episode_0038

Albert’s heart, which had been silent at the mention of Hwangja, began to flutter once again.

What did he want to convey?

Why wouldn’t he reveal it to the end?

Could there be something that shouldn’t be known?

Jealousy filled his heart, and thoughts stemming from it began to invade his mind.

Emotions surged up to his throat and then subsided.

The tranquility that had felt comfortable now felt more uncomfortable than ever.

Thus, Albert spoke.

Despite suppressing his emotions as much as possible, his voice carried a faint tremble.

“Luna, I heard you almost fell. Are you okay?”

[Yes, I’m fine.]

“I’m grateful that Hwangja helped you.”

Hwangja.

Luna’s hand halted abruptly at the mention of that title.

It was because memories of being held by Hwangja came to mind.

Of course, it was an unavoidable situation.

If she hadn’t been held, she would have collapsed on the ground.

It wasn’t even intentional.

But the fact that she had been held didn’t change.

As a woman engaged to another, it was an action she should never have taken.

She was confident she was a woman in men’s clothing, but that was just her personal belief.

“But if it’s Albert Gongja….”

Surely, if she told the truth and apologized, he would understand.

That’s what Luna thought.

However, she couldn’t bring herself to act.

Her heart ached and felt uncomfortable.

The silence that filled the carriage was too heavy.

It came back again.

The unfamiliar emotion that tormented her when she was with Albert appeared without fail this time as well.

Normally, she would have endured somehow and regained her composure.

But the current Luna was inebriated.

“Why did you leave me alone?”

It was an unreasonable accusation.

Albert asked for permission. He said he would leave for a moment.

It was Luna herself who allowed it.

If she had said she didn’t want him to go, or even nodded, he would have stayed by her side.

Luna knew these facts as well.

However, her hand writing down the words showed no sign of stopping.

“In reality, aren’t you also thinking the same thing? It’s annoying to deal with a mute person, isn’t it?”

No. He was definitely not that kind of person.

[Feel free to be honest. I can’t break off the engagement.]

Why does this keep conveying such a meaning?

It was bewildering to see actions different from thoughts.

My hands are trembling.

I tried to find the reason, but my intoxicated mind couldn’t function properly.

[Or is it that you wish to be connected with the prince?]

Ah.

Luna hastily moved her pen to cover the writing just as she finished the sentence.

Doesn’t Albert know how much effort he has put in for himself?

No matter what, it was an unacceptable behavior.

‘Why is this happening?’

Emotions failed to form from the broken heart and scattered.

These things gathered to create confusion.

Emotions were still too difficult for Luna.

Realizing it belatedly made it even harder to accept.

“Sigh….”

Albert let out a weak laugh, and Luna flinched momentarily.

Albert was puzzled.

He had been enduring this side, but Luna got angry, for some unreasonable reason.

Especially the last thing she wrote was truly unbearable.

Just as Luna did, Albert, who was also drunk, began to express his emotions.

“Do you even know for whom I am making so much effort?”

Truly pathetic words.

He said he didn’t expect any reciprocation, yet he blurted it out.

“I apologize for leaving. But does that mean I’m immediately flirting with the prince?”

She wasn’t flirting. She just stood there with the same expression as always.

“And I told you last time. Don’t belittle yourself. If you don’t want to do it, then why do it?”

What’s she talking about, pushing her into such thoughts. There’s no fool like this fool.

“And what? Connect with the prince? Did I say I want that?”

[Yes, Confucius finds me annoying…]

Luna’s hand moved quickly.

Her emotions seemed to peek through the hastily written words.

Without waiting for her, Albert continued speaking.

Manners were useless in the face of emotions.

“I won’t stay quiet if you write such things again.”

Not only the choice of words, but the tone was quite harsh.

It was hard to believe that it was something said to a loved one.

It seemed like a momentary lapse of judgment driven by emotions.

However, Luna turned out to be surprisingly stubborn.

She let out a short sigh and began to move the pen.

“I did not flirt with the prince. I merely expressed gratitude for his help. And when you say ‘I won’t stay quiet,’ is that a threat? I am truly curious about what action you will take.”

An expressionless face and neatly written words.

Albert was not pleased with her usual demeanor.

Contrary to his fluctuating emotions, she appeared too calm, which irked him.

However, Luna’s mind was not as calm as it seemed.

It was a much more complicated situation than Albert realized.

Emotions that were just beginning to surface were tangled and unable to find their place.

And naturally, these emotions influenced her actions.

They led her to do things she wouldn’t normally do.

A blue line began to form in the air.

“May Confucius hope that I am connected to the prince….”

Through his rather harsh words, Albert clearly issued a warning.

“Do not cross this line.”

But Luna, unable to control her emotions, inevitably crossed the line.

What could he do?

It was time to pay the price for ignoring the warning.

Thud.

Albert grabbed Luna’s wrist.

He couldn’t bear to see that sentence completed.

Although he exercised restraint, the strength of a disciplined adult male was quite formidable for a noblewoman to feel.

Luna frowned at the sudden pain.

Though momentarily weakened by her appearance, Albert soon spoke with a sigh mixed in.

“I told you not to do it.”

Their eyes met.

The emotions underlying them might have been the same.

“Yes, you’re right. I’ll make it clear this time. Luna, I don’t want you to be connected to the prince.”

“What does that mean?” Luna wanted to ask so badly. But she couldn’t. It was just a hand. Just by holding hands, the way to convey her feelings had disappeared. It felt like it was only showing the difference between them. It felt like being nailed because she couldn’t stand next to him. Why did the fact that she had always taken for granted suddenly feel so uncomfortable? A suffocating sensation pressed on her chest. Albert silently released the wrist he had been holding and gazed sadly out of the window. It was a night when the oblivious moon shone brightly. After that, they didn’t exchange a single word. An awkward silence lingered, but no one dared to break it. The atmosphere persisted even after arriving at the mansion. Daniel and Daisy sensed something was off, but both just brushed it off vaguely. Before going to bed, they briefly glanced at each other in the corridor. They didn’t even say goodnight. They each went to their rooms and lay down on their beds. However, it couldn’t be said to be natural. They couldn’t easily fall asleep. Luna, tossing and turning, got up from her bed and approached the window. Carefully opening it and looking down, she saw the garden bathed in moonlight, exuding beauty. Watching the gently swaying flowers, she felt a sense of calm. At the same time, Albert was doing the same thing. Huffing in frustration, Albert opened the window. Inhaling the cool air seemed to bring some calm to his mind. Suddenly, as his gaze lowered, he saw the moonlit garden. Naturally, she came to mind. “What is Luna doing?” he thought, leaning out of the window. With a small sense of hope. “What is Albert doing?” Luna thought, leaning out of the window with a similar small hope. Their gazes met in mid-air. Thud! As their eyes met, they hastily closed their windows as if competing against each other.

They were in the midst of confusion, experiencing a conflict for the first time.