He had heard about the Duke’s engagement while travelling through the West but hadn’t known who the fiancée was.  

Leaning his head back against the chair, the man closed his eyes.  

Even without trying, the woman who had apologised to him came to mind naturally.  

A small, cute face, round eyes, and those mesmerising violet eyes within them.  

A face so familiar he could picture it even with his eyes closed—one he had never forgotten.  

“I never thought I’d see those eyes again.”  

Laced with regret and longing, his voice slipped out like a sigh.  

He hadn’t expected much this time either. As always, he had ventured out with the faint hope that he might chance upon something, knowing full well that he would be disappointed.  

But he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw her before the fountain. He had wondered if his desperation had conjured a mirage.  

Only when the Duke of Crawford appeared did he realise it wasn’t an illusion.  

Afraid she might disappear like a mirage again, he had reached out but couldn’t bring himself to grab hold of her—not with the Duke by her side.  

‘Has she been in the West all this time? Then why didn’t I find her?’  

One question led to another, and soon, resentment began to build.  

If only she had waited... if only she had trusted him and waited...  

“Hah, how pathetic.”  

The man buried his face in his rough hands.  

He had broken the promise yet was resentful toward the one who must have felt abandoned.  

Recalling the past made his chest throb with pain.  

A hot breath escaped from between the fingers pressed against his face.  

“Master.”  

A deep, rough voice broke the silence, and the man slowly lifted his head.  

The masked figure he had met earlier was now kneeling at his feet.  

“The pursuit?”  

“I’ve shaken them off.”  

“Well done.”  

“Will you be moving out tomorrow?”  

“No, I’ll need to stay here a little longer.”  

The masked man’s black eyes widened with curiosity.  

“There’s something I need to find out.”  

“Whatever you command.”  

“Investigate the Duke of Crawford’s fiancée and report back.”  

He had to know whether his suspicions were correct and what had happened during all that time.  

Without those answers, nothing would be resolved.  

“Understood.”  

The masked figure, who had been about to speak further, quickly bowed and vanished.  

Would knowing everything finally ease the hollow ache in his chest? Would it bring an end to his wandering?  

Leaning forward, the man slowly twisted the ring in his left hand.  

Etched into the platinum band was a sword on one side and a flower on the other.

***

“Lina!”  

Edwin burst into the room, shouting as he entered. Since I had asked him to knock before coming in, this had become his new noisy way of entering.  

“Ugh.”  

I blocked my ears with a pillow, deeply regretting that I had ever told him to knock.  

“Time to eat breakfast and then head to your etiquette lesson.”  

When etiquette was mentioned, I squirmed deeper under the covers to avoid Edwin. After deciding to attend the exhibition, I asked him to arrange etiquette lessons.  

Even though it wasn’t a ball, I’d still be meeting nobles and the Crown Prince, and I couldn’t afford to make a fool of myself. They would already look down on me for being a commoner; I didn’t want to embarrass myself further as the fiancée of the Duke of Crawford.  

Of course, Edwin had insisted it wasn’t necessary, but I had let his words go in one ear and out the other.  

After all, advice from someone who said, “If anyone mocks you, I’ll just cut them down,” wasn’t helpful.  

‘Why is it so hard to get up now that I must do it? I just want to sleep more.’  

While I was internally wrestling with myself, Edwin lifted me easily.  

“They say beauties are always sleepy. Seems like that saying was about my bride.”  

Edwin held me close while I was sitting on his lap, gently patting my back. His soothing touch made my eyelids grow heavy again.  

“You don’t want to take the etiquette lesson, do you? See, I told you not to do it. Come play with me instead.”  

His devilish whisper tickled my ear, and I forced myself to open my eyes.  

“No, I can’t. I don’t want you to become a laughingstock because of me.”  

“There isn’t a person in this world who can laugh at me.”  

It was an incredibly arrogant statement, but I couldn’t argue. Who would dare laugh in front of a dragon?  

“No matter what, I don’t want to bring shame to the Crawford name.”  

I was indebted to Edwin in every way, so I didn’t want to cause further trouble.  

“Even if my bride threatens the royal family, the Crawford name will remain unscathed.”  

Edwin looked into my eyes with a soft smile.  

“So, do whatever you want.”