HPBUY Ch 148

Early that morning, Jeremiah’s mood plummeted when he learned the identity of his unexpected visitor.

“…He came rather quickly.”

Heading straight to the reception room, he saw a man standing by the window who gave him a slight bow.

The man appeared somewhat thinner than Jeremiah remembered, but his face was still just as irritating. Though Jeremiah knew perfectly well why he had come so early in the morning, he lowered his gaze as if clueless and sat on the sofa.

“What brings the Grand Duke here so early?”

“I heard you were unwell, but fortunately you seem to be recovering nicely.”

Declan replied flatly, withdrawing his gaze. Jeremiah’s eyebrow twitched. Though there was no particular malice in Declan’s tone, to Jeremiah’s ears it sounded faintly mocking.

Why am I getting so involved in someone else’s romantic affairs? A belated sense of doubt crossed his mind.

“I thought I should pay my respects in person before returning to the Empire.”

“Ah.”

Jeremiah responded halfheartedly.

“For someone who’s come to express gratitude, you don’t look particularly happy. So, did your dramatic reunion go well?”

Declan barely suppressed a laugh.

“I wasn’t aware that in Parma, the monarch personally concerned himself with nobles’ private affairs.”

“Let me be clear. If I’m extending such courtesy to the Grand Duke, it’s strictly for Sienna’s sake, not yours.”

Even setting personal feelings aside, the relationship between the Grand Duke and Sienna had considerable potential to benefit Parma.

If the Empress’s trust in the Grand Duke remained strong, Jeremiah couldn’t afford to ruin it over his personal dislike.

“So you’ll engage in this transparent deception? I don’t see the point when those who should know already do.”

Those who needed to know were already aware.

“In case of conflicts of interest between the Empire and Parma, I will never side with Parma. That holds true even for matters concerning Ricata.”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“I thought some clarity was necessary.”

The implication was clear: don’t think about using Sienna for any foolish schemes. Understanding this perfectly well, Jeremiah’s eyes narrowed with displeasure.

Yet Declan showed no sign of intimidation.

“Your Majesty must know better than I do. When people start pushing, uncomfortable situations inevitably arise.”

Sienna wasn’t as tough as she appeared. During her time as Grand Duchess, she had refused requests claiming she lacked authority, but that was no longer the case.

The king was currently the only person he could trust. Though Jeremiah’s position prevented him from openly taking Sienna’s side, with proper mediation between them, there shouldn’t be much to worry about.

“I promise that won’t happen.”

After a moment of silence, Jeremiah answered smoothly.

Of course, the situation was still rather unpleasant. While he sincerely wanted to help Sienna and rationally understood the Grand Duke’s position, there was something about the man’s unyielding attitude, even while making a request, that irritated him.

“By the way, there seems to be an issue with titles. Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to call Sienna the Duchess of Ricata now, rather than Princess?”

His petty nitpicking stemmed from that irritation.

“As you said, that’s how things have turned out, but don’t worry. She’s special to me as well, so I intend to help her adjust to life here.”

He was aware of his own childishness. Though maintaining an elegant smile outwardly, inwardly he was cursing himself. You idiot who can’t even separate personal from political matters. Are you planning to announce it to the world?

“As Your Majesty says.”

The brief acknowledgment was delivered tonelessly. Declan appeared completely unfazed, making Jeremiah’s aggressive move seem foolish.

“Since you hold her in such high regard, I trust you won’t allow her to face any unjust difficulties.”

While appearing to yield without resistance, he skillfully turned Jeremiah’s words to serve his own purposes. Jeremiah swallowed his rising irritation and forced a smile.

“I won’t.”

All the while thinking that he’d get rid of this man from Parma as quickly as possible.

****

When Sienna heavily lifted her eyelids, her surroundings were already bright with daylight.

The curtains swayed gently on either side of the open window. Judging by the food aroma in the incoming breeze, it must have been around lunchtime.

That’s when she noticed a man standing by the window.

As she stared at him with a drowsy expression, he felt her gaze and turned his head. Sienna smiled sleepily.

