Chapter 179

The date with Ejed was, as expected, mediocre. They sat down by the window of a cozy restaurant and talked about the day while eating their favorite food.

But nevertheless, it established itself as quite a pretty special memory for Annie. It was the first time she had met him in the name of ‘lover’.

For some reason, it feels like her  stomach is tickled just by walking quietly. That feeling was so great that it overshadowed other worries.

Annie looked at Ejed, who was sitting opposite her in the carriage. He remembered his quietly smiling cheeks, perhaps because of the cold weather.

She was still a little shy to look at him properly. Annie glanced at the floor of the carriage for nothing and asked.

“Why me?”

It’s a mistake. Annie immediately regretted asking such a childish question.

But she was also most curious about it. Why did he choose her after giving up all kinds of good marriage?

She’s not self-deprecating herself, but Annie is not objectively a woman who meets the good conditions the world has created.

She is a woman from an ordinary family, far past the age of marriage. What’s more, her recent declaration of not-marrying made her a savory snack in the social world.

She’s not ugly, but she’s not pretty either. Because Annie was the one who accepted that fact more calmly than anyone else.

It was hard to understand why Ejed fell in love with her, or when.

She had received a letter the other day, but she could not open the door easily. Why did the emperor have her in his heart?

If he had a light heart, he wouldn’t have pursued her with such trouble. She couldn’t quite get it.

When she looked up and found him, Ejed sat still with a thoughtful expression. As the silence grew longer, Annie’s embarrassment grew stronger.

It was like he was acting like a child outright wanting praise. Because she can’t find any reason why he’s bad.

The moment she was about to reply never mind, Ejed answered quietly.

“Because it’s Annie.”

Unknowingly holding her breath, Annie raised her head completely. The moonlight shone on Ejed’s face that was filled with a completely happy smile.

It was really pretty. As he looked at it, a prettier voice came to her ears.

“Because it was Annie, I fell in love.”

‘Lo, lo, lo, love……’

It was such an embarrassing word to hear with her bare mind, Annie hurriedly looked out the window.

She couldn’t even look at the landscape properly in her shaky vision. One thing she could feel for sure was Ejed’s gaze on her cheek.

“Annie, I wouldn’t have met anyone without you. I really am.”

Instead of answering, Annie got her body up and took a step towards him. She didn’t know why she had such courage.

However, she wanted to get closer to Ejed. Closer than between the seats of the carriage now.

As her body was precariously shaken by the moving carriage, startled Ejed stretched out his arms. He held her in her arms without hesitation, and Annie sat down on his thigh.

The sound of his fast beating heart reached her ears. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, Annie whispered.

“Actually, so am I. If it hadn’t been for you, I don’t think I’d ever see anyone else again.”

She felt the tense man’s body harden. Annie closed her eyes slowly as she gave her body to him.

*

By the time they arrived at the Dsev mansion, the whole area was already engulfed in darkness.

Annie in his arms showed no sign of waking up, so he moved cautiously, reducing his lifting movements as much as possible.

He got out of the carriage and raised his head slightly. A light could be seen in Annie’s bedroom in the distance.

He was troubled. He remembered the story Annie told her during dinner tonight.

[I don’t want to hide it. It is not like we have sinned.]

Ejed looked at Annie, worried about what she said even with the calmness of the words. Annie had more trouble with it than himself.

Isn’t she the one who gets most tired when the relationship between the two is revealed outside of her? Unlike him, who is the emperor, Annie will be the focus of explicit attention.

Perhaps all the nobles will cling to her like hyenas for various reasons. What’s more, Annie has already declared her non-marriage, so she’s never been out of the spotlight.

She probably won’t hear a pleasant story later. But Aniie bluntly continued.

[I have already made up my mind. Since I’m the one who made the choice, I have to bear that much.]

[But, Annie.. then you’re in trouble.]

[ it’s okay. I will tell my family soon.]

Annie didn’t bother to tell the details, but he read her sincerity. He knows that Annie is being considerate for him.

Annie asked if there was any place he wanted to go with her. She also said there are also places she would like to go with him.

Most of them were places of Porcaus. Instead of being famous, it was a popular place for people to visit. She expressed the story of spending time there like an ordinary lover.

It was a sweet consideration for himself, who had been hiding all this time. Ejed was thankful and sorry, even more, he was embarrassed.

‘She said she will tell her family…….. So I’ll have to take you home.’

Having made up his mind, Ejed turned while holding Annie and reached the secret door.

As he approached Annie’s bedroom, reducing his presence, he saw a familiar dog.