“Why don’t you keep answering? I mean, exactly like the first time we met, Duke…”

“I’m busy right now. Let’s find some time later.”

Before Lea could finish her words, Akia turned away without hesitation.

“Duke?”

She called out to the retreating Akia, but her call didn’t reach him. Watching him completely disappear from her sight, Lea froze in that spot.

I don’t know why I came to the mansion in such a state of mind. In Akia’s head, there was only a warning sound that he had to get out of there.

“This is driving me crazy.”

If he had done something wrong, he might have hugged Lea with all his might right there.

He wanted to hug her until his body stiffened, wanted to kiss her relentlessly on the lips. He wanted to confine her to the bedroom, not allowing her to take a single step outside.

Even in that brief moment of facing each other, Akia’s unbearable desire bubbled up.

He clenched and then opened his fist. In order to endure the impulse of the moment, the nails in the clenched hand had dug in, and blood was flowing.

Looking down at the messed-up hand, Akia let out a deep sigh.

‘How did I endure all this time?’

Lea was always like that. Always appearing without notice, shaking up his world.

Akia’s silent world had changed drastically after meeting Lea. He wasn’t a person who got emotional or caught up in impulses like this.

But for Lea, he couldn’t endure. The gaze that seemed hurt, like she had been wounded by him, didn’t fade from his memory.

But Akia couldn’t turn back now.

“Not yet.”
Yes, not now. At this moment, Akia felt too inadequate to protect Lea.

As he arrived at the entrance of the mansion, there was a carriage he had never seen before standing there. And as the Duke returned to the mansion, Rikel approached as if she had been waiting.

Before Akia could ask, looking at the unfamiliar carriage, Rikel spoke first.

“Duke, Duke Bellerus has arrived.”

Entering the reception room, Dmitry sitting at the table near the window was visible. He elegantly raised a teacup with a dignified gesture, then glanced at Akia entering.

“Long time no see.”

As Akia took a seat across from Dmitry, he poured tea into an empty cup.

“According to the rumors, you’ve been busy establishing your position in the capital.”

He extended the teacup filled with the scent of strong black tea towards Akia.

Just two months ago, Dmitry, who had politely asked for a favor, seemed to have disappeared. The former arrogant Duke Bellerus had returned.

“Do you know who I came here with?”

“Yes, I do.”

Rumors had spread in high society that Dmitry came with a young woman. However, in reality, he likely visited the capital to formally admit Lea, who had become the Duke’s fiancée.

“Well, did you meet that child?”

“…”

Silence was an affirmative answer. Dmitry, looking at the silent Akia, continued without waiting for a response.

“Well, I suppose that child went ahead of me.”

Akia recalled Lea’s appearance in the park a little while ago.

They say the environment shapes a person. Although it was only for a short time, Lea emitted an atmosphere that was somewhat different, enough to be mistaken for another person.

Perhaps she had learned aristocratic manners or grew up as the daughter of a common Duke.

Dmitry’s sharp gaze pierced through the Duke. Whenever the topic of Lea came up, Akia’s expression changed.

Fortunately, Akia kept his promise.

Did he genuinely intend to cut off from Lea? Not a single reply was sent to the dozens of letters she sent.

‘If I were not a prince…’

If Akia had grown up as an ordinary Duke’s heir like other nobles. If that were the case, he might have succumbed to Lea’s sincere love and formed a relationship.

But Duke Heidern was a former imperial prince threatened by the emperor.

‘Even if I ascend to the throne myself…’

He had expressed it as if giving permission to Lea, but in his current state, he couldn’t give his only granddaughter away.

Dmitry delivered the final blow, looking at Akia in front of him.

“Even if you’re a prince and a duke, who doesn’t know that it’s all a facade? I can’t give my only granddaughter to someone who might die at any moment.”

“…”

“Well, I think you understand. I’ll withdraw now.”

While Dmitry was looking down at Duke Heidern, who had lowered his head, he stood up from his seat. Just as he was about to pick up the luggage he had placed next to him and leave the reception room,

“Duke Bellerus.”

In the silent room, Akia’s muted voice echoed. Dmitry turned towards Akia in response to the deep voice, as if calling from a deep cave.

And then, Akia slowly opened his lips.

“If I become the emperor, will it be acceptable?”