fiance chapter 22

Out of breath, her thoughts were a jumble. She’d run, but now she regretted it. What childish behavior! A grown woman running through the manor like a wild child, fleeing from her fiancé, no less, from the Duke.

And it’s not even like I’m well hidden.

Sophia looked around glumly. She’d be found soon. The household staff, undoubtedly captivated by the Duke, wouldn’t let her escape. She could already picture herself being dragged back, forced to explain her flight in front of her family, Solid, and the Duke.

But I can’t tell them the truth. How could I possibly explain that I ran because I dreamt of the Duke kissing me, and the memory was so overwhelming I couldn’t bear to face him?

Sophia shook her head. She wanted to scold herself for having such a dream. Was it the strange novel she’d read a few days ago—a romance set in a gloomy castle? But that hardly seemed fair. She’d only flipped through the first few pages of a childhood book, reminiscing about old trends.

Just die. Die. Sophia cursed herself inwardly, banging her forehead against the gazebo’s pillar. One of the most important lessons she’d learned before her debut into society was, never, under any circumstances, run away.

She’d been told countless times that a noble, with their title and lands, could never truly escape, and therefore, running only served to damage their reputation. This lesson had been particularly emphasized to Sophia, given her penchant for hiding. Yet, old habits die hard. Faced with an uncomfortable situation, her first instinct was to flee.

“I’m such a fool. How can I face the Duke now?” she mumbled dejectedly, hugging her knees.

Just then, a hand reached out from the bushes and pulled her out. She tumbled onto the grass and stared up at the man looking down at her.

“Found you.”

The handsome face, smiling confidently, was the one she’d been so desperate to avoid. Duke Silvetao. The man who stood beside the Emperor, haughtily looking down on the nobility, was now gazing at her with a boyish grin, like a falconer who’d recaptured a prized bird.

Sophia looked at his brilliant, sun-kissed blond hair, his flawless features, his straight nose… and then she started to hiccup.

“Hic.”

“.…”

“Hic.”

Her hiccups were loud and insistent. The Duke looked at her with a puzzled expression before bursting into laughter.

“You run away, and now you’re hiccuping?”

“Th… that’s… hic… be… because… Your… Your Grace…”

“Carl, you mean.”

“Ca… Carl… you…”

“Me?”

The Duke’s kindly inquiry emboldened Sophia to voice her complaint.

“You… hic… appeared… so suddenly…”

But the Duke brushed aside her accusation with a brief smile.

“Well, Sophie, you ran away.”

“H… how… how did you…”

“Everyone told me where you’d gone.”

She’d meant to ask why he’d bothered to follow her, but the Duke cleverly diverted her attention to the betrayal of the maids. Sophia fell for it easily, fuming inwardly. ‘Whose maids are they anyway?’ she thought, grinding her teeth.

The Duke, baffled by this woman’s ability to get distracted so easily, even while lying on the ground beneath him, called out to her.

“Sophia.”

“…Yes?”

“Why did you run?”

Sophia let out a dazed sound.

“…Uh…”

“It’s endearing to see you hiding here like a child, but I’m not pleased. Tell me, why did you run?”

“Well…”

Sophia avoided his gaze. Her voice trailed off, and her shoulders slumped. Her dark brown hair fanned out across the grass, and her face was flushed like a ripe berry.

“Well… actually…”

As she continued to evade his question, the Duke leaned closer.

Two adults sprawled on the grass like this was less romantic and more…undignified. And the Duke’s large frame, looming over her, was more intimidating than exciting. Caught in his shadow, the situation felt like a continuation of her dream. Without thinking, Sophia blurted out,

“Don’t kiss me!”

To a man who had no intention of doing so.