Episode 7
I stayed up almost the whole night.
I didn’t want to believe it, but it was already morning. The morning I had to leave this place.
There had probably never been a sunrise as cursed as today’s.
While the servants were busy getting things ready, I also prepared to return. Since I was taken here with only my body, I didn’t have any luggage. I simply put back on the dress I had worn before and climbed into the plain carriage with no decoration.
Was there ever a prisoner like me—someone who didn’t want to go home and felt like crying because of it?
Of course, I couldn’t show such an ugly sight with tears streaming down my face, so I just swallowed it all. Instead, I bit my lower lip over and over again.
I didn’t want to burden the Grand Duke. The best thing I could do was quietly return as he wished.
More than anything, I was a true fan who loved Raymond Ruslo!
While I was trying to calm myself down, the Grand Duke appeared among the group sending me off. He came close and looked at me through the open carriage door.
But his face didn’t look happy either. Just like me, his expression seemed a little lonely.
Maybe it was because he didn’t get what he wanted from kidnapping me, so he felt bitter too.
I told myself that must be the reason, but still… it made me feel a little comforted that he didn’t seem happy to let me go.
“Have a safe trip, Lady.”
“Goodbye, Grand Duke.”
I didn’t want to say goodbye. Sniff.
It felt like one of those sad songs: “Goodbye. Don’t go.” But I kept my real feelings inside.
I softly whispered, “Let’s meet again,” and then the carriage door closed. With the coachman’s shout, “Hyah!”, the wheels slowly started rolling.
And just like that, I left the Grand Duke behind.
The Grand Duke Ruslo’s countryside estate.
Raymond stood on the terrace, facing the chilly wind. He had brought Aileen Cowett here with a determined plan in mind, but now the reason for the kidnapping was gone.
Or maybe… a different kind of meaning had remained.
He had ordered his men to bring the Cowett lady here with a hood over her head. Then, in an act of cruelty, he personally pulled off the hood.
He had expected to see a furious woman with fire in her eyes, but that wasn’t what he saw.
Instead, her cheeks were red, and she had a soft smile on her lips.
“……!”
That sight threw Raymond into confusion.
‘She was kidnapped, so why isn’t she angry? She even looks happy?’
His brain froze from the shock. Still, he remembered the grand plan and tried to force a kiss on her. But then he noticed her lips—slightly puckered, like she was expecting it.
“……!”
Another shock.
‘How did she know I was going to kiss her? Why does it seem like she wants it?’
His eyes shook, and he tried to run away. But instead of leaving, his body tilted, and his lips brushed her cheek.
Right at that moment, a fresh scent rushed into his nose.
His heart, which had been still like a stopped train, began to pound like a drum.
‘What… what is this feeling?’
It was a strange and ticklish sensation he had never felt before.
His breathing became shaky, as if his body was broken.
Afraid his mind might break too, he quickly tried to leave. But Aileen stopped him, asking if he could stay for dinner.
She was worried he might skip a meal just because she was a prisoner. Moved by her sincerity, Raymond agreed.
But her strange behavior didn’t stop there.
She ate mushrooms in a silly way, then offered him a mushroom she had already poked with her fork. She insisted on sharing dessert, held tightly onto his arm when he covered her with a shawl, and even asked him to stay with her before bed.
At one point, she accidentally cut his fingertip with a knife. Without hesitating for a second, she put his finger into her mouth.
Raymond was shocked—but at the same time, he suddenly remembered his mother. His heart warmed, and he couldn’t pull his finger away.
Maybe that’s why…
“Be careful of Kargo,” she told him.
“Kargo Linjer? Why?”
When Aileen warned him about Kargo, Raymond believed her right away.
Of course, his trusted aide Mellas also warned him about Kargo, so it wasn’t baseless. But still, Raymond found it silly how easily he believed her.
‘Mellas would be disappointed in me.’
He thought of Mellas and felt a little guilty.
He had always been slow to accept Mellas’s ideas, yet now he believed Aileen just from her gaze.
Still, with both of them warning him, Raymond knew he couldn’t stay still.
Before doing anything, he decided to send Aileen home. Her safety came first.
