“Is there anything else you want?”
When they had just finished choosing the books and were about to leave the bookstore, Cecilia blinked her large eyes as if trying to figure out Eden’s sudden question.
"Which..."
“What I have is enough. His Majesty the Emperor has also given me many gifts.”
He asked her a question because it seemed strange that she acted like she had no desire for anything, but all he got in return was a reply that it was okay and a bashful smile.
Of course, as the only daughter of the Duke of Lane, Curtis Lane would have spared no expense in spending on her. But usually, it is said that jewels and dresses are not enough.
“Is it because you think I can’t do it?”
Cecilia's eyes widened in surprise at Eden's voice.
“No, I dare not. There is even a story that the Archduke Burnett’s wealth rivals that of the Imperial Family.”
It was a joke going around, expressing the Emperor's deep love for the Second Prince. Cecilia naturally denied his words.
“If you know that, you can buy whatever you like. This isn’t just about choosing a book, it’s a date.”
Eden grabbed Cecilia's slender wrist and led her away. A jeweler who had been loitering around in front of the store after spotting the Archduke and his wife greeted them with a bright smile. It seemed as if he had expected her to come with him.
“This is a new item that arrived yesterday.”
A three-string pearl necklace, ornately decorated on a red velvet cushion, sparkled in the light.
“It is called Mermaid’s Tears because they are made of round and pretty pearls like mermaid’s tears.”
A man's hand in white gloves lifted a long pearl necklace. It was beautiful and delicate.
“Since they are all made from natural pearls, their quality is beyond words.”
But Cecilia was unmoved by the sight of the expensive object shaking before her eyes.
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess has fair and beautiful skin, so I think a pearl necklace would suit her very well. Would you like to try it on?”
Then the one with the sweet body was the seller. He stood up and walked around Cecilia with an anxious face, thinking that since Cecilia was done, he should go home.
“No, I’m fine...”
As he had feared, when Cecilia had expressed her intention to refuse, a large hand reached out from behind Cecilia's shoulder and snatched the necklace without hesitation. Her head naturally followed the hand and turned to face the man standing behind her.
"Your Highness."
“Just try wearing it.”
Before she could properly express her refusal, Eden’s hand fell over Cecilia’s head, forming a shadow. He wrapped the necklace around her slender neck three times, long enough to wrap around her neck four times, and adorned her neck with ample length. Finally, he even put the ring on her. The feeling of the glove lightly touching the skin on her neck was light and smooth as if it contained no selfish intentions.
“Now, let’s take a look in the mirror.”
“It suits you well.”
“Of course! It was made for Her Highness the Grand Duchess from the beginning!”
The employee handed Cecilia a mirror that clearly revealed her figure wearing the necklace. Cecilia looked at her reflection, then focused her gaze on Eden's hand, which was moving inexplicably.
“It’s pretty.”
A large hand that had been sweeping pearls of uniform size ran a long stroke from the part where the necklace was hung to the exposed shoulder.
“... !”
It was a subtle touch that gave goosebumps even though it was only for a moment. Cecilia shuddered involuntarily. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
“I’ll wear this and go.”
“You don’t like luxury items, do you?”
Cecilia looked back at Eden with an effortless expression as she spoke.
“That’s true, but.”
The reason she tried to refuse Eden's gift so strongly was not because she didn't like buying luxury items. She thought about it and did it in a way that she wanted to gain his favor and trust.
“Wouldn’t it be hard to see a gift for your husband as useless?”
But what Eden said was unexpected. If that was the case, then what on earth did she do in her previous life to check his mood? He probably didn’t even know that it was an effort.
Eden reached out his hand to Cecilia. In dejection, Cecilia took his hand and got up from her seat.
“Other items will be delivered on the promised date.”
The staff saw off the Grand Duke and his wife, the big shots of the day, with bright smiles on their faces.
“Go in carefully!”
Cecilia, who was following Eden down the stairs, stared at the hand still being held. Today, Eden hardly let go of Cecilia's hand except when choosing a book in the bookstore.
Why?
Cecilia looked up and stared at the round, shiny back of Eden’s head. Her eyes grew blurry without her knowing it.
“Did you ask anything?”
Eden felt the gaze and asked. Then, a beat later, he turned to look at Cecilia, who was standing on the stairs a couple of steps above him. Cecilia met his gaze at about the same level and shook her head without saying a word.
