# 40
40
“Didn’t we agree that you would call me by my name in the evening?”
Angelica suddenly raised her head, surprised by the request, and her eyes met directly with his.
He was so close that her neck hurt from the force of lifting, and yet she could not look away from him.
“Huh?”
He said, staring at her with a fixed gaze, his features hard and his voice cold enough to send shivers running down her body.
“Oh, that's not a name.”
However, for some reason she did not know, at that moment he seemed strangely weak to her.
Like a child who was deprived of a piece of candy that he was impatiently waiting for.
Could he be so nice?
Is he an angel disguised as a human?
She could almost imagine two small wings protruding from his back if she looked closely.
She planted her feet on the ground, clenched her hands lightly until she regained her composure, then said stammeringly:
“I-I mean... right, it's not a name, but... I only call you by it at night.”
Specifically, in the bedroom.
When she exchanges conversations with him before going to sleep, from the small details of the day to the most trivial matters, until sleepiness snatches her away without her realizing it.
In those moments, his name flowed from her lips with strange ease.
“And now it's not night, nor are we in...the room.”
She stopped before saying the last word, as if her tongue refused to say it.
When she lowered her gaze to the ground, he also stopped pressing her.
He exhaled softly, as if he was scolding himself internally.
He knew very well that he was putting too much pressure on her, yet he couldn't hold back his jealousy when he saw her laughing freely with Cain.
Yes... jealousy.
For the first time, he felt jealous of Cain Avendel.
From the ease of his speech, from his lightness, and from his amazing ability to win hearts.
Everything he does not own and envy him.
"Did you eat dinner?"
He asked her to break the silence, then immediately realized that it was an inappropriate question.
“Ah, yes. I ate something simple while studying.”
"…"
correct.
He was the one who ordered food to be brought to the library so that its lessons would not be interrupted.
Seems like I've been slacking off lately.
The idea of spending the morning and evening with her made him forget about many things.
On the other hand, she was thinking about something else entirely.
Did you… wait for me to eat?
She quickly shook her head, as if to dismiss the idea.
But the smile that crept onto her lips was too genuine to be hidden.
It seems I'm getting more used to it than I should.
She bit her lower lip, trying to suppress a smile that almost escaped, then she raised her head and said quietly:
“From now on...”
“…?”
“From now on, let's have dinner together. No matter what.”
She continued in a more steady tone:
“Together, Hugo.”
For the first time, I said his name in broad daylight, without hesitation or confusion.
Hugo remained silent for a moment, then reached out and gently took her hand.
“Are you cold?”
“Warm.”
She squeezed his hand a little, and he remained silent for another moment, before nodding slowly.
"Good."
It was not known whether his answer was a response to her question or an implicit promise, but both were satisfied.
“So, you're going to the royal palace later?”
“Yes, for potions...”
And their voices continued to fade little by little throughout the palace.
The sun was setting, painting the sky a warm color as if it was embracing them together.
But that warmth did not last long.
Night...was slowly approaching.
❈❈❈
Happy times always pass by like a flash.
Angelica swallowed a light sigh as she realized that she had nearly completed two full weeks of her new married life.
However, not much has changed in her diary.
She spent most of her time among the books that Cain had brought, flipping between the magic tomes and the books of Ain al-Hakim.
In the afternoon hours, when the sun's rays filtered into the square, she would practice horse riding with Hugo.
She still can't control the horse on her own, but she can at least sit upright whenever he lifts her into the saddle.
As usual... she called him “Wego” in broad daylight, and “Hugo” when night fell.
As time passed, the last name would sometimes slip out of her mouth, even in broad daylight.
And yet, it seemed comfortingly normal.
But not everything was going smoothly.
.
.
.
“Oh…”
Her head suddenly constricted with a dull pain, causing her to close her eyes tightly.
Empress Cyril immediately raised her head from the plate of dessert she was eating, and stared at her with concern.
"Angelica? Are you okay?"
“Yes… just a little headache.”
“It doesn't look simple.”
“Just a little lack of sleep.”
In fact, not a single night passed without her having that mysterious dream.
A dream the details of which she does not remember, but from which she wakes up with a heavy head, as if her consciousness has been completely drained.
What was worse was that her magical energy increased after every dream, as if something inside her was forcibly awakening.
“No trace...not a single clue.”
She muttered to herself.
All the books I read did not provide any explanation.
“Huh...”
She exhaled deeply, trying to dispel the headache, while Cyril watched her with obvious concern.
“Are you sure you're okay?”
"Yes, really. Just a regular headache."
But her hand that was surrounding the tea cup did not stop shaking.
Cyril watched her for a while, then began tapping the table with her fingers in an accelerated rhythm.
Angelica noticed this immediately.
“Hmm? Looks like you have something you want to say.”
"H-Huh? No, nothing!"
She said it too quickly, which increased suspicion.
“You look like you're hiding something.”
“Ah…”
Cyril sighed, as if she had finally given up, then said in a hesitant tone:
“Actually... regarding the upcoming national anniversary celebrations...”
“Yes?”
“Formal invitations have been sent to neighboring countries. We have received a response from the Duchy of Ratlay...”
“Okay?”
“And also… from the Jervian Empire.”
Angelica stopped moving.
“Algeria?”
“Yes. The Second Prince, Hyperion Jervy, has confirmed his attendance.”
There was a heavy silence.
The name was not strange, on the contrary... too familiar.
A slow smile appeared on Angelica's lips, neither joyful nor annoyed.
“Then… he will come himself.”
She didn't say anything more, but something in her eyes changed.
The moment she heard the name, she knew that the calm she had experienced in the past weeks would not last long.
And the night…
He was preparing to become more disturbed than before.
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