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"Do you think it will went well?" Iria asked her husband who was sitting beside her.

It had been a while since they finished breakfast and when she thought of what the situation in the pavilion of the imperial garden might be like, the Queen was feeling quite nervous.

What if her aloof brother messed up everything?

Arin Helev laughed when he saw her expression. "Everything will be fine. Why are you like that? You\'re not the one getting married."

"People say twins have a special connection which is even deeper than ordinary siblings," Iria pointed out. "Maybe that\'s true."

Lady Valerie was one of a kind. She knew very well that she wasn\'t the only candidate to become the Duchess of Larica but... she asked to meet and chat with Orius personally. After that, she will make a decision.

Iria loved that unique trait and she became even more clear in her instincts. So, she asked Orius to make some time after breakfast and as of now, they were chatting in the pavilion located inside the imperial garden.

​ "Don\'t worry," Arin calmly said. "You always have a great instinct. I\'m sure that it will work out this time as well."

*

The atmosphere in the imperial garden was pretty calm but quiet. As someone who always struggled to form a relationship with new people, Orius felt somewhat tight-lipped. He didn\'t know what to say to the lady who was sitting opposite him.

What was he supposed to say? This was so new to him and... everything happen too sudden.

"You can say anything or ask me questions if there is something you want to know," was what he managed to say after more than a minute of silence.

Much to his surprise, his words drew a little smile from Lady Valerie\'s lips.

What does this mean? He felt lost.

Valerie Avia was only surprised. It was her first time having some time alone with the Duke and... she was amazed to know that he was very similar to what she imagined.

What he just said now was so like him.

Orius didn\'t know a thing about the noble ladies of this empire. Of course, he knew their faces and their family but... that\'s all. He paid attention to none of them and the woman sitting before him was no exception.

However, if his sister thought that she would be a good match for him, he was willing to give a try. It was the reason why he was sitting here in the very first place.

"Your Grace, do you believe in love?"

Her question was the one that never crossed his mind. As such, it made him even more tight-lipped.

Iria was right yesterday. He spent all his life for her and he never thought of anything else. Even during their time in Jerivia, all he wanted was to keep her safe. Nothing else ever got a place in his heart.

After what seemed to be forever, he met Lady Valerie\'s gaze and replied, "I do."

If the thing that exists between Arin and Iria wasn\'t love, then what would it be? The same goes for his uncle and aunt. Though he never once experienced it, he was sure that love was real and he believed it.

"Then have you ever experience it?" Valerie Avia asked him the second question.

"No, My Lady," he promptly replied this time. "I don\'t know if I\'ll ever experience such a feeling."

He was being honest with her because he want her to know what she was up to. If she ever married him, he wasn\'t sure if he will be able to love her. However, following his uncle\'s advice, he was willing to put in an effort. But... what she said next made him raised a brow.

"That means I still have a chance to be the first one to make you experience that," Valerie Avia pointed out with a smile.

\'Was she a fool?\' This was what first crossed Orius\'s mind.

Understanding his confusion, the Lady said, "Her Majesty told me everything yesterday. She explained to me what might be the outcome if I accept the marriage."

She was willing to gamble her future on him? This reminded Orius of what the Emperor told him that day. He agreed to the arranged marriage and... it was his responsibility not to fail her.

"Are you sure of what you agreed to?" he asked, still feeling a bit lost. "I might not be able to promise you many things, Lady Valerie. To be honest, the idea of marriage itself is still an enigma for me."

"I\'m well aware of that," Lady Valerie said. "But I believe in miracles, Your Grace. My parents had an arranged marriage but they are still happy and so much in love even now. The same goes for my older brother. So, rather than losing this chance for fear of failing, I want to grab it and give my all. That way, I won\'t have anything to regret."

Marriage wasn\'t a joke and they knew that. If she ever regret marrying him, it would be too late but... she was still willing and that left the Duke stupefied!

Did all women think this way? Or... maybe the one sitting before him was different.

"Just as you\'re still clueless about me, I know nothing about you except one thing," Lady Valerie continued. "I know that you\'re a good brother and I believe that a man who loves his sister more than anything else will also make a good husband. That\'s enough for me."

She believed that if she could receive the attention equivalent to one-third of the attention he showered his sister with, they will be able to make it work and one day, the miracle she believed in might come true. He might even reciprocate her feelings.

One day, he might love her and she might be the one to fill his hollow life. She wished to be the one to warm up his heart.

Somehow, Orius Alewine had a feeling that this woman was too good for him.

What if he ended up hurting her?

What if he turned out to be the one who erased her smile and uniqueness?

He started to become afraid of that......