He arrived at the park like a habit. Perhaps due to the cool weather, there were many people in the park. Akia slowly walked along the park’s walking path and came to a stop.

On this day, the sky was exceptionally clear. As Akia looked up at the cloudless, blue autumn sky, the voices of people surrounded him.

“It seems the Bellerus Duke has come up to the capital.”

“But I heard an even more astonishing rumor. Well, he came up with a very young woman.”

A little earlier, Akia recalled a conversation among men in the imperial palace. The mysterious woman who appeared in the capital with the Bellerus Duke.

Rumors were spreading that the Bellerus Duke had belatedly taken a concubine, and unfavorable gossip seemed to be circulating.

“It must be Lea.”

However, as soon as Akia heard the rumor, he thought of Lea. It must be her.

Lea had been staying at Bellerus territory and sent letters to him every time, but he couldn’t bring himself to read those letters.

If he read the letters, his barely held emotions would weaken…

For over two months, the letters Lea sent had piled up in a corner of Akia’s room. Whenever Lea wanted to see him, Akia immersed himself in work like a madman.

“Darn it.”

Akia spat out a curse in his tormented heart. It was unbearable to think that Lea was breathing in the same capital.

Since hearing that news, his mind had been so complex that it felt like it would explode at any moment.

Honestly, he wanted to run to the Bellerus Duke right away. But his steps couldn’t move.

“I can’t in this condition.”

Whenever his heart tried to weaken, Akia recalled what the Bellerus Duke had told him. With his current state, he couldn’t protect her.

Akia reaffirmed his determination. He would meet Lea after finishing what he was currently working on.

As he resumed his halted steps, a sweet flower scent wafted through the air, tickling his nose.

“…”

Following the scent of flowers, Akia found a flower cart selling flowers near the park’s fountain.

As if enchanted, the Duke approached the cart.

“So, this.”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

This should be fine. Just missing her fragrance like crazy.

Akia waited for the owner to wrap the flowers he chose.

“I’ll take the same.”

A woman’s voice reached Akia’s ears as he was about to say that. And the moment he heard that voice, he knew immediately.

Because it was the voice he missed so much.

Akia raised his head towards the direction where the sweet voice came from.

A woman with flowing red hair and lively green eyes, smiling brightly, was facing him.

“It’s been a while, Your Grace.”

As the dreamed-of voice lingered in his ears, Akia’s heart sank like a heavy stone.

“…Lea.”

Confirming her identity, he tightened the fist he had been holding.
She, whom he had missed so much, was so beautiful that it was hard to recognize her at first glance. To the extent that he doubted if the person he knew was correct, to the point of questioning his own eyes.

The lavender dress tailored perfectly for her looked exceptionally good. So much so that it was impossible to look away.

“Duke.”

Lea stared at the silent Akia without any response, then took a step closer to him.

A faint fragrance emanated from Lea as she approached. And Akia, as if the scent was too overwhelming, stopped breathing.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? I deliberately came all the way here to see the Duke.”

“…”

“You didn’t miss me?”

Lea asked while looking directly into Akia’s eyes. However, Akia couldn’t bring himself to speak.

‘Didn’t you miss her?’

Of course, he missed her. Enough to want to embrace her tightly right now.

“Why are you here…”

“You’re really something. I sent so many letters, but not even one reply. Were you really that busy?”

Before Akia could finish speaking, Lea opened her mouth first. Although she was playfully talking to the Duke, Lea was actually deeply hurt.

She had consoled herself, thinking that he must be too busy to find time to reply, and at times, she even resented him. So, when meeting him, she had planned to be sharp and biting.

But why. When she discovered Akia standing in front of the flower cart, looking at the flowers, her resentment melted away like snow in the sun.

Lea had been staring at the back of the man she missed so much for a long time. He had changed so solidly, as if asking when he had been frail, like a man who could embrace her in his broad arms.

She suppressed the urge to run into his wide embrace in one breath. It’s not the time yet.

The moment Akia confirmed the flowers he picked up, Lea couldn’t endure it any longer. Seeing the Silver Bellflower held in his hands, memories from the Bellerus territory rushed in like a flood.

‘But still, you could have replied, right?’

For over two months, there was no contact from the Duke. Despite sending numerous letters, not a single one received a reply.

As if he had completely forgotten her existence. Looking at the silent Akia, Lea’s heart began to throb with unease.

Akia’s deep, ocean-like pupils turned toward her.