CH 60

It was a hefty amber brooch with the same design as the necklace I was wearing now.

The pendant was the same size and shape, and it was as if a thread made of platinum was wrapped around a thick pumpkin jewel.

“Brother, we’re matching?”

“Yes.”

Lucian responded lightly as he looked around my room. I think he’s looking for something…

“What are you looking for?”

“Where’s your new fashion doll?”

Ah, is it because I told you I’d give you the doll?

“Oh, give me a second. Amber, where’s the doll?”

“For a moment, Milady. It hasn’t been taken out of the box yet.”

“Okay. Bring it to me, please.”

Lucian’s expression brightened up as he heard my words. He was so cute that I chuckled.

I can’t believe this huge man was looking for a doll.

It was something that didn’t fit him, yet strangely matched him nicely.

Hm, was it because his face compliments everything?

He smiled in a way that showed off his face even better than a doll.

“Brother, this necklace is so pretty. Of course, I like the other accessories, too!”

His gentle expression became brighter.

“I’m glad you like it.”

His golden eyes, which were slightly darker than the amber jewelry, looked kindly towards me.

“Milady, here it is.”

In the meantime, Amber brough the doll’s box over and placed it on the table. Lucian naturally held my hand and led me there.

“Brother, would you like me to put on her accessories?”

Lucian sat next to me on the sofa and smiled shyly.

Oh how adorable, my bias.

Do you want to play dollhouse with me?

I took out the doll from the box and attached its accessories that were made just for its size. It was a little difficult because they were so elaborately made that they seemed like actual accessories.

While entirely focused on putting on the necklace, my bias pressed down on my skin under my ear with one finger.

Surprised by his touch, I dropped the doll’s necklace.

“Brother…”

“…Why do you have your hair up?”

He asked as if he’d just noticed that my hair was styled that way.

“Why? Does it not suit me?”

“…That’s not it.”

“Really? Me too, I was surprised.”

But if he’s commenting on my hairstyle, was there something wrong with it after all?

I wasn’t doubting Amber’s skills, but I had no choice but to fumble with my hair to see if it was that.

Because as Lucian was looking at me, his expression was subtly distorted.

“Does it really not suit me? Just tell me if it looks weird.”

Lucian pondered what to answer, then slowly answered.

“Can’t you just have your hair up when it’s just me and you?”

His drooping eyebrows looked sad. And I was a woman infinitely weak to Lucian.

Just how bad did it look on me?

He couldn’t say that it didn’t suit me, but here he was being loveable by indirectly saying it instead.

Lucian, now that you’re all grown up, you’re even interested in styling this Noona.

I’m so proud of you!

I saw Amber standing at the side. She seemed to be eyeing my hair suspiciously.

Yeah, Amber. I’m sorry for doubting your skills, but my bias says that it doesn’t suit me.

“Amber, can you put my hair back down?”

“…Yes, Milady.”

I was sitting on the sofa, so Amber went behind me and took out the pins that she had placed on my hair. Then, she lowered my hair neatly down, reaching my dress’ fabric.

Lucian watched as my hair was returned to the usual half-up style.

“Brother, the necklace fell.”

I said so while my posture was still upright because my hair was still being styled. At my words, Lucian leaned down and picked up the necklace.

Um, he’s the Duke now.

It’s kind of weird to ask you to do this now, right?

I guess Amber was surprised by it as well. I suddenly felt her pulling slightly on my hair.

“Amber, it hurts.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Amber was someone who wasn’t easily flustered, but she was even stuttering now.

“It’s okay. I’m surprised, too.”

I wasn’t sure if Lucian had already picked up the necklace, but he slowly straightened up again. His gaze seemed to have turned to Amber, but I couldn’t see properly.

Again, I felt her pulling slightly on my hair, but I didn’t bring it up this time.

Lucian was also next to us, and I was worried that Amber’s competence would be questioned for no reason.

Lucian was now the Duke.

In other words, Amber’s boss changed from Duke Pedro to Duke Lucian.

I only wish that Amber’s image, which had been boosted by me for a long time, would remain good in Lucian’s eyes as well.

“I’ll do it.”

A cold voice could be heard over my head. Feeling Amber’s hands letting go in surprise, I asked in a perplexed voice.

“Brother, you know how to style hair?”

“Yes,”

“How?”

