Chapter 10
The Annoying Woman
Diego slumped in his carriage, running a frustrated hand through his hair. A heavy sigh escaped through his fingers as he repeatedly rubbed his face.
‘Why am I so annoyed?’
Deep down, he knew the answer but didn’t want to admit it.
He didn’t want to accept that his mood was being swayed by a woman he’d just met.
‘Ebony Dominique.’
The mere thought of her name made his expression tighten.
‘Because of her, I’ve been acting out of character.’
Something about her had gotten under his skin.
Otherwise, why else would he have made an excuse to visit Leonhardt Dominique, someone he usually only saw once a season?
“…Does that mean I’ll get to see you again, Your Grace?”
He remembered the hopeful green eyes and the shy voice filled with a quiet longing. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen someone look at him like that; countless women had done the same.
But why her?
Why did that infuriating woman spark even a flicker of curiosity in him?
Ebony kept creeping into his thoughts, and Diego found it irritating. Crossing his arms, he closed his eyes tightly, as if shutting out the world could also silence his thoughts.
‘This is insane.’
But when he tried to block her out, her image barged back in. With a crooked smile, Diego opened his eyes, forcing her memory away.
It was absurd.
He’d never been this impulsive or foolish before.
At first, it was just irritation.
Something about the way she acted like they were strangers grated on his nerves.
Then came curiosity.
Before he knew it, she was occupying his thoughts and drawing his gaze.
Her looks were passable, but nothing extraordinary.
Her shallow breaths in the quiet moments left an odd impression.
None of it was significant, yet his instincts betrayed him, and that infuriated him even more.
‘Who does she think she is, causing all this confusion?’
For the first time in his life, Diego was experiencing something he couldn’t quite define, and it unsettled him.
The more he thought about her, the clearer his feelings became. This wasn’t just annoyance anymore.
There was something else beneath the surface.
And to uncover that truth, Diego realized he had to meet her again.
But their reunion didn’t happen as expected.
“Your Grace, monsters have invaded the northern forest!”
“The duchy has suffered significant damage from the attacks!”
“The knights have discovered the source of the monsters and need you to lead the mission!”
As winter began in the northern region, trouble emerged everywhere. Diego, both a skilled knight and the Duke of Magnus, had to manage monster hunts and the affairs of his duchy.
“Your Grace, we need to close the northern gates immediately.”
After a grueling day of monster extermination and helping displaced residents, Diego returned to his office in the early hours of the morning, only to find himself drowning in paperwork.
Most of the letters piled on his desk begged him to close the northern gates, which would prevent monsters from invading other territories and make the knights’ work easier.
It sounded like a fair solution for everyone—except for Diego and the Magnus family.
The burden of managing the north’s open borders would fall solely on them, doubling their workload.
“If it weren’t for that cursed Saint family, things wouldn’t be this messy,” Diego muttered.
“They’re always causing trouble for you, Your Grace,” the steward replied apologetically.
The Saint family had long been a thorn in Diego’s side. They frequently shifted their responsibilities to the north and lobbied for border closures, all while blaming the Magnus family for any mishaps.
As Diego sifted through the letters, one caught his eye—it was from Leonhardt.
“Are you planning to visit us? I saw in the papers how busy you’ve been.
If you’re not coming, let me know so I can make other plans with my sister and Helene.
Take care of yourself, and hang in there this winter.”
The letter reminded him of his promise to visit Leonhardt’s estate.
‘I was supposed to see his sister,’ Diego realized.
With his busy schedule, he’d almost forgotten about Ebony Dominique. The intense emotions she had once stirred in him had faded into the background.
‘I don’t think I need to go after all.’
Perhaps he’d misinterpreted his feelings about her.
It wouldn’t be right to harbor negative thoughts about his friend’s sister, after all.
Whatever the truth was, Diego was relieved that the storm of emotions had passed. He hoped to never see her again.
Or so he thought.
“Good day, Your Grace,” a familiar voice greeted him unexpectedly one day.
“I’m not sure if you remember me… Ebony Dominique. Leonhardt’s sister. I’ve come to discuss something important.”
The same woman who had once thrown him into turmoil stood before him, reigniting all the emotions he’d worked so hard to suppress.
Meanwhile…
Ebony was determined to make her mark on Diego this time.
When Leonhardt announced at breakfast that Diego was visiting in a few days, Ebony’s heart leaped.
“Diego’s coming? Really?” she asked, trying to sound casual.
“Yes. He said he’d stop by. If it’s okay with everyone, I might invite him to stay the night,” Leonhardt said.
“That’s perfectly fine! Isn’t it, Ebony?” Helene asked with a knowing smile.
“Yes! That’s fine,” Ebony replied, trying to hide her excitement.
This was her chance—a rare opportunity to meet Diego without braving the harsh northern lands or sneaking around her brother.
‘I won’t let this chance slip away.’
Her eyes sparkled with determination as she began crafting a flawless plan.
