Chapter Text
Two more days had passed since the day of Konoe’s makeover. Every time they dined together at night and talked about each other’s day, Rai couldn’t help but to notice how stunningly beautiful he was and how he still couldn’t get used to his new transformation. He almost pitied his ex-fiancé for throwing away such a jewel. If Shotaro Lanzillo were to see the new Konoe now, Rai was pretty sure he would curse the day he’d chosen his stepsister.
He heard footsteps from high heel shoes on the marble hallways outside. His lips twitched in a smile knowing that Konoe was coming.
A light tap sounded on his door and Konoe entered without waiting for Rai’s response. “Did you want to talk to me, Rai?”
“Yes, if I may?”
“It is fine.” He responded, closing the door behind him. “Mana hasn’t arrived yet.”
Konoe moved closer to Rai’s study table and sat on one of the chairs facing the latter’s. Rai fought back a smile. Konoe was starting to get comfortable rather quickly wearing high-heeled shoes. It had become their daily routine that Rai massaged his feet every evening after Mana had left before dinner.
“What did you want to talk about?” He asked expectantly, crossing his legs.
Rai sat back in his chair, trying to scrutinize Konoe’s face. “I need to go to Rome today. My driver is waiting for me outside right at this moment.”
“Oh...” The spark suddenly died in his once lively, brilliant eyes. “When do you plan to get back here?”
Rai couldn’t help the grimace on his face. “Since I took a vacation for our wedding, my work lagged behind and I have to be in the city to keep up to date with my business.” He took a deep breath. “I probably won’t be able to get back until the end of the week.”
“Oh... that long?”
“I know...” Dio... who would have thought that staying away from Konoe was going to be this hard? “Believe me, I want to stay here with you but...”
Konoe shook his newly styled pale brown hair. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Rai. You’re forgetting that this isn’t a real marriage. I know you have commitments in the city and I will not let you forget your duty just because you suddenly got a “wife”.”
Bloody hell! How did our conversation lead here? One moment Rai was planning on saying goodbye to Konoe, and then the next he suddenly had find himself staring at the cold man in front of him. They were building their marriage with unsteady steps, but there was still friendship and so far everything seemed to have been working quite well.
And now, Konoe sat there, all his friendliness gone and reminding Rai that their marriage isn’t real — only an alliance. In truth, he had already forgotten about it. He was now starting to enjoy his married life.
Why was Konoe behaving like this?
“What’s the matter with you, Konoe?” Rai furrowed his eyebrows, completely confused yet feeling slightly bit agitated as well.
Ruby red eyes looked back at Rai with enough coldness to freeze anyone as he stared at him through his lashes. “Not a thing, Rai. I just want you to know that you could go to the city without worrying about me here. I will be fine here with your servants and Mana.”
“Our servants.” He corrected Konoe. “This villa is now yours too.”
Konoe nodded, but his eyes remained cold and distant. “Is that all you wanted to say? Mana is probably here by now.”
Rai pursed his lips irritably, suppressing his urge to snap at Konoe unknowingly. “... Yes.”
Konoe stood from his chair and walked towards the door, going out without even giving Rai a backward glance.
Once he was in the hallway, Rai breathed deeply, wondering to himself what the hell had just happened.
“Earth to Rai~”
The dry call came from Rai’s good friend, Bardo Ottavio. He had asked him to come over to his office in Rome as soon as he arrived earlier this morning from Amalfi Coast. Knowing how busy Bardo was with his billion dollar empire, Rai was grateful that he had come to meet him at once.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Bardo demanded in Italian, his gold eyes filled with impatience.
“Sorry.” Rai apologized, massaging his temple to sooth away the growing headache. He swore softly. “I have so much on my mind right now.”
“Si. I can tell...” His friend replied sarcastically before suddenly exclaiming, “... Holy crap! Is that a wedding ring on your finger, Rai?”
“Oh...” Rai glanced at the platinum wedding band on his left hand. He had forgotten that he hadn’t told Bardo about his wedding. “Bardo—“
“Who is she?” His friend fired at him. “Is she one of your previous mistresses? Did she tell you that she’s pregnant with your child? You’re more stupid than I thought... marrying her without asking for a DNA test...”
Despite his headache about his bad parting with Konoe, Rai couldn’t help but smile at his old friend’s outburst. Did he really think that I was that kind of a fool, marrying the first woman who told me that she was pregnant with my child? Hell, there were instances when one of his previous mistresses had tried to trap him with the lie of her being pregnant, but Rai knew better than just to accept it on the face. He would always ask for a DNA test.
“Rai? Did you hear me?”
Rai held up his hands in surrender. “Can we slow down a damn minute here? Yes, I am married, but not to one of my previous mistresses.”
Bardo’s strong eyebrows furrowed as he sat in the chair in front of Rai, making himself comfortable beneath his expensive handmade Italian suit. “Then. Who. Is. She?”
Rai sighed, knowing his friend would not give up until he squeezed the information from him. “I am going to ask a favor from you, amico. In return, I will tell you about my wife.”
“What favor?” Bardo asked suspiciously.
“I need an introduction to Shotaro Lanzillo. Do you think you can do that?”
“Shotaro Lanzillo?” Bardo repeated, rubbing his unshaven jaw. “I know that man. I have had some business dealings with him in the past. He’s an Italian who has a successful business in America. I recently heard that his fiancé drowned in the sea about a week ago.”
