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“It’s a moon butterfly. It appears in the ash forest on a full moon night.”
Hazel carefully placed the butterfly, the size of a gold coin, into a bottle placed on a rock. A glass bottle full of moonlit butterflies dazzled like a lantern.
“Isn’t it pretty?”
Hazel smiled as she lifted the bottle. He stared blankly at the face stained with the soft light of the moon butterfly, and answered as if possessed.
“Pretty.”
‘Not a butterfly, you.’
Then he suddenly narrowed his eyes.
“It still hasn’t been cured.”
The scar on the little finger that he saw in the office today was still there.
“Oh, it was just scratched by chestnuts.”
The moment the tip of his index finger brushed it, Hazel winced and hid her hand behind her back. Did she hate being touched by him? Elliot asked calmly, trying to capture her expression.
“You should be able to use healing magic.”
“It would be a waste to use healing magic at this level.”
Healed minor wounds. Come to think of it, he said it was just practice. Feelings soared to the sky, she repeatedly fell to the ground. An awkward silence soon fell. She knew very well that it was polite to leave with an appropriate excuse at a time like this, but her feet did not come off. It was the Grand Duke, not her, who charmed people. The sophisticated marble-like face looked even more like something out of this world in the dreamy moonlight. If it hadn’t been for the silvery hair fluttering lightly in the wind, it wouldn’t be wrong to believe that it was really a sculpture. Perhaps because he was ambitious, the Grand Duke’s purple eyes staring at her were darker than usual. Everything in the Grand Duke was in cold colors, but for some reason she felt as if she was standing in the middle of a desert where the scorching sun was scorching. The place where his hand brushed was still hot as if it had been burned.
Those eyes somehow seem to pierce her heart. She wanted to run away. However, as if the spirit of the earth was holding her feet, her feet did not come off. If the spirit of the earth heard it, they would go on a rampage claiming to be falsely accused.
“Miss Hazel.”
The first to break the nervous silence was the Grand Duke.
“I’m sorry that you suffered from bad rumors because of me.”
“It’s not a bad rumor. That’s an honor.”
Giving a polite answer mixed up her true feelings without realizing it. She quickly added one more word.
“It’s a bad rumor for Your Highness.”
“It’s not bad for me either…”
Obviously, everyone admitted that this rumor was bad for the reputation of the Grand Duke, but to even fantasize that  it was not… The Grand Duke somehow covered half of his face with his big hand and turned his head away, and then he said some unexpected words
“For Miss Hazel’s honor, don’t worry, I will actively step in and put an end to the rumors.”
“Uh, how?”
“If I go to the Hobart Street ball with another girl, the rumors will change. Instead, rumors will spread that the Grand Duke is a playboy. I don’t care.”
At that moment, the image of another woman holding the Grand Duke’s hand and dancing with a happy smile flashed through her mind. Would he give that lady a gentle smile as he did to her now? No, he would smile more brightly.
Her heart was more complicated than when she saw Princess Monette dancing with the Grand Duke.
“If you’re going to use the rumors of infidelity anyway…”
She tried to spit out a stupid thought she had in his office during the day without realizing it. It’s a cowardly idea for her, and for the Grand Duke.
“Oh, no.”
“What is it?”
“No matter how you think about it, it’s a ridiculous idea.”
The Grand Duke held out her arm to block her as she was just evasive and tried to get the glass bottle.
“What is it? Don’t make me wonder, just tell me.”
“Ah, that…”
She swallowed dry saliva ten times before opening her mouth, unable to overcome his sincere gaze.
“First of all, please believe that I am not telling you this because I have dark feelings for Your Highness.”
The Grand Duke’s eyes widened even more. He nodded his head right away, and she averted her eyes and muffled her voice.
“It’s okay if you spread rumors that you’re really in love with me.”
In the end, when she committed it, her feet went numb.
“My bad reputation will protect you. Of course, if Your Highness is okay with it.”
“No, I’m not fine.”
‘Omg.’ Her heart was pounding.
“Then forget what I said…”
“Only rumors?”
“What?”
“Isn’t it useless to spread rumors outside the Grand Duke’s palace knowing that we are not lovers?”
Well, that was right. It was useless if employees deny that they were lovers outside and go around saying so.
“Yes. Then, should we pretend to be dating in front of the servants?”
