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Brother?”
Lucian’s golden eyes looked mysterious and bright like a full moon floating behind him. He added a word to me, who couldn’t take my eyes off the full moon-like eyes that seemed to make wishes come true.
“In any form, in any relationship…”
He paused for a moment as he spoke, then continued, “…You, no matter what anyone says, belong to the Leon family.”
As expected, the full moon must grant wishes.
I felt the uneasiness that had opened in his words completely dissipate. Without taking my eyes off him, I held the hand of the predecessor duke tightly. Then, this time, the predecessor duke murmured.
“Who said anything bad to my daughter?”
I plucked up my courage at the short, shrill remark.
“I have something to tell you.”
If it wasn’t now, I thought I wouldn’t be able to say it again, so I brought out the words that I had not been able to convey.
“When I was kidnapped. At that time, there was a kidnapper whom I saw his face, and I recently met that kidnapper again. I met him today.”
“What?”
“….”
The two had different reactions. While the predecessor duke raised his eyes in surprise, Lucian just looked at me quietly.
“I should have told you in advance, though something happened and I forgot to tell you.”
“Who is that person! Tell me right now…!”
Holding the hand of the predecessor duke who was leaping, I continued.
“The Prince.”
“…What?”
The blue eyes of the predecessor duke opened as if they were about to pop out. At the same time, Lucian showed no reaction.
I added, glancing at them with different reactions.
“Strangely, the kidnapper turned up to be the Prince. He also knew me, and I knew he was the kidnapper, but since he has already become the Prince, I don’t know what to say…”
My conscience was pierced when I tried to talk about the decisive reason why he became the Prince. So, I was wondering if I should talk about this part as well. However, the predecessor duke let go of my hand.
“Are you talking about the empty head that’s at my house now?”
“…Yes?”
“I asked if you were referring to the unscrupulous bastard who dared to abduct you with a proposal.”
The blue eyes gleamed fiercely. I thought he was going to cause an accident right away, so I took his hand again.
“Predecessor duke. First of all…”
“It’s not enough to dare to kidnap you, so he was trying to mock our Leon family? It’s unacceptable that he’s a member of the Royal Family.”
I hurriedly stopped the predecessor duke, who was likely to let go of my hand and run.
“First of all, today is brother’s coronation ceremony, so I think it would be better not to create an incident. On the other hand… Uh, I mean—”
What should I do, on the other hand?
Once I said that, I also didn’t know how to deal with the trash booger king. After all, how the hell am I supposed to punish that guy who became a prince…?
Lucian called me, who was unable to hide my bewildered expression.
“Rei.”
“Yes.”
“Thanks for telling me now.”
“Brother…”
I was relieved again by his words. It felt strange that he knew and reassured me whenever I felt anxious.
…Since when?
Since when did he stop asking me?
And, since when did I become oblivious to Lucian’s thoughts…?
It was a really strange feeling. From a young age, I could tell what he was thinking just by looking at his face. Still, he often gave me a look that I couldn’t understand. But recently, Lucian said what I wanted to say before I even said it — telling me what I wanted to hear.
Even though it felt like something was reversed, I didn’t hate it. I was just upset that I couldn’t get to know Lucian.
“Father can stay still for the time being.”
“Then, you’re saying you’re going to leave him alone?”
Lucian frowned as if he was offended by the predecessor duke’s words. He replied immediately, “Is it possible?”
“Hmm. No wonder I couldn’t find anything in that empty head how hard I searched.”
“Everything goes according to plan. Don’t let things go wrong.”
Seeing Lucian speaking in a cold voice, my shoulders shivered. It was something I’d never seen before.
“Anyway, I will wrap up the coronation ceremony properly, so please take Ray to her room.”
After uttering irritatedly, Lucian glanced at my hand that was holding the predecessor duke’s hand for a moment, then smoothed his clothes. At that moment, an attendant approached quickly from afar.
“Duke, you are here!”
The attendant was the only attendant that Lucian usually brought. Probably his full-time attendant.
