Episode 16

Crack.

Already for the fifth time today, Lennaeus had broken the nib of his luxury fountain pen.

Overcome by the shock that gripped his heart again, he placed the tightly clutched fountain pen on the desk and leaned his head back over the chair.

Wink.

The scene from that day spilled out among the sunshine pouring over the glossy mahogany desk.

Soon, a low sigh leaked out.

“Damn.”

Lennaeus had recently been suffering from the symptoms of Charlotte’s winks flashing before his eyes frequently.

Each time he recalled the scene, it became slightly more embellished. Even in his imagination, Charlotte’s face grew cuter, and her winks sweeter.

He ruminated over Charlotte’s praise, which was so sweet it was addictive, words he had repeated enough to memorize completely.

“Your Grace… your dazzling golden hair like the spring sun on a field, blue eyes that remind one of a deep and clear lake, white skin like smooth porcelain, a high and statuesque nose, attractive lips, broad shoulders, tall stature, finely chiseled muscular physique, a voice sweet yet cool in its baritone, an aura of elegance… I fell for all of it at first sight.”

Such colorful and ecstatic praise was something he had never heard before.

Women of the empire usually did not express their feelings directly to the opposite sex, nor did they lavish praise.

It was considered a virtue to hint at their feelings indirectly or to wait for the man to make the first move.

Lennaeus was aware that he was more handsome and superior than others, but he rarely heard such words from someone else’s mouth.

Therefore, when he first heard Charlotte’s thorough and unmissed praise for him, he was thrilled to the point that his ears turned red.

Recalling that praise, Lennaeus opened his desk drawer and took out a bundle of letters. They were the letters Charlotte had been sending to the Duke’s residence every day since that day.

I am eagerly counting the days until our date. Will you meet me?

I think I’m going crazy because I miss you so much. Will you meet me?

I couldn’t sleep with the image of your handsome face haunting me. Of course, I’ll see you in my dreams, but still, will you meet me?

Lennaeus’ lips twitched slightly.

Charlotte confessed her feelings to him in various ways with each letter she sent, which strangely lifted his spirits.

‘It’s thrilling, always new.’

He had grown up among empire nobility who were stingy with praise. So, before he knew it, he became addicted to Charlotte’s praise, which poured in like lava.

He anxiously twirled the fountain pen in his hand.

Just recently, he had been overwhelmingly busy with the state council, the Duke’s residence, and the Duke’s territory affairs, so he had declined all of Charlotte’s invitations.

Knock-knock.

Just then, his secretary, Alfred, entered the office.

“Your Grace, the tasks you ordered seem to be wrapping up well. It seems possible to adjust your schedule for this evening.”

It seemed there was some merit to the strenuous reorganization of work over the past few days.

“Good. Have you looked into what I mentioned before?”

“Yes, Your Grace. It’s tickets for the most popular opera performance among socialite couples recently. I’ve purchased them at three times the premium.”

Lennaeus received the opera tickets Alfred offered and held a faint smile of satisfaction at the corner of his mouth.

Alfred blinked rapidly a couple of times at the smile lingering on Lennaeus’ lips.

He rarely uses his facial muscles. Is it morning, or are my eyes growing dim?

Alfred rubbed his eyes.

“Well done. You may leave now.”

Lennaeus, back to his usual demeanor, dismissed Alfred.

Ultimately, Alfred concluded that he had seen an illusion and left the office.

Soon, Lennaeus quickly changed the nib of his fountain pen and glanced at his pocket watch.

It seemed there wouldn’t be enough time to visit the Princess’ palace before the evening’s schedule was over.

Feeling somehow anxious, he began to hastily write a letter to send to Charlotte.

“Your Grace, you still look magnificent today. I almost mistook you for a statue at the opera house.”

Today was thrilling and fresh as well.

Charlotte had a talent for making each compliment feel novel.

Praise heard in person rather than through letters satisfied Lennaeus’ heart even more.

Lennaeus had to press his lips together to hide the smile that was leaking out.

The seats were better than expected. Indeed, there was merit in paying the high price.

He didn’t particularly intend to please Charlotte.

