Even Death Was Taken Away by That Obsession - Chapter 26
‘Because I already like you too much.’
Would saying that make me seem too frivolous?
After searching for the right words, I ended up burying my face in his broad chest.
Nothing could express my feelings better than burrowing deeply into his firm embrace.
I closed my eyes as if I would fall asleep like this.
Ian’s hands gently wrapped around my shoulders.
“I’m sorry. I acted too much like a child.”
Ian’s strength as he pulled me in was stronger than I expected.
Though he likely didn’t mean to hurt me, his hands were firm as if he would never let go.
“You’re still just my fake fiancé, yet I’ve become too greedy.”
Suddenly trapped in his hands, I calmly placed my hands over his.
And like a beast that found its master, I closed my eyes and buried my nose.
I relaxed my gaze as I inhaled the clean, crisp scent emanating from Ian’s hands.
I hoped he would realize that I wasn’t just an innocent lady.
Hoping he would cross our boundaries whenever, even today, I asked.
“Ian, do you still mean it when you said you’d like me to become your real fiancée?”
Ian’s face stiffened briefly as he quickly grasped the intent of my question, then soon spread into a beautiful smile.
His pure voice, different from my calculation-filled self, showed his heart without hesitation.
“Yes. Because I like you very much.”
His large hand delved into my hair.
“I like you. I don’t know how else to express what I feel every time I see you.”
Truly, I thought it was just like him to confess this way, and my heart suddenly ached.
“Probably much more than you think, more than can be expressed by just saying I like you.”
The sky had become calm as the clouds carefully disappeared.
The carriage was quiet, filled only with our breaths.
“I know you must be confused about many things, and that I should be careful since you haven’t fully recovered yet, but…”
His nose came closer softly. Even closer were his lips.
“I simply can’t hold back.”
Since when, I wondered. Ian spoke as if whispering indulgently.
His lowered blue eyes held the pride befitting the heir of a Grand Duke.
“Haine, if by chance you feel the same way as I do, please let me know.”
His tender and moist tone was hot and ticklish.
“May I think that you feel the same as I do?”
His soft lips teased me, almost touching but not quite.
My chest tingled.
At this rate, I had no choice but to admit it.
Yes. I want to be dominated by this person.
‘I wish Ian would love me recklessly without restraint.’
Because I know it would still be less than ‘his’.
If it’s Ian’s love, I would rather be happy.
“Ian… I also…”
The words that should have followed were swallowed by his lips.
Very sweetly, and somewhat roughly as I desired.
It was quite different from what I expected – shy touches followed by separation.
What we shared that day was a kiss as deep as an endless abyss.
***
The forest of the Viente duchy.
The clearing where the hunting festival’s opening ceremony would be held was bustling with noble ladies and young ladies enjoying their tea parties in advance.
The star there was, as always, Canabeil Ilkane.
Canabeil was the only daughter of the Ilkane Marquis family who governed the western territory.
“How elegant Lady Canabeil is.”
“Doesn’t she match perfectly with those geraniums blooming over there?”
“Indeed. Such vivid pink hair. Her flower-like appearance always brings peace to my heart.”
Canabeil covered her lips with her small, delicate hand, seemingly embarrassed by the surrounding praise.
“Oh my, you all flatter me too much.”
Her face as she said this was the very image of an innocent lamb.
Canabeil appeared young and delicate for her age and was endlessly lovable.
Her small face was filled with beautiful eyes, nose, and lips. And her gentle eyes appeared even more graceful than her nature.
Her hair, harmonizing with this, was an unusually intense pink.
Although the people of Bonasea had quite diverse colors, such a vivid pink was unique to Canabeil.
Her wave-like hair and sky-blue eyes made her appear even more delicate like a wildflower.
The flower of Bonasea, the light of Bonasea.
The jewel that would support this empire of Aintz.
Praise followed Canabeil as naturally as the air she breathed.
Moreover, she was the sole heir of the Ilkane Marquis family, who alongside the Viente duchy, served as an invaluable support to the Grand Duke.
Born into such a prestigious lineage, she had lived a life of privilege where no desire went unfulfilled.
Canabeil was peacefully enjoying the tea party while being the center of attention as always.
“Lady Canabeil!”
A young lady with a round face called Canabeil’s name and came running.
With a massive build clearly different from ordinary young ladies, she was far from elegant.
Canabeil tilted her head and gently put down her teacup.
She smiled very brightly, pretending not to find the young lady’s robust figure running towards her unsightly.
“Misera, I don’t know what the urgency is, but please be careful. If you were to fall, my heart would ache terribly.”
Canabeil gently took Misera’s hand and checked her complexion.
“I heard they were coming for the start of today’s hunting festival, has the schedule changed? I should hurry to prepare a teacup.”
Canabeil raised her hand to call a servant.
The servant quickly prepared a teacup and tea set for Misera with nimble hands.
Even though all preparations were complete, Misera, soaked in sweat, couldn’t easily continue speaking.
While Misera was preoccupied with catching her breath, Canabeil demurely took out her handkerchief.
And carefully dabbed her forehead.
“How thoughtful she is.”
“Lady Canabeil is everyone’s role model.”
Her kind demeanor was enough to move the young ladies once again.
Misera, finally catching her breath, hurriedly spoke.
“Ah, could you spare a moment? Just the two of us. I have something urgent to tell you!”
At those interesting words, the ears of those enjoying the tea party perked up invisibly.
An urgent matter from Misera’s mouth, and something that must be said only between the two of them.
They couldn’t bear their curiosity about the content.
Canabeil rose gracefully and spoke with a hint of concern.
“Would it be alright if I step away for a moment?”
At Canabeil’s polite request in an infinitely gentle tone, the guests invited to her table hid their disappointment with bright smiles.
Thinking they could just find out about that secret story through their own inquiries anyway.
***
“Lady Misera, what matter brings you running here so urgently?”
Canabeil held Misera’s hand as they walked towards the depths of the Viente duchy.
Whatever the chatty Misera had to say, it seemed like something she should keep to herself for now.
Misera, having finally caught her breath, opened her mouth triumphantly.
“Do you know who’s coming today?”
“Well, since it’s the hunting festival, all important people will attend…”
“Hehe. As I thought, you didn’t know.”
“Misera, what are you trying to say?”
Please don’t keep me in suspense.
Canabeil urged Misera with a lovely smile.
Seeing that Canabeil truly knew nothing, Misera’s face filled with mischievous delight.
And quietly whispering, she recited what she had seen.
“Today, young Duke Fortena, you see. He came with Lady Haine!”
Canabeil, who had been walking gracefully matching steps with Misera, stopped abruptly.
That obvious disturbance made Misera even more excited.
“I hear they kept it strictly confidential until this morning out of concern for her health!”
Misera recited again in an exaggerated tone as if she had discovered something truly remarkable.
“That Lady Haine from the rumors. Young duke Fortena’s fiancée!”
Originally, Misera would have enjoyed the tea party with the young ladies early on, but her strict grandparents insisted on departing together, which disrupted her schedule.
Pouting about arriving late at the Viente duchy’s territory, Misera had picked up the chance story that Haine would appear with Ian at this year’s hunting festival.
And she had run to Canabeil without dignity, wanting to quickly share this exciting news.
“…Ah, I see.”
Canabeil’s feet, which had momentarily stopped, began moving gracefully again.
Canabeil’s response was just a gentle smile and a brief answer.
Misera, who had been full of expectations, became quite embarrassed.
Secretly hoping that Canabeil might show disappointment or even a bit of jealousy, Misera couldn’t hide her disappointment.
After all, Canabeil was that Lord Ian’s ‘former’ fiancée.