“Oh, my God! Why is your coat like this? It’s wrinkled, right? Wait a minute. I knew it…”
I shuddered at the attendant words, and I turned my gaze slightly. However, instead, met Lucian’s eyes. He smiled thinly at me. I swallowed my saliva as I saw him smiling a bewitching smile under the soft glowing light.
…It was strange. What the hell is this feeling?
The attendant took something from his pocket and ran it over Lucian’s coat and pants. It removed the dust and wrinkles a little.
“Stop it, that’s enough.”
Watching him coldly shake the servant’s hand, it seemed to be clear what I had been vaguely thinking about. Why was I only now aware of this?
“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
Leaving a message to the predecessor duke next to me, he slipped his gaze straight to me. Lucian took a step closer and brushed off my tangled hair, then whispered.
“From tomorrow, let’s be together as scheduled.”
“…Yes, brother.”
He wrinkled his brow slightly as if he was dissatisfied with me calling him brother before gently raising the corner of his mouth.
“Good night, Ray.”
As he said his greetings, hot lips touched my cheek. It was similar to the bisou we usually do, but now, my cheeks feel even hotter. When he rubbed my cheek a few more times with a touch of regret, Lucian turned his back and started walking.
Watching the attendant run after him, I realized how considerate he was to walk with me at a regular speed.
“Hmm.”
Meanwhile, the predecessor duke next to me let out a short sigh as if he didn’t like it, but he didn’t say any more. As if he already knew Lucian’s double appearance.
So, Lucian…
…He doesn’t smile at anyone but me.
…He doesn’t care about anyone but me.
It was the most shocking thing that happened today that I only found out about these two facts now. At the same time, the predecessor duke led me, who had hardened by surprise.
“Let’s go, my daughter. That guy is a little crazy. We’ll take care of things, so don’t worry too much.”
Come to think of it, didn’t the predecessor duke also ignore Lucian at some point…?
Did he ignore everything he said before?
…Or, was it because Lucian became the duke?
I couldn’t organize my confused thoughts and just followed the predecessor duke’s lead.
Although he asked me a few times, I couldn’t answer properly as everything was confusing. Everything that happened today or anything that happened with Lucian gave me new facts and shocks.
I was the only one who didn’t know what others already knew. Even though I thought I knew everything about Lucian in particular…
“My daughter.”
“…Yes?”
“What are you thinking about so much?”
As we were in front of the door to my room, which we had arrived at before I knew it, the predecessor duke suddenly asked.
“…I think it’s because I’ve only now found out something I didn’t know.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
The predecessor duke asked me with a faint smile.
“Do you really think you know everything?”
“Yes…?”
“My daughter is so naive. That’s why I’m worried.”
What was he worried about…?
Still, I only thought of it inside and couldn’t get it out of my mouth.
“So, that’s why dad said… If you ever need help, just tell me. It’s always true.”
Nevertheless, in my head, I couldn’t understand what he was saying. What help was I supposed to ask from the predecessor duke?
“Anyway, dad must go now. Can you be alone?”
“Amber is…”
I spoke up automatically, though I remembered Amber’s words that she was going to the banquet hall today because there was not enough staff.
The predecessor duke nodded his head as if he knew everything without listening to me and gently stroked my hair. It wasn’t like he had any regrets about his old love like before, but rather like he was dealing with a really cute daughter… I had a strange feeling.
“I will call your handmaid. Just stay on your own for a while.”
“Yes, I will.”
“Okay.”
Then, he tapped on my shoulder and opened the door to my room. I went into the room and looked at him, and eventually, the predecessor duke gently waved his hand and closed the door.
I stared blankly at the silently closed door, then walked helplessly and sat down on the sofa. Closing my eyes, I thought about the events of the day one by one. Normally, I wouldn’t have thought that this was so bad, but now I know.
…Suddenly, Lucian became the perfect master of the Duchy. The coronation ceremony was just today, and he was already the perfect owner.
From Amber to the handmaidens, until the attendants and finally the predecessor duke… Everyone obeyed Lucian and did not complain — even the predecessor duke.
“…Why am I the only one who didn’t know?”
It was only today that I felt devastated by the truth. I thought I was closer to him than anyone else, but I was confused by the thought that it wasn’t.