Chapter 7

After arriving in the capital, once the divorce was formally granted again at the Grand Temple, May would be sent back to her original post. 

Asla didn’t want May to see her looking so pitiful, so diminished after the scorn she’d endured in the Ventus estate. 

She couldn’t bear to be pitied or sympathized with. 

And it would be even harder to endure if May had been bought off by Margo to torment her. 

“My lady, is something wrong?” 

Noticing the dark expression on Asla’s face, the quick-witted May asked immediately. 

“It’s nothing.” 

Asla shook her head, and May tilted hers quizzically before reaching out her hand. 

“Then, can you stand up?” 

She carefully helped Asla to her feet. 

Though Asla found it amusing that May was treating her like some kind of patient, she also felt strangely pleased. 

She deliberately leaned slightly against May and let herself be led. 

May was much taller and sturdier than Asla, and she pitied how feather-light her frail Lady felt. 

May brought her to the dressing room, where Asla came to a halt in front of a wardrobe filled with outing dresses she couldn’t recall buying. 

“They’re just so, so pretty, aren’t they, my Lady?” 

The wardrobe was full of gorgeous dresses adorned with floral decorations and lace, made from soft, luxurious fabrics and embellished with fine jewels and embroidery. 

Asla instinctively took a step back, feeling an unexpected aversion. 

“I—I should have something I brought with me.” 

“You mean that one outing dress in your bag? I sent it to the hotel laundry.” 

“The laundry?” 

Asla repeated, surprised, and May frowned and nodded. 

“There was coal tar on the inside of the dress. It was so filthy I rushed it off to be cleaned, but honestly, I doubt it’ll come out. How on earth did that even get there?” 

As May grimaced, Asla recalled the personal maid who had obediently packed her dress this morning without a word of complaint. 

No wonder she’d been uncharacteristically silent. 

That maid had smeared coal tar on it again. 

There were more than a few times when it had stuck to her skin and torn it bloody trying to remove it. 

Thanks to May’s attentiveness, she’d avoided falling into the trap, and Asla felt a surge of gratitude. 

“So I hurried off to the master and asked him to order you some new clothes. They’re ready-mades, but all of them are high-quality.” 

“Ah, my husband.” 

Watching May smile brightly, Asla returned a hesitant, awkward smile. 

Enoch’s tendency to keep giving her things still felt unfamiliar and burdensome. 

She considered returning them all. But thanks to May, she’d been spared the awful coal tar, and she wanted to repay her in kind. 

So she decided to go along with May’s excitement, as the girl happily played dress-up with her like a doll. 

But… weren’t these just a bit too extravagant? 

Asla glanced at the array of dresses and gowns and swallowed hard. 

Born a Princess of the Holy Kingdom, she had always been required to wear modest outfits in white or silver tones. 

She had never worn anything this colorful or ornate before. 

Only once—on her wedding day. She wore a gold gown covered in jewels. 

After the wedding, she had returned to wearing white dresses like before in the Ventus estate, so this display of color was unsettling. 

But really, what does it matter now? 

She steeled herself and changed her mindset. 

It had been two years since the fall of the Holy Kingdom. 

She was the last of the royal family, with no homeland left to return to—there was no longer any reason to uphold those traditions. 

And soon enough, she would be denounced as an impious heir of the Holy Kingdom, for daring to question the divine oracle. 

She would cast tradition aside. 

Just then, May cheerfully held up a short dress of pale blue fabric, richly embroidered with silver thread, and held it up against her. 

“This one’s perfect.” 

Asla made her decision firmly. 

Even if she had told herself she’d wear anything, she couldn’t bring herself to try on the truly bold options. 

This one was in the same color family as her old dresses, so she chose it. 

May nodded with delight and helped her dress, chattering all the while. 

“Master may seem stern, but he certainly has good taste in clothes. All twenty dresses are exquisite and luxurious.” 

“Is that so?” 

“Yes, madam. They’re all from the most expensive boutique in Dainus. Well, I suppose it’s only natural since he’s the Duke of Ventus.” 

May skillfully dressed Asla in a sky-blue dress that came down to her knees, then brought over a pink ribbon sash, fastening it around her waist and adding a blue jeweled brooch. 

“Oh my. You look absolutely stunning, madam.” 

“Thank you.” 

Asla gave May a soft smile, genuinely appreciative.   

She carefully looked at herself in the full-length mirror.   

It had been a while.   

Wearing something so light and cheerful lifted her spirits. 

“Shall we choose some shoes too, madam?” 

“…Did my husband send shoes as well?” 

“Yes, of course!” 

May laughed brightly as she went to fetch the shoe box.   

Asla felt a strange sensation stir within her.   

Her husband had thoughtfully sent her dresses, shoes, and even accessories.   

Why was he doing all this when she was going to finalize their divorce?   

Could it really be, just as she suspected, that Enoch didn’t want to separate? 

Unable to read his intentions, Asla let out a small sigh.   

Wearing the matching cool-toned blue sandals, she headed down to the hotel lobby at the time Enoch had promised.   

Spotting him standing in the white marble lobby, Asla’s eyes widened in surprise.   

His striking looks were the same as always, but unlike usual, he was wearing a light white shirt and simple pants. 

She had never seen him dressed so casually before.   

