Chapter 4
Thud.
Anel, without even realizing that the book had fallen, abruptly stood up and stared at him.
Why is that man here?
Despite her anger, she couldn’t take her eyes off the scene outside the window.
Johann was exchanging appropriate greetings with the butler who was receiving him.
For Morata Ducal House’s famous strict butler to openly show a smile, there was only one reason.
He was demonstrating impeccable manners that left no room for criticism.
He followed the butler’s guidance without turning his gaze away.
And just as he was about to disappear behind the door,
He lifted his head.
Anel, in a gloomy mood, couldn’t bring herself to sit by the window again and returned to the tea table.
It had been a long time since she had tossed the book aside. Nothing seemed to hold her attention.
“Miss.”
“Leave the tea and go. I want to be alone.”
“It’s not that…”
“Lady Morata.”
Behind Jezel’s clear voice, Anel heard an unfamiliar voice. It made her snap to attention.
A subdued yet powerful voice.
For a moment, she almost confused it with Samu, as the timbre and tone were similar.
But it was just the resemblance in sound; the atmosphere was completely different.
Anel instinctively recognized the owner of the voice.
“Viscount Sokong.”
The door opened, and a man entered.
It was almost like an intrusion.
Anel merely called him in, but she did not invite him.
There was no invitation to come in, but he pushed in as if it were his right.
The rude intruder seemed unapologetic, as if justifying that he wasn’t an intruder.
He gestured to Jezel, dismissing her.
Without any order from the mistress, Jezel, as if enchanted, stared at him for a moment, then closed the door and left.
Anel couldn’t hide her bewilderment as she glared at him.
“Viscount Sokong. Such an abrupt visit…”
“Who is the master here, anyway?
The owner of this room was clearly Anel.
Is it permissible to intrude into a lady’s room like this?
Even if you have the power to surpass the emperor’s position, isn’t this an excessively arrogant act?
“Did the Duke say anything?”
“No.”
“Next time, please tell the Duke earlier.”
In other words, it meant that it was only because my father didn’t speak in time; I was not guilty.
It was a shameless attitude.
“Please sit, Lady Morata.”
Johann sat across from Anel, indicating the chair beside her.
“The owner of this room is me, Viscountess. Entering without my consent-”
“I’m not asking you to sit for my sake, Lady Morata.”
It was a dry tone.
However, even in that dryness, there was a shining arrogance.
This was an absurd situation.
Even if there were discussions between families, in reality, there was no relationship, but to command like this.
“Then, who should I sit for?”
“The one with a weak body is not me but the lady, isn’t it?”
“I’m not that weak.”
“You’re stubborn. It wasn’t an order, but a suggestion… as you wish, Lady.”
Johann looked at Anel with an indifferent gaze.
“Johann traced the armrest of the chair with his slender and long fingers. He sat as if he were the owner of the room. Anel standing in front of him felt more like a guest.
“Lady Morata.”
He engraved the embossed pattern on the chair with his fingers and looked up at Anel. At that moment, their eyes met.
“As of today, I have become a member of the Hwang family.”
“!”
Johannes spoke, looking at the surprised Anel.
“Unofficially, the announcement will be delayed, but I need to tell you in advance.”
There was a strange joy in his gaze. Yes, it was joy.
“But…”
“It was the will of the Crown Prince.”
“That can’t be true.”
Samuel wouldn’t easily relinquish the right of succession. Even though she knew what would happen next.
“Well, your former fiancé has a personality that can’t stand anything dirty. Lady, you know that, right?”
Ah.
Upon hearing those words, Anel could only reluctantly agree. When discussing Johannes’ birth, it naturally led to the story of the Empress. Eventually, everyone involved would be dragged into the mud.
Anel lowered her head with a heavy heart. Samuel. In the end…
But there was still something she couldn’t understand. The term ‘unofficial’ meant that permission to disclose this story to the outside world had not been obtained yet. But how?
“Why would you tell me such things?”
“We are in the midst of a private conversation, aren’t we.?’’
“He consistently wore a smile, perfectly measured in its appropriateness. If someone unfamiliar saw it, they would likely believe him to be a very affectionate person, given how meticulously crafted the smile was.
However, Anel knew that such a smile was more dangerous than a blade.
“The palace wouldn’t tolerate such secretive conversations with an engagement partner,” he said.
‘Secretive’?
Anel honed in on the subtle choice of words.
“I have no knowledge of such stories.”
“Well, Lady Morata.”
