Trapped in a Secret Room With the Magnificent Duke - Chapter 21 - Part ① END

Reyna was so shocked that she spoke aloud what she should have only thought to herself.

“Isn’t it too extreme for someone to be like this?”

Duke Gerard, with golden lashes casting shadows over his lower lip, raised his gaze.

“I was that desperate. I didn’t want to lose you to another man.”

The tips of Duke Gerard’s ears reddened slightly after he spoke. Reyna looked steadily into his blue eyes. His gaze was sincere, and his expression was quite serious.

“You hadn’t given me a single glance before that incident.”

Of course she won’t. Reyna was a very practical person, adhering to the principle of not even looking at trees she couldn’t climb.

As Reyna continued to stare at him, Duke Gerard added urgently.

“I simply wanted to make a single night with you a lifetime memory…”

That was his intention initially. He had given Reyna a choice, like being stranded in a mountain lodge during a snowstorm with only each other.

If Reyna had decided to let Kadrion die, he would have accepted it with a heavy heart. However, Reyna chose to save Kadrion and even came to the Duke’s residence, concerned about the side effects of the memory erasing magic.

“…I realized that this was a grave mistake and arrogance. The moment I recognized your body, I became someone who could not live without you.”

Kadrion’s confession was earnest and it seemed to ease Reyna’s anger a little.

But as Kadrion subtly began to touch Reyna’s body, her feelings cooled. Reyna gently swatted his intrusive hand away.

“Even so, there are things you just shouldn’t do.”

Reyna couldn’t even imagine it, and she still couldn’t believe that Duke Gerard had done something so devious.

“You’re right, Wife. I’m sorry. I will spend the rest of my life at your side, paying for my sins.”

Kadrion pleaded with a heartbroken look. This time, his touch as he brushed Reyna’s cheek was not sticky but rather sincere.

“…”

“Is it not possible?”

Seeing Kadrion on the verge of tears, Reyna’s throat tightened. However, the emotional pain she had endured made it too difficult to simply forgive him.

Reyna remained silent, staring at the bed sheets. Kadrion’s eyes grew moist, perhaps interpreting her silence as a refusal.

Kadrion, keeping his gaze solely on Reyna, asked.

“I just want to ask one thing. Why did you reject me back then?”

Reyna blinked several times while looking down.

The reason for rejecting his invitation was rather simple. Initially, she felt a bit excited when she received his invitation, but soon realized that all unmarried young ladies of a similar age probably received similar invitations from Kadrion.

At that time, Kadrion was still unmarried and had no betrothed assigned by his family.

Wasn’t that so? Reyna had never imagined that Duke Kadrion would harbor any dark intentions and invite only her to his residence. She was even more surprised that he would resort to abduction and confinement.

As Reyna’s silence continued, Kadrion grew increasingly anxious.

“Wife…”

Tears began to fall from Kadrion’s eyes. Reyna gently touched his wet cheek. Kadrion rubbed his cheek against her hand as if seeking affection.

With a sigh, Reyna finally spoke.

“To me, the Duke was like a dream.”

Kadrion tilted his head, not understanding Reyna’s words. But as Reyna continued, a happy smile spread across Kadrion’s face.

“So… even if I liked you, I thought it was someone unattainable, so I gave up quickly.”

“Is that really true?”

Kadrion asked, clearly not believing it, and Reyna nodded with a shy expression.

“I love you, Reyna.”

Reyna liked him too.

To hear that felt like a dream. Duke Kadrion hugged Reyna tightly. As if revealing his innermost feelings that he never wanted to let her go and making sure she couldn’t escape.