Villainous Lady, The Obsession Begins

【Chapter 14】

 

I don’t know if it’s because of that, but Minuelle returned home faster than the previous three days.

Esadien looked back at Theodore with a distinctly distorted face.

“Theo.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Theodore was eating the mango that Minuelle hadn’t even touched. Come to think of it, mango was her favorite fruit, so it was strange that she just left it there. It was obvious that Theodore was teasing him.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve done a practice match.”

“Yeah?”

After swallowing the last piece of mango, terrified Theodore slowly got up from his seat and prepared to run away. Although their skills were similar, Esadien had a surprisingly tenacious personality. He never let go until the end, always reducing his opponents to ashes.

“Oh, it’s been a while since I went home, so please look after me.”

“You’re noisy.”

However, Esadien dragged Theodore to the training ground. Eventually, even Theodore, with two black eyes like a raccoon, was able to return home. 

And it was the sixth day.

“……”

The attendant cautiously cleared the table, glancing at Esadien. Esadien sat in a seat facing the window, and his posture was as elegant as his long legs nicely folded.

“Um… Your Highness, shall we send someone to the Duchess of Karinen’s residence?”

“For what reason?”

“The Lady did not come today….”

“She must have some business to attend to. Is it necessary for Minuelle to come to the palace every day when she is not even an employee?”

He spoke in a colder tone than usual. The attendant quietly retreated, thinking it was best to leave him alone. Esadien, still gazing out the window, did not even notice the attendant leaving. His face grew even stiffer as he watched the window becoming tinged with purple.

‘I knew it.’

The expression of love that people speak of is so unreliable that it disappears as quickly as the life of a fish out of water. He had learned this fact painfully from his mother. Yet without realizing it, he found himself hoping again for someone else. He rubbed his face roughly as he became aware of this.

“I won’t run away leaving someone I love behind. I’ll take responsibility.”

I was swept away by those words and believed her.

“But now, there won’t be a second time.”

Esadien murmured, soothing himself.

💧

However, the next day, Esadien was unexpectedly sluggish and was lying on the sofa in a daze.

‘In the end…’

He failed to stop thinking about Minuelle, and as a result, he had no motivation to do anything. He didn’t even bother to comb his hair or change out of his shirt.

“Your Highness, the Crown Princess invites you to lunch….”

“Tell her that I won’t be able to attend the lunch today as I’m not feeling well.”

I declined my sister’s invitation because everything was bothersome. Due to oversleeping, my head was throbbing. I was staring at the decorations on the ceiling in a daze when I heard the sound of regular hooves and wheels rolling.

“…..!”

There was only one person who could ride a carriage all the way up here, Esadien quickly got up and walked to the window, his previous lack of motivation now completely gone.

“Minuelle?”

The carriage outside really had the Karinen Ducal Crest engraved on it.

“Your Highness!”

There is a rule in the palace that one should not run unless it’s an urgent matter. Therefore, the person who entered the room spoke at a quick pace. Even while speaking, the fidgeting gestures reflected the urgency in their mind.

“The Lady has arrived! But… “

“But what?”

“She brought something big with her.”

Esadien blinked his eyes. It seemed like the attendant was more excited than he was. And what did he mean by ‘something big’?

“Your Highness, I miss you!”

The question was soon answered. As usual, behind Minuelle who was greeting them, an attendant carrying a large cylindrical object was following. What is that? Under the curious gazes of everyone, the attendant, who received a signal from Minuelle, unwrapped the packaging.

“Ta-da!”

Wow, there was an exclamation around.

“Wow, it’s a tapestry!”

“It looks like the work of an amazing craftsman.”

While the attendants were marveling at the tapestry, Esadien absentmindedly echoed their words. He had forgotten to ask why she hadn’t come yesterday.

“Ta…pestry….?”

“I made it myself, just for you, Your Highness!”

Minuelle said that with a proud look on her face. It seemed like she would cough out an “Ahem!” at any moment.

Only then did Esadien’s gaze scan the large tapestry. Threads of various colors were densely woven together to form a large picture. It depicted Esadien standing and looking out at the sea.

“This…. you yourself….”

I could see the image of her sitting in front of the loom all day long.

‘Her back must have been hurt.’

Despite her weak body.

However, unaware of Esadien’s inner thoughts, Minuelle spoke courageously.

“It’s my only special talent! Since Your Highness gave me that cotton ball as a gift, I wanted to repay you.”

Esadien’s sea-blue eyes, which had been wandering all over the tapestry, turned toward the proud and beaming Minuelle. As their eyes met, Minuelle’s smile faltered slightly in silence.

“But… even though the cotton ball burst, it’s in my heart!”

He knew he should not blame her for it, but Esadien could not bring himself to speak.

‘What’s this feeling?’

What should I say?

As he hesitated, the attendants who had been admiring the tapestry together next to him spoke up and asked,

“Do you think it would be better to hang this in the bedroom, Your Highness?”

Even though he didn’t know if it was okay to accept it, and even more so to hang it in such a private space… But Minuelle was looking up at Esadien with sparkling eyes that he couldn’t resist, and in the end, he nodded his head and accepted the gift.

