021. Distortion (2)
“…I… like it.”
Lucia was someone who would grab whatever she desired, by any means necessary.
Having obtained everything she desired until now.
She knew better than anyone else because she was the one who always got what she wanted.
To fulfill the newly arisen greed, one must be very cautious.
Lucia slowly squeezed Owen’s intertwined hand.
As her fingers delved between Owen’s fingers, he flinched.
Her faintly fluttering eyelashes were elegant and long.
Lucia gazed at his face and spoke.
“Since you promised to go horseback riding together. Could you accompany me with something else instead?”
It was Owen who had already promised to go horseback riding.
Judging by his attitude, there seemed to be a reason why they couldn’t ride together today, but…
Lucia had no intention of letting go of any opportunity she could seize.
Because Owen seemed willing to do anything.
“Of course.”
And as expected, he gave an answer that he would do anything.
Lucia smiled and bit her lip.
“Could you be my partner at the upcoming royal banquet?”
The royal banquet, to be held in a month, was a grand event.
It was a debutante ball held every summer and an occasion where dignitaries from various countries visited.
Therefore, all the nobles of the empire were obliged to attend this banquet.
If they were to enter the banquet together as partners, it would be obvious that they were engaged.
The rumor would spread like wildfire as if it were true, and Lucia was well aware of this fact, which is why she intended to take advantage of it.
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It was not something she could simply have Owen’s everything in one go.
He was not someone who could be easily possessed.
So she wanted to create a situation where she had no choice but to possess him.
“…Alright.”
In response to Lucia’s proposal, Owen slowly uttered his answer.
It wasn’t because he was hesitant.
The banquet proposal was rather insignificant, to the extent that he had anticipated it beforehand.
He thought Lucia would make such a proposal.
However, he disliked the idea of having to pay the price of breaking a promise, even if it was such a trivial proposal.
Owen wanted Lucia to have everything she desired.
Even if it wasn’t material possessions.
He felt he could provide her with more than enough.
What she desired most at the moment was ‘Owen.’
But it seemed difficult to achieve it this way.
She was unusually cautious this time, unlike before.
When she wanted something else, she would proceed effortlessly according to her plans without hesitation.
She paid too much attention, was too observant, and tried to adjust even the smallest details.
It wasn’t completely incomprehensible.
‘Owen’ never went exactly as she calculated and estimated each and every detail, so showing her that I had become slightly harmful wouldn’t be enough to reverse the relationship.
“Your Highness.”
As his thoughts reached that point, Owen realized that he needed to give her confidence.
Confidence that she wouldn’t have to push as she did before.
So that Lucia could act without hesitation.
“If it’s not impolite, may I call you by your name?”
At Owen’s question, Lucia blinked quietly.
At a moment totally unexpected, words she never anticipated flowed out.
It was quite a surprising moment for her.
“…Of course.”
However, the positive response that came at the end of the long silence was unexpected.
Lucia smiled and then asked a question.
“May I address you by your given name as well?”
It was a question that implied permission would be granted.
“Sure.”
And as expected,
Owen responded affirmatively.
“Go ahead, Lucia.”
As his voice carried her name, the children who followed Lucia, Yeongae and Yeongsik, made a commotion.
Their noisy voices were irritating, but Lucia, oblivious to the surrounding noise, gazed blankly at Owen.
Thump, thump.
Her heart pounded loudly and roughly.
At the same time, the sensations swirling inside her grew uncontrollably.
“…Owen.”
Struggling to calm the noisy turmoil within, Lucia managed to utter his name near her lips.
She had seen and longed for him for a long time.
Strangely, his name on her lips felt unfamiliar to the point of awkwardness.
“Yeah.”
In the moment when the unfamiliarity was becoming awkward, Owen responded.
His deep voice was incredibly soft and affectionate.
Lucia raised her head to look at him again.
The black eyes she met were strangely warm.
“Owen.”
As if entranced, Lucia whispered his name once more.
Even though it was only the second time she had called his name, it was already starting to feel familiar.
“Sure.”
Owen responded to her call, his eyes narrowing slightly and his lips curling.
His eyes clearly held a mix of emotions.
It was hard to pinpoint exactly, but warm and tender emotions were undoubtedly coloring his expression.
“….”
At his unparalleled tenderness, Lucia bit her lip.
Lately, he had been growing strangely closer to her, but this was truly…
A sudden change.
No, perhaps I had been slow to notice.
He had already changed, and maybe I hadn’t noticed his altered emotions and demeanor because he was adept at concealing his feelings.
‘Why?’
However, no matter how much that may be the case, it was difficult to understand.
There didn’t seem to be any special event that triggered this change.
I couldn’t figure out what prompted this shift in his heart, whether it was revealing his true emotions to me.
“Did you promise to be my partner at the royal banquet?”
Unable to comprehend, her thoughts became more complex.
But instead of delving into more complicated thoughts, Lucia decided to focus on what she could gain now.
A memory of a previous contemplation came to mind.
