072. Awareness (4)

“…A display case?”

“Yes… One day, out of the blue, His Grace ordered the butler to acquire a display case.”

A display case, a room with that display case, and the fact that it was filled with the gifts she had given him…

“So, he’s been keeping them all?”

“It seems that way. It might be for display, but in any case, he certainly treasures them.”

Jade continued sharing information without being asked, and Lucia, listening with growing surprise, went straight to Owen’s study and opened the door.

As Jade had mentioned, Owen was engaged in conversation with Logan.

“Ah, Lucia. Did you finish choosing your clothes?”

“Yes. I was going to pay for them myself, but they told me you had already signed for everything.”

Without hesitation, Lucia approached Owen, who was looking at her with a warm expression.

Logan bowed respectfully and took a step back, while Jade also kept a few steps away, maintaining his distance.

“Did you dislike it?”

“No, it’s not that. But I’m not very fond of just receiving things without giving back.”

“Ah.”

“So, I brought you a gift too.”

Lucia placed the two neatly wrapped boxes on the desk.

“They’re cufflinks and a tie pin.”

“Now I’m the one receiving a gift again.”

“You did buy all those clothes for me, after all. But…”

As Owen examined the boxes, Lucia changed the subject.

“Sir Jade told me something.”

“Sir Jade did?”

The moment Jade’s name left her lips, she sensed a flinch behind her.

It wasn’t from a knight’s keen instincts, but she could feel it intuitively.

Nonetheless, Lucia maintained a smile as she continued, directing her words to the puzzled Owen.

“He said you’ve been collecting my gifts. Is that true?”

“….”

“….”

“….”

The study fell into silence following her bright smile and her unexpected question.

The one who eventually broke the silence was the butler, Logan.

“Sir, what have you done?”

Logan’s quiet scolding toward Jade could be heard faintly from behind.

“I didn’t do anything… I merely stated the facts,” Jade replied in a voice full of indignation.

Indeed, Jade had only told the truth. The problem was that this truth was supposed to remain within the walls of the Verdun estate.

“…So, the captain of the knights informed you of this?”

After a long pause, Owen finally spoke, offering a gentle smile. However, his gaze directed at Jade was icy cold.

Jade, likely anticipating a grueling training session the next day, seemed to brace himself inwardly.

“He mentioned a room—a room with a display case. He said it’s filled with things I’ve sent you.”

Lucia pretended not to notice Jade’s predicament.

It was Jade who had brought up the subject, and while it was an open secret within the estate, he was the one who spoke of it.

So, in a way, this was his responsibility.

And more than anything…

“I’m curious. Could you show me?”

More than anything else, she was intrigued by what that room might look like.

Seeing the sparkle in her eyes, Owen hesitated, his ears already tinged with red, betraying his embarrassment at being found out.

Logan and Jade exchanged glances, marveling at the unfamiliar expression on Owen’s face.

‘Living long enough, I get to see everything.’

‘His Grace… making that face…’

Despite only being a few years older than Owen, Logan found himself thinking like an old man, while Jade looked utterly astonished, as if he had seen something unbelievable.

Thoughts of the arduous training that awaited him tomorrow seemed to vanish from his mind entirely.

“…If you wish, then yes.”

After a long deliberation, Owen finally gave his answer.

Logan and Jade looked even more astonished, while Lucia smiled as if she had expected it all along.

“Come with me.”

Owen rose from his seat and took Lucia’s hand.

With a gesture, he gave silent instructions to Logan and Jade.

Logan swiftly understood Owen’s gesture and followed, carrying the gift boxes. Jade, sensing the mood, trailed behind Logan. Owen led the way out of the study, heading towards the room next to his bedroom.

“This is… right next to your bedroom?”

“That’s right.”

As Owen opened the door, a familiar sight unfolded—at least, familiar to Owen, Logan, and Jade.

“Ha.”

Lucia let out a small breath as she took in the large display cases, neatly filled with gifts.

“May I take a look around?”

“Of course.”

With Owen’s permission, Lucia moved straight to the display case and opened it. Inside, dozens of gifts she had given him over time came into view.

There were the rose-patterned cufflinks she had bought at the Rodel auction, the gloves she had given him for the hunting competition, a bouquet of roses she had dried and preserved, the wine-colored tie she had sent some time ago…

In the tall display case, her gifts were meticulously arranged, from the suits and formal attire she had given him, to riding clothes and shirts, all properly maintained.

Even the cravat and tea set she had gifted recently were beautifully displayed.

With just a glance around, Lucia realized the truth.

Owen had tended to this space with care and affection. He had carefully preserved and cherished everything she had given him.

She had thought that he simply liked her gifts since he often used them in front of her. But now, she wondered if he only used them when she was present.

Maybe he valued them too much to risk damaging them.

“This is…”

Lucia opened the final drawer of the display case.

Inside, she found her letters and invitations, neatly stacked.

