Invitation of the Crescent Moon - Chapter 69

“I see you didn’t know. This has been causing quite a stir among noble houses in the capital these past few days.”

When sending the marriage proposal, he hadn’t expected a reply. Yet surprisingly, a positive response had come back.

Only then did Ashika remember something.

“Is that why you came to the racetrack as well?”

“I wanted to meet you once before it was decided.”

Deyran smiled awkwardly. However, Ashika couldn’t smile back.

“I met with Duke Igraine yesterday, and he wishes to settle matters by autumn.”

Ashika was too shocked to speak. She hadn’t even heard about accepting a marriage proposal, yet Weive had already met with a candidate. And now there was this rushed marriage schedule.

‘It’s summer now, and a wedding by autumn? Impossible!’

This was a high noble’s marriage. Conventionally, the engagement period lasted at least a year, and wedding preparations alone took half a year.

‘And he wants to push through a wedding in just two months?’

She recalled Weive from last night, firmly insisting on marriage. Once he’d made up his mind to proceed, he wouldn’t tolerate any resistance.

‘So I have to marry like this? With whoever Grandfather chooses?’

The mere thought made her dizzy. Ashika had to struggle to conceal her agitation.

Watching Ashika’s expression, Deyran realized she truly had no knowledge of this and his face hardened. Even for an arranged marriage, shouldn’t the person involved at least know about the process?

“I seem to have spoken too hastily. The families are already in advanced discussions…”

“I’m sorry, but let’s continue this conversation another time.”

She was so startled that she was short of breath. Ashika barely maintained her composure as she opened the balcony door.

“Then perhaps we could arrange to meet again…”

“I’m sorry.”

She coldly turned her back on him despite his call. She couldn’t face him any longer, afraid she wouldn’t be able to hide her emotions.

‘So you’ve decided not to listen to anything I say.’

Even her relationship with Coral, which she had considered smooth, had proceeded cautiously with a two-year engagement period.

‘And now I’m expected to marry a man I never planned to meet in just two months.’

For the first time, she was angry at Weive. Before being the head of the ducal family, he was her only family. He couldn’t push her life in this way.

No, that was just an excuse. She had no choice when she became engaged to Coral either. She hadn’t questioned it then. The position of young duchess constantly reminded Ashika that responsibilities were more important than the right to choose.

She was angry because she had changed. Things she would have accepted as natural before no longer seemed so.

She had found someone she wanted to be with. Someone she wanted to marry and spend her life with. The thought of leaving that person to marry a complete stranger and sharing her bed to produce an heir made her shudder.

That’s why it happened. The emotions that had been simmering beneath her cool exterior were boiling over. It was both anger and fear.

Her steps across the hallway quickened almost to a run. Her urgent footsteps moved aimlessly, with no destination in mind. When she reached the end of the dim corridor, she collided with a shadow that suddenly appeared.

“Ah!”

The other person quickly caught Ashika as she was about to fall. Right in front of her, steep stairs stretched downward. She had nearly tumbled down them.

Her stumbling body was pulled along with her caught arm.

“My, how careless.”

The voice was faint but somehow familiar.

Ashika’s gaze gradually moved upward from the white hand holding her arm.

A man’s silhouette with elegant lines. Even in the dim light, the evening dress he wore was noticeably elaborate.

“Lord Maiheller.”

“We meet again, Lady Igraine.”

Erwin wore a relaxed smile.

“Thank you for helping me.”

“At least you greet me this time. I was worried you might run away again like last time.”

It was a direct reproach with no room for excuses. It was true that for inexplicable reasons, she had abandoned someone who had helped her and run away.

“I’m sorry. I was distressed at the time.”

While apologizing, Ashika pulled at her captured arms. It was a clear gesture asking to be released, but Erwin didn’t let go.

“You seem unsteady. Let me escort you to the hall.”

“No!”

Ashika instinctively pulled her arm away forcefully. She momentarily lost balance and staggered. Erwin quickly embraced her waist to steady her.

“You see? I told you that you needed help.”

Ashika was visibly flustered. Due to their close contact, she couldn’t hide her rapidly beating heart.

“Let… me go.”

“I don’t understand why you act as if you’re about to have a seizure whenever you see me.”

He tightened his grip on her arm to prevent her from escaping. Despite his slender frame, he was difficult to push away.

“You coldly rejected my marriage proposal too. What is it about me that displeases you?”

