Spoiler Please be patient, Grand Duke /Finding Camellia/참아주세요, 대공

@limueee thank you so much for the spoilers! You’re an angel!!

 

Spoiler: Leading up to the rain scene

Before the rain scene, Lia and Claude were not on good terms since Lia found out that Claude was keeping her letters that were intercepted by the crown princess. Although Claude had apologized before, he was avoiding Lia because he felt guilty.

Now, Lia was about to go to Claude’s mom since there was a picnic going on but it had started to rain

Spoiler: Rain scene

Mtl and some little edits

The rain poured down like a bucket.

I hear the screams of those who have not been able to escape. Then, the servants taking a break ran out and ran towards the greenhouse.

The call to go inside was muffled. But for whatever reason, I couldn’t move.

Lia looked up at the raining sky again and took off the cap of the cloak she was wearing.

A cool raindrop that penetrates to the scalp.

It was not enough to say that it was cool. She even felt refreshed as if she was letting go of all the remnants of thoughts that were in her head.

It’s like the day I felt when I was a kid when I swam secretly in a river in Kosoar.

The day Betty gave me a lily.

The day I felt like I was born again.

The day I became a woman.

“under… .”

It was when a smile spread across her face as she exhaled her deep breath.

Lia’s arm, who was standing there, was pulled. When she lifted her head, she saw Claude running out without an umbrella.

“claude… .”

“run.”

“Yes?”

“run! Why the hell are you standing still in this rain?”

“I feel good.”

He looked down at her as if embarrassed. Rainwater ran down his dark hair and fell on her face.

Lia turned and smiled brightly and caressed his cheek.

“Now… Are you looking into my eyes?”

Claude’s stiff jaws engage strongly. The bright blue eyes contrasted with the turbidity of the son-in-law, making it even more dazzling.

“I never escaped.”

“Lies. You avoided it.”

Swallowing dry saliva, he slowly closed his eyes and opened them.

“I fear you will get scare of me. Those frightened eyes… I was afraid to see that again.”

There was no hesitation in the voice of recognition.

“Because of yesterday’s work?”

It was hard to hear each other’s voices because of the pouring rain.

Her already pale face looks unusually whiter. Instead of answering, Claude wrapped the back of Camelia’s hand caressing my cheek. Then he led it to his chest.

I wanted her to feel the beat of my thumping, pounding heart. No matter what happens, I want you to know that my heart beats so violently only in front of you.

The dark heart of wanting to tear that dress to shreds right away and swallow it in one bite. greedy desires. The ardent longing that I show only in front of you.

“It’s scary.”

The smile erased from Camelia’s face at the serious voice.

“now… I can’t stand this feeling at all. That’s why I’m afraid that you’re afraid of me.”

“Claude… .”

Camelia grabbed his shirt as it touched the palm of his hand. Clenched fists, as if clenching a heart.

“I am not afraid of you anymore.”

this leads up to snu snu part. The snu snu part kinda escalated quickly here.

 

Expanding on @FictionalPeony 's awesome spoiler

Spoiler: “Expansion on backstory "

• During the 3 years, Claude is away, Princess Rosina intercepts all of Lia’s letters she tries to send to her mother while she’s finishing school.
• Rosina has been running the country and to protect Lia, she holds the letters so that no other can intercept them fearing if there are things they can use against her.
• When Claude returns he asks for the letters after being with Lia.

***

• Back in the North - Claude’s mother, Jasmine discovers that he has her letters. She scolds him, telling him that he needs to give her these letters and be honest with her.
• Claude agrees and he plans to tell Lia soon.
• It’s later the night of a large party where the minor nobles from the kingdom have arrived to celebrate and meet Claude’s fiancé the future Duchess of Del Ihar.
• Lia has been studying to take her teaching exams and she’s dressed waiting to be escorted by Claude. She heads to Claude’s office to look for a book while waiting for him to get dressed.
• Owen is there kneeling in front of the fireplace with a box of something and he gets up to help get a book for her. In the process, Lia discovers the box containing her letters.
• Owen without Claude’s permission was trying to protect Claude was in the process of burning them.

Summaries

Spoiler: “Ch. 95-98: Part I”

Owen was embarrassed and tried to approach her.
“My Lady, that's..."

"These are the letters I sent to Louvre during the war. But why are they here? No way... Did the Grand Duke block them? Is this the reason why my letters haven't been delivered through Louvre?”

