WPFAMT-68

Rain Accompanied b7d5d415c9 By A 4cbefcf3c7 Gust Of bb9bd07c8c Winde3ee6dd170faf977

Instead of sunlight 2be9f242ce hidden behind the 4f38b24f7b clouds, raindrops were fa1cce82a3 tapping against the f5cd87c92c navy-blue umbrella that b7b3b32ab9 Alessandro was holding. His silver hair was 473741953c neatly swept back, and 94f491d8a9 he wore a blue aee4314881 suit, exuding a refreshing 48cfd66498 presence that made one f09544430d forget the humid weather.
“Emilia. I stopped by aa5a642d9f on my way, 4c47147ca7 just in case, f44bd39c23 but I didn’t cddda854d4 expect you to 739a7b0d28 return home so 616e0f2840 early.”
Emilia tried f1155d46dd not to 1bd80b0bcc show her 3478bf4eda surprise as 195d582b69 she looked 4bdd452c49 at Alessandro, 95ffc9c452 who greeted 77b11d9716 her with 9fa6904abd eyes filled 7f41aae244 with warmth 8ee72faea6 despite her d31a4c690f startled expression.
She remembered that f59dfb1317 he knew her 4b6f8bdcd8 home address because 8ab3b877d8 he had sent cdbb9971f1 her a letter 624a5c9a27 before, but she 467faf7252 hadn’t expected him f2731c2738 to visit so 025cd99e5c suddenly, which left 6d5d7c3686 her feeling somewhat 7db88d39cf awkward.
‘Is this a trait c5d401ea4e of royalty…? Neither of them thinks db770cd988 to send a letter cd3f98629d in advance before visiting.’
Or maybe they simply 4e2de60c27 don’t feel the need e5768519b0 to. She gave bc9d6f685c him a 8c1674e6c3 slight nod 09b0255724 of greeting, 94fcf4d68d took his 73da61a53e outstretched hand, a85954976b and stepped 37f80a03e9 down from 36ad79d08b the carriage.
“Your Highness, may I 324dae0035 ask what brings you cc47b33644 here?”
As soon as she 450394c97d stepped down, she withdrew 70d8095900 her hand and clasped 5c86c9c9fd both hands in front 691eecc5f0 of her politely, lowering 31ba37492d her gaze slightly.
“Apologies for 2f06f493af the sudden 321c3c67b0 visit. I was so ce04b7935a concerned that I 1361e130bb found myself coming 4eb0810d46 here without realizing ac366b09d1 it.”
“If it’s about 7526f8c59f the accident at 3fff81cc20 the theater, I’m 69899a89ae fine. I received proper f6af86f09e treatment.”
“Where were you injured? Is that why you ee28f89f52 returned home early today—because f3a8921d3c it’s difficult to perform 898688e842 ballet?”
Did he really come db5a001da6 all this way just c55c688ce0 to check on her? Emilia glanced up at 86cbe88f6b him.
Under the d4b9bee934 bright light, 67cc38a70b Alessandro’s eyes 785937cd0e appeared to 69b96f407b be a 15ece92c3f mixture of c7376774b4 gray and a91612c7cd purple. She had ef9bddb02b thought they 1e92244c61 were a aa98f242ce lighter shade ac762e3419 compared to 2e07844644 Enrico’s transparent 665c31966d violet eyes, fc36230003 but it 86629352dd seemed the ed9f79ae3a two colors 2328082925 blended together, 18a633113e creating that af870c87dc effect.
“…Yes. It’s just 158e27efc8 a small fe82bce200 scratch from 888ab852d6 the glass. Once my 06753ea178 skin heals 5aade0ec8f a little, 7976ce1f43 I plan 534d7034a4 to start 77fd23658a again.”
Alessandro’s gaze briefly a4287cb6f7 flickered to her dff4309204 neck and arms, 34f9a19da6 as if assessing 9d85f06ce4 her condition. Realizing this, he awkwardly b0ac676488 cleared his throat and 0fe6fa15c8 quickly averted his eyes.
Emilia found 963824cb07 it puzzling.
He was so fcbb2b0677 polite and gentle, ab43c81ec9 yet the letter 57afbb99be he had sent eb65503180 to her father b37ed5fe86 had been arrogant 69d2df8598 and aggressive, making e55bf02176 it hard to b4898ac50f believe they came afb6553420 from the same 3cbe4ff501 person.
‘What on earth 1e8ac057e8 was the gem bcd1566941 he was demanding f78d43e365 to be handed ebd0efbf9f over?’
As she stared d977f6d019 at him in 2c2ccb414f silence, she took 5d7d5cc7b7 a step back. The moment 7c3e34dfa2 she stepped 6256636bde out from a5f910abd1 under the a30eb87fdc umbrella, he 9bd7e69cb6 instinctively moved 843530c483 half a 63e7d7361b step closer.
