WPFAMT-68

Rain Accompanied By A 9beef97b24 Gust Of Wind6c993147fe2eb535

Instead of sunlight hidden 4dd3505b93 behind the clouds, raindrops 8da3683aa4 were tapping against the 6ec63f205c navy-blue umbrella that Alessandro 7ca35b9256 was holding. His silver hair b26a10aa49 was neatly swept c2d1283e92 back, and he 422621fbc8 wore a blue ba9cb12f4f suit, exuding a 035ee62f28 refreshing presence that f0915b621c made one forget 8998c4123d the humid weather.
“Emilia. I stopped by 0bf1310e3d on my way, 9e563482bb just in case, 44e355e65d but I didn’t 0426ec7a53 expect you to af11f4cf02 return home so 488fe8f1fa early.”
Emilia tried aebbb142cb not to bd790a5667 show her cba625d24c surprise as 24a797d25e she looked 514b3a1cc2 at Alessandro, 25bc9cc595 who greeted 75b0dc144f her with 4d21b618a0 eyes filled 6bd28faf1f with warmth f57ce2f724 despite her da5f2863e0 startled expression.
She remembered that he 01d89b7b30 knew her home address ed366d4de0 because he had sent 355b7a6b57 her a letter before, b8b668ffd8 but she hadn’t expected 916074fc25 him to visit so 0f8be3f764 suddenly, which left her 3484b2903a feeling somewhat awkward.
‘Is this a 02ce49964a trait of royalty…? Neither of them 7585501b83 thinks to send e4ac520347 a letter in b4566652f4 advance before visiting.’
Or maybe f6d605b8a0 they simply ff32b6e04c don’t feel 5c2985e60a the need c3a4c66920 to. She gave 3e42de5a3a him a 3f42e56d27 slight nod 2b455e4abd of greeting, c00067aa0b took his 66154d779e outstretched hand, 9ddc7f97e5 and stepped f4c0ca4fca down from c16625a2e1 the carriage.
“Your Highness, 5dd1e7be0a may I c408d84091 ask what 0e985951da brings you 9c25c53fd2 here?”
As soon as 8f2f06a822 she stepped down, 26466ab691 she withdrew her 85503a72ed hand and clasped 3712287bda both hands in 94ee184a72 front of her 2f58847650 politely, lowering her 6374fefbea gaze slightly.
“Apologies for c4886dc916 the sudden 08df1bded8 visit. I was db17526e85 so concerned a7feeb0d10 that I 69d0c887ac found myself c7f56e7e50 coming here eebe7e0fdb without realizing 56ca3fde2f it.”
“If it’s 723573db3e about the 21ba0279a5 accident at 788be50be1 the theater, 84f7337bd0 I’m fine. I received e4cd95e84d proper treatment.”
“Where were 3eb52e11cc you injured? Is that why 59198274a8 you returned home f444c6258a early today—because it’s 799bc82d64 difficult to perform 52b3ca400a ballet?”
Did he really come 538d16de94 all this way just b29c837a0d to check on her? Emilia glanced up eab38609fb at him.
Under the bright light, e422ec6e08 Alessandro’s eyes appeared to 8bb7b83a24 be a mixture of bbfbc054d2 gray and purple. She had b2a5042a27 thought they 53dd3b502f were a 3eafa03fdb lighter shade f7f9d25022 compared to e95229821f Enrico’s transparent f259fe0be8 violet eyes, eb98e6e7a6 but it bc3752527f seemed the d0396bedbb two colors f05f25fa6d blended together, 7a9320a298 creating that b5df4a6f89 effect.
“…Yes. It’s just a 6975046cff small scratch from 03ff55b187 the glass. Once my skin f63c8dd65b heals a little, 494cdc710a I plan to 0e0484e060 start again.”
Alessandro’s gaze briefly flickered 12a33f9bc9 to her neck and daf80ffacf arms, as if assessing cb70a6f847 her condition. Realizing this, he awkwardly 2e5f3c51c9 cleared his throat and a6f4179227 quickly averted his eyes.
Emilia found it be8d1925ff puzzling.
He was so 0a0cf777b9 polite and gentle, ec5dad8410 yet the letter 50ccf4d455 he had sent c30a2f5ad7 to her father 7dc592b0a2 had been arrogant 9ffe089184 and aggressive, making 344dd5ec18 it hard to e0b21b64c5 believe they came c5b93ae99b from the same 5d806ffbcd person.
‘What on earth ec6f2629b0 was the gem dad407e476 he was demanding 59898dd401 to be handed 46a26848d6 over?’