“Yes. That’s him.”
“So why do you want an introduction to the man?”
Rai avoided Bardo’s gaze. “I promised my wife that I’ll help her...”
“Your wife?” Bardo asked, his bright eyes fixed on the half-Italian duke. “Just who is your wife, Rai?”
He heaved a sigh, defeat gradually swallowing him. “You have to promise me that you’ll keep this a secret, Bardo.”
His friend whistled softly. “Sounds interesting... Let’s hear it.”
“My wife—“ Rai cut himself short then shook his head. “—my husband, to be exact, is Konoe Covelli.”
“Wait a damn minute!” Bardo shot to his feet. “Did you just say... Konoe Covelli, Shotaro Lanzillo’s betrothed? The same Konoe Covelli who is supposed to have died in the sea last week?! Are you crazy?! How the hell did you happen to be married to that guy when the whole world is looking for him?!”
Rai was steadily losing his patience, rubbing his temples to cool down his nerves. “If you just stay calm I will explain.”
“Fine.” His friend bit out and claimed his chair. “Explain... from the start, mi amico.”
Rai told him how he saved and met Konoe — how his fiancé and stepsister concocted his death so they could get his money, and how they decided to get married so that he could avenge the betrayal.
“That’s a pretty cold-blooded attempt to murder.” Bardo commented once Rai finished his tale. “I have met his stepsister once. She’s very beautiful. She is considered the darling of New York society. It’s a bit hard to imagine her as a killer but...”
“I know...” Rai agreed, his heart still lurching every time he remembered the night Konoe had nearly died. “Can you help me with the introduction I need?”
Even though he parted with Konoe in less amicable feelings early this morning, Rai wanted to start on their plan as soon as possible. His mind was filled with images of Konoe before he shook his head defiantly to get rid of them and focus.
Bardo snorted. “As if you really need my help. You are a duke, after all.”
“Bardo...” Rai warned.
He held up his hands. “Fine. There is a charity ball tonight. I believe Shotaro Lanzillo will be attending.”
That’s all I needed to meet Konoe’s ex-fiancé. Rai could hardly wait, lips twisting into a small smirk.
The grand ballroom glittered with lights. Women dressed up in finest gowns and adorned with priceless jewelries glided through the hall in the arms of their dates. The crème de la crème of Italian society was present at the Bambini Orfani Charity Ball.
And I am one of them, Kameko thought smugly, wearing her newly purchased evening blue strapless gown and the Covelli ornaments owned by Konoe. She had just arrived with Shotaro. He was a strong supporter of the charity and she came as his date.
Kameko noticed that people were whispering behind their backs and wondering why Shotaro showed up with his missing fiancé’s stepsister, but she couldn’t care less.
Suddenly, she became aware that people inside the ballroom buzzed about some newcomer, and Shotaro was instantly by her side.
“Meko.” He said, gesturing the handsome man with him. “I would like you to meet my business associate, Bardo Ottavio. Signore, this is Kameko Zherdeva, my date.”
Oh my god! This Roman God is the famous Bardo Ottavio?! He came from one of the most powerful and wealthiest families in Italy. With his dark, brooding looks he was known as a heartless playboy all over Europe.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Ottavio.” Kameko said, holding her hand out for him to shake.
“How do you do, Signorina?” Instead of shaking her hand, Bardo kissed the back of it.
Kameko failed to hide the red stains splotching her cheeks, resisting the urge to just jump up and scream in uncontrollable joy. The man was a charmer, alright. No wonder many women fell for his looks and ended up in his bed.
“Bardo.” At the deep, reverberating husky voice, Kameko turned to look and could hardly contain the gasp out of her lips.
The newcomer, who the whole hall was abuzz about, was far more handsome than any man in the room. He looked sinfully and devilishly gorgeous with his breathtaking icy blue eyes.
“Ah, finally, you have arrived.” Bardo Ottavio said to the stranger. “I would like you to meet my good friend. This is Don Rai Dominium Zakaza, Duke of Caprielle. Rai, this is Shotaro Lanzillo and his date, Kameko.”
“Glad to meet you.” The duke said regally.
Kameko felt like she could happily and dramatically faint at this very moment. Goodness! How could a woman get so lucky in one night?! If I didn’t have my Shotaro in my life, I for sure would be flirting with the duke right now. A duke... imagine the prestige and title to go with that sinfully handsome man!
Kameko could notice that every woman in the ballroom was eyeing Rai. Every one of them wanted a chance to talk to him and hopefully hold his attention for the whole night.
Too bad since he took no notice of them. Kameko internally smiled in victory.
“I want to expand my business in America.” The duke was saying to Shotaro. “Maybe we could do business in the future together.”
“Of course, Your Excellency!” Shotaro answered enthusiastically.
“Have I told you that His Excellency just got recently married?” Bardo inserted smoothly.
Dismay crept in Kameko’s spine. She couldn’t help but to feel envious of the lucky woman who had managed to capture this handsome duke. The wedding ring on his finger flashed in the light. He was really married.
“Where’s your bride, Your Excellency?” Shotaro asked.
A smile lurked in his icy blue eyes. “She’s out of town.”
“I hope we’ll meet your bride in the future, sir.” Kameko suggested. She so badly wanted to meet the woman who had snagged this wealthy duke into marriage.
“You’ll meet her very soon...” The duke said with a secretive smile on his face.