Returning from the villa to the Grand Duke's residence was a breeze. As Julian and I entered the main gate, the butler was there to greet us. Looking at his wrinkled face, I realized I was home. I smiled back at the smiling butler. Unlike me, Julian asked the butler with a blank expression.
“Nothing special.”
“Nothing major happened. Only, Viscount Lesa kept making a fuss, asking to be sent back.”
“Oh, like that.”
I clicked my tongue as if I felt really sorry for him. But that didn't mean I was going to let him go.
“It’s too bad he won’t be able to go back for a while.”
The butler answered my words calmly.
“I will convey that.”
“Thank you always.”
I don't know how long it's been since he's been imprisoned, but he's already making a fuss to be let go. Of course, he's guilty, so he must be desperate to escape.
“I should meet with Viscount Lesa before I get tired.”
When I said I was tired, Julian wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me closer to him. When I tilted my head in confusion, Julian spoke with a very firm tone.
“If you’re tired, put it off.”
“Hey, I’m not that weak.”
“Postpone.”
He looked at me like something big was going to happen if I didn't, so how could I not? I finally nodded. Julian called a maid over and gave her instructions in my stead.
"Prepare the bath. Is the Grand Duchess's bedroom tidy?"
“Of course that would be so...”
“Madam, didn’t you promise me to take care of your health?”
I was so dumbfounded that my mouth fell open.
“I made an appointment to see the doctor, didn’t I?”
“That’s it.”
“Where did you learn to be so stubborn like this?”
“I learned it from my wife.”
Julian responded to my words as if they were absolutely obvious. The way he raised his eyebrows was incredibly shameless.
I couldn't help but chuckle. While Julian and I were bickering at the entrance to the Grand Duke's residence, a maid approached cautiously and announced that the bath was ready. I still had more to say, but Julian gently pushed my back toward the maid.
“Take her.”
“Am I a kid?”
“Wash it well.”
The maid, who had been holding back her laugh, finally burst into a small laugh. Watching her, my face felt flushed.
“Hey, what if you laugh now?”
I scolded the maid for no reason.
“I’m sorry, ma’am.”
The maid immediately apologized, but still smiled. I, who had been exasperated the entire time, looking back and forth between her and Julian, finally couldn't help but laugh.
After finishing my bath and coming out, I saw a familiar face.
"Anna."
“It’s been a while, ma’am.”
Anna had a small bandage on her temple. The last time I saw her, her head was wrapped in a bandage, so I thought she was in serious trouble. Fortunately, she seemed to be recovering faster than expected.
“Have you had a good rest?”
"Thanks. You went all the way to the capital without me? I'm so upset."
“Sarah took care of it for you.”
We looked at each other and laughed. As I sat down, Anna went behind me and dried my wet hair. Perhaps it was the familiarity of being served, but it felt much more comfortable than Sarah's touch. I closed my eyes and spoke.
“I’m going to meet Viscount Lesa.”
“His Highness the Grand Duke has told you to rest.”
“I’ll just meet him for a moment.”
Julian had spoken, so I conveyed it, but Anna was mine. Anna responded immediately and politely.
“I will prepare.”
Anna, who had finished drying my hair, prepared a dark dress with a simple pattern. There was no need to go all out in makeup when meeting Viscount Lesa. In fact, a light outfit could have created a sense of oppression.
I looked at myself in the mirror and cupped my stomach with my hand. After a long carriage ride and a bath, I felt hungry.
“I’m hungry. I need to hurry up and eat dinner.”
“Why are you eating so many meals? You’ve been so busy lately that you skip meals often.”
Anna smiled brightly and said, "It's a good thing I'm eating." I felt embarrassed to see her like that, so I just touched my cheek.
“I promised His Highness to take care of my health.”
"Oh."
Anna followed me, muttering things like, "I knew it," "You and Your Highness are so close," "If someone saw you, they'd think it was a love marriage," and so on... She whispered these things into my ear. I listened for a long time, sweating profusely, and finally turned around.
“Stop it! I’m so embarrassed I could die if someone hears!”
Anna laughed even more excitedly at my words. Only after I put my index finger to my lips with a stern expression did she calm down.
After calming Anna down, I stood in front of the room where Viscount Lesa was staying and knocked.
