Chapter 29
The platinum-haired man looked at his reflection in the mirror with clear dissatisfaction.
Raising his sharply drawn eyebrows and fastening the buttons on his shirt cuffs, the man bit his lip in disapproval.
“Is this good enough?”
His aide, Dian, who had been dozing off for a moment, clapped lifelessly.
“Y-yes, you look excellent, Your Grace. No lady could possibly remain calm after seeing you!”
Gabriel, the platinum-haired man, glared at his sycophantic aide, then glanced at the designer waiting behind him through the mirror.
The cold gaze, as if piercing through, made the designer flinch visibly, though Gabriel didn’t notice.
“How many outfits are left?”
“T-that was the last one, Your Grace. And if I may be so bold, I believe the outfit you’re wearing now suits you best!”
Nothing looks right.
No matter how many times he looked, it all seemed lacking.
‘Rosériel said that, didn’t she?’
‘I think my sister’s ideal type is a man with broad shoulders,’ she had said.
Since Hildea always frowned and looked uncomfortable whenever she saw him, Gabriel wanted to at least approach her looking as stylish and impressive as possible.
“Is there nothing that makes my shoulders stand out more?”
They already look like they’re about to burst out, Your Grace…
Gabriel had no idea the designer, watching him pale-faced, was desperately hoping he’d just say he was satisfied already.
“T-the current outfit brings out the line of your shoulders the best without being too overwhelming…”
“Is that so?”
“Y-yes! Absolutely!”
Still displeased, Gabriel finally muttered,
“I suppose I have no choice. I’ll go with this one. Send the rest to the address I gave you.”
The store clerk, now stiff as a board, widened their eyes like saucers when they looked at the written address.
T-this address, you say?”
“Is there a problem?”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow in confusion. His face, though handsome, now looked deadly sharp—and the clerk nearly suffered a heart attack.
With a stiff, robotic posture, the clerk cried out like a startled cuckoo:
“N-not at all, Your Grace. Thank you! It’s an immense honor to be entrusted with this. I will make sure all your ordered garments are delivered safely to the specified address.”
“Much appreciated.”
As Gabriel stepped out of the shop, he had no idea the clerk behind him was muttering things like:
‘Big news, big news! Do you know where the war hero is staying right now?’
“My lord, you’re indulging in luxuries you’ve never bothered with before. The power of spring breezes is truly impressive, isn’t it?”
“Shut it. Dian, why do you always talk so much?”
“When else will I get to see you behaving this strangely, my lord? Besides, you never get angry when the topic is the young lady. I can’t miss this opportunity.”
If it had been any other time, Gabriel would’ve beat him into the ground in the training yard for such teasing. But he couldn’t deny the truth of it now.
Gabriel, still in his elaborately dressed state, began walking quickly—eager to go see Hildea.
His cheeks were getting warm again.
“I really didn’t expect you to take up the residence right next to her. And also…”
Gabriel knew exactly what Dian had left unsaid.
Despite all that effort, you still haven’t managed to meet Lady Hildea even once.
That’s what he’d been about to say.
Gabriel had wrestled with countless thoughts after returning victorious. It had been twelve years. The time apart had far exceeded the time they’d ever spent together.
“I… I don’t know what to do.”
“What are you referring to now, my lord?”
“If I just keep trying and trying, and trying again to earn her favor—will that work?”
That was the problem.
Could he really just blurt out “I love you”, and expect Hildea—who always looked so uncomfortable just making eye contact with him—to smile and say “Alright, I accept”?
“Hmm… well, yes, I suppose? You’ve barely had any encounters with her, so getting close should come first. But Lady Hildea is an extremely quiet person. It’s true that she’s hard to approach.”
“Quiet…”
“Yes, very quiet. She doesn’t really have any friends, nor does she seem particularly close to anyone. She keeps a distance even from the servants. Some people just prefer to be alone, I suppose.”
Gabriel recalled the Hildea he had seen before leaving.
Prefers being alone?
But her back then… it had looked lonely.
“I’ve done my own research, but really, there’s nothing to go on. If there’s anyone she might be close to, it would have to be Lady Rosériel.”
At the mention of a name so familiar it made him weary, Gabriel frowned deeply.
Deciding to stay at the empty Hillingtern estate had been a good call.
The problem was how to stay there.
Duke Sears von Hillingtern was as stubborn as they came—and an overprotective father to boot.
It was obvious he’d reject Gabriel’s sudden request outright.
So Gabriel had resorted to offering jewels to Rosériel for help.
Just like he had for the past 12 years, always sending jewelry along with his letters.
Yes, those weren’t gifts—they were tributes…
“Would you believe it if I said I’m jealous of Rosériel?”