"No! It's not what he did, My Lady! The Grand Duke was also greatly troubled when he received these. Please believe me. I—?

"Then why didn't he tell me?" How come...!” Lia shouted in contemplation. Then she sat on the floor and took out letters from the box one by one. All of them were the ones she had sent. There were hundreds of letters.

Some have already become ash, but there were more left. She closed her eyes in pain.

“Camelia.”

Lia opened her eyes to Claude's voice. Dressed up in an evening suit tailored to his body, he was looking down at her with a cold look.

"Please explain it to me, Your Grace. You knew…these letters…you knew how much I worked so hard on them.”

"Lia, please don’t sit on the cold floor.” Approaching her, he tried to reach for Camelia and raise her up.

"Don't touch me!” Lia refused sharply and brushed away his hand. Then she lifted herself up, catching her trembling breath.

Claude blocked her with a desperate look. "At that time, everything that went into Louvre was being censored. That's why Rosina kept your letter separately. For your safety... I couldn't help it.”

“Then you should have said something. You knew I was writing these letters, so you should have told me to stop. I didn’t even know…!” She waited for a reply every day, and she cried as she hugged the letters that came back occasionally.

She could no longer carry on with her words. How should these emotions be defined?

Angry? Disappointed? Frustrated? Annoyed? Sadness?

If they wanted her to understand, that's enough. It was a wartime situation at the time, and literally, the Louvre was a dangerous area. It was also expected that the letter would not be fully delivered.

But she didn't know that Rosina had so deliberately separated herself from her mother.

If… If her letter had been delivered to her mother, she wouldn't have entered the louver through Sharon's dressing room, and Claude wouldn't have shot the woman.

Above all, she might not have had to send her mother to Gheor.

"Rosina wanted to give it back to you. But I couldn't do that....” Claude's voice became muddy as if submerged in water.

"But how can you burn it?" If you burn it …Will it happen?”

With her eyes wide open, she took a step closer to him. At her miserable heart, her eyes were distorted and her tears were about to fall.

However, Camelia endured all the rising emotions that were swelling within her, clenching her fists.

“My Lady, it was my fault. I was worried for His Excellency who has been concerned about the letters, so I tried to burn them.” Owen, who was watching, knelt down.

"Ha!” Lia place a hand to her forehand and looked away.

Confused she wondered...whose fault was it? Who should she blame?

Still looking away, she took a deep breath as she stared at a painting hanging on a wall. She was afraid that the more she continued the conversation, the more words would escape from her mouth that she may soon regret.

In front of her eyes, the faces that were affectionate to her passed away one by one. “I… I guess it's the way of the nobles that my mother mentioned. Focusing only on the outward perfection, losing the most important thing…”

"Lia, I can explain it all in detail."

"No. Do not.”

Claude reached out as if to hold her, but Camelia backed away from him coldly. Then she took a step, glaring at his collar.

"The more I listen to it, the more miserable it will be. Why did you….I think I know.”

There should be no aristocrat that belongs to Louvre. Rosina would have tried to completely remove the knowledge from anyone that she was from Louvre. Even if it takes a millennium.

Lia’s mind was clouded by the uncontrollable anguish. She passed by Claude who stood stiffly and then picked up the book that Owen dropped. Owen didn't know what to do with her icy cold attitude.

Claude stared at the fireplace and said nothing.

Lia’s heart was heavy as if it would be crushed by the air sitting in the study.

As if she had already heard the story when she opened the door, Pepe came in with a worried face and stood there with an expression that looked like she was about to cry.

“Get dressed… I think I need a little touch-up, Pepe." Lia said in a trembling voice. Jewel-like tears welled up on the tip of her chin as she smiled, and then dripped.

Lia, who wiped the tears with the back of her hand, turned to Claude as he was still standing in front of the fireplace, she said.

"I'll just fix my makeup… I will be back." Camelia returned to her room without regret.

Claude's eyes moved only after hearing the sound of the door closing.

“Get up, Owen."

He turned to Owen indifferently and picked up a wad of letters from his that had fallen to the floor. Blood spurts out of the hand holding it.

"Why did you try to burn them?”

The Grand Duke's voice was still calm. Like someone who has been emotionally castrated. Claude, who turned back to an expressionless face, asked again.

"Owen, answer me."

"I heard the conversation between Master and the Dowager. I thought these letters would continue to cause discord, so I tried to get rid of it with my own hands." Owen trembled, grabbing both hands.

