Escaping the Archduke of the North’s Obsession

“Isabella.
You said you had no appetite last night.
I also saw you cry in the garden.
You told me that something big went into your eyes.
The next day, you left the castle with only a short note for me to read.
Did you do all of these just because you were jealous?”

Being jealous was more shameful and childish than she thought.

“Well… yes.
Honestly, I was jealous, Your Highness.” Isabella admitted again as she buried her face between her knees.
“But it is true that Your Highness especially reciprocated Vianth’s love?”

Isabella remembered those times when she witnessed Duke Kyar in Angela’s presence.

Once again, it triggered the childish jealousy in her heart.

Isabella straightened her spine and continued.
“Of course I understand.
Vianth resembles your mother.
It made sense that you feel something special with her.”

Duke Kyar let out a low chuckle, and Isabella pursed her lips.

“I’m not laughing at you, Isabella.
Please continue.”

Even if she wasn’t looking at his face, she could still hear the smile in his voice.

Isabella didn’t find it funny, and she stared at him in dissatisfaction.

Did this man know how hard it is to confess her jealousy without drinking alcohol?

“Well, that’s all, Your Highness.
I was just a little disappointed that you didn’t notice I was there in the Dining Hall.
 I also planned to visit you in your room the next morning only to witness Angela’s love confession–”

At that moment, Isabella just wanted to shut up.

Yet, after being honest with him, she felt more relaxed.

“Did you see Angela enter my bedroom?”

“Yes.
I could see it clearly, Your Highness.
I do have eyes.
I even heard you suggesting that she enter your bedroom.”

Isabella bit her lip as she recalled the scene.

It was the sole reason she ran away from Rubella Castle on impulse.

Duke Kyar’s hand touched her lips and caressed them, urging her not to bite so that it wouldn’t bleed.

“And?” He drawled.
“What else did you feel upset about?”

His smile was so infectious that it reached his eyes.

It appeared like he found this situation very interesting.

“I wouldn’t tell you anymore.
Well, I wasn’t that upset.
Just a little jealous!”

Arms outstretched, Duke Kyar, held her shoulder in one arm before pulling her into his embrace.

“I know that you are very disappointed, Isabella.
But are you also aware that I’ve been looking for you all day? I was so scared that you’ll disappear from my sight.
You are free to feel upset, angry, or annoyed but please stay with me.
That’s all I need from you.”

His deep baritone reverberated in his chest, and Isabella could feel it because her face was so close to his heart.

Isabella’s disappointment vanished after hearing the sincerity in his words.

“I’m sorry that you had to worry about me on your birthday.”

Suppressing a grin, Duke Kyar continued to caress the silver strands of her hair.

“I got the best birthday present I could ever have, thanks to you.
I can’t believe that the fateful day, where I could see you being jealous, had come.”

Was he feeling good about himself because she was jealous?

“I’ll give you the real present I have prepared when we get back to the castle, Your Highness.”

Her stomach rumbled as she said it.

It appeared like being more relaxed made her hungrier.

Isabella frowned slightly.

She recalled she hadn’t eaten anything since last night.

“Let’s go back to Rubella Castle and eat first.
I know that you hated starving the most.”

Isabella nodded shyly in agreement.

Duke Kyar seemed to know her better than she did.

**

Ria’s eyes widened when Prince Victor gave her some chocolate.

“Did you buy another one?”

They both visited the crowded market at Trieus Street to find Isabell, and they weren’t the only ones searching for her there.

The Knights of Rubella Castle had spread like ants throughout the location.

Prince Victor and Ria entered a couple of stores to ask the merchants if they had seen Isabella.

After that, Prince Victor would buy something and give it to Ria.

“Ria, if you need something so bad, you have to pay for it.
Nothing is free in the world.”

” I think this is too much, Your Highness,” Ria murmured as she glanced down at the shopping bag in her hands and Prince Victor’s.

He had bought a lot of dresses, shoes, and pieces of jewelry in fashion boutiques.

They visited from store to store and bought many things, including dolls and cookies.