The Devil's Good Girl
Chapter 176: Latrice II

Chapter 176: Latrice II

The next day after that, Jackson and his soldiers left the Imperial Capital to return to the duchy. Taking back the nameless lady with him, the crown prince sent them off. Or rather, he personally sent her off, giving her words of promise to see her in the South.

At that point, the crown prince didn’t hide his affection for the lady he met only two weeks ago. One would say they were already lovers. After all, during the duke’s entire stay, the crown prince never missed a day to see her. Even when he sent them off, he held her hands and gazed at her with deep affection.

The crown prince was truly and deeply fond of her.

Staring at the woman across from him in the carriage, Jackson clenched his teeth when he noticed the brief sadness in her eyes.

"The crown prince gave you his word that he would visit the South. He is a man of his word. Do not fret," he blurted out in an attempt to comfort her. "You will see him again once your name is in our family registry."

Latrice slowly gazed at the duke and smiled subtly. She didn’t say anything, and now that he thought about it, she never said a word to him. She only smiled at him and yet, that simple gesture felt like it was enough.

"Soon, you’ll become the crown princess," he continued after clearing his throat. "You’ll learn everything about the Fitzroy and the South. Do you know how to read?"

Latrice didn’t answer as she slowly set her eyes to the window. Her subtle smile remained, admiring the beauty of the capital. Since she didn’t seem interested in talking to him, Jackson decided not to speak anything further. It wasn’t the first time someone didn’t want to talk to him.

’Does she find my face hideous?’ he wondered and intuitively pulled down his headgear. He peeked at her through the gaps of his visor, only to see her still staring out the window.

"Marriage..." she whispered after a long, stifling silence. "If I marry the crown prince, would I be able to see you more often?"

Jackson slowly faced her direction. He didn’t answer.

"Would it help you then?" she asked again, eyes on him.

Again, he didn’t answer. He could only stare at her through the little gaps of his visor.

"If that won’t help you, then why are you helping him?" she inquired, tilting her head a little to the side. "Also, don’t you find that suit and helm heavy and hot?"

Latrice smiled beautifully until her eyes squinted a little. "I like you better without them."

Like a fool, Jackson slowly took off his helm. He didn’t even think twice and reconsider. He just took his helm off, observing if the look in her eyes changed. They didn’t. If anything, it remained the same; the same as the first time she laid her eyes on him.

But this time, Jackson understood why his heart was beating so loud it was echoing in his ears.

Her beautiful smile and that look in her eyes... made him feel seen for the first time.

’I keep thinking that His Highness was foolish,’he thought while holding her soothing gaze. ’But it seemed I am the foolish one.’

That very moment, the Duke secretly pledged to squash down whatever desire he had for her. He thought of many ways to avoid her, to find fault in her, and to not nurture the seed of desire in his heart. However, every single day he was with her, he knew he was failing miserably.

*

*

*

Throughout their journey to the South, Latrice captured the hearts of his men. She was not only beautiful, but she was also humorous and smart. She never complained about the rough road and spending the night in the middle of the forest. When they arrived in the duchy, it also didn’t take long when every servant and citizen in the duchy to find her amusing.

She got along with noble ladies and common citizens. Peasants worshipped her for her charities. Her tutors even praised her, telling Jackson his cousin was truly an admirable lady, worthy of the name Fitzroy.

Jackson couldn’t disagree, as he had been watching her from afar.

From afar...

From a safe distance...

He watched her every step of the way.

Jackson clenched his teeth as he swallowed down his drink, standing on the balcony of his room. It had been half a year since Latrice came to the duchy, but during that time, he failed to look in the other direction. He always finds himself watching her, admiring her, and stopping his tumultuous heart from giving him silly ideas.

’The Imperial Family is seeking aid to defend the border of the North,’he thought. ’And the family registry will be done in a month. I should send her back to the capital.’

"Your Grace?"

Jackson arched a brow when he heard a soft call and a faint knock. Looking back, Latrice flashed her a short smile as she was peeking her head out of the door.

"I was knocking," she explained. "But you weren’t answering. So I came in."

"What are you doing here, Latrice?" His voice was colder than the night breeze. He turned around, propping his back against the railing. He gazed at her up and down, and a layer of frost instantly coated his eyes.

"Have you not learned about proper etiquette?" he asked. "Coming into a man’s room in your nightdress, you are not a child, Latrice."

Latrice frowned.

"Go back to your room. Whatever you want to tell me can wait until tomorrow, once you are properly dressed," he remarked. "Do not make me repeat myself."

Latrice stayed quiet and observed him. "But Your Grace, why do your eyes tell me you don’t want me to go?" she inquired, taking a step closer to him. She took one more step when he didn’t say a word, and then another step, until she was standing before him.

"Your Grace, I kept wondering since the moment we met. Why do the words that come out of your mouth are different from what your eyes say?" she wondered genuinely. "Even until today, I was wondering about it until I talked to Madam Windsor."

Jackson heard her inquiry, but his mind was a little too distracted at their distance. She was too close. Probably the closest he had been with her so far. A distance he never dared take. She was speaking, but all he could think about was her scent.

She smelled like a flower with a tinge of milk. Her faint breath would also touch his chin each time she exhaled. His eyes slowly fell on those moving, thin, and pinkish lips.

’I cannot want you.’

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