"What if my talisman doesn’t please Your Highness?"
"That’s not possible."
"You don’t even know what I’m going to give you. How can you say that?"
"It doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, I’ll welcome it."
He meant it.
It didn’t matter what the object was.
He was a man who lacked nothing and already had more than enough possessions.
What mattered was how much Alicia thought of him in order to choose it.
Because the man always wished her small mind would be filled entirely with thoughts of him.
Cabelenus swallowed not just the wine, but also his hidden feelings.
"Then, I’ll keep thinking about it."
Her slightly flushed cheeks looked so lovely, it made him want to take a bite.
Cabelenus reached out and gently brushed Alicia’s lips.
Startled, Alicia widened her eyes and looked at him, but the man just smiled, pretending not to notice.
"You had some sauce on you."
Cabelenus casually wiped his hand with a napkin.
"If you’d told me, I would’ve wiped it off myself."
Alicia awkwardly turned her head, covering her mouth with her hand.
"I’ll do that next time."
Cabelenus smirked slightly, watching Alicia turn red like a ripe apple during harvest season.
There hadn’t been any sauce, but with the man’s calm expression, it was hard to tell he was lying.
"By the way, how long do you plan to keep speaking to me so formally?"
Before Alicia could catch on to the truth, it wasn’t difficult for Cabelenus to redirect her attention.
Even though he had spent much of his life on battlefields, he was still of royal blood.
Though he didn’t flaunt it, he was well-versed in social customs.
Telling a lie with a straight face was no challenge.
"Well, since you’re Your Highness…"
"Habits are hard to break, so it’s better to start practising now. The earlier, the better."
"Th-that’s…"
Alicia’s face, which had been bright red, turned pale.
Even if she understood what Cabelenus was asking for, she couldn’t bring herself to nod.
"I think it’s about time you spoke to me casually.”
“...”
"Or, perhaps, do you prefer using honorifics out of mutual respect, my lady?"
Alicia’s eyes widened to their absolute limit.
She was so shocked her mind went blank — she couldn’t even speak.
"Why are you so surprised, my lady?"
“...”
"If you won’t lower your speech, then I can just raise mine, my lady."
Unlike Cabelenus, who spoke calmly, Alicia trembled as if she’d heard something unthinkable.
It felt strange and awkward hearing such things from him, of all people.
He was the type of man who belonged to a position of authority.
"...P-please don’t."
Eventually, unable to hold back any longer, Alicia barely managed to squeeze out a voice.
But the man with a mischievous smile showed no sign of stopping.
"What do you mean, my lady?"
"Y-you’re speaking formally to me."
"If you want something from someone, shouldn’t you try to satisfy them?"
“My wife.”
Though his voice was low and soft, its impact was great.
Alicia looked at the composed man, lips twisting slightly.
Unlike her, he was far too skilled at this.
Realising that made her mood plummet.
"We’re not married yet."
"We will be, soon."
Otherwise, at this rate, his blood would completely dry up like this.
Cabelenus swallowed the rest of the words and kept his expression steady.
For nobles, premarital relations were considered dishonourable.
Although it felt too late to regain honour at this point, there was no reason to continue creating flaws.
Nobles valued appearances, and the more plausible the appearance, the easier it was to blend into their society.
"Get used to it. This will become natural soon."
"…Your Highness seems to be accustomed to this kind of thing."
"Rather than being accustomed to it…"
Noticing Alicia’s suddenly darkened expression, Cabelenus stopped mid-sentence.
"...I guess you don’t like me acting like this."
Perhaps he went too far.
Cabelenus’s gaze hardened slightly.
Alicia glanced sideways at Cabelenus, looked around briefly, and then nodded.
"I don’t like it."
"..."
His heart sank at the firm tone of voice.
But unlike Cabelenus, Alicia didn’t stop moving her lips.
"If you’re skilled at this, it means you’ve done it with others, too. I don’t like that."
"..."
"I know it’s impossible, but I hoped that I would be Your Highness’s first."
“Like how you are mine.”
Alicia added in a small voice, fidgeting with her fingers.
She had worked up the courage after much deliberation, but seeing Cabelenus’s stiff expression made her worry if she’d done the right thing.
"...You are my first."
“What?”
“You are the first for me, too.”
Where did she learn how to provoke him like this?
Cabelenus pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a breath he had been holding in.
It was absurd that just a few words from a woman so much smaller than him could shake him like this. And yet, when he came to his senses, he found himself listening closely to every word she said.
“The person I want to hold, the person I want to marry, and the person who makes me care… all of them. You’re the first.”
“Ah…”
"Are you feeling a little better now?"
Cabelenus laughed helplessly.
Even though he felt like he was doing something foolish, he couldn’t stop himself from laughing.
“I didn’t expect you to get jealous.”
“…You’re mine now.”
“Yours?”
“Yes.”
Alicia clenched her fists.
She had never once in her life held on to something she truly wanted.
Everything she desired would always break or disappear, so she tried not to want anything at all.
But now, that had changed.
Now, she could finally have something she wanted.
It was the first thing that truly belonged to her, so it still felt strange and surreal — but she had no intention of letting it go.
She was going to hold it tightly, no matter what.
“You gave yourself to me, Your Highness.”
It was a gaze filled with desire.
Cabelenus instinctively exhaled.
Alicia, standing tall with a stubborn tilt of her chin, was no different from a child who gripped something tightly and then blindly claimed ownership of it.
Yet, he felt a chill down his spine, and his mouth went dry.
He used to think greed was a word that didn’t suit Alicia. But now, he realised he might need to revise that thought.
Her wide-open grey eyes suited a gaze full of greed far better than an indifferent look that desired nothing.
And the man was thrilled beyond measure by that fact.
After all, the greed she held started from within herself.
