Kaian felt overwhelmed with joy.
"Ha."
Every time his heart beat, he felt so elated he wanted to scream aloud and leap into the air. He roughly pulled at his tie and tore at the buttons on his shirt.
*Tuk. Tuk tuk.*
The sound of buttons falling helplessly onto the carpet seemed unrealistically distant.
*Thud. Thud.*
The loudest sound he could hear was his own heartbeat. What was supposed to be contained inside his body was making such noise it seemed ready to burst free.
He'd never thought he was in love with Claudel—not until she'd suddenly confessed to him.
*"I like you."*
The naturally bright eyes of the woman looking at him had captured the colors of fireworks painting the sky. The sound of his heartbeat had grown louder and louder, drowning out even the explosive sounds of fireworks in the night sky. It was as if her voice had been etched into his mind like some kind of spell.
"I can't believe I didn't realize it before."
Kaian looked back on what he'd done. It had become routine for him to do things he'd never done before, all centered around Claudel.
He'd never taken care of or looked after anyone in his life this way. No—he'd cared for soldiers and managed the territory, but the focus had never been a single living person. Because she was his own wife.
Every time he'd seen Claudel growing healthier after saving the life of someone who'd been dying, he'd felt happy and thought, *I even did something as crazy as charging into a herd of crocodiles, but have I ever felt this rewarded?*
There'd been a time when he'd said that to himself. He'd taken it for granted that he would provide everything to her because she was the Duchess of Temnes.
But it hadn't been taken for granted. He'd done it because he liked Claudel.
He'd been pleased to see her no longer finding it difficult to deal with him, becoming more comfortable. Because she'd been happy to welcome him or speak to him warmly during the awkward, uncomfortable beginning of their relationship.
No matter how much work he had, he'd made sure to eat a proper meal at lunch. He'd often worked late into the morning, yet somehow he'd ended up finishing work early.
Claudel's presence had been carved gradually into every corner of his daily life. Even without looking at his watch, he'd automatically known when it was time to go to her.
He'd thought it was simply because he was meticulous—the type of person who never missed or neglected anything requiring attention. Why hadn't he realized that everything had made only one exception until now?
It was because the woman he saw every day had been too close. Since she'd been in a place where he could grab and pull her when he stretched out his hand, where she'd obediently embrace him when he held her, he hadn't had time to examine his deepening feelings.
*"How about you? Do you like me too?"*
What had surprised him most was how purely happy he'd been the moment Claudel asked him that. Kaian had been so utterly happy that he'd had no choice but to accept without doubt that he'd fallen in love with Claudel.
However, he was the head of the Temnes family. Cleverly, as soon as he'd discovered that Claudel liked him, Kaian had calculated the attitude he should adopt in an instant.
*There's no way I'll give that damned old fox a weakness.*
This was for the Duke of Vermont, who seemed to know everything about his personal life.
When Claudel had confessed earlier, Kaian had many thoughts racing through his head. Claudel had said she wanted to rest because her legs were sore, so he'd guided her to the lounge reserved for royalty.
The space was part of the suite his mother—who'd been a Princess—had used until she'd married. It had a small private study, music room, bedroom and bathroom, plus a spacious reception room and lounge.
During his current stay at the castle, Kaian had been lodged in the finest guest bedroom prepared for the Duke and Duchess. But before that, he'd always stayed in Lady Elise's chambers. He'd taken Claudel there intending to show her around.
As he'd chatted with other nobles, quite a bit of time had passed, and he'd grown curious about her condition since she'd said she wanted to rest.
The attendant, who'd been standing somewhat lazily, had straightened when he saw Kaian.
*"I will announce you."*
*"No need. Continue your rest."*
Kaian had dismissed the servant and opened the lounge door himself. A familiar voice had reached him through the crack in the door.
*"I've been away too long. I must return."*
*"You must not forget why you went there."*
Kaian had heard a conversation between Claudel and the Duke of Vermont. The hand that had been opening the door had stopped, leaving only a narrow gap.
*"Behave as a daughter of Vermont should."*
He'd been threatening Claudel.
*"If you have someone dear, you must be prepared to eliminate them at any moment. Do you understand?"*
When Kaian had heard those words, he'd felt as if he couldn't breathe. Hearing Claudel's footsteps approaching the door, he'd quickly hidden beside a pillar in the hallway.
Claudel hadn't seen him and had hurried off in the other direction.