She knew he wasn't that kind of person, but it was strange that he kept coming close to her. As if he had sensed that Cecilia didn't like contact with him very much. It was as if he was testing the assumption over and over again to gain confidence.
“Just. I’m a little tired.”
Cecilia shook her head, making excuses. She thought it must have been a coincidence, but her heart was pounding like the feet of a restless child. If she had to give it a name, it was a feeling close to anxiety.
She needs to be a little more careful. There was a lot of work to be done under his shadow. She didn't want to mess around and ruin everything.
When they had just finished choosing the books and were about to leave the bookstore, Cecilia blinked her large eyes as if trying to figure out Eden’s sudden question.
"Which..."
“Trinkets, jewelry, dresses. Anything.”
He asked her a question because it seemed strange that she acted like she had no desire for anything, but all he got in return was a reply that it was okay and a bashful smile.
Of course, as the only daughter of the Duke of Lane, Curtis Lane would have spared no expense in spending on her. But usually, it is said that jewels and dresses are not enough.
“Is it because you think I can’t do it?”
Cecilia's eyes widened in surprise at Eden's voice.
“No, I dare not. There is even a story that the Archduke Burnett’s wealth rivals that of the Imperial Family.”
It was a joke going around, expressing the Emperor's deep love for the Second Prince. Cecilia naturally denied his words.
“If you know that, you can buy whatever you like. This isn’t just about choosing a book, it’s a date.”
Eden grabbed Cecilia's slender wrist and led her away. A jeweler who had been loitering around in front of the store after spotting the Archduke and his wife greeted them with a bright smile. It seemed as if he had expected her to come with him.
“This is a new item that arrived yesterday.”
A three-string pearl necklace, ornately decorated on a red velvet cushion, sparkled in the light.
“It is called Mermaid’s Tears because they are made of round and pretty pearls like mermaid’s tears.”
A man's hand in white gloves lifted a long pearl necklace. It was beautiful and delicate.
“Since they are all made from natural pearls, their quality is beyond words.”
But Cecilia was unmoved by the sight of the expensive object shaking before her eyes.
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess has fair and beautiful skin, so I think a pearl necklace would suit her very well. Would you like to try it on?”
Then the one with the sweet body was the seller. He stood up and walked around Cecilia with an anxious face, thinking that since Cecilia was done, he should go home.
“No, I’m fine...”
As he had feared, when Cecilia had expressed her intention to refuse, a large hand reached out from behind Cecilia's shoulder and snatched the necklace without hesitation. Her head naturally followed the hand and turned to face the man standing behind her.
"Your Highness."
“Just try wearing it.”
Before she could properly express her refusal, Eden’s hand fell over Cecilia’s head, forming a shadow. He wrapped the necklace around her slender neck three times, long enough to wrap around her neck four times, and adorned her neck with ample length. Finally, he even put the ring on her. The feeling of the glove lightly touching the skin on her neck was light and smooth as if it contained no selfish intentions.
“Now, let’s take a look in the mirror.”
“It suits you well.”
“Of course! It was made for Her Highness the Grand Duchess from the beginning!”
The employee handed Cecilia a mirror that clearly revealed her figure wearing the necklace. Cecilia looked at her reflection, then focused her gaze on Eden's hand, which was moving inexplicably.
“It’s pretty.”
A large hand that had been sweeping pearls of uniform size ran a long stroke from the part where the necklace was hung to the exposed shoulder.
“... !”
It was a subtle touch that gave goosebumps even though it was only for a moment. Cecilia shuddered involuntarily. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
“I’ll wear this and go.”
“You don’t like luxury items, do you?”
Cecilia looked back at Eden with an effortless expression as she spoke.
“That’s true, but.”
The reason she tried to refuse Eden's gift so strongly was not because she didn't like buying luxury items. She thought about it and did it in a way that she wanted to gain his favor and trust.
“Wouldn’t it be hard to see a gift for your husband as useless?”
But what Eden said was unexpected. If that was the case, then what on earth did she do in her previous life to check his mood? He probably didn’t even know that it was an effort.
Eden reached out his hand to Cecilia. In dejection, Cecilia took his hand and got up from her seat.
“Other items will be delivered on the promised date.”
The staff saw off the Grand Duke and his wife, the big shots of the day, with bright smiles on their faces.
“Go in carefully!”
Cecilia, who was following Eden down the stairs, stared at the hand still being held. Today, Eden hardly let go of Cecilia's hand except when choosing a book in the bookstore.
Why?
Cecilia looked up and stared at the round, shiny back of Eden’s head. Her eyes grew blurry without her knowing it.
