If I Disobey the Duke

Unknown Story (1)

The spring sunlight was busily pouring into the study.
A quiet morning as if nothing had happened.
A tense silence drifted down for days, pretending to be calm.

Hans, holding a couple of books, went down the stairs from the third floor.
After reaching the first floor, where the bookshelves towered like a wall, he eagerly crossed the hallway.

When he reached the arched door frame that bounded the central section, Talin, who was waiting, bowed in silence.

As soon as he went inside, he saw an office table stacked with books.
He trotted over and added height to the book tower.
“This book is the last.
Madam.”

Lily tilted her head slightly between the pillars of the book.
The sunlight shone like gold as it landed on her lustrous silver hair.
The neatly updone hair and the neckline exposed on the square neckline were elegant.

A faint smile appeared on his face in the morning.
Even that couldn’t erase the feeling of regret.

“Everyone has suffered so far… I’m so sorry.”

“No.
It’s a reasonable order, so everyone will understand,” Hans added cheerfully, as if trying to reassure her.

“And anyway, the fact that there is hope for your relationship.
That alone is a huge achievement, Madam.
I will explain it well to the administrators.”

The shade faded slightly from Lily’s face.
“I always get help from you.
Thank you, Hans.”

“No.
It’s all thanks to Madam.
Then, as I said, I have to head to the Knights Templar, so I’ll just leave.” Hans bowed politely and exited the central area.

Lily lowered her gaze again to the book she was reading.

For a long time, only the sound of turning the pages continued regularly.
She let out a breath.
“I know all this….”

She wanted to know a little bit about Vlad.
The whole world seemed to know him, but in reality no one knew much.
Even she, whom he uses his bed with.
She wondered if there’s anything different from the rumors floating around in the world.

How old was he in the Imperial Palace, and what was that life like? How painful was it? How did he participate in the war at the age of fifteen, and how was the war and victory? Why did he come to Arcadia?

…Why did he send a proposal?

Perhaps, there were few books on the imperial family in this spacious library.
At least it was a book that contained common sense that even ignorant scholars could understand through hearsay.

There were no books that studied monsters.
Those books seemed to have been collected in Vlad’s office.

It would be most accurate to ask the knight or his entourage, but it would be better to conduct a background investigation before asking directly like that…

“…”

Even that night, he was silent.

Sweat, painful moans, and hazy sighs were constantly intertwined, making her dizzy.
She had no memory of the accident, but one thing was certain.

He had neither impatience nor ferocity.
All his actions were sincere courtship.

Every time the dull consciousness returned in a blink of an eye, the questions that had been set aside were poured out.
There was only one thing that so many words wanted to ask.

[Why, why me.
I, in the world, ah….]

Every time she barely asked, he kept overlapping their lips.
In the end, she couldn’t ask anything.

The pleasure that came rushing in like a subdued wave gradually increased in size.
Crying at the sensation of exploding inside and out, she set her nails on his hard shoulders.

She just called his name as if to compensate for the words she had been holding back.
She ended up not saying anything.

Her heart was broken by the contradictory courtship that she did not expect.

When she finished her recollection, she covered her chin with the thick hardcover book.
She pushed the book to one side and pulled the letter from the other side of the table.
The letter, folded in half, was opened, revealing an elegant and neat cursive handwriting.

It was his handwriting.

[I would like to have lunch together today.
Please come to the garden at noon.]

Lily raised her head.
An antique clock hung on a semicircular lintel seen in front.
That watch was ticking.
Time was running out…

“How could it be ten o’clock?”

After licking her lips, she finally got up.
The hem of her sky-blue dress, embroidered with dense lace over her upper body, fluttered.

“Sir Talin.”

Talin, who had stood with her back to her desk at the entrance to her central section, turned to look at her.
“Where are you going, Madam?”

“I’m going to go see Priest Ivan.”

The maid waiting like her shadow draped a white shawl over her shoulder.

Talin didn’t ask, but Lily added quickly, “The knights… I also want to go to see them.”

“The priest’s whereabouts are still unknown.
It looks like he ran into something and ran away.
Your Excellency has ordered the pursuit, so he will be caught soon.”

“Ah…” Lily bit her lips tightly.
She felt as if she was the main culprit, who blamed the accomplices for all their sins and lived a leisurely life.

She wiggled her hands as she coughed.

If you ever get caught, I will definitely appeal for you.

After covering up her remorse with such a promise, Lily glanced at the watch once more.

“Is it too early to go to the Knights Templar now? Considering that Hans is going to work at the Knights Templar for the time being, it seems like he’s been quite busy…”

Talin tilted her head as if puzzled.
“What do you mean by early when you’re already awake? Even if you visit them in the morning, they should be honored.
Moreover, you’re so enchanting, as long as you take a step, they will all turn over…”

“Yes, ah, thank you.
Sir Talin.
I think I’ll go right away.”

Leaving behind a regretful Talin, she walked out of her study.