“There’s no need for you to worry about that.”
With those words, I gave him a reassuring smile.
And once again, I reaffirmed my resolve.
For him, who had been so considerate of me, I decided it was time for me to do what I truly could.
A person with many responsibilities and duties needs someone they can lean on and rest at the end of a tiring day.
And for Kaern to have that, it was necessary for me to take action.
During this moment of renewed resolve, silence lingered between us.
Then, suddenly realizing we were alone, my heart started racing again, just like before.
‘No, this can’t be.’
Please, calm down.
But instead of calming down, my heart seemed to be gearing up for a more intense beating.
It seemed I needed to leave this place to avoid being alone with Kaern.
Just as I was about to suggest leaving the terrace, the music that had filled the large space beyond the curtains abruptly stopped.
At the same time, the loud voice of a servant announced the Emperor’s departure from the banquet hall.
Relieved, I quickly returned to the hall with Kaern.
I bowed my head until the Emperor had left and then looked up as the music started playing again.
At that moment, I noticed people, or rather Kaern, being approached.
Among them, a middle-aged man moved quickly towards us.
“Duke Laverion.”
I recognized the man. It was Duke Benjamin Arta.
The Arta Dukedom was related to Kaern and Adelia through their mother, the former Duchess of Laverion.
And the man before us, Duke Benjamin Arta, was the Duchess’s younger brother and the uncle of the Laverion siblings.
“How long has it been?”
“Duke Arta.”
Kaern, who had been focused on me, turned towards Duke Arta.
I finally relaxed a bit as his gaze shifted away from me.
“It’s a pleasure to see you here; I wondered if you might not come this time.”
“How have you been?”
Kaern spoke quite warmly to him, likely because he was his mother’s brother.
“Yes, I’m always well. Haha.”
Duke Arta laughed heartily and then turned to me.
“Lady Rosentia.”
“Duke Arta. It’s been a while.”
Grateful to Duke Arta for breaking the awkward atmosphere, I greeted him cheerfully.
“Adelia, ah, I shouldn’t use her name so casually anymore. She’s now the distinguished wife of the young Duke of Creighton, isn’t she? Anyway, you’re her closest friend, right?”
“Yes, that’s right, Duke.”
“It seems the young Duchess couldn’t make it to this banquet.”
“Yes, she informed me in advance that she wouldn’t be able to attend this time.”
“That’s a shame. Her presence always brings a warm and lively atmosphere to balls and banquets.”
“She was quite regretful about not attending, saying the banquet would be dull without her.”
“Speaking of which, you and Duke Laverion are engaged, aren’t you?”
“Yes? Oh, yes, that’s right.”
Caught off guard by the Duke suddenly bringing up the engagement, I managed to compose myself and answered.
“Now that the Duke’s sister, the young Duchess of Creighton, is married, we can perhaps expect some good news from you soon?”
The Duke’s words, clearly hinting at marriage, left me speechless, avoiding a direct response.
“I could have just given a vague answer, but I couldn’t bring myself to say anything positive, knowing that our engagement was scheduled to be broken off.”
But denying it outright also seemed inappropriate.
Traditionally, engagement is expected to lead to marriage, after all.
‘What should I answer?’
I couldn’t keep silent forever.
I needed to say something, so I quickly brainstormed a response.
Just as I was about to speak evasively…
“Well…”
“We are actually planning to have a wedding soon. You might want to keep your schedule flexible for an invitation, Duke.”
Kaern’s unexpected words flowed quietly from his lips.
What did he just say?
‘A wedding?’
Who’s getting married?
Kaern and me?
I looked up at Kaern in shock.
After glancing at me, he turned back to Duke Arta and emphasized his point.
“I believe I’ve left my fiancée alone for too long.”
“Oh, is that so? Your wedding will be a great celebration for the family. I’ll tell my wife to prepare a congratulatory gift. Oh, look at the time, I must be going now.”
“Take care.”
“…Take care, Duke Arta.”
“See you again.”
After Duke Arta’s departure, like dropping a huge stone in a calm pond, Kaern spoke to me.
“You don’t seem well today; don’t overexert yourself and head back in.”
I just gazed blankly at his retreating figure.
“Yes, that’s fine.”
Relieved by the most welcome words I heard all day, I quickly agreed and nodded.
I was eager to return home.
I needed to sort out the complex situations and my thoughts.
Since we had come together in his carriage, I had no other means to return home alone.
So, reluctantly, I climbed into the Laverion Duke’s carriage.
The ride back was silent.
Kaern seemed low-spirited, and I was too mentally exhausted to engage in conversation.
‘I need to sort out my thoughts.’
I needed to understand why he said those things and what exactly was happening.
“May I open the window?”
Feeling suffocated, I wanted some fresh air.
Kaern nodded slowly.
“Don’t keep it open too long; the night air is cool.”
With his permission, I opened the carriage window wide.
The cool night breeze came rushing in.
The wind felt somewhat relieving against the pressing thoughts.
At the moment, I didn’t want to think about anything.
I just closed my eyes and quietly enjoyed the breeze.
After a while, the carriage gradually came to a stop.
Looking outside, I recognized the familiar mansion.
Kaern got up first and stepped out of the carriage, extending his hand to me.
I looked at his large, long hand for a moment before gently taking it and stepping out.
“Thank you for the ride.”
I thanked him and tried to let go of his hand.
But, like before, he held on firmly.
“Duke?”
When I called him in a half-awkward posture, he finally released my hand.
“Thanks to you, I could travel comfortably today. And thank you for taking care of me.”
Despite the turmoil caused by my racing heart and the events of the day, being with him was deeply meaningful and precious.
“I’ll be away from the capital for a while; I have some business to attend to.”
“Oh? Ah, okay.”
“Even if Adelia and I are not around, everyone at the Duke’s residence likes you… You’re always welcome to come.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Despite giving me a significant task today, I really appreciated his thoughtful consideration.
I smiled brightly at him and continued.
“Take care on your journey, Duke.”
He looked at me intently for a moment before turning away.
“If anything happens, make sure to contact me. Even if it’s a trivial matter. Especially because you’re physically weak.”
He emphasized this concern as he climbed into the carriage.
“Alright. I will.”
Shortly after, the carriage door closed and, with the resounding sound of the horses, it gradually moved away.
I watched wistfully as the carriage disappeared from my view, saddened by his departure.
Then, feeling a wave of tiredness wash over me, I went inside the mansion.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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