“You will regret it.”
Elysia did not avoid her gaze as she did in front of Eleon.
Two pairs of identical purple eyes stared at each other.
“Yes. But it’s my choice.”
Mariela staggered back and began to cry.
“Sigh.”
It was heartbreaking for Elysia to see her dispirited look.
From the moment she saw Mariela for the first time, she felt a bond like no other.
It may be because she resembles Mariela as she looks at herself in the mirror every day. But anyway, for Elysia, the mother of the owner of the body was exceptionally special.
She might have been the only person who could understand her position and thoughts now that she found out that she is also a transmigrator.
It was difficult for Elysia to act against her words and will since she relied on her.
She didn’t feel any better leaving Mariela crying like this.
After Elysia left, she saw Eleon sitting helplessly. She came over and sat down next to him.
“I’m hurt.”
Elysia looked at Eleon.
He simply thought that the Duchess of Yuter did not like him for some reason.
It seemed that it was not easy for him to get over it.
You’ve never been treated like this in your entire life, wherever you go.
Elysia was sorry and tried to comfort Eleon.
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“She hurt your feelings.”
“Me? Hurt?”
Eleon laughed happily.
“It may seem absurd to you, but I’m fine.”
“Didn’t you just say you’re hurt?”
“Not me, but you.”
“Ah…….”
“I don’t know what I’ve been doing for weeks. I wish I had kidnapped you sooner.”
“That’s a crime, Your Highness.”
Eleon hugged Elysia, who drew the line.
“I love it. The fact that you’re here.”
Her heart sank at the sincerity of his words.
“Me too.”
“Kiss. Can I kiss you now?”
“No, you can’t.”
“Why? We can only do it near the bed? You’ve been stingy since you left the room.”
Elysia hated seeing Eleon wrap his arms around her waist in earnest as if he was dragging her to bed at any moment.
“The butler is watching.”
“The butler?”
Bernard had been watching them through the crack in the door since Eleon did not answer, no matter how much he knocked.
“You have to explain.”
“I suppose so.”
Eleon’s face lit up, very excited.
* * * * *
Moments later, in Eleon’s office.
With a stunned look on his face, Bernard listened to Eleon’s bragging about his bride-to-be.
“Even when I couldn’t see, I always thought she was an attractive woman. But when I saw her in person, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I see.”
Eleon was a little excited. He has never been able to show off Elysia to anyone until now.
“She is so beautiful, I can understand what you said. You said that some of the servants were interested in her.”
“Of course.”
Suddenly, Eleon frowned.
“What about you? Did you have any interest in Elysia……”
“Oh, no. Absolutely not.”
“Liar. There’s no way you wouldn’t like her. Didn’t you also enjoy talking to Elysia?”
Like inside the carriage.
Bernard broke out in a cold sweat at his master’s suspicions.
“That….. We only discussed the Crown Prince’s atrocities, I never spoke with Lady Elysia out of my own interest.”
“I see. If it’s as you say, I will trust you.”
“Apart from that, Cedric sent a message. I was going to give you a report on the matter of Her Highness Princess Lev.”
“Did he find out where my mother is?”
“Her whereabouts are still unknown. The most recent information is that she visited Trofalgara four years ago.”
“Four years ago….”
“I have sent more people.”
“Hmm.”
Eleon shook his head after giving it some thought.
“I don’t think it will get to that point. My mother is strong. If she’s doing nothing and she’s quiet, then she’s fine. If something had happened, no one could bear her wrath.”
“That…that’s true but…”
“Besides, the situation is not good at the moment. If only my mother had been here on a day like today.”
Elysia is not the only precious daughter. Eleon is also a precious son.
If his mother had seen Eleon, her only son, who was born as a member of the Imperial family, and who lived his whole life with pride, bowing his head to a mere duke’s wife, it would have been a great disaster.
“Ahh.”
The butler rubbed the goosebumps on his arm as if he was afraid to even imagine it.
“How can you say things like that? I really hate even thinking about it.”
“Right. So, I was wondering if we should increase the number of people to find her faster.”
At first, he thought that his mother could not miss his wedding, but now the situation is unknown.
“Don’t stop tracking, gather more information.”
“Then we will continue our investigation.”
“I will leave the matter in your hands.”
Bernard was just about to leave Eleon’s office.
“Butler. By the way, you should go to the hospital.”
“Huh? I don’t have any particular pain.”
Eleon said seriously.
“The fact that you didn’t fall in love with Elysia is because you may have a problem with your eyes or with your head. Make sure to get treatment. I’ll pay for your treatment.”
“Ha ha. Yes, Your Highness. Thank you.”
Bernard was very surprised to learn that ‘Rona‘ is the daughter of the Duke of Yuter, who had lost her memory in an accident.
There was no one in the capital who did not know about the ‘Priestess Elysia‘ and the rumors about the Duke of Yuter, who gave his only daughter to Hadunsha.
He was surprised, but that’s all.
He has no reason to oppose Eleon’s marriage.