“….do so.”

And the moment permission was granted, a strange sound rang out.

“Ugh…”

Minuelle was shaking while pressing her chest.

‘You’re so cute!’

It was clear to anyone that Esadien’s reaction was that of someone who was receiving a gift for the first time. His eyes were filled with emotion and were sparkling with excitement.

‘I want to hug him.’

Meanwhile, Esadien’s heart dropped. As expected, I thought something was wrong because it was too much.

“Minuelle, right now we need a doctor, no, a priest….”

At that moment, unable to resist the overflowing love in her heart, Minuelle hugged him tightly and shouted.

“I like you, Your Highness!”

As he reflexively hugged her back, Esadien took a deep breath in shock. He was only wearing a vest and had not put on a single coat, so he could feel her slender body through his thin shirt. His trembling sky-blue eyes contained only her.

‘Was your eyes this pretty?’

Yes, Minuelle’s pupils were beautiful. Like the dawn sky breaking in the early morning. That’s what he always thought when he looked closely at them. 

He had consciously suppressed such thoughts before, but not this time. 

As if his hand was possessed, Esadien lifted it and wiped the corner of her eye.

“Your Highness….”

Whether it was because it tickled or because she was trembling, Minuelle slowly closed her eyes. Even her eyelashes were pink like flower petals. Esadien’s hand, which had been carefully stroking her eyelashes, moved down to her reddened cheek and then to her white neck, supporting her head. His face gradually leaned closer to Minuelle’s.

‘My- my heart is going to explode.’

Even with her eyes closed, Minuelle could feel it. The warm breath was getting closer and closer, little by little.

Thump thump thump thump.

The sound of her heart beating loudly, as if her entire body had turned into a heart.

‘It’s happening, finally!’

First! Kiss!

Minuelle’s eyelashes trembled with nervousness, and even the thin skin around her eyes turned pink. Esadien, who had been watching her closely, softened his lips.

‘Lovely.’

As soon as he thought that, Esadien’s sense returned.

‘What am I doing now?’

Esadien abruptly let go of Minuelle’s face, which he had been touching as if possessed, and straightened his posture, standing tall with his hands on his waist. His gaze wandered endlessly around the amethyst ornament surrounding the wall. His pounding heart was surprised at his own pathetic behavior. Surely, it had to be that.

“Your Highness…?”

On the other hand, as there was no contact even though she waited, Minuelle opened her eyes that she had closed. It was certainly a mood where the kiss would continue, but instead, Esadien just stood up straight and said those words.

“…Step back.”

“What?”

“You’re too close. Step back.”

Minuelle’s mouth opened wide.

“That’s so mean!”

The atmosphere was good just a while ago!

“Hnngg…”

It was unfair. It was so unfair.

She buried her face in Esadien’s embrace, but all that came back was a sigh-mixed voice.

“Minuelle.”

“All right.”

Despite this, when Minuelle felt Esadien’s previously rigid voice soften slightly, she was satisfied. She released her arms from around Esadien, knowing when to back off. However, Minuelle was a member of the persistent Karainen family. She sat on a long chair and stuck to Esadien’s side as he opened a book, causing Esadien’s face to stiffen again.

“Intimate contact is difficult. Don’t do that.”

“I said don’t do that.”

With her arms linked with Esadien’s, Minuellee leaned her head heavily on his shoulder and looked up at him with a pitiful expression.

“I’m so exhausted, Your Highness. I’ve been staying up all night for the past week.”

As Minuelle explained the reason for staying up all night, Esadien’s demeanor softened. She had been acting as if he were being chased by something, and that was also the reason why she hadn’t come to see him yesterday. Feeling remorseful for jumping to conclusions without asking her first, he apologized.

“Why…. didn’t you take your time?”

“My older sister’s wedding is coming soon, and I’ll be in charge of the preparations, so I’ll be busy.”

Minuelle spoke in a voice tinged with light drowsiness.

“So, I might not be able to see you for a while…. I wanted to give it to you before that.”

It seemed like the chest where Minuelle had buried her face a little while ago throbbed.

‘I couldn’t…. see you.’

However, Esadien dismissed that feeling as a delusion. Still, as Minuelle rested her head on his shoulder, he naturally leaned his body slightly toward her.

“Ah, good…”

Minuelle, who had been smiling satisfactorily, told a story about how she had struggled to find a thread of a color similar to Esadien’s eyes. However, at some point, her chirping voice began to slow down, and soon became quiet. Then, the weight on Esadien’s shoulder seemed to have increased a little.

‘You must have been really tired.’

Someone who had worked hard for him had fallen asleep, revealing her trust in him with her entire body. Even for Esadien, who was insensitive, it was difficult not to feel emotional.

‘Her body is already weak… What if she sleeps uncomfortably and feels pain somewhere?’

With such concerns, Esadien brushed Minuelle’s hair with his large hand as it flowed down her forehead. Then, a chuckle flowed naturally when he thought about laying her down on the bed.

💧

Thank you for reading!