I Stole The Duke - Chapter 13

Eclite clung to Amelia, kissing her deeply, his eyes coldly fixed on Edzov.
Edzov’s heart twisted in a dark churn at the sight.
For the first time, he saw emotion flicker in Eclite’s eyes.

Not when he’d been exiled from the Imperial Palace.
Not even when he was cast off to the North.
Not even during that incident, when he had moved like a lifeless tool, devoid of reaction.
He had always been a monster—emotionless, unshaken.

And yet, in front of this woman… he wavers?
He bares his fangs at me, just from a single word—terrified I might bring up that incident?

So all those emotions… only ever surface with Amelia?
That’s how badly he wants to live?

A cold breath settled deep in Edzov’s chest.

You’re not supposed to live like that. Not like a normal man.
You were meant to remain a monster—an abomination before the empire and His Majesty.

The desperate heat of the kiss finally faded, and Eclite slowly lifted his head.
With his breath returning, cold air rushed in to replace the feverish warmth.
Amelia, her face flushed red, couldn’t bring herself to lift her gaze.
She had kissed him first—yes, to shake off Edzov’s suspicions.

But I didn’t mean for it to be that intense!

She’d never even kissed Edzov like that. Not once.
No. Get a grip. Don’t waver here. This isn’t just love.
We’re supposed to be madly in love. And that makes this believable.

If it was going to be like this—she had to push through with conviction.
Steadying her expression, Amelia looked Edzov squarely in the eyes.

“We love each other. So stop trying to shake us with your nonsense.”

Edzov’s eyes narrowed.
He didn’t hear her words.
All he could see, all he could feel—was Eclite.

Eclite, who stared right back at him, tightening his grip on Amelia’s hand.
That image—Amelia’s flushed neck, still marked with color—gnawed at him.
Just moments ago, she had been filled with him.

And now? She had been stained by Eclite.
It disgusted him.

Right. You shouldn’t be allowed to live.
Even being up North isn’t far enough.

To erase Eclite in the cruelest way possible… Amelia had become necessary.

Fine. I’ll take her back.

Edzov, finally breaking his silence, spoke with calculated ease.

“Very well, Amelia. I see now your words weren’t a lie. In that case—good.
Come for me. Chase me to the end, and drag me into the dirt.
I’ll be waiting.”

Though he addressed Amelia, his eyes remained locked on Eclite.

“I will become Emperor. So hate me. Loathe me. Chase me with everything you have.
Don’t you dare look away.”

And the more Edzov spoke, the more Eclite’s emotions wavered.
Watching him fall apart—it was exhilarating.
Edzov smiled slowly.

“Let’s see which of us becomes Emperor by your side.”

He carved that last line deep—and turned his back.
To some, it might’ve sounded like mere provocation.
But to another… it could only sound like a fierce confession.

Eclite. I’ll steal from you what you want most.
And you—die in despair.
You were never meant to be born in this world.

Even though Amelia claimed her feelings weren’t sincere, he didn’t believe her.
Back then, her eyes were filled with love for him.
So much so, it was dull. Almost stupid.

He had been special to her.
Maybe it started as a marriage for her family’s gain.

But now she’s a Duke of Fiore.
And I will have her back—one way or another.
I never lose what I want. I take it. Always.

As Edzov disappeared from sight, Amelia finally managed to breathe properly.

Now you understand, don’t you?

But she wouldn’t sit back and let him win.
If anything, this was only the beginning.

“We’ll have to be cautious with Grand Duke Bastien. Always keep our guard up.”

As Amelia kept her eyes on Edzov’s retreating figure, Eclite instinctively pulled her slightly toward him.

“Your Grace?” she asked, looking up at him.

Though she looked at him, Eclite couldn’t loosen his grip. Because in that gaze—he wasn’t the one truly reflected there.

No matter the form, she’s still deeply entangled with Edzov.

For the first time, his head throbbed with fury—but just as much, he was afraid.

“Your Grace, are you… alright?”

Amelia grew worried at his sudden silence. Seeing her concern, Eclite forced a faint smile, pushing down the unease inside him.

“I’m fine.”

But Amelia couldn’t see through that carefully guarded expression. All she could do was accept what he showed her—and let herself feel relieved.

“Th-the reward… I’m sorry for acting on my own. But even if Grand Duke Bastien grows suspicious, I couldn’t let him have proof. So I just…”

“I know.”

His voice—flat and quiet—somehow pierced deeper than anger ever could. Amelia’s heart gave an odd, scraping twitch. It felt like she was the only one reacting to that kiss.

Right… it was meaningless to him.

