How to Tame That Gentle Male Lead - Chapter 4.4
The man finally stopped carving. His slender face turned towards Resena.
“Since you know my work and even call yourself a fan, you must know my name.”
Resena felt her heart flutter anew. She felt oddly nervous every time his soft, beautiful voice touched her ears.
“As you know, I’m Vernas. I don’t have a surname, so you can just call me Vernas comfortably.”
His blue eyes clearly captured her. Resena felt as if she was falling into a color reminiscent of a bright summer lake under the blazing sun.
“Yes. Vernas.”
He was silent for a moment. But soon he lifted the corners of his mouth.
“Lady, would you like to watch a bit more?”
“Yes. As long as time allows.”
She pressed herself close to Vernas’s side. As if he didn’t mind her approach, he once again lowered his head and began to concentrate on sculpting.
Amidst the children’s noise, Resena felt as if she was being enchanted by him. Watching his fingers silently proceed with the work, she spent time in the shade that blocked the summer sun.
“Ah.”
And when she came to her senses, Resena realized she had left Renard waiting in the carriage. The man looked up at her as she stood up abruptly.
“I must go now. I have someone waiting and things to do.”
“Farewell, Lady.”
“Goodbye, Vernas.”
Blue eyes thoroughly scanned her as she walked away.
A sultry summer breeze brushed against his nape. The branches of the tree that had provided shade rustled, shaking their leaves with a swooshing sound.
Although he had spent about two hours with her, it still felt insufficient.
Indeed, enjoying time in the same space with the Duke’s daughter felt pleasant.
It was partly because he enjoyed the hobby of sculpting, but the time with Resena was, how to put it, special.
‘Being watched like this is so enjoyable.’
Although the Duke’s daughter didn’t know his true identity, Vernas, or rather Eldis Jude Crevasta, felt he had spent a fulfilling time. He could have honestly told her his identity, but he wanted to keep quiet on purpose to have more times like this.
‘I can tell her slowly later.’
After she becomes closer to him.
The children’s chatter enveloped him. Although the magic ring on his hand prevented his face from being properly recognized, the children found him approachable as he sat on the bench at the canal dock, sculpting on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
“Alright, that’s all for today.”
Watching the setting sun, Eldis rose from his seat. After saying goodbye to the group of children, he slowly walked to where his horse was tied.
As he headed towards the imperial palace, he once again recalled his time with Resena.
A smile involuntarily formed on his lips.
Thus, with a gentle gaze that could melt rocks, he gazed at the early-risen moon.
***
“Phew… I barely made it in time.”
After finishing dinner, Resena flopped face-down on the bed. When she arrived at the bakery, there was only one orange cream cake left, which the Duchess wanted, and she thought her heart would drop.
She quickly bought it and returned home, and it was already six-thirty. Feeling relieved that she had barely made it in time, Resena enjoyed dinner with her family.
‘Come to think of it, it was fortunate that Renard didn’t complain.’
Moreover, Renard didn’t ask why she was so late. Even though he must have watched her entire conversation with Vernas. Resena sighed deeply as she recalled that moment.
“By the way, Vernas, he looked like a knight.”
No, even among knights, it would be hard to find someone with such a build. Resena thought of Crown Prince Eldis, whom she had seen recently. With such a physique, wouldn’t he have achieved great feats in monster subjugation?
‘I suppose Vernas is probably an alias. Come to think of it, they called out the names of knights who achieved merits at the summer ball, but I can’t remember them all…’
His fine-featured face seemed quite close to that of a handsome youth. Although she strangely couldn’t recall his detailed features, his brightly shining blue eyes were impressive. Like summer sea sapphires, she could see herself reflected in them every time she looked into them.
Resena felt her heart flutter unexpectedly.
As if struck by a fever, her heart beat fiercely, repeatedly recalling her encounter with Vernas.
‘Perhaps he’s using a magic artifact to prevent his features from being recognized?’
He was wearing an extravagant magic stone bracelet that only a duke would use, but given how popular his sculptures have become, he shouldn’t be lacking in money. What could his true identity be? Resena thought that if he knew her well, he might be a nobleman.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter even if he’s a commoner…’
Recalling the sculptures carefully taking shape in his hands made her inexplicably happy. She had been so absorbed in watching him use the chisel up close, lost in the atmosphere.
Feeling her heart beating incessantly, Resena slowly raised herself from lying face-down on the bed.
“Come to think of it, I bought some of Vernas’s sculptures this time. I should suggest displaying them in the drawing room.”
It would be a shame to keep such artworks only inside. She wanted to show them to guests as well.
How exciting this is.
After taking a bath and changing into her nightgown, Resena lay down on the bed. It should be fine to tell mother tomorrow. As soon as she closed her eyes, sleep washed over her, and Resena quickly fell into a deep slumber.
It must have been because fatigue had set in.
As she wandered in her dreams.
“You sleep so soundly. Breathing softly with that pretty face.”
A dark shadow fell over her bed.
Bright moonlight streamed through the window, dimly illuminating the room. Amidst this, the figure casting the shadow smiled enigmatically, lifting the corners of his mouth.
“You’re truly lovely. My dear Resena.”
“Mmm…”
When he reached out a finger and poked her cheek, Resena whimpered and suddenly grabbed his hand. He looked down, wondering if she might have woken up slightly, but her eyelids didn’t even flutter.
“I ate too much…”
“Hehe. Looks like you’re dreaming about eating something. How adorable.”
Zergard gazed at Resena with sweet eyes. Recently, he had sent spies to monitor her and Renard, but according to the maid, it didn’t seem like they were investigating the dark mage.
However, he heard that during the summer ball, she was the first to notice that he had pre-installed teleportation devices. He was angry that Renard had cornered him, leading to the loss of his arm, but he couldn’t bring himself to dislike her, who had provided the initial clue for his arm to be severed.
‘Rather, I’m curious about you, clever one.’
It was truly unpleasant to see Crown Prince Eldis showing interest in her. But it seemed plausible that she could draw people in with her strange charm. Zergard gently stroked Resena’s cheek and then bent down.
Very slowly, he buried his face in her black hair. The sweet body scent emanating from her white skin, along with the gentle smell of sunshine rising, made Zergard feel intoxicated. As he ran his fingers through her hair, he grabbed the ends and kissed them.
“Truly… How can I entice someone as beautiful as you to willingly walk into my trap?”
Given her intelligence, she wouldn’t fall for any ordinary trap. The only thing he could hope for was the plan to assassinate Lorona, which she had expressed interest in commissioning.
‘It was a few months ago, wasn’t it?’
Zergard had welcomed Resena when she came to his hideout.
