My Dear Grand Duke on a Leash - Chapter 104

Chapter 52.2 — Night Getaway (2)

Cain glanced at Riette and Ian for a moment, letting out a short sigh as if displeased before firmly closing the door. He was about to move toward the driver’s seat when he suddenly stopped in front of the car. Like a hunting dog catching the faintest sound of movement, his head snapped sharply in that direction.

Riette quickly lifted her head, her gaze locked on him.

“Grand Duke…? What’s wrong? Is someone coming?”

“….”

He pointed to the garage door through which she had just exited. He stared at it for a moment, his brow furrowed, before finally relaxing his shoulders with a small sigh.

A few seconds later, the door slowly creaked open.

At the unexpected arrival of a guest, Riette’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Duke Saint-Cyr?”

Saint-Cyr, who had descended the steps first, reached a hand inside the doorway. Then, a beautifully graceful hand, like something from a painting, emerged from the shadows. Soon, a slender figure clad in a black robe stepped into the garage.

Riette stuck her head out the window.

“Sister!”

Riette recognized her even from the shadows. Bea, accompanied by Saint-Cyr, descended the stairs with a gentle smile, her eyebrows slightly drooping.

“Riette. You’re still here. I thought I was too late, but I’m glad I made it in time.”

“Sister, what are you doing here? How did you know… Ah.”

The Grand Duke had said he would pass on the news of this ‘midnight escape of love’ to Mother through Sister. That means she must have known about the escape plan as well.

Bea walked up to the limousine and gave Cain a slight nod.

Cain responded with a polite bow before moving toward the front of the car, distancing himself from them. It seemed he was giving the sisters space to greet each other comfortably. Saint-Cyr also nodded silently to him before stepping back and standing a few paces behind Bea.

“Riette, I…”

Bea, who had walked up to Riette, blinked in slight surprise. She had just noticed Ian sitting on Riette’s lap.

When the child’s eyes met Bea’s, her expression immediately darkened.

“This child… Could he be the Grand Duke’s…?”

“He’s a servant! The servant the Grand Duke brought with him!”

“A servant…?”

Bea glanced back and forth between Ian and Cain, her gaze filled with doubt.

Cain let out a short sigh as if annoyed.

“This is my youngest brother, Aeacus Acheron. We’re taking him away in secret, so I ask that you keep his existence hidden from Prince Narkissis.”

“Oh, your brother…”

She continued to glance between Cain and Ian, her confusion evident. Cain wore an indifferent expression as though he didn’t care whether she believed him to be a shameless remarried man.

Then, she turned to face Riette again.

“Riette, I understand it’s your choice, and I agreed with the Grand Duke, but I came because I’m really worried. If I send you off now, I don’t know when we’ll see each other again…”

If everything went according to plan, she would return to Chalonné in a year. But there was no need to share these details with her sister. If it were Bea, she would do whatever it took to stop this reckless plan of coming back as an ex-wife.

As she gazed into her sister’s tearful, beautiful eyes, Riette felt a lump form in her throat. One year. She had never been apart from her family for that long. For Riette, who had never even disobeyed her mother’s order to stay indoors, this truly felt like the biggest decision of her life.

Bea reached into her robe and pulled something out.

“I was planning to give this to you in case the day ever came when I had to leave your side. I didn’t think it would happen so suddenly, though…”

Riette tilted her head as she accepted her sister’s gift.

“What is this?”

It was a glossy ivory enamel trinket box. The edges were adorned with raised Art Nouveau patterns, accented in gold, and the lid’s handle featured a golden rose, the symbol of Chalonné.

Bea stopped Riette before she could open the lid. Looking up, Riette met her sister’s gaze. Bea forced a smile, trying to lift the corners of her mouth.

“Open it when you’re alone. You can always look at gifts, but we… we can’t anymore.”

Bea’s amethyst eyes filled with more tears. Riette reached out and gently wiped them away from her sister’s delicate face.

Riette smiled a little wider as though trying to reassure her sister.

“Anyone would think I’m off to war! After a few months, Mother should calm down… right? When that time comes, I’ll contact you often, send you gifts, and, um… send pictures too!”

To be honest, it wasn’t far from the truth of going off to war.

Still, she understood her sister’s feelings completely. For Bea, who didn’t know Riette would return in a year, today was their last night together. Moreover, Bea had just had the grandest wedding on the continent only days ago. How heavy must it have weighed on her heart, knowing her younger sister was having such a secretive marriage?

Bea gently stroked Riette’s still-swollen cheek.

“I’m sorry, Riette.”

A clear tear slipped down Bea’s cheek, and Riette’s shoulders tensed in surprise.

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