Isabella looked up at him in confusion.

What was he thinking about that made his face so red?

Isabella blushed when she accidentally recalled Duke Kyar’s nakedness.

“I—” Isabella shook her head. “I think you misunderstood, Your Highness. I didn’t mean that.”

Did he accept the meaning of her trip with Seria in that way?

Duke Kyar’s brows furrowed. “A misunderstanding?”

“Princess Seria invited me to visit her in Arpeon. I wanted to go there.”

“Princess Seria?” He raised an eyebrow. “Is that what it is?” He muttered weakly and sat back on the sofa.

Isabella nodded, eager to prove her innocence.

His naked body did catch Isabella’s eye, but it wasn’t like she would do something about it.

Duke Kyar made it clear to her that he didn’t want to engage in sex before marriage.

That’s why she invited him on her trip to Arpeon without thinking it through.

It wasn’t like she had any hidden agendas.

“Yes, I swear I’m not thinking about compromising you.”

Duke Kyar sighed as he watched Isabella.

She raised a hand and uttered an oath to make herself more believable.

“I have no ulterior motive.” Her big blue eyes blinked slowly before she added,  “My love for you is pure.”

Eyes narrowing, Duke Kyar remarked,  “You don’t look pure when you looked at my body in the barracks, Isabella. ”

“M—Me? You’re wrong. It’s all a misunderstanding.”

“We will find out soon if it’s a misunderstanding. Do you want to go to Arpeon this weekend or not?” Duke Kyar asked.

Isabella nodded and spoke,  “Yes, I will use the teleport tower.”

“Oh, Seria said she would pay for my teleport tower.” She added hastily just in case the Archduke would think it was burdensome to spend more.

Duke Kyar’s brows furrowed. “Why would Princess Seria do that? Don’t worry about it, Isabella. I’ll pay for you.”

“No, you don’t have to. I’m sorry to trouble you—-”

“Then, you’re alright with troubling Princess Seria instead of me? Is Princess Seria closer to you than I am?” He asked nervously as he ran his fingers through his hair.

Isabella gazed at his dark eyes.

“I’m sorry for hurting your feelings, Your Highness.”

A heavy sigh came out of his mouth.

“Isabella.” Duke Kyar calmed down when he caressed her silver hair. “You might not know about this, but I’m more jealous than you think.”

Oh, she knew very well how jealous this man could be.

It bothered her before, and she had no idea why that confession made her heart pound in excitement.

“I don’t want anyone to be so close to you aside from me—whether it’s a man or a woman. Do you understand?” It was not until he saw her nod that his countenance brightened up. “Now, don’t say anything more about the cost of the teleport tower.”

“I wouldn’t. Thank you, Your Highness.”

“We only had three days left.” He muttered while caressing her cheek.

Three days.

The rest would be the weekend.

“By the way, Your Highness. Can I ask you one more favor?”

His lips were already near hers when he paused to listen.

“Not long ago, I went to a forest in Rubella Castle and found some strange herbs inside a cave. Can I use those herbs, if you don’t mind? Don’t worry. I will share the profits I made from selling those herbs with you.”

She didn’t tell him how rare these herbs were in the past.

At that time, Isabella had allowed her arrogance about becoming rich through that herb to prevail instead of telling him the truth.

Now, she didn’t want to hide it anymore.

“Herbs? I didn’t even know such a thing in those caves. Did you go there alone? Don’t you realize how dangerous it is, Isabella?”

He didn’t care much about the herbs because he was too worried about her safety.

“It’s all right. It’s not that dangerous.”

“I will go with you the next time you want to look for them. If I can’t make it, I’ll have Louina escort you no matter when and where.”

His gaze intensified as he waited for an answer.

Grimacing, Isabella replied,  “Yes, I will, Your Highness. Can I use those herbs for my experiments, then?”

“I’m not particularly interested in those herbs, so may do as you please. And you don’t have to share the money you have earned from them.”

“But these herbs are rare and expensive, capable of curing rare diseases! It can be made into a drug that would cost as much as the price of the best mana stone.”

Duke Kyar smirked as she watched  Isabella explain with much enthusiasm.

“Your eyes were the most beautiful when you talk about herbs, Isabella. You don’t like herbs better than me, do you?”

She laughed.

Was the Archduke jealous of her herbs now?