Episode 71. I'm Nervous
Neruan was a kind person.
Although she had only been staying at the Grand Duke's mansion for three days, he was kind and polite.
'Does he...hate me?'
He kept a smile on his face, but she could sense a sharp edge in his smile.
Rose reflected on her actions, wondering if she had made a mistake toward Neruan.
'I don't think I made a mistake...'
Not only had she never spent a long time with him, but she had never been rude.
Neruan's smile deepened under Rose's blank gaze.
A mysterious smile spread across his face, and he spoke matter-of-factly to Rose.
"Is there anything else you need?"
For the first time, his formal manner made her feel uncomfortable.
Rose shook her head and answered softly,
"No, it's fine."
"Then I'll put this away."
Neruan slowly picked up Rose's now-empty plate. Then, he slowly left the dining room.
When he turned around, Neruan's face was frozen with an eerie fierceness.
'Did something just bother you?'
Even though she had finished eating, Neruan's gaze kept bothering her.
'Maybe the word parasite didn't mean anything.'
He might have really been muttering to himself because Finn was suffering from a parasite.
As Rose was pondering the possibility that his actions were not malicious, the Grand Duke's voice rang in her ear.
"Rose?"
"Ah."
The Grand Duke of Artaeum was staring at Rose.
'I got distracted while talking to the Grand Duke.'
Rose responded hurriedly with an awkward smile.
"I'm sorry, what did you just say?"
Rose's words left the Grand Duke with a complex feeling.
'What are you thinking about that keeps you from concentrating? Surely... you're not thinking about that guy you met yesterday, are you?'
He knew that Rose's unusually good mood wasn't because of the business partner she met yesterday, but because of the purchase of the department store site, but he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"I was talking about switching the Princess's cup that the Emperor's faction had prepared."
"Oh, is that possible?"
The Grand Duke nodded, still looking displeased at Rose's words.
"Thanks to the information you provided, it shouldn't be difficult."
'You're talking about the information I got from Serun.'
Serun had told Rose everything about Cedric's plan at the Princess's birth banquet.
Everything, including the personnel involved and their personal information.
Rose and the Grand Duke knew exactly how they would switch the Princess's cup.
In fact, even without knowing that route, switching the Princess's cup was easy.
"I can just switch the cup with magic."
Rose nodded at the Grand Duke's words and continued.
"That way, we can avoid the Imperial faction's schemes. It would be nice to use this as an excuse to counterattack."
"Don't worry about that. I have a plan."
The Grand Duke replied as if he had been waiting for Rose's words.
"What is your plan?"
"I'll tell you that day. It'll be quite an interesting sight."
The Grand Duke of Artaeum's eyes flashed a murderous smile, a gaze that was always unfamiliar.
"By the way, is the person you spoke of really trustworthy?"
The Grand Duke asked, subtly probing for information.
"Yes. You really don't have to worry about that."
"I feel a bit uneasy."
The Grand Duke remained undeterred by Rose's words.
"I'll go with you next time. You won't be able to swindle me."
The Grand Duke intertwined his hands and rested on his knees, his expression utterly sinister. You'd believe him even if he were the villain of this novel.
'Revealing Gwen's existence wouldn't ruin your business, would it?'
Rose pondered.
'Gwen worked for the Count Wence family for 30 years...'
It was obvious the Grand Duke would harbor resentment. The Count Wence family and the Grand Duke Artaeum family were close families.
'No, let's talk. We can't hide it like this forever. After all, once the department store opens, the Grand Duke will naturally learn of Gwen's existence.'
Neruan was a kind person.
Although she had only been staying at the Grand Duke's mansion for three days, he was kind and polite.
'Does he...hate me?'
He kept a smile on his face, but she could sense a sharp edge in his smile.
Rose reflected on her actions, wondering if she had made a mistake toward Neruan.
'I don't think I made a mistake...'
Not only had she never spent a long time with him, but she had never been rude.
Neruan's smile deepened under Rose's blank gaze.
A mysterious smile spread across his face, and he spoke matter-of-factly to Rose.
"Is there anything else you need?"
For the first time, his formal manner made her feel uncomfortable.
Rose shook her head and answered softly,
"No, it's fine."
"Then I'll put this away."
Neruan slowly picked up Rose's now-empty plate. Then, he slowly left the dining room.
When he turned around, Neruan's face was frozen with an eerie fierceness.
***
'Did something just bother you?'
Even though she had finished eating, Neruan's gaze kept bothering her.
'Maybe the word parasite didn't mean anything.'
He might have really been muttering to himself because Finn was suffering from a parasite.
As Rose was pondering the possibility that his actions were not malicious, the Grand Duke's voice rang in her ear.
"Rose?"
"Ah."
The Grand Duke of Artaeum was staring at Rose.
'I got distracted while talking to the Grand Duke.'
Rose responded hurriedly with an awkward smile.
