* * *
Ed wanted to grow stronger. Not just in physical strength but in a way that truly mattered.
He wanted the Grand Duke to be able to reach out to him, no matter what happened—whether to celebrate with a triumphant high-five or brush hands in a moment of quiet defeat.
Ed desired that kind of strength—to be someone the Grand Duke could rely on.
The Grand Duke, staring at the fire, lowered his gaze and continued speaking.
“When I first arrived in the North, escaping the capital, the land was half-destroyed from monster invasions. Everywhere you looked, there was nothing but ruin. The previous lord of the North had long perished in a monster attack.”
“…….”
“As I worked to rebuild the castle and comfort the people, weary from endless tragedies, I swore with my parents that I’d make sure such things would never happen again.”
Ed focused intently, hanging on every word.
What had once been a few brief lines in a novel now unfolded before his eyes as the vivid reality of the Grand Duke’s life.
He continued speaking, neither too fast nor too slow, recounting cherished memories of the greenhouse with his parents, and the emotions he’d felt when Ronen was born.
Ed silently vowed that no matter what path the Grand Duke took, he would never let go of the hand he held now.
“This conversation has gotten too heavy, hasn’t it?”
Ed shook his head.
“No, I’m grateful to learn about a side of Your Grace that I hadn’t known before.”
The Grand Duke tilted his head slightly, a gentle smile on his face.
“Given the circumstances, securing the Emperor’s approval for us to be recognized as spouses won’t be easy.”
“…….”
“That’s why I feel guilty for proposing to you before we could achieve such a perfect arrangement.”
Ed softly shook his head again.
“Perfect arrangement? That’s hardly true.”
The Grand Duke chuckled silently at Ed’s playful response.
“Just think about it—a magnificent fortress, an impeccably run administration, and the recently restructured, even more efficient organization you’ve established. Everyone can’t help but be impressed.”
“…….”
“The brilliant talent you’ve placed in the right positions, the unassailable defenses, not to mention the thriving economy, culture, and diplomacy… The North’s strength today isn’t just about rebuilding from the ashes—it’s the result of Your Grace’s relentless dedication to creating something even greater.”
Ed poked the fire with a poker and added,
“Someday, even His Majesty will recognize Your Grace’s sincerity. So, I don’t see this as an incomplete situation at all.”
The Grand Duke smiled warmly, prompting Ed to add another comment.
“And if Your Grace hadn’t been governing the North, I doubt the Empire would remain as stable as it is today.”
Even if he were punished for his audacity, Ed didn’t care. It was the undeniable truth.
The only frustration was the Emperor’s refusal to acknowledge the Grand Duke.
‘Perhaps it’s because Your Grace is simply too capable—enough to evoke fear and rejection.’
A person in power should have the wisdom to oversee and embrace everything.
But the current Emperor, blinded by obstinacy and arrogance, seemed to do nothing but throw childish tantrums.
‘If only he hadn’t been so narrow-minded… Then Your Grace wouldn’t have had to endure such trials.’
Ed sighed quietly, only to be met with a warm potato held in front of him.
The Grand Duke had skewered it and was offering it to him.
Taking a bite, Ed accepted the skewer, sipping water while watching the Grand Duke place his left foot on his thigh after removing Ed’s shoe.
“Was my story boring?”
“Not at all. Every story Your Grace shares is captivating.”
“Your words give me strength.”
The Grand Duke smiled faintly, gently massaging Ed’s foot.
The soothing, almost magical touch made Ed lean back against the armrest of the sofa.
“My body feels so much lighter now.”
“Does it feel good?”
“Yes, very much so.”
“Then I hope the stories I’ll tell in the future will be just as refreshing.”
Ed straightened from his languid position and looked at the Grand Duke, who lightly turned his ankle.
“After discussing it with Yen, it seems you’ll be fit for long-distance travel by carriage next month.”
“Long-distance travel?”
The Grand Duke nodded lightly.
“After the masquerade, I was thinking—what if we visited the Grand Temple together?”
“The Grand Temple…?”
Ed realized that the earlier conversation had been leading up to this proposal.
“I mentioned we need His Majesty’s approval to be recognized as spouses. But considering his tendency to exploit even the smallest matters to attack me, expecting a positive answer is unrealistic.”
“…….”
“However, even if His Majesty refuses, if we receive a blessing and take our marital vows at the Grand Temple, we can still be recognized as a union akin to marriage.”
