Chapter 35 - Chapter 35

Chapter 35

I had many things I wanted to say to him, but there were too many eyes watching. I glanced at the maids and cautiously spoke.

"Iundefinedd like to be alone with you for a moment."

"……!"

But whether he misunderstood my words, Ruwellinundefineds eyes widened and his cheeks flushed bright red. The maids let out small gasps and then looked at Ruwellin with shocked expressions.

undefinedThe maidsundefined reactions have been strange since earlier.undefined

What on earth was Ruwellin usually like…….

I averted my gaze from the maids and faced Ruwellin again. I waited quietly for his answer, but Ruwellin just seemed flustered with his reddened face, not answering at all.

Eventually, getting frustrated, I placed my hand on his shoulder and repeated quite seriously.

"Your Grace, Iundefinedd like to be alone with you."

"Rosnia……."

Ruwellin started muttering nonsense about how he didnundefinedt know I would be this proactive. He had clearly misunderstood my intentions, but regardless, thanks to the maids quickly taking the hint and leaving, I was left alone with him.

"First, shall we sit down?"

I meant letundefineds sit facing each other on a sofa or chair, but somehow misunderstanding, Ruwellin sat demurely on the bed. I looked at him, dumbfounded. Ruwellinundefineds expression was shy, like a new groom.

undefinedHeundefineds really hard to predict…….undefined

The more I got to know him, the more unexpected sides I seemed to see. I had only thought of Ruwellin Rashiane as a proper and upright Duke.

I cleared my throat a couple of times and slowly approached Ruwellin. When I carefully sat down next to him, he looked at me with expectant eyes. His long, elegant hands were neatly placed on his knees.

It was a shame to disappoint him, but the reason I asked to be alone was to have a serious conversation. It wasnundefinedt the right time for secretive acts between lovers. I subtly avoided Ruwellinundefineds gaze and opened my mouth.

"You will send a formal invitation to my father and brother, right?"

"……Yes, of course."

"What do you plan to say when you meet my father and Adrian Hyll?"

Perhaps disappointed that the situation wasnundefinedt what he had expected, Ruwellinundefineds expression darkened. He looked at me with a somewhat forlorn expression and answered in a dejected voice.

"That my feelings for Rosnia are sincere."

"……."

"To let them know I fully intend to marry you―."

"……."

"And to propose reconciliation between the two families."

It was a truly textbook answer. I nodded as if I had expected it, then paused as a sudden thought crossed my mind. A corner of my mind was still uncomfortable because of that thought that hadnundefinedt left my head.

"Rosnia?"

"Ah…… well, I……."

Noticing my discomfort, Ruwellin called my name softly, and I fidgeted with my hands on my knees and stammered.

……Well, it wasnundefinedt a big question, so should I ask?

Trying to think of it as no big deal, I pushed my brief worry aside and gave a small smile. But without quite meeting Ruwellinundefineds eyes, I slowly opened my mouth.

"Your Grace, what if……."

"……."

"One day, someone appears who can make you a complete divine user……."

"……."

"Would you do the same with that person as you did with me―."

"Rosnia."

Ruwellinundefineds voice cut me off before I could finish. He sighed softly, then closed his eyes tightly and opened them. Seeing his ominous expression, I flinched and clutched my dress tightly. My heart pounded erratically.

"I cannot……."

"……."

"Feel the same emotions for someone who isnundefinedt you."

Ruwellin spoke in a calm voice. But his expression and eyes were far from calm. Something that seemed about to burst forth was surging within his eyes.

It wasnundefinedt hard to figure out what it was.

"The emotions…… you feel when you see me?"

"Yes."

I instinctively moved my body, slowly backing away. Trying to run away from him again, as if. But I couldnundefinedt move an inch before being trapped in Ruwellinundefineds arms.

Placing his hands on either side of me, he slowly leaned down and looked at me intently. I avoided his gaze, my heart pounding. It felt as if the air had suddenly grown heavy.

Finally, from a distance close enough to see the fine details of his irises, Ruwellin whispered.

"You are the only one I desire, Rosnia Hyll."

I thought he might kiss me. But Ruwellin simply smiled brightly, kissed my forehead very politely, and slowly pulled back.

Even though that was all, his emerald eyes still held an undeniable longing.

I avoided his gaze as if running away, my face flushed. I could easily tell that he was acting restrained out of consideration for me.