Eleon was the master he served, and he was only a servant.
However, the butler’s pride cracked a bit at the sight of his master making such silly comments.
“What’s good is good.”
The butler raised the corners of his mouth as he recalled that just half a year ago, Eleon was frustrated with pain.
* * * * *
Elysia’s eyes lit up as she looked around the new room that the butler hastily prepared.
“Wow. I have never been here before.”
“That’s right. It has been empty for a long time. I was having a bit of a hard time cleaning up.”
It had been more than ten years since the Grand Duchess’s room had been opened.
It has been empty ever since Eleon’s father, Sir Desar, passed away and his mother returned to the Imperial Palace.
Nothing has been done officially yet, but Elysia has completely made up her mind about Eleon when she confronted Mariela.
「“Choose. Do you want to share my bed or the Grand Duchess’ bed?”」
Eleon got stubborn with Elysia, who wanted to go to the maid’s room she was originally using.
She eventually moved her luggage to the Grand Duchess’ room as he wished.
A thick curtain made of heavy fabric hung over the bright window.
Elysia’s room in the Yuter Duchy had a girly style overall, but this room felt like a more mature woman’s room.
Each luxurious piece of furniture casts a lustrous shine.
Elysia stroked the smooth wood grain with her hand.
She figured that this would be the room she would continue to use if she continued to live here in the future, so she was able to attach meaning to each object.
And for the first time, she felt like she owned something.
“What do you think? Do you like it?”
Eleon gently knocked on the open door and entered the room.
He took off the uniform he was wearing when he met Mariela and was only wearing a light shirt.
Elysia’s heart pounded at the sight of him.
“The room is so pretty and nice. Thanks.”
“It was nothing. Decorating the mansion is the job of the Grand Duchess. If there is something you don’t like, buy everything and decorate as much as you want.”
“Oh. So this the smell of money and power.”
Eleon burst out laughing as Elysia spread her arms wide and spun around.
The quick-witted butler quickly closed the door and disappeared.
“You sound like Rona when you say that.”
“Re…really?”
Elysia didn’t act any different even when she was Rona. She thought about what he meant.
Oh, I must have been acting a bit differently.
As Elysia, she tried to act like a lady, and act in accordance with the people around her.
“Which one do you prefer?”
“Which one?”
“I mean Rona or Elysia. Which one do you like more?”
“Both are you.”
“Still. You must have a preference.”
“Well.”
Eleon pondered for a moment, then answered seriously.
“I want a woman who kisses me better.”
“Oh gosh.”
Elysia was dumbfounded, but Eleon was so handsome that she put up with it.
Her lips almost fell instead of her fists at the unseemly words of a very handsome man.
Elysia was embarrassed when Eleon stared at her lips. She turned around and headed for the window.
The window overlooked the poorly maintained garden.
Originally, this garden was used by the Grand Duchess to plant her favorite flowers.
“Plant flowers or whatever you want.”
“I need to think about it. I want to see pretty things throughout the spring, summer, autumn, and winter.”
After saying that, she felt overwhelmed.
There was a time when she had no memories and lived in an unfamiliar place, but now she wonders if she could picture a future here.
Eleon. Because you’re here.
The man who filled her heart came up behind her back, crouched down, and rested his chin on Elysia’s shoulder.
Elysia laughed out loud at his behavior. It looks like a large beast with his back leaning forward.
“Don’t run away. Elysia.”
“I’m not running away.”
“Then you will be loved more than Rona. She has a history of running away.”
“That……At that time, when I went out, the Hadunsha’s priests took me away.”
“It’s the same. You disappeared without a word.”
“…… I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Because I knew I would find you.”
“It won’t happen again.”
With his arms around her waist, he straightened up and turned her toward him.
Elysia felt her face suddenly redden.
Her humble dating experience didn’t help her face him in broad daylight.
Embarrassed, Elysia turned to the window and drew back the pitiful curtain.
“This… this curtain. Why is it so thick? Aren’t thin and light curtains better?”
Eleon, who was watching her act awkwardly, chuckled.
“Why?”
He stretched out his long arms and drew the curtains that seemed impractical because they were thick and heavy.
Slide
Thick curtains blocked out the light almost completely.
“This is the room of the Grand Duchess.”
“Yes, I heard the butler said it earlier, but…..”
“These curtains are very useful for this room.”
The room was dark as if night had fallen in an instant.
Eleon’s red eyes shone like a beast, and a dim light shone through a gap between the curtains.
“I would be sad if you refused me again. Can I kiss you?”
Elysia, who had thought it would be impossible to look at Eleon’s face in broad daylight, said.
“It’s…it’s broad daylight….It’s…it’s better at night…. Uh, here too….that sounds good…..”
Her voice was accompanied by a tremor in her body.
He reminded her of the excitement of the night before.
Eleon lowered himself to eye level.
“Then it’s fine now.”
“Well, that…that’s right.”
Eleon’s thumb pressed against her lower lip, and then her mouth fell open.
Soon, his scent wafted through the gap.