Even during their first meeting, in the sweltering midsummer of the southern Holy Kingdom, he had worn a jacket with every button fastened.   

She had thought of him as a rigid man who placed utmost importance on propriety, to the point of suffocation.   

As Asla silently approached, staring at him in curiosity, Enoch gazed back just as intently. 

“You look much better.” 

Enoch’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, then narrowed again. 

“Did that really come out of my mouth?” 

“…That was me talking.” 

“Then I’ll say it too. You look much better.” 

With those words, Enoch held out his hand to her.   

Asla stared at his large hand and gently bit the inside of her lip.   

Why was her heart trembling like this?   

Was it because a part of her still loved him, that a simple compliment from him could shake her so easily?   

She felt foolish… but helpless against it. 

After all, she had loved him for such a long time.   

Hiding the fluttering in her chest, Asla accepted his escort and climbed into the carriage.   

As she wondered how far they were going to need a carriage, Enoch sat across from her.   

Once the carriage began to rattle into motion, Enoch glanced at her with a strange look and began to speak. 

“I thought for sure you wouldn’t wear the dress I sent.” 

“…Do I really seem like the kind of person who clings to the traditions of the Holy Kingdom? Then you’ve misunderstood.” 

Asla pouted, annoyed that Enoch had judged her to be stubborn.   

He narrowed his eyes and replied, “You never wore them before. You said you had to uphold the Kingdom’s traditions.” 

“Hm? Yes, I didn’t wear them.” 

Asla answered, but she began to feel like their conversation was slightly out of sync. 

“…Exactly. That’s what I mean.” 

Enoch let out a faint laugh, raising just one corner of his mouth in disappointment, then turned his gaze to the window and muttered, “I used to think the clothes I sent weren’t even worth as much as those traditions you held dear. But now that we’re getting divorced, you seem to have changed. I guess it’s a relief. I’ve always thought those customs were rigid and suffocating—something that could be discarded.” 

“…” 

“White looks good on you, but so do colourful, luxury garments like this.” 

At first, she thought he was just rambling nonsense, but as his meaning slowly dawned on her, Asla felt her head grow hot.   

She was overwhelmed with confusion and nerves.   

If what he said was true, then the fact that he hadn’t sent her a white dress but other kinds instead…   

She had never received a single article of clothing from him while living at the Ventus estate.   

Which meant that the gifts from Enoch today weren’t a sudden whim—he had been sending her things all along. 

‘Ah.’ 

Asla felt as if her blood had run dry.   

There was only one culprit. 

‘Margo Ventus.’ 

She looked at Enoch with a mix of sorrow and resentment.   

Even if he had sent her those gifts, she could never have received them while Margo held dominion over the Ventus estate.   

She felt small and pitiful for not even being able to receive presents from her husband.   

She resented Enoch for his indifference—sending gifts but never checking if she got them. 

‘It wasn’t the gifts I wanted… I wanted you to come.’ 

Asla parted her lips, ready to ask when exactly he had sent them, but just then, the carriage came to a screeching halt, and she lifted her head.   

Unlike her, who looked puzzled by the short ride, Enoch extended one long leg out the door the coachman had opened and stepped down gracefully.   

When he offered his hand to her, silently gesturing for her to follow, Asla blinked in surprise. 

“We’re already here?” 

“…It’s walking distance, but I figured you might collapse on the way.” 

Asla, dumbfounded, turned to glance out the carriage window.   

Just a few blocks away, the Ruitel Hotel was in plain sight.   

They hadn’t even ridden for a full minute.   

She began to doubt whether this man—treating her like an invalid—was truly Duke Enoch Ventus. 

Narrowing her eyes, Asla looked between his large, outstretched hand and his face.   

She wanted to ask “What is going on with you?”, but the deep black of his eyes as he gazed down at her rendered her speechless.   

After a moment’s hesitation, she lightly placed her fingers on his hand.   

Enoch gently grasped them and helped her out of the carriage. 

In her view appeared a large artificial lake and a beautifully designed restaurant built beside it.   

A refreshing breeze danced around them, making her feel truly pleasant.   

Still captivated by the way the afternoon sun glittered off the lake’s surface, Asla murmured, “The Tulia Empire must be truly wealthy—to build an artificial lake even in a city that’s not the capital.” 

“…You’re a citizen of the Tulia Empire too. How much longer are you going to act like a foreigner?” 

Clicking his tongue, Enoch followed the restaurant staff leading the way and gestured for her to come.   

Asla silently followed, staring at his broad back. 

‘How much longer, indeed.’ 

Wearing a bitter smile, Asla found the table Enoch had reserved.   

It was a large marble table, the only one on the terrace, offering the closest view of the artificial lake.   

The elegant table setting and fine tableware lifted her mood as she walked toward it.   

Seated across from Enoch, she glanced at him as he discussed the order with the server, then turned her gaze to the lake. 

Waterfowl that loved the lake were gliding calmly across its surface.   

‘You’re… free.’ 

Asla watched them, a touch of envy in her eyes, until the server left with their order. Then she turned back to Enoch. 

“After the divorce, I’ll be allowed to choose a different nationality, won’t I?” 

Enoch had just raised a glass of water with a slice of lemon to his lips when he froze.   

With the glass still at his mouth, he quietly stared at Asla.