Chapter 66
A blue sky. A day with a fresh, gentle breeze.
The giant wheels of the carriage belonging to Bahir Castle rolled along. Inside, large enough for multiple people to sit comfortably, Luna and Khalid sat side by side.
“Don’t you have something you’re supposed to give me?”
Dressed sharply in his white formal uniform, Khalid extended his gloved hand toward Luna.
With reluctance, Luna pulled a key from her elegant outing clutch that matched her fancy dress, and passed it to him.
“…Here.”
“A shame. You couldn’t open the door the way you wished.”
“Well that’s because Your Highness kept blocking every attempt. Goodness—just forget it.”
Snapping back sharply, she turned her head toward the window. Outside, autumn leaves drifted along with the breeze, under a perfect sky.
Luna’s lips puckered in frustration. For the past several days, she had tried everything to sneak into the off-limits study—yet every attempt had been completely thwarted.
His Highness sent substitutes to nearly every meeting he was supposed to attend and stayed in his office instead. The one time he actually left his desk, a guard—who normally wasn’t even there—blocked the door. When she tried disguising herself as a maid to enter during intense cleaning duty, she was personally dragged into his office and forced to sit there all day until he finished work.
She even considered tying drapes like the heroine of a novel and jumping out the window to climb back in—only to realize the height would kill her. So she could only imagine it.
Days passed, and before she knew it, the opening ceremony arrived.
During that time, another flame-shaped brand disappeared from the back of her hand. A new season had just begun, and already three marks were gone.
They said she had a one-year grace period, but the fast, irregular changes were impossible to get used to.
Of course they were. How could anyone shake off fear, knowing they might die?
Unless she became a proper Duke’s wife, her problems wouldn’t end. She needed clues—fast.
Resting her chin on her hand, Luna watched the scenery through the window, then slowly turned her head toward Khalid. Despite being in a moving carriage, he sat perfectly straight and composed, as if he expected all of this from the beginning. His calm expression irritated her even more.
“Don’t just stare. If you have something to say, speak. We’ll be arriving soon.”
“What? When did I stare? I didn’t stare.”
Had she stared too obviously? When she awkwardly turned back to face forward, his low voice followed.
“Are you that disappointed you couldn’t get into the study?”
The moment Luna nodded, his clean smile appeared again.
“Still, I gave you opportunities. Stop dreaming now.”
“…Wow. What a terrible personality.”
“What did you just call me?”
“N-nothing! I didn’t say anything! Oh, the carriage stopped? I’ll get off first! Your Highness!”
Her true feelings had slipped out. Luna clutched her pounding chest and hurried to open the carriage door at rabbit-like speed—
—but in such a small space, Khalid’s long arms and legs gave him a major advantage.
“Kyah!”
A heavy arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her off balance. She fell flat onto the carriage seat, and his handsome face lowered close to hers. He whispered teasingly into her ear.
“There’s still time before we get out. I was thinking of teaching my wife what ‘terrible personality’ truly means.”
“Oh please. We both know you’re not going to do anything. Now let go, Your Grace. You’re wrinkling my dress.”
Luna didn’t shy away from his piercing gaze or playful teasing. In the past she might have shrunk back—but not now.
Partly because she was angry, and partly because she knew that in the end, he always backed off without real malice.
Khalid looked down at her sparkling like morning dew, and bit his lip. A crude impulse flickered—wanting to tear open her bodice, reveal her soft flesh, and press his mouth against it.
“…Ridiculous.”
He cursed under his breath. He himself didn’t even understand what dangerous thoughts had made him pin her down.
“You’re right.”
“…?”
Khalid suddenly stopped, lifted her back up, and rubbed his face with his hand as though washing it.
“I crossed the line. I’ll restrain myself. As you said, I will do nothing. But outside, remember—we are a loving couple. Don’t throw away the chance to let me escort you.”
Luna tidied her hair and dress, meeting his eyes again.
Wait—this was the same person who was bragging about the key a minute ago? Why was he suddenly backing down without his usual shamelessness?
Her rose-colored eyes narrowed with suspicion.
In return, he curved his lips into a dangerously attractive grin.
“…I’m sorry for what I said.”
With a flushed face, Luna turned her head away.
“It’s fine. Let’s focus on today’s event.”
Khalid reached into a storage compartment under the opposite seat. A refreshing wave of floral fragrance filled the carriage. He pulled out a large, colorful bouquet and placed it into her arms.
“A bouquet? It’s gorgeous!”
Luna sniffed the flowers, her expression brightening. It was the first bouquet he had ever given her, softening her mood.
“You’ll see soon.”
Once she was fully presentable, Khalid stepped out of the carriage first. It had stopped at what looked like a massive plaza.
With his escort, Luna stepped down. The venue—called a “theater”—was not a single building. It was a vast cultural complex filled with shops and multiple performance halls.
Something this grand could never be found in the peaceful eastern region.
Luna pulled the corners of her lips up with difficulty. Extravagant spending from this man no longer surprised her. It felt normal.
She steadied herself and followed him. But as they walked, the sheer number of people bowing and greeting them—far more than at the wedding—made her stomach churn.
Luna buried her face in the bouquet. The scent helped settle her nerves.
Then—
“…?”
Hidden between miniature sunflowers was a familiar cloak—a magician’s robe fluttering slightly.
A tall man with sharp features and black hair stood with his hood up, making him even easier to recognize.
When Luna locked eyes with him, Ash looked back with amethyst eyes and offered a faint smile. The moment she blinked, he vanished—like he had never been there.
‘W-what? Did I really just make eye contact with Ash?’
Luna stared straight ahead, frowning. She was certain he had been there—and now he wasn’t.
Coincidence? But Khalid led her directly toward where Ash had stood. Luna’s eyes darted around. He was nowhere.
“Put the bouquet here.”
“Huh? It wasn’t for me?”
“It was. But you said you wanted to pay respects.”
Only then did Luna notice the marble statue ahead. She had been too startled by the eccentric magician to notice where she’d stopped.
Khalid motioned up with his chin. The statue was shaped just like the wolf that had saved her.
“H-how…?”
“It was too late to take him to the garden. Since he saved you, he deserved at least this much. I ordered it quickly.”
Luna’s eyes filled with warm emotion. A soft heat touched her cheeks. She hurried to place her flowers among the bouquets piled around the nameplate.
The plaque read:
“The Wolf of Peace.”
It also said that all who place flowers here today would receive a blessing of tranquility.
“The Wolf of Peace?”
“Mourning seemed too sad. I changed it. If he will receive flowers, better they be joyful than sorrowful.”
Luna placed her hand on the statue. It should have been cold stone, yet it felt warm—because his thoughtfulness made it warm.
Thump. Thump.
Her heart had been racing ever since earlier—faster every time she tried to steady herself.
“If you don’t like it, I’ll change it after the event.”
“No. Don’t change it. I love it. Truly… thank you, Your Highness.”
She hurried close to him and smiled brightly. Though he quickly averted his gaze, she didn’t care.
She had expected him to forget. But he remembered—and honored the wolf in a way she never imagined.
That was enough to make her happy.
“I hope peace stays with us, too. Your Highness, I’ll do my best today! The next part was watching a performance, right?”
Luna’s cheerful voice scattered happily beneath the blue sky.
