CH 164

I couldn’t think straight. The letter from Princess Lausanne left me confused. Sofia disappeared without a trace.

Although I’ve never been to Nicor myself, I’ve heard it’s a very cold place, so it wouldn’t be strange if she took the wrong path and got lost. Additionally, given that it frequently snows there, perhaps…

It wouldn’t be unusual to die and not be able to locate the body.

However, the sudden appearance of Tia at this point is troubling.

Who is Tia Bluea? Was she possibly Jung Seulbi?

Duke Bluea’s interest in Tia Bluea makes perfect sense if she is Jung Seulbi.

Duke Bluea was looking for a child with black hair and eyes. Therefore, when Jung Seulbi suddenly fell here, the Duke took her to become his daughter.

‘What if she could go further and become a member of the Grand Duke’s household?’

Earlier, while I was in a fight with Tia, a letter arrived from Lausanne, and from that moment, her expression changed. It seemed like she had a desire for this kind of power.

It was the first time I’d ever seen her look at me with such respect, and I couldn’t help but squirm.

It was obvious that Tia Bluea would want everything I had if she were the Jung Seulbi I knew.

But why Jung Seulbi?

Why did Jung Seulbi come to this place? My cousin from my previous life. It was all far too coincidental.

What if someone introduced Jung Seulbi to Duke Bluea?

It had to be that person.

What should I do?

I became more perplexed as I gave it more thought. I blinked while lying on my back in bed.

What can I do here? Can I even do anything at all? What will happen next, I wonder?

‘It’s already dark.’

I was thinking when I noticed that it was getting dark, so I quietly got out of bed.

Squeak.

I unlocked the door to Grand Duke Estin’s chambers and stepped inside. I walked as quietly as possible and approached him.

It wouldn’t wake him up even if I didn’t stifle my footsteps, but for some reason, coming into this room made me wary.

“Hmm. I think I can stay a little longer today.”

I took a quick look at the candle on the nightstand next to Grand Duke Estin’s bed. This candle was kept burning every night because it had a purifying effect.

Given that the candle was almost brand new, it appeared that a servant had just changed it recently.

I gathered myself and put Nero I had brought with me on Grand Duke Estin’s pillow while gazing at the flame.

I sat down beside him and studied his face. I had unnecessarily fluffed up the comforter that the servants had meticulously prepared and attempted to pull it up to his chin… I tried to pull it up a little bit, but it was too heavy.

I sighed to myself and quietly and neatly touched Duke Estin’s face as I gave up.

“You look no different from yesterday.”

I’m not sure if it’s just the way he’s been lying lately or how candlelight has shaded his face, but Grand Duke Estin’s face had oddly unreal beauty. It resembled a famous painter’s rendering of a stunning subject in only warm tones.

I never anticipated thinking such things as I stared at Duke Estin’s always-cool face.

“Dad, what are you dreaming about?”

I spoke in a low voice so that only he could hear me. There was no follow-up response. Of course I am used to it.

“Yesterday, I told you I had a scary dream, right? Yeah, that’s right. I dreamt that you were wandering in endless darkness, and I didn’t like it because you looked so helpless. Actually, I regretted saying that yesterday because I was afraid you would be worried without a reason. But then, as if it were a lie, I dreamed that you were hugging me, and I felt so happy and sorry at the same time.”

Gulp.

I swallowed hard, unable to speak, I touched Grand Duke Estin’s finger.

Grand Duke Estin extended his finger to me but did not press me to speak.

I took a few breaths and then slowly began to speak.

“…I thought I shouldn’t speak so weakly in front of you anymore. But then, if I don’t become honest even at times like this, I feel like you’ll be upset. So I don’t know. Even though you’re in so much pain, I’m making you worry for no reason. So you deliberately came to find me in my dream and hugged me like this.”

Every night I went to Grand Duke Estin’s room. The day I went into his room for the first time was also the day I had a nightmare.

A dream in which Grand Duke Estin is bitten by a beast on a hunting ground. I thought it was just a dream. Just a terrible dream, really. I cried so much that I thought I would scream. I bit my lip, cried, and ran barefoot to Grand Duke Estin’s room.

Because I had such a scary dream that day… I wanted to act like a child.

I started crying as soon as I opened the door. Because it wasn’t a dream.

I sobbed and fell to the ground next to Grand Duke Estin’s bed.

Why are you lying down like this? If you’re resting, isn’t it time to wake up? Finally, I apologized and told him about my dream. I went back to his room every night after that.

At first, it felt awkward to discuss various topics in front of Grand Duke Estin, who was sleeping. I then started reading a picture book that I had brought. However, as I gradually drew sensibility from tales that I was unable to tell in front of other people, I was able to talk a lot.

I put Nero next to Grand Duke Estin who was sleeping. For the first time, I smiled feeling that it didn’t go well with him.

I admit that I felt a little jealous when Tia Bluea first visited the Grand Duchy and began conversing with Grand Duke Estin.

She can talk a lot without worrying about other people listening. Still, talking only between the two of us like this feels like we have a secret, so it doesn’t make me feel too bad.

Because Tia Bluea won’t be able to talk to Grand Duke Estin at night.

“But there’s a saying that dreams do come true, right? It exists somewhere, anyway. Um, well, I used to say that dreams were the opposite of reality, but… Anyway, dreams do come true. That means Dad will wake up and hug me, right?”

I concluded the tale as cheerfully as I could and then turned to face Grand Duke Estin. He seemed to have a slightly happier expression than before, though that could just be in my head.

Of course, when I wake up tomorrow, I’ll be exhausted once more. Yet at this point, I can’t give up. And even if I go to bed, I won’t be able to sleep.

“And my head is a little complicated today. Sofia Bruno disappeared. She was a person who didn’t like me much, but I felt uneasy hearing that she disappeared like that. To be honest, it’s strange that Tia Bluea suddenly appeared. I know it’s not polite to say this to your brother, but Duke Bluea seems like a strange person.”

I spoke with an even lower voice when referring to Duke Bluea.

“What could have happened to Sofia Bruno? Please don’t be angry. Actually, I was thinking of meeting Baron Bruno to hear a little bit about it. Can I go? I wonder if I will make things worse by moving around unnecessarily.”

I rubbed my cheek against Grand Duke Estin’s hand in an attempt to find comfort.

I was interested in meeting Baron Bruno because I believed that if I found out about Sofia Bruno’s disappearance, I would learn more about Tia Bluea. But there’s no one who can understand that…….

“Shall I ask Logan Riley?”

Logan might know something because he worked for Baron Bruno, right? Why hadn’t I considered that? He may even be able to set up a meeting between Baron Bruno and I.

Logan is also capable of thinking in a variety of ways, so he might be able to comprehend what I am thinking.

“Thank you, Dad.”

Grand Duke Estin lay still, but I felt somehow that Grand Duke Estin had given me an answer.

I hesitated before gently kissing the cheek of Grand Duke Estin.

If he had been awake, it would have been impossible, but since no one else was around, I was able to act boldly.

“It’s time to go.”

The candles had become significantly shorter in no time. With a sigh of regret, I touched Grand Duke Estin’s finger before leaving the bedroom.

“Never listen to what Tia Bluea says during the day. Okay? Just listen to it in one ear and let it out in the other.”