Chapter 138
Thump thump thump—
Hestia’s heart was pounding like crazy. It was beating so loudly she could hear it in her own ears—and it felt like others might hear it too.
She pressed her lips tightly together and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to calm herself.
‘C-Calm down. Maybe Luciard is just joking. He joked about marrying me last time too, so maybe this is the same…’
She opened her eyes and turned to look beside her—
but had to quickly look away after less than a second.
Luciard’s blue eyes were blazing like blue fire as he stared at her.
His face and neck were completely red, and his awkward expression, mixed with embarrassment and shyness, was something only someone making a real confession could wear.
Suddenly, Luciard pulled her closer by the waist.
As their bodies touched, Hestia could feel the warmth radiating from him—his large hands wrapped around her waist, their stomachs pressed together, and his warm cheek near her neck.
Every time Luciard exhaled, her whole body shivered.
“Haah…”
Even his breath trembled. Because they were so close, Hestia could feel his body slightly shaking.
His nervousness was rubbing off on her. But more than that, she had never been confessed to like this before, so her mind went completely blank.
‘What should I even say…?’
While she was still trying to figure it out, Luciard stepped back.
Hestia naturally lifted her head to look at him.
“Why did you look away again?” he asked.
“B-Because you…!”
She couldn’t meet his eyes and looked down again.
Luciard’s blue eyes had looked like they were going to swallow her whole.
“Because you suddenly said something weird…”
She lowered her head again, too embarrassed to face him.
Luciard’s reaction was unreadable, but her tension eased just a little.
“You… you really! Saying something like ‘I want you to stay here’ like that… it almost made me misunderstand!”
Luciard raised an eyebrow.
“I thought you were confessing or something…”
“I was.”
“…Huh?”
“I was confessing.”
Shocked, Hestia reflexively looked up.
Gone was the shy, awkward Luciard from earlier. Now he gave off a mature, almost seductive air.
He ran his hand through his hair and frowned slightly.
“Stop denying it already.”
“I never denied anything…”
“You’ve been denying it all along. You must’ve felt it too, deep down, right?”
Back when they acted as fake fiancés, when they spent all-nighters together, and when they hung out all day without any real reason.
She had noticed Luciard acting warmer than before.
And sometimes—
‘He even seemed jealous…’
But she never thought it was because he liked her.
“Since when…?”
“I’m not sure. There wasn’t a specific moment.”
Like getting caught in the rain without noticing until you’re soaked—Luciard realized Hestia had slowly entered his heart.
He wanted to be with her more, to take on her burdens, and seeing other men act close to her made him burn with jealousy.
It was after all that he realized:
‘I like Hestia.’
“I like you because you’re you. Because you’re Hestia. Do I need any other reason? You’re already special just being yourself.”
He said those cheesy words like it was nothing now, making Hestia even more embarrassed.
“I wasn’t joking when I said I wanted to marry you. I really want to walk into the future with you.”
Before Hestia could object, Luciard kept going.
“Even if you say this, we’ll still be unable to be together…”
“There’s no reason we can’t. Why do you think that?”
“Because…”
“Because of our fake engagement? Or our unusual situation?”
She opened her mouth but couldn’t come up with a real answer.
The truth was, she just vaguely believed they shouldn’t—but didn’t know why.
“We’re both adults. There’s no status issue. No one will object. Our fake engagement already stopped people from gossiping.”
Still, Hestia looked troubled, like a child who had done something wrong.
Luciard gently cupped her cheek and made her look at him.
“I’m not asking you to accept my feelings right away. I just don’t want you to twist or deny them anymore.”
His rough fingers brushed under her eye, and she reflexively closed one.
“I’ve been honest with my heart. Hestia… what about you?”
“I…”
She couldn’t finish. The moment he confessed, her mind became tangled like a ball of yarn.
“I still don’t really…”
“Ugh, it’s cold, so cold. Looks like we’re in for a harsh winter this year!”
Before she could finish, the door burst open. Basil entered, rubbing his arms.
“Yeah, it’s snowing outside. Did you all see—?”
He stopped mid-sentence when he saw what was in front of him.