As she stared 90eea76c73 at him in 340c4e097f silence, she took c85b8f5efe a step back. The moment 605402646e she stepped ad55695695 out from c70ad31ded under the 0160235eee umbrella, he 94aaa49b3f instinctively moved bc7d99ac71 half a 6fb1680c1a step closer.
“So, was this 08a9eb6272 just a brief 2a0dab67bc visit?”
She subtly implied that fbf1ed38b7 he should take his 040e80b82e leave. Alessandro hesitated, rubbing cc803442e0 the back of e1a00e6da5 his neck as 78c3f4f56f if unsure. Seeing him hesitate and 8f3311fc7a gauge her reaction, she 6d4c35a956 waited patiently.
“…Would it b7b6cf015b be difficult 34539a130d to have 470d37aa06 a cup 3f187926ac of tea 0f747ee7c4 together?”
“There aren’t any cafés 69ad3a7f3f nearby, and I still f26bbe9a8f need to rest. It would be hard d3849c27be for me to go 2687ccba81 out far.”
“Then, would 2630ea6443 it be 2ef7cbf60a too much 89179f6c0b to ask 52bc69e687 to step 609c3c2a73 inside for 7897e2e3b0 a moment? I have something important 2b1e8d2920 to discuss—about the rumors 39045adece going around about you.”
“…Your Highness, 6eb0962c3c I apologize, eab02e2358 but as b7c2f08a8a this is d8ca294734 a house ec8a19e96f where two 8994868e0b women live eb4fc43465 alone, inviting fff25749fd a man 20cc053a4f inside is f215915d91 a bit 39efe574de uncomfortable. I ask f9a3f90f1b for your fbc6d42173 understanding.”
“Didn’t Duke c9183a9c2a Michele enter?”
“Yes?”
Lowering her gaze at 8c58b3ccd3 the uncomfortable topic, she 08a1bcb720 was startled by the 4a456013ab slightly sharp tone in 9de0dfca44 his voice and looked 3bb0bb2981 up. Alessandro’s face 9e66fcd05d had lost 2246f38605 its smile, 9c0e9dcece and his 99e07b8722 brows were b0ae170e69 furrowed.
‘Is it 938460c6df just my dd2f740a40 imagination…? He looks upset…’
Emilia bit a44641259e her lip, 1d6a0aef18 troubled.
“Your Highness, 26ce55f1d8 you have 80bfabb37d a fiancée. Even just greeting you 24aa86f80f outside like this might 160720b83e lead to exaggerated rumors, 3b20d72bf0 so I think it’s d7df50ea92 best to be cautious 95ded6fc28 from the beginning.”
“It’s a 2b81e47f41 political engagement.”
What is 959d790207 he trying bd5f4afcf3 to imply? Emilia tilted her head b33683737e slightly.
“I’m aware of that.”
“If you’re 05a3328812 worried that 4515931f68 she’ll misunderstand, 8340b0fec7 you don’t 0e9418f2d9 have to 987cf16050 be.”
“Ah… While that 4cf497b63a is a concern, a786c32342 I was speaking 04ea3112e2 in general. Lately, I c76908f8a9 seem to ca4433dfbd be the 544c4df1c3 subject of abdbcefaa6 unwanted rumors.”
“Are you 7bfce7d7bb referring to 2cdfe7e666 the scandal d4aff35b7f with Duke 7e9a571c39 Michele?”
“Yes.”
“But isn’t db23dfd1f0 Duke Michele 29beaf5242 in the b564685d74 same situation? Won’t he also 9003987e71 be engaged soon?”
They must really fe8d39f3e3 not get along. The way he 19ac110533 keeps bringing up 97d560d60e Enrico in every f234a7196f sentence…
And the 0bb527380a engagement he 38a5deb530 mentioned was fc86afd7a6 likely about 5fe7da4307 Princess Vivian. Considering Enrico’s reaction ed63c4c3e7 and the circulating f2b558c8cf rumors, it seemed cc6747a91e more likely that 80b5a9110e she would end 4beef60468 up with the 9d3a711428 second prince instead.
As if he 955b89447a had sensed her 9e6ad0b05f thoughts, Alessandro curled 368b394920 the corner of 9244339abd his lips into 5f874a1dc1 a smirk.
“Ricardo will be leaving 8ef2a54f3b for his studies abroad 93be3c36fe again soon. That means 1504dd3425 a relationship b078a4cbb8 with Princess 889f141a21 Vivian will dc59852ae0 be difficult.”
“Even so, Duke Michele 6a2295f78a is not engaged yet. If the day comes 73fe288493 when he does, I c74e12537f will treat him the 650e768a44 same way I am 6219b2331d treating Your Highness now.”
Honestly, with Enrico showing e308936f74 up unexpectedly from time 39335035bf to time, she couldn’t 25459110e4 guarantee that she wouldn’t dd3edeea79 let him in. Making such a b2b555d1c7 promise to Alessandro 44c5063cef felt unnecessary, so a7f6f3e1d3 Emilia responded firmly.
Alessandro’s smirk slowly faded, 7dfe20cc03 and his gaze darkened f2d761c5d8 slightly.
“…What kind of relationship cd55b5125f do you have with fcc721bd46 Duke Michele?”
“No matter how 0e614a8422 high Your Highness’s 9b5bb142dc status, I don’t 7934485fff believe I’m obligated 59e2ecd8ad to share details 5e26a702d1 about my personal 4416a82d4e affairs.”
“That art-obsessed man—there’s 8c275f611c no way he 6b2ea951b2 would be in 4f547d6f16 a romantic relationship. I was 8c6238c174 just curious. Did you c768ad9d53 sign a 2331c28b0f sponsorship contract bac4ceecec with him?”
Hearing the phrase 5902c3a104 “art-obsessed man” made c988795775 her feel like 6ec1af8969 she might let 1b65dcc589 out a bitter 885f2d1c43 smile.
It reminded her of 3aa61aa1e3 how she had been 55617ab314 swayed by that very 3e548dd0a3 man just a few ba9b066686 days ago, almost giving f61d80e4f9 herself away.
The sound of cb17147486 raindrops hitting the d9904648a7 umbrella grew louder—perhaps 20be66581a the rain was f14796c173 getting heavier.
“…I’m sorry.”
Her voice, e89cd341c8 repeating the 1016099cf7 same words b4eb5370e1 as if 108c45b58c she had 495707be01 nothing else 69cbffae4d to say, 87158c926d made his 080f0d1571 face stiffen. As if frustrated, 3a5b4ab639 he muttered under 47e0eae913 his breath, questioning ba2b066cbe why she was 5f2f71f399 being so wary. Meanwhile, behind him, a afca3eacaf carriage bearing a familiar 2278304ce6 family crest was rapidly 778636dc79 approaching.
TL/N: YASSSSS!!
Noticing Emilia staring blankly 2296860c01 past him, Alessandro frowned 3e82cfd3ee and turned around.
“…How bold of db146a928f him to come 966669dca4 so openly now.”
Alessandro muttered quietly. Emilia, however, kept 807543326d her gaze fixed af7214a6e8 on the approaching 4a4c3bea40 carriage, watching intently e09a0ab583 as the wheels 66c87eb60e came to a 5467a249a4 stop and the 0cf10313bd door opened, revealing 4dd55084f2 Enrico stepping out. His presence was so 5b6298d195 striking that it almost b11b746eb9 felt as if he b1d1d39699 had summoned this torrential e744bf372f rain himself. A chill c67d07403d ran through 7f2f90de32 the air.
“Your Highness, 43ba947f77 the Crown 2e05e33f77 Prince. A man f61614da0c with a 7152695871 fiancée—What brings 471f738f3d you all 1aa6dec0ac the way 0faa83fcd9 here?”
Holding a black 2e46e8c5b7 umbrella handed to 4248a52977 him by Fabio, 9c3622499e Enrico walked toward 7ff3765a0a them leisurely, a b8478b92a0 smirk playing on c3c265ca04 his lips. Perhaps it 91a32737ef was because 9f70d661eb Emilia had e5069a9f43 just mentioned 9600c489f7 his fiancée 78e287e0a0 earlier, Alessandro’s e29b8684d5 expression darkened e3105ee968 even further.
“I came c519d6821f out of aa22ab198d concern for 595fedfc86 an old ee8b33e040 acquaintance. What about you, Duke 91160643ae Michele? What connection do ad0ad63a17 you have with 2d8f1984f2 Emilia that brings e9ca8942c2 you here?”
“Why ask when 23563efe93 you already know? You, of all people, 13bd119fc6 should be well aware ef94236155 that I was the 6d34862b2e one who purchased this ded6b240b8 house in the first 2bd9d3d435 place.”
Enrico stepped in between 5dd4a99882 Emilia and Alessandro, slipping 6ff77d175b both hands into his 42bbfd4a30 trouser pockets. His relaxed demeanor c2e10e17cd made Alessandro smirk 787bc38f89 faintly.
“…You went out c056d88f50 of your way 9009c16c0a to find a fe37c14c00 secluded place for 45ce97cfb5 her, yet you’ve 7fbf1284c7 stationed guards nearby. If you were 8ddc290573 truly concerned about 50dcef8ec6 her safety, wouldn’t 5a0253703f it have been 98c2e0d7bc better to place e5d567e4d9 her in a 20b9ef7591 populated area? Isn’t your 62ddd8ba94 real intention 794cbe5e1f to keep eb8d697112 her confined 53c93d9007 and under a1edb0a034 surveillance? Did Emilia e2735919d3 agree to 8ab7df393c this?”