Claude picked up a box containing a letter and put it on his desk.

It was something that was going to happen someday. This was his fault for not returning it earlier to her.

"Eventually..." Claude looked down at the lit garden with his hand in his pockets.

It's as frustrating as an intangible force strangling his neck. The sight of him who could neither cry nor shout took his breath away. With a cramped heart and a dry face, he hit the wall next to the window with his fist. His large fists trembled and soon loses their strength and falls.

***
“I had a preconceived notion because she came from common stock, but I think she’s better than I thought.”

After eating, the women who sent the men to the game room gathered in the drawing-room.

Throughout the meal, Camelia became a spectacle for the nobility. Everyone said, "How is it so different from when we saw her wear pants?"

Whenever they tried to ask Camelia questions, Claude's ferocious gaze followed. Thanks to this, Camelia was able to finish her meal without being harassed by a barrage of questions.

Perhaps because she forced food down, her throat felt stinging and clogged. The maid, who noticed her demeanor, brought tea that was good for her digestion.

Camelia tried not to think about anything as much as possible. She forced herself to attend this dinner party for Jasmine’s sake.

No matter how angry she was with Claude, she could not vent her anger. Though, he really didn't do anything wrong either.

The person Lia needed to be angry with is Rosina. It was normal to question Rosina and why Rosina felt she had to do so.

But why? Why was she angrier with Claude?

He had told her not to hide anything and tell him, but he kept this secret from her. He wants to know everything about her, yet he hides and does not show it.

He finally got her to say “I love you”, but he has yet to tell her that he loves her.

"What are your parents like? What kind of business are you running?"

When asked by a young lady, Jasmine, who was drinking tea and watching the conversation, stepped up.

"She's a lady from the House of Bale in the East. It seems like you're trying to create a difference in status, so I must intervene. Everyone knows the situation.”

The impact of Jasmine's words was great. A lady from the Bale family, the high noble family from the East.

The eyes of those who were aware of the rumors spreading in the capital city. The young lady was convinced that the rumored Camelian Bale was the woman in front of her.

Camelia thanked Jasmine with a soft smile. The family name of the Bale was one she did not wish to used anymore, but eventually, that saved her from endless questioning.

"It's a waltz. Shall we dance to a song?"

"Oh, my. Shall we?"

As if to evoke the atmosphere, men who could not participate in the game began to ask their wives to dance.

“My Lady."

Turning, Canilia also received a dance request. The opponent was a relative of Claude, who looked only about eight years old.

Leah accepted her little gentleman's request to dance with his big eyes blinking and reaching out his hand.

"Nice to meet you, gentleman.”

Due to the large height difference, Camelia had to hold the child's hand and bend her upper body. Dark brown hair and chubby cheeks.

Smiling, Lia danced with the child to the music. The cheerful tune lightened the tip of the toe, and the child's bright laughter eased her complicated mind little by little.

"Oh, my. How lovely."

“They are such a cute couple."

“Will the Grand Duke be jealous?”

“I think she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. More than Princess Rosina.”

"Come to think of it, isn't the Princess engaged to the Marquis of Bale?

Their evaluation was changing as easily as if turning over one’s palm. Leah listened to their conversation in one ear and let it out in the other. It seems that yellow flowers were spinning and blowing in the wind. She grabbed the child's hand laughing and spun until someone's hand touches her back.

When she turned her head, a man close to Lia’s age smiled and reached out.

“May I have this dance?”

Camelia blinked and tried to come up with a word of rejection. But she didn't even have time to refuse, when Claude, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere grabbed the man’s hand away.

“She will dance with me."

“Older brother. No, Grand Duke. Well…I was dancing with my future sister-in-law. Can I continue to do that?” Asked the young 8-year-old child.

“No.”

(T/N: LOL….He’s jealous of his 8-year-old cousin)

Everyone stood up at the sudden appearance of the Grand Duke. Lia raised the corners of her trembling lips and said to the child. “It was fun, gentleman.”

The child blushed to smile bashfully and then ran away to find his mother. Camelia walked away following his steps, leaving Claude behind. She didn't want to see his face now.

After giving the excuse to Edith that she wasn't feeling well, Camelia walked through the bustling drawing-room and she stepped out the front door.

A cool breeze blows and shakes her well-groomed hair. The farther she moved away from the noise that roared through her head, the more distinct her emotions resurfaced.

