TCBCVF 123

~Chapter 123~

Wow… seeing that handsome face first thing in the morning.

My eyes are happy, but my heart health is in danger…

I gave him an awkward smile.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, I slept soundly.”

Even though he had spent the whole night sleeping on the sofa, the Duke looked completely refreshed.

…Seems like I’m the only one with a stiff, creaky body.

I should get up and stretch a little.

Thinking that, I slowly tried to get up.

But then—

“Where are you going?”

The Duke tightened his arm around my shoulder!

I looked at him in shock.

“Um, my lord? Could you please let me go for now…?”

“No.”

The Duke narrowed his eyes with a teasing smile.

My face grew hot instantly.

“There are servants around, and Eva will wake up soon. We should think about what others might see…”

“Unbelievable.”

The Duke sighed loudly on purpose.

“Last night you told me I was handsome. You said it several times, actually.”

My eyes went wide.

What?!

He drooped his brows and gave me a pitiful look.

“So, are you saying you’re already done admiring my looks?”

“Huh?”

“That except for my face, there’s nothing else about me you like?”

“What??”

That’s not true at all!

But then, memories flashed in my head.

Moonlight streaming in through the window.
The Duke, more beautiful than the light itself.

I thought it was just a dream… and in my half-asleep state, my lips said words I would never dare say while awake—

“How can you be this handsome…”

And not only that—

“The Duke is right here beside me… it must be a dream…”

Oh no. I really said those embarrassing things!

Ahhh! I can’t take it!

I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.

Desperate to change the subject, I blurted out:

“My lord, actually… I prepared a small gift for Saint Laila’s holiday.”

“A gift?”

Thankfully, he reacted to that.

I nodded quickly.

“Yes. But you’ll have to let me go so I can bring it to you…”

After all, the presents were under the fir tree in the living room.

The Duke gave me a bright smile.

“In that case.”

His strong arms suddenly lifted me into the air.

In an instant, my perspective shot up.

“Kyaa!”

I reflexively wrapped my arms around his neck.

Wait—he’s carrying me like a princess?!

At this rate, my heart will stop from overwork!

“M-my lord! Please put me down, I can walk on my own!”

“That won’t do.”

He just shrugged slyly.

“I don’t want to be apart from Lady Ansie, and you need to check your gift. Isn’t this the only way?”

That makes no sense!

But before I could protest further, the Duke carried me straight to the fir tree.

Underneath were four gifts of different sizes.

Two of them looked familiar—Eva’s cufflinks for the Duke, and the wristwatch I had bought.

“That one’s mine.”

I hurried to slip out of his arms.

The Duke glanced at his now empty hands and muttered in a sulky voice:

“Did you really have to escape like that?”

“….”

I pretended not to hear and bent down to pick up the gift box.

“This… this is the gift I prepared.”

Awkwardly, I held it out.

The Duke’s eyes lit up as he stared at the box.

“May I open it now?”

Gone was his usual calm demeanor—his gaze was filled with childlike excitement.

He looked so much like a boy that I couldn’t help but smile faintly.

“Of course.”

The Duke eagerly unwrapped the box.

Soon, the wristwatch appeared.

I hope he likes it.

I swallowed nervously.

It was from a luxury high-end line, but compared to the Duke’s elegant wrist, it looked almost plain.

“I… I noticed you often wear wristwatches. Since it’s something you use every day… I thought whenever you check the time, maybe you’ll think of me.”

“….”

I sneaked a glance at him, embarrassed beyond belief.

Why am I this nervous?

Then—

“…I never imagined this.”

The Duke caressed the watch with a deeply moved expression.

“Since we only recently became lovers, I thought this holiday would just pass without much.”

“No way.”

I shook my head firmly.

“This is our first holiday as lovers. How could I just ignore it?”

“…Really?”

“Of course! After all the help I’ve received from you… this time, I wanted to do something for you.”

“There was no need for that in return…”

“Well, it’s partly thanks, but…”

I turned my gaze away, my mouth dry from the embarrassing words.

“…Now, I can proudly say I’m someone who can take care of you too.”

The Duke’s face froze for a moment, unusually at a loss for words.

“Taking care of each other…”

He repeated softly, voice husky.

“…I like that.”

“So… do you like the watch?”

At my careful question, he smiled brightly, almost boyishly.

“Of course. Thank you very much.”

He looked down at the watch with an even deeper smile.

“I’ll treasure it.”

Seeing his genuine happiness, I finally relaxed a little.

“About the watch…”

Then suddenly, he held out his wrist.

“Would you put it on me?”

“….”

Was this… because of the matching bracelets Eva and I had made yesterday?

I wondered, but instead of saying anything, I quietly picked up the watch.

As I fastened it carefully around his wrist, the Duke gazed warmly at me and spoke playfully.

“But Lady Ansie, you really don’t know anything about me, do you?”

“Huh?”

What did he mean by that?

I looked up, confused—then froze.

A moment ago, he looked playful.

But now…

“When you gave me this watch, you said you hoped I would think of you whenever I checked the time.”

His blue eyes locked on mine.

They were as deep and dangerous as an abyss—pulling me in, ready to swallow me whole.

“But I’m already doing that.”