Chapter 76
Quick-witted Remington promptly took out my gift. He pulled out the handkerchief carefully folded inside the wrapping paper and handed it to Stefan.
The blue handkerchief, the same color as Remington’s eyes, had the child’s initials, ‘R. B.’, delicately embroidered in silver thread. It was clearly a gift filled with love and attention for Remington.
“Sister, did you embroider this yourself?”
“Of course. I embroidered it with great care while thinking of you.”
“Thank you so much, Sister. I’ll always carry it with me.”
But then, Stefan blurted out something rather petulant.
“Isn’t giving a handkerchief a symbol of parting?”
“No, Your Grace. Gifting a handkerchief can also mean that you’re hoping to meet again someday.”
“…Well, that’s a relief.”
As I subtly glared at him, trying to shift the mood, I held out Stefan’s gift, which I had been carrying on his behalf.
“Shall we open Your Grace’s gift now?”
“It’s nothing special. Just a blank notebook, so you don’t really need to open it.”
“But I’m curious. I’d like to see it.”
“If you wish, then…”
Stefan gave Remington a glance, signaling him to open the gift. Remington then took out the notebook from the wrapping and handed it to me, thanking Stefan politely.
“It’s a very high-quality notebook. Thank you, Your Grace.”
“If you need more notebooks, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll prepare plenty and send them to the Academy.”
“Thank you.”
With eyes full of warmth, Remington suddenly pulled Stefan’s hand and placed it on top of mine.
“Your Grace, please take good care of my sister.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“Of course, I know you already cherish her… but even if you’re very busy, please try to spend a little more time with her.”
“Remy, that’s enough…”
As I stepped in to stop the oddly sentimental Remington, the child gripped our hands even tighter.
“For next Christmas, I’d like a cute niece or nephew as a present. Please do your best, you two.”
“R-Remy…”
Embarrassed, I stammered his name, and Stefan, his face turning pale, was left speechless. Then, Remington quickly gathered his gifts and rushed out of the bedroom.
‘Remington, creating this kind of mood doesn’t help your sister at all.’
I was already struggling to seduce Stefan with all my might, and here Remington went and threw cold water on everything. So, swallowing my frustration, I decided to let Stefan go for the night.
“Your Grace, please don’t mind what the child said. He was just being thoughtless.”
“O-of course. I’m fine.”
“Then, have a pleasant evening, Your Grace.”
“You too…”
As he turned to leave, Stefan glanced back at me with a bashful look.
“My lady, I have… a small request.”
“A request?”
“That handkerchief you made for Remington—could you make one for me as well?”
“For you?”
“I happen to need one. And seeing how well you do embroidery… it made me want to receive one too.”
I nearly blurted out, ‘What’s gotten into you?’ He was someone who always acted like he never wanted for anything.
What’s more, just a few days ago, while packing a bag to take to his office, I had seen a neatly folded stack of handkerchiefs in his drawer—so his request surprised me even more.
But his sudden request gave me an idea.
“Your Grace, what color would you like for your handkerchief?”
“Any color will do. As long as my initials are embroidered on it…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll stitch your initials nice and big.”
Then I smiled brightly at Stefan. He blushed slightly and gave me a sheepish smile in return.
“Your Grace, I have a small request too.”
“A request?”
“I’d like to learn about gemstones from your aide.”
“F-from Finn?”
He seemed so startled that he even stuttered Finn’s name—a rare sight. But then, as if something had come to mind, he relaxed and gave me the answer I was hoping for.
“I think that’s something you should ask Finn yourself. Would you like to go to the accessory shop with me tomorrow and talk to him there?”
“Thank you very much, Your Grace.”
“I’ll take my leave now. Have a peaceful night.”
“Yes, take care on your way back.”
After seeing Stefan off, I leaned my back against the door and smiled in satisfaction. I hadn’t expected things to be resolved this easily.