His eyes slowly scanned the room: the warm atmosphere, the couple pressed tightly together, Luciard holding Hestia’s cheek like he was about to kiss her, and Hestia’s red face.
Basil, 27 years old.
Currently being worked to the bone by Hestia—loyal servant or practically a slave.
Only three people worked in this office: Hestia, Luciard, and Basil.
When Hestia and Luciard announced their engagement, Basil worried a little.
He feared they might get too lovey-dovey or that it might affect work.
But the two never showed any affection and even argued so often that Basil often had to play mediator.
After going through sleepless nights, solving difficult issues, hiking through forests and jungles—they had become comrades-in-arms.
So much so that Basil had forgotten they were even engaged.
An awkward silence followed. Luciard and Hestia froze in shock just like Basil.
Then, Basil quickly turned around and covered his face.
“What was I doing again…? Oh, right! I was heading somewhere else!”
He darted out as if he’d walked into the wrong room.
The door shut behind him, and Hestia finally snapped back to reality.
“No, wait! Basil! Come back!”
She pushed Luciard away and ran out the door.
Left alone, Luciard stared at his now-empty hands.
The warmth that had filled his arms vanished in an instant.
“Tch. I was this close.”
He clicked his tongue in disappointment but then looked at the open door with a smile.
“This might not take as long as I thought.”
He covered his mouth, hiding a grin he couldn’t stop.
Later that day, at the Humphrey Estate…
“Your father said he won’t attend the New Year’s Ball?”
“Yes, and Mother said the same.”
Laila was stunned.
She knew Malrus and Anna wouldn’t skip a major national event like this—especially not now.
“But if he goes, it would be a great chance to promote Sunset Vale. Why won’t he go?”
“Actually, he said he’s leaving all the promotion to me.”
Laila’s eyes widened.
“Really? Is that true?!”
“Yes! He finally recognized me. If I do well, he might even hand over the title!”
They hugged in joy.
Malrus Humphrey had always held on to the family title despite having a grown son.
Arthur had been obedient, never complaining—but now, for the first time, he was trusted with something big.
He felt hopeful that this could lead to inheriting the family title.
“Then we need to prepare well! I’ll help you however I can. You’ve worked so hard.”
“No, you had to deal with so much. I’ll be a stronger husband and father from now on.”
They kissed, filled with happiness and memories of past hardships.
“Oh! Since your parents aren’t going to the capital, they’ll stay here, right?”
“Probably.”
“Then let’s leave Zephyr with them. He gets cold easily and won’t let us focus if he’s around.”
“Good point… We’ll leave him with Father and Mother during the New Year celebration.”
“Sounds good.”
Meanwhile, at a warehouse near the harbour:
Since it was close to the docks, this place was always busy.
Zephyr Humphrey had followed his grandfather, Malrus there.
Malrus was surrounded by people, talking urgently.
“You confirmed it?”
“Yes, sir. It’s dangerous to get too close, though.”
“Good. Send these ones to the east, west, and north. The last one—send to the refugee camp.”
Bored by the adults’ talk, Zephyr wandered around.
“When will Grandpa be done? I want to go home…”
Just then, he noticed some people in ragged clothes inside a cage.
“Stay quiet in there!”
They were being treated like prisoners or worse.
“Why are those people locked up?”
He spotted a doll on the ground and picked it up.
Approaching the cage, he handed it to a girl about his age.
“This is yours, right?”
Her face lit up.
“Th-Thank you… Ah-choo!”
She sneezed, trembling. Zephyr, feeling bad, took off his scarf and handed it to her.
“You’ll catch a cold. Here, take mine.”
She hesitated, so he just tossed it to her. She picked it up in confusion.
“Zephyr!”
Malrus rushed over and grabbed his shoulder.
“I told you to stay put! This place is dangerous!”
“S-Sorry.”
“You didn’t touch anything, right?”
Zephyr secretly waved goodbye to the girl and smiled.
“Nope. Nothing happened. Hey Grandpa, I’m hungry! Can we get mushroom soup?”
Worried his grandfather might hurt the people in the cage, he quickly dragged him away.
Malrus looked back, suspicious—but eventually followed.
