Riv shivered, clutching the hem of her grey dress. She had been confident that she wouldn’t be caught with the faded dress on, her black hair tumbling down the top.
The moment she had been most afraid of was meeting this man.
Duke Sentoren seemed to see right through her.
‘I don’t think this man is a wizard. I’m sure he’s just a human being. Then, why?’
He asked back in a cold voice, “Why did you chase me and the princess?”
Riv opened her mouth, trembling at the Duke’s words. In fact, she couldn’t think of any excuses.
“I-I got lost, Y-Your Grace.”
This is the garden of the Ailte Palace, a place full of maids and servants serving royalty and nobles.
Riv’s reason was plausible. Riv just didn’t know that she looked suspicious as she was dressed shabbily, compared to other maids.
Lionel questioned her again, “Who are you? Who are you following?”
Riv replied immediately.
“Princess Marianne’s maid of honour.”
“What’s your name?”
“Ma-Madame Kat-Katana.”
Giving her name was an obvious mistake. Duke Sentoren immediately became cynical.
“I’ve never heard of that name.”
“……”
‘Madame Katana is a strange name,’ Riv sighed, regretting not giving another excuse. She wanted to get out of this crisis somehow.
“Duke, I was under the queen and recently came to serve Princess Marianne.”
“Did you follow me because you wanted to let the queen know about the conversation between me and the princess?”
Riv was speechless for a moment. Duke Sentoren was far from her expectations.
A man of wild beauty, the opposite of the elegant nobles of the court.
A tall man with broad shoulders and a strong muscular body.
He had a beautiful face, but at the same time, he looked tough and cold-hearted. He was also a man with immense, strong pheromones.
Many women in the palace had longed for this man.
Riv could understand the women who feared him but longed for him. At the same time Marianne didn’t understand. Why didn’t Marianne want this charming man with wealth, good blood, honour, and noble spirit?
Riv, who was usually indifferent to men, was instinctively attracted to him.
‘I-‘
Liv’s pendant ring grew hot. Her heart began to race uncontrollably. She seemed to have fallen for this man in an instant.
‘Calm down, come to your senses!’
The Duke Sentoren in front of her is Princess Marianne’s ex-husband, who would kill Riv. Even if she went back to the past dozens of times, Riv could never be related to him. She was just unilaterally attracted to his charm.
Even if she had returned to time because of the heirloom and magic tool, nothing would change.
‘Duke Sentoren. This man has nothing to do with me.’
Feeling a sudden rush of courage, Riv asked the Duke of Sentoren openly, “Do you know about Princess Marianne’s private life?”
Duke Sentoren’s face became distorted.
“No one has ever asked me that.”
That was when Riv realized. This man knew Marianne’s wrongdoings.
He was displeased when Riv mentioned “Marianne’s Private Life”. It seemed like it wasn’t the first time he had heard of it either.
‘Did Marianne tell her personal story or did he hear rumors?’
If this man knew Marianne’s private life, it would be meaningless for Riv to snitch on it. But, if this man’s behavior didn’t change, her future wouldn’t change either.
He probably knew Marieanne’s illicit acts before his return.
Nevertheless, he still had his engagement to Marianne and eventually married her.
It was his fault, even if the marriage was miserable.
‘Why would he marry Marianne?’
Even if there were endless questions in her mind, Riv could not ask why. The important fact was that this meeting could not change her future.
‘I’m just a third party between Marianne and Duke Sentoren.’
Thinking she had nothing to gain, Riv decided to step down. But this man was far too good for Marianne.
“Dear Duke, congratulations on your marriage to Princess Marianne.”
Embarrassment flickered on Duke Sentoren’s face.
“Marriage? The princess hasn’t even had her coming of age yet. What marriage?”
“The king wants the marriage, so it will happen soon. Even if the result is a catastrophe, the king will push ahead.”
“A catastrophe?”
He repeated, but that was all.
Riv had a hunch that the man in front of her was not dreaming of a happy marriage to Princess Marianne. In fact, all of Riv’s actions seemed suspicious to the Duke.
“Why are you saying those things to me? Do you know anything?”
“Even if Princess Marianne’s scandal breaks out, the duke and Princess Marianne’s marriage will still advance.”
