Chapter 103.1

“Isabella.”

Isabella’s expression instantly brightened upon hearing Duke Kyar’s voice.

“Your majesty!”  Her tone had also raised its pitch from excitement. “Are you awake?”

Isabella’s sparkling blue eyes glanced down at the bracelet.

“Of course.”

Hopefully, her warm welcome satisfied the Archduke’s ears.

‘Why didn’t you think about me first, Isabella?’

She could imagine him asking that question with one of his eyebrows slightly raised while his dark eyes looked dissatisfied.

Isabella smiled at the made-up scenario, glad that she could imagine these things about him all she wanted. But her grin suddenly dropped when she thought that this conversation might interfere with his rest.

“I didn’t even have the luxury to think, Your Highness.”

“What?”

“The things I had to do this morning almost drove me insane. I heard you informed the butler and the past household manager in Rubella Castle about our marriage. Thanks to you, I’m now buried in this pile of wedding papers.” Isabella said as she looked at the parchments on her table.

“So you didn’t have time to think about me?” Duke Kyar growled low.

Isabella threw her head back and laughed.

“Don’t laugh.”

“No. I tried so hard not to think about you because I was afraid I’d disturb you. It was difficult for me not to call you, Your Highness. I was worried that your panic attacks might get triggered again.”

Isabella heard no response.

Had the communication been cut off?

The turquoise jewel at the bracelet’s center was still shining, though.

“Your Highness,” Isabella called him softly, bringing his voice back to life.

“You—” Duke Kyar sighed. “You know how to drive a man crazy, Isabella.”

Isabella blushed hard, her hands shaking from the butterflies—no, bees–in her stomach.

As she clasped the pillow on the sofa tightly, she glanced down at the bracelet in embarrassment.

“I’m gonna have to stop.” Duke Kyar said out of the blue.

Bewildered,  Isabella put the pillow down and asked, “What?”

“Hearing your voice makes me want to run away from here to get to you. I miss you already.”

“I miss you a lot, too.”

“No. This is too dangerous for me. Let’s stop now. I’m hanging up.”

As soon as he finished, the light from the turquoise jewel disappeared.

It was such a shame.

Isabella just wanted to hear the Archduke’s voice a little more–

As soon as she thought of it, Isabella witnessed the blue-green jewel sparkle again, and she shook her head in denial.

She didn’t want to disturb him.

Isabella quickly picked up the papers on the table, trying not to think of him.

**

As soon as their conversation ended, Duke Kyar grinned when the turquoise jewel on his bracelet lit up, but the illumination disappeared.

Its brilliance might have lasted only for a short time, but the fact that Isabella thought of him was enough reassurance.

The sound of her voice brought relief to his frustrated soul.

Duke Kyar noticed Isabella’s anxiety after he left for the beast hunting expedition, so he told Marc to procure a communication bracelet for her right away.

When Duke Kyar returned to the barracks at dawn, Marc’s letter arrived, telling him that he had already bought a communication bracelet.

After reading the letter, he rode his horse recklessly toward Rubella Castle without haste.

He was a little apologetic that he had to bother Marc and wake him up at dawn. Still, all he could think about was to give Isabella the communication bracelet immediately.

Then, he caught her suffering from a terrible nightmare.

Listening to her talk while she slept in agony made him feel numb.

She was dreaming about her dead lover.

Seeing Isabella’s tearful gaze the instant she woke up felt like someone had stabbed him in the heart and twisted it painfully.

While his heart throbbed and ached, Isabella seemed distracted from her hurt.

It made him mad how Isabella could make him feel so pathetic.

Why was he jealous of a man who had already died?

He knew how immature this emotion could be, but he couldn’t stop himself from feeling it.

He wanted to erase Isabella’s memories of her past lover out of her mind if he could and bring it back to the time when she hadn’t met the bastard, but Duke Kyar didn’t know-how.

“This must be why I have such strange dreams.” Duke Kyar laughed tonelessly as he recalled the dreams she had about Isabella that reflected both desire and jealousy.

Even when he was asleep, he always dreamed about her whenever he fell asleep.

Every day of his life revolved around Isabella ever since she showed up.

“Your Highness, we are ready to go.”

A voice outside the barracks called him, and Duke Kyar hurriedly picked up the sword he had settled on the table.

After doing all the preparations necessary,  he saw the knights were already waiting for him.

He climbed on his horse’s back.

Knights quickly followed as he rode towards the dark forest.

‘The forest was drearier today than yesterday.’ Duke Kyar realized as he looked around with vigilance.

*ROAR*

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