~Chapter 82~
Baldwin went along quietly as Anais pulled him away.
Then he met her eyes.
As if by habit, his gaze slowly traced her—from her brilliant eyes to her perfectly shaped, heart-like lips.
Baldwin’s eyes lingered on Anais’s lips for a long time.
Just moments ago, in the sunroom, Baldwin had felt terrible.
In that situation, having to pretend that he could not hear made him despise himself.
For a brief moment, a thought crossed his mind.
If he had revealed that he could hear—mostly fine, with only some ringing—would things have been different?
If he had revealed that although his voice was damaged, he could still speak?
Would they have been this rude then?
Of course not.
They were the kind of people who only respected strength and trampled weakness.
Baldwin blamed himself for not opening his mouth at that moment.
‘Why.’
His lips, which had been sealed for so long, felt like stone and would not move.
As if that were only natural.
‘You idiot.’
More than anything else, anger toward himself ate away at Baldwin.
He felt disgusted with himself.
He had never thought this way before, but now it felt like chains he had put on himself.
Opening the iron cage he had locked himself into and stepping outside was the hardest thing of all.
He had arrogantly believed he could turn everything back whenever he wanted.
He had ignored them all this time because it truly did not matter.
No matter how much they talked about him, they could never even reach the heels of the Grand Ducal House.
They were nothing more than lumps stained with inferiority and defeat.
The father of the man who cursed Baldwin worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which handled everything related to overseas matters.
Because of that, the ministry had deep ties with Constantine Inc.’s business.
The older brother of the man who mocked Baldwin worked in the Tax Office.
When importing materials to build ships, he could speed up the paperwork.
If the Tax Office delayed, it could take two months.
Everything was connected like that.
Baldwin had benefited from it,
and they had enjoyed the position of being called the Grand Duke’s friends.
For the first time, Baldwin felt his lie become a shackle.
And he was the one who had used it best.
Anais, unaware of his self-blame, smiled softly.
She looked like she had finished thinking.
“Baldwin.”
Anais’s expression darkened.
“Are you close with the friends who visited today?”
Baldwin shook his head.
[I am not close with anyone. My closest friend is you.]
Reading the words in his notebook, Anais smiled gently.
That was a relief.
Anais was stronger than anyone—so strong it made Baldwin feel ashamed.
“They were rude, and I don’t tolerate rudeness. I’ll consider them no longer our guests. I don’t intend to offer them dinner—or anything beyond the refreshments already served.”
[You did well.]
It was no different from how Baldwin had always treated them.
“……I.”
Anais took a breath.
Watching them today, she realized something.
Her life alone had not been difficult.
Baldwin’s life could not have been easy either.
There was an atmosphere you could feel with your skin.
Anais imagined what it must be like to not hear.
‘They could talk nonsense without me noticing, and I’d have to pretend I knew nothing. What could be more foolish than asking what they said afterward?’
Anais bit the inside of her lip.
It was humiliating.
Before she could continue, Baldwin hurried to write.
[They are not my friends.]
“Baldwin…”
[I’m sorry for making you worry. We only use each other.]
He should have cut them off long ago.
If he had known this would happen.
If he were alone, it wouldn’t have mattered.
No matter what they said, pretending not to hear and laughing it off wasn’t so bad.
They had never mattered to him, so they never hurt him.
“Even so…”
[I hope not a single trace of them remains in your heart. I’m sorry.]
Anais let out a sigh. Her lips trembled.
“I don’t want them to leave any mark in your heart either.”
At her words, Baldwin froze as if struck by lightning.
Anais lifted her hand and gently covered his cheek.
Tenderly.
“Don’t be in pain, Baldwin.”
Baldwin clenched his teeth.
His throat tightened.
Like a trapped beast, he couldn’t do anything.
What was this feeling?
It felt like a summer wind was devouring him.
Anais was summer itself—hot and intense.
He had thought she was gentle like spring,
but now she burned him like the blazing sun of midsummer.
Baldwin slowly pulled her hand down and kissed her palm.
No one had ever protected him.
No one had ever comforted him.
People enjoyed watching Baldwin fall.
Even his parents.
Anais, without fear, comforted him.
She embraced his deep wounds.
Even without knowing what kind of darkness lay inside him.
Without knowing what poison he carried.
It drove him mad.
It felt like being dragged from freezing cold into scorching sunlight.
Baldwin willingly leaned into her small shoulders and buried his face there.
“…I want to protect you.”
Anais let out a sigh.
She was confused too—this was the first time she had felt something like this.
She smiled bitterly.
At first, when she looked at Baldwin, she sensed the presence of Grandfather Sezares.
That was still true.
That was why her heart had moved.
Then she saw his smile.
As striking and brilliant as his handsome face.
She liked his wide embrace.
And now—she saw his wounds.
It made her feel unbearably upset.
She wanted to protect this man, stronger and greater than anyone else.
“Don’t get hurt.”
Anais kissed Baldwin’s head and gently ran her thin fingers through his hair.
Feeling the strength in his arms tighten around her, she let out a deep breath.
The world was not kind.
But if they were two instead of one—
maybe they could endure it.
The Grand Ducal couple did not return.
The head butler only said they were busy.
He made excuses that preparing the food took time and that the couple was following their original schedule.
Realizing that Baldwin was, as always, treating them coldly, the gentlemen cursed and left one by one.
‘I didn’t think even the Grand Duchess would be like this.’
‘Sending guests away hungry—no manners at all. Let’s go. Even if we wait, they won’t give us a drink.’
Late at night, people who couldn’t stand life without alcohol or women left quickly.
Most of the ladies also worried about the late hour and left.
But Gwennolyn could not.
Today was her last chance.
And it was also Baldwin’s last chance.
There were too many obstacles between Baldwin and Gwennolyn.
She recalled Anais’s bright smile.
‘Being reasonable won’t work.’
Gwennolyn decided to completely change her plan.
Siera was still in the sunroom.
She had stayed behind with Gwennolyn.
“The Grand Duchess is really ridiculous. Acting kind and all.”
Gwennolyn looked at Siera coldly.
Before it got any later, she had to act.
The Emerald Room belonged to the Grand Duchess.
The Laurel Room belonged to the Grand Duke.
The Laurel Room was on the second floor, facing south, and was the largest room.
Recalling this well-known fact, Gwennolyn slowly raised her lips.
With a gentle expression, she spoke to Siera.
“Siera, as Baldwin’s friend—and his lover—I’m heartbroken by this situation.”
Siera’s small eyes widened.
“Lover? You and the Grand Duke?”
“Yes. Between Baldwin and me, there’s something no one can interfere with. That’s what binds us.”
Gwennolyn spoke in a dreamy voice.
“We communicate in a language only the two of us understand.”
Siera looked confused.
“…So you really are lovers?”
“Yes. We simply made the necessary choice for true love. That’s why we’re unhappy.”
Gwennolyn sighed.
Siera tilted her head.
Gwennolyn and Baldwin had never shown such an atmosphere before.
This sudden declaration only caused confusion.
Gwennolyn spoke again, her voice full of longing.
“You said you’d help me, Siera.”
“…I did…?”
“There’s something I want you to do. It won’t be that difficult.”
Gwennolyn narrowed her eyes and smiled.
Siera nodded uneasily.
