Dear Duke - Chapter 2

End of Romance – 2

She looked around as she recalled the red hair of the head that bowed to her. Whether it was that she knew that it wasn’t her place, she didn’t see any red colours. Ruiyan was 26 years old, so she was 3 years younger than him. He said that despite being a woman, she was an aide to the current crown prince. As Ruiyan went to the Imperial Castle everyday for work, given their environment, perhaps him falling in love with that woman was a matter of course.

‘Let me officially introduce her. This is Lady Marillian van Enderrick, who will be my mistress in the future.’

His plainly-spoken words hurt her. Her husband spoke stiffly towards her and grabbed that woman’s wrist. Isilia stared at the scene of his tender and careful touch without saying a word.

‘Mari, this is my wife, Isilia von Endrians.’

[Isilia, how many times have I said that it’s not like that?]

As she became immersed in her memories, Isilia closed her eyes. It was the fruits of her passionate courtship after about half a year. It was the first time he showed kindness. He didn’t hide his annoyed expression… But he spoke in the most gentle tone imaginable. Ruiyan’s tone towards that woman made her swallow back the smile that was about to leave her. It was clearly different from the kind words that the fruits of her passionate courtship bore after half a year.

It was perfectly gentle and he even spoke her nickname in front of her casually. A sense of emptiness overcame her. She found it amazing. It was almost commendable. The sincerity that she had used over a year to obtain, just how did that woman seduce him, such that he opened up that much.

What method did that woman use to win his heart, and make him become so cordial…? She envied her. She hated her.

‘Mari, this is my wife, Isilia von Endrians.’

Ruiyan’s eyes, his tone, and atmosphere. It was all unfamiliar to her. She has never experienced them before, so it could only have been unfamiliar. As it was her first time seeing such a side of him. It was the first time Isilia saw Ruiyan frankly showing that he was in love with someone. She was sure that it was love, as he behaved completely differently with her and others.

But, he had someone that he was willing to show more emotions towards.

‘Mari.’

Through that woman’s name, she heard a nickname that she has never heard before. Through that woman, she heard a gentle tone that she has never heard before. Through that woman, she now knew that he could use that kind of face to look at someone. As she looked at that woman, she realized that there was someone that he could show his love for more than her.

Did he love me?

The sudden doubt caused Isilia’s eyes to shake.

Did you ever love me? 

Seemingly not noticing her mother’s disturbed expression, El approached and laughed.

Looking at her lovely smile, Isilia faced her and smiled.

… Did you not love me?

[A perfect romance doesn’t exist.]

***

Perhaps it was due to her father, who was trusted by the emperor, invitations flooded in.

She picked up a discreetly lying invitation she spotted from the pile of invitations that were left in a corner. Although it looked plain and simple, it didn’t look unsophisticated. In the eyes of the young girl, it seemed very unique. Isilia opened the envelope. At the duke’s mansion, where she was invited to, the young girl met him.

“Young Lord Endrians.”

Ruiyan’s expression hardened at the faint voice. As he stopped in his tracks, the child following behind him bumped into his back. Ruiyan let out a sigh as he looked at the way she looked up while gently caressing her nose. It has been seven days since the child started to chase him. A headache formed at the thought of the party that this girl turned upside down a week ago. She had declared her love for him the moment they had met, and it has become a regular occurrence.

‘I like you, Young Lord’

Then, she was bewildered by the fact that he passed her without a reply, despite the rudeness of that action. As a result of his actions, her golden eyes were filled with wounds. With golden hair and eyes, the visage of a child that has just turned sixteen. If an invitation was sent to such a child, then she must be the daughter of someone very important.

…He recalled the men whom the emperor had recently praised to have been hardworking.

The emperor was someone that was a sucker for talented people. As long as it’s a capable person, even if they are commoners, the emperor would raise them as noblemen at once. Before such an emperor, the competent count from the Agnes family said that he would return to the countryside, causing the emperor to become alarmed.

