Chapter 47

As May loosened and combed down Asla’s hair, she beamed brightly and cautiously asked, “Then… may I assist you with your bath today?”

“…Sure, please do.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

Until now, Asla had always bathed alone, unwilling to show her scars to May.

But today, she was truly exhausted and wanted to fully build trust with May, so she decided to entrust her body to her care.

She noticed May’s eyes becoming red as she washed her in the bath, but Asla pretended not to notice.

She simply smiled gently.

It had been a long day.

Margo had come and stirred up trouble, and she had even heard an outrageous plan to establish a Holy Kingdom—but she didn’t feel despair.

It might be different if she met Lisette, but even so, it was better to face the truth.

She wasn’t alone or lonely anymore.

She had people trying to protect her, and had even met someone who might become a friend.

Still, something weighed on her mind.

Enoch Ventus.

The shadow in his heart, which she had glimpsed through god’s dream, was darker than she’d imagined.

Asla was certain she had to meet Lisette and the Pope soon and settle things, but she hesitated to tell Enoch.

He would surely worry she’d get hurt again.

He had apologized for seeing her as weak, but this time, it was Asla who was afraid.

Meeting Lisette could indeed wound her, even shock her deeply.

If she were hurt, Enoch would be swallowed once again by the pain and fear of losing family.

He’d take sleeping pills and loads of other medication, fighting that terrible illness all over again.

“I just…don’t want you to suffer.”

Shuddering at the thought of the pain Enoch had endured, Asla thought she could solve it without him knowing—return without a single wound to her heart.

What Lisette was gravely mistaken about was believing that if she persuaded her, Asla would naturally remarry the Pope.

But that wasn’t true.

Asla had… Enoch.

“Nanny has failed.”

Asla smiled faintly.

If Lisette had truly wanted to brainwash her perfectly, she shouldn’t have let her meet Enoch in that rose garden.

After her bath, Asla sat late into the night, fiddling with the pastel box Amelia had given her, organizing her thoughts.

Under the moonlight, she tried to shake off the darkness Lisette had left in her heart, recalling her royal education and carefully bringing back her dignity.

Tomorrow, she would face her nanny.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

The next morning, Asla found Enoch already waiting in the living room, reading the newspaper.

Wearing her indoor gown, she walked out and asked curiously, “What’s going on this early?”

“I wanted to have breakfast with you.”

“Breakfast? With me?”

“Is it so strange for a husband to have breakfast with his wife?”

Enoch set the newspaper down on the table and stood up.

Asla hesitated before answering,

“We’ve never done that before.”

“So you don’t want to?”

“…It’s not that. It’s just… awkward. But I think I might like it.”

The terrible breakfasts she had endured with Margo briefly came to mind, but quickly faded.

With mixed feelings, Asla looked at Enoch. Seeing her hesitant expression, Enoch leaned toward her and said,

“Starting from this morning, you’ve triggered my competitive streak. I’ll make you look forward to breakfast with me.”

“You think this is some sort of game?”

Asla backed away slightly, bewildered.

Enoch gave her a disapproving look but then straightened up again.

“No matter what, we’ll eat breakfast together.”

“That might be difficult. You’re always busy.”

“And you’re always up early. We could eat and I still wouldn’t be late.”

“Do you get up early too?”

“I do, actually.”

Wearing only a crisp white shirt, jacket removed, Enoch looked neat and ready for work.

Unlike most high-ranking nobles who stayed out late drinking, partying, or gambling and woke up late, Enoch was different.

A diligent and busy duke.

Asla gazed at him for a moment, then quickly went to change into more formal indoor clothes and brushed her hair neatly before returning.

Three staff members had already set up a table on the wide terrace and were laying out the pre-prepared breakfast.

It was her first time having breakfast on the terrace, but she liked it already.

“Enoch?”

“Ah, you’re out.”

Enoch had been looking at something in the living room.

When Asla called out, he came to escort her to the terrace.

The fresh morning air enveloped them.

He politely pulled out her chair for her, then sat across from her.

Asla spoke, “Summer’s coming to an end.”

“It’ll get chilly soon.”

“Yes.”

Asla took a sip of the warm tea a servant had poured and murmured without thinking, “I think I might come to like breakfast.”

“Then I’ve already won.”