Lia started to briskly move her feet franticly. All the busy servants were inside the house to welcome guests, and only the gardener's hut was lit in the distance.

“Lia.”

Claude who was following her reached out and pulled her arm. Lia turned up at him as she ran and bit her mouth closed.

The moonlight falls over the man's face who was breathing heavily. A longing that cannot be expressed in words filled his face.

Claude took her arm and dragged her across the garden.

“Claude!”

Camelia was drawn to him, half-led she was sucked deeper and deeper into stillness. The place he headed for was a cage-shaped greenhouse on one side of the garden. It was a small place to take a break from the hot sun for a while, and it was a place she's never been to before.

Inside, Claude sat her down on a plush sofa in the center of the greenhouse. Her rich dress unfolded, covering more than half of the sofa.

His hands trembled as placed his hands on her white shoulders. Lia looked up at his face distorted with desperation.

“Explain it then.” she asked.

“Lia… .”

Was his desperation contagious? Her body began to tremble, too, and her breathing became short.

“Say something… Persuade me, please.”

Spoiler: “Ch. 95-98: Part II”

“Persuasion…What are you thinking!”

A shiver of anger crept out of his neck. It was the first time he ever got mad at her. But Camelia did not avoid his sharp gaze.

She wasn't scared or surprised.

Then, with his eyes closed, he shook his head as if to suppress his anger and continued.

“Camelia, I didn’t hide it to hurt you. I was scared... . I am afraid that you will resent me and be sad.” Claude's face is stained with wretchedness. His feelings, he said, were something she knew too.

When she had to hide that she was a woman, she was terrified that she might disappoint him. She was afraid that he would be disappointed by her lie, that he would resent and hate her.

“Trust me, I didn’t mean…I ”

Camelia pursed her lips and she looked into his blue eyes.

Believe me.

She never once doubted him. She also knew that he wasn't lying to harm her. Yet it was so sad and her heart ached.

Her green eyes soaked in moonlight flutter like a lake.

“Then, I’m sorry… Tell me please." He asked.

Lia tried to hold it in, but tears ran down her cheeks and fell to the back of her hand. “Even though it may seem insignificant, they were precious letters to me… You made me sad. So…”

In a voice that was tightly locked, sparsely leaking out, Claude pulled her into his arms with all his might.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for hiding it, Camelia.”

His jacket, which buried her face, held her favorite smell. The deep scent of lavender that she smelled the day she first fell in love.

“To you…I didn’t want to be hated.”

Lia wanted to hug him and cry, but she knew she had to handle something first. Camelia gently pushed Claude's chest away. He looked down darkly at her pushing hand and raised his gaze.

“Please return the letters. Let me handle it myself.”

For a moment she felt his hesitation, but eventually, Claude nodded his head. “Alright.”

Only after Claude agreed did Lia reach out and hug him. She could feel his large arms trembling across her back.

In the distance, the lights of the mansion felt far away and distant. He kissed her on the shoulder and lifted his head to find her lips. Most, wet lips overlap, and a hot, soft tongue penetrates.

Lia naturally wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and touched his red ears. She did not have a single sip of alcohol but her throat seems to feel dry and parched with a terrible thirst.

Tongues intertwined between their lips clinging as they sucked each other’s lips as if they were biting.

Each time the jaw muscles moved, they were detached and stuck together repeatedly.

Licking her lower lip with his tongue, he got up and put his knees on the sofa. As his body leaned forward, Lia’s body naturally tilted back and she raised her head.

All the lights in the garden seemed to be facing here. It looked like a foggy world under the light reflected from the pale castle glass.

Dark hair that ran down his forehead tickled her skin, and his breath flew past her lips, lower down, nibbling the white, thin nape of her neck.

The moment his hot hand moved under her dress, she trembled startled.

Camelia quickly pushed him away. Though the greenhouse was the middle of the garden it is also a structure made of glass on all sides.

No matter how dark the greenhouse was, there were lights everywhere.

“Please,…not here.” Her terrified voice was urgent.

As he stared at Camelia who pushed him back, he let out a hot sigh and placed his forehead on her chest. Lia’s heart sank once again when she saw the neat hem of her dress was disorganized.

Claude still held her in his arms and sat motionless for a while. His gaze deepened as he stared at the distant place as if he had lost his focus. The heat of his hand that moved from her waist to her back was hot and scalding.

