Chapter 281
“Yes. But you said there were no feelings between you two.”
The princess casually mentioned the fact that there had been marriage talks with Eren.
Since they had briefly talked about this before, Macy wasn’t too surprised and responded calmly.
“That’s right. I had a lover too—the one who barely gave me a chance to talk by giving the painting.”
Princess Christian smiled brightly, clearly pleased just thinking about it.
She had briefly broken up with her lover but had reconciled using Macy’s painting as an excuse to meet.
Since then, the princess had grown even more fond of Macy.
“But before that, I had a conversation with the Duke at a dessert cafe. Maybe when you were preparing for your trial?”
Macy flinched involuntarily. It reminded her of a minor argument she once had with Eren over that incident.
“But from what I saw, the Duke doesn’t seem like the type to change his mind after marriage or glance at another woman. If it wasn’t for you, he wouldn’t even feel like part of this world, right?”
“That’s quite a joke…”
“I’m serious.”
Her words were somewhat harsh. Princess Christian’s expression was more serious than ever.
“Aren’t you curious about what the Duke and I talked about that day?”
Macy swallowed hard. Christian’s lips curved into a faint smile.
“So, here’s what we talked about that day…”
Christian recalled that day clearly. It was her lover’s birthday—a special day for her as well.
Although her lover had asked for some space, she hoped to meet him if she brought his favorite cake, so she stopped by a famous dessert cafe feeling anxious.
While waiting for her attendant to bring the package from the carriage, a familiar carriage with a known emblem stopped beside hers.
Out stepped the Duke Krygen, rumored to be living in seclusion due to lovesickness—but he was impeccably dressed, fitting his reputation as the most handsome man alive.
Christian immediately got out of her carriage and followed him inside the café.
“Duke Krygen, don’t you have something to say to me?”
“Yes, Princess Christian.”
The Duke, selecting a cake with calmness and no sign of surprise, greeted her.
They were led by a staff member to a private room reserved for VIPs.
Though he had been said to be ill, the rumors seemed exaggerated. He looked thinner than before, but his usual flawless aura and picturesque appearance remained.
No matter how beautiful he was, she felt no stir of emotion toward him.
“I’ll get straight to the point. I have a man I like.”
Christian stated this as if announcing it before the tea she ordered even arrived.
“I don’t know what deal you made with His Majesty, but please understand it’s not related to my wishes.”
“Your Highness surely knows. Our engagement has been known in the streets for quite some time.”
“But—”
“You can’t refuse His Majesty’s orders anyway.”
“…”
Christian bit her lower lip firmly. She knew stubbornness wouldn’t get her anywhere.
But she’d heard the Duke recently found a mistress he couldn’t live without. Wasn’t she be the woman he had been desperately searching for? Or had he still not found her?
She wondered if her judgment was wrong as she anxiously debated what to say next.
The Duke sneered disdainfully and spoke again.
“Well, fine. What you fear won’t happen. The imperial family did not find my mistress.”
“Did you… find her?”
“Yes.”
“So you’re going to marry her?”
Christian wanted a clear answer. The Emperor’s obsession with the Krygen family was deeper than expected.
It was fortunate the imperial family hadn’t found her, but they might force the marriage for any reason.
“That’s not something I can decide.”
“Did she find another man instead?”
“Better to kill and take the rival if that were the case—it’d be easier.”
“…”
“Ah, that was harsh. I’m not as sane as I seem. Please understand.”
He apologized with a face that didn’t look sorry at all. Apparently, he was not as stable as he appeared.
The Duke Krygen Christian knew was always a gentleman—graceful, elegant, and extremely rational, embodying every noble ideal.
But for a moment, she thought he was a different man. He seemed upset just thinking about it, still unable to compose his expression, grinding his teeth.
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