CHAPTER 78……………..
Marin tilted her head and asked Etisha,
“The Duke told me to take extremely good care of you, Lady Etisha. He also said that if you need anything while being cared for, I should immediately provide it. Oh, and he said he’d prepare a special carriage so you can travel comfortably.”
“What…? Is that really true?”
“Of course. On top of that, he ordered me to find out your favorite foods, snacks, and fruits. Whatever it is, he said to get the best of the best immediately, and if it’s unavailable in the North, he’d have it sent from Warftel…”
“….”
“So, I naturally thought it was because you’re pregnant that the Duke was paying so much attention. But what’s going on?”
Marin looked at Etisha with a puzzled expression.
But Etisha herself had no idea. Why was Kaien suddenly behaving this way?
“Well… I suppose I should ask him when I see him,” Etisha replied casually. Even though she didn’t know the details, she trusted that Kaien had a reason for his actions.
At that moment, Marin suddenly perked up.
“Could it be… the Duke—?”
“Marin? What is it?”
“The Duke… with you, my lady…? Oh my… oh my!”
Marin blushed, covering her mouth with her small hands, and her shoulders bounced as she giggled.
“Oh, Lady, you must be happy. Heheh.”
When a husband treats his wife so kindly for no reason, what does it mean? Love. Pure love.
Marin, delighted by the thought of Etisha experiencing a passionate newlywed life, kept smiling gleefully.
“Marin…?”
“Oh dear, I was being rude… It’s nothing.”
Etisha wondered why Marin was acting that way but decided it was probably just a happy thing. Marin was still young and cheerful.
Etisha washed herself in the warm water Marin had prepared and changed into a light sky-blue dress that fit her perfectly.
As she stepped out of the bedroom, Valdefram was waiting at the door.
“Good morning, Lady Etisha.”
As soon as their eyes met, Valdefram greeted her politely, then immediately got to the point.
“My lady, the Duke is looking for you.”
“Now? At this hour?”
Etisha was taken aback. Kaien had never called for her before, especially not this early. Why now?
“Alright. I’ll go to the office right away.”
Although she wasn’t sure, she assumed something important had arisen.
Turning toward the office, Valdefram stopped her.
“No, my lady. The Duke is in the chapel. He is waiting for you there.”
“The Duke… is waiting for me… in the chapel?”
Etisha blinked twice.
It was strange that Kaien had called her, strange that he was in the chapel instead of the office, but the strangest thing of all was that he was waiting for her.
Kaien, waiting for Etisha…?
Was there anyone in this world who could make Kaien wait for them?
“Yes, I’ll go right away.”
Etisha hurried toward the chapel.
Behind her, Marin and Valdefram exchanged glances.
Sometimes, no words are needed to communicate.
They shared a silent nod, a signal only those who had noticed Kaien’s burning love could understand.
When Etisha opened the chapel door, she saw Kaien from behind.
Standing on the raised platform, he looked awe-inspiring—both enchanting and sacred.
Etisha slowly approached and called his name.
“Duke.”
Kaien lifted his head at her voice. His expression was not particularly pleasant.
“Duke, what is this about? Is something wrong?”
“Call me Kaien.”
“Eh?”
“Please call me Kaien.”
Etisha hesitated for a moment but eventually said his name.
“Yes… alright, Kaien.”
Kaien’s expression immediately softened. His stern eyes relaxed, and a gentle smile appeared on his lips.
‘Wow…’
Etisha was momentarily speechless, staring at him.
He had always been incredibly handsome, but seeing him smile like that was almost overwhelming.
‘Your cold face… smiling warmly like this… ah, it’s too much. I love it.’
She looked away from Kaien, staring at the edge of the platform instead, worried her heart might be beating too loudly for him to hear.
Fortunately, Kaien didn’t seem to notice her reaction.
“I must have surprised you by calling you suddenly. Actually, I wanted to give you a gift, so I asked you to come.”
“A gift… for me?”
Why would Kaien summon her to the chapel just for a gift?
