He stared blankly at the pond before slowly extending his hand. The worm he had placed as bait on the end of the fishing rod had disappeared. Lady Kershaw clicked her tongue as if to say, “See that?”
Jeremiah, with a face showing little disappointment, stuck another worm on the hook and cast the rod again. Then, sinking back into his chair, he muttered, “I’m not interested in battles I have no chance of winning anyway.”
****
While others were busy enjoying the holiday with their families, Sienna, who had no such people in her life, headed to Ricata early in the morning. Ricata, viewed in broad daylight, was more desolate than she had imagined.
The fact that she needed to make this barren land habitable and establish herself here suddenly felt overwhelming.
Sienna spent a long time discussing the construction of the mansion with the workers, and only boarded her carriage again as dusk fell.
Even as she was lost in thought, the carriage steadily moved forward but began to slow down upon entering the capital’s outskirts.
“Being a holiday, there are many people on the streets, so it may take a bit longer.”
Sienna nodded halfheartedly at the coachman’s words, resting her elbow on the windowsill and her chin on her hand as she gazed outside.
The streets celebrating the holiday were packed with people. As Sienna observed the crowd, her gaze suddenly turned toward the entrance of a church.
Her eyes fell upon an ordinary family. They appeared to have just finished worship, as the couple was holding their prayer books. The sight of them walking while holding their child’s hands on both sides looked quite harmonious.
As she stared at them, Sienna unconsciously placed her hand on her lower abdomen.
Though nothing could be felt beneath her hand yet, the signs were becoming clearer day by day. The feeling of something stuck in her chest, the sensation of heaviness in her breasts. The symptoms were identical to what she had experienced in the past.
Even the terrifying dread that darkened her vision was no different from back then.
Meanwhile, Jane had already handed her the completed medicine. Though it had been several days, Sienna had been avoiding making a decision.
She had been putting it off day after day, using her busy schedule as an excuse, but she couldn’t keep doing this forever.
She knew intellectually what decision she needed to make. The situation was too obvious. Yet, despite knowing everything, her foolish lingering attachment wouldn’t disappear.
“…So he’s become the regent.”
Sienna’s expression darkened gloomily.
Even if she had the child, Jeremiah wouldn’t make an issue of it. The attitude of the nobles toward her would worsen, but that was something she could endure.
What Sienna feared was that an action taken solely out of her own selfish desire might end up becoming a burden to Declan as well.
When her thoughts reached this point, all the optimistic hypotheses she had carefully constructed collapsed without a trace.
While lost in these complicated thoughts, the carriage had already stopped in front of the mansion.
Sienna glanced up at the mansion reflected in the window. The royal residence that Jeremiah had kindly lent her was as sophisticated as its original purpose of hosting distinguished guests suggested.
Even while staying here, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this building was too grand for someone like her.
No sooner had Sienna stepped out of the carriage than a maid hurriedly approached.
“A guest from the royal palace is here.”
“From the royal palace…?”
She was puzzled, having received no prior notice. Today was a holiday important enough in Parma to suspend state affairs, and on such days, people typically spent time in their own homes.
But since this was originally a residence for royal guests, having visitors on a day like this didn’t seem strange. Must be an important guest of some sort. Thinking this, Sienna headed to the reception room upstairs.
Entering with an expressionless face, Sienna stopped abruptly upon discovering the man standing by the window of the reception room.
It seemed to be an unexpected encounter for him as well, as rare agitation stirred in his gray eyes.
What Sienna felt at that moment wasn’t overwhelming emotion or joy. With her mind frozen like stone, before she could even reach a plausible conclusion, she quickly turned her head away.
She suddenly remembered how extremely the people of Parma despised Declan’s existence.
But when she inadvertently met the puzzled maid’s eyes, she realized belatedly. Had the maid known the man’s identity, she would have referred to him as a guest from the empire, not from the royal palace.
Likewise discerning the situation, Declan slowly opened his mouth.