“Come in!”
Judging by the angry tone in his voice, it seemed that Viscount Lesa was very anxious. I smiled and gestured to Anna. Anna opened the door and stepped aside.
“How long will Her Highness the Grand Duchess continue to treat me...!”
“Don’t yell.”
“Your, Your Highness the Grand Duchess?!”
Viscount Lesa, who had been shouting out of the blue, seemed startled by my appearance and shouted even louder. I frowned and covered my ear with one hand.
Viscount Lesa, observing my actions, hastily shut his mouth. But then, perhaps thinking protest was the priority, he opened his mouth again.
“Your Highness, I don’t know what misunderstanding you may have had...”
“Why is Viscount Lesa so rude?”
"Yes?"
Viscount Lesa, who had been standing there with a dumbfounded expression, immediately bowed as he realized something.
“Your Highness, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. Please forgive my rudeness.”
Viscount Lesa was a man who was infinitely cowardly to the strong and even more cowardly to the weak. Showing courtesy to such a person would only result in an equally rude response.
I straightened my back and strode briskly into the room. Viscount Lesa watched me closely, his lips puckering like a goldfish. It was clear he was judging the timing of his words.
That ugly face was so funny that I covered my mouth with my hand and laughed secretly. I calmed my expression and spoke with a serious expression.
“Viscount Lesa.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“I won’t beat around the bush. Who’s behind this?”
In response to my words, Viscount Lesa said something very boring.
"The mastermind? It was all an accident. If Your Highness wishes, I'll beat that coachman to death and drive him out!"
Even if the coachman had been drinking, why did he crash into my carriage? He must have acted that way because his master had told him to.
I waved my hands in the air.
“I don’t even want to hear such obvious stories.”
“But Your Highness, there is not an inch of falsehood in what I say.”
“Then, can I charge the Viscount with attempted murder of the Grand Duchess?”
"Yes?!"
Viscount Lesa's face turned pale, and he jumped up.
“Attempted murder! Your Highness, I really...”
“I understand that you are very short on funds to prepare a gift for the Marquis of Amber.”
The mouth of Viscount Lesa, who had been running wild as if he were being wronged, fell open.
“It was an incredibly expensive item for a Viscount Lesa, yet Marquis Amber didn’t even look at it properly?”
“No, there is no such thing.”
It seemed he wasn't ready to be honest yet. However, Viscount Lesa's eyes were shaking violently. His agitation was clearly visible in his eyes. I strolled around the room with my arms crossed. Viscount Lesa's gaze was fixed on my toes.
“On that topic, you didn’t even return the gifts and took them all for yourself?”
“Your Highness.”
“I’m dying of injustice, but someone will appear before Viscount Lesa. That person will likely... mention the Second Prince’s name.”
At my next words, Viscount Lesa was on the verge of tears. All of this must have been done in secret. How on earth did she know? He had that exact expression on his face. I continued speaking without stopping.
"He said that if the Second Prince's subordinate killed me, the Second Prince would be able to rise again, right? If you did that, you would become the Prince's benefactor."
“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess!”
When I finished speaking, Viscount Lesa cried out loud and fell flat on the floor. Then, in a trembling voice, he began to explain.
"I had no such great ambitions. I simply did what I was forced to do. Your Highness, how could someone of humble origins like me refuse the Second Prince's order?"
“I guess so.”
At my words, Viscount Lesa raised his head. His face brightened even more than before. I shook my head.
“Viscount Resa is not afraid of the Grand Duke or the Grand Duchess at all.”
It wasn't long before Viscount Lesa's face turned pale again.
“No, absolutely not.”
“Really? Then from now on, you’ll do whatever I tell you to do.”
As he spoke, as if surprised, Viscount Lesa felt himself in a predicament. If he were to follow my words, he would fear the consequences for Prince Cain, but if he refused, he would be disrespecting the Duchzan, and that would be equally terrifying.
I approached Viscount Lesa, whose mouth was as tight as if threaded through a thread. I pressed my shoe tips against his fingers and looked down.
Viscount Lesa tilted his head back, then slowly lowered it, resting his forehead on the floor. In truth, no matter how much he pondered, there was only one answer. Viscount Lesa asked in a resigned voice.