“I should give you something in return. So, if there’s anything else you want…”

“I don’t need anything else.”

“…What?”

That scraping ache warmed slightly. Just a little.

“This… is enough for now.”

That ambiguous answer left behind a vague unease in her heart, too. But Amelia didn’t ask further. It felt like she shouldn’t.

The results of the trial had been so shocking that all attention at Honès Palace now fell squarely on Amelia. But she found all the attention… exhausting.

“My Lady! My Lady!”

As soon as she arrived at her room, Mami burst in—completely breathless.

“My Lady, what on earth happened?! I kept hearing things but didn’t know what to believe! I mean, some parts sound like exaggeration, but the gun—you fired a gun, didn’t you?! And you really became the head of House Fiore?!”

Amelia wanted to share in Mami’s excitement, truly—but she just didn’t have the strength left to respond.

“Mami… I’m sorry. I’m really tired. I’ll tell you everything tomorrow.”

“Oh my—look at me! I’m so sorry, My Lady. Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone near you. Who would dare mess with the next head of the family? Soon you’ll have a personal guard, and your title ceremony, and your wedding…”

With Mami bustling off, Amelia stepped into her bedroom and collapsed onto the bed.

“Haa…”

The exhaustion she had been suppressing came rushing in, weighing down every part of her. And through that haze, only one name echoed over and over in her mind—

“Eclite Riot Clio…”

She didn’t know everything about him—but one thing was certain: he rarely showed emotion. Contrary to the terrifying rumors surrounding him, he was remarkably quiet.

And yet today, for the first time, she had seen him lose control—and at the center of it all was Edzov. Edzov too had lost composure, throwing aside his reputation and grace, all because of Eclite.

There’s something between them…

Edzov hated Eclite—spat venom at him constantly. And Eclite, in return, simply accepted that hatred—like it was something he was supposed to carry.

A monster… he kept calling him that.

It didn’t seem to refer to just Eclite’s bloodline or temperament. There was something more.

“Bloodline…”

Edzov’s birth mother, Chloe Erin Riot—the Empress of the Solra Empire. Of course, she wasn’t Eclite’s mother. Nothing was known about his mother, save a rumor—that she had been a wandering dancer from a foreign land.

But even if her origin was humble, it was customary for the mother of a royal child to be named a consort. Yet in Eclite’s case, it was as if she had never existed at all. Whether she was dead or alive—no one knew.

That’s why there are so many disturbing rumors surrounding Grand Duke Clio Eclite…

All these questions swirled in Amelia’s mind—but she couldn’t bring herself to ask. Not after seeing that frozen expression on his face. That moment he’d truly wavered.

He never asks about me either… so I shouldn’t ask about him.

But he knows everything about me. Why can’t I know about him?

Or maybe I don’t need to know.

They were using each other, that was all. Whatever his past held—it didn’t matter. It had no bearing on their goals. It wasn’t supposed to.

But even as she tried to rationalize it—

Why do I keep wanting to know more about him?

She should let it go. And yet… she couldn’t. Amelia unconsciously touched her lips. The warmth from earlier—the vivid, almost burning sensation—rushed back into her memory.

When she kissed him, the usual scent of violets didn’t come to mind.

No—his deeper scent had overwhelmed her senses, swallowed her whole. Her heart had burned.

Truly, it had burned too hot.

Amelia sat up in bed and walked to the mirror. Without hesitation, she undressed completely. Her pale, flawless body reflected back at her—but on her left breast, carved like a blade’s etching, was a violet.

It had appeared when she came back from death—on the very heart that had once stopped beating.

It wasn’t just a mark.

It was alive. A real violet, blooming from within.

This… must be…

And then—one petal withered. Burned.

“Ah…!”

She gasped, clutching her chest. The pain—it felt like being cut open from the inside.

It wasn’t just growing from her heart. This flower had rooted into it.

And if all the petals fell—
Then I’ll die. This is what one year of life means.

Amelia’s lips twisted into a bitter smile.

“So in the end… I’m still living on borrowed time.”

Even the gift of a healthy heart…
Even the incredible powers granted to her…
It was all the final blessing given in exchange for the rest of her life.

She couldn’t afford to waste time.

Her eyes turned cold.

The moment her life began to burn away—everything hurt. Everything was too hot.

Even the moment he kissed her.

“It hurt. It was burning…”

Was it a warning?
Telling her not to come any closer—because it was dangerous?

“Yes. It was just something to prove we’re madly in love. That’s all it was.”

It meant nothing. Absolutely nothing.
And yet, the lingering heat and pain on her lips refused to fade.