Dian nodded with a stifled smile.
“Yes, my lord. Lady Rosériel follows Lady Hildea around like a loyal puppy.”
Gabriel was truly envious. Rosériel could laugh freely and speak comfortably with Hildea.
She could approach her without hesitation, take her hand, call her name affectionately.
All things I can’t do…
What would it feel like, to be in a relationship where seeing each other was natural?
What does it feel like to have someone naturally by your side, without needing to promise anything?
‘Hildea.’
He wanted to take her delicate, pale hand in his own and make her look at him properly.
Surely, the moment he met those serene eyes again, he would forget how to breathe and become a pitiful fool who couldn’t even speak properly.
‘Even so… I’d be happy.’
If only he could take her hand… and gently kiss the back of it.
“Tell me, Dian.”
“Pardon? Tell you… what exactly?”
“How to make someone fall in love.”
“I-I mean, if I knew that, do you think I’d still be single, just trailing behind you like this…?”
“Useless.”
“Ah, my lord! After all the times I’ve listened to your woes, how can you be so heartless?”
Gabriel glanced at the women passing by, fanning themselves with lace fans.
All of them, following the latest trends, looked identical from head to toe—lavishly dressed but indistinguishable.
“I even read a book on romance.”
“Pfft!”
Dian choked mid-swallow and began coughing violently.
“Y-you actually studied?”
“Are you laughing at me now?”
“No, of course not! Cough, cough!”
Ignoring him, Gabriel continued striding down the street, thoughts swirling.
The advice in the romance book had been simple.
Expensive jewels, luxurious dresses, thoughtful gifts, high-end perfume, invitations to elegant dates, and letters filled with sweet, gentle words.
None of those were things he could do.
The only thing he could manage… was the letter.
That letter.
‘It might have been a complete mess.’
Gabriel grabbed his head.
Even writing a single line had been difficult at first.
What on earth should I say?
He wasn’t some god of slaughter—though, in truth, Gabriel had gone through his fair share of hardship in the early days of the battlefield.
Especially since he was a very young duke, there were plenty who tried to ignore or look down on him.
Of course, they were taught a painful lesson—but even amidst all that exhaustion, Gabriel never neglected the effort he put into his letters.
‘What would Hildea think?’
‘Um, my lord… that is…’
And then… he heard.
That when Hildea received his letters, she didn’t read them right away, but just put them in her drawer.
He was crushed.
Was my letter not even worth opening right away?
Even so, holding onto hope just from the fact she hadn’t thrown them away, he continued to ask her questions—trying his best to pour his heart into each one.
He was curious about her.
Was she happy? Was anything troubling her? Was anyone bothering her? How was she feeling right now?
Then—
“Um, if you’re not busy…”
“Could I know your name, by any chance…”
“I-I think you might be my destiny…”
Even as he walked swiftly, people kept trying to talk to him.
Gabriel’s face twisted with irritation.
He wanted to stand before Hildea in perfect condition, not a speck of dust on him—so why were there so many people trying to get in his way?
He hadn’t even taken a carriage, just to avoid wrinkling his clothes.
The sharp glare on his strikingly handsome face, full of irritation and looking ready to devour someone alive, sent people scattering faster than they’d come.
Watching this, Dian clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“If Lady Hildea saw you like this, she might faint and run away…”
“She won’t see me like this.”
“…Still, it does seem your efforts up to now are paying off, my lord.”
At Dian’s awkward smile and offhand remark, Gabriel—who had been walking quickly—stopped in his tracks.
Then, he slowly turned his head to look at Dian.
And smiled.
Dian nearly had a heart attack. Sure, that face was handsome enough to make a man fall for it—but his insane lord was smiling. Smiling! What if this shows up in my nightmares?
“So you think so too?”
“…”
“That’s right. Today is different.”
Staring at the Hilington estate that finally came into view, Gabriel lifted his chin with a face full of confidence.
“Because today… Hildea has finally agreed to meet me.”
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
What on earth was I thinking?
I was now deep in serious regret and concern. After days of repeatedly receiving someone’s request, I finally gave in and said yes.
To none other than—
‘Gabriel.’
From the moment we crossed paths, he made me feel uneasy with an inexplicable tension, and I hadn’t wanted to meet him alone.
But even so… you can’t reject someone every time…
“Milady, are you sure it’s alright to keep sending refusals like this?”
“Lyra. I just… don’t have anything to talk about with Gabriel.”
“But since you’re staying in the same residence, wouldn’t it be more awkward if you keep avoiding him and end up running into each other later?”
“…”
Why send letters when you’re staying just a few steps away?