“Tell Lady Cowett she’ll return home tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, Grand Duke.”
He could’ve told her himself, but for some reason, he couldn’t speak when he saw her eyes.
Even though sending her back was the right thing… why did it feel so empty? Why did he want to ask her to stay?
He looked at the finger she had cut. The wound had already healed.
Feeling foolish, Raymond went out for a walk to clear his head.
But even while looking at the cherry blossoms in bloom, all he could think about was her.
The petals reminded him of her pink hair, and he smiled faintly.
He looked up at her room.
It felt like her voice came with the wind, like her gaze floated in the moonlight.
It was just an illusion, but it made him lonely.
What kind of mirage am I chasing?
Raymond sighed and decided to end his walk. He turned and walked back into the mansion.
After sending Aileen away, Raymond acted quickly.
He had to confirm who the traitor was.
He secretly called Kargo into his room.
“Kargo. Take this note to Luke by the tulip tree at 10 p.m. tonight. Tell no one.”
“Yes, Grand Duke.”
The note had fake information about Raymond’s schedule.
Kargo, not knowing this, opened the note in advance and tried to deliver it to someone on the Emperor’s side.
That’s when Mellas and his men, who had been following him, caught him in the act.
Kargo left the note inside a woodpecker’s nest and moved to a nearby clearing.
There, under the moonlight, he knocked five times beside the third-biggest rock.
A figure came down from a tree.
“This is the Grand Duke’s schedule.”
Just as he tried to hand over the note—
Rustle, rustle.
Soldiers appeared from the bushes and surrounded them.
Kargo was tied up from behind and panicked.
He saw someone walking toward him and said his name in a trembling voice.
“M… Mellas.”
“I no longer want to be called that by you, Kargo. After everything the Grand Duke did for you, how could you betray him?”
“It’s… it’s a misunderstanding.”
“We’ll see after we investigate.”
Mellas succeeded in capturing both traitors—but something went wrong.
“For the glory of the Empire!”
“Ah! Mellas, he bit his tongue!”
“Damn it.”
The Emperor’s man coughed up blood and collapsed.
Kargo, seeing this, felt even more terrified. It seemed better to die than betray the Emperor.
But he hadn’t prepared himself for death, so he was just dragged away, trembling.
Later, Mellas reported to the Grand Duke.
“Grand Duke, we captured the Emperor’s man, but he committed suicide.”
“He bit his tongue?”
“Yes. It seems he had poison in his mouth. He must have been highly trained.”
“Royal Special Forces, then.”
“Yes, it seems that way.”
Although it was disappointing to lose the chance to get more information, they were satisfied with catching the traitor.
Mellas, who had always felt something was off, was relieved. Catching Kargo before he could do more damage was a huge relief.
He was thankful that the Grand Duke had listened to his advice.
“By the way, Grand Duke… do you really think Lady Cowett will keep quiet about all this?”
Now that the traitor was caught, a new worry came up.
Mellas shared his thoughts, which he had been keeping to himself.
He was always uneasy about letting the lady see the Grand Duke’s face and then letting her go free. If she talked, everyone could be in danger.
“Yes.”
But Raymond answered with confidence, like he trusted her completely.
Mellas found it strange. But since nothing had happened yet, maybe the Grand Duke knew something he didn’t.
Mellas thought of Lady Cowett.
He had heard she was a calm and graceful woman… but after seeing her in person, he wasn’t sure.
Elegant like a swan? Noble in every movement? He had to tilt his head at those rumors.
If she were an animal, maybe…
“She’s like a squirrel.”
The Grand Duke mumbled.
“Yes, a squirrel!” Mellas clapped his hands.
“Hm? What did you say?”
“Ah, nothing, sir.”
Mellas cleared his throat. He thought the Grand Duke’s cheeks looked a bit pink, but maybe the room was just warm.
To Mellas, the way Lady Cowett followed the Grand Duke around or ate so happily looked more cute than graceful.
Anyway, the fact was—Lady Cowett kept silent about the kidnapping.
But why didn’t she say anything?
That, no one could answer.
Still, Mellas, ever cautious, decided she might be trustworthy… at least for now.
