Chapter 6

When I appeared in the duke’s office with his aide, a look of confusion crossed Duke Seymour’s face.

“What brings you to my office at this hour?”

As he questioned me in his usual icy tone, I clenched and unclenched my cold fists.

Every time I met those frosty eyes, I instinctively shrank.

He’s not scary. He’s my financial sponsor.

And what do you do with your sponsor? You stay on their good side.

Repeating the mantra to myself several times, I greeted him politely.

“Your office lights were still on despite the late hour, so I brought some tea and refreshments. I heard you’ve been overworking yourself lately.”

“Since when did you start worrying about me?”

The duke let out a scoff as he elegantly tapped his pipe against the ashtray, shaking off the ashes.

He’s ridiculously cool…

For a second, it felt like I was watching a scene from a movie.

“Why are you standing there with that vacant expression? Sit.”

Just moments ago he had sounded ready to throw me out, yet he rose from his desk and took a seat at the tea table instead.

The fact that he hadn’t immediately chased me away suggested that the duchess’s letter I’d given him the other day had done its job.

I quickly sat across from him.

As soon as we were seated, the aide placed a pot of strong black tea and a plate of pastries on the table before stepping back.

I could practically feel his anxious gaze boring into the back of my head.

I already told you I wasn’t going to cause trouble.

He really doesn’t trust a word I say.

The last time we’d met outside the rose garden, I’d asked this aide to let me know whenever the duke was especially exhausted.

He’d ignored my request for two days before suddenly seeking me out this afternoon.

Thursday.

The most exhausting day of the week.

“My Lady, His Grace usually takes tea between eleven at night and one in the morning to keep himself awake. That’s when he’s at his most exhausted. Please, whatever you do, don’t upset him.”

“Understood.”

“I’m trusting you, My Lady.”

“I’ve already told you I understand seven times.”

Even after I repeatedly promised not to cause trouble, the aide still looked terrified I’d do something reckless.

Meanwhile, the duke silently sipped his tea.

Apparently, he was waiting for me to state my real business.

He doesn’t believe I came just to have tea.

The reputation of the Seymour family’s troublemaker is really something.

Clicking my tongue inwardly, I pushed the dessert plate toward him.

“You must be hungry. Please have some dessert as well. It’s a tart from the most popular pastry shop in the Yones District these days.”

Today’s lemon tart was a dessert filled with memories for the duke.

He disliked sweets, so whenever he had gone on dates with his wife in the city, the only dessert he’d willingly eaten had been lemon tart because of its refreshing acidity.

That diary has turned out to be incredibly useful.

“Something sweet this late at night? It’s too heavy.”

The duke grumbled with the sulky tone of a child.

“I think you’ll enjoy this one.”

“How have you lived this long without even knowing your father’s tastes?”

Though he complained, he still cut off a small piece and took a bite.

After tasting it, he remained silent for a moment with an unreadable expression before washing it down with tea.

Finally, he spoke.

“You must have a reason for visiting me at this hour.”

“Are you hoping to receive a reward for the letter you found in the garden?”

The corner of his mouth curled into a crooked smile.

It was an expression that perfectly reflected his difficult personality.

“The letter you found is certainly beyond price.”

“But if you’ve come because of that pink diamond, you may as well turn back. I don’t go back on my word. If I said no, then the answer is no.”

“I didn’t come to ask for a reward.”

A faint crease appeared between the duke’s brows.

“Then why?”

“I came because I have something to give you.”

“To… give me?”

The duke looked openly suspicious.

After all, Deborah had always demanded things.

She had never offered anything.

Carefully setting down my teacup, I took another letter from my pocket.

The instant he saw the pale lavender stationery, the exhaustion vanished from his eyes.

“That… don’t tell me… another letter?”

“Yes.”

“How did that end up in your possession…?”

He paused before another realization dawned on him.

“The letter you found wasn’t the only one.”

“There are several.”

His face immediately brightened.

“Yes.”

The box contained quite a large number of letters.

The duchess had never been good at expressing affection aloud.

She had poured all the feelings she couldn’t bring herself to say into letters instead.

Her diary explained that she lacked the courage to give them to him, while the duke had always been too busy.

So the letters had accumulated, one after another, with nowhere to go.

Yet she’d also written that someday, she wanted to reopen those faded memories with him and paint them in fresh colors together.

She had probably intended to bury them like a time capsule…

And retrieve them together once they had both grown older.

“…How many letters do you have?”

The duke’s voice trembled with excitement.

“You’ll naturally find out… in time.”

At my cautious reply, his eyebrows shot upward.

“What exactly do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what I said.”

“So you’re refusing to give them to me?”

“Until I hand over that diamond?”

My plan had simply been to give him one letter at a time.

Apparently, to the duke, it sounded like blackmail.

“That’s not what I meant at all.”

Meeting my eyes for a moment, he reached for his teacup.

“…That’s unlike you.”

Unlike me.

His words struck right where it hurt.

Feeling oddly guilty, I dumped several sugar cubes into my tea to change the subject.

“This tea is rather bitter and aromatic. I think madeleines would pair better with it than lemon tart.”

“Next time, I’ll have them prepare a lighter brew… or cocoa instead.”

“This tea is very strong. If you drink too much, you’ll have trouble sleeping.”

Wait…

Is he actually worried about me?

For a fleeting moment, hope blossomed that my relationship with my sponsor—

No.

My father.

—might actually improve.

“I’ll only drink half of it. Thank you for worrying about me.”

The duke immediately shut that thought down with a snort.

“Worry?”

“I simply don’t want you complaining later that your skin suffered because you couldn’t sleep.”

As expected…

He’s not an easy man.

Then again…

In the novel, Duke Seymour had coldly turned his back on his only daughter even when she was put on trial for blasphemy.