***

When Lia returned to the drawing-room, the ladies were on the verge of going back to the bedroom. When they saw Camelia’s expression that appeared with Claude’s, they talked behind closed doors. It was because her eyes were red and anyone could see her as a woman who had just stopped crying.

The Grand Duke followed Camelia as soon as she passed the drawing-room. The strange atmosphere of the too returned long after.

The official dinner ended with the men from the game room heading to the winery to drink all night long.

“I will follow you. So, don’t take it to heart and tell me.” Pepe said as Lia was tired and was about to go to bed after washing her face.

Lia, who was quietly looking at Pepe, tapped the seat next to her. “Come here.”

Pepe, with tears in her eyes, approaches her by sitting on the edge of the bed.

Lia took a deep breath and put her knees together and wiped Pepe’s face. “Do you not want to go back to Kosoar?”

“Why Kosoar?”

“Your family is there. Betty and your friends.”

Lia’s expression darkened when she recalled Betty's name. Then Pepe, who was staring at her pain, said,
“I do miss my family and friends, but I think where I want to be and where I need to be is different. I think it is right for me to be by your side. By your side is where I should be.”

Lia, somewhat depressed, rubbed Pepe’s cheeks and the corners of her eyes and nodded her head.

Pepe gently stroked Lia’s shoulder and head, and then laid Lia down on the bed. Then she meticulously covered Lia with a blanket before she went outside.

Leah ruminated on the things that she drove through today one by one. A day messed up with mistakes and excuses, anxiety and impatience.

Eventually, unable to fall asleep, she tossed and turned and grabbed the book by her window. When she lit an extinguished lantern, a light just enough to cover the table spread softly.

She dipped the quill in ink and started writing. When one’s head is complicated, you have to do anything.

Nothing can be done as it is. If one rather lived a normal life as a commoner, then one must earn money persistently. She would have done anything to get out of hunger, but now she was standing too high on the subject of having nothing.

Neither aristocrats nor commoners, the existence itself are ambiguous.

By the time she read through every single book, copying frantically, it was already dawning. It was the time when the darkness disappears when the lantern's light becomes useless. A flock of migratory birds could be seen flying in the distance.

Intoxicated by the dreamy feeling, her eyes begin to be closed by the belated exhaustion.

Lia looked down blankly at her third finger, which had been smeared with ink, and slowly closed her eyes. At that moment, she wished that someone would move her to bed like this.

The heavy feeling of not wanting to move a single fingertip of hers made her mind wander.

How much time has passed?

Sitting in a chair, she fell asleep leaning against a cold window. Then a soft sheet touches the back and a warm warmth wraps around her body as she is lifted up. In her dreams, Lia seemed to know who the owner of the lavender-scented arm pillow was.

Impulsively, she pulled the collar of the person who was about to leave her side and dug into the arms. Then a man lying motionless wrapped his arms around her small body and hugged her tightly.

“I love you, Camelia.”

At first glance, it seemed like a whisper.

Spoiler: “Ch. 95-98: Part III”

• Lia awakens later and decides to ride Eli, the horse that was gifted to her by Claude.
• On her ride, she runs into Claude’s cousin, Carso (카르소) who will be the steward to the Duke.
• When she arrives back a the stable, Claude is there asking where’s she has been.
• She is surprised at his cold behavior and his sudden avoidance of contact when the night before they had shared a passionate kiss. (Yep he stills feels guilty about his actions and it’s hard for him to face her)
• Also, he has two letters in his office. Once from the Empire and one from Gheor territory
• (T/N: It’s from Ian who has invited Lia to visit his mother in Gheor. Let’s just say your ML is extremely jealous and nervous as he’s still insecure he will lose Lia.)
• She explains she was exercising with Eli.
• Claude has to explain how dangerous it was for her to go alone and helps her inside suggesting she rest as he knows she was up late.
• He escorts back into the mansion/castle.
• Sitting at his desk, Carso visits and talks with Claude.
• Claude asks if it was Carso who was in the woods riding with Lia.
• Carso is nervous as he says “Yes”. They had happened to meet by accident as he wasn’t aware she was out there.
• Claude asks Carso what was Camelia’s expression? “Was it angry or sad?”
• Stunned at the question Carso doesn’t reply quickly he had assumed that Claude would start to question why they were riding together.
• “Tell me. How was she?”
• “Uh..well…she was fine. She seemed happy though maybe a little tired. So we ended the conversation right away. Eli really likes the lady. I was surprised.”
• Claude smiles bitterly and then dismisses Carso as he goes back to work.
• Looking at Claude curiously, Carso can’t believe the change he sees in his cousin.
• The guests from last night are to attend a tea party held by Jasmine soon and he is supposed to join them.
• Carso before he heads out decides he needs to tease his usually stiff and proper cousin.
• He quips out loud teasingly “…the great Archduke Claude Del Ihar fell into true love.”
• Claude doesn’t look up as he’s reading through his work.
• “It’s not even gossip. Because I have been in love with Lia every single day.”
• Stunned into silence, Carso can only gape and Claude for a moment. Then he leaves to head to the part.