His officials were also quick to dissuade him. The Imperial Castle was always short of people. Moreover, the Count was in charge of complicated work, and there were not enough talented people in that field.

“…”

He felt complicated at the sight of the daughter of the person that turned the Imperial castle abuzz. When their eyes met, she smiled. Ruiyan sighed while looking at the curved eyes that seemed as though it was soaked in honey. Her shining eyes that stared at him like a chick, made him find it cute yet speechless at the same time. As Ruiyan had expected, the girl was just a child who had just stepped into high society.

“Young Lord?”

“Young Lady Agnes.”

She gave a smile like flowers were blooming when he called her. As he looked at the child, whose expressions were written all over her face, Ruiyan opened his mouth.

“As I’ve said before, it hasn’t been long since the Young Lady made her social debut. I’m afraid that because of me, the flower in the starting stages of blossoming would wither without blooming.”

He chose his words as carefully as he could, but the meaning behind his words was to stop chasing after him. Perhaps this little girl would understand from this. But when she smiled lightly when their eyes met, Ruiyan let out a sigh.

‘It seems that she didn’t understand.’

The girl’s thoughts were apparent. Unwilling to speak words that were unsuitable with his own mouth, Ruiyan’s forehead narrowed.

“I like you, Young Lord.”

Other than that… Does she even know what that means? Although his thoughts were slightly disrespectful, Ruiyan was at the limit of his patience. She continued to confess to him even though he acted cold and emotionless. Every day, when he made eye contact with her, the little girl would express her feelings.

“I don’t like you.”

He spat coldly and turned around. The red cheeks that hovered around disappeared from his view. As he continued walking with a faster pace, he could hear the footsteps of someone following behind.

“I like you, Young Lord.”

“…”

Ruiyan frowned. She was just a count’s daughter… If it wasn’t for the emperor’s excessive interest, he would have long since taken care of the child who kept bothering him. Perhaps the child had noticed his discomfort, so she remained silent. Ruiyan became satisfied with the quiet atmosphere, and began moving his feet. A uniformed man holding a bunch of documents ran towards him. Wondering if it was urgent, Ruiyan clicked his tongue at the fact that he was caught by the child and wasted time dealing with her.

“Do you like me?”

His hands stiffened as he opened the documents handed over by a man from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The man glanced at him and the little girl with a face of surprise. Ruiyan sighed, ignoring the man’s curious gaze.

“Do you like me?”

Ruiyan handed back the documents silently. The child often followed her father in and out of the Imperial Castle. Recently, while looking for a justification to keep the count in the capital, the emperor caught sight of her and made her the playmate of the crown prince, who was of the same age as her.

‘…So she’s that irresponsible?’

After dismissing the man, Ruiyan turned to leave. The cheeks filled with redness entered his eyes.

“Young Lady, I’ve told you repeatedly that I don’t like the Young Lady. I don’t even have a favourable impression of you.”

“…”

It was annoying that the child made judgements to her own liking. He had only let her be as he found it troublesome, but she just had to make him speak harshly. It was the first time that he spoke rudely towards another in such a short period of time. When he had finished revealing his true feelings and looked at the girl, the child lowered her head with a hurt expression at the sight of his eyes filled with irritation.

‘She won’t be chasing after me anymore,’ Ruiyan’s face eased.

As he turned around with a lighter mood to leave–

“I like you.”

The tender voice that resounded behind him angered him.

‘I should be more stern.’ Ruiyan looked back at the girl with a frown on his face.

Golden eyes filled with a strong determination entered his vision.

“So, I’m sorry. Sir Ruiyan.”

“Haa…”

He couldn’t do anything about her calling his name without his permission. He was rendered speechless at how things didn’t go the way he expected. Apparently when people go through something absurd, they can’t come to their senses. The girl confidently declared that she couldn’t give up because she liked him.

At the sight of this, Ruiyan was at a loss on what to say.