That’s how deep the resentment between them runs.

One letter wasn’t nearly enough to heal years of estrangement.

Sigh…

Alternating between the sweetness of sugar and the bitterness of tea, I finally spoke after finishing about half my cup.

“Father, it’s getting late. I’ll be going now.”

“Very well.”

“I’ll escort you back to your residence, My Lady.”

The aide, who had been anxious the entire time that I might anger the duke, finally looked relieved.

Then—

Duke Seymour suddenly stood and followed us out of the office.

“I’ve been sitting too long.”

“My body has grown stiff. I should take a walk.”

…No one asked.

Naturally, I kept that thought to myself.

“The weather seems to have warmed up a little.”

“Don’t you think?”

He suddenly asked the aide.

“Yes, Your Grace. It’s perfect weather for a stroll.”

As the aide answered, a cloud of white breath billowed from his mouth.

Perfect weather? It’s freezing.

Pulling my thick shawl tighter around myself, I hurried forward.

Silence settled over the three of us.

The duke walked all the way to the detached residence where I lived before finally turning back toward his office with the aide.

“Get some rest.”

“And… come see me from time to time.”

Leaving those unexpected words behind, he departed.

After that day, I continued asking the aide to contact me whenever Duke Seymour became overwhelmed with work.

I visited him twice more.

Each time, I brought another letter.

I’ve already offered him two more letters this week.

From the beginning, I had never intended to use the letters to obtain money or valuables.

There were plenty of letters.

Instead, I thought it would be better to use them as an excuse to meet him more often and slowly repair their broken father-daughter relationship.

Still…

Even though we hadn’t actually become much closer…

I couldn’t help wondering if I was giving away the letters too quickly.

At least the desserts are delicious.

While I enjoyed a slice of chocolate cake that melted in my mouth, the duke quietly smiled as he read another letter.

Completely absorbed in reminiscing about his wife, he barely seemed aware that I was sitting right in front of him.

I feel like a mail carrier…

I absentmindedly let the large piece of chocolate decorating my cake melt on my tongue.

Then the duke suddenly set the letter down.

He drank his tea in silence while looking at me.

Something in his gaze had changed.

It made me strangely uneasy.

Why is he looking at me like that?

“Deborah.”

“Have you really been coming here every time I’m exhausted… just to give me another letter?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To obtain that one-of-a-kind diamond in the capital?”

He was testing me.

I have to answer this carefully.

If I laid on the flattery too thick, he’d become suspicious of my intentions again.

After a moment’s hesitation, I finally answered.

“Because I’m the daughter born to George Seymour and Marienne Seymour.”

“I thought… I should become the bridge connecting the two of you.”

I had simply adapted the opening line from one of the duchess’s letters.

“…!”

The duke visibly froze.

After that…

He remained silent for a very long time.

I nervously swallowed and fidgeted with my hands.

At last, Duke Seymour broke the silence.

“Are you free this weekend?”

Of course I was.

I was still under house arrest by his own orders.

It wasn’t as if I had anywhere to go.

That didn’t mean I was bored, though.

For a homebody like me, this place was practically paradise.

Delicious food.

Sleeping whenever I felt tired.

Rolling around on a luxurious bed.

Walking through a palace-like garden.

Spa treatments.

Every day is exciting.

Being a rich unemployed person is the best.

“I am.”

I answered immediately.

“Then let’s go out and have a meal together.”

“…Go out?”

“Yes.”

“What about my confinement…?”

“The weather has warmed.”

“You probably want to go outside.”

“You’ve behaved yourself and properly reflected on your actions.”

“…Thank you.”

“Strange.”

“You don’t seem as happy as I expected.”

His sharp observation made me flinch.

Cold sweat formed in my palms.

I nervously rubbed the handle of my teacup.

“I-I am happy.”

“I was simply surprised by your generosity.”

“Besides… even if we don’t go out… I’ve enjoyed spending time drinking tea with you here at home.”

Panicking, I’d accidentally let an embarrassingly obvious compliment slip out.

The duke seemed to think it was empty flattery.

He coughed several times before narrowing his eyes.

“What exactly is it that you want?”

“If there’s something you desire, simply say it honestly.”

“I’m beginning to feel uneasy.”

“That wasn’t my intention.”

“Then… do you really…”

Before he could finish—

Knock. Knock.

Someone knocked at the office door.

Clicking his tongue, the duke glanced at his pocket watch.

Apparently, he had a meeting scheduled with his retainers.

Since he needed to review the agenda, I left first.

Today’s meeting felt different.

Having my confinement lifted has to be a positive sign.

Still…

I was exhausted.

Facing someone as emotionally distant as Duke Seymour was no easy task.

He drains all my energy.

I’m going to rest extra hard today.

I sent a servant to fetch several books, telling him to buy some of the latest bestselling novels while he was at it.

Thinking I’d relax with a romance novel, I wandered down the office corridor.

Then I heard voices ahead.

Belek Seymour and several of his retainers were walking toward me.

“Even the way you walk is disgracefully lacking in dignity.”

“How pathetic.”

Looking me up and down, Belek sneered.

“Instead of wandering around causing trouble, stay quietly in your quarters.”

“Can this really be called confinement?”

He whispered the words near my ear before deliberately bumping my shoulder as he walked past.

His retainers barely offered me the courtesy due to a duke’s daughter before following him down the hall.

That bastard… what’s his problem now?

For someone like me—who usually couldn’t resist handsome men—

The fact that irritation outweighed his good looks was almost impressive.

Shaking my head, I watched him disappear before returning to my residence.

The study was already piled high with the books I’d requested.

Found it!

After spending half the day searching through them, I finally smiled in satisfaction.