Though the night grew deep, Eclite remained awake.
Because her voice—lodged within him—refused to leave.

“Chase me to the end and drag me down. I’ll be waiting.”

“Don’t you dare look away.”

To most, it would’ve sounded like a simple provocation.
But to Eclite, it meant something else entirely.

It was a twisted confession—declaring she still belonged to him. That there was no room for Eclite at her side. That he was nothing more than an outsider, nothing worth fearing.
And for a moment… he had fallen for it.

Eclite hesitated, then touched his lips.

I shouldn’t have let it get that far.

He had understood what she was doing—and meant to play along.
But the moment their lips met, he lost all control.

When he was with her, he couldn’t rein himself in.
Even her touch wasn’t enough. He wanted to sink deeper, to bury himself in her completely.
From the very beginning, he should’ve known.

Amelia Chezaret—her very existence was like poison to him.
The more he reached for her, the more he’d break.

That man’s a monster. Not a prince—nothing. A creature that never should’ve been born.

The truth behind the word “monster” had never scared him before.
He didn’t care if it killed him.
But now, for the first time… he was afraid.

Afraid she’d find out.
Afraid she’d look at him the same way the world did.
Afraid she’d walk away.
Afraid… she’d see him as nothing more than a monster.

No… I don’t want that.

You’re a monster. So come on, show it. Prove it. Because that’s all you are!

“Ugh—!”

A voice—sharp as shattered glass—pierced through his skull.
A high-pitched ringing echoed in his ears.

“Haah… haah…”

Eclite gripped his shoulders tightly, eyes bloodshot.
And then, finally unable to hold back, he tore open the front of his shirt, breathing heavily.

His back—covered in scars—throbbed as though the pain were fresh.
Anyone could see it: the savage remnants of someone who’d been whipped over and over again.

With a trembling breath, Eclite reached into his discarded robe and pulled out a small, round case.
Inside was a letter. He took it out with reverent care and held it close to his chest.

“…Haah.”

The moment he saw it, his breath calmed. The burning pain receded.
He smiled bitterly, speaking aloud to no one.

“This used to be enough. But now I want more.”

He never realized how terrifying desire could be.
But he had to control it—he must.
He needed to remain exactly as she needed him to be.

And besides… the worst of his fears was gone now.

She won’t die anymore. She’ll stay. I can protect her now.

That kiss—earth-shattering to him—had been mere strategy to her.
It didn’t matter if she remembered it with any meaning.
All he hoped for…

“Just for that moment… I hope I filled your thoughts completely.”

Whether it was hate, rage—it didn’t matter.
As long as, in that moment, she thought of him and not Edzov.

With the pain fading, Eclite rose, dressed, and carefully tucked the letter away.
Then, he left his room.

He was almost done.
The gift he had been preparing for her—

A smile. A true one. That’s all I want from you. That’s all I ever wanted to have.

Early in the morning, Mami helped Amelia dress, chatting as she moved around her.

“His Grace left for the palace early this morning.”

“He’s been doing that a lot lately.”

For the first time, the meeting between the Five Ducal Houses at the Imperial Palace began to nag at her.
Back then, she’d barely registered it.

Is it related somehow…?

“His Grace was overjoyed when he heard the results. He kept saying how much he wanted to see you!”

Mami walked over and beamed at Amelia.

“You’re really healed now, aren’t you? It’s all gone, right? But you kept it so well hidden!”

Amelia felt warmth bloom in her chest at Mami’s genuine joy.
Of course, she couldn’t tell her everything.

“Maybe… the miracle of the violet came to me too.”

She couldn’t say it was a miracle that would only last one year.
No one would believe her anyway—and she didn’t want anyone to grieve.

When the final moment came, when she’d accomplished everything and left this world—
She wanted to be remembered happily.

If I die… how will you remember me?

For a moment, Eclite’s face appeared in her mind—but she shook the thought away.

“When His Grace returns, you’ll have to get ready for the wedding! And the title ceremony too!”

“Before that, there’s something I need to take care of.”

“What? Where are you going?”

Amelia was already dressed—not in her usual calm, conservative tones, but in a striking red silk gown, elegant and radiant like flowing fire.

“To the Chezaret estate.”

“The Count’s household?”

“They told me to clean up. I did.
And they said to come back after—so I will. I need to finish things.
There’s someone I need to warn—properly.”

“Warn…?”

Amelia placed a bonnet adorned with soft, blooming flowers on her head and curved her lips into a stunning smile.

“What happened in the mountains—I won’t let that slide.
I’m the head of a noble house now.
No one crosses the line with my life again.
And they’re going to hear that—straight from me.”

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