***

• Back in her room, Lia goes through all the old letters that Claude has left her on her desk. Reading through each one...she makes the decision to burn them.
• She starts to compose a letter to Princess Rosina but after several attempts, she crumples the papers and tosses them away.
• As Pepe comes in, Lia tells her she should head out to a tea party as it’s getting later in the day.
• Pepe is concerned that it is going to rain soon and may she should not go.
• Lia decides to go instead.
• As she left the mansion, she was surprised by the colder wind than in the morning and pulled the collar of her cloak a little more. She saw people sitting in the garden in the distance go into the greenhouse one by one.
  
  It was just past noon, but the sky was as dark as early evening. It was when Lia, who had found Jasmine, tried to speed up her steps to join her. She thought she saw the lightning flash. Then the dark clouds collapsed and raindrops fell. As she lifted her head, wiping away the raindrops that had fallen on the back of her nose, a roaring shower began to pour.
  
  "Oh!"
  
  The rain began to pour down like a bucket.
  
  She could hear the screams of those who have not been able to escape. Then in the distance, the servants taking a break ran out towards the greenhouse.
  
  The calls to go inside the mansion are muffled, but for whatever reason, she couldn't move.
  
  Lia took off the cowl of her cloak that was draped over her head and raised her face up to the raining sky again.
  
  The cold raindrops pierce her scalp. To say she was cold was not true. She felt refreshed for some reason as if she was letting go of all the remnants of her thoughts that had been in her head and heart for the last few days.
  
  As if, it reminded her of the memories and feelings of the times when she secretly swam by Betty in the rivers of Kosoar as a child.
  
  The day she was given a lily as a gift from Betty.
  
  The day she felt like she was reborn again.
  
  The day she became a woman and on that day...
  
  "Hah…” When she let out the breath that had been trapped deep inside her, a smile spread across her face.
  
  Lia's arm, which was held to her side was suddenly was gripped by a strong hand. A hard chest touched her back and she lifted her head to see Claude out of breath without an umbrella.
  
  "Ah…”
  
  "Run."
  
  "What?"
  
  "Run! Why the hell are you standing still in this rain?”
  
  “It feels good.”
  
  He looked down at her as if he was embarrassed. Rainwater ran down his dark hair and dripped onto her face.
  
  As she turned around to face him, Lia smiled brightly and she stroked his cheek.
  
  “Now… are you finally looking at my eyes?”
  
  Claude's stiff jaws engage strongly. His bright blue eyes contrasted with his expression of turbidity, making it even more dazzling.
  
  “I never avoided it.”
  
  "Lie. You avoided it.”
  
  Swallowing a deep breath, he slowly closed his eyes and opened them. “I fear I will scare you. Your frightened eyes... I was afraid to see you again.”
  
  There was no hesitation in her acknowledgment voice. “Because of what happened yesterday?”
  
  It was hard to hear each other's voices because of the pouring rain.
  
  Her already pale face looks unusually whiter. Instead of answering, Claude wrapped the back of Camelia's hand caressing his cheek. Then he pulled it down and led it to his chest.
  
  He wanted her to feel his heart beating as it thumped wildly. No matter what happens, he wanted her to know that his heart beats so violently only in front of her. Only for her.
  
  His dark heart of wanting to tear that dress to shreds right away and swallow it in one bite. His greedy desires. The ardent and powerful longing that he could show only in front of her.
  
  “It is scary.”
  
  The smile on Camelia's face faded at the seriousness in his voice.
  
  "Now..I can't stand this feeling at all. That's why I'm afraid you're afraid of me."
  
  “Claude… ”
  
  Camelia grabbed his shirt, reaching out with the palm of her hand. A fist clenched tightly as if clenching her heart.
  
