Even Death Was Taken Away by That Obsession - Chapter 14
“Ian?”
“Haine?”
We greeted each other shyly, calling out names almost simultaneously.
In the space filled with old books, his blue eyes alone were clear.
“What brings you here?”
“Oh, I… thought I should know more about Aintz’s history and etiquette… There’s probably a lot I need to learn.”
At his gentle question, I lowered my head slightly, feeling as if I was making excuses.
His eyes focused on the titles of the books I had brought.
“I guess our conversations weren’t enough. Well, I’m not a good teacher.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Haha. I’m joking. I just wanted to spend more time with you, so I ended up saying something mischievous.”
Ian smiled prettily, finding my flustered appearance cute.
His elegant fingers tapped the seat next to him.
“Would you like to sit here?”
After hesitating for a moment, I soon happily took that seat.
As if intending to make me, who had unexpectedly become excited, even more embarrassed, Ian tilted his head slightly and asked quietly.
“How have you been lately?”
“Everyone is taking care of me too well, saying I’m your ‘fiancée’. They were already attentive before.”
“That’s only natural. Is there anything you need? Anything at all. Whether it’s an object or a person.”
“It’s oka-”
As I was about to habitually refuse, I suddenly thought of one request and glanced at Ian.
His blue eyes were urging me to speak if I had thought of something.
Pretending to give in to his kindness, I quietly opened my mouth.
“I’d like you to introduce me to someone who knows the social circles here well. In various aspects.”
“In various aspects?”
Ian repeated my last words. He seemed curious about why I wanted to step into social circles.
“I may be a fake fiancée, but I agreed to help you, didn’t I? I can’t stay in the mansion forever, so I should at least not make any mistakes when I go out… right?”
When I trailed off, feeling somewhat shy, Ian rolled his beautiful blue eyes.
He seemed very pleased with my determination.
“I’m glad you’re taking it so actively. The role of my fiancée, I mean.”
“It’s only natural since I’m always receiving help from you. You said it’s good to have me as your fiancée because it prevents unnecessary marriage proposals from coming in.”
“Is that the only good thing? Haha.”
Ian left a meaningful remark to my playful response.
I pretended not to hear his words and reached for the book I had brought to change the subject.
That’s when it happened.
“If you’ve decided that, it would be fine if it became real…”
A soft voice, like the rustling of fine fabric, resonated low.
‘Ah, this is not something I can pretend not to have heard.’
As I looked at his face in surprise, Ian turned his face slightly away, pretending to be distracted after saying it himself.
Perhaps feeling my intent gaze, his ears turned slightly red.
I withdrew my hand that was reaching for the book and carefully asked.
“Are you teasing me?”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
Ian defended himself, startled by my playful reproach.
“I’ve often thought it wouldn’t be bad if it became that way with you someday.”
“Often?”
At my persistent questioning, Ian finally admitted defeat, covering his face with his large hands.
“Um… you don’t need to think too deeply about it. It was something I should have said later, not while buried in paperwork.”
Ian concluded with a playful tone to ensure I wouldn’t feel burdened.
However, I couldn’t take all these words as mere jokes.
“With Father’s absence prolonged, it’s not easy managing both the council’s affairs and the mansion.”
Ian kindly changed the subject to avoid confusing my feelings and complained while shuffling through unfinished paperwork.
Ian was dressed in a blue uniform that matched his sky-blue eyes and a white silk shirt.
Perhaps he had come straight here after returning from the council, as there was a faint trace of fatigue around his eyes.
“As you know, this is the year of the oracle, right? With most of the high nobility visiting here, there are overflowing agendas, and there’s a limit to how much the administrators can help.”
Ian willingly explained for my curiosity about the documents in his hands.
Come to think of it, the things spread widely on the desk were not library books but documents related to Aintz’s administration.
When Ian mentioned his father, I thought this was my chance and carefully brought up something that had been bothering me.
“I heard it’s been over a year since the Grand Duke left the mansion.”
As expected, it wasn’t an easy question, and Ian’s lips curled into a slightly awkward smile.
I had no intention of troubling him at all. After all, Ian hadn’t pried into my circumstances either.
‘Maybe it was an unnecessary question.’
Just as I was looking at the covers of the books I had brought to change the subject somehow, his gentle voice mentioned words that didn’t suit him at all.
“Father’s prolonged absence is probably due to my rebellion.”
Rebellion?
I flinched in surprise at the sudden answer.
“I had lived without ever going against Father’s words, but I rebelled quite severely. So he was very angry.”
Drawn in by the light tone that didn’t match the content, I found myself asking.
“Rebellion? What kind?”
“Well…”
Ian gently but blatantly avoided answering.
In the brief silence that followed, I could be certain of one thing.
‘If he hears that a woman of unknown origin is sitting in the mansion in this situation…’
Thinking that I could become a new source of conflict, I hurriedly turned to look at Ian.
“What if the Grand Duke’s return is delayed because of me? What if I’m making things worse…”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Ian pushed aside the documents he was examining and rested his arm gently, fixing his gaze on me.
A pleasant nervousness washed over me as if a small flame was flickering in those blue eyes.
“He’s the kind of person who would welcome with open arms someone his son has given his heart to.”
My heart raced as if it would burst at Ian’s gentle voice echoing in the quiet library.
Someone his son has given his heart to? I lost my words and blinked.
Noticing my agitation, Ian’s hand overlapped mine.
It was probably intended to stop my fingers from moving anxiously, but he wouldn’t know that this small action made my cheeks turn red.
The darkness that had now swallowed all the blue light filled the sky.
Ian helped me stand up, guiding my hand.
“I’ll escort you to your room.”
“I’m fine. You’re busy. I’ve become familiar with the way, so I can go alone.”
“I want to spend more time with you, is that too much to ask?”
His blue eyes, like jewels made from a lake, looked so sad as if they might shatter at any moment.
Feeling like a sinner for no reason, I shook my head vigorously.
“Not at all!”
“Then this way.”
As soon as I gave my permission, only a refreshing smile lingered on Ian’s features.
I felt somewhat manipulated, but it wasn’t unpleasant.
Today too, I forgot my circumstances and felt comforted by the warmth transmitted from his hand touching mine.
The distance from the library to my room wasn’t short, but walking with Ian made it feel like it had passed in an instant.
Just as I was resolving not to show my disappointment, thinking I shouldn’t keep him any longer when he was busy, as we arrived at the door of my room.
“Don’t worry about Father’s matter. If he were to oppose you… I’d just rebel again.”
Ian gently brushed my hair and placed a small kiss on my forehead.
Without any sense of discomfort, Ian entered the room and carefully escorted me to the bed.
As he covered me up to my chest with the rustling sheets, his breath whispering barely audibly tickled my heart like spring.
I questioned the picture-perfect kindness Ian showed.
I feared that I might have used my ‘power’, that I had commanded him to cherish me using these eyes, or that I had inadvertently and cruelly gripped his heart.
Otherwise, how could he be so good to an unknown woman, and one whose mind wasn’t sound due to lost memories?
I habitually raised my hand to cover my eyes.
I intensely disliked my condition of being unable to die and my body imbued with the power ‘he’ had given me.
“Haine.”
At his call, which cut through my thoughts like salvation, I quickly lowered my hand.
His clear eyes were directed towards me.