He was holding back, but he was like a ticking time bomb. If I provoked him even a little further here, I might not be able to leave this room until tomorrow morning.

"Excuse me for a moment."

"……!"

Ruwellinundefineds large hands grabbed my shoulders and lightly lifted me up. Before I could even be dumbfounded at how easily I was lifted, Ruwellin sat me on his lap and smiled softly.

I realized that smile was a trap to lure me in. Sure enough, stroking my cheek, Ruwellin asked in a coaxing voice.

"Rose, may I ask how you came to have such a thought?"

More precisely, he was grilling me.

He had ghostly perceived that I had some kind of worry, though not the details. What a frighteningly sharp man he was.

When I unconsciously tried to turn my head away, he gently grabbed my chin and made me look at him.

Caught in his sharp green eyes that seemed to pierce my very soul, I could only blink, at a loss.

With a smile that was vastly different from his sharp gaze, Ruwellin repeated the question.

"How did you come to have such a thought?"

"Well, that is……."

I couldnundefinedt find the right words and just stammered. I needed to make up something plausible, but being this close to Ruwellin without any gap, I couldnundefinedt think of anything.

His body heat felt through the thin summer clothes, his heartbeat, the breath occasionally tickling my cheek. Everything was too close, taking my breath away.

Of course, the hardest to bear were his clear, upright eyes. Eyes so transparent that the emotions within them were plainly visible. I could now tell just by looking at his eyes how persistent he was.

undefinedIf this continues, Iundefinedll end up saying something stupid.undefined

I swallowed dryly and tried to stay calm. I couldnundefinedt talk about the original work or the heroine. I would seem insane.

In a situation where war might break out between Hyll and Rashiane, I couldnundefinedt afford to look crazy. I quickly racked my brain, came up with a plausible excuse, and opened my mouth.

"Itundefineds just my delusion."

"Delusion?"

"Yes, actually I……."

I paused for a moment. My heart felt heavy and uncomfortable having to tell such a lie. But this was the most appropriate excuse.

"I donundefinedt completely trust you yet. So I was just hypothesizing. What if someone much better than me appears for you, what would happen then……."

"……."

Ruwellinundefineds arms around my waist tightened.

At the strong squeezing sensation, I flinched involuntarily, and Ruwellin looked at me and smiled kindly. But his eyes werenundefinedt smiling.

Ruwellin slowly stroked my cheek and muttered in a low voice.

"What should I do……."

"……."

"What should I do for you to trust me completely?"

Avoiding his gaze, I mumbled my answer.

"Trust isnundefinedt something that appears suddenly; it takes time."

"I suppose the time weundefinedve spent together so far hasnundefinedt been enough."

"Of course…… not. It hasnundefinedt been a long time."

Well, maybe from Ruwellinundefineds perspective, having had a crush on me for a long time, it might be different. For me, everything had been sudden.

undefinedCome to think of it, itundefineds not entirely a lie.undefined

The anxiety that he might be taken away when Sierra appears someday might also be due to a lack of trust.

Well, it had been too short a time for trust to sprout.

"I want to ask you to trust me, but……."

Holding my hand tightly at some point, Ruwellin met my eyes persistently and whispered in a quite heavy voice.

"I understand. Trust is hard to build in a moment. So I will do my best moving forward. To earn your trust."

"……."

"To do that, I will have to spend a long time with you. I will definitely make this engagement happen."

That meant, in other words, he had absolutely no intention of parting with me.

Of course, I didnundefinedt want to part with him either, but my feelings and his seemed to have different intensities. To put it, his side was much…….

undefined……Darker.undefined

And deeper. So deep that the bottom felt distant.

If I sank into that, what would become of me?

"Promise me just one thing, Rose."

"……."

"As long as my heart never changes, promise me you will never leave my side."

It was a promise I couldnundefinedt make lightly, one I shouldnundefinedt make.

So instead of answering out loud, I only nodded slightly.

Then I tried to get up, but Ruwellin held me tight and wouldnundefinedt let go.

The sound of his heartbeat transmitted through our touching bodies was irregular. As if he was suffering from anxiety.

Ruwellin pleaded in a trembling voice.

"For a moment……."

"……."

"Please stay like this……."

I sighed quietly. Ruwellin fidgeted like a wounded beast and burrowed deeper into my embrace.

Having no choice, I had to hold him tightly for a while.