Enoch smiled, spreading soft butter on a warm, steaming piece of bread and placing it on her plate.

Asla gave an awkward laugh.

“You don’t need to do all this. You’ve already won.”

“No, I’m doing it because I want to.”

“…Were you always this kind to women?”

When she asked curiously, Enoch’s expression stiffened. He let out a deep sigh and replied calmly, “The only person Duke Ventus serves like this… is you. The only one.”

Asla was momentarily at a loss for words, staring blankly at Enoch.

“Oh.”

Then her face flushed bright red.

While Enoch remained composed, Asla felt as though he’d just confessed to her.

Her heart pounded, flustered by the man who could so easily take her from heaven to hell.

Somehow, he was terrifying in a completely different way.

But Enoch, lost in thought, didn’t notice her flushed face as he asked, “That catalog from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts… Did the Astra Crown Princess give it to you?”

Realizing belatedly that the catalog Enoch had been looking at in the living room was the one Amelia had given her, Asla nodded.

“Yes. How did you know I met the Crown Princess?”

She narrowed her eyes and questioned him.

“A concerned husband gets reports from the head of your security team.”

Enoch answered without hesitation, and Asla was left speechless.

There wasn’t really anything to hide, so she took a bite of the bread he had given her and said slowly, “She’s a lively person. You probably had her background checked after she approached me, didn’t you?”

“You know me well.”

Enoch replied slyly, crossing his arms. Then he grew serious, wiping the smile from his face.

“She didn’t approach you with an ulterior motive. It really was a coincidence. Maybe she was drawn to you because of your similar age and interests. What did she say to you?”

Asla hesitated.

She fiddled with a fork that held a single grape before answering, “She praised my drawing.”

“The Crown Princess of Astra praised your art? Then you must really be talented.”

Enoch was genuinely surprised.

He explained that Amelia, the Crown Princess of Astra, had a discerning eye and had discovered many artists from a young age. She rarely took interest in average work.

Asla mulled over his words and offered another possibility.

“She may have known I was Duchess Ventus. The Astra Kingdom must know how powerful you are financially.”

“That’s possible. But for someone who values artistic honor so deeply, it seems unlikely she did it for money…”

“It might’ve been well-intentioned, but I keep doubting her.”

Recalling the pastels Amelia had given her and her bright smile, Asla sighed in guilt.

“Doubt is healthy. It means you’re cautious and thoughtful.”

Enoch shifted his posture and asked, “Did she explain the Royal Academy of Fine Arts?”

“Yes.”

Asla gave a short answer, leaving out the part where Amelia offered to write a letter of recommendation and provide support.

“It’s too far.”  Enoch muttered.

Asla’s expression darkened. She assumed he wouldn’t approve.

The kingdom lay at the far west end of the continent—a long way from the Tulia Empire, just as he said.

Had she secretly hoped he would say, “Go ahead”?

Disappointed, Asla quickly composed herself and changed the subject.

“I’m planning to visit my mother today.”

“Madam Sherita? Why…?”

Knowing that Asla’s relationship with Gloria was still strained, Enoch’s pupils trembled sharply.

Asla looked at him and smiled softly, shaking her head.

“She’s not so bad. When I saw her last time, I realized she’s aged quite a bit.”

“I see.”

“…Enoch. If your mother was still alive, would she be around my mother’s age?”

It was a topic Asla had never brought up before. She was extremely nervous, but Enoch remained surprisingly calm.

“She would’ve been older than Madam Sherita. But it’s hard to imagine her aged. In my memory, she’ll always be thirty-six.”

“…I see.”

Asla barely replied.

A short, heavy silence fell between them.

Looking off into the distance in the direction of Gloria’s neighborhood, Enoch spoke.

“You should get going then. I’ll tell Talet to prepare a gift for you to take.”

“That’s not necessary. You’ve already given her plenty.”

“I need to stay on your good side right now. Just pretend you don’t notice.”

Unable to win against his stubbornness, Asla gave up.

As Enoch left the room to go to work, he suddenly turned back.

Their eyes met, and after a moment of hesitation, Enoch spoke.

“You don’t have anything scheduled for tomorrow, do you?”

“No.”

“Then tomorrow… will you come with me to see the house we’ll live in?”