“Did you ask anything?”
Eden felt the gaze and asked. Then, a beat later, he turned to look at Cecilia, who was standing on the stairs a couple of steps above him. Cecilia met his gaze at about the same level and shook her head without saying a word.
She knew he wasn't that kind of person, but it was strange that he kept coming close to her. As if he had sensed that Cecilia didn't like contact with him very much. It was as if he was testing the assumption over and over again to gain confidence.
“Just. I’m a little tired.”
Cecilia shook her head, making excuses. She thought it must have been a coincidence, but her heart was pounding like the feet of a restless child. If she had to give it a name, it was a feeling close to anxiety.
She needs to be a little more careful. There was a lot of work to be done under his shadow. She didn't want to mess around and ruin everything.
***
The carriage stopped. As the mansion's master returned, several servants stopped what they were doing and came running. The head butler, Madame Monte, and Ilya were the most representative.
“Are you here?”
Ilya greeted the person getting out of the carriage in a friendly voice. She naturally assumed it was Eden, but it was only Cecilia who got out of the carriage with the help of the footman.
“Did you come back alone?”
Madam Monte asked with wide eyes.
“His Highness said he had some business to attend to and would stop by the bank before he returned, so I came back first. Would you please move the items he purchased?”
“I will tell the servants to move it.”
The butler naturally joined the conversation and said. Cecilia nodded once in gratitude and passed him by.
“Your Highness, this necklace..."
While the butler called the young servant, Cecilia handed Madame Monte the summer shawl she had been wearing. Madame Monte’s eyes widened as she naturally accepted the item Cecilia was handing her.
“I received it as a gift from His Highness.”
Ilya paused.
“His Highness the Grand Duke?”
Madame Monte asked with a smirk. It was annoying to ask a question when you already knew the answer. Ilya thought so.
“Then which Highness did I receive it from?”
Cecilia spoke jokingly and took the first step. Ilya moved like a shadow as Cecilia's slow steps climbed the stairs and reached her bedroom.
“I was just going to buy some books and come back, but he suddenly asked me if I wanted anything.”
Cecilia knew that Madame Monte kept glancing behind her back, but she just let it be.
“So?”
As Cecilia sat down at the dressing table, Madame Monte approached her familiarly.
“So I went to a nearby jewelry store. He told me to pick out whatever I wanted, but I’m not very good at it.”
“Yes, my lady. No, Her Highness the Grand Duchess has not had many desires since she was young.”
Madam Monte smiled happily as she carefully removed the pins from her hair one by one.
“You didn’t even have much of an appetite.”
She couldn't help but laugh when she thought of the fairy-like girl who even Duke Curtis had to chase after and beg for before he could give her a bite to eat.
“Then His Highness chose it for me personally.”
As Cecilia spoke, she placed her hand on the necklace on the dressing table. The necklace, made of natural pearls of uniform size and without a single scratch, sparkled beautifully in the light.
“The name is Mermaid’s Tears.”
Madam Monte stamped her foot, saying that perhaps even the name was luxurious.
“I said I didn’t need something so precious, but His Highness...”
“Oh, what can you say? His Highness the Grand Duke is the one who only wants to give Your Highness the best.”
Madame Monte took out all the pins that had held Cecilia's hair in place and used a wide-toothed comb to gently comb Cecilia's hair so that no tangles were left.
“How beautiful and lovely must your wife be for you to do that?”
Cecilia smiled silently. He was a man who could do that without thinking about it, and Cecilia knew that better than anyone else.
But that wasn't something she wanted to say to Madame Monte. And it wasn't something she wanted to say to the young lady who was standing there, still, eavesdropping.
“...Ilya?”
Cecilia's eyes met Ilya's through the mirror. Only then did she realize Ilya's presence and her eyes widened in surprise.
“How long have you been there?”
“It’s been there from the beginning.”
Ilya answered with a bright smile.
“So, did you hear everything?”
Cecilia asked with an embarrassed face. Ilya nodded quietly.
“Oh my God.”
Cecilia buried her face in her hands as if embarrassed. Madame Monte’s eyes, which were immediately turned to Ilya, became wide.
“It was nice to hear that the two of you seem to get along very well.”
So Ilya had no choice but to quickly make an excuse.
“I bragged about every little thing in front of Ilya... I’m so embarrassed I can’t even raise my head.”
Cecilia, with only her eyes slightly exposed, muttered as if embarrassed. Then, Madame Monte motioned toward the door as if telling her to leave quickly.
