“Duke! It’s the butler.”
Before he could say more, the sound of knocking and the butler’s urgent voice came from outside.
Kaern lifted his head, alternating his gaze between me and the door, seemingly contemplating what needed immediate attention.
“Duke! There is an urgent message from the palace!”
The butler’s words cut through any hesitation, urging Kaern into action.
Kaern then turned away from me and spoke in a low voice towards the door.
“From the palace?”
“Yes, they said it must be delivered to you immediately.”
“Come in.”
Upon Kaern’s command, the butler hurried into the office.
“My apologies.”
“Enough. The message?”
“Here it is.”
Kaern took the envelope, stamped with the emperor’s seal, from the butler and tore it open irritably.
A quick glance at the seal confirmed it was indeed from the emperor.
I sat quietly, watching him read the letter swiftly, murmuring a curse under his breath.
His rugged demeanor startled me, but soon his gaze returned to me.
He remained silent for a long while, the butler fidgeting nervously beside him.
The situation seemed urgently pressing.
I had said all I needed to for the day, though I felt slightly uneasy about not receiving a clear response from him.
“Duke…”
“Let’s talk later.”
He spoke before I could, cutting me off.
“Okay, I understand. Then, I’ll take my leave now.”
Relieved, I quickly got up.
“Helena.”
As I was about to walk out, Kaern called out to me.
“Yes?”
“I’ll come to see you as soon as I’m done. And then, I’d prefer if you called me by my name, not as the Duke.”
I thought I had smoothly transitioned earlier, but it seemed Kaern had been mindful of me not using his name.
I nodded in response and promptly left the office.
The journey from the office on the second floor to outside the mansion was quite long.
My mind was still in a whirl as I walked down the corridors, the stairs, and finally out of the mansion.
“Miss.”
Amy’s voice brought me back to reality.
“What’s the matter? Is something wrong?”
“No, no. Let’s head home.”
“Okay.”
I tried to smile casually and walked towards the carriage.
That’s when I noticed the commotion nearby. Several horses had appeared in front of the mansion, including one I recognized well.
“Kaern’s horse.”
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, Kaern rushed out and smoothly mounted the horse.
“You can take your time looking at your garden.”
He spoke while holding the reins, looking at me.
“No, it’s late, and you won’t be here. Are you heading to the palace now?”
“I’ll deal with it as quickly as I can, and then we’ll talk about the issue from earlier.”
“Take care, Duke.”
He nodded and swiftly galloped away, followed by his knights.
“Ka…!”
I almost called out his name but stopped myself, realizing the futility as he was already too far away.
I watched until he disappeared from sight.
“Let’s go, Amy.”
“Yes, Miss.”
I took one last look in the direction he vanished, shaking off the feeling of regret, and returned home in the carriage.
As Kaern rode towards the palace, he struggled to suppress his rising anger.
Break off the engagement? Find a new duchess?
How could she say such things?
He had never imagined that Helena, his fiancée and soon-to-be wife, would have such absurd and unthinkable thoughts.
He regretted not marrying her as soon as she became an adult.
If only they had married from the start, she wouldn’t have thought about leaving him.
His restraint was solely for Helena’s sake.
He didn’t want to burden her with responsibilities at a young age.
If she had become the duchess right away, Helena would have had to shoulder many duties, irrespective of her age.
But Kaern didn’t want Helena, the same age as Adelia, to start a burdensome life so early.
He had hoped she could enjoy her youth without hardships, especially after he had settled the debts left by her late parents.
However, Helena, demonstrating her capability, repaid the debts he covered over several years.
Initially, he refused to accept the payments, knowing they would eventually share everything as a married couple.
But Helena was adamant.
Her determination left him no choice but to comply.
With each repayment, Helena sent a letter.
The content was always similar and simple – expressing gratitude and detailing when she would finish paying her debt.
For him, these weren’t mere debt repayment plans; they were precious memories.
He treasured these letters in his study, a place only he could access.
Whenever his desire to be with her grew, he would read these letters to comfort himself.
But now, she was planning to escape from him.
Kaern sighed, trying to calm his intense emotions.
He couldn’t let Helena leave him like this.
But he couldn’t talk to her immediately.
Kaern knew why the emperor had summoned him.
It was about the war.
His recent absence from the capital was for this reason – to inspect the movements of the neighboring Matios Kingdom, which was preparing to invade the empire’s southern lands.
He hadn’t expected the war to start so soon.
It was unlike him to be so lax.
‘Why did I do that?’
He knew the answer.
He wanted to stay by Helena’s side a bit longer, especially after Adelia left, not wanting to leave her alone in her loneliness.
Kaern cursed himself internally.
The timing couldn’t be worse.
He needed to stay by her side to prevent her from drifting away, but his responsibilities as a duke called him away.
The empire always needed Kaern, and as the duke of its foremost house, he had duties to fulfill.
‘I must see Helena before I leave.’
The duration of the war was uncertain.
The shortest one he had participated in lasted less than two months, but the longest stretched for years.
However, this time, he was determined not to let it take so long.
He had to explain the situation and somehow keep her by his side.
This seething anxiety wouldn’t dissipate until he had her securely in his arms, yet he still needed to meet Helena and try to suppress these emotions.
‘Hopefully, Lucas Aiker isn’t approaching her again while I’m away.’
Fortunately, so far, his warning had been effective, and Lucas Aiker hadn’t dared to come near Helena since.
But if it becomes known that he’s away…
Suddenly, the horse Kaern was riding let out a loud neigh and abruptly stopped.
Cold Male Lead Became My Clingy Husband (Female-Dominant)
Feng Bai Su transmigrated into a matriarchal novel, becoming the sister of the female protagonist and the Seventh Princess of the Feng Ling Kingdom.
After working herself to death in her previous life, finally reincarnating as a princess, she only wanted to be a lazy fish who could eat, sleep, and play.
Until she met the male protagonist from the book, Wei Jing Mo, and he took a liking to her!
Wei Jing Mo is the top young man in Feng Ling City, talented in both appearance and ability, from a prestigious family, with a cold and otherworldly appearance, a figure like the bright moon in the hearts of noble ladies. It was thought that only the most powerful and talented noble lady in Feng Ling City would be worthy of such a brilliant young man. Who knew that this young gentleman would secretly admire the infamous Seventh Princess?
Short scene 1:
Feng Bai Su looked at the young man crying like a pear blossom in the rain before her, and couldn’t help but doubt her life.
Wasn’t the male lead described as a cold and otherworldly figure in the book?
Then who was this poor little thing crying with swollen red eyes and tear-stained face?
Short scene 2:
Wei Jing Mo stared intently at Feng Bai Su who was about to go out, wanting to say, “Be careful on the road.”
Before he could speak, Feng Bai Su suddenly bent down and bit his cheek.
Her peach blossom eyes were full of disdain: “Tsk! You’re so clingy!”
Wei Jing Mo: “…”
A talented fox spirit female lead with a flirtatious appearance but actually abstinent VS A cold-looking but actually naive and clingy little jealous male lead