A marriage proposal from the Marquis Maiheller family? Ashika had neither seen nor heard of it. It must have been handled by Weive. Though this was the first she’d heard of it, she understood why it had happened.

“Considering your relationship with Talion, don’t you know the reason?”

“If you think about that issue, wouldn’t I be the most suitable match for you?”

Erwin didn’t hide his displeasure. He meant that since the broken engagement had soured relationships, circumstances were different now.

“Such a long-standing relationship can’t be settled so easily. It’s not that simple…”

His gaze looking down at Ashika drew even closer. Her heart raced quickly, like a warning to herself. Her instinct told her to get away, that she didn’t want to be near this man.

Suddenly, his different-colored eyes looking at her emitted a distinct and vivid light.

‘His eyes…’

For a moment, Ashika stopped breathing. She was so surprised that she didn’t even realize his breath was close enough to touch her face.

Eyes of teal that captured the verdant forest. The green faintly spreading around them was clearly visible even in the dimness.

“Why do you look so surprised? It’s not as if you’re seeing my eyes for the first time.”

“Ah!”

Ashika pushed him away with all her might. This time, Erwin willingly let her go.

“What kind of rudeness is this!”

“Rudeness? I was only trying to check on you because you looked unwell.”

Though she shouted sharply, Ashika’s body lost all strength and her mind was in disarray.

‘What’s going on? Why did no one know about this?’

A secret known only to Talion. According to what Drushia had told her, this was a characteristic that appeared only in Talion’s bloodline.

“You still seem affected by the previous shock. Let me escort you.”

“I told you I don’t need help.”

“There are few politically neutral families in the capital. With the uncertain future ahead, isn’t your attitude too blatant? This isn’t like Lady Igraine.”

His words hit the mark. Ashika belatedly realized her mistake. Unlike her usual self, she was being overly emotional and hostile toward him.

‘Even so…’

How should she salvage this situation? Amidst her perplexity, a cool, calm voice intervened.

“Should I take that to mean you’re now willing to settle matters with Talion?”

Ashika and Erwin’s gazes simultaneously moved toward the voice. Upon recognizing the speaker, Erwin’s expression hardened.

“Duke Talion, what brings you here?”

Ashika’s eyes widened.

‘You hadn’t left the capital?’

The person who was supposed to depart today had appeared before her, dressed in evening attire. Drushia’s gaze briefly swept over Ashika before returning to Erwin.

‘What’s happening? Why?’

“I received an invitation, so I came. I didn’t realize Maiheller could change positions so quickly.”

“These are my father’s affairs. As his son, it’s only proper for me to follow.”

“Meaning if I have questions, I should confront the Marquis? Is that what you’re saying?”

Erwin’s expression soured at the sarcastic tone. Drushia blocked Ashika’s path with slow yet firm steps.

“Shafri is still suffering from the shock of the broken engagement, yet you seem quite at ease, Duke.”

“Ah, I’ve been curious about that matter, but since it’s the Marquis’s doing, I suppose the young lord knows nothing about it?”

“Neither my affairs nor Shafri’s are your concern, Duke. Why are you behaving this way?”

“Not my concern? Is that really so?”

Drushia spat the words while curling his lips.

A man whose mocking smile looked fiercer than an angry face.

She had forgotten, with his constant behavior as a polite gentleman. Drushia was a man more suited to the warriors’ battleground with its fierce shouting than to an office desk. Erwin flinched.

His elegant physique appeared terribly frail before that of a robust swordsman. In front of a man who was naturally like a predator, Erwin’s aristocratic face and elaborately dressed appearance lost their luster.

Seeing his aggressive demeanor disappear, Ashika almost laughed mockingly.

‘With such obvious intentions, why was I afraid?’

Drushia, displeased with Ashika’s gaze being directed at Erwin, took another step to completely block her view.

“Marquis Maiheller has invited me to visit.”

“Then I suppose we’ll meet again soon.”

Erwin made no effort to hide his discomfort. He retreated slightly like an animal wanting to escape a predator.

“I suppose we will.”

His tone was resolute, signaling the end of the conversation. Recognizing the intent, Erwin left without hesitation. Drushia confirmed that Erwin had completely disappeared from view.

Only the two of them remained in the corridor where no one passed. Ashika felt awkward, unsure what to say. The person she had most wanted to see yet most wanted to avoid was now standing before her.

“How did you come here…”

Ashika’s words remained unfinished. This was because Drushia turned around and reached out his hand. The moment he grabbed her arm, her tilting body fell straight into his embrace.