Chapter 63
“What nonsense are you talking about…!”
Swish—
He knelt on one knee before her. As her gaze lowered to meet his now-level eyes, he looked up at her directly and clasped her foot.
“I’m saying I will be your dog, one that rolls over at your slightest gesture, your smallest step, and performs tricks for you.”
He said this, rubbing the soft sole of her bare foot against his cheek.
“I, Viern Erkman, will be Your Highness’s dog. I will become that kind of beast, looking only at you and following only you. If you desire the throne, I will snatch the crown and place it before you. If you desire wealth and honor, I will gather all the world’s treasures and lay them in your lap. If you need a male prostitute to warm your bed in place of Aisen,”
“…….”
“—I will gladly become your joy and serve you day and night.”
At his confession, Diana’s lips parted slightly.
“Why……”
“…….”
At her words, which seemed to ask why he would go so far, Viern pulled up the corners of his mouth and smiled.
The love you gave me until now—from now on, I will pour it all out to you. He had realized far too late how precious the love she had poured out on him truly was. If there was one regret at this moment, it was that even after realizing his love for her, he couldn’t immediately lay bare his heart and had hidden it.
“Because I love you that much.”
But instead of voicing his long, convoluted story, Viern offered up a desperate confession.
“I love you, Your Highness.”
A torrent of searing love poured forth to Diana.
“I love you, Your Highness.”
* * *
Diana was perched on the wide-open windowsill. Wiggling her toes with a deeply contemplative expression, her gaze suddenly fell on her own ankle.
‘I love you, Your Highness.’
That day, along with his fervent confession, Viern had pressed his lips firmly against the inside of her ankle. Days had already passed since then, yet the sensation of those lips still lingered on her skin like a searing brand.
It was a profoundly strange feeling. That single phrase—‘I love you’—and that one soft, lingering kiss, felt like a greater shock than all the times their lips and bodies had met before.
‘Now that I’ve received the confession, I suppose it’s about time to say my memories are returning.’
Diana began to gauge the timing. Although she had discovered the depth of Viern’s feelings was far greater than she’d thought, she still had no intention of revealing her deception. Having just secured his heart, she didn’t want any careless words to undo everything.
‘When would be best? Saying my memories suddenly returned overnight would be strange.’
It would be better to announce the return of her memories as naturally and seamlessly as possible.
‘Hmm… Do I need to fall from a tree one more time?’
Narrowing her eyes, she stared at the thick tree branch visible outside the window. Just then, Viern opened the door and entered.
“Your Highness.”
“Duke, you’re here?”
Diana turned to him with a bright smile. Viern, who had mirrored her with a composed smile, suddenly stiffened. Striding in, he wrapped one arm around Diana’s waist where she sat on the windowsill, pulling her toward him, while his other hand closed the open window.
Click.
“It’s dangerous here.”
“It’s not that dangerous.”
As Diana grumbled at his overprotectiveness, Viern grinned and scooped her up into his arms.
“I’ll have safety bars installed. Please be patient until then.”
“Huh?”
“So Your Highness can enjoy high places a little more safely. You like high places, don’t you?”
He explained as he walked further into the room. Diana, who had assumed he would just scold her again about the dangers of heights, stared at him blankly. Even in that small consideration, she could somehow feel his heart directed at her, causing an inexplicable ticklish feeling in her chest and a flush to spread across her cheeks.
Viern settled her onto the plush cushions of the couch and took a seat opposite her. On the round tea table between them, Diana’s favorite sweet desserts and tea sets were prepared.
He had truly given up on helping Diana recover her memories. Instead, he no longer hid his feelings, acting like someone desperate to appear favorably to her at every moment. He looked at her with eyes that seemed to drip honey, and was the first to suggest having tea together or going for walks.
“It’s tea leaves airlifted from the eastern region.”
Viern personally brewed the tea and handed it to her.
“Thank you, Duke.”
Diana sipped the tea. Though it was a somewhat improper action by palace etiquette, Viern simply smiled serenely as he watched her. His gaze was so warm that Diana’s earlobes flushed slightly.
‘It’s really… too much.’
Her heart fluttered again. Just sitting face to face across the small tea table, the depth of his feelings was palpably clear.
‘I like Viern so much. I really do. Truly.’
Of course, Diana had liked him before too. She had loved him for the past three years since realizing her feelings for him. However, from some time ago, she felt that love had deepened. Seeing Viern misunderstand her heart and suffer made her sad too, and whenever she saw him happy, she felt even more elated.
‘What do I do? I just keep liking Viern more and more.’
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