If there was something I couldn’t figure out no matter how hard I tried, it was better to concentrate on what was in front of me.
So she questioned Owen about his positive response to the proposal.
Since there were quite a few people around who could spread rumors, it seemed necessary to firmly establish the matter.
“Lucia, I don’t lie to you.”
It was simply an emphasis on the fact that he would be her partner in front of everyone.
But what returned was an added sweetness.
A lingering sweetness that seemed to imply his absolute submission, a bitter sweetness that announced his presence in my hands.
‘Ah.’
As the sweetness touched her tongue, Lucia felt dizzy.
‘Oh my.’
It was perhaps the fruit of her long waiting and patience.
The satisfaction she felt now, compared to when she finally obtained what she had desired before, was incomparable.
No.
The term “satisfaction” felt insufficient.
It was dizzying and ecstatic to the point where her heart trembled, evoking a desire that went beyond mere possession.
“…Is that so?”
Lucia carefully maintained her expression while clutching the hem of her dress.
She needed to suppress her emotions, fearing she might say something amiss in her excitement.
“Alright. I hope you trust me. I will keep the promise to you without fail.”
“Everyone has their circumstances. Due to unforeseen reasons, one might not be able to keep a promise.”
In an attempt to decipher his true feelings, Lucia subtly turned the conversation to see how far he had fallen into her hands.
She wanted to know.
To what extent he was entrusting himself to her.
Whether he simply harbored goodwill and fondness towards her, or if it was something more.
Though aware that it was quite a direct question, she still brought it up.
“It could be.”
The moment Lucia broached the topic, Owen understood her intentions.
Lucia was trying to gauge his true feelings now.
Owen was pleased with this fact.
He felt he could give her assurance through this incident.
Feel free to do as you wish.
I won’t reject whatever you decide to do now.
“However, Lucia. Even if others may not know, you will never break your promise.”
With a firm and clear voice, Lucia stared directly into Owen’s eyes.
As if trying to fathom his true intentions.
Owen did not avoid the gaze of her crimson eyes.
Instead, he met them deeply and directly.
Staring at her ruby eyes as if he wanted to devour them.
As Lucia gazed into his unwavering black eyes, she let out a long breath.
The emotions she had been suppressing began to seep out one by one, causing her heart to beat loudly once again.
“…Thank you.”
Though she tried to suppress her feelings as before, the emotions she had swallowed once refused to be contained.
Overwhelmed by the flowing sensations, Lucia found it difficult to even control her body as she wished.
Eventually, she let go of the hand clutching her dress hem.
Then, she reached out her hand towards Owen and gently clasped his hand.
“….”
Taken aback by the sudden touch, Owen blinked in surprise for a moment.
He then looked down at Lucia’s hand holding his, smiled subtly, and casually interlocked his fingers with hers.
“…Owen.”
Feeling the warmth, Lucia found it increasingly difficult to restrain herself and opened her mouth.
Right now, she wanted to be alone with him.
There were things she wanted to confirm.
Alone with him in a place where no one else was around.
“Could you invite me to your lodge, Owen?”
“Of course.”
In response to Lucia’s question, Owen readily nodded.
While it might be difficult for them to go horseback riding at the moment, going to the lodge was not a challenging task.
After all, they had to wait until the search party returned with news.
He was supposed to just wait at the lodge until the news arrived.
Inviting Lucia to the lodge wouldn’t cause any trouble.
Even if rumors spread that she was his fiancée.
Such matters were inconsequential.
Anyhow, Lucia, if she agreed, would like it, and she wasn’t someone who would dislike it.
“It was nice meeting you. I’ll take my leave now.”
After giving an affirmative response to Lucia’s request, Owen bid farewell to the maids and butlers who were behind him.
Lucia, who was also preoccupied with Owen, followed suit and bid them farewell.
“Until next time. It was a pleasure today.”
“Yes, Your Highness and Your Lordship. Until next time.”
“It was delightful to be with you today.”
The maids and butlers who had gathered around responded courteously to the farewell of the two.
After exchanging appropriate replies to their farewells, the two turned and headed towards the lodge, with Owen holding Lucia’s hand and the reins of the horse in the other.
Arriving at the mansion, Owen tied the black mare he rode near the mansion before stepping inside.
“You can sit over there.”
Owen gestured to a seat near the table for Lucia.
As Lucia settled into the chair, he filled the teapot with tea leaves, poured hot water, and brewed the tea.
Thanks to Owen’s familiarity with basic noble etiquette, he was able to brew the tea effortlessly.
Once the tea was properly brewed, Owen poured the tea into a cup and placed it on the table.
“I hope the tea suits your taste.”
Carefully handing her the teacup, Lucia smiled and took it.
After taking a sip of tea, she smiled again.
“The aroma is lovely. Is it rose tea?”
“Yes.”
“You seem to really like roses.”
Lucia remarked as she set the teacup down.
Ever since Owen first mentioned his fondness for roses, it had been on her mind.
Today, where things overflowed beyond control.
Without hesitation, she decided to ask him about it.