“This is such a strange sight.”

Though their nights together, justified by duty, had been raw moments governed by instinct alone, during normal times they regarded each other almost like strangers.

Declan sat on the edge of the bed and brushed away strands of hair stuck to the corner of her eye.

“You never liked seeing my face, did you?”

“I can’t deny that.”

Despite her bleary eyes, she readily admitted it, making Declan laugh with disbelief.

“Yet I’ve always pursued only you.”

His fingertips lingered near her cheekbone even after removing all the hair. Sienna’s gaze flickered toward him.

“Even with you right before me, I ached with longing. I feared you might leave my side someday. I think that’s why I was always afraid.”

His voice was surprisingly plain as he confessed the true feelings he had long suppressed, considering them shameful. Sienna stared at him quietly, furrowing her brow in incomprehension.

“…That’s strange.”

Every word from his lips felt unfamiliar.

It seemed abnormal that someone would harbor such feelings for her. Of course, there had been men who praised her beauty and courted her. Most men seemed attracted to women in unfortunate circumstances.

But Declan was different. If it had been mere lust, he wouldn’t have risked falling out of the Emperor’s favor to bring her with him.

Yet even so, Sienna’s reasoning couldn’t lead her to understand ordinary romantic emotions between men and women. In truth, no extraordinary reason was needed to like someone, but Sienna didn’t know this simple fact.

So her best conclusion was that he was a man with chivalry ingrained in him. She couldn’t think of any other plausible explanation.

“What reason did you have for liking me enough to feel that way?”

“Do I need a reason?”

Declan asked with amusement in his voice.

Well. Why indeed?

At first, it was certainly presumptuous sympathy, and to some extent he had identified with her. How had the significance of her presence grown to this extent?

Was it because he found it pitiful that she kept making poor choices even when already in a desperate situation? Did that awaken some heroic impulse he didn’t know he had?

One thing was certain: the desperate way she had clung to him in Lopwell had felt like the greatest joy. Declan gave a soft, wry smile. She would surely despise him if she knew this.

Instead of giving a proper answer, he lightly tapped her cheek with his index finger.

“Perhaps I just found you too beautiful.”

At those words, Sienna suddenly looked up. Her gaze was quite enigmatic.

“If that’s the case, I suppose I understand.”

Perplexed by her cryptic response, Declan raised an eyebrow slightly.

“You were my dance practice partner every night. I thought you were unusually kind. After all, we weren’t in that kind of relationship then.”

“What kind of relationship?”

“You were forced to marry me.”

A moment of silence followed. Declan’s face gradually crumpled.

“What exactly… made you think that?”

“A princess of a nation was begging for mercy in prostitute’s clothes in that wretched land, and you were in a position where you couldn’t ignore me.”

No answer came. Instead, Declan’s frown only deepened visibly.

“I’m not blaming you. I’m just saying that’s what I thought.”

She added belatedly, but it had no effect. Declan’s frown only deepened with no sign of relaxing.

“If you appeared in that attire and got what you wanted… wouldn’t it be more accurate to say I fell for your intentions?”

At his voice, which somehow sounded devastated, Sienna laughed as if she’d heard a nonsensical joke. Really? The idea that he would fall for such an awkward ploy seemed even more implausible.

“Let’s say that’s what happened.”

Seeing her complete disbelief, Declan sighed. He had been sitting casually on the floor, resting his arms on the bed, when he suddenly raised his upper body.

As Sienna’s eyes, which had been staring at the ceiling, turned in a semicircle to look sideways, the weight on the bed shifted to one side.

“If I had truly been uncomfortable, I wouldn’t have given you a second glance. Did I really seem like such a gentleman to you, Princess?”

Asking playfully, Declan lay down beside her and instantly closed the distance between them. Sienna’s gaze narrowed as she looked at him, as if trying to gauge whether he was being sincere.

“I might not have known then, but I know now. That you’re not exactly of noble character.”

“You know one thing but miss another.”

His quiet voice gently reprimanded her. But the eyes gazing at Sienna were only affectionate.

“I married you because I love you.”