Chapter 22: Resolution
Loic ordered the kitchen to use plenty of fruit in all desserts.
Fruits were rare in Blenheim during winter.
Still, the head chef seemed determined to fulfill the duke’s first request. Desserts from the following day were laden with fruit, almost too much.
Loic, who had started paying special attention to desserts, quickly noticed the change.
Everything was like that.
Things that he had never given much thought to before suddenly became real when the young woman brought them up.
When she talked about the sea, he suddenly remembered the beautiful ocean bordering Blenheim. When she offered to tie his cravat, he became aware of what he was wearing. When she asked about the servants, he finally noticed the maids who would see him from a distance and turn away.
His previously dull days had started taking on color.
And then, Loic realized he had to be cautious about all of it.
Leon was one of his most trusted men. Though young, he was incredibly skilled, and Loic had personally hired him despite his commoner background.
Yet, for some reason, discovering that Leon was close with Annette made his blood boil.
He couldn’t just sit there and watch. So, he sent him away.
‘Why did I do that?’
Only when night fell and he was alone did Loic fully reflect on his emotions.
Was it jealousy? A childish possessiveness?
Maybe it was because he felt like a different person ever since she arrived—like his body had finally relaxed.
Every time her small hand touched him, the tension in his body melted away, leaving behind a comforting warmth.
Even when she placed her arm lightly on his, the heat began to radiate through him.
That night, when she sat by his bedside, gently soothing him, he felt a sense of peace creeping in from his fingertips, only to be followed by a crushing fear.
The mere thought of her letting go made his heart ache.
A wave of emotion threatened to overwhelm him.
She was dangerous.
Yet, no matter how much he knew it, he couldn’t bring himself to reject her. He kept telling himself not to get used to her touch, but he found himself waiting for her to appear again.
‘I must not misunderstand.’
She wasn’t staying in Blenheim because she liked him.
She simply needed a place to stay for a year. And since she was naturally affectionate and kind, she was just sharing that warmth with him as well.
But Loic couldn’t afford to keep anyone close.
His father, the previous duke, had fallen under the curse and died within a year.
Loic could still recall the day he saw his father screaming in desperation after realizing the curse had been passed down.
If only he had known earlier, he would never have made a deal with the dragon—even if it meant Blenheim’s ruin. Until his last breath, he regretted it and worried about his son.
His father had no choice, but Loic did.
He would never have an heir to pass down this curse. The suffering had to end with him.
He felt sorry for the ancestors of Blenheim, but there was no other way.
The dragon’s curse would never be broken.
Annette’s presence only eased his pain—it did not cure the curse. He had to remember how to endure it.
‘I must not get used to her warmth.’
If he did, he would never be able to go back.
And then, he would spend the rest of his life in agony, longing for a peace he could never have.
Letting her stay for a year had been a moment of weakness. But he wouldn’t let himself be swayed any further.
If she continued to cross the line so easily, then he would have to keep his distance.
She had looked hurt, but she needed to understand—this was necessary.
After standing by the door for a long time, Loic finally called for Whitley and gave an order.
“Bring a writing table next to the sofa in my office.”
Loic remembered how Annette had looked uncomfortable in his office, unable to rest her arm while reading.
‘I couldn’t just ignore it when I knew she was uncomfortable.’
Trying to justify his actions, Loic shook his head, trying to erase the image of her looking downcast.
The next morning, she didn’t visit the duke.
He might completely ban her from his room if she irritated him in the morning.
‘Would it be too much to visit his office now?’
Whitley told her, “His Grace is busy all day, but he might have some free time in the evening.”
So, she decided to bring him some snacks later, just before sunset.
‘The weather is nice today. Maybe I should read outside.’
The sun was warm, perfect for getting some fresh air.
When she mentioned wanting to read, Whitley kindly brought her a list of general books available in the castle.
Unfortunately, most of them were religious texts or old practical guides from over twenty years ago.
“I’ll take this one.”
Whitley hesitated but maintained his polite smile as he handed her the book.
With it in her hand, she headed to the garden.
Before long, Leta, who had been attending to her more frequently these days, arrived with warm tea and a plate piled high with fresh strawberries.
“The strawberries here are always so good.”
She happily ate a few while flipping through the book.
That’s when she heard a familiar voice.
“Your Grace!”
Sir Perel, walking across the garden with the duke, called out cheerfully.
“Sir Perel!”
Ignoring the duke, Perel quickly walked toward her.
“Your Grace, it’s been too long.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle at his sudden shift to formal speech. Perel tilted his head in confusion.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’m just happy to see you. Honestly, it’s harder to run into you than the duke.”
At her words, Perel looked noticeably embarrassed.
“I’ve been away for a while, so I had a lot of work to catch up on.”
Behind him, the duke slowly approached the tea table.
She stood up gracefully, holding the hem of her dress as she curtsied elegantly.
It was far more formal than usual.
‘Will this make him less upset?’
As she raised her head, she saw his angular features reflecting the sunlight.
But contrary to her hopes, his eyes were still dark with displeasure.
“Were you out for a walk?” she asked.
“I was heading to the watchtower.”
She offered a warm smile, but his response was cold as ever.
Sensing the tension, Perel quickly changed the subject.
“Are you reading?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask what book it is? I have quite a few in my office. If you tell me what you like—”
Perel glanced at the book’s cover and blinked.
“Oh? My eyes must be failing me. For a moment, I thought it was a cookbook.”
“It is a cookbook.”
“…What?”
Perel’s eyes widened.
“‘100 Recipes for a Wife to Win Her Husband’s Love’…”
As he read the title aloud, the duke coughed abruptly.
His long neck flushed red.
Oh?
She suddenly noticed that he wasn’t wearing a cravat today.
Staring at his bare neck, she belatedly reacted to Perel’s bewildered expression.
“Ah! Don’t misunderstand. I’m not reading it to cook.”
“Then why…?”
‘I just wanted to see if there were any dishes I liked, so I could ask the chef to make them.’
She was hoping to find something like the tomato stew she enjoyed.
But since there was only one cookbook in the library, she had no other options.
“Where do you even find these strange books?”
The duke muttered, clearly trying not to appear interested.
Was he in a better mood now? His voice sounded less sharp than before.
“It was in the castle’s library.”
“And why… are you reading outside?” he asked, avoiding her gaze.
“It’s quite cold.”
“Well, I didn’t have anywhere else to go.”
Because someone told me not to come visit. She added quietly.
At that, the duke’s expression flickered.
(Though, thanks to Whitley’s heating magic tool, it wasn’t actually cold at all.)
“Th-That’s only at night—”
“Your Grace, what do you mean you have nowhere to go?” Perel interrupted, looking shocked.
“Is your room uncomfortable? There’s a spare room next to my office—”
“She can stay in my office.”
The duke cut him off immediately.
“It gets plenty of sunlight during the day.”
She blinked at his sudden generosity.
“When will you be there?”
“I… will be out all afternoon.”
What? So I’m supposed to sit in an empty office by myself?
Biting back her irritation, she asked, “And tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow… I’ll be out as well.”
Oh, of course.
The day after tomorrow, he’ll probably be “sick,” and the day after that, he’ll have some distant relative’s wedding to attend.