Ed listened closely as the Grand Duke explained further.
“Once the vows are made, not even the most powerful Emperor can dismiss the bond. Of course…”
The Grand Duke paused for a moment, gently pressing up Ed’s calf as he lifted his knee.
“Even so, His Majesty will try to drive a wedge between us. But I won’t falter. I’ll make sure no one in this world dares to call you a fake Grand Duchess. I’ll make it clear myself.”
As the Grand Duke pulled Ed’s left foot closer to him, he bent forward, locking eyes with the blue gaze staring back at him.
“So, Ed, though it’s a difficult path to climb, take each step with me, even if it’s slow.”
Ed, who had been pulled closer by the Duke’s steady tug, felt the supportive hand cradling the back of his head and gave a faint smile.
When the Duke wrapped Ed’s dangling right leg around his waist, Ed wiggled his toes slightly.
“For someone inviting me to walk with them, what’s the deal with this hand?” Ed teased.
“When you walk, hands and feet move together.”
“That’s not true. I can walk perfectly fine with my arms glued to my sides.”
The Grand Duke laughed aloud.
“Well, they say if someone breaks the rules, you shouldn’t avert your eyes. Instead, you must lodge a proper protest and be ready to face the consequences.”
“And who gave you such wise advice?”
Ed grinned and looped his arms around the Duke’s neck, pulling him closer.
“But you see, such noble words are useless when it comes to Your Highness. When it’s you, I don’t mind.”
“You don’t mind? I’d rather be someone who’s completely to your liking.”
Ed gazed up at the Grand Duke, who seemed intent on discerning his feelings.
‘…Could it be that His Highness is walking a difficult path because of me?’
The Duke, noticing Ed’s silence, leaned down. Mischievously nibbling on Ed’s chin, he earned a light ruffling of his hair in response.
‘When His Highness was young, he must have been as curious and endearing as Ronen.’
Thinking about how the Duke had climbed to his position in solitude at an age when he should have been coddled by his parents, tirelessly defending the northern lands, left Ed with both pity and regret.
‘I wish I had been by his side during his hardest times.’
Though Ed had first seen the Duke as a commanding presence at Count Herins’ estate, imagining the hardships he must have endured to conceal his pain every day was heartbreaking.
“Hmm, your lukewarm response means this isn’t enough to satisfy you, right?”
As the Duke’s lips moved from Ed’s chin to his mouth, Ed let out a small laugh.
The playful bite made Ed’s hand, which had been resting on the Duke’s head, tighten instinctively.
This action instantly softened the faint tension lingering in the atmosphere from their earlier conversation about the Emperor.
It wasn’t because the topic had shifted away from the Emperor.
Rather, it was the growing certainty that no matter what happened, the Duke would always stand by him.
The Duke was dependable and steadfast.
Because of that, Ed could wait for the Duke’s decisions indefinitely, ready to leap into his world whenever the Duke chose to share his dreams.
‘If it were anyone else who had opposed the Emperor, they’d be furrowing their brows with worry, trying to come up with countermeasures.’
As Ed slightly parted his lips, he felt the faint quirk of the Duke’s lips in response.
How strange it was. Being with him brought a peculiar confidence.
That everything would turn out well.
Yes, everything would turn out well.
And this, too, was odd. Though they shared affection and whispered love over and over again, it never grew tiresome.
After a long moment, the Duke lifted his head, their lips parting.
“I’d like to reveal the nature of our relationship at the masquerade ball,” he murmured.
The Duke fell silent, looking down at Ed with a pensive gaze.
“But if I were to reveal your presence without preparation, you’d only become fodder for gossip.”
The headscarf Ed had been wearing was long gone.
Gently brushing Ed’s soft hair, the Duke continued.
“Still, that’s just my thought. In the end, what matters is your opinion, Ed. If you want to make our relationship public…”
“…”
“…then I’ll proudly bring you into the light.”
The Duke leaned down again, lightly nipping at Ed’s chin, causing him to let out a low groan.
‘What if it leaves a mark?’
Recently, the Duke had taken to leaving marks on him.
Seeing the Duke, usually so rational and composed, display such raw desire and possessiveness around him was both astonishing and strangely thrilling for Ed.
Ed grinned and said, “I’m not thinking about that at all right now. I’m more worried about falling off this cramped sofa. What should we do?”
* * *
Lol, cute
Thank you for the update ❤️