🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 24
At the duke of Baraota’s words that there was somewhere to go, Yuriela got into the carriage without knowing why.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see when we arrive.”
‘Where could we possibly be headed?’
Since she hadn’t even had time to prepare herself, Yuriela could at least guess that it wasn’t some society gathering—but beyond that, she had no clue.
“It seems we’ve arrived.”
The place was closer than expected, and Yuriela tilted her head in puzzlement. The duke got out first and then offered his hand to help her down.
“Wow, it’s so beautiful.”
The moment she stepped down, Yuriela’s eyes were stolen by the lake glittering in the light of the setting sun.
“I remembered how much you liked seeing the sea back then.”
The duke had brought her here for a brief walk, hoping to lift Yuriela’s spirits after the affair with Bliss Longo had left her looking gloomy.
“Thank you.”
She couldn’t hide her joy at the fact that he had come here just for her.
‘Yes, this is the Ray I remember.’
She suddenly recalled the day—before her regression—when she had first opened her heart to the duke.
It was at a party, the day she’d heard someone make insulting remarks about her sisters.
“But haven’t all the Longo sisters failed in marriage at least once? Doesn’t that mean the Longo family itself is the problem? I heard even the youngest, Lady Daisy, ran away on her wedding day?”
The one who said it was one of Erica Medina’s closest aides.
“And while the Duchess of Baraota looks like she’s getting along with His Grace now… honestly, who knows how long that marriage will last? Love never lasts forever, after all.”
At that time, Yuriela still feared the duke. And since her marriage had been a contract, not one born of love, she didn’t care much about what people said about her own situation.
But she could not stand hearing such things about her family.
“What did you just say?”
“Oh my, I only meant it out of concern for you, Duchess. I apologize if I offended you.”
Even though it was a clear insult, the atmosphere was such that if she got angry, she would only look unreasonable. So Yuriela could only bite her tongue.
“Liel.”
At that very moment, as if he had been watching the whole thing, the duke appeared.
He cut down the person who had mocked Yuriela and her family with a single sharp remark, then took Yuriela out of the party.
“I’m sorry you had to hear that.”
“That isn’t something you need to apologize for, Your Grace.”
Because it wasn’t his fault that someone else had spoken so rudely, she answered that way.
“Let’s head back to the estate.”
“Yes.”
The carriage ride back was heavy with silence.
Yuriela stared out the small carriage window, lost in thought.
‘It’s not like my sisters or Daisy wanted these marriages. Why should they have to be the subject of people’s ridicule? As if their own marriages are so happy.’
Even that young lady who had spoken for Erica Medina was destined for a political marriage arranged by her family. She already had a lover—something everyone in society knew. Having lovers outside arranged marriages was hardly unusual.
‘If they disliked me so much, why couldn’t they just talk about me alone?’
Since even Erica Medina’s engagement to the crown prince was not one born of love, Yuriela knew all too well that those women had only spoken up to humiliate her.
“We’ll make a stop before returning.”
“Alright.”
She didn’t care either way, so she answered in a detached voice.
After some time, the carriage headed somewhere increasingly deserted.
“We’re here. Step down.”
“Me too?”
Thinking the duke only had business to attend to, she was startled when he told her to get out as well.
“Yes.”
Not knowing why, she took his hand and stepped down.
“A lake?”
“I thought it would be good to get some air. Liel, whenever your thoughts get tangled, you always go walking, don’t you?”
“You noticed that?”
“Well, we’re family. It would be odd not to notice.”
The word family coming from his lips struck her heart deeply.
Until then, she had never considered the duke as family. She had thought of him only as part of a contract, her own existence at the ducal estate something vague and uncertain. Someone who lived there but didn’t truly belong.
‘So… we’re family.’
“In the end, our marriage isn’t much different from an arranged one. My parents’ marriage started that way too.”
“Really?”
“Yes, but they became a true family. Family isn’t only made by love. …As your husband, I have the duty to protect you and stand by you when things are hard. And I intend to.”
To Yuriela, the idea that someone would protect her was foreign, almost unreal.
“So whenever it gets too hard, or your thoughts too heavy, come to me.”
The moment she heard that, all the tears she had been holding back broke loose. The duke embraced her and patted her back.
From that day onward, Yuriela had opened her heart to him completely.
‘Yes, he brought me to this very lake then too.’
Lost in those memories, she carefully reached out and took his hand.
The duke looked startled by her sudden gesture.
“I’m cold.”
“Then let’s go inside.”
She shook her head gently.
“My hands are just a little chilly.”
But in truth, her hands were warm.
“So please… just let me stay like this a little longer.”
The duke quickly realized she wasn’t holding his hand because of the cold. But he said nothing—he only held her hand more tightly.
Meanwhile, in the imperial palace—
“They say His Majesty has been asking for you these past few days, Kion. At last, even His Majesty understands how important blood is.”
The empress’s eyes glittered with madness as she spoke.
“Mother.”
“Yes? What is it? Do you have something to say?”
On any other day, she would have shoved the crown prince aside with harsh words, but today her voice was unnervingly gentle.
To him, that false kindness was nothing but revolting.
‘Transparent as glass. She must think His Majesty favors me now.’
“I’m tired, so I’ll take my leave.”
“Just tell me one thing before you go—what did His Majesty say to you?”
The emperor hadn’t called him to build father-son affection.
“It was nothing of importance. You heard of the recent trouble with Duchess Baraota’s family, the Longos? His Majesty asked me to oversee the matter personally, so we had matters to discuss.”
“Is that so? Even so, it’s a good sign. Usually he sends letters through the chancellor—summoning you directly must mean something.”
The empress smiled, lost in her own happy delusions. The prince could no longer bear it and rose to go.
“Go on, then. My son, the future emperor, must be very busy. I shouldn’t stand in your way. Ah—His Majesty asked me whether it wouldn’t be better to break off your engagement with Medina. What do you think?”
The sudden question threw him for a moment.
In truth, he did want to end his betrothal to Erica Medina. But doing so wouldn’t mean Yuriela would belong to him. If he broke it off, the empress would simply bring in another daughter-in-law of her choosing, just as she had with Medina.
“I’ll give it some thought.”
“Then decide after speaking with His Majesty.”
“Yes, Mother.”
At last, the prince escaped her quarters.
“So tiring…”
He immediately made for his own palace.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
From afar, one of the emperor’s attendants approached.
“What is it?”
“His Majesty asked me to deliver this letter to you.”
The prince took it. It bore the imperial seal.
To the Crown Prince,
By the time you read this, you’ll already have heard from the empress. The engagement—you may decide as you wish. Without the Medina family, your position will not be shaken. At the next imperial banquet, I intend to name Duchess Baraota as your partner. Take note of this.
As he finished reading, a smile crept across the crown prince’s lips.
He didn’t care if the emperor only saw him as a reflection of the past. The emperor’s chosen partner could not be refused. If it meant being with Yuriela, Kion didn’t mind being used.
“Tell His Majesty I read it and I’m grateful.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The attendant bowed and left.
“Liel… what should I do? It really feels like heaven is giving me a chance.”
