Chapter 61
I hope this inexplicable, burning anxiety and sorrow in my chest—something I’ve never experienced before—can be soothed.
If Aidan were to embrace me with his strong arms, if he were to kiss me passionately like he always does… then maybe, just maybe, I could forget this feeling too, just as I’ve always forgotten everything else.
Clinging to that thought, Floria clung to him.
Aidan nodded.
“If that’s what you need, then as much as you want…”
“……”
“As much as you want.”
Then he lifted her tear-streaked cheeks with both hands and pressed his lips to hers.
Their hot inner lips met, and his tongue roughly pushed inside.
Even though his presence was so vivid as they kissed, the flames burning in Floria’s heart would not be easily extinguished.
That emotion—so insignificant yet overwhelming—was jealousy.
Floria liked walking in the castle garden. It was a change that began after she arrived at Sieff Castle.
Because her parents hated the sight of her, she had never gone outside.
That aversion to leaving had become second nature.
She always longed to be outside, but knowing she would be scolded, she never dared to step out.
But after coming to Sieff, everything changed.
She would wake up in the morning and have breakfast with Aidan.
When he left the castle or went off to attend to matters, she would change into comfortable clothes and head to the stables to see the baby deer.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
Floria had named the baby deer Aidan brought “Bella.”
When Bella first arrived at the castle, she hadn’t even been weaned, so Floria had to hold and care for her constantly.
Now that she was eating soft hay, Bella had moved to the stables.
Whenever Floria came down to feed her and offered the hay, Bella would rush to her, bright-eyed.
“Good girl, good girl. Eat well.”
After feeding Bella in the morning, she would head to the garden.
Despite being summer, the sunshine in the northern region was still gentle and warm.
The climate was so different from Altomole that even the garden’s design was completely distinct.
There were fewer flowers, but the landscaper had artfully shaped the conifer trees, making the lush greenery a delight to see.
“The weather is nice again today.”
It was a peaceful day, with the rustling leaves swaying in the soft breeze.
And yet… within Floria’s heart, a storm still raged.
When she had first met Aidan, she’d been afraid of him.
Then her heart began to race whenever she saw him. And now…
Just hearing his name, or seeing his portrait hanging in the hall, caused her pain.
It felt as though someone were stabbing her heart with a sharp skewer and twisting it around.
“Stop thinking about it like a fool.”
She blamed herself, but Aidan was all she could think about.
She didn’t know why things had turned out this way, why she was so anxious.
Ever since meeting Aidan, unfamiliar emotions had constantly wrapped around her.
It wasn’t Helia who was by his side—it was her. Since their marriage, Aidan had never spoken Helia’s name with fondness.
But still…
Even knowing how foolish it was, she hated herself for always ending up in the same place in her thoughts.
“Sigh… I’ve been sitting still too long.
That’s why all these useless thoughts are filling my head. I should move a little.”
Muttering to herself, Floria began to briskly walk through the garden.
The cool breeze brushing her skin helped ease her mood a little.
She picked up her pace to shake off the lingering thoughts—when suddenly, a jarring sound reached her ears.
“Your Highness!”
A sharp scream rang through the garden.
“What’s going on?”
Startled, Floria turned toward the direction of the sound.
One of the stable attendants came running from the stables and rushed toward her.
“Your Highness, please come quickly.”
“What’s happened?”
No way. No, please… it couldn’t be that Aidan was hurt.
He was out again today. It wasn’t a battle, but accidents could happen even while riding or in a carriage.
What if something had happened to Aidan?
Fearing that the reason the servant had called her so desperately might be Aidan, Floria’s face turned pale and her breath grew short and heavy.
“What is it?”
She asked urgently, and the attendant, looking ashen, finally spoke.
“Bella… Bella is gone.”
The baby deer, Bella.
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