Chapter 26
Chapter 25
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At that moment, a sound of laughter echoed from somewhere. The faint laughter, coming from a distant place, soon faded away, but it transported Grace to a moment in her past.
The moment she stood in the vast wheat field, holding her father's hand, she had burst into laughter for some unknown reason.
'That rascal, she's laughing so hard her belly button might pop out.'
The sound of her laughter from that day was still vivid. Grace momentarily recalled her innocent laughter, then extinguished the burning candle flame and headed for the bed. She lay on her side, pulled the blanket over her head, and curled up, hugging a large pillow. She could only fall asleep when she was curled up like this, completely covered by the pillow and blanket.
As she blinked slowly, her gaze turned to the fireplace. The firewood he had provided was warming the room.
As she naturally thought of him, she felt the warmth that had enveloped her back and the strong force that had pulled the bowstring with her. Gradually, sleep washed over her, accompanied by a mirage-like warmth that seemed to exist yet not exist.
As she closed her eyes, a vast Golden Wheat Field unfolded.
When everything is over, I must go to that wheat field where I walked with my father and mother. I'll breathe in the fragrant scent of wheat and… I must laugh just like I did back then.
＊ ＊ ＊
At the same time, Walter, who was lying in bed like Grace, felt himself being drawn into a deep sleep. He was dreaming, but he knew he had to wake up.
But even for him, it was a difficult task.
In the swamp-like, sticky dream, he was a helpless child. The late Duke Richmond, who resembled his father greatly, looked down at him with a smile.
—Your Highness, from now on, you must live as Walter. Act like Duke Richmond's son, and hide Your Highness. That is the only way to survive.
He smiled, his dark eyes curving long, but tears clung to the corners of his eyes.
Walter shouted with all his might.
You're insane. How could you bear to watch your son burn to death in my place? Was there really no other way than this damned method!
But as with all his dreams, no sound came out.
—If you act so sensitively, you will be easily discovered. Your Highness and my son have very different personalities.
The late Duke Richmond looked at Walter with genuine concern, then added as if he had no choice.
—If hiding is difficult, then at least minimize your words.
—…….
—Please, survive, save His Majesty, and return to your original place.
With those words, the Duke took a step back and bowed deeply to him. Then he turned around. A small boy and a woman with a straight back approached him with sad faces, and the three disappeared into the thick darkness.
Walter called out to them at the top of his lungs, but the three never returned.
As the Duke had said, suppressing his personality was not an easy task. So he thoroughly reduced his words and tried to act as much like Walter as possible, until one day he began to get confused.
Who am I?
Then, when Eliza's sorrowful weeping came to mind, he felt as if he were in a burning pit.
No, he was already burning.
He was lying on the earth, which had turned black at some point. Acrid smoke filled the sky, and black soot filled his lungs.
He wished that at least a cool rain would pour down, and it was at that moment.
—You have been my guiding star and anchor for a long time.
An elegant voice poured over the flames like rain.
—I was able to endure because of you.
The flames that had engulfed Walter subsided as if by magic. Only then did he let out a rough breath. A woman resembling verdure appeared before him.
Grace watched him with unwavering eyes and said softly.
—Get up.
With a whisper like the wind, the maddening heat, ashes, and soot scattered as if by magic. And the next moment, the lost word flowed from her pink lips.
—Ares.
Walter's eyes flashed open.
He was only gasping for breath at the boundary between dream and reality, but then he heard that voice again in his ear.
—Ares.
Walter stared blankly at the air, then finally covered his eyes with his hands and chuckled. It was a dry and sharp laugh, like a cold winter wind. Then, as if by a lie, he gathered up his laughter, roughly swept his face, and muttered savagely.
"What a strange dream to have."
As he slowly rose, his gaze turned to the door where Grace was staying.
In the pitch-black darkness, Grace's figure flickered like a phantom. Shining golden hair, a round and white forehead, golden eyebrows beneath it, large eyes resembling verdure, and dimples that indented her slender cheeks.
Walter's eyes darkened like an abyss.
"You… were able to endure because of me?"
Those words shook him violently.
"I was your guiding star and anchor……?"
Walter got up and walked towards the door. Reaching the black door, he leaned his forehead against it.
Yes. Now he knew why he felt differently about her.
Grace was seeing the real him beyond the guilt-ridden mask. The mask he had to wear to survive was covered with guilt. He was always thirsty, and he felt suffocated, as if he had crammed his body into a small box with all sides blocked.
The moment her eyes came to mind clearly, the mask that had been covering him began to break. When the mask, which had been slowly breaking piece by piece, finally collapsed, a faint dawn began to rise outside the window.
In the dimly lit world, Walter smiled without realizing it.
＊ ＊ ＊
Last night, Flora had a restless night.
She couldn't sleep because Walter kept coming to mind. The imposing presence emanating from his magnificent physique, the gaze with which he looked at her, his perfectly sculpted features, and even his low voice that seemed to scratch her heart.
The men who had courted Flora so far were all lacking in something. If they had a decent physique, their personalities were frivolous, and if they had decent personalities, their families were not good or their appearance was not to her liking.
But Walter was perfect.
When she imagined him looking down at her with loving eyes, she was swept away by a rapture she had never felt before.
Flora pressed down on her pounding heart and said as if making a resolution.
"I will become the perfect Duchess."
Duchess Richmond.
Flora Richmond.
The more she pronounced it, the more convinced she became that this was fate.
She is the precious daughter of Count Lewen, who is closest to Marquis Linko. Moreover, Marquis and Marchioness Linko also regarded her as their own daughter. The Lewen family had been residing in the Duke Richmond's castle for five years already. For Flora, the Duke's castle was already like home. The young ladies and gentlemen who would later become the mainstream of Northwestern society also revered her as if they were worshiping her.
So, seizing the Inner Palace of the Duke Richmond's family would not be difficult for her.
Flora jumped out of bed in the pre-dawn hours and called the maids. The maids' complexions looked somewhat pale, but Flora didn't pay much attention.
"Go and bring me the books related to the Duke's family's norms."
The book of norms that the maids hurriedly brought was so thick that it made her sigh just looking at it. After roughly skimming through the first few pages, Flora fiddled with the pages and asked.
"What is that woman doing? Does she even know how to handle cutlery properly?"
The combination of a main dish and formal cutlery was Flora's idea.
The maids smiled awkwardly with pale faces, then trembled as they answered.
"She… somehow knows it."
"It was… awkward, though."
Flora pouted her lips as if she didn't like it.
"Did she learn it in a hurry? It's funny, really."
"Ah, ahahaha. That's right……."
"Is that woman wearing dresses or jewelry?"
"She didn't have any special accessories. And the dress was just……."
Flora's lips curled upwards again.
"Bring me the dresses and jewelry I bought this time."
"Yes, Miss."
Flora was putting a lot of effort into her adornment when an unexpected call was delivered.
The Marchioness had called for her.