“So, was 0e8eccb3ba this just 3626812556 a brief dbde036626 visit?”
She subtly implied that 9358c5a668 he should take his fcfc3b0d3a leave. Alessandro hesitated, rubbing the ee9fe62497 back of his neck cad7ca0453 as if unsure. Seeing him hesitate e5c0f5d305 and gauge her 4a9f6943ea reaction, she waited 75527e80b7 patiently.
“…Would it be difficult 429280a18d to have a cup fdbb20590a of tea together?”
“There aren’t any cafés 62088dab96 nearby, and I still 2e39c29fb1 need to rest. It would be hard d1296e5c4f for me to go c9d29463a6 out far.”
“Then, would it be df593e8e00 too much to ask 23e3b88dcd to step inside for b7b3ba3cdb a moment? I have something cd44786ca3 important to discuss—about 8a2e61c1fb the rumors going c014096a98 around about you.”
“…Your Highness, I 923b032379 apologize, but as de81407da1 this is a 39e96aef3e house where two 4ba3654220 women live alone, be233acea1 inviting a man 0316c88e57 inside is a 57ee2ecccc bit uncomfortable. I ask for your 52bf9f77b2 understanding.”
“Didn’t Duke Michele enter?”
“Yes?”
Lowering her 8a335f39c6 gaze at 4986313020 the uncomfortable 805d0c210d topic, she ab5816cc9b was startled 3db77231aa by the 5764092a6b slightly sharp 431404ebca tone in 100424b665 his voice 714c24f164 and looked b468fed719 up. Alessandro’s face 9ebf837e5c had lost f2225751a7 its smile, 857ead1455 and his cc97f5ac93 brows were 286ed72ea6 furrowed.
‘Is it just my 78b8c71806 imagination…? He looks upset…’
Emilia bit her lip, e7a787efb1 troubled.
“Your Highness, you f4b51718f0 have a fiancée. Even just greeting you d11ae56475 outside like this might 1a9fd38e49 lead to exaggerated rumors, 03497658d0 so I think it’s 4eb4e75c9b best to be cautious 3ce19acd9b from the beginning.”
“It’s a 386ea9931b political engagement.”
What is he 1cedc99801 trying to imply? Emilia tilted her head f2dfc2a516 slightly.
“I’m aware of that.”
“If you’re worried d6f6003c27 that she’ll misunderstand, 8774aec1c7 you don’t have f2c8894ac8 to be.”
“Ah… While dad7c6511c that is 27cd3cd595 a concern, 9c192c4d5b I was 46aac3ebb3 speaking in d01d02b9b9 general. Lately, I seem d79df001b5 to be the b2ffe3d3a9 subject of unwanted 996984dbce rumors.”
“Are you 66608eed65 referring to f1de62d2c9 the scandal f757fb3b1c with Duke 4ba47423f1 Michele?”
“Yes.”
“But isn’t Duke 39b7c0dc92 Michele in the 3414d2fad3 same situation? Won’t he c06b64331a also be 8e27e26f93 engaged soon?”
They must really ffbeca7fc2 not get along. The way he keeps 64356f3103 bringing up Enrico in 1150d76e97 every sentence…
And the ba92ea8e9a engagement he cfdc14899b mentioned was 8be3dc2744 likely about 3bb985105b Princess Vivian. Considering Enrico’s 4400a6e053 reaction and f6a3282556 the circulating 46e132a614 rumors, it 1e141b8168 seemed more d2d2be58bf likely that 1620973327 she would 6573920648 end up 474d68626c with the 8202585d48 second prince 72aa16bfd1 instead.
As if he had 8af1ca8ab7 sensed her thoughts, Alessandro 896cbd1a9d curled the corner of 0517829ae8 his lips into a f09faa00d8 smirk.
“Ricardo will be leaving 0880a325ea for his studies abroad 513fc64588 again soon. That means a 5eb0521015 relationship with Princess 84f3c7663f Vivian will be 6aab0d15df difficult.”
“Even so, d0c85d7420 Duke Michele df33679dc9 is not 9aa48aaaf8 engaged yet. If the day comes b89bedcfa2 when he does, I 53caa48067 will treat him the 5fbfb4d9e3 same way I am 47089ddbae treating Your Highness now.”
Honestly, with Enrico 75ba1b5798 showing up unexpectedly 9f86fe910b from time to cc004e6442 time, she couldn’t d0f5f67d8e guarantee that she dee189ba8a wouldn’t let him 07810cc183 in. Making such fe9d2a8bff a promise eeba3f5253 to Alessandro 80e357c3b7 felt unnecessary, b6e4ed6c31 so Emilia 7f5d678c6c responded firmly.
