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chapter 21
Crimson Sunset
From afar, the sun set, painting Astel in crimson hues. Lucas and Serena finally reached the top of the hill, gasping for breath.
Because Serena had planned the day’s schedule more rigorously than usual to showcase her abilities to Lucas, a wave of fatigue hit her abruptly.
“So, the reason we climbed this hill for the last stop… was to show me the lights of Astel at night?”
Lucas, wearing an untroubled expression, had already read her thoughts. Serena turned her head quickly, pretending not to be tired, but Lucas stepped closer.
“This is my second time here.”
“You mean…?”
“Before visiting the duke’s residence, I came here once.”
Serena blinked, staring at Lucas, surprised by the unexpected revelation.
“Anywhere I go, if people know my status, they’ll hide the truth about the territory, fawn over me, or put on airs.”
“So you wanted to see all of Astel beforehand?”
Lucas nodded.
“You can only truly understand a place when darkness falls.”
By now, Serena could no longer dismiss his keen insight.
“And what did you see in Astel?” she asked.
“Every small house was bright, smoke rising from every chimney… just like the duke’s residence.”
The prosperity of a territory didn’t always equate to the happiness of its people. Even in fertile lands, most residents were tenant farmers, while some lords neglected their lands, living luxuriously in the capital.
“If the duke’s residence hadn’t been so grand, it wouldn’t have stood out from the other homes on the hill.”
“Is that… a compliment?”
Lucas gave a small, proud smile.
“Yes. Spending the day here with you, I’ve uncovered the secret behind Astel’s prosperity.”
“A secret? Astel has a secret…”
“The reason Astel is special is because you, Serena, have been overseeing it. You are special.”
He wasn’t just stubborn—he recognized Serena’s accomplishments and abilities without underestimating her because she was a woman. Though unexpected, she didn’t dislike it, and a small smile tugged at her lips.
“Your Highness’s praise is enough that I wish to give a little in return.”
Standing close together, they looked in the same direction for the first time without quarreling.
Serena’s slender, pale fingers pointed to the northern sky, where a single star shone brighter than the others against the now fully darkened heavens.
“That’s the North Star. This is the best place to see it, largest and brightest.”
As Serena took a few steps toward the hill’s edge, Lucas followed. He didn’t mention that, compared to the North Star, her platinum hair glinting in the moonlight was far more radiant.
“And if we take one more step…”
She stumbled on the steep slope at the hill’s edge, her gaze fixed on the sky, and almost lost her balance.
“Ah!”
Serena instinctively shut her eyes at the almost cliff-like drop in front of her.
“Oh no.”
Rather than tumbling down, she felt the firm, strong embrace of a large arm.
“You need to watch your step at night.”
Lucas’s low voice echoed near her ear, and the scent of his body was strong as he effortlessly held her with one arm.
Even unconscious, Serena could feel the firmness of his back muscles beneath her hands.
“…Yes.”
Once she regained her balance, Serena stepped away with a stiff motion. Luckily, the darkness concealed her flushed cheeks.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Lucas moved closer, but Serena quickly waved him off.
“I’m fine! Completely fine!”
Her feelings were a mix of embarrassment and confusion. She had never imagined feeling him as a man after the engagement ceremony. First impressions, it seemed, didn’t change with time—but now, they had.
“Hmm… then let’s head back.”
“Yes.”
Lucas mounted his large horse first, his solid upper body glowing softly under the moonlight.
Especially his broad back, strong shoulders, and overall solid frame—her eyes couldn’t help but be drawn to him.
“Why? Is there a problem?”
Caught off guard, Serena shook her head quickly and spurred her horse. By the time they returned to the duke’s residence, the cool autumn night would soothe the heat of her flushed cheeks.
During dinner, Serena left the table early, had a bath, and was attended by Anna.
“Milady, are you very tired? You’ve been unusually quiet today.”
Returning to the duke’s residence with a serious expression, Serena remained unusually silent. She wasn’t gossiping about the Crown Prince, so Anna could only guess at the situation.
“Did something unpleasant happen…?”
“No.”
Serena offered a faint smile at Anna’s worried face.
“Nothing bad. I just overexerted myself today.”
While Anna brushed her hair again, there was a knock at the door.
“Your Ladyship, a visitor.”
Steward Peter bowed to Serena. Her mind still felt empty after the unexpected close encounter with Lucas earlier, but seeing Peter reminded her of her mission for the day.
“Well? How did it go?”
Serena’s eyes sparkled once more.
“Unexpectedly, Sir Cedric showed interest in me first. We spent the entire afternoon talking about various matters.”
Her face brightened at the good news.
“And? Tell me everything you learned.”
Peter hesitated briefly. Most of the conversation had been Sir Cedric listening to tales of past battles and knightly feats, so some filtering was necessary.
“As expected, Your Highness sent letters to His Majesty the Emperor at the Imperial Palace and to His Holiness at the Papacy. The final letter… was sent to the Duke of Astel.”
Hearing the destination of the third letter only made Serena’s thoughts more tangled.
“How do you know where my father is?” she asked, eyes wide. The Duke of Astel was like the wind—never staying in one place. Even Serena, his only family, often had no clue to his whereabouts.
“Sir Cedric said Your Highness has agents stationed across the continent. The network is as dense as a spider’s web, so even if it takes time, the letter will reach the Duke.”
Serena realized she should have guessed when Lucas said he sent three letters. To marry her despite her claim that the engagement was invalid, he needed the cooperation of those present at the original ceremony: his parents, the Emperor and Empress; her father, Roger; and the Pope, who had sanctioned the engagement in God’s name.
“Unfortunately, Sir Cedric is very tight-lipped about matters concerning the Crown Prince, so I couldn’t learn the contents of the letters.”
“That’s fine. I already know the contents.”
“Eh?”
Leaving Peter and Anna puzzled, Serena shrugged.
“I intend to prove our engagement is valid.”
It had been a long time since Serena felt the thrill of facing a worthy adversary. Setting aside emotions, Lucas’s approach was both meticulous and bold.
“There’s no need for pointless arguments. Once the engagement is recognized again, everything else falls into place.”
She exhaled a short sigh. Yesterday, she would have scolded Lucas for his cunning move—but today, she simply sighed, leaving Anna puzzled.
“Ah, one more thing, milady. The letter Your Highness sent to the Imperial family has already arrived.”
Considering the distance to the capital, it made sense that the Imperial Palace would receive it first. Yet Serena had no idea what it might contain.
“Understood. Everyone else, leave.”
Alone, Serena didn’t lie down immediately but walked to the window. Opening it, the white curtains fluttered in the wind, bringing a clear, refreshing scent.
“This is strange.”
Her muttered words revealed her inner turmoil.
“Why… why am I like this?”
Even during dinner and her bath, moments when she had been held by Lucas kept replaying in her mind, leaving her lips dry and her cheeks hot.
“He told me to be careful? Was that really the right thing to say?”
Serena still vividly recalled being cradled in his arm, pressed against his strong back. Thick, strong muscles, warm body, even his breathing—everything had been close enough to feel.
“I feel like a fool.”
Yet Lucas acted as if nothing had happened, calmly indifferent—even while clearly seeing her dazed expression.
“Was it really nothing but helping someone who was about to fall?”
Thinking this way, Lucas’s actions were not wrong.
But why did she feel her cheeks burning every time she remembered his calm, composed demeanor as he held her? She couldn’t understand it herself.
“Yes, I’m not a fragile lady. A simple grab would have sufficed.”
There was no reason for Serena to feel hurt—or embarrassed. In this world, a young lady was delicate and fragile, yet she had never refused to be treated as such.
“Yes. I was only fulfilling my duty as the Duke’s representative, not going for a casual evening walk as a young lady.”
It was laughable that she overthought such a small action, yet somewhere deep inside, she felt a strange twinge of emotion.
“Why… why am I like this?”
Her soft, complaining voice chimed in the night wind like a delicate bell. Serena closed her eyes briefly, letting the breeze wash over her.
“Why indeed… why am I?”
Confused, she turned her head. It couldn’t be a hallucination—Lucas wasn’t here.
“Did I… feel even a tiny bit hurt by him?”
Yet the low, clear voice still echoed in her ears.
