ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HOT DUKE-Chapter 221: Keeping from afar

The words came out suddenly.

As if something he had been holding back for so long had finally broken free.

Vedseel did not look surprised.

Truthfully, he had already suspected that possibility from the beginning.

He exhaled slowly, his breath faint in the cold air.

"That’s exactly why you need to be even more patient."

Demian stared at him intensely.

Vedseel continued, his tone more serious now.

"Think carefully."

He pointed toward the house.

"She lives here now."

"With people who protect her."

"With a life she built without you."

Demian looked back at the window.

Valerie’s silhouette was still standing there.

She seemed to be holding something in her arms something small.

Vedseel noticed the subtle change in Demian’s expression.

Then he spoke quietly,

"If you appear now... suddenly... without any explanation..."

He paused for a moment.

"You could destroy everything."

Demian said nothing.

But the words weighed heavily in his chest.

Vedseel watched him for a little longer.

"So decide first how you will approach her."

"Not as someone who came to take her back."

"Not as a duke who is used to getting whatever he wants."

He looked directly into Demian’s eyes.

"But as someone who hopes... she might still be willing to accept you."

The wind blew again through the pine trees.

Snow fell slowly around them.

Meanwhile, on the upper floor of that small house, Valerie was still standing by the window.

She was looking at the northern sky filled with the glowing aurora.

Beautiful.

Peaceful.

Unaware that not far away a man who had crossed half the world to find her was standing in the shadows, watching her without blinking.

And for the first time since that long journey had begun Demian did not know whether he should step forward... or remain where he stood.

Several days passed since the night Demian finally discovered the house where Valerie lived. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

But he did not approach it.

He did not knock on the door.

He did not reveal himself.

He only... watched from afar.

Every day, Demian returned to almost the same place among the pine trees that faced the small house. From there, he could see the yard, the back door, even the upstairs window where Valerie often stood at night.

Sometimes he saw Valerie step outside briefly to fetch water or throw something away.

Sometimes he saw Ethan carrying firewood.

Sometimes he saw Lena standing in front of the house, speaking with other witches who came to visit.

Demian watched everything.

Like someone guarding something extremely precious without daring to touch it.

But there was one thing that irritated him.

Valerie’s closeness to Ethan.

Several times he saw them talking in the yard. Sometimes Ethan held the small baby in his arms while Valerie stood beside him.

Every time Demian saw that, his jaw tightened.

His hands clenched before he even realized it.

One afternoon, Vedseel, who was standing beside him, even sighed quietly.

"If you keep staring like that, this pine tree might catch fire."

Demian did not answer.

But then, a few days later, he saw something that made his irritation fade.

Ethan stood near the house with Lena.

Not just standing.

The way they spoke... the way Lena hit Ethan lightly on the shoulder when he said something foolish... the way Ethan laughed and pulled Lena’s hand it was all too obvious.

Vedseel even nudged Demian’s shoulder lightly.

"It seems that man is far more interested in that witch than in your woman."

Demian finally looked away from them.

As if he didn’t want to be seen watching for too long.

And since that moment, he no longer held on to that small irritation.

But on one cold morning something happened.

That day Valerie left the house.

It had been a long time since she had truly gone out.

Since giving birth to Deon, Valerie had almost never left the house except for small things in the yard.

But that day Lena managed to persuade her.

"Come to the market," Lena said that morning.

"You need some fresh air."

Valerie had hesitated at first.

But eventually she agreed.

Wearing a thick coat and a hood that covered part of her face, Valerie walked with Lena toward the small market in the harbor town.

She didn’t know that at the same time, Demian was on the other side of town.

He did not see Valerie leave.

The market on the northern island was not large, but it was quite busy because ships had recently begun sailing again after the frozen sea opened.

Fishermen, merchants, and townspeople gathered there.

But when Valerie walked through the market aisle with Lena some people began to notice her.

Their gazes varied.

Some were simply curious.

Some whispered to their friends.

And some stared a little too long.

Valerie was rarely seen in town.

And since giving birth, she had almost never appeared at all.

Added to that, her beauty so different from most of the island’s residents made it difficult for people not to notice her.

Valerie tried not to pay attention.

She simply followed Lena, who was looking at some goods at one of the stalls.

But when Lena walked a little farther to look at something on the other side of the market Valerie paused for a moment near another stand.

And that was when someone approached her.

A large man with a rough face and the smell of alcohol that could be noticed even from a few steps away.

He stood too close.

Far too close for a stranger.

"Hey."

His voice was heavy.

Valerie stiffened slightly.

She stepped back.

But the man only gave a crooked smile.

"A face like that... I’ve never seen it in this town."

His gaze moved from Valerie’s head to toe in a way that would make anyone uncomfortable.

"New here, huh?"

Valerie did not answer.

She tried to walk past him.

But the man moved faster.

His hand blocked her path.

"Why the hurry?"

Behind him, two other men chuckled quietly.

"Keep us company for a while."