The Monster Duke Mistook Me for His Wife – Chapter 154 – Side Story Chapter 11

Author: Asternkm

“I’m Ivan Dawson.”

Ivan bowed, folding his bear-like body awkwardly. I quickly followed suit and bowed in return.

“I’m Ria Delice.”

At that, Ivan bowed even deeper. Flustered, I instinctively lowered my head even further.

The unspoken contest of who could bow lower was interrupted by Daisy’s lilting laughter.

“You’re both adorable, but let’s stop here.”

Daisy patted Ivan’s back and pulled him to her side, then smiled at me with narrowed eyes.

“Are you here to catch the Duke doing something suspicious again?”

Teasing me by bringing up that past incident, she made me wave my hands awkwardly.

“No, I’m just here to pick out a ring…”

Wait a minute—Daisy knows a lot about jewelry too…

‘Maybe she could help me?’

Recalling how fond Daisy had been of me, I clasped my hands together and looked up at her hopefully.

“Your Highness… do you happen to have time?”

Moved by my earnestness, Daisy curved her lips into a smile.

“I have plenty of time—for you.”

****

“So, you want help picking out a ring to propose to the Duke?”

“Yes. I don’t really know much about gems, so I’d appreciate your help.”

“If you don’t know what you’re looking for, shopping alone can be risky. This shop only carries top-quality pieces, but they tend to raise the price if they think someone’s clueless.”

She had a point. Remembering the disappointed look Madame gave me earlier, I felt even more grateful I had asked Daisy.

‘I almost got totally ripped off.’

While I secretly breathed a sigh of relief, I suddenly noticed someone staring a hole through my cheek. I looked up.

“Your Highness?”

“Oh, just reminded me of my Ivan again.”

Her gaze naturally drifted to Ivan, full of affection.

“Ivan worked so hard to save money to propose to me. It was really adorable.”

“Daisy… we said we wouldn’t talk about that…”

Ivan muttered as he tugged at the hem of her sleeve.

‘Now I see why she calls him a bunny.’

Despite his big, bear-like build, his actions were small, quiet, and delicate—like a tiny animal.

“But weren’t you the one who proposed first, Your Highness?”

Wasn’t that why she brought Dillian here the last time?

“Yes. But turns out Ivan had been preparing something, too. When I proposed, he was so happy but also kind of sulky… The way he looked like he was about to cry—so cute.”

His face turned so red it looked like it might burst. Daisy chuckled and poked his cheek.

Ivan, resigned, lowered his eyes and let her.

‘They’re a perfect match.’

Without thinking, I found myself asking,

“May I ask how you two met?”

Ivan immediately went pale and shook his head frantically—clearly begging not to go there.

But it was already too late.

“Curious?”

Daisy’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Her voice bubbled like a child ready to tell a fun story.

“It was five years ago…”

****

Daisy Argentia.

The beautiful princess known as the Star of the Empire.

At eighteen, the year she came of age, she ran away from home. Her destination: the southern coast and its endless blue sea.

Officially, it was for rest and relaxation. In reality, it was to blow up an arranged marriage proposal.

She threatened to throw herself into the ocean rather than marry someone she’d never met.

While the emperor and empress panicked, Daisy basked in her first taste of freedom.

No formalities, no eyes watching her. No nagging.

Everything was perfect.

Except for one thing.

“He’s crying again…”

A man crying at the edge of the beach, where no one else usually came.

Day after day, week after week—his face became familiar.

One day, Daisy’s curiosity got the better of her.

“Why are you crying?”

The man, head buried in his knees, looked up—and then panicked at the sight of her. He immediately dropped to his knees.

“It’s an honor to meet the Star of the Empire!”

News that the princess was staying in the village had already spread.

Ivan, who clearly knew her identity, turned white as a sheet and shook with fear—worried he’d offended someone above his station.

Daisy, of course, couldn’t care less.

“That’s not what I asked. I said, why are you crying? You’re always crying here.”

“W-well…”

Ivan was an apprentice baker at the village’s only bakery.

Apparently, the others there gave him a hard time every day.

‘Getting bullied with that size? That’s impressive.’

To Daisy, who grew up in the cutthroat imperial court, this was a ridiculously tame reason.

“Stop crying. You’re so loud I can’t even take a walk.”

“I’m sorry!”

Fearing he’d upset her, Ivan stood up in a rush.

Thud.

A cloth bundle fell from his arms, revealing some pitiful lump of flour.

“Ah.”

He quickly bent down to grab it, but Daisy was faster.

She picked up the charred muffin, and Ivan froze, twitching as if unsure what to do.

“Please give that back. It’s too terrible to show…”

“You’re right. It’s ugly.”

Her blunt words made Ivan tear up again.

“Then please just—”

Chomp. Daisy took a bite. Ivan jumped in alarm.

“Your Highness! Why would you—spit it out, please!”

Ivan quickly reached out his hands—clearly expecting her to spit it into them—but Daisy just calmly swallowed.

Gulp. Watching her throat move, Ivan looked ready to faint.

“It actually tastes good. You should have more confidence.”

She wasn’t lying. She took another big bite. Ivan’s face turned beet red at the unexpected praise.

“Thanks. It was delicious.”

Daisy found him cute and turned away to head back.

As she walked, she blinked.

“Oh, I get it. He looks like a bunny.”

Big round eyes, flushed cheeks, shy movements—definitely a bunny.

Feeling cheerful, Daisy hummed a little tune all the way home.

The next day, she came back.

Sure enough, Ivan was crying again. She sat beside him like it was routine.

One day, she asked his name.

“What’s your name?”

“Ivan Dawson.”

“I’m Daisy Argentia.”

“I know. Not knowing the princess would make someone a spy…”

Another day, she asked his age.

“How old are you?”

“Nineteen.”

“You’re older?”

With all the crying, she thought he was younger.

A grown man crying like a kid—it was kind of fascinating.

When Daisy offered him a handkerchief, Ivan clutched it to his chest like it was some sacred treasure.

She gave it to him to wipe his tears, but he just hugged it. What a fool.

Another day, they talked about family.

“You’re the second son of Baron Dawson?”

“Yes. But by now, I’ve probably been disowned.”

“Why?”

“I ran away.”

He scratched his short hair with an awkward smile.

“My father wanted me to be a knight, but I wasn’t very talented or interested… And since I wasn’t the heir, I figured it’d be fine and snuck out one night.”

Ridiculous. If he just revealed he was a noble, the bullying would’ve stopped.

He really wanted to learn baking so badly he’d hide his status?

Daisy was a little jealous of his passion.

“I ran away too.”

“What?! I thought Your Highness was just here on vacation…”

“Obviously that was a lie. They tried to marry me off to some stranger. I’m not going back until they cancel the engagement.”

Ivan’s mouth opened and closed in shock.

“Are you sure I should be hearing this…?”

“It’s not really a secret.”

So they began to grow closer, sharing things that weren’t really secrets.

To Daisy, Ivan wasn’t just likable—he was her favorite kind of person.

He wasn’t someone drawn to her status. He was a real, honest friend her age. The first of his kind.