“Thanks to you, Your Grace, I get to see this whole place. Even many nobles haven’t had a chance to visit this mansion.”
The mansion where the duke was currently staying was named Rillum, one of the imperial family’s properties. It was the place where the current emperor’s grandmother had stayed when she gave birth to his second aunt, Lanure Nesbit, the queen of the Nesbit Kingdom.
Mansions where members of the imperial family were born were always given special care. They were only shown to selected nobles, and renting them out was out of the question. But since it was the duke, it seemed the emperor had temporarily lent it to him.
Well, this was the only mansion near her family’s estate where the duke could stay anyway.
Felix seemed a little disappointed that Sophia had brought up the mansion. The duke gave a crooked smile and replied,
“If I knew you were looking forward to the house, I would’ve tried harder. Are you very disappointed because of how it looks?”
His tone was sweet, like he was talking to a child. As if saying, too bad you didn’t get to look around properly.
“Disappointed? Of course not.”
That was what Sophia said, but honestly, she was a little disappointed. The mansion named Rillum, which meant “lily” in an old language, was supposed to be very beautiful. But except for the second floor where the duke stayed, everything else was covered in white sheets. All the statues, paintings, and furniture were hidden under white cloth, leaving nothing to look at.
Her mother said the duke had come here in a hurry after following her from the capital. Because he came so suddenly, he probably didn’t have time to prepare the mansion.
But it had already been three months since the duke arrived. Wasn’t that enough time to organize everything?
‘Maybe the duke will leave soon.’
That thought gave Sophia sudden hope. Even though His Majesty had given his permission, they hadn’t exchanged vows at the temple yet, so it wasn’t like the engagement was completely official.
If the duke just left like this?
Then Sophia might be free again.
She naively hoped for that. But the duke quickly shattered that hope and said firmly,
“Next time you visit, I’ll make sure it’s more to your liking.”
He was probably speaking politely because Felix was there. Sophia gave an awkward smile. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t get used to the duke. It didn’t feel like she was standing in front of her fiancé—but in front of someone powerful. Like she’d be punished if she made a single mistake.
“But the garden was impressive,” Felix said, jumping into the conversation. “If it’s all right, would you like to step outside for a bit?”
He gently took Sophia’s hand for a moment, then let go. The duke’s gaze shifted there. His stare lingered uncomfortably long, so Sophia quickly pulled her hand back to get out of his sight.
“All right, let’s go outside. I didn’t prepare a hunt or anything, since I heard you don’t enjoy that kind of thing.”
The duke said it casually.
Sophia didn’t understand why the duke had asked to meet Felix in the first place. He didn’t seem interested in him at all.
Once they stepped outside into the garden, Felix quietly disappeared not long after. The duke, who had been walking slightly ahead, was suddenly right beside her once Felix was gone.
Feeling his gaze, Sophia looked up and saw him staring at her face. His lips were slightly curved in a smile, and his blue eyes, like ice, were looking at her kindly.
“What are you thinking so deeply about, Miss Honeybee?”
Sophia’s face turned bright red.
She had been sure the duke would think that old story was silly.
“I… I was just wondering where the lilies might be.”
She answered awkwardly and bit her lip. Her mother had warned her never to start a sentence with “just”—saying it made her look foolish.
But the duke didn’t seem to think much of it. He looked around and said,
“I think they’re by the greenhouse. Want to go together?”
“But Felix…”
“It’s fine. You want to see them, right? I’m sure Felix is enjoying his time alone. I guarantee it.”
His tone and attitude felt lighter than before.
When he was with Felix, he looked like nothing more than a bored aristocrat, but now he seemed cheerful—just like any other young man.
How old is the duke again?
Sophia suddenly couldn’t remember and felt a little flustered as she followed him.
“You… You walk fast.”
She stammered again. Out of habit, she bit her lip, and the duke suddenly stopped and stared at her face again.
“You keep biting your lip.”
“I’m just nervous.”
“It looks more like you’re shy around me.”
When he pointed it out, Sophia’s face turned red again. Not wanting to lie, she confessed,
“That’s… kind of true. I keep stuttering like an idiot.”
Then he laughed. It was one of his rare, genuine smiles.
“You don’t look like an idiot.”
“Then what do you think makes someone look like an idiot?”
He stopped again. Surprised, he glanced over her face. Sophia met his gaze with a bit of confidence and said,
“You told me to call you Cal, remember? I hope that wasn’t uncomfortable for you.”
“Of course not. I just didn’t think you’d do it so quickly.”
“Why? Do I look like someone who wouldn’t?”
“No, you just seemed scared of me.”
This time, Sophia stopped walking. She didn’t expect him to notice. Or even if he had, she didn’t think he’d say it.
To her, the duke felt like he was acting. Pretending to love and care for her, just as he was pretending she had confessed to him.
Had something changed in his heart?
Or maybe it was just a whim. Powerful people were known to be unpredictable.
But for Sophia, this was fine. She didn’t want false affection—she wanted the truth.
“Cal.”
The greenhouse came into view. It was full of blooming lilies. When she called his name, the duke turned back toward her, his back to the trees.
Maybe because they were closer now, she suddenly noticed how tall he was and what he was wearing. He wore a fine silk vest over a shirt, with rolled-up sleeves revealing his bare arms. His open collar exposed a striking neck and collarbone. Sophia blushed again, but this time for a different reason. For the first time, she realized that the duke wasn’t just a man—he was a very handsome one.
She hesitated, then spoke.
“Please tell me. What really happened that night?”
“I thought I already told you. You confessed to me, and then you drank the poison.”
“That’s too short.”
“Are you asking me to repeat the whole conversation from that night? Like some kind of jester?”
His voice grew heavy again. Sophia trembled slightly and replied,
“I’m not asking for a reenactment… Just tell me how things happened.”
“The details, huh… You sound like someone investigating a murder.”
He didn’t bother hiding his displeasure. Sophia shrank back. But she couldn’t let it go. She took a step forward and said,
“I think I have the right to know. Especially since I don’t even remember it. If you care about my uneasiness, then you shouldn’t find my request offensive.”
At her words, an incredibly bored expression appeared on his face. Sophia flinched. But a moment later, as if nothing happened, he put on a kind expression like a mask and gently took her hand.
“Sophia, I want to be engaged to you as soon as possible.”
His sudden confession and touch startled her, and she tried to pull back. But the duke held her hand tightly, and she couldn’t break free.
“Do you know how much it hurts to see you look so wary of me? The way you look at me—like I’m lying—it stings. Honestly, it’s confusing. You were the one who said you loved me, but now you treat me like a criminal.”
Was it the warmth of his hand? Or the softness in his eyes? Whatever it was, she started to feel persuaded.
From his point of view, it must have been upsetting and confusing. Still… there were things she just couldn’t accept.
“I’m sorry. But I hope you can understand. I feel like my empty memories are controlling my life. I just want to fill in a few of those blanks.”
Then, he took back his kind expression again. Whenever he looked at her with that blank face, Sophia wondered if he was waiting for her to kneel before him and submit.
It was a strange feeling. He hadn’t done anything threatening—he had only stopped smiling.