  Looking straight into his eyes she said directly, “I am not afraid of you anymore.”
  
  The moment her jewel-like eyes fluttered, he swallowed her small lips like a beast. He wrapped his tongue around the root of her tongue so violently that she couldn't breathe and swallowed every bit of her sweet saliva.
  
  “Hah, Claude--”
  
  The moment they parted their lips briefly, breathing heavily, the two entered the mansion. Water dripped down the carpet.
  
  “Camelia.”
  
  The world seems to melt once again in his thick yet tender voice. As she climbed the stairs, he suddenly pressed her body hungrily against the wall. His body temperature permeated through his clothing and she could feel the heat of his devouring kiss brushed with the strength of his body.
  
  Lia's cape was peeled off and thrown down. He then pressed her down without even climbing half the stairs.
  
  She sat across the middle of her steps, staring, seeing the hunger. Then he cupped her breast that rose above her thin dress and bit the nape of her neck. She hurriedly glanced down her steps, but then Claude grabbed her chin, and whispered huskily.
  
  “No one is coming. As the owner of this place is… It is us."
  
  In a fierce confirmation, he moved his hand below the hem of the dress and moved upward. Hands full of calluses and hard knuckles brushed her soft skin. He caressed her shivering, yet warm thighs with a gentle yet determined touch and moved in search of pleasure.
  
  "Ah!" Lia took in her shaky breath and arched her head back. Hearing her he swore, grabbed her body, and hugged her.
  
  Lia clasped Claude's neck and hung onto him, and a small scream of pleasure escaped. Then Claude sucked it in like sweet honey and whispered as he licked her lips with his tongue.
  
  “I hope you don’t have a maid in your room.”
  
  ***
  
  The secret door opened gently.
  
  Her skin turns red with the touch and sucking of the lips, the sensitive sensation as if it will burst just by touching it. Moans mixed with the sound of rain hitting against the window.
  
  Holding her breath, she turned her head and saw the shadows of the two people reflected in there. As Claude rolled his waist and pushes the sheet out and sinks deep into her, his firm chiseled back muscles contract tightly.
  
  She was embarrassed to see her white legs swaying, and when she wrapped them around his waist, somehow a deeper sense of pleasure was stimulated.
  
  "Hah--!”
  
  Lia bit her lip. Then he placed one hand on her face and leaned over and licked her lips capturing her breath.
  
  The texture of muscles deeply dug from the back of the hand and wrist to the elbow with deep blue blood vessels. From thick and hard skin to sweat drops.
  
  Her hearing was eroded by the sound of her voice and rough gasps following the visual stimulation. Now the sound of rain felt so far away.
  
  Instantly, the sensation spread throughout the body along with a strong dull ache. Startled, she almost screamed and stood on her toes.
  
  With her stiff lips open wide, she tightened as she stared straight at his face with bloodshot eyes. In line with his movements, her world shook together, and eventually, her eyes turned white and nothing was seen.
  
  At the peak of extreme pleasure, the two urgently called each other's names. The back of the hand that grabbed the sheet turned white, and the chewed lips did not open tightly.
  
  After the love affair that frantically belonged to each other, he adjust his position and collapse his weight above her.
  
  A man who kisses Lia's wet cheeks and forehead one after another hugs her thin body while lying on his side by her side. All she can do, exhausted, was catch her breath lying next to him.
  
  But he wasn't. He got up casually, lifted Lia, and headed to the bathroom. As he enters he placed them both in her bathtub of warm water, the overflowing water spreads across floor tiles.
  
  The world beyond the window covered with the foggy castle was dreamy like a city of fog. Leah was held by him, unable to lift a single finger of hers.
  
  He pours warm water on her shoulder and smiles and kisses her forehead.
  
  “You burned them all.”
  
  Her closed eyelids lifted up at those words. Lia took a deep breath in her and then nodded her head.
  
  “It didn’t matter… The letters were just a thing of the past.”
  
  "Sorry. I should have told you sooner..."
  
  “Thank you for giving it back. Thank you for allowing me to organize... .”
  
  The man hugged her tighter without saying a word. Placing her ear over his heart, she closed her eyes again and smiled at the pleasant rhythm.
  
  Now it sounded right. The only heartbeat that neither the sound of rain nor the cry of anyone intrudes on.
  
  "I love you. Camelia...I love you."
  
  Lia opened her eyes and raised her head. Looking down at her, her somewhat startled face, he gave her a silly smile.
  