"I'm sorry, what did you just say?"
Rose's words left the Grand Duke with a complex feeling.
'What are you thinking about that keeps you from concentrating? Surely... you're not thinking about that guy you met yesterday, are you?'
He knew that Rose's unusually good mood wasn't because of the business partner she met yesterday, but because of the purchase of the department store site, but he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"I was talking about switching the Princess's cup that the Emperor's faction had prepared."
"Oh, is that possible?"
The Grand Duke nodded, still looking displeased at Rose's words.
"Thanks to the information you provided, it shouldn't be difficult."
'You're talking about the information I got from Serun.'
Serun had told Rose everything about Cedric's plan at the Princess's birth banquet.
Everything, including the personnel involved and their personal information.
Rose and the Grand Duke knew exactly how they would switch the Princess's cup.
In fact, even without knowing that route, switching the Princess's cup was easy.
"I can just switch the cup with magic."
Rose nodded at the Grand Duke's words and continued.
"That way, we can avoid the Imperial faction's schemes. It would be nice to use this as an excuse to counterattack."
"Don't worry about that. I have a plan."
The Grand Duke replied as if he had been waiting for Rose's words.
"What is your plan?"
"I'll tell you that day. It'll be quite an interesting sight."
The Grand Duke of Artaeum's eyes flashed a murderous smile, a gaze that was always unfamiliar.
"By the way, is the person you spoke of really trustworthy?"
The Grand Duke asked, subtly probing for information.
"Yes. You really don't have to worry about that."
"I feel a bit uneasy."
The Grand Duke remained undeterred by Rose's words.
"I'll go with you next time. You won't be able to swindle me."
The Grand Duke intertwined his hands and rested on his knees, his expression utterly sinister. You'd believe him even if he were the villain of this novel.
'Revealing Gwen's existence wouldn't ruin your business, would it?'
Rose pondered.
'Gwen worked for the Count Wence family for 30 years...'
It was obvious the Grand Duke would harbor resentment. The Count Wence family and the Grand Duke Artaeum family were close families.
'No, let's talk. We can't hide it like this forever. After all, once the department store opens, the Grand Duke will naturally learn of Gwen's existence.'
As the saying goes, the sooner you get beaten, the better.
"If it's alright with you, Grand Duke, can we arrange a time for us to meet again?"
"Good."
It was a welcome remark. The Grand Duke Artaeum nodded with a satisfied smile.
'Now I can see what kind of person he is.'
And it was also a chance to issue a stern warning.
Whose woman was this?
Moreover, he could show Rose that he was the man she had in mind.
Rose was a beautiful woman.
While not flashy enough to captivate everyone, she possessed a simple charm. She was also intelligent. The Grand Duke believed that if he spoke to her, he would inevitably be captivated by her charm.
'I'll completely cut off any chance of him making a fool of himself.'
The Grand Duke looked at Rose, who was sipping tea.
'You've been quite proactive in entering my mansion, yet you haven't done anything particularly bold.'
Grand Duke Artaeum hadn't realized that Rose had taken refuge in his mansion because of Eric's visit. He'd mistakenly assumed Rose had entered under the pretext of 'business' to be with him. Rose had kept him awake for three nights.
He couldn't sleep. He worried that she might knock.
He even considered opening his bedroom door in a fit of fright if she knocked at night.
Of course, that didn't happen.
Rose didn't see the Grand Duke as a romantic interest.
Still, perhaps thanks to Rivera's flirtatious remark, Rose found herself becoming more self-conscious of him.
"It wouldn't be a bad idea to invite him to my mansion."
Archduke Artaeum rolled up his shirt, which had fallen down to his wrists, twice.
Thick veins revealed themselves between his well-defined muscles.
Rose's gaze involuntarily fixed on the Grand Duke's forearms. Her eyes were drawn to the strong-looking forearms.
"Do you work out regularly?"
He seemed so busy with work, but when on earth did he ever exercise?
When she first saw his body in this mansion, she hadn't been this self-conscious...
Now, just the sight of his muscular arms made her heart flutter.
A cool autumn breeze blew through the slightly open window.
The Grand Duke's unkempt blond hair blew naturally over his eyebrows.
Rose couldn't take her eyes off him, as if admiring a painting.
She met his gaze, the man she'd thought was driven mad.
The Grand Duke's gaze, once so fearful, now held a strangely sensual aura.
And what about that slightly undone shirt? The deeply draped shirt between his broad shoulders radiated a strangely decadent beauty.
The Grand Duke's eyes narrowed subtly at Rose's inability to take her gaze off him.
Rose's gaze made him move involuntarily. The Grand Duke felt the urge to draw closer, to meet her gaze. The Grand Duke rose from his seat and approached Rose, who was across from him. He then sat diagonally next to her.
Did he think Rose's gaze was a signal?
