Chapter 12. The First Meeting (1)
I climbed the stairs to the third floor and slowly made my way toward the room at the far end of the hallway.
The corridor was silent. My footsteps echoed heavily in the dark hallway where no light reached.
It was colder here than on the second floor, and I couldn’t tell if it was because of the chill or my fear of the Duke’s reaction to an uninvited guest. I couldn’t help but shiver.
‘Why does this feel so familiar?’
Suddenly, a memory from my early days at work flashed in my mind.
There was a time when a model refused to continue a shoot and hid in the waiting room. I had to sneak in pretending to be a stylist just to get the door open.
‘I begged on my knees…’
“Please! Just one more shot of the pizza! Please!”
“Oh, you’re really working hard. If you’re asking like that, how can I refuse? Bring the clothes.”
The model reluctantly returned to the shoot.
Did everything go well? No.
The next day, the agency filed a formal complaint with our company. The reason was something about ‘disrespecting the model’s privacy with unreasonable shooting demands.’ Because of that, I had to write an apology letter and got a three-month salary reduction.
‘Should I turn back now?’
As I was considering if I’d be signing divorce papers instead of an apology letter this time, I reached the door.
I thought I should knock, but my hands were full. I tried to tap gently on the door with the tea tray, but it wasn’t completely shut, and my body slipped inside the room.
In a panic, I stumbled and ended up inside.
“Duke?”
The reception room was empty. Only a dim light from a marble lamp rested on the table.
No one was there?
I hesitated, unsure if I should leave, when I heard a soft sound of water coming from the bathroom, not the bedroom.
‘Could he be taking a shower?’
I carefully walked toward the bathroom with the tea tray in hand, intending to just check and leave. As I leaned close to the bathroom door to listen, the sound of water stopped suddenly.
Wait, what will happen if the Duke comes out?
“…!”
At that moment, a sudden sense of dread gripped me, like being pricked with a needle.
If someone saw me, holding the tea tray and sneaking around late at night, they’d think I was attempting to poison the Duke.
Even if they were generous, they might just think I was spying on him while he showered.
‘I need to leave now!’
My instincts screamed at me to run, but my feet wouldn’t move.
A rustling sound came from the bathroom as he tied a robe around himself.
The teapot and cups on the tray began to tremble. At this point, there was no way to leave unnoticed.
My mind went blank.
Then, the bathroom door suddenly swung open, and I froze, still holding the tea tray.
Through the steam that poured out, a tall man emerged from the bathroom, wearing a thin shower robe, his body still wet.
His robe hung loosely, revealing broad shoulders and a firm chest. His smooth neck stretched over a sharp collarbone.
I swallowed hard.
When I finally met his eyes after turning my head, I gasped inside.
‘Is this what a god’s creation looks like?’
Sharp eyes, a high nose, and thin, red lips. His face was too mesmerizing to simply be called handsome.
Water dripped from his black bangs and ran down his chest.
‘This is insane…’
Was this just a supporting character’s face?
I’d seen plenty of handsome men in real life, but this was the first time I lost myself staring at someone like this.
Then, through the mist, the Duke finally noticed me.
He froze and narrowed his eyes as if he thought he’d seen something wrong.
“…”
We stared at each other in stunned silence. Then, his eyes widened in alarm, and he hastily tightened his robe.
“Y-you! How did you—?”
Right. I had just barged into his room uninvited.
Reality hit me like a slap, and I scrambled to explain.
“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were undres— No, I just wanted to see you—!”
Panicking, I stepped backward—
Slip!
“Eek!”
In an instant, my body lost its balance, and the tea tray flew into the air.
‘This is bad.’
As I watched the tea tray soaring through the air, I had one clear realization: I was about to hit my head and pass out. A flood of regrets flashed through my mind.
‘If only I had eaten one more bowl of tomato stew…’
Just when I had given up all hope, I saw the Duke reaching out for me. His big hands grabbed my waist, and with the other, he cupped my head.
With a heavy thud, the teapot and cups crashed to the ground.
“Ouch!”
‘What happened?’
I found myself in his arms, pressing against him. It was warm and soft, and I couldn’t move. I hadn’t expected to survive, but my head didn’t hurt that much.
‘It’s heavy.’
A drop of water fell on my face.
I hesitantly opened my eyes. Black bangs dangled above me, and through them, a pair of deep, moonlit eyes stared down at me.
Funny enough, those black pupils beneath his long eyelashes were trembling, as if they were anxious.
‘His eyes look like those of a wounded wolf.’
The warmth from his body spread through mine. At first, I thought it was just his body heat, but it slowly began to stir me more deeply.
It felt cozy.
In a haze, I began to drift off until another drop of water fell on my face, and I snapped back to reality.
I was lying on the floor, completely enveloped in the Duke’s arms. No, under him, to be precise.
Thanks to him holding me, my head hadn’t hit the ground.
“…Are you okay?”
His voice trembled.
Despite the situation, the deep tone in his voice felt like being trapped in a cave.
“I’m fine. Are you okay, Duke?”
The Duke, who had been staring at me in disbelief, suddenly closed his mouth tightly.
‘Is he angry?’
He quickly stood up and distanced himself from me.
‘Well, it’s my fault, but wouldn’t it be polite to at least help me up since I’m lying on the floor?’
I wanted to glare at him, but given how much trouble I had caused, I stayed quiet and got up on my own.
“Ah!”
As I placed my hand on the floor to rise, sharp pain shot through it, and I let out a small cry. When I looked at my palm, there was blood from a small cut.
“Ah!”
And when I turned to look at the Grand Duke, I screamed even louder.
In the moonlight, his right arm was stained red. It wasn’t water dripping from his torn, thin robe—it was blood.
“Y-Your Grace! You’re bleeding!”
Panicked, I rushed toward him, but he flinched and quickly stepped back.
“D-Don’t move. It’s dangerous.”
He used safety as an excuse, but it was clear that my approach made him uncomfortable.
“Your Grace?”
At that moment, Whittley burst into the room, his eyes widening in shock as he saw us.
“My Lady?”
“…Escort the Lady back to her room. She has a wound on her hand—call the royal physician immediately.”
The Grand Duke covered his forehead with his uninjured hand. His fingers trembled slightly.
“Let’s go, My Lady.”
“Wait! The Grand Duke is far more injured than I am! We need to—”
“Whittley.”
The Grand Duke’s sharp voice cut me off.
“My Lady, I will personally tend to His Grace. Please, you must leave.”
Everything was a complete mess.
The cold room bathed in moonlight.
The shattered teacups and plates scattered across the floor.
The Grand Duke, standing there soaked, still bleeding in his robe.
And me—the one responsible for it all.
‘How am I supposed to leave like this?!’
I hesitated, unwilling to follow Whittley out. But then, I met the Grand Duke’s gaze.
His sharp eyes were shadowed beneath his hand, filled with guilt and fear—as if he had been the one to hurt me.
Why was he looking at me like that?
His trembling eyes lingered on me for a moment before he turned away, looking utterly shaken.
I couldn’t say anything else. Quietly, I followed Whittley out.
Even as the royal physician wrapped my wounded hand in bandages and the maids tidied my room, I remained silent.
Whittley, who had kept his composure the entire time, asked if I was feeling okay before leaving.
‘He must have gone to check on the Grand Duke.’
Any trace of intoxication had vanished long ago.
I had no idea what possessed me to storm into his room like that.
I remembered the way he had flinched away from me, the way his dark eyes had wavered with uncertainty.
I wasn’t upset. I understood why he reacted that way.
Thank you 💖💖💖