Chapter 31
Adolf nodded at my response, then continued speaking.
“So I ran away. But as the years passed, A gradually came to realize something.”
“…”
“That even if I gave up, my father wouldn’t give up on me.”
His words momentarily overlapped with images of the Duke and Nick, and I swallowed hard.
He continued.
“Everything remained exactly the same. I’d thought that if I hid myself and just waited for time to pass, everything would flow on without me and settle into place. But that wasn’t how it worked.”
Adolf’s face looked somewhat weary.
“Everyone was waiting for A. And they were all growing tired. With no resolution to any situation, with no one’s feelings having settled. A felt guilt within that, anger that nothing had been resolved, and helplessness.”
“…”
“And finally, he reached a moment of choice. Either return and face the situation head-on, or continue to postpone things and wait as before.”
He let out a soft chuckle.
“And he also knew that if he chose to postpone once more this time, he might never be able to return until the day he died.”
In that instant, I understood. What Adolf truly sought from me was not an answer to his question.
He was asking me for courage.
His picnic was coming to an end. And now he had to return and endure life once more as the Third Prince.
What he feared was the weight of that position he would have to bear again, and the conflicts he would face among his family.
He wanted to draw from me the courage to confront all of that.
As his words continued to echo against my own situation, I reached out and took his hand.
“My goodness. Adolf, you can do this.”
“…”
“Don’t be afraid. You have the strength to overcome every conflict. You’re the most sincere and honest person I’ve ever seen. And that alone is such a powerful weapon you possess.”
Adolf looked at me with wavering eyes. He asked me,
“…Do I truly have that kind of strength?”
“Of course. I stake my name—Diana’s, no, my name—on my conviction that you have that strength, Adolf.”
I continued.
“My name is Kasia.”
“…Kasia?”
“Yes. Kasia Bennet. That’s my name.”
I nodded as I spoke. He stared at me with dazed eyes.
Since he had revealed his identity to me, it was only fitting that I should reveal mine to him in return.
“Seven years ago, after my friend died, I married the Duke of Hwidrian and became the Duchess of Hwidrian. Now the children are grown and I’ve left that house, but…”
“…I see.”
Upon hearing my identity, his eyes held both surprise and composure simultaneously. He let out a small laugh.
“I’d been expecting it for some time now, but it feels strange to hear that your identity really is that Duchess.”
“It’s not much of a name, but I felt I ought to tell you. And besides, this is the only thing I have to offer you.”
“…”
“You can do this. Trust my intuition. I’m certain you’re someone with that kind of strength.”
I smiled at him. He looked back at me with an overwhelmed expression.
“Kasia.”
Kasia, Kasia. He murmured my name several times, as if savoring it.
“For you to stake your name on my existence—I am truly honored.”
—
After that, I spent the time until dawn talking with Adolf about all sorts of things.
Just as Adolf had said, even after we revealed our identities to each other, there was no awkwardness between us at all.
That was partly because we had already sensed each other’s true identities, but more than that, it was because we already thought of each other as friends.
Our conversations were no different from before we knew each other’s identities, and they were still filled with laughter.
Adolf ate the food I had prepared with great enjoyment.
Even though it had cooled and likely tasted less fresh than when first made, watching him eat so heartily filled me with a sense of pride I couldn’t hide.
As I gazed at him with a pleased expression, he chuckled and said that even his own mother had never looked at him with such eyes. Of course, he didn’t forget to thank me either.
After he had finished all the food, the dawn was beginning to creep in outside.
“It’ll be sunrise soon.”
Adolf said, gazing out the window at the gradually brightening streets of early dawn.
“It’s time for you to go back now, Kasia.”
“…”
“If anyone found out that you’d been hiding me and helping me all this time while everyone is searching for me, you wouldn’t hear very kind words from people. I don’t want to put you in a difficult position, so I think it’s best you leave now.”
“I understand what you mean.”
I agreed with him. I also understood that if I found myself in trouble, his position would become difficult as well. I had been thinking it was about time I left anyway.