“What do you want?”
I smiled kindly and whispered.
“I guess you’ll be able to go home soon, Viscount.”
“Nothing special.”
“Nothing major happened. Only, Viscount Lesa kept making a fuss, asking to be sent back.”
“Oh, like that.”
I clicked my tongue as if I felt really sorry for him. But that didn't mean I was going to let him go.
“It’s too bad he won’t be able to go back for a while.”
The butler answered my words calmly.
“I will convey that.”
“Thank you always.”
I don't know how long it's been since he's been imprisoned, but he's already making a fuss to be let go. Of course, he's guilty, so he must be desperate to escape.
“I should meet with Viscount Lesa before I get tired.”
When I said I was tired, Julian wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me closer to him. When I tilted my head in confusion, Julian spoke with a very firm tone.
“If you’re tired, put it off.”
“Hey, I’m not that weak.”
“Postpone.”
He looked at me like something big was going to happen if I didn't, so how could I not? I finally nodded. Julian called a maid over and gave her instructions in my stead.
"Prepare the bath. Is the Grand Duchess's bedroom tidy?"
“Of course that would be so...”
“Madam, didn’t you promise me to take care of your health?”
I was so dumbfounded that my mouth fell open.
“I made an appointment to see the doctor, didn’t I?”
“That’s it.”
“Where did you learn to be so stubborn like this?”
“I learned it from my wife.”
Julian responded to my words as if they were absolutely obvious. The way he raised his eyebrows was incredibly shameless.
I couldn't help but chuckle. While Julian and I were bickering at the entrance to the Grand Duke's residence, a maid approached cautiously and announced that the bath was ready. I still had more to say, but Julian gently pushed my back toward the maid.
“Take her.”
“Am I a kid?”
“Wash it well.”
The maid, who had been holding back her laugh, finally burst into a small laugh. Watching her, my face felt flushed.
“Hey, what if you laugh now?”
I scolded the maid for no reason.
“I’m sorry, ma’am.”
The maid immediately apologized, but still smiled. I, who had been exasperated the entire time, looking back and forth between her and Julian, finally couldn't help but laugh.
***
After finishing my bath and coming out, I saw a familiar face.
"Anna."
“It’s been a while, ma’am.”
Anna had a small bandage on her temple. The last time I saw her, her head was wrapped in a bandage, so I thought she was in serious trouble. Fortunately, she seemed to be recovering faster than expected.
“Have you had a good rest?”
"Thanks. You went all the way to the capital without me? I'm so upset."
“Sarah took care of it for you.”
We looked at each other and laughed. As I sat down, Anna went behind me and dried my wet hair. Perhaps it was the familiarity of being served, but it felt much more comfortable than Sarah's touch. I closed my eyes and spoke.
“I’m going to meet Viscount Lesa.”
“His Highness the Grand Duke has told you to rest.”
“I’ll just meet him for a moment.”
Julian had spoken, so I conveyed it, but Anna was mine. Anna responded immediately and politely.
“I will prepare.”
Anna, who had finished drying my hair, prepared a dark dress with a simple pattern. There was no need to go all out in makeup when meeting Viscount Lesa. In fact, a light outfit could have created a sense of oppression.
I looked at myself in the mirror and cupped my stomach with my hand. After a long carriage ride and a bath, I felt hungry.
“I’m hungry. I need to hurry up and eat dinner.”
“Why are you eating so many meals? You’ve been so busy lately that you skip meals often.”
Anna smiled brightly and said, "It's a good thing I'm eating." I felt embarrassed to see her like that, so I just touched my cheek.
“I promised His Highness to take care of my health.”
"Oh."
Anna followed me, muttering things like, "I knew it," "You and Your Highness are so close," "If someone saw you, they'd think it was a love marriage," and so on... She whispered these things into my ear. I listened for a long time, sweating profusely, and finally turned around.
“Stop it! I’m so embarrassed I could die if someone hears!”
Anna laughed even more excitedly at my words. Only after I put my index finger to my lips with a stern expression did she calm down.
After calming Anna down, I stood in front of the room where Viscount Lesa was staying and knocked.
“Come in!”
Judging by the angry tone in his voice, it seemed that Viscount Lesa was very anxious. I smiled and gestured to Anna. Anna opened the door and stepped aside.
