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Episode 57

"Here you go."

I offered one hand without hesitation.

There were many onlookers, and the more we did, the more rumors would spread. I even thought it was fortunate that Cael was taking the lead.

At the same time, I glanced sideways into the shop beyond the terrace.

I could see people's faces inside, packed together against the windows and terrace curtains—their expressions almost grotesque.

Then I turned my gaze back to Cael.

He removed one hand from under his chin, gently took mine, and turned it over, examining it.

"It's small."

"Not exactly clean and neat hands—I'm a bit embarrassed."

My hands weren't what you'd call neat by noble ladies' standards.

After all, Rielle had lived in an orphanage and worked before I possessed her.

Thanks to Angel, they'd improved a lot, but perhaps due to sewing, there were subtle signs of slightly crooked fingers.

It wasn't that I was ashamed of them—I was just embarrassed that Cael was holding them and staring so intently.

A handsome man holding my bare hand and caressing it.

The same man who always wore gloves—now bare-handed.

At my words, Cael chuckled.

"These are hands that have lived diligently. Look at mine."

"Oh..."

His hands were more calloused than mine.

"Ah, from your sword."

Large, long fingers.

But calluses and small scars were visible on his palms and between his fingers.

This time, I took his hand and examined it closely.

A low chuckle sounded.

"...?"

When I looked up, Cael was smiling faintly, watching me with amusement.

Only then did I realize I was doing the same—caressing his hands like he had mine.

"Oh."

Startled, I pulled my hands away, and Cael spoke.

"If I'd known it would feel like this, I would have done it sooner."

"Um, what?"

"Love."

"No, really... is this really your first time in a relationship?"

I asked Cael seriously, genuinely curious.

He tilted his head.

"It is. Why do you think that?"

"Well, your actions toward me since the carriage..."

"My actions?"

"They feel like those of an experienced lover. Or did you read a romance novel the night before?"

"Hahaha."

I must have pressed his laugh button—Cael laughed openly.

He was so handsome it was captivating, and he laughed like a painting, revealing his teeth as he propped his chin on his hand.

Dazed by his smiling face, he stopped laughing and nodded.

"So my actions were correct, it seems. Romance novels... I'll have to read one sometime."

"Oh..."

"On the other hand, you, Rielle, need to try harder. Unlike what I heard from Jamie, you're not doing much at all."

"Ahem! If I show everything from the start, there's no fun. Love is about push and pull, Cael."

"Push and pull?"

"Give and take. Hmm... if you want to see my true self, wait patiently. Showing everything from the first round would be boring, wouldn't it?"

From our first meeting until today, when we decided to date, I'd always remembered Cael as a man of few words and a blank expression.

Who knew he was a man who could make long jokes and banter so freely?

Our conversation, which I'd expected to be awkward, had become enjoyable.

Though the stares in my peripheral vision bothered me at first, they faded over time.

Just as we were chatting, the staff arrived with cake and tea.

Seeing the white cream cake, a mischievous idea struck me.

He'd wanted lover-like actions, but how far would Cael really play along?

After confirming the staff had left, I picked up my fork, cut a bite-sized piece of cake, and held it to Cael's lips.

"Cael, ah~"

Smirking, I watched him. He looked at the cake on the fork, then without hesitation, opened his mouth and took it.

"......"

He went that far...?

Savoring the taste, Cael nodded and gave a brief review.

"Hmm, it's not too sweet—quite edible."

"Wow, who are you and what have you done with Cael?"

I asked playfully. He winked one eye and said,

"Did you think I couldn't do this? I can do things like this too."

Then, naturally, he took the fork from my hand, cut the cake just as I had, and held it to my lips.

"Open up."

"...!"

This must be what it feels like to burst from heat.

With a flushed face, I looked at the white cake on the fork before reluctantly opening my mouth.

As I ate, a bit of cream got on my lip. Cael reached out, wiped it with his thumb, and put it in his own mouth.

"!!"

He then set the plate of cake closer to me for easier eating.

"Believe it or not, I was quite the prankster as a child. Returning a prank in kind was basic."

"How did you hide that side of yourself all this time?"

"Hehe, indeed. I never really thought about it, but with Rielle, it comes naturally."

"...My mistake."

"Hehe."

As I spoke, swallowing the cake with a flushed face, he just laughed, amused.

He took a sip of tea and nodded with satisfaction.

"We should do this more often."

"...?"

"It lifts my spirits. Like stress relief, perhaps."

"...I'm glad to hear that."

"Finish your cake. I won't play any more pranks."

"Okay."

As he promised, he let me focus on my cake while I ate.

We exchanged only occasional words while I cleaned my plate.

After finishing our dessert, Cael stood, saying we should move on.

From leaving the shop to boarding the carriage, the stares never let up—some even followed the carriage.

Though the knights guarding us from behind blocked them.

I hadn't noticed the knights on the way to the café, but learning they'd been following made me look up at Cael.

He smiled wryly and assured me he'd keep them out of sight as much as possible for safety. I nodded.

We returned to the mansion by carriage.

The next day, Angel exclaimed with excitement that rumors of our date had spread throughout the city overnight.

Blushing, she asked if it was true we were dating. Unable to tell her the truth, I shyly nodded.

She cupped her cheeks with her palms and gave a lengthy speech about the rumors of how the Duke had behaved so differently.

It was as if Angel had been there herself—she recited every action we'd taken in detail, which surprised me.

She even asked if it was true he'd laughed out loud, since she'd never seen him smile at the mansion. I smiled and nodded.

Seeing Angel's reaction, I imagined the other maids and noble ladies would react similarly.

I realized once again how enormous the impact of a Duke's love life was.

And since many who attended the last banquet now knew my identity as Cael's lover, I knew the coming days would be chaotic.

I resolved to be careful—I would never step foot in dangerous places.

---

Recently, the capital had been buzzing with two major rumors.

The hottest one, by far, was the rumor that had spread three weeks ago—about Duke Cael and his lover appearing at a café.

The Duke, who despised women and avoided marriage so much he'd tracked down a nephew to name as heir, had apparently fallen for the commoner woman caring for that nephew and become her lover.

And another rumor had suddenly begun to spread:

A new female singer had been discovered at a famous theater, and people were calling her so beautiful she could be a goddess of beauty.

Furthermore, it was said that her voice was like a siren's—anyone who heard it would be captivated and become her slave.

She even boasted confidently that if the King heard her sing even once, he would become her prisoner.

Her words spread like a bet through the capital, causing a stir.

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