is—spend the rest of your time however you wish, Miss Etisha.”
…Had the Duke of Wintel always been like this?