“I apologize for not notifying you in advance.”
His voice betrayed no hint of surprise, and his demeanor was equally composed.
“I was told someone was sent, but it seems we missed each other due to the crowded streets. I’ve committed a discourtesy.”
Unlike her, whose hands were trembling with emotion she could barely control, his attitude was strictly businesslike. The maid didn’t seem to notice anything unusual.
Thanks to this, Sienna, who had been in a state of confusion, finally regained her senses.
“There’s no need to bring tea or anything, you may go now.”
The maid looked briefly puzzled at being told that basic hospitality wasn’t necessary, but she bowed without showing any reaction and left the reception room.
Even after the door had completely closed, the sound of her heart pounding loudly echoed in her ears.
Sienna’s gaze, which had been fixed on the door even after the maid left, slowly turned toward Declan. He had already approached and now cupped her face in his hands.
The kiss wasn’t long.
After the brief contact, he slightly pulled his face away. Although only a small gap formed between their lips, Declan didn’t fully withdraw.
The more Sienna averted her gaze despite their proximity, the more firmly his hands held her.
From the moment he set foot in Parma, Declan had thought something like this might happen. No, perhaps he had even hoped for it.
He was disgusted with himself for losing composure so easily, making the time he had spent pretending nothing had happened feel futile. Nevertheless, he couldn’t carelessly blurt out the words burning his throat.
How much he had missed her in the imperial palace where her traces were fading away. How he wanted to abandon everything and come to her side.
His remaining fragment of reason held back the surging emotions.
As silence continued with barely a hand’s breadth between them, Declan’s lips twisted faintly.
“So. Did you find one?”
Sienna’s gaze finally turned to him. Behind her shadowed blue eyes, emotions finally surfaced. Declan tilted his head to the side and whispered softly in her ear.
“You said you’d find an impressive man and take multiple lovers in succession.”
The room wasn’t particularly bright with only one candlestick lighting it, but it was enough to illuminate her face, which suddenly flushed red.
Finally, Sienna broke free from him. With her gaze firmly fixed on the ground after their brief eye contact, she rebuked him in a cold voice.
“I don’t think an esteemed person like yourself came all this way just to make such frivolous jokes.”
“If the position is still vacant, I could be your lover or whatever you wish.”
His handsome lips curved into a smile, but in contrast, Sienna’s face grew coldly impassive.
“If you were to become my husband, you’d have to manage the duke’s household, but aren’t you too busy for that, Your Grace?”
Even to her own ears, her tone was quite frigid. Yet it seemed not to have wounded her counterpart at all.
“Well. Is that really a problem?”
Declan’s gaze, which had been fixed on her, slid down and stopped at the single-strand pearl necklace around Sienna’s neck.
He was about to smile at her consistent taste, but his mood plummeted again as he easily imagined from whom the penniless Sienna might have received this.
Silently observing the necklace, he raised his hand and fingered the pearl.
As Sienna’s gaze, which had been fixed on his face, quickly shifted to the hand fiddling with her collarbone area, Declan found the necklace’s fastening pin, caught the strand with his fingertip, and yanked it forcefully.
The pin came loose, and the necklace fell toward the floor. Then, with a loud noise, the pearls scattered in all directions.
Sienna’s eyes widened at the sudden occurrence.
Her face was utterly bewildered as she stared at the pearls scattered across the floor.
Jeremiah had sent her a few clothes and accessories as gifts when she came to Parma with nothing, and this necklace had been the one that best suited her taste.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she looked up to see him sneering.
“Now you’re finally looking at me properly.”
Facing him as he remained shameless even after breaking her necklace, she felt an inexplicable anger rising.
“…This is no situation for such jokes.”
“I don’t mind even if I become less than a lover.”
His tone was quite dignified for someone who had just displayed pettiness with the necklace.
“Even if just once in a while, when I cross your mind, simply sending a brief greeting would be precious to me.”