I picked up the empty basket and rose from my seat. He stood as if to see me off and guided me outside the tent.
“I enjoyed today. I’ll be going now. …Oh, but Adolf.”
As I opened the flap and stepped outside into the cool dawn air, I turned back.
In that final moment, there was one thing weighing on my mind.
“What are you going to do now?”
I wasn’t at ease leaving Adolf behind here.
Lorencia’s borders were tightly guarded, and no one could escape this region.
So before we parted, I wanted to hear Adolf’s plan.
“I have it all figured out.”
At my question, he answered with a chuckle. He looked at me with a relaxed expression.
“Thank you for today. Thanks to you, I’ve made up my mind.”
He gestured for me to go quickly. The tent and his figure within it were gradually disappearing from my sight.
I began walking back along the path I had come. Glancing back at him repeatedly.
And at some point, as he waved at me, he spoke one last phrase.
“See you later, Kasia.”
“…!”
I turned around. The tent had already vanished completely from my sight.
—
*’See you later, Kasia.’*
Throughout my walk back, I pondered the meaning of Adolf’s final words.
See you later, Kasia—what could he possibly mean by that?
His face as he smiled at me at the end was filled with a newfound lightness.
The kind of lightness that only someone who had made a decision after long deliberation could show.
I was curious about what that decision might be, yet I felt I intuitively understood it, and an uneasy feeling crept over me.
…Surely, he wasn’t planning to reveal his identity of his own accord?
But after a while, I let out a small laugh.
If it was Arwin—no, Adolf—he would likely make a good choice on his own.
Throughout everything, he always wore a playful expression, but I knew him to be wise and clever.
My anxious feelings gradually settled. My heart had been pounding the entire way back.
Not only had we just shared our true identities with each other, but this was also my first thrilling outing, and the adrenaline was still pumping.
Outside, it was still dim. I managed to reach near my house without the knights noticing, successfully.
I fully opened the window I had left slightly ajar for my return, leaped inside, and stepped into the house.
Just as I was about to close the window after safely getting inside—
The reflection of someone in the window glass made me whirl around in shock.
“…!”
The Duke of Hwidrian was watching me.
—
He was sitting in a chair. My heart dropped as I looked at him. My mind grew complicated.
When had he entered my room? How long had he been here? What business had brought him to me?
I managed to keep a poker face, but I couldn’t help feeling flustered.
After confirming with his own eyes that I had entered the house, he looked at his watch. Then he spoke.
“Taking a stroll in the dead of dawn, I see.”
“…”
His eyes narrowed toward me. Suspicion lingered in them.
I was still flustered, but I didn’t want to show him any sign of tension. I straightened my back and replied.
“Yes. I’ve been feeling stifled, always having to go out with the knights escorting me. You should have just kept me locked up, shouldn’t you?”
“It was the same in the past—knights and maids following your every step.”
“That was then. I’m no longer the Duchess now. Of course, it won’t be official until Your Grace signs the divorce papers, of course.”
He watched me as I naturally set the basket down in a corner, saying nothing.
Silence fell. Then he spoke, and something completely unexpected came out.
“Are you dating Count Alison?”
“…”
I had expected him to ask where I’d been, but compared to what I’d been bracing myself for, this was an abrupt question.
But it was a satisfying question. It meant the knights had accurately reported my words to the Duke. I smiled.
“No one has initiated such talk, but I’d say we have mutual affection.”
“I heard you threatened not to stay quiet if he invaded your privacy too much.”
“Is that not allowed? Seeing me sneaking out through the window at dawn like this should show you just how stifled I feel, don’t you think?”
Let come what may.
Lately, I found myself feeling that way whenever I stood before the Duke. And now was no different.
No matter what words I used, no matter what actions I took, no matter whom I met—it was all part of my own life.
I could not tolerate the moment it was controlled. I would not let anyone take my life and my freedom from me.
My firm attitude was the bare minimum defense I had to protect my own existence.
