6.

She sat down there and cried for a long time. And then Lianne, who was worried about her, came to her.

Lianne wiped away Ercellas tears and patted her back. Lianne did not ask any questions as if she understood her.

After Ercellas tears stopped, Lianne kindly helped her up. Her grief-stricken body had no strength left, so Ercella leaned against Lianne back to her room.

Ercella blankly lay on her bed, dazedly remembering what happened earlier. Vicente was right in a way. Queen Grania, who had the highest position in the country, died after giving birth to Prince Alexis, so there was only a prince, but no princess.

But that wasnt the answer she wanted. Ercella wanted to be a mother to Vicente.

What does she mean to Vicente? But in fact, there was nothing to think about. Its just a beneficial relationship with a mother who is from a good family.

Had she been from an insignificant family, there would be no such regard. Even the servants would not have obeyed her command to reduce the number of tutors or control the training grounds. She would have lived her life unable to do anything without her husbands consent.

No, we wouldnt have gotten married in the first place.

She deprecated herself. Ercella was also noble, no matter how free she was, she had to consider the interests of the family. Basically, nobles value family honor above life and live their whole lives trying to raise their family prestige. In that, marriage was usually the way women lived for their families. Marrying into a good family and saving the familys status.

And Ercella, like the rest of the nobles, was also faithful to her duties. She married the man from the best family among the proposals she received, as her father had suggested.

She truly had no regrets. In fact, the idea of regret itself was strange. This is the best family she could go for. She made the best choice at that time. Therefore, Ercella didnt know what was there to regret.

Madam, the Lord has returned home. And he wants to see you

Liannes voice seemed stiff as she opened the door. Ercella sighed and got out of bed. Her gestures seemed weak because she had yet to regain her energy.

My husband must be very angry.

She walked away thinking that this was the worst time to meet him.

* * *

Ercella paused as she entered his office. The lights were off. To be exact, all the lights except for the lamp on the table.

The dark room, relying on light from a dimly lit lamp, looked dreary. The owner of the room was sitting on a sofa with his eyes closed. Shaky light glowed over his face. Because of that the mans face repeatedly darkened and brightened.

Harsen.

Her heart trembled like a stem of reed. Its been a long time since they had confronted each other. Ercella looked at Harsens face a little blankly.

His jet-black hair was scattered irregularly over his forehead. Looks like he just arrived.

You are here.

Harsens closed eyes slowly opened, revealing his black eyes that turned towards Ercella.

Ercella was speechless from the suspense. She wanted to know if he was angry, but there were no signs on his face. His black eyes, looking at her only, seemed strangely decadent. She realized, he was tired.

She finally understood why there was no light in the room. He must have been tired because he was working in the light all day long for consecutive days. He probably wanted a shut-eye until she came.

Ill turn on the light.

As she expected, Harsen tried to turn on the light when she came.

No, I know youre tired. We can talk like this.

Ercella stopped him. It was not difficult to talk to each other face to face because there was a lamp anyway.

It would be nice for Harsen to relieve his fatigued eyes. He followed without glancing at her. Ercella sat across from him as the suffocating tension eased a little.

Why did you involve yourself in Vicentes education without my permission?

He said with his eyes closed. He did not express his anger openly but was pointing out her involvement in his sons affairs with a consistent chill. When he didnt hear her answer, Harsen said once again.

Tell me, why did you do as you please without asking me?

Even with closed eyes, Harsen somehow seemed to be looking at her.

Ercella swallowed dry saliva. She took a breath and opened her mouth.

I heard about the education Vicente has been receiving thus far.

What about it?

It was not a scary situation but she was scared. Ercella regretted not turning on the lights. The light was still flickering over his face, and his shadowy face felt sharper than usual.

What do you mean? Your teaching style is too harsh. Vicente is still young.

Whether hes young or not, it doesnt matter. What matters is that Vicente is the familys successor. Im only giving him the education that is best for him. Why would you involve yourself in it?

He can do well enough even if you dont do it that way. And I

Thats not for you to judge.

Her face looked irritated when Harsen cut off her words relentlessly.

Im sorry for doing it my way. But Im that childs mother. If parents dont judge, who will?

Hah.

His lips slightly opened in the dark shadow. He opened his closed eyes. The light reflected in his pupils.

Ercella thought that those eyes were as sharp as a blade. He persistently looked at her. Ercella also faced him without avoiding him.

She suddenly wondered. How will she look in his eyes now? What was he thinking while looking at her blue eyes? Suddenly, she heard a low laugh from somewhere. Harsen was looking at her with an odd look.

She knew why he looked at her like that. All that time, she had no interest in her son. It would be ridiculous to talk about his education now.

No matter what criticism he made, Ercella had nothing to say. I was prepared for this. She was ready to hear harsh words from the moment she faced him.

There was tension in the quiet space. Harsen slowly opened his mouth as if confused by something.