  “I love you, Lia.”

.

The author's manhwa and novel have gotten really popular lately that she just added the 1st side story for readers after finishing it last year. It's really cute!

You'll get to read about Wade, Kiernan, Rosina, and of course Prince Wade and Claude and Lia's two kids. Jessica (adoption and who looks similar and beautiful like Lia and Carem (카르엠 ) their son.

Pretty good as Ian becomes Jessica's Godfather, Wade is Carem's and both Claude and Ian become overprotective men.

New Readers - for all spoilers please go to the beginning of the thread for the links.

 

thank youuu so much, you are such an angel ❤️❤️

 

@limueee Oh my.. there are side stories?? I only have the main story… if its possible, can you share the side stories too? Pleasee

 

thanks a lot for your summary spoiler.

Just want to ask a few things

1. Can you give mtl of their reunion after the war? I think your summary is good, just need more .
Claude is so boldd.. Entering bathwater with camelia naked inside

Also the mtl when claude find out lia is a woman (when she is getting fever)

2. How wade and rosina find out lia is woman?

3. Lia's case with diamond thief and anti government, is it happened after the war?

4. When lia meet her mother, is it before terrorist anti goverment case?
Since you said lia met her in louvre and you also said her mother moves to gaior after the case.

 

Spoiler: No.2

Lia told Wade and Rosina about her and how she came to pretend to be a guy. After that, Rosina eventually started caring for Lia like a sister and even giving her a private space all to herself at the palace. So she can be herself.

Spoiler: No. 3

diamond thief was after the war. Lia and Claude were together (prologue scene) when someone ‘stole’ the diamonds. Later on, it was known that it was plotted by Kieran’s mom.

anti-government happens all throughout the novel. Most of the fight scenes and important parts of the anti-government arc was after the war.

Spoiler: No. 4

Lia briefly sees her mom after the war. Then she visits her in Gaior when she moved to Ilhar. They spent most of the time catching up and talking about Lia’s life. As I recall, her mom also came when she gave birth.

I’ll leave the mtls to @limueee I have no patience to edit them lmao

 

woaaa... Thanks a lot for the mtl
They both so hot...

thank u...

Finally finished read all spoiler.

As for wade know she is female, i think its claude who tell him, after claude finished diamond case.

 

They're on ridibook's site. The author just released 7 chapters to the side story last week. You can use the 1 free chapter a week to read them. I'm back at school so time to share summaries will be tough for me.

For Item 1 - highly suggest head to ridibooks for those chapters. Ridibooks allows free chapters per week. MTL is pretty simple.

 

Thanks so much!!!! I will try getting the side story soon as I have all the other chapters… appreciate the spoilers !

 

would you like to exchange? I have 1, 3, 7 opened already

 

Can someone post the tea party chapters ?. The one where she finally reveals herself as female and possibly till the other bitch called the hostess gets slapped by the pathetic father ?...

Please...

 

Hi, is there spoiler from chapter 112-121? I can't seem to find it.

 

FYI lol





The novel and manhwa are being translated in English officially through Manta!!!

It’s the first novel offered in Manta

 

Thank you so much for this

 

Betty...that maid looks suspicious. She flinchs every time Camellia mentions her mother as if she's hiding something

Any spoilers regarding her ?

 

Geez I came here for spoilers but here I am rn laughing at those essay posts

 

Oh my God. I love the sexual tensions and how the author wrote it. Damn. Glad I've made it this far.

 

I came to ask anything on the Duke, even in the side stories? His ending just doesn't satisfy me! Noble or not, he got very easy. He still had his son and an illegitimate daughter who after facing much difficulties is now a Duchess. He still has his honor intact, as no one hates him and his children specially the daughter is in touch with him on good terms.



Also did Lia's mother got married to anyone? Someone said she gave birth or so...

 

. As far as the side stories go: there were no mentions of marquis bale in it. It all mostly revolved around Camellia and her children. For Lia’s mother… I’m not sure if she got remarried?Camellia’s mother didn’t give birth as far as I know (I’ve read the whole thing but its been a while) although the mother was present during when Camellia gave birth

Betty knew Camellia’s mom. She feels guilty about Camellia’s situation because she was involved in it too but hasn’t acted on fixing her mistakes. Which leads to the scene where Camellia now residing in Del Casa, and Betty comes and visit…they talk and then its the scene where they discover Lia was pregnant.