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Lucian hurriedly left the Imperial Palace. As soon as he climbed into the wagon, he hit the carriage wall violently.
WHAM—
The coachman was startled by the vibration that shook the entire carriage and stopped the carriage. Annoyed by such trivial things, Lucian opened the small window connected to the coachman and gave a command in a very low voice.
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“Go.”
“Yes!”
Clip, clop.
Inside the carriage that moved again, Lucian closed his eyes with his back buried deep in the seat.
—Your emotions are unstable.
“….”
Lucian didn’t want to say anything. He could easily lose his reasoning when it came to Rachel’s matter more than anything else. He knew in his head that if it was her matters, he should be more alert though his body couldn’t follow.
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—Tsktsk, jealousy eats people up.
“Shut up.”
―Kukuk, why do you care about the Imperial Family? If you don’t like them, just kill them.
“….”
He quietly raised his lips at Enzo’s grim whisper.
—They’re like snakes. What is an Imperial Family?
Enzo, easily recognizing the change in Lucian’s mood, continued in a mean voice.
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―The Imperial Family treats the nobles like chess pieces, while commoners are nothing more than a pebble lying on the road for them. Aren’t they hilarious?
“What?”
―Who do you think made them the Imperial Family?! You don’t think that the Imperial Family became as they are because they excelled. They were just lucky and made scapegoats for those around them.
Enzo’s voice grew louder and louder. Unlike usual, it wasn’t a mean whispering voice but a loud and evil voice.
―Abominable and despicable Leonis… If it weren’t for Selena, the Leonis Empire would have destroyed itself together. Why has it been around for so long? I am bitter and resentful…
“Kugh.”
Feeling as if his head was about to crack, Lucian’s body stiffened with the pain he had never experienced before.
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Enzo murmured in a booming voice.
—Please let me borrow it only once.
“Kuhk!”
Now, Enzo’s voice was mournful and sorrowful enough to make him want to listen to his request.
―Please lend me your body just once!
Lucian didn’t even notice that the carriage had stopped as he just grabbed his hurting head.
―Please, your body…
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As Enzo begged again, the carriage door opened and Rachel jumped into it. With a snap, she jumped into Lucian’s arms without hesitation and spoke in a lovely voice.
“I missed you, Luci.”
As soon as he heard her voice, the pain that seemed like it would break him evaporated in an instant. Lucian pulled her warm body tightly without even opening his eyes.
He caught his breath as he held her tight.
“Are you alright?”
Rachel, who quickly noticed the subtle difference, tried to raise her head though he pressed his face against the top of her head.
“…It’s nice to hear.”
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“What?”
“I like it better when you speak comfortably.”
“…So, not being polite then?”
“Ho, hoho.”
His hard chest shook whenever he laughed. Rachel felt it intact as she pressed her face against his chest.
No matter how long the time they had been apart, when Lucian returned, she lingered at the entrance of the mansion. As soon as the Duke-only carriage stopped in front of the entrance, she could not stand it and jumped into the carriage.
If Amber had seen it, she would surely have nagged at that act, but she couldn’t stand it. Her heart jumped as she entered the arms with the familiar scent of musk.
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“Did you sleep well?”
When Lucian asked how she was doing, as he had always come to her room first to ask, Rachel’s lips stretched out.
“Yes, I slept very well. What about Luci?”
“Me, too.”
Lucian gently lifted the warm, slender body held in his arms and sat it on his thigh. Then, he went to the familiar cute lips and kissed her like to say hello. Her dark blue eyes were so cute that the displeasure that had swallowed him a moment ago didn’t even come to mind.
“Where have you been?”
“To the Imperial Palace.”
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“…Because of that?”
When Rachel, who understood right away, asked, gw lightly nodded his head.
“You just have to wait a few days. Then, let’s start with the marriage registration.”
“…No wedding ceremony?”
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“The wedding ceremony takes time, so let’s prepare the marriage registration first. Whatever comes first has nothing to do with us being together.”
“Yes, right.”
Rachel was nervous. Even though she was happy to be with him, there was something she couldn’t help asking.
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“Did you tell the previous Duke and Duchess?”
“….”