I want my child to be perfect. In regards to continuing the family, Im not saying that hes lacking. Even if it may seem cruel to you, I want you to know that Im doing this for his sake.

Fortunately, Harsen didnt criticize her intentions. Relieved by it, Ercella spoke more calmly.

I dont mean to blame you. But hes only 15. I was just worried that if hes pushed too hard, it might backfire on us later.

Harsen paused for a moment. Ercella guessed that hes probably surprised. She, not anybody else, was worried about Vicente. In truth, there was no such indication on his face, so this was just her guess.

Okay.

She heard his drowsy voice. He was really tired, so he was wiping his face down with one hand.

Ercella felt sorry. She mustve added to his fatigue with the butlers report on her deliberately returning all the hired tutors and controlling the training grounds.

It doesnt matter if she is the Duchess because the true owner of this house is Harsen. Even now, there is nothing she could do if Harsen ignored her opinion and turned back everything to the way it was.

Hey What are you thinking?

Harsen stared at Ercella with strange eyes. Her blue eyes calmly met his.

I died in the past, but somehow I came back. Just before I died, I regretted neglecting my son and not being able to love him, so I want to change that now.

Even if she wanted to tell the truth, who would believe her? Moreover, her husband was such a realist that he obviously would not believe her. Rather, it would be fortunate if Ercella is not treated like a freak. Ercella shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

You know dear, sometimes youre cold but you grew up fine too.

The man drew a beautiful curve with his lips. As he relaxed, Ercella also gave a gentle laugh. The tension seemed to be gone.

Do as you say.

Harsen-!

As soon he gave her permission, Ercella quickly got up and hugged Harsens waist. Harsen pushed her forehead away with his index finger.

I dont want to be touched when your intentions are so obvious.

That way he said it, he wasnt completely pushing her away. Ercella smiled brightly and embraced him even more in her arms.

Youve been busy lately, as a reward-

I dont know how this is a reward.

Hes being mean again. She thought of untying her arms right away, but Ercella looked up at Harsen without loosening her arms.

Youre here early today, arent you? Are you done with your work?

A small wrinkle appeared on Harsens forehead at those words.

Not yet. I have to go back later. His Majesty is in a dilemma because Conrad suddenly reclaimed ownership of the land that was given more than a hundred years ago.

About a hundred years ago, Conrad lost the war against Grania, and had to sign a peace treaty with Grania in exchange for Azrel.

Over time, they regretted losing Azrel and demanded that we cordially return it to them.

The problem is that Conrads power is larger than before, so this cannot be ignored for long. Grania was still dominant in force, but Conrad had a lot of developed commercial districts due to trade with neighboring countries, and Grania, too, had no choice but to rely on Conrad for some materials.

You must be suffering.

It nothing hard, though.

You dont show it when youre having a hard time.

Despite spending a long time with Ercella, he never opened up to her. Although out of regret, she had asked him several times in the past to lean on her, but he did not rely on Ercella till the end.

Ercella suddenly wondered how Harsen grew up. As Harsen stared at her, his eyes suddenly cooled down.

Whats happened?

What?

Your eyes are red. As if you cried

Ercellas face was flushed with embarrassment. How did he know? Lianne said she looked okay. She laughed brightly, trying hard not to show anything. Harsen slightly frowned as if that laugh was trying to hide something.

Dont just laugh.

I read a novel.

A novel?

Yes. It was a love story of a noble lady and a knight born out of wedlock. The breakup scene was so sad, I guess I cried without realizing.

Ercella could not say that she cried because of Vicente, so she used the story of a novel she once read as an excuse. She peeped at Harsen carefully in case she was caught, and seeing his black pupils shaking, Ercella guessed he was flustered.

Are you talking about a popular novel?

Yes. Would you like to read it, too? Its really fun. Especially when the male and female characters reunite!

Look at you. How old were you again..?

Old enough! All my friends said it was fun. You dont know, but it was very popular among the ladies. A love story that transcends status. How fascinating!

Harsen laughed low at Ercellas enthusiasm. Ercella cheered inside. The topic finally seemed to have passed.

She happily talked about how deep the love of the knight was and how amazing the ladys adventurous behavior was.

Harsen was looking at Ercella with a faint smile, his expression seemed to be looking at a child, saying, Yes, yes, which hurt her feelings a little.

Whats with that look?

What?

Its like-

What happened to the man at the end?

What?

Did he die?

Since he dared to covet a young noble lady. He added.

No, what is happening

Are you trying to change the subject?

No way.

Who are you fooling? How can you treat me like a kid at this age? It was like how her brother treated her.

Ercella glared at him but then quit. Ill let you go off the hook this time since youre tired. Thinking so, Ercella murmured cheekily.

He lived. They lived happily ever after.

She heard a low laugh again.

***

Harsen is finally here. Hes scary but sexy at the same time.