“Will you feel better if I step aside? Rest well, Your Highness. There is no shame in a good relationship between a husband and wife, so don’t be ashamed.”
Ilya noticed this and consoled Cecilia, then quickly left the bedroom.
“...”
However, Ilya's face as she came out of Cecilia's bedroom was completely different from the gentle tone of voice she had just given her. There was a subtle annoyance on Ilya's face as she glanced at the door.
“Are you here?”
Ilya greeted the person getting out of the carriage in a friendly voice. She naturally assumed it was Eden, but it was only Cecilia who got out of the carriage with the help of the footman.
“Did you come back alone?”
Madam Monte asked with wide eyes.
“His Highness said he had some business to attend to and would stop by the bank before he returned, so I came back first. Would you please move the items he purchased?”
“I will tell the servants to move it.”
The butler naturally joined the conversation and said. Cecilia nodded once in gratitude and passed him by.
“Your Highness, this necklace..."
While the butler called the young servant, Cecilia handed Madame Monte the summer shawl she had been wearing. Madame Monte’s eyes widened as she naturally accepted the item Cecilia was handing her.
“I received it as a gift from His Highness.”
Ilya paused.
“His Highness the Grand Duke?”
Madame Monte asked with a smirk. It was annoying to ask a question when you already knew the answer. Ilya thought so.
“Then which Highness did I receive it from?”
Cecilia spoke jokingly and took the first step. Ilya moved like a shadow as Cecilia's slow steps climbed the stairs and reached her bedroom.
“I was just going to buy some books and come back, but he suddenly asked me if I wanted anything.”
Cecilia knew that Madame Monte kept glancing behind her back, but she just let it be.
“So?”
As Cecilia sat down at the dressing table, Madame Monte approached her familiarly.
“So I went to a nearby jewelry store. He told me to pick out whatever I wanted, but I’m not very good at it.”
“Yes, my lady. No, Her Highness the Grand Duchess has not had many desires since she was young.”
Madam Monte smiled happily as she carefully removed the pins from her hair one by one.
“You didn’t even have much of an appetite.”
She couldn't help but laugh when she thought of the fairy-like girl who even Duke Curtis had to chase after and beg for before he could give her a bite to eat.
“Then His Highness chose it for me personally.”
As Cecilia spoke, she placed her hand on the necklace on the dressing table. The necklace, made of natural pearls of uniform size and without a single scratch, sparkled beautifully in the light.
“The name is Mermaid’s Tears.”
Madam Monte stamped her foot, saying that perhaps even the name was luxurious.
“I said I didn’t need something so precious, but His Highness...”
“Oh, what can you say? His Highness the Grand Duke is the one who only wants to give Your Highness the best.”
Madame Monte took out all the pins that had held Cecilia's hair in place and used a wide-toothed comb to gently comb Cecilia's hair so that no tangles were left.
“How beautiful and lovely must your wife be for you to do that?”
Cecilia smiled silently. He was a man who could do that without thinking about it, and Cecilia knew that better than anyone else.
But that wasn't something she wanted to say to Madame Monte. And it wasn't something she wanted to say to the young lady who was standing there, still, eavesdropping.
“...Ilya?”
Cecilia's eyes met Ilya's through the mirror. Only then did she realize Ilya's presence and her eyes widened in surprise.
“How long have you been there?”
“It’s been there from the beginning.”
Ilya answered with a bright smile.
“So, did you hear everything?”
Cecilia asked with an embarrassed face. Ilya nodded quietly.
“Oh my God.”
Cecilia buried her face in her hands as if embarrassed. Madame Monte’s eyes, which were immediately turned to Ilya, became wide.
“It was nice to hear that the two of you seem to get along very well.”
So Ilya had no choice but to quickly make an excuse.
“I bragged about every little thing in front of Ilya... I’m so embarrassed I can’t even raise my head.”
Cecilia, with only her eyes slightly exposed, muttered as if embarrassed. Then, Madame Monte motioned toward the door as if telling her to leave quickly.
“Will you feel better if I step aside? Rest well, Your Highness. There is no shame in a good relationship between a husband and wife, so don’t be ashamed.”
Ilya noticed this and consoled Cecilia, then quickly left the bedroom.
“...”
However, Ilya's face as she came out of Cecilia's bedroom was completely different from the gentle tone of voice she had just given her. There was a subtle annoyance on Ilya's face as she glanced at the door.
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