*I thought you were a spy in my house, but you're actually an assassin.*
Kaian had muttered self-deprecatingly. He'd known that Claudel was periodically sending telegrams to the Duke of Vermont through Hannah. Not only that—he'd known many things she wasn't telling him.
When the Duke of Vermont had given her in marriage, he'd done so knowing she had consumption. And almost as soon as she'd arrived at Rowan Castle, she'd been married while in such deteriorated condition that she'd nearly died shortly after.
So that after her death, he wouldn't see the valuables—which would have been appropriate to give a daughter marrying from Vermont—revert to Temnes assets. He'd neglected to provide expensive dresses or jewelry and had sent her with nothing.
When Kaian had discovered this, he hadn't gotten angry with Claudel or confronted her about it. This marriage had taken place by Valquiterre's command. Regardless of the reason, trying to dissolve the marriage itself would mean defying the King's order—an absurdity he'd dismissed.
Moreover, Claudel had been so weak he'd worried she might faint if she even saw him angry. In fact, some soldiers had fainted while wearing iron armor when they'd seen him screaming in rage on the battlefield.
Even if he'd scolded and berated Claudel, nothing would have changed. He'd hated wasting time on useless things.
He'd filled the Duchess's empty jewelry box and commissioned dresses for her, using the cold northern and hot southern climates as excuses. He hadn't stopped Hannah from sending telegrams to the North.
Even with the favor he'd shown her, she'd still continued to act as a spy. Thinking about it that way hadn't made him feel good, but telegrams from people planted in Castle Valmonde had arrived almost daily on Kaian's office desk.
While enjoying flowers with Claudel at Rowan Castle, Kaian had even learned that the Duke of Vermont had been suffering sleepless nights due to a toothache.
*That kind of pain would be even worse in the cold north. Perhaps he'll retire now and recuperate outside the frozen wasteland.*
While monitoring the telegrams from the North, Kaian had always waited for the right time. Just because he'd given up the territorial war didn't mean the confrontation with Vermont was over.
Claudel had never set foot in his office or study. The guards who protected his space were chosen only from among Temnes blood relatives. There was no way the loyal men selected from among blood relatives would fall for Vermont's tricks—not unless it came from Vermont's duke himself.
Compared to the information he received, the intelligence Claudel sent to the Duke of Vermont was trivial. So he hadn't even felt the need to intervene.
Still, he'd felt offended when the Duke of Vermont had mentioned things like "preparing to take his life."
*Even though I treat her this well, it means nothing.*
Without realizing it, Kaian had felt discouraged. However, his heart had softened when he'd seen Claudel—whose face had suddenly paled and whose lips looked tired despite all the bright decorations.
All he could think about was quickly wrapping her in a soft, warm cloak to keep her from getting cold. He'd simply thought to cover her with a blanket to prevent her catching a chill, as her dress was made of thin lace and silk that showcased her figure but provided little warmth.
*It couldn't have been Claudel's wish to become the Duke of Vermont's adopted daughter.*
He knew he had feelings for her. It had been Claudel who'd approached him first, asking if she could kiss him. According to her, he often furrowed his brow and looked angry.
As he'd grown accustomed to living with Claudel, Kaian had sometimes been able to laugh naturally in front of her without restraint. At first when he'd laughed, he'd been a little surprised himself. Then she'd stared intently at his face—as if completely mesmerized.
Still, he'd never imagined she would confess to him like this. She was Vermont, he was Temnes. Even if they were getting along well, the fundamentals didn't change.
The man forged by Temnes' sword had believed Claudel would be the same—that she could put a knife to her enemy's throat at any moment.
*How can I make you trust me?*
Kaian couldn't bear it as he remembered the woman clinging to him with her vulnerable expression, his heart burning.
He strode quickly over and opened the bedroom door. The women who'd been helping Claudel remove her makeup and change her clothes looked at him with surprised faces.
"Are you finished?"
"Yes, yes."
"Then leave us."
Hannah and Madame Marcel quickly disappeared with bewildered expressions.
"Claudel."
"...Yes?"
She looked up at him helplessly. The wounded woman's eyes were full of sorrow.
But if her heart was broken, the more it hurt her, the more likely it was that she was sincere toward him.
Kaian embraced Claudel so tightly she was nearly crushed, and kissed her. He held her all night and let the joy pour out through his touch.
*There will never come a day when I change my mind.*
It was an unspoken pledge of love to the daughter of an enemy.
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