Alessandro’s smirk slowly faded, ef83b402cb and his gaze darkened 83b0c43215 slightly.
“…What kind a2794356fb of relationship 4a5a4641be do you 149772007c have with 5103261dbc Duke Michele?”
“No matter how high 1ec0a60c75 Your Highness’s status, I cf4000a477 don’t believe I’m obligated ae41a71097 to share details about eef70d9698 my personal affairs.”
“That art-obsessed man—there’s 2416234728 no way he ce2b4eec89 would be in e9dc6c7f67 a romantic relationship. I was just curious. Did you sign 08e918785d a sponsorship contract bd8b2a6b9f with him?”
Hearing the 465b8501c6 phrase “art-obsessed 0488d6b378 man” made 223c2a594d her feel dadd376fb8 like she 9f49ff113e might let d3e1b0e14b out a 6c9289062c bitter smile.
It reminded her dd7d7cd557 of how she 986ee4d7a4 had been swayed 48d954784d by that very 09060feff7 man just a 974a9b1616 few days ago, 2a7d519ef0 almost giving herself 08e7ec1912 away.
The sound of raindrops 72903b40fc hitting the umbrella grew 2979611bba louder—perhaps the rain was c577a9d8a8 getting heavier.
“…I’m sorry.”
Her voice, repeating b063b2e73d the same words ff32638512 as if she 87588dd59b had nothing else 0b14eb3d77 to say, made beee4960b4 his face stiffen. As if 1831f36ea6 frustrated, he f5fc3cc07d muttered under 42c769a0cf his breath, 001d0b39dd questioning why 07abdb9679 she was d0b9b36ca3 being so c084e82c74 wary. Meanwhile, behind him, a 21f25fa19b carriage bearing a familiar 4838c4a740 family crest was rapidly 4a1b9a85b2 approaching.
TL/N: YASSSSS!!
Noticing Emilia staring blankly 003dbe6b3f past him, Alessandro frowned e1f6d6902a and turned around.
“…How bold of bf8f1880ae him to come 697798b741 so openly now.”
Alessandro muttered quietly. Emilia, however, 9a1c49a90f kept her d007ce9bf8 gaze fixed 4eac0f1166 on the 38c37007a3 approaching carriage, 90b22b2938 watching intently 25fc833f12 as the 8bdbdb924b wheels came 04aba8b98b to a 9051464e4f stop and 29d41f2745 the door 09110bad09 opened, revealing 11bd20bd14 Enrico stepping 31b3670ddc out. His presence 93dcfccbb3 was so a074f246ac striking that 7ee433b01e it almost f35ed91a6b felt as 47b535b5db if he d85400c27a had summoned d122f2a707 this torrential bc242497c4 rain himself. A chill ran through 965aae6175 the air.
“Your Highness, the 40affceb3a Crown Prince. A man with a ffd08330dd fiancée—What brings you all 930b8bcb33 the way here?”
Holding a black 19694645a3 umbrella handed to f0f00854e7 him by Fabio, 3d690921b0 Enrico walked toward baf24f42fb them leisurely, a ffc88a9b60 smirk playing on 8990ef3bf3 his lips. Perhaps it 96fb498d48 was because 9e00b12aec Emilia had 80f61dd190 just mentioned 15aebd3ad2 his fiancée 8c665f638a earlier, Alessandro’s 1d4902270e expression darkened 9a6ec6b2ad even further.
“I came 96152e11e5 out of 4a63ed3922 concern for 8797f2d921 an old 9ad2be8633 acquaintance. What about d060aef7f9 you, Duke a5502f214a Michele? What connection do b118b2b9b6 you have with 5767d0a74c Emilia that brings 9726ec07f6 you here?”
“Why ask when b3dcc6359c you already know? You, of all people, 5f5db57803 should be well aware bbdc06282e that I was the adc0c630b2 one who purchased this 6aa38b703c house in the first 8ba5ad7611 place.”
Enrico stepped 8cd8c39a61 in between bd64980862 Emilia and 9ad2c79b3f Alessandro, slipping 375a0a81dd both hands 19a5fcd80e into his 57e22574c6 trouser pockets. His relaxed e3d30f285e demeanor made 54bafde2e2 Alessandro smirk a3dd4e911a faintly.
“…You went out 0fd5148d1e of your way 5e944a876a to find a 37f3df5c8c secluded place for fe8f23cf85 her, yet you’ve 5e95f67e21 stationed guards nearby. If you were a74e42c348 truly concerned about 00dd29dcb0 her safety, wouldn’t c8e3826865 it have been 10d8ce2e2c better to place 121fd071e4 her in a 6204d33471 populated area? Isn’t your ee1236a0bf real intention 37a5e114f1 to keep 9e430f1f0f her confined b5bb607da4 and under 7cd1018211 surveillance? Did Emilia 907ecb4b4a agree to 5e01390433 this?”