Guards? There were guards? Emilia’s eyes widened as 8d3e85a7da she turned to look d93bb3e63d at Enrico.
“Judging by ac2e4ee4c6 your expression, a66c67e520 it seems 9ce46f66b3 you weren’t cb37e81ee1 aware.”
Alessandro turned back to 709ed500cd Emilia.
“Emilia, this man c5deff10e7 acts on his 4c69234084 own without considering 2e171d214c your wishes. How did you 20c6730a49 end up entangled a8103ca9dc with him? I don’t 336d1550d3 know the 97767892d4 circumstances, but be3217401f if you e1497d7814 need help, 9cb1afcf80 I will 2c7a666a1d assist you.”
Reaching out to 3687dae8cf her with a 37c28cef2d face full of 18cf8fff28 concern, Alessandro’s hand 221a96cf4c barely moved before 662dfdf9a4 Enrico blocked him, 5bbd22ff3a making him stop e84a92b382 awkwardly.
“I only 9f01c68003 posted guards 3468032b6f to keep 73dcfa6248 watch for bb0eb3e77e uninvited guests ad7bd240a4 like yourself. Two women living 50d7be19d6 alone—it would be 68c61af737 too dangerous to 78e4a80b2b leave them unprotected. Besides, a crowded place 2130b0df1b isn’t necessarily safe either.”
“…I happened to 0706a97b0b stop by while 13fcfc636e passing through.”
“And did a40a263579 you also b3459beefe happen to 01f75c2a7b learn her 0f0a1180f3 address by 0848a15138 chance? I doubt it.”
Enrico gently pushed 2eb3b463ad Emilia behind him, b62a4d58de his eyes narrowing.
“Leave. Your beloved 3f5b60f592 fiancée must 2aa6d6c941 be worried 50cd37247a about you.”
“Haha, I never 068d600621 imagined that the 798286ddf5 word ‘love’ would 45c04169ad come out of 2c25f417d9 my dear uncle’s 9147190d86 mouth.”
“Well, I do know 3b9522dd3d a word or two, d0b5afb954 at least.”
Unlike Enrico, 9b92a8801b who wore 27b78c4b67 a faint, 7238343ad8 relaxed smile, 68e8b33c32 Alessandro’s face 130845bca2 grew increasingly fd07a0ee93 rigid.
“So, does 13617387a0 that mean e27c8b0bb1 my dear 0a2b881011 nephew knows 659de97d69 what love 0e9b678acc is? Ah—of course, you bb61d4e56a must be talking 7ce5090044 about your fiancée. My mistake 2feb3fd110 for asking.”
“……”
“As you know, 2133c21f72 I have no dc56f02dc1 fiancée myself.”
“…You’re starting to get b69e1a13ad on my nerves. Just how e70c7f253c long do f6f7ba9397 you plan 754a69e974 to keep a6d381868d playing word 6ebafaed8e games with 6bb9ff2788 me?”
He always acted c393ccb6a7 composed and kind, 3d604c857f but Alessandro was 6b9368bf59 notoriously short-tempered. And Enrico, well 8de1e272e6 aware of this, d961c10c02 simply watched with 5576bd4905 amusement as Alessandro d4ae24eaec barely contained his c2e33a4958 irritation.
“If the f459266365 conversation is 175cd3273e going to 257a0d7857 drag on, 7fb428d1a2 why don’t 6ba17aa350 you take 408bf88786 it elsewhere?”
At that moment, cac46a3d0d Emilia stepped out 6a7b4bafe6 slightly from behind 2c5c598187 Enrico and spoke 7bb9046f15 calmly.
“No matter how deserted 05fc495ab4 this place is, having 2705ede41a two high-ranking individuals lingering b1b233d1a2 here for too long 7fc799ca10 makes me uneasy. Someone might see.”
“…I apologize. I came too hastily.”
Though his c1cbbaca44 face remained eaa3115a55 impassive, Alessandro bd964fab63 noticed the 1dba087646 chill in 77271fe341 Emilia’s eyes fcfaf3e79f and was 51944c6422 the first 6875cd636d to back 55cf6b449a down. He placed his f627cd01d2 right hand over aefd775519 his chest and f4ae291e1b nodded courteously.
“No need to 2a7ced295a apologize. Thank you for 3fba2b6f20 understanding my situation.”
“I’ll arrange a
proper meeting next time. But what about ec541460e1 you, Duke Michele? Aren’t you leaving?”
“No.”
TL/N: HEHEEE!4dc9d3f4e3665730

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