But then again, the Emperor had asked him to take good care of Charlotte.

Anyway, it would be good to show that he was quite serious about this romance as well.

That’s how he rationalized it to himself.

“It’s the most popular show in the empire, so I heard it was quite difficult to get tickets.”

Trying not to seem too boastful, he spoke nonchalantly while pretending to look at the pamphlet. To him, Charlotte chattered with a lovely face.

“To be honest, I much prefer sitting face to face and having a proper conversation with you over watching such expensive performances. Just looking at your face makes me happy.”

Thump!

At first, he thought the opera music had mistakenly started early. It felt like the majestic rhythm of the double bass was originating from his heart.

To think she prefers being with me over any expensive thing!

Charlotte seemed to be truly smitten with him. He was slightly moved.

‘If she likes me this much, it’s okay to show a little effort. Every day is too much, but maybe once a week….’

Lennaeus opened his mouth to inform Charlotte of his schedule.

“Once a week…”

Charlotte looked up at him with her sweet honey-colored eyes, making him halt in his tracks and hesitate in his speech.

When Charlotte blinked, the wink from that day flashed in his mind again, piercing his heart.

His face grew hot and his palms sweaty.

“…Twice is my limit.”

Despite the hellish task of adjusting his work ahead, in the end, he said twice.

His hands were drenched with sweat from the tension.

Lennaeus made an effort not to show his nervousness as he took out a handkerchief and slowly wiped his hands.

He was well aware of Charlotte’s lack of refinement and dignity. As if to prove the rumors true, she began to nod off as soon as the opera started.

Lennaeus slightly furrowed his brow.

‘As expected, a person’s true nature doesn’t change.’

‘A bit’ of wisdom shown during the competition, and ‘thrilling praises’ for him, didn’t change anything.

‘The opera tickets were hard to come by, this makes them meaningless.’

Lennaeus was still displeased with Charlotte.

Thud!

“……!”

Fortunately, it was not the sound of Lennaeus’ heart dropping. It was just Charlotte’s head falling onto his shoulder.

Rigid, Lennaeus only moved his eyes to look down at his shoulder.

Charlotte’s small head was rolling back and forth on his shoulder and chest.

Every time her head nodded, her soft pink hair rustled against his shoulder and chest.

He furrowed his brow as if annoyed. The bad reputation about Charlotte was indeed true.

A woman unbecomingly nestled in a man’s embrace!

He resolved to push Charlotte’s head to the side.

Someone daring to fall asleep on the shoulder of ‘Duke Adler’, it was an absurdity.

Yet, while such thoughts flitted through his mind, his body remained still, unable to push Charlotte away.

‘Once this piece is over, I’ll have to move this unpleasant head to the side.’

And so, five pieces passed.

By the sixth, he was determined to finally turn his thoughts into action.

Then, a sweet floral scent with a hint of citrus reached his nose, unmistakably emanating from Charlotte’s hair.

Lennaeus moistened his dry lips with his tongue.

He found another suitable excuse.

‘It’s not the embrace of a stranger, but that of a fiancé… It’s not necessarily indecorous. And perhaps…’

I couldn’t sleep at all, haunted by the image of Your Grace’s handsome face.

Hadn’t Charlotte said she couldn’t sleep properly because of that?

Listening to her snoring softly in sleep, he felt a strange sense of pity for Charlotte.

‘To avoid such unpleasantness in the future, I’ll have to schedule our meetings in advance to ensure the princess gets her sleep.’

With that resolve, he ended up offering his shoulder to Charlotte for a long while even after the opera had ended.

*

The weeks leading up to Countess Mosston’s debutante ball were like a disaster for Lennaeus.

The disaster began with the letter Charlotte sent after their opera date.

Lennaeus had become addicted to opening Charlotte’s letters every morning at some point.

He even felt a slight elation when opening the envelope, wondering what praise would satisfy him today.

That morning, Lennaeus also received the letter handed to him by the maid with a bit of anticipation.

And then.

As he read through the letter of the day, ripples stirred in his blue eyes.

My heart grows warm just thinking of Your Grace.

I would like to meet you in a quiet place, where just the two of us can be alone.

Will you meet me?