Of course, I know that he’s a very adaptable person, but when did he ever touch a girl’s hair?

This was a very important matter.

Did he have a girlfriend?

What about Noah?

While my thoughts spiraled into doubt, a long shadow fell over my head.

It was a shadow created by him as he was much taller than Amber’s.

As though he was really experienced at this, he styled my hair. I think he’s braiding my hair. I hurriedly spoke to Amber.

“Mirror please.”

“Yes, Milady.”

When the mirror was handed to me, I saw his hands moving.

My toes curled for no reason as I saw his long, slender fingers touching my emerald-colored hair smoothly.

It was an inexplicable sensation.

As I saw him tie the braids on both sides, I couldn’t help but ask.

“How do you know how to do this? Who taught you?”

Someone who taught my bias.

I don’t even imagine it.

I’ve been a fan for so long! Who is it?!

Who taught you how to braid like this!

When he saw my disbelieving expression as my mouth was agape, he laughed.

I could see his pleasant appearance through the mirror. One long finger slowly touched my nape.

He persistently touched one spot on my nape.

Seeing this through the mirror, the spot under my ear caught my eye. Lucian kept touching that place.

You’ve been really obsessed with moles since last time.

Do you have some memories about moles?

“Brother?”

Really, who taught you?

He answered my question with a quiet voice.

“A doll.”

With the single word that flowed through his lips, I was surprised. The word ‘doll’ had a really bad connotation for me.

〈 There is Another Doll Living in the Dollhouse 〉

It might be the influence of the original webtoon’s title. Nine years had already passed since I vowed not to let him grow up to become a doll.

“…A doll?”

“Yes. I was looking at your fashion doll and I did it unconsciously.”

“…Then you learned by yourself?”

“Yeah, I thought you’d look pretty like this.”

Ah, my bias.

I was so surprised.

At that time, Lucian pressed a little harder so that his fingernail grazed my mole. It felt a little prickly, so I trembled unknowingly.

“Nnh!”

“…Sorry. Did it hurt?”

“No, it didn’t… Well, a little.”

“I’m sorry.”

As if he didn’t know what to do, his voice seemed to be a little flustered, and at this, I smiled slightly.

“I’m fine. Really. It was only a little.”

“It’s a bit red…”

He checked my nape, and somehow I could feel air passing through. He had raised my hair a little and it seemed like he was checking there.

Then, a hot breath touched the back of my neck.

Feeling ticklish for no reason, my fingers fumbled together. He looked at it for a long time, so I grew even more nervous.

“Did it get red a lot?”

“……”

Instead of answering my question, he placed his lips on my skin.

He did this last time, and he did it again here. But this kind of touch…

Was this something done between siblings?

I suddenly wondered, but all of my thoughts were diminished by a sudden hot sensation.

Lucian licked that spot with his tongue.

“Brother!”

“Sorry. Does it hurt very much?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“You said that wounds get better quickly if this is done…”

Of course, that’s something I said.

In the past, after being disciplined by the Duke, he would hide the wounds, but I always found everything.

I couldn’t just stay still because I was worried about him. It would feel horrible to stay alone.

After failing several times, like a ghost, I was able to find those spots.

The Duke never hit him where you could see it. That was the least he could do to protect the reputation of the Duchy’s successor.

However, the places where he was injured during training were also visible. His fingers, the back of his hands, his wrists—they were full of small wounds.

So while we were kids.

I sometimes licked the wounds on his fingers.

I didn’t know it would bite me back like this now.

“It’s okay now. It doesn’t hurt.”

“……”

Without answering my rejection, he licked my wound again with his tongue.

“Hnnh, Brother!”

It felt weird. For some reason, my face burned as I felt a thrilling sensation.

Only then did Lucian pull away from me. After he fiddled with my hair a bit more, he soon came and sat beside me.

“I should braid this doll’s hair the same way as yours.”

Watching him skillfully putting on the doll’s necklace and touching the doll’s hair, I began to worry a little.

I didn’t know he liked dolls… Why should it be a doll? I became nervous for some reason.

Completely forgetting what happened just now, I watched Lucian carefully carry the doll and place it in its box.

Then after storing it in his subspace pocket, he turned to me.

His golden eyes, which always looked unfathomably deep, seemed to shine brightly.

Lucian, this is really your hobby, right? You didn’t open your eyes to other tastes, did you?