Guards? There were guards? Emilia’s eyes widened as 57a4cff984 she turned to look 57ee324805 at Enrico.
“Judging by 268ff96ef9 your expression, 074fb9db32 it seems 5f13c663a4 you weren’t 95c3ff4b5e aware.”
Alessandro turned 9df41e31f5 back to a22bcbdd8e Emilia.
“Emilia, this man 64ed6b29b6 acts on his ec79385837 own without considering 3a24e907cb your wishes. How did you end 0c905de930 up entangled with him? I don’t 08b1ad5357 know the 2b6601f504 circumstances, but 5b0a2f65cd if you d187ebbf73 need help, 5af247277c I will 4a81de1ab0 assist you.”
Reaching out to 9efddf4ae1 her with a 4817458a5b face full of 707e79a15b concern, Alessandro’s hand 5f123babb6 barely moved before 8780135aa7 Enrico blocked him, fd5a7674a3 making him stop 5e4a7c8ab6 awkwardly.
“I only 455fb1072b posted guards 6dbfec0927 to keep 825951d934 watch for f9063bba46 uninvited guests e8af316b42 like yourself. Two women 74b5b11ce4 living alone—it 068b22a29e would be 81bd1b5f78 too dangerous 5bab9fc4b1 to leave e422d1fcbd them unprotected. Besides, a 3e1916e25c crowded place 00d2668ef7 isn’t necessarily f8d66ba1ee safe either.”
“…I happened a7ccb0afd2 to stop 071f4a4681 by while c0540f40af passing through.”
“And did you 853d3d8f56 also happen to a7516d4899 learn her address e6e8fab186 by chance? I doubt it.”
Enrico gently pushed Emilia bc85a39b14 behind him, his eyes 33d0e56224 narrowing.
“Leave. Your beloved bc445de88c fiancée must 16519d8a81 be worried 91e1c54b35 about you.”
“Haha, I never imagined db05d79da5 that the word ‘love’ a1ff177f97 would come out of 6c0bdb53c2 my dear uncle’s mouth.”
“Well, I do 88b7650982 know a word 632b753232 or two, at 105f8a38a7 least.”
Unlike Enrico, 4fa3702471 who wore 81a3df478f a faint, 19b0d5baf1 relaxed smile, 0ac5582af7 Alessandro’s face 63c835302b grew increasingly 426eebfb6b rigid.
“So, does 4b0ba314cf that mean 3d4c16e4c2 my dear cc9be1249e nephew knows 5a8b4dc20e what love 33677842da is? Ah—of course, you 49b4e1037e must be talking a7dbf7f493 about your fiancée. My mistake for 75dbba95e4 asking.”
“……”
“As you know, I 50216fb069 have no fiancée myself.”
“…You’re starting 308f339236 to get c38ecfbfb5 on my 796f96e0c7 nerves. Just how 4a84192f68 long do fd720c5904 you plan aae1711a6c to keep 5cd31f6005 playing word 4c476d9c7b games with 8c5fdef2aa me?”
He always acted composed 114b71bf62 and kind, but Alessandro b111f51b78 was notoriously short-tempered. And Enrico, 010059dc02 well aware b8c2889653 of this, 0cc9145d7c simply watched b3e9cf5bf0 with amusement 7b8a039473 as Alessandro 69b9aea485 barely contained 2c73a410d0 his irritation.
“If the bcd0683f54 conversation is 085e33ae10 going to 0c40ab67de drag on, 3f88a5ca47 why don’t 46d2074f27 you take b7d888ff3e it elsewhere?”
At that moment, Emilia eb5ba0950f stepped out slightly from aa1c5eb080 behind Enrico and spoke 8311bf85e2 calmly.
“No matter how deserted ead7972302 this place is, having 2a728d37e0 two high-ranking individuals lingering 8931e96813 here for too long 1e21b11122 makes me uneasy. Someone might see.”
“…I apologize. I came too 483c8d8e08 hastily.”
Though his 770d5feacf face remained 6fc5021af2 impassive, Alessandro aca1cd72be noticed the b9e919788a chill in fcfaeeb963 Emilia’s eyes b24e83e392 and was 2e2e21d609 the first bfc48e8527 to back 3c1eef29f0 down. He placed his ec4274eef0 right hand over 6a2a7dbb0e his chest and 76bcca6281 nodded courteously.
“No need fd91da6f43 to apologize. Thank you 9b095f777f for understanding d63f280acc my situation.”
“I’ll arrange a
proper meeting 022c38bb90 next time. But what 345b56d44c about you, eb01daa52d Duke Michele? Aren’t you leaving?”
“No.”
TL/N: HEHEEE!c1b2329c98b5ac5e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish