A Touch of Shadow: The Duke's Obsession

Caelith sat beside the window, embroidering a silk pouch. Warm sunlight streamed across her figure, draping her in soft gold. Her hands moved steadily—needle rising and falling with practiced grace.

Yet at some point, the needle stopped in midair and remained motionless for a very long time.

Rhaegar walked over quietly from behind and gathered her into his arms.

"What are you thinking about?"

Caelith leaned back against his chest, smiling somewhat bitterly.

"I was thinking..." Her voice softened. "In a single lifetime, how many people must one inevitably disappoint?"

Rhaegar tightened his embrace around her. "You haven’t disappointed anyone. What people expect of us cannot always align with what we want from ourselves. We live our lives the way we know how."

Caelith said nothing, but the bitter smile disappeared.

Sunlight spilled through the lattice windows, bathing the two of them in warmth.

***

Meanwhile, within the rear courtyard of Ostenton Embroidery House, Lady Lian slowly pushed open the door to the chamber where Lucas had once lived.

The room was untouched––he had not taken anything with him, but there was, however, something new placed on his writing table.

It was a small eggshell-colored envelope, with only one word written upon it:

Godmother.

Lady Lian sighed and opened the letter.

Before she had even finished reading it, tears were already falling down her cheeks, splattering over the smudged ink.

The letter itself was short, as if written in haste.

Godmother, I failed you.

Ostenton Embroidery House is yours and Nareen’s now. Live well together.

Please apologize to Miss Caelith for me once more.

In this lifetime... I was never worthy of her.

Lady Lian folded the letter carefully and tucked it into her robes. Then she stood silently within the empty chamber, gazing toward the window.

Lucas had once loved standing there, looking out into the world beyond. Now there was no one left to do that.

She wiped away her tears and slowly walked out, quietly closing the door behind her. It was time to open the shop.

***

That night, Caelith lay in bed nestled within Rhaegar’s arms.

"Rhaegar."

"Mm?"

"What do you think will happen to Lord Ostenton in the future?"

Rhaegar fell silent briefly. "I don’t know."

Caelith said nothing more, while Rhaegar simply held her tighter.

"Stop thinking about it. He is a wanted criminal now. The life he will be leading is... worse than a death sentence."

She buried her face against his chest, releasing a quiet sigh.

He was right. Lucas neither received her forgiveness nor Rhaegar’s mercy. He let him escape but the Shadow Guards were still ordered to arrest him upon catching him.

The chance he asked for was indeed the final one.

. . .

After the incident in the alleyway, Erian changed, too.

Before, he had guarded Caelith quietly from a distance, usually sitting beneath the old pear tree in the rear courtyard.

But now things were different.

Wherever Caelith went, he followed.

When she embroidered inside the workshop, he stood guard silently outside the door without moving.

When she went into the market streets, he followed exactly three steps behind her—not too close, not too far.

When she sat in the courtyard beneath the sun, he remained beneath the old tree, watching her without blinking.

After observing this for several days, Yvaine finally burst into laughter.

"Erian, you’ve become my sister’s shadow! Or should I call you her tail?"

Erian did not say anything to that, but the tips of his ears turned faintly red.

Even Caelith felt helpless.

"Erian, you don’t need to be this nervous. That night was an accident. Things like that won’t happen every day."

The young man offered her a cautious look. "The order was to protect you. I am doing exactly that."

Those words left Caelith unable to say anything further.

At last, she sighed softly. "Then follow me if you must."

Erian nodded and continued following her exactly as before.

. . .

That afternoon, Rhaegar returned from his duties.

Having finished his work early, he had hurried back simply to see his woman.

The moment he pushed open the courtyard gate, he saw Erian standing beside Caelith while the two of them spoke quietly together.

Caelith held an embroidery pattern in her hands, explaining how the floral stitching should be done. Erian clearly understood none of it, yet he listened with complete seriousness nonetheless.

As Rhaegar walked toward them, Erian lifted his head. The instant he saw Rhaegar, he instinctively stepped half a pace forward, placing himself between Caelith and him.

Rhaegar’s footsteps stopped immediately. His eyes narrowed.

Only then did Caelith realize what had happened. She quickly stepped around Erian and walked toward Rhaegar.

"You’re back?"

Rhaegar nodded. "I finished early."

Caelith gently nudged the young man, urging him to leave. "Go check whether there’s enough firewood left in the rear courtyard."

Erian hesitated, but then shot one final look at Rhaegar before obediently leaving them alone.

Silence settled over the courtyard once more. Rhaegar walked over immediately and pulled Caelith into his arms.

"Why does he follow you everywhere now like a guardian dog? Are you feeling unsafe?"

Caelith leaned quietly against his chest, a small smile on her lips.

"After what happened last time, he became frightened. He says he wants to protect me."

Rhaegar lowered his head and inhaled the faint flowery scent of Caelith’s hair. The scen comforted him somewhat.

"Protecting you is one thing." His voice turned quieter then. "But does he have to protect you from me?"