Lucian exercised his right to remain silent for the first time in a long time to her question. Still, just because he didn’t answer, that didn’t mean it wasn’t an answer.
“I won’t say it again.”
“…Is there any reason to inform them?”
It was not that she didn’t know his feelings, although the previous Duke and Duchess were definitely different from before. If so, wouldn’t it be different as well?
But, only Lucian could decide that.
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“I want you to know, but I will always follow Luci’s opinion first.”
The words she uttered calmly put strength in Lucian’s arm. He hugged her tightly and rubbed her gently. Even though it may not seem like a big deal, it was a very powerful word to him. Even before he became the Duke, she always put his opinions first.
He was the Duke’s heir, but even when everyone treated him as someone who didn’t exist, he was the only one who filled the royal blue eyes.
Rachel’s eyes couldn’t be any better if it was filled with him, always thinking of him.
Lucian, who was resting his cheek on the top of her head, raised his head. Cupping her chin to ear, he lifted her face.
Her eyes were still beautiful like the dawn.
He slowly lowered his head without taking his eyes off those beautiful eyes. Then, unfortunately, the navy blue eyes disappeared under the eyelids. So, he decided to soothe his disappointment with the soft lips.
The feeling of moist and warm lips was always good.
As he pressed his tongue deep into the soft lips, Lucian wrapped around the soft tongue, as his both hands gripped the slender waist tightly. The soft flesh was pressed against his fingers.
With his firm fingertips gently stroking her spine, Lucian turned his head and engaged her lips even more deeply. It seemed as if a refreshing energy flowed into his mouth. Just as the muddy sound filled the carriage, a cough was heard outside.
“Khhmm, hmm, Miss, Duke. All the employees are waiting.”
Now that the Duke had returned, the employees stopped what they were doing and waited for him to get out of the carriage. However, because of Lucian, who did not get off even after a while, the employees were unable to move and were sweating profusely.
So Amber came out… no, it would be more accurate to say that she was almost pushed out. Instead of the butler, who couldn’t even speak to the Duke, they demanded Amber to speak to Rachel instead.
Rachel, who had been frantically clinging to him, shoved Lucian’s shoulder in fright. His attached lips fell, forming a long silver thread and then breaking it. Embarrassed and ashamed of even that, she covered her lips with her hand.
Lucian looked at her and licked his saliva-glazed lips for a long time.
“Ray, I have a place to show you.”
“Where? Are you going out?”
Lucian stood up with a small laugh as her voice was filled with anticipation. As he took her small hand and got off the carriage, he spoke quietly to the butler.
“Cancel the rest of the schedule.”
“Understood.”
Rachel, without knowing why, was led by Lucian’s hand into the mansion. She was busy glancing at him as he led her up the stairs.
His kind golden eyes widened as he looked down at her at an angle.
“It’s a pity that we’re not going out, but Ray, it’s a place you’ve never seen before.”
“A place I have never seen before in the mansion…?”
The Duchy was as magnificent as it had been for a long time. There were many secret places, so there were many places that Rachel did not know about. She was, in the first place, had spent more time at the southern villa than at the Duchy.
“It’s a place that even the previous ducal couple hadn’t used.”
Lucian spoke of his parents as if they were strangers. Rachel felt sorry for that, but she didn’t say anything.
After passing the third floor used by Rachel and Lucian and going up one more level, a magnificent door appeared. Unlike the other floors, this one was blocked by a door from the entrance. Lucian took a key from his pocket and opened the door.
Even though it didn’t look like it had been used for a long time, the door opened smoothly.
“Here?”
“Originally, this was the place where the ducal couple should use.”
It was an unused space for Pedro and Camilla. This place was supposed to show the relationship of a married couple.
Lucian explained softly as they passed the luxurious carpeted hallway.
“The last people to use it would be my grandparents. I heard they were on good terms.”
“This is…”
“That’s right. All of this floor is a space used only by the Duke and his wife. There are separate living spaces for the Duke and Duchess, and all the ancillary spaces under the study and parlor are divided into two sides.”
Explaining that, Lucian stood in front of the door in the middle. He continued as he unlocked it with the key.
“This is a room shared by the married couple.”