She made a silly joke and then she explained that her feet went numb again.
“No, I have no intention of ever having a real relationship.”
“Aren’t you planning on dating?”
“Yes? No!”
“Ah…”
“I’m not saying this to target the Grand Duke or the Grand Duchess position… I really don’t need any…”
“Don’t you need it?”
“Yes, no…”
Only then did she raise her head and was startled to see the Grand Duke’s bewildered face. Was it bad that she refused to drink kimchi soup by herself?
“Oh, no. Please forget this word. Just forget everything: I said something nonsense. This is all a joke…”
“Lov…”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
What was that sound? The Grand Duke grabbed her hand, which had stopped abruptly after shaking it, and looked down at her. How did he know that the sound of her heart deafened her?
“Hazel, be my lover.”
* * *
Employees were busy coming and going in and out of the small but fancy dining hall used by the Grand Duke. She stood behind the Grand Duke and watched as appetizing dishes were served on the four-person table with cutlery for three. She continued to fidget with the hand she hid under her apron. To be exact, she groped the back of the hand that had been kissed along with the words of dating yesterday. Then, startled, she removed her hand… No, this was fake love. How many times did he scold her for being stupid?
“The Grand Duke does not marry a witch. Of course, not even with a nanny.”
‘Don’t forget what the Grand Duke said.’
He couldn’t seriously date a witch. This was just a disguised romance to protect the Grand Duchy. Or did the Grand Duke have a tree frog symbol?
“Lov…”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
At that moment, she remembered the determined expression of the Grand Duke. She said that she had no intention of dating, and that she didn’t need a Grand Duke or a Grand Duchy’s family, so he might have asked her to come and have this disguised romance. Maybe he wanted to cancel already.
Originally, at a late-night drinking party, you would say things like let’s talk or go out, but when you wake up the next morning, wasn’t it awkward? The Grand Duke may have made a mistake, too, intoxicated with the atmosphere of last night.
It must be a mistake.
She glanced at the silver back of the Grand Duke’s head. Until now, the usual morning greetings had been the only conversation she had with the Grand Duke today. After breakfast, he was going to call her to a quiet place and tell her that last night didn’t happen. How on earth did she have the courage to say such a thing last night? Embarrassed after seeing each other on a bright morning, today they stood right behind the Grand Duke, unable to see each other’s faces. Even so, it’s useless if the face from last night keeps flickering in front of your eyes.
“Hazel, be my lover.”
She was almost mistaken at that moment. She thought he wanted her to be his real lover.
But even in a fake relationship, did he kiss the back of her hand?
She rubbed the back of her hand again, but the Grand Duke suddenly stood up. Then he turned around and came straight to her.
‘Hey, are you coming to cancel already? If you’re going to do it, do it when no one is around! It’s embarrassing.’
Soon, the shadow of a tall man fell over her. The Grand Duke said, ‘Last night…’ It was a time when she was determined to nod her head unconditionally even if he brought out the issue.
“Sit down.”
As soon as she reflexively nodded, she hesitated.
Sit down? This was not this…
She blinked blankly, but his hands were wrapped around her waist. Then the Grand Duke took her to the table.
“Eat together.”
“Yes?”
He seated her in the empty seat across from him and asked the maids to bring her share of cutlery and plates. Everyone looked surprised except for the children who were accustomed to eating together in a cabin. She looked up at the Grand Duke standing behind her and tilted her head as if she had something to say.
‘Why, why are you so kind?’
She was speechless and only pursed her lips before he lowered his head. That made everyone’s eyes widen even more, but she had no choice but to whisper to the Grand Duke.
“Even if I eat later…”
“You are a family now.”
“Yes?”
While she was speechless again, tableware and plates were set in front of her in an instant. The meal was ready, and now it was the servant’s turn to leave except for the maid.
“Wait a moment. I have a big announcement before everyone leaves.”
When the Grand Duke spoke, all those who were about to leave stopped.
“I know that rumors have been rife inside and outside the palace of the Grand Duchy. Rumors are becoming inaccurate and malicious because I neither deny nor affirm. So today I’m going to tell you the exact truth with my mouth.”
The Grand Duke’s large hand wrapped around her hand, which was placed on the table. He intertwined his long fingers around hers one by one and bombarded everyone who looked at him with dazed eyes.
“That’s right. Miss Hazel and I are lovers.”