Chapter 90

Chapter 90

The Duke’s death was treated as suicide externally. In addition, the ‘circumstantial evidence of assassination’ that his father made was useful, and the Imperial Family didn’t think to lay a hand on him.

Zachary was saddened by his father’s meticulousness. Still, even after all the affairs were sorted out, he couldn’t bear to visit her, haunted by guilt.

Iellie, who had heard the whole story, was silent. She didn’t know what to say at all, but she could understand why Zachary was struggling so hard and why he pushed himself to the limit and tested his limits like this.

“I know I still have a lot of work to do.”

“…Zachary.”

“That’s why I shouldn’t be lying down like this.”

As he opened his mouth with force, there was a determined light in Zachary’s eyes as he gazed at her.

“Because I have to protect you.”

“That…”

“Father is right. I intend to follow father’s will somehow.”

Raising his hand, he then caressed her white cheek with his burning blue eyes staring right at her before continuing his words.

“I must protect the person I love with my everything.”

“….”

“I won’t let anyone lay a hand on you. The Emperor or others…”

Zachary took a deep breath. She came to visit him first, who was dying under the weight of guilt and debt. In addition, his father’s will… He couldn’t escape forever. He had to do what he, too, had to do.

“I will give you my world.”

The light green eyes, wet like dew-soaked buds, met his. Zachary struggled to smile.

“And Len…”

“Yes.”

“Will you forgive my father, too?”

For a moment, Iellie was speechless.

Zachary whispered, retracing his painful memory as he went on, “My father told you…to tell you that he was sorry and that he was grateful.”

Iellie deserved to hear his father’s will as well. Zachary was well aware of how much the Duke cared for her.

“He thought of you as a daughter…”

“Idiot.”

As she looked at him, Iellie laughed through her tears and answered in a trembling voice.

“I wasn’t even mad at him in the first place.”

“….”

“So, I’m fine.”

As she hugged his neck tightly, only the warm body temperature touching each other comforted them.

“Promise me instead.”

“What?”

“Let’s live happily ever after… As much as the Duke wished.”

The little girl in his arms was the only thing that saved him…

Zachary nodded his head.

11. For The Perfect Wedding.

After Zachary and Iellie reunited, the first thing he did was to bring Iellie’s parents. It was because he decided that at least bringing her parents to the north would be safer for the Imperial Family. Iellie agreed with his idea, and the Blanchetts also understood.

“I know it’s difficult to ask them to come down right away, but I’ll prepare a separate estate for them.”

“Uhh…”

Hearing his ambitious words, Iellie looked lost. Wasn’t it amazing that he could provide a separate estate? After all, this must be the ambition to show the Duke.

She rolled her eyes.

“Len?”

“Oh, nothing.”

When Zachary asked worryingly, she laughed and shook her head, and responded in a soft voice.

“Just because you look great.”

“Me…?”

Iellie nodded her head at the question. It was inevitable that he looked amazing again, and to give away an estate casually…

The next moment, Zachary smiled faintly and hugged her lightly.

“No, you’re the greatest of all the people I’ve ever seen.”

“Nonsense.”

“No, it makes sense.”

Saying so, he gently stroked her cheek and whispered, leaving a brief kiss on her forehead.

“Because you are the only person who connected my father and me.”

“….”

Hearing the friendly voice, Iellie felt her heart pounding. Iellie just thought he was a younger brother, but now, he definitely looked like a man.

Zachary continued casually.

“I plan to provide father-in-law and mother-in-law plan a proper estate and mansion until the wedding is over.”

“But Zachary, then what about our estate?”

Iellie asked with a worried heart. Realistically, she knew why Zachary wanted to bring her parents to the North though the Blanchett estate was her hometown, where she spent her childhood.

‘It’s a bit regretful to sell the land like this…’

As she looked sad, Zachary gazed at Iellie with a rather bewildered face.

“What’s wrong with the Blanchett estate?”

“Well, don’t they have to organize the estate to bring my parents?”

“Why would you organize the estate?”

His face looked incomprehensible as he asked back.

‘Why wouldn’t he understand?’

Iellie hesitated.

“That’s because they can’t leave the estate empty…”

“Emptying the estate? You can send a caretaker.”

“Caretaker?”

Hearing her surprise, Zachary seemed to understand now what she was worried about. He burst out laughing and stroked her hair before uttering in a friendly voice.

“The Blanchett estate is your hometown, Len.”

“Ah…”

“Did you think I would give your hometown into someone else’s hands?”

As if looking into her heart, he continued his words as Iellie’s cheeks lightly blushed.

“Yes…”

“Leave the estate to the caretaker, and it wouldn’t be bad to go there from time to time.”

Zachary smiled brightly. How far did he take care of her? She was happy.

“Thank you.”

“No, I should be the one thankful.”

At her words, he replied earnestly. It was because it was hard to bear because Iellie’s widened, round eyes were just lovely.

“Because you came to me.”

“….”

“And, they sent you to me.”

With half embarrassment and half joy, she leaned her head against Zachary’s arms. He held Iellie the whole time as she cut open the envelope with a paper knife to read her letter from the Capital.

“Who is this letter from?”

“Uh… From Lady Marquis Rondo.”

Why did she send her a letter…?

As she looked puzzled, Zachary narrowed his forehead and asked.

“Since when did the two of you become close enough to exchange letters?”

“There was a reason.”

Iellie wrinkled the tip of her nose and laughed. If Lady Rondo hadn’t handed over the letter from the Princess, Iellie would have only known the fact that the Duke had died a long time later. Then…

‘…There’s no way he’d come back to me like this.’

As she thought so, she caressed the back of his hand happily. Meanwhile, Zachary grumbled with a sullen face.

“That’s because I wish there were no one closer to you than me.”

“What, really… You’re not a child.”

Zachary narrowed his eyes as he grinned at those words. He breathed into her ear.

“Len, how long… are you going to treat me like a child?”

“Wait, it tickles!”

Strangely, wherever Zachary’s breath touched her, it felt hot. He then awkwardly opened his mouth again.

“I am your husband.”

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