Chapter 18 : A Shawl, A Kiss, and A Thousand Lies
Chapter 18
I fled to my room the moment I could.
‘…I need to get used to the new titles.’
After the kiss, I hadn’t even been able to give a proper response to the gentle voice that followed. I muttered something unrelated instead.
‘It’s hot… I-I think I’ll just head in now.’
It was a bewildering thing to say. The night was freezing, and I wore only a thin dress. Even the shawl I had wrapped over it had slipped to the ground.
What was I thinking? Hot, in this weather?
And all the while, Johannes had remained perfectly calm—as if that kiss meant absolutely nothing to him.
‘He’s probably kissed a lot of people before.’
Naturally. It wasn’t like he ever claimed to be inexperienced.
He’d said there was nothing to worry about. But he never said he had no past.
And then there was me—the fiancée—pretending everything was fine and then running away after one kiss. It must’ve been hilarious from his perspective.
“Uugh!”
My whole body burned with embarrassment. I threw myself on the bed and pounded the mattress with my feet.
Even if I had to hide behind the excuse of banquet preparations, it seemed best not to face Duke Johannes Schultz for a while.
The room was dim, illuminated only by the inky stretch of night sky outside its ten open windows. It looked like a painting—one steeped in darkness.
Smoke curled and disappeared into that black canvas as Johannes exhaled. He stubbed out his half-smoked cigarette, then rose from his chair.
Fret Gunner, who had been standing in wait, stepped forward with a thick folder.
“This is the guest list for the banquet. Should we extend an invitation to the royal family as well?”
A line appeared between Johannes’ brows.
“Hmm.”
As his father’s ambitions grew soft with age, the once-sharp king vanished into obscurity, and in his place—a greedy toad took the throne, baring his true nature with every passing day.
‘Little Duke Schultz… No, no—Duke Schultz, now! I trust you’ll run Mussen wisely, in your father’s stead.’
There was not a trace of guilt behind that man’s cunning smile.
All children born of toads were the same. A useless fox cub, and a snakeling destined to inherit the crown.
Johannes scanned the list, flipping each page with those large hands of his.
All the major noble houses were listed. His eyes paused on the ones marked in red:
House of Windsor, Edward Windsor.Marquis Russell, Bellatrix Russell.
“Shall we proceed as is?” Fret asked. Johannes nodded dryly.
“Any word on the royals?”
“Nothing of significance. However, based on the report from our informant, they may have a faint idea of your intent to… vanish.”
He watched Johannes closely before adding:
“They seem quite intrigued by rumors of your involvement with a commoner woman. Especially Prince Edward.”
Edward Windsor.
Johannes’ lips curled faintly. That man had always looked unnaturally fortunate compared to the king.
A royal disgrace with no talent or tact—a pampered fox who barked like a dog for attention.
Of all the pests trying to exploit Johannes’ weaknesses, Edward was the least concerning.
Fret Gunner, understanding the silence, pressed on with a softer tone:
“What happened with Miss Prim?”
Ah, Edith Prim. A lot had transpired.
Dances, garden walks, probing questions about love… And then—
“She asked me to inform you she’s busy with banquet preparations for now.”
Johannes scoffed. Her excuse had been so polished, it immediately reminded him of what truly occurred.
“Nothing.”
Fret lingered a moment, waiting to be let in on the joke. But one glare from Johannes sent him scurrying away.
Johannes sank back into his chair.
His mind wandered to that woman—the one who had kissed him with unshakable confidence…
A woman who changed completely depending on whether she was wearing the dukedom’s name.
‘You really can just do it. Because I don’t attach any meaning to it.’
Yet after saying that, she had turned to stone and fled.
She even dropped her shawl.
He glanced at the cream-colored fabric, now abandoned on the sofa.
That same woman—who answered dully one moment, and blushed and panicked the next.
That same woman—who, underneath her thorns, seemed all too fragile.
‘Edith Prim…’
And then his gaze drifted again to the list of names.
His green eyes, gleaming like morning stars, slowly dimmed.
Maybe… she hates me enough to run away.
I avoided Johannes from that day on.
I practiced dancing with Marilyn more often, and even skipped meals with the excuse of being too busy.
To be fair, I truly was overwhelmed. I’d slept less, moved more, and it had begun to wear me down.
But today marked the end of that hectic week. With the banquet tomorrow, I could no longer avoid him.
Nearly seven days had passed since we’d last spoken.
“I heard you’ve been very busy,” Johannes said casually over dinner.
Thankfully, he didn’t seem to hold a grudge.
All the effort I’d spent avoiding him… and he brushed it off so simply.
I nodded, forcing my face into neutrality.
“I think I left my shawl behind.”
“…Did you? It was quite hot that night. You probably didn’t even notice.”
His voice was gentle, and I was thankful he believed my clumsy lie.
He didn’t question it further.
“Strange,” he added, “I remember that evening being rather cold. But perhaps you just have a lot of body heat.”
“Yes, I suppose I do.”
Another lie.
I hated the cold more than anyone. I wore long sleeves well into spring.
“I should start dressing more lightly,” I offered flatly. He nodded solemnly.
“I’ll remember that.”
And he did.
The morning of the banquet, a large box arrived.
Inside: a delicate, cream-colored muslin dress—and tall heels.
Tucked between the folds of the dress, a plain card.
To Edith Prim,When the golden sunlight streamed through my window, it reminded me of you. Please wear this with joy.
I stared at the dress, speechless.
“The Duke must think you get hot easily,” Marilyn quipped.
“A dress this thin, and it’s winter. I’ve never seen such conviction.”
She inspected the gown with approval.
“It follows today’s fashion without being too common. The color suits you perfectly. The Duke has excellent taste.”
“…Is that so?”
There was no turning back now. The web of lies I’d spun had grown too thick.
And how could I tarnish his kindness?
I remembered those blue eyes—gentle, sincere.
I didn’t want to become a liar in his eyes.
“I like it too.”
The truth was—the dress fit like a dream.
“Perfect,” Marilyn said, stepping back to admire her work.
“You’ll look flawless beside the Duke tonight.”
It was the first genuine compliment I’d ever received from her.
“No shawl is needed.”
I smiled again, carefully.
She didn’t bring one anyway.
When the servant came to call me, I rose quietly.
There was nothing left but to walk forward.
I sighed.
Ruined.
My head throbbed, heavier than ever.