Etisha glanced at Kaien curiously and noticed a small jewelry box in his hands.
Kaien opened the box. Inside was something Etisha recognized.
“…!”
A radiant gemstone glowed pink, set in a bracelet shaped with flowing curves like angel wings.
The Heart of an Angel.
The most famous jewel of the Ignivan Empire…
Kaien had previously given her the first of the seven pieces of the Heart of an Angel as a gift. That dazzling necklace still rested safely in her dressing room.
“Kaien… how did you…?”
“Kaien.”
“No, Kaien… this is the Heart of an Angel.”
Etisha recalled the legend behind the jewel.
Hundreds of years ago, a massive pink diamond fell from the sky, splitting into seven pieces. The Black Prince, in the midst of passionate love, had each piece crafted into different ornaments for his fiancée. Over seven days, he gave her each piece, eventually winning her hand and enjoying a happy marriage.
“Yes. It’s the Heart of an Angel—the second piece of seven.”
“…”
“May I have your hand, my lady? I will place the bracelet on you.”
Etisha hesitated. She could not simply extend her hand this time.
Such a priceless gem—how could he give her not once, but twice?
She recalled the memory of receiving the first Heart of an Angel.
<Your Grace, it’s too much for me.>
<Nonsense. It’s no more than a stone.>
Kaien had never cared much about the meaning or value of jewels; to him, they were just expensive stones.
‘Kaien probably doesn’t know that the Heart of an Angel symbolizes eternal love and courtship. Even if he does, he probably wouldn’t care…’
But Etisha was different.
She had fallen for Kaien, and receiving the Heart of an Angel from him naturally made her heart flutter. She wanted him more and more.
“…Do you not like it?”
When Etisha still hesitated, Kaien’s voice lowered. His eyes looked dark and somber—as if disappointed.
“I thought you’d like it. If it does not appeal to you, so be it. It’s useless to me anyway…”
He placed the bracelet back in the box. The sparkling pink diamond disappeared.
“I apologize for calling you here for such a trivial matter.”
Though Etisha had rejected the gift, Kaien was the one apologizing.
Etisha’s heart ached. Even if it was “just a stone,” it was a gift from Kaien—precious because it was from him.
She hurriedly shook her head, her pink hair flowing beautifully.
“No, I love it very much.”
“…”
“I was just a little surprised. It’s so beautiful, too much even… I’m happy.”
Slowly, she extended her hand. Kaien naturally took it, intertwining their fingers, and gently lifted the sleeve of her dress.
The light sky-blue fabric slid up, revealing her delicate wrist. Her pale skin, having little sun, was exquisitely white.
“I’m glad you like it. I wasn’t sure what you liked, so it wasn’t easy to choose a gift.”
Kaien reopened the box. The bracelet glimmered once more.
He carefully placed it on her wrist.
“…”
Etisha’s cheeks flushed as Kaien’s large hand delicately touched hers.
She felt dizzy but smiled warmly at him.
“Thank you, Kaien. I truly appreciate your kindness to me, from the bottom of my heart.”
Her blue eyes curved into a bright, radiant smile.
‘Well, after all, when I die, it will be part of the Wintel family’s treasures. No need to overthink it or feel burdened.’
Seeing the bracelet shine on her wrist made her feel good. Like admiring a beautiful work of art, a jewel’s beauty lifts the spirit.
Etisha accepted Kaien’s gift, thinking everything had ended peacefully.
But that was only her illusion.
The next day, Kaien appeared with the third Heart of an Angel.
This time, it was a brooch.
The same situation unfolded, and Etisha hesitated even longer before accepting it.
The day after that, Kaien brought the fourth Heart of an Angel.
This time, earrings. Etisha agonized even longer before taking the brooch.
And the next day! Kaien brought the fifth Heart of an Angel!
This time, a hairpin. Etisha stared at the box containing it all day, then eventually went to Kaien and returned it.
“I’m sorry. I cannot accept this.”
She left the jewelry box on Kaien’s office desk and ran out.