He knew that desire would become a shackle that would keep the small woman by his side.
“I never imagined I’d have someone claim ownership over me.”
Cabelenus laughed again, brushing his hair back.
He didn’t know whether he should be grateful or regretful for being so used to suppressing his instincts.
“Ah, but it’s too late to take it back now.”
Even with that timid face, she said it so boldly.
No, was she really ‘timid’ in the first place?
“My lady is not weak.”
Cabelenus recalled what Madame Morco once said, and furrowed his brow.
Looking back, Alicia had always been like that.
She always looked like she might crumble at any moment, but she always held on.
‘If the environment she grew up in had been different…’
The past couldn’t be changed.
There was no meaning in imagining what might have been.
Even so, Cabelenus had that thought.
That it would have been better if she had grown up in a better environment, treated with the respect she deserved.
"There's no way I’d take it back."
Of course, it was contradictory to the sense of relief he felt at her still being like an unpolished gem.
Cabelenus reached out and gently covered Alicia’s clenched hand.
Her hands were small enough to be completely wrapped in just one of his — but he no longer saw them as weak as he once had.
“Never let go. No matter what happens, hold on tight. What’s yours must be protected by you.”
Cabelenus’s eyes gleamed.
If she wanted to possess him, he was willing to be possessed.
No — he actually preferred it that way.
As long as he followed Alicia’s wishes, at least he wouldn’t be the one to ruin her.
Voluntarily putting on a leash and pretending to be a tamed dog wasn’t that difficult. Even so, it didn’t change his true nature.
Even if it looked the same on the outside, a wolf was still a wolf, and a dog was still a dog.
Even with a leash, a wolf could never become a dog.
Knowing this, he still tightened his grip around her hand.
・・・・・
“You seem to be in a good mood today, my lady.”
"Well, that’s because His Highness came today."
"I gather you had a pleasant time."
"Yeah. I had a great time."
Madame Morco widened her eyes slightly, then smiled.
The experienced older woman immediately noticed a shift in Alicia’s demeanour.
"Looks like we can start adjusting the lesson plan soon."
A satisfied smile tugged at Madame Morco ’s lips.
It was still a bit awkward for Alicia to speak informally, but that didn’t matter.
Alicia was persistent.
Before long, she would become accustomed to speaking more casually and would begin to carry herself like someone of truly high rank.
"There’s much to learn, so I must hurry and prepare. There’s so much I want to teach my lady."
“…Madame Morco, is it really okay if I become the Grand Duchess?”
Though Madame Morco nodded without hesitation, Alicia felt a mix of gratitude and worry.
She looked up at Madame Morco with slightly anxious eyes.
“Of course it is.”
Contrary to Alicia’s concerns, Madame Morco nodded firmly.
"Aren’t you being too quick to answer?"
"Although I haven’t known my lady for long, you have never once disappointed me. You have always done well."
“Anyone could’ve done that. Especially since Madame Morco taught me so well.”
Alicia laughed awkwardly.
Although she was trying, it still felt awkward to speak to Madame Morco less formally.
"Being able to do something and actually doing it are two different things. People often don’t do what they’re capable of. They make all sorts of excuses, postponing and avoiding things, especially when those things feel difficult."
“...”
“My lady, hold your head high. Doing your best at what’s given to you is already a great thing. In my experience, people like that don’t disappoint. That’s all.”
“…Thank you.”
Alicia’s expression relaxed a little at the comforting touch on her shoulder.
Madame Morco’s steady support was a great comfort.
“Supporting you is my duty.”
“I’ll do my best. I might still be lacking now, but I’m going to work really hard.”
“That’s wonderful to hear. But for now, let’s set that passion aside for a moment.”
Watching Alicia burn with enthusiasm, Madame Morco smiled softly.
Every time she looked at Alicia, she couldn’t shake the feeling of watching a sprout rapidly growing day by day.
“For now? What do you mean?”
“Studying is important, but I think it’s best to confirm something first.”
“Confirm what?”
Faced with Alicia’s innocent eyes, Madame Morco hesitated.
Considering Alicia didn’t grow up in a normal environment, she wasn’t sure how far Alicia’s understanding of common sense went.
That was why Madame Morco had debated over whether to bring up the possibility of pregnancy.
But it couldn’t be hidden forever.
Right now, it didn’t show — but as her belly grew, it would become obvious. And more than anything, Alicia was the one carrying the child.
She had a right to know.
“This is just my guess, but some of your recent symptoms resemble those seen in early pregnancy. I think it would be wise to check. What do you think?”
“…What did you just say?”
Alicia instinctively frowned.
She had clearly heard the words, but couldn’t comprehend what Madame Morco was saying.
“Pregnancy.”
“Say that again.”
Alicia hurriedly urged her.
“You may be carrying a child in your womb.”
Alicia’s pupils rapidly trembled.
Even though Madame Morco repeated it several times, it was hard for Alicia to accept.
Though the words were in a language she understood, it felt like she was hearing something completely foreign.
"It seems you’re quite shocked."
Madame Morco took Alicia’s hand and gently comforted her.
Her face had gone pale, clearly overwhelmed by the news.
“No, I…”
Alicia trailed off, lowering her head.
She looked down at her belly.
But that was all.
No matter how hard she looked, there was no visible sign of a child.
“Is there really a baby?”
"It’s not certain, but based on my experience and opinion, that might be the case. When I was pregnant with my child, the symptoms were very similar to the young lady’s."
“...”
“Are you worried?”
Instead of answering, Alicia simply nodded.
She should’ve been joyful at the news of a new life, but her mind was a tangled mess.
Many thoughts and reasons flashed through her, but in the end, only one remained.
Alicia gently wrapped her arms around her belly, as if protecting it.
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