So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 103

Chapter 103

His face was as proper and straight-laced as ever.

I had always thought it looked stiff—like it had been carved entirely from sharp, disciplined lines.

But now, the faint curve resting naturally at the corner of his lips suited him surprisingly well.

His eyelashes are really long…

Looking at him this closely, there were actually quite a few softer curves to his features.

The thick lashes lining his eyes.

The corners of his eyes that had, at some point, softened.

They kept catching my attention.

Since when?

Since when had he started making that expression in front of me?

And then—

What does my expression look like right now?

I couldn’t even imagine.

My heart pounded wildly.

I didn’t know where it stemmed from, but a sudden fear seized me.

“Um… excuse me.”

So I blurted it out.

An old—and bad—habit of mine.

“You’re a little too close…”

His face, which had been inching nearer without him realizing it, froze midair.

“Oh.”

As if waking from a dream, the haze vanished from his eyes, replaced by hurried embarrassment.

“Ah… m-my apologies.”

“No, it’s not that serious…”

I didn’t even finish.

Xavier turned abruptly and fled the bedroom.

His ears were bright red.

Just looking at them made my own cheeks heat up, as if the warmth had transferred.

My heart was still racing.

And I couldn’t stop the strange thoughts creeping in.

—

“Renée…”

Xavier’s voice from the dream echoed in my mind.

I knew it was absurd.

I knew it made no sense.

But—

When he acts like this…

It almost feels like he likes me.

“…No way.”

But why?

Didn’t he dislike me from the beginning?

Sure, we’d bickered. Talked. Spent time together.

But couldn’t that just be camaraderie? Partnership?

Like what I felt toward Ternox.

Just allies.

Maybe I was the only one misunderstanding.

My thoughts spiraled—

Then I froze.

Wait.

Then… what about me?

What do I think of Xavier?

Honestly, it was a topic I had always avoided.

Even if I defined how I felt, what would change?

Back in Korea.
Here in the Rembrandt Empire.

My preferences, my opinions—none of them had ever truly mattered much to others.

So instead of trying to assert them, I built my own small world and found happiness inside it.

And I was content with that.

I’m a commoner at heart.

I find joy in small things.

Good food makes me happy.
A good night’s sleep makes me happy.
Having good friends makes me happy.

Some might call that simple. Foolish.

But for someone who learned not to want too much, that life was enough.

And that’s why it scared me.

What if I…

What if I dared to want him?

…

I swallowed.

I didn’t want to acknowledge that feeling.

Just then—

Knock knock.

“Heard you woke up?”

The door opened with a click.

“Nox!”

Ternox stood there, smiling lazily.

Maybe because I’d been overthinking alone, but seeing him made me ridiculously relieved.

He looked mildly startled by my warm welcome and plopped into the chair beside my bed.

“What’s this? Since when do you greet me so happily?”

“…After that comment, not so much.”

That dragon really does invite trouble with his mouth.

I pouted; he chuckled.

“Anyway, why didn’t you follow Xavier? Isn’t it bad for a vice-captain to slack off?”

“My descendant ordered me to stick by your side and guard you closely.”

“Guard me? What would I even do?”

“He’s worried you’ll wander off alone and collapse again. Do you know how much that man’s been losing his mind over you? I’m tired of watching it.”

“What? That’s ridiculous.”

Wait.

Xavier… worrying about me?

“Cough… so exactly how has he been ‘losing his mind’ because of me?”

I tried to sound casual while deliberately looking away.

But my mouth betrayed me.

“Oh ho?”

Ternox let out a disbelieving laugh.

“Hm. Not telling.”

“What?! Why!”

“You’re blushing while asking. It’s unpleasant.”

“….”

This dragon.

I almost bared my teeth at him.

And I was not blushing!

“Fine! Then go away. Did you just come to tease me?”

“I told you, I’m guarding you. I can’t leave either.”

“Guarding, my foot! There are eyes everywhere. Where would I even go?”

If I stay alone with you any longer, I’ll faint again out of frustration!

I turned away dramatically—

“Who knows. Maybe you suddenly felt like going somewhere.”

His tone shifted slightly.

I paused.

At once, the dream resurfaced.

That wasn’t an ordinary dream.

And—

That graveyard… I feel like I absolutely have to go there.

I’d nearly forgotten the important part, distracted by Xavier.

I didn’t know how much Ternox already sensed, but—

“I had a strange dream.”

I told him everything.

Raphael appearing at his true age.
A woman named Isabella.
The blue, beating heart.

It was the same heart I saw beneath the Temple.

So my suspicion—that it was the High Priest’s core—hadn’t been wrong.

“A grave bearing the Celeste crest, huh.”

Ternox stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“That’s the Celeste family mausoleum. No doubt. I’d recognize it anywhere. I buried Lucas there myself.”

Lucas.

I’d heard that name before.

“In the castle library… he was the first Grand Duke of Celeste. A founding hero who helped Emperor Albert establish the nation.”

Ternox nodded faintly.

A humorless smile crossed his face.

For a moment, his expression carried something heavy—regret, perhaps. Longing.

Layers of time stacked behind his golden eyes.

“…How did it end up like this? We sealed that monster together. And now it’s returned. And his descendant suffers madness.”

He looked at me again.

“But there’s hope.”

“Really? Did you figure out how to stop Raphael?”

“Maybe. I need to confirm one thing first. But I’m nearly certain.”

My eyes lit up.

“What is it?”

He looked straight at me.

“You.”

“…Me?”