“You really…”

As she flipped through the letters, checking the dates, she felt a lump rise in her throat, her voice wavering with the urge to cry.

Owen’s expression shifted, his gaze softening at the sound of her teary voice.

Hurriedly, he took the gift boxes from Logan’s hands and dismissed Logan and Jade from the room, shutting the door behind them.

Then, he turned back and wrapped Lucia in his arms.

“Did I disappoint you? Why are you crying all of a sudden?”

He gently patted her back as he spoke, trying to soothe her, but Lucia shook her head.

“Disappoint me? What are you talking about?”

It wasn’t disappointment at all. It was just… well…

“I realized something. That you love me so much. And so, I wanted to ask you.”

Lucia had come to understand Owen’s love more and more with each passing day since she realized he cared for her.

His love was tender, unwavering, and overwhelmingly immense.

And every time she thought she understood its depth, he revealed even more.

“Why do you love me so much…?”

Owen had begun to love her at some point. No, perhaps it started back then.

A spring day in April, when cherry blossoms had bloomed in full.

They spent time together at a garden party and later at the Verdun estate.

He had shown interest in her around that time.

And as his feelings grew, his behavior had become increasingly intense until finally—.

—I think I’m in love with you.

He confessed.

Love can arrive unexpectedly.

It’s a fickle, selfish emotion.

Yes, but…

“Am I really someone worth loving?”

Was she truly someone worthy of his love, considering what a good person he was?

It wasn’t about self-deprecation—it was simply the truth.

Lucia knew she was beautiful and dazzling.

She understood that she stood out in appearance, held a strong position in social circles, and had valuable connections.

The prestigious background of House Edelte made her a suitable match for marriage.

But that was all.

—She’s a flower without fragrance. Without the name Edelte, she’s worthless.

Lucia had overheard those words once.

It was something her father had said behind closed doors.

—What would you have left without society and connections? Nothing but that face of yours.

Her stepmother, the Duchess of Edelte, had once spat those words in frustration.

Lucia hadn’t been hurt when she heard those remarks.

They were simply the truth.

So, she had just smiled and retorted, cutting them down with equal harshness.

“What do you mean, Lucia?”

Because of this… she couldn’t understand why Owen was so devoted and loving toward her.

Maybe she was a suitable match politically or as a marriage partner, but did she really have qualities worth loving?

She cherished his affection, yet the reason she clung to him might have stemmed from that uncertainty.

Not knowing why he loved her made it impossible for her to fully comprehend him.

“You deserve to be loved. Simply for who you are.”

Owen answered without hesitation, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“You shine brightly on your own, without needing anyone else’s help. You’re strong and confident, and that’s the person I love.”

He easily listed Lucia’s strengths, carefully highlighting only those she had achieved on her own.

“You recognize talented people and give them what they need.”

“That’s just…”

She tried to respond, saying she did those things simply because she wanted to.

But Owen’s lips brushed over hers, stopping her words.

It was a brief, feather-light kiss.

“Lucia, you need to understand yourself a little better.”

He moved his lips to her forehead, planting a gentle kiss filled with tenderness and affection.

“You might not realize it, but you care deeply for the people around you. You prioritize talent and ability, but you don’t disregard those who don’t meet those standards.”

“That’s just common decency.”

“There are plenty who don’t act that way. Like your former fiancé, for example.”

At the mention of Celid Marquess’s heir, Lucia let out a sigh.

She couldn’t deny that he had been a truly dreadful person.

“You know how to draw people’s attention and lead them well.”

“And that’s a reason to be loved?”

“Why would there need to be any other reason to be worthy of love?”

Lucia fell silent at his gentle reply.

That was true.

A reason to be loved…

In truth, there didn’t need to be one.

She had just assumed that she wasn’t someone worthy of it.

If it were a selfish love, she could believe that her appearance and charisma were the attraction, but such tender and generous love…

It seemed like there should be something more special behind it.

“Remember what I told you during the hunting competition? You don’t need a big reason to like something.”

“Oh.”

The memory of his words from that time resurfaced.

—Because, Lucia, you don’t need a big reason to like something. Later, you’ll find more reasons that seem like explanations, but in the end, you just like it.

That’s right.

Owen had already said it.

You don’t need a big reason to love something.

It’s just that you find things to like, and then you call those things your reasons.

“I simply love you. That’s an unchanging truth. And you know that well, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“So, you don’t need to search for reasons. If I had to say, it’s because you, just as you are, are the reason.”

Owen’s tenderness extended even to moments like these.

Even when she was anxious, uncertain, and behaving suddenly like this.

“Every person is worthy of love simply by being themselves.”

“Is that what you think?”

“Of course. It applies to most people, and to all living beings as well. They deserve love for the simple fact that they exist—so long as they don’t commit any unforgivable wrongs.”

“…You’re too kind.”

And so, Lucia found herself speaking those words.

Owen, as always, was endlessly gentle.