Escaping the Archduke of the North's Obsession

Ignis paused before Duke Kyar’s portrait, looking like he wanted to challenge him to a snowball fight.

“I don’t like his eyes, Isabella!” Ignis cried, and Isabella suppressed a smile.

At that moment, the blue-green jewel in her bracelet glittered.

[Isabella?]

Duke Kyar’s familiar voice came out.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

[Did you arrive safely?]

“Yes, I have arrived and just finished unpacking my things. I am currently in your bedroom, Your Highness.” Isabella replied as she looked around the spacious bedroom.

The Archduke didn’t come here often since all of the furniture looked good as new.

“Can I use this room?”

[Why? You don’t like it?]

“I can’t, Your Highness. It’s just that the room is so nice that using it feels burdensome.”

[You should get used to it by now, Isabella. You’ll be sharing the bedroom with me soon.]

The Archduke’s statement caught her off guard.

It seemed like he was already thinking about their wedding night.

It was time to change the subject.

“How old was this portrait, Your Highness? I am very much impressed.”

[Oh, that’s a portrait of my father, so it’s probably around my age.]

Isabella immediately shut her mouth.

She almost told Duke Kyar that his father looked cold at first glance.

“I think your father appeared very sophisticated.” She said awkwardly, and Duke Kyar let out a low chuckle.

[I don’t think you meant to say that.]

“No, I thought so. I think you resemble your father a lot, Your Highness.”

[My brother was similar to my father, too. That’s why my parents were upset. Both of them wanted a child that looked like a mother.]

“Really?”

Isabella remembered Kyle’s resemblance to his uncle, Duke Kyar.

The Kyar Household seemed to possess strong genes from their father’s lineage.

[Well, my father’s wish was to have a daughter who resembles his  wife.]

Angela must have been quite beautiful since Duke Kyar told her that she looked like his mother.

“Do you have a portrait of your mother?”

[You’ll find a long line of my mother’s portraits hanging on the wall on your way to the Dining Hall. My father calls the Empire’s most famous painter every year to paint her portrait, you see?]

“Really?”

[Yes. Now, I understand my father’s feelings. I also want to love you and keep you in my memories like that. Still, I don’t think it’s good to see an artist spend long hours with you just to make the painting perfect.]

Isabella sat down on the bed as she listened to his voice for a long time.

It was astonishing how she didn’t find his words cheesy at all.

She got used to it before she even knew it.

[ I think I miss you so much, Isabella.] He said bluntly, and delicious warmth flushed her cheeks.

Isabella felt strange.

His story made her miss him, too.

“Me, too, Your Highness,” Isabella replied shyly.

Twisting from side to side, she hugged the pillow in her arms and buried her face in embarrassment.

Why was she feeling like this?

For a long time, Isabella had no answer.

She glanced at the bracelet to see if their communication was cut off, but the turquoise jewelry shone.

“Before the Great War—-”

[I’ll be there tonight, Isabella. I can’t just stay here after realizing that  I miss you.]

That made Isabella speechless, so she just burst into laughter.

“I must take back what I said. I’m sorry to hear that His Highness won’t let me miss him.”

[Do you miss me if you can’t see me?]

“I’m sure I will miss you a lot.”

[Well, that’s not a bad idea, but I still can’t believe you miss me. I think it’s alright.]

It appeared like Isabella had found a way to deal with this man.

“Don’t you think I’ll be happier to see you if I miss you a lot? I might not want to be separated from you at all.”

[Then, I’m looking forward to seeing you again, Isabella.]

Isabella giggled and replied, “Me, too. I’ll be waiting for that day.”

Of course, she didn’t just say it for nothing because it felt stranger to being away from the Archduke than to be with him.

Before Isabella knew it, she had become addicted to him, too.

She had never felt this before, but she didn’t hate it either.

**

Time flew fast in the Capital.

She inspected the location where the pharmacy would be opened, met with Princess April, went shopping, and drank tea.

Due to a brief incident, Prince Victor returned to the south and came to the capital later, which led to their lives being more hectic and noisier than usual.

Still, the contract from the drugstore was carried out quickly, thanks to Prince Victor.