Caelith lifted her head to look at his face. "Are you jealous?"

Rhaegar met her gaze steadily, a smug smirk tugging at his lips. "What do you think?"

Caelith laughed softly.

"He’s practically still a child. He doesn’t understand anything. Why are you competing with him?"

Rhaegar remained silent. Yet deep inside his chest, that small thorn had already lodged itself firmly in place.

. . .

That night, he lay in bed holding Caelith tightly in his arms.

Moonlight slipped through the narrow gaps in the window lattice, spreading silver light across the floor.

Suddenly, he spoke.

"That Erian boy..." His voice remained low and calm. "Does he really have feelings for you?"

Caelith froze for a moment, then laughed and shook her head.

"You’re overthinking things. He’s only trying to fulfill his duty."

Rhaegar insisted on staying grumpy. "I do not like the way he looks at you."

Caelith couldn’t help but sigh.

"Rhaegar, he followed my uncle for twelve years. His entire life has been spent surviving with a blade at his throat." She lowered her eyes slightly. "He doesn’t understand those kinds of feelings."

Rhaegar sighed too. "That’s exactly what makes it dangerous."

Caelith did not reply. Instead, she turned over and buried her face against his chest.

"I don’t care about any of that." Her voice softened. "There’s only you in my heart."

Rhaegar tightened his arms around her.

"I’m glad to hear that."

Yet when he closed his eyes, the image that remained in his mind was still the sight of Erian stepping instinctively in front of her.

The following day, Rhaegar returned to the Duchy of Northern Lands.

He stood inside the main hall facing three people seated before him: his father, his mother, and his grandmother.

The scene felt painfully familiar. The last time he had stood here, he had been refused the life he desperately wanted.

This time, he drew in a slow breath and prepared himself for another battle.

"Grandmother. Father. Mother." His voice was steady. "I’m here to say the same thing again. I intend to marry Caelith Emberlyn."

Duke Thorne looked at him silently for a very long time, the wrinkles between his brows exposing the internal battle in his heart.

Rhaegar waited for opposition. He had already prepared countless arguments in advance.

And then, his father finally spoke.

"Good."

Rhaegar froze. For a moment, he genuinely thought he had misheard.

"...Father, what did you say?"

The duke looked at the stunned expression upon his son’s face and, for perhaps the first time in years, allowed a faint smile to surface.

"What?" he said dryly. "When we opposed you, you fought us endlessly. Now that we agree, you’ve suddenly become stupid?"

Rhaegar stood there motionless for several breaths.

Beside them, Lady Thorne laughed softly through tears.

"This child..." she murmured affectionately. "He’s so happy he’s gone foolish."

Even the elder duchess nodded warmly. "That girl is a good one. I liked her from the very beginning."

Only then did Rhaegar finally regain his senses.

He looked toward his father once more. "Why the sudden change?"

Duke Thorne waved one hand, offering him a seat.

"Sit down."

Rhaegar obeyed and took a chair. The duke offered him an assessing look.

"I heard about what happened in that alley."

Rhaegar froze again.

His father continued calmly. "When danger came, who did that girl protect first?" His gaze sharpened slightly. "Your men? Or herself?"

Rhaegar said nothing.

The man looked directly into his eyes.

"She protected you." His voice lowered. "She stood there with a knife in her hands shielding your people, ready to throw away her own life without hesitation."

Suddenly, Rhaegar felt a painful tightness behind his chest.

His father sighed. "I, Xarion Thorne, have judged people my entire life." He leaned back slowly. "Honor means everything to people like us, and that girl... is worthy to bear that honor with us."

Rhaegar’s grandmother nodded with clear satisfaction. "A woman like that could never be lacking. Ayana brought a wonderful girl into this world."

Rhaegar looked up sharply, his eyes wide. "Grandmother... you knew?"

The old woman smiled knowingly.

"The things I know far exceed what you imagine, child."

For once, Rhaegar found himself dumbfounded. Lady Thorne walked over and gently took his hand.

"Rhae," she said softly, her eyes reddened, though her face glowed with happiness, "your mother is truly happy for you."

Rhaegar looked into her eyes, his heart fluttering like a trapped bird.

It had been quite a while since his family showed him any real warmth. And this sudden change... was all thanks to the woman he had chosen.

His grandmother slowly rose and walked over to him.

"Rhae, when will you bring that girl here properly so I can see her again?" Her eyes curved warmly. "Last time wasn’t nearly enough. Since marriage is on the table now, we need to go through a proper introduction."

Rhaegar suddenly smiled, standing up to offer his family a bow.

"Soon. She will be here soon."

After leaving the Duke’s manor, he stood for a moment outside the gates and looked up toward the sky.

The heavens were brilliantly blue. White clouds drifted lazily overhead.

Suddenly, he laughed softly to himself.

Then, he mounted his horse and rode swiftly toward Firefly Pavilion.

He wanted to tell her as soon as possible.