“How long will Her Highness the Grand Duchess continue to treat me...!”
“Don’t yell.”
“Your, Your Highness the Grand Duchess?!”
Viscount Lesa, who had been shouting out of the blue, seemed startled by my appearance and shouted even louder. I frowned and covered my ear with one hand.
Viscount Lesa, observing my actions, hastily shut his mouth. But then, perhaps thinking protest was the priority, he opened his mouth again.
“Your Highness, I don’t know what misunderstanding you may have had...”
“Why is Viscount Lesa so rude?”
"Yes?"
Viscount Lesa, who had been standing there with a dumbfounded expression, immediately bowed as he realized something.
“Your Highness, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. Please forgive my rudeness.”
Viscount Lesa was a man who was infinitely cowardly to the strong and even more cowardly to the weak. Showing courtesy to such a person would only result in an equally rude response.
I straightened my back and strode briskly into the room. Viscount Lesa watched me closely, his lips puckering like a goldfish. It was clear he was judging the timing of his words.
That ugly face was so funny that I covered my mouth with my hand and laughed secretly. I calmed my expression and spoke with a serious expression.
“Viscount Lesa.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“I won’t beat around the bush. Who’s behind this?”
In response to my words, Viscount Lesa said something very boring.
"The mastermind? It was all an accident. If Your Highness wishes, I'll beat that coachman to death and drive him out!"
Even if the coachman had been drinking, why did he crash into my carriage? He must have acted that way because his master had told him to.
I waved my hands in the air.
“I don’t even want to hear such obvious stories.”
“But Your Highness, there is not an inch of falsehood in what I say.”
“Then, can I charge the Viscount with attempted murder of the Grand Duchess?”
"Yes?!"
Viscount Lesa's face turned pale, and he jumped up.
“Attempted murder! Your Highness, I really...”
“I understand that you are very short on funds to prepare a gift for the Marquis of Amber.”
The mouth of Viscount Lesa, who had been running wild as if he were being wronged, fell open.
“It was an incredibly expensive item for a Viscount Lesa, yet Marquis Amber didn’t even look at it properly?”
“No, there is no such thing.”
It seemed he wasn't ready to be honest yet. However, Viscount Lesa's eyes were shaking violently. His agitation was clearly visible in his eyes. I strolled around the room with my arms crossed. Viscount Lesa's gaze was fixed on my toes.
“On that topic, you didn’t even return the gifts and took them all for yourself?”
“Your Highness.”
“I’m dying of injustice, but someone will appear before Viscount Lesa. That person will likely... mention the Second Prince’s name.”
At my next words, Viscount Lesa was on the verge of tears. All of this must have been done in secret. How on earth did she know? He had that exact expression on his face. I continued speaking without stopping.
"He said that if the Second Prince's subordinate killed me, the Second Prince would be able to rise again, right? If you did that, you would become the Prince's benefactor."
“Your Highness, the Grand Duchess!”
When I finished speaking, Viscount Lesa cried out loud and fell flat on the floor. Then, in a trembling voice, he began to explain.
"I had no such great ambitions. I simply did what I was forced to do. Your Highness, how could someone of humble origins like me refuse the Second Prince's order?"
“I guess so.”
At my words, Viscount Lesa raised his head. His face brightened even more than before. I shook my head.
“Viscount Resa is not afraid of the Grand Duke or the Grand Duchess at all.”
It wasn't long before Viscount Lesa's face turned pale again.
“No, absolutely not.”
“Really? Then from now on, you’ll do whatever I tell you to do.”
As he spoke, as if surprised, Viscount Lesa felt himself in a predicament. If he were to follow my words, he would fear the consequences for Prince Cain, but if he refused, he would be disrespecting the Duchzan, and that would be equally terrifying.
I approached Viscount Lesa, whose mouth was as tight as if threaded through a thread. I pressed my shoe tips against his fingers and looked down.
Viscount Lesa tilted his head back, then slowly lowered it, resting his forehead on the floor. In truth, no matter how much he pondered, there was only one answer. Viscount Lesa asked in a resigned voice.
“What do you want?”
I smiled kindly and whispered.
“I guess you’ll be able to go home soon, Viscount.”
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