Chapter 124
Chapter 124: The Only Two Who Don’t Know
Three days before his coronation as the next Sun of the Valdeon Empire, Lupeon reclaimed his original name: Lupeon Simon Argenta.
While the tumultuous political situation gradually stabilized, he, the future ruler of the empire, remained incredibly busy.
Elena, who had just begun developing a relationship with him, barely had time to see Lupeon—so much so that calling them lovers seemed almost inappropriate.
She gazed quietly at the vase on her desk, letting out a soft sigh while touching one of the flowers. She worried about Lupeon, who had become even busier than before.
Despite everything, she couldn’t suppress her longing to see him.
‘As much as I worry about Lupeon, I miss him just as much.’
The man, who was already occupied with state affairs, sent Elena flower bouquets every day.
He seemed to remember the flowers she had carefully observed during their garden walks.
Perhaps concerned about their limited time together due to his busy schedule, this appeared to be his way of expressing affection.
Thinking about the man who must have ordered these flowers while thinking of her, Elena felt her heart flutter.
‘If he’s this thoughtful, maybe I should be thinking about getting that marriage seal first.’
As her lips unconsciously curled into a smile, Elena lightly patted her cheeks.
Vivian, who had placed the flowers in a vase to keep them fresh, gave her a meaningful smile.
Elena glanced at her maid and raised an eyebrow before asking, “What’s that smile about, Vivian?”
“I just think His Grace is truly a very thoughtful person.”
Elena’s shoulders lifted with pleasure at her confidant’s praise of her lover, though she wasn’t quite sure why it made her so happy.
“Hmm, yes, Lupeon does have that side to him.”
“Oh, Miss, isn’t it about time for us to head out?”
Vivian, who seemed to have suddenly remembered something, checked the time before asking.
Today, Elena was planning to visit Demeter’s Boutique for a final fitting of the dress she would wear to Lupeon’s coronation.
‘Oh, look at me! I need to leave right away.’
As this would be their first official event since becoming lovers, Elena was paying even more attention to her attire than usual.
With a small nod, Elena rose from her seat, her eyes bright with anticipation.
* * *
Vivian smiled contentedly as she watched Elena wearing the dress that would be presented before many people.
‘How can she be so beautiful!’
While her mistress was already famous throughout the capital for her beauty, she looked even more radiant and stunning in the dress that Madam claimed was her masterpiece.
The light blue chiffon dress with finely ground pearls delicately scattered across the skirt suited her perfectly.
‘Ah yes, Miss has those earrings she received from His Grace!’
Vivian’s eyes burned with determination as she thought about the blue sapphire earrings and hair ornaments.
She was determined to make her mistress the most beautiful woman in the Valdeon Empire on that day.
Vivian was already excited about the prospect of preparing Elena from early dawn on the coronation day.
She smiled gently as she observed her mistress, who seemed lost in deep thought.
Lately, Elena’s expressions would change from moment to moment, as if she were thinking of someone.
‘Surely even now…’
Vivian could only guess that her mistress was thinking about the man who would soon become the Emperor of the Valdeon Empire.
Elena, who rarely revealed her inner thoughts before, had started sharing her concerns occasionally these days.
Vivian couldn’t hide her contented smile, finding her mistress so lovable as she was just beginning to experience love.
‘I’m so glad Miss has found true love.’
However, Elena seemed uninterested in her own beautiful appearance, letting out a small sigh with a gloomy expression.
Madam Charlotte, who was carefully adjusting Elena’s dress, asked with a puzzled look, “My lady, is something making you uncomfortable?”
Startled by the question, Elena shook her head vigorously.
“Uncomfortable? Not at all! I love it so much.”
Vivian, who had been carefully observing her mistress, shrugged slightly before speaking to the Madam.
“She must be thinking about His Grace. These days, the two of them are quite—”
“Vivian…!”
Elena’s cheeks turned bright red at her personal maid’s words.
‘Oh my, how shy she is.’
It seemed Elena was unaware that news of their developed relationship had already spread throughout the duchy.
The servants of the duchy were busy whispering about how the atmosphere between Lupeon and Elena seemed different from before.
They were even awkward around their mistress’s unfamiliar appearance, looking as if honey was dripping from her eyes.
Moreover, Elena’s gaze toward her fiancé was just as full of affection as Lupeon’s toward her.
Vivian, watching her mistress with a satisfied expression, suddenly recalled conversations among the servants.
“His Grace and my lady seem different these days.”
“Indeed. I never knew His Grace could make such expressions.”
“It seems the two have grown much closer!”
The duchy’s servants had roughly guessed that Lupeon and Elena had developed into true lovers.
Although the couple hadn’t officially announced it, it would have been strange not to notice just by observing them from afar.
Vivian, smiling sweetly at the memory of her happy mistress, soon met Madam Charlotte’s gaze.
The Madam, who had asked with a brightening face if it was true, offered sincere congratulations to Elena.
“My goodness, so that’s why His Grace’s face has been brighter lately.”
“Lupeon…?”
Elena tilted her head as if hearing this for the first time.
The Madam, wearing a gentle smile, shared a story about accidentally meeting Lupeon at the duchy a few days ago.
When she visited the duchy for Elena’s coronation dress fitting, she ran into Lupeon, who had briefly stopped by the north.
He had effortlessly helped carry the dress she was holding, wearing a faint smile throughout, apparently in a good mood.
Charlotte could hardly believe her eyes seeing the smile of the Duke, who was rumored to be a coldhearted person without blood or tears.
“Oh yes, he made a special request of me.”
“A request?”
As Elena blinked her eyes, the Madam replied in a gentle voice with a warm smile.
“He asked me to make you stand out the most at the coronation ceremony.”
“…I had no idea.”
Madam Charlotte nodded slightly, as if understanding her reaction.
“Well, gentlemen typically don’t show their feelings openly.”
Unlike the dazed Elena, Vivian enthusiastically patted the cushion on her lap.
‘Oh my, goodness…!’
Although she had noticed it whenever flower bouquets arrived for her mistress, the Duke seemed to be an even better person than she had thought.
Well, shouldn’t he be at least this good to be worthy of being her lady’s man?
Chuckling softly, Vivian vowed to make this lover shine the brightest at the coronation ceremony.
* * *
Late in the evening, when Elena visited Anasha’s room, she found the child sitting quietly at her desk and tilted her head curiously.
“Miss, are you still studying?”
At those words, the child opened her eyes wide as if she had heard something unexpected and shook her head vigorously.
“No! I was just thinking for a moment.”
Seeing Anasha sigh deeply right after, as if the ground might cave in, Elena gently placed her hand on the child’s shoulder.
“Miss, would you tell me if something’s bothering you?”
The words, meant to understand the young lady’s feelings even a little, seemed to help the child.
Anasha’s clear eyes trembled slightly before she parted her lips and spoke with apparent distress.
“Actually… I prefer my name from the north.”
“…!”
At the child’s unexpected answer, Elena glanced at the desk and noticed a name written densely on white paper.
‘Anasha Dia Argenta.’
Although she must have heard her true name from her brother by now, the surname Devonshire would surely feel more familiar to Anasha.
‘It must feel somewhat strange and burdensome to her.’