‘Maybe,’ replied the Duke of Sentoren, as expected.
Riv was more certain now.
‘This man wasn’t a variable to change my future.’
He had nothing to do with magic or her fate.
‘I should never have met him.’
At the thought of it, Riv became despondent. Even if Marianne is promiscuous, they would get married, regardless of her hatred for him. At that thought, Riv envied Marianne out of nowhere.
‘Why did Princess Marianne have it all when she didn’t want it?’
At this moment, Riv was greedy for a man whom she couldn’t have.
“Is there anything you want from me, Madame Katana?”
Riv stared at Duke Sentoren.
“Do you have any intention of choosing me over Princess Marianne?”
“……”
Duke Sentoren did not answer.
Riv also spoke impulsively, but of course, she did not expect a positive answer. A bitter smile crossed her face. She plucked up her courage and asked again.
“Duke, if I say I want to leave the palace, could you help me?”
After a long hesitation, he opened his mouth.
“That’s not under my authority.”
Even if he did help her, there was no reason to do so.
And, considering his interest in Riv, it would only last for a moment of curiosity. There would be no such thing as seeing her as a woman.
‘Still, still.’
This dashing young duke made her feel like a fragile girl. Riv wanted to have a sweet dream with Lionel.
Would it feel like this if she fell in love at first sight?
What would it be like to be a couple with him?
What if she kissed him?
“……”
In front of Riv, was Lionel, the Duke’s face.
Handsome but at the same time, one with rough lines. Someone Riv could never have. But the only person that made her dream.
Riv was seized with a strange impulse and stepped up to him.
She leaned forward, and kissed Lionel on his lips.
Her lips softly brushed against his.
The moment felt like forever. A sweet, sweet moment.
She hurriedly stepped down, and let out a chuckle.
She didn’t mean to seduce him. It was just a thank-you kiss.
“Thank you.”
“…….?”
“It was only for a moment, but thank you for letting me dream.”
“What do you mean?”
As she saw the confused Duke, she backed away even more, as if she were trying to escape.
“I want you to be happy. It’s a sincere desire.”
Riv picked up the shoes she had put down and walked out.
She felt the duke’s sharp gaze on her back, but she did not turn. Her kiss was like a child’s prank. It may not be tempting enough for a duke.
“That’s enough.”
Riv erased the Duke from her head. She agonized over how she could survive in the palace.
Without knowing that a playful kiss with the duke would change her whole life.
Lionel’s eyes were fixed on the back of the woman leaving.
He gently touched his lips that had grazed the woman’s lips. She was gone when he looked up again.
“How ridiculous.”
Just then, Lionel heard a voice calling for him.
“Duke, where are you?”
“Michelle, here you are.”
Lionel found himself staring at Michelle, his escort, who approached him. Michelle asked, confused, “What did you talk to Princess Marianne about?”
“It was useless.”
“There was a lot of talk because the Duke and the princess didn’t come back to the banquet. And Princess Marianne collapsed. Speaking of which, there must have been a bit of a commotion.”
Lionel recalled Madame Katana in her gray dress instead of Marianne.
Was Madame Katana really Marianne’s maid of honour?
She didn’t smell of the unpleasant perfume most noblewomen wore. Rather, the scent that clung to her was that of refreshing forest, which made him fascinated by what she said.
‘Do you have any intention of choosing me over Princess Marianne?’
Her words were still in his ears. Tall, thin limbs, pale white face. A woman of modest appearance with no accessories or make up.
On the contrary, why did she feel attractive?
But, Madame Katana? Madame?
Lionel turned and asked Michelle, “Have you heard of Madame Katana?”
“I think I’ve heard of her, why?”
Michelle tilted her head.
Lionel pondered over the mysterious words Madame Katana had said.
“Find out what Marianne is doing. Find out all the rumors in the palace.”
“Understood.”
Lionel gazed up at the sky. The blood-red moon was prominent.
Madame Katana’s warm touch was still lingering on his lips.
Then, one possibility came to mind.
What if he used her to break up their engagement?
If his eyes were captivated by the princess’s maid, and not the princess, Marianne’s pride would be wounded.
Lionel gave a bright smile.
***
T/N: I forgot about this novel lol, had put it on hold because of my exams… Will get back to it now!
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