How to Escape from My Possessive Fiancé - Chapter 62

“Then what can I do?”

The duke asked in a gentle tone, as if he were a large animal crouching down to appear in the small human’s view. Sophia couldn’t tell if it was good or bad to maintain her firm posture in front of him, but she didn’t want to lose, so she lifted her chin.

“Don’t act like you lost everything just because I didn’t let you kiss me.”

“So that means I can do anything I want except kiss you?”

“No, that’s not what I meant…!”

The duke suddenly grabbed her hand, wrapped his arm around her waist, and spun her around as if dancing. Then, stepping into a waltz, he led her, turned her, and slid her gracefully. Sophia only regained her senses when he stopped.

“Duke!”

“I wanted to dance with you. I just came from rejecting the princess at the victory ball.”

“Still, this is too much—!”

Her angry words stopped short.

“You turned down the princess?”

She looked at him, her eyes showing surprise and a bit of joy. The duke nodded and kissed her forehead, like stamping a seal.

“Yes. I told you, didn’t I? I only have you.”

His gaze into her eyes seemed clear and sincere, without a trace of falsehood. Leaving Sophia, who wasn’t sure whether to believe him, he stepped forward.

“So, this is where you’re staying? Which room is yours?”

He began opening doors without hesitation, walking around the palace. Sophia, sweating nervously, threw herself to stop him.

“Are you crazy? There are maids everywhere in there!”

But strangely, every room the duke opened was empty. Not just the hallways—all the rooms had no one. It was as if everyone in the palace, except for her and the duke, had vanished in an instant.

Was this a dream again? Was she dreaming?

Sophia stopped and stared blankly at the empty room. The duke didn’t seem to find anything odd and kept walking.

“Oh, this must be your room.”

He said as he opened the princess’s door. Sophia quickly closed it and pulled him toward her own room.

“This is my room.”

Compared to her room at the count’s estate, it was plain. Actually, it was the first time she ever thought that way. As soon as the duke entered, her daily resting place suddenly looked old and shabby.

“Hm.”

The duke wrinkled his nose slightly as he looked around the room like he was inspecting it. Then he smiled and turned to her.

“Looks like our Sophia is being bullied.”

He said it in a tone that sounded amused. Sophia swallowed her irritation and shrugged, trying to stay calm.

“Yeah. Everyone hates me. Especially the princess. She says I’m disgusting because I’m your fiancée. If we just break off the engagement, all the bullying will stop.”

The duke laughed, as if surprised she used the word “breakup” as a weapon, amused by her cleverness. Trying to change the subject, his eyes landed on a cat curled up and sleeping on her bed.

“That the cat whose leg the princess broke?”

He pointed. Sophia nodded. The duke reached out to touch it. Everything felt so much like a dream that Sophia wondered if his hand might pass through like a ghost’s.

But his long fingers gently stroked the cat’s forehead. The cat, usually wary of everyone, closed its eyes and purred, as if his touch were familiar.

“You really seem to like animals.”

“Is that a surprise?”

“Yes. I didn’t think you were someone who could like or favor anything.”

“That’s funny. I’m clearly favoring you right now.”

“That too…”

“Feels fake?”

He cut her off. Even in the darkness, his blue eyes hadn’t lost their shine. In fact, they glowed even more deeply than in sunlight.

He stroked the cat’s head with practiced ease. Looking at the cat through half-lidded eyes, he said,

“To be honest, Sophia, I did leave you alone in this situation. I was tired of it all. Everything. But even so, that still doesn’t excuse the things you’ve done to me. You’re often—no, usually—cruel to me.”

His voice was soft and musical, almost a whisper, but the meaning was unclear. Just as she looked at him, puzzled—

“Sophia Hilden!”

A sharp voice echoed down the hallway. Sophia jumped like waking from a dream, looking back and forth between the door and the duke.

“Oh no, it’s the princess. I didn’t think she’d come this quickly!”

“Looks like it.”

The duke, unfazed, kept scratching the cat’s chin. Not expecting him to panic anyway, Sophia sighed and begged him,

“I’ll handle it, but please, don’t come out of here!”

The duke annoyingly waved one hand at her. Sophia rushed out, grabbing the cat along the way. The duke clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“Hurry back.”

His lazy, teasing tone felt strangely seductive. Sophia shook her head, trying to erase the memory of their half-embrace and kiss in the dressing room.

Outside, people were milling around in the hallway like nothing happened. Sophia bit her tongue, resisting the urge to ask where they had all been earlier, and walked toward the noise.

“Sophia Hilden!”

The princess shouted again. As Sophia entered the main hall, she saw the princess coming up the grand staircase.

“Your Highness.”

Sophia greeted her politely. The princess gave an annoyed sigh and smirked at the cat in her arms.

“What’s that? Are you showing off that you’re taking care of it?”

“I’m only following your orders, Your Highness.”

She bowed slightly, and that gesture annoyed Yulicias more than anything. She kicked off her shoes, which maids rushed to pick up. They were already holding her thrown jewelry and gloves.

“Move.”

Now barefoot, Yulicias began searching the palace in earnest. Sophia, flustered, followed her.

“Why did you come back so soon? The ball isn’t over yet.”

“Ball or not, how could I stay after being humiliated like that?”

“What happened—?”

Yulicias glared sharply and shouted.

“You already know, don’t you? From your precious fiancé! He came here, didn’t he?”

“What? That’s—”

Sophia was truly shocked and stammered. She was surprised by how the princess knew, but quickly blinked and put on an innocent face as if to say, “What are you talking about?” Still, her heart sank.

‘Does everyone know the duke came? Did they hide, waiting for the princess to handle it?’

She looked around. Everyone looked uncomfortable and annoyed, just like when the princess had searched the palace for the person who hurt the cat.

‘Good. Seems like they don’t know.’

She let out a quiet sigh of relief. For some reason, no one seemed aware that the duke had come. Meanwhile, Yulicias had reached Sophia’s room. Sophia rushed to block the door with her body.

“What are you doing?”

The princess tried to shove her aside, but Sophia braced her legs and held firm.

“Even if you’re the princess, you don’t have the right to search my room!”

Sophia shouted.

“Even if we’re maids, we’re all noble ladies. We’re not your slaves. This is my assigned room, and only people I allow may enter.”

“Oh, so you’re hiding something in there?”

Yulicias scoffed. Sophia frowned.

“What are you talking about? Are you saying I smuggled someone in and hid them? How could I? You’ve placed over thirty guards just to watch me.”

“If it’s the duke, he could do it. He’s someone who can even defy the emperor’s orders.”

Yulicias’s face was very serious as she said that.

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