‘To think I could manage it without even using the bedroom techniques Lady Dorothy taught me… Is this thanks to Remington?’
***
Back in his bedroom, Stefan mulled over Rachel’s words.
Though she probably didn’t realize it, she often added the word “our” when referring to her siblings.
Without thinking, Stefan echoed her tone to himself.
‘Our Remington…’
He also liked how she affectionately shortened their names—calling them “Leo” and “Remy”—like a big sister cooing over children. It was a sign of how naturally close-knit the three siblings were.
‘Leo, Remy…’
Stefan had never had a nickname in his life. No one had ever addressed him casually or fondly.
His foreign mother had awkwardly called him “Schtef” with her accent. His strict father insisted a man’s name should always be pronounced properly, always saying “Stefan.”
Rita, trying to sound endearing, usually called him “young master,” while the servants, intimidated by his rank, stuck to “Your Grace” or “the Duke.”
Even his own twin brothers—arguably the closest people to him—called him “Your Grace” or “the Duke.”
Stefan had always thought it was because his name sounded too rigid and stern. But then—
‘Shu…’
It wasn’t until he heard Rachel call him “Shu” that he realized something: even the name Stefan could carry sweetness.
The way Rachel had whispered it during their passionate moment—unconsciously, tenderly—had left a deep impression on him. In his entire life, no one had ever said his name that sweetly.
‘If you cannot shine warmth upon everyone, then please grant it to just one person.’
‘Remember, it is not the harsh wind that makes the traveler shed his coat, but the warm sun.’
Those were the only words of advice Thomas had left him—his first and last.
For seventeen years, Thomas had been the only one to shield Stefan from his cursed nights.
‘She’s similar to you, Your Grace. No… to me, you’re exactly alike. So please, don’t push her away.’
Thomas’s words lingered in Stefan’s mind. What had he seen that made him compare Rachel to Stefan?
Stefan saw himself as a man full of flaws. Cold, driven by revenge, unable to love or care for others.
Finn had once said Stefan’s biggest flaw was his complete disregard for the people around him.
That his indifference drove people away. That anyone who wished to stay by his side had to constantly prove their worth—hence, there was no one left.
‘Pathetic. And I’m exactly like that now.’
Stefan finally admitted to himself that what he felt wasn’t possessiveness—it was jealousy.
At first, he only felt it toward strange men. But now, he was even jealous of Rachel’s own family. That was the real problem.
Wasn’t that why, like a child, he had asked her to make him a handkerchief with his initials on it? A request so embarrassing, he would never have dared say it before.
‘Hah… I’m out of my mind…’
Now that the shame finally hit him, Stefan’s face flushed red. No doubt he had gone pale earlier, trying to hide his embarrassment in front of Rachel.
‘She said she wanted to learn about gemstones from Finn?’
Maybe he was jealous of Finn too. Honestly, right now, he didn’t want any men—young or old—anywhere near Rachel.
Fortunately, he was sure Finn would turn her down. When asked to train Hazel, Finn had thrown a fit, saying he was already too busy to even sleep.
That’s why Stefan had confidently suggested they go to the accessory shop together the next day.
‘It’s best to stomp out silly hopes before they have a chance to sprout.’
***
The next day, Rita was left at the duke’s residence because she couldn’t bear to part with Stella and had been crying since morning.
So Stefan and I, having escorted Remington and Stella to the Academy gates, were free to leisurely head to the accessory shop.
As silence fell in the carriage, Stefan finally brought up a question he hadn’t had the chance to ask the day before.
“By the way, why do you want to learn about gemstones?”
“That visit to the accessory shop with you left quite an impression on me.”
“What part?”
“The way raw stones are shaped into gems and how they shine when paired with different metals—it was all so beautiful. And the way your aide knew all those properties… it was impressive too.”
Just moments ago, Stefan’s gaze had been full of hopeful anticipation. But now, it was turning cold.
‘Did I say something wrong?’