Rose was taken aback by the Grand Duke's sudden approach.
"What, what?"
His sudden approach made her heart pound.
The Grand Duke's forearm brushed against Rose's skin. A ticklish feeling made her flinch.
Grand Duke Artaeum stroked Rose's hair with a strange expression.
She didn't dislike the Grand Duke's gentle touch. No, she actually liked it.
The Grand Duke, who had been staring at Rose with his mouth firmly shut, leaned in closer.
The moment she inhaled, the Grand Duke whispered softly into Rose's ear.
"You have a dangerous gaze."
His husky voice, half-breathed, penetrated Rose's ear like a tickle.
"Wh-what!"
Rose's face instantly flushed red. She gently pushed the Grand Duke away and covered her mouth.
Rose's embarrassed expression was quite endearing. The Grand Duke thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a little closer to her, as Rose had wished.
The Grand Duke, oblivious to Rose's touch, slowly approached her with a mysterious expression.
They were close, but too close.
It felt as if the Grand Duke's lips were about to touch.
Grand Duke Artaeum gently grabbed Rose's hand, covering her mouth. Then he slowly lowered her hand.
The moment she was unable to do anything in this strangely erotic atmosphere,
-Waal! Waal! -
Finn rushed in with a loud roar.
"Finn!"
Rose's large eyes rolled around, and she jumped up. Then she spread both arms toward Finn.
The Grand Duke, who had been clinging to Rose, was frozen in an awkward position thanks to this.
Finn, leaving his master, the Grand Duke, ran straight toward Rose.
Rose lowered herself and reached out to Finn. The sight of Finn's tail wagging gently made her feel very happy.
Rose's body lurched backward, unable to support Finn's weight. Hesitant, Rose quickly regained her balance and stroked Finn's fur.
"Have you eaten? I thought you were suffering from parasites, but I'm glad you look fine."
Finn looked as clean as ever.
Could he be infected with ticks or fleas? Rose asked the Grand Duke while still holding Finn.
"I heard Finn has a parasite. Is he okay?"
The barely-held atmosphere was shattered by Finn. The Grand Duke's expression softened, and he straightened his posture.
"Parasite? Finn has never had anything like that."
Rose paused at the Grand Duke's words. Neruan had clearly mentioned it during breakfast. That Finn was infected with a parasite.
'What... So you really told me that?'
That made it clear. The meaning of "parasite" that Neruan had mentioned.
Rose's arm, which had been holding Finn, slowly lowered. Rose's expression hardened, and she mulled over Neruan's words.
-Kkiing... Woof woof!
Finn, upset that Rose didn't love him, dug into her arms. He then licked only Rose's limp fingers desperately.
"Stop, stop."
Rose, not in the mood to play with Finn, pulled her hand away and spoke. However, Finn wagged his tail and licked the back of Rose's hand despite her words.
Rose told Finn to stop once again, but Finn remained the same.
The Grand Duke's eyes narrowed as he watched this.
'... Finn isn't listening to Rose's orders. Was that just a coincidence?'
Because of the way he had seen Rose in the forest, he had thought that 'Luna's Tears' might have something to do with it.
In the Grand Duke's eyes, Rose seemed to be controlling monsters.
However, seeing her today, he thought that maybe he was wrong.
'Finn is a monster dog. He can't refuse the orders of someone who has absorbed Luna's Tears."
He was a creature with demonic blood.
Because of that, Finn had no choice but to obey someone who possessed Luna's Tears. No matter how trivial the order, it was a trivial one.
The Grand Duke looked at Rose with a complicated feeling.
Her sparkling purple eyes felt particularly mysterious.
And Rose, who was contemplating Neruan, suddenly felt the Grand Duke's gaze fixed on him.
Something about the Grand Duke felt strange today.
The scent of the Grand Duke who had approached her a moment ago came to mind, and it was difficult to control the pounding heart.
"If it's alright with you, Grand Duke, can we arrange a time for us to meet again?"
"Good."
It was a welcome remark. The Grand Duke Artaeum nodded with a satisfied smile.
'Now I can see what kind of person he is.'
And it was also a chance to issue a stern warning.
Whose woman was this?
Moreover, he could show Rose that he was the man she had in mind.
Rose was a beautiful woman.
While not flashy enough to captivate everyone, she possessed a simple charm. She was also intelligent. The Grand Duke believed that if he spoke to her, he would inevitably be captivated by her charm.
'I'll completely cut off any chance of him making a fool of himself.'
The Grand Duke looked at Rose, who was sipping tea.
'You've been quite proactive in entering my mansion, yet you haven't done anything particularly bold.'
Grand Duke Artaeum hadn't realized that Rose had taken refuge in his mansion because of Eric's visit. He'd mistakenly assumed Rose had entered under the pretext of 'business' to be with him. Rose had kept him awake for three nights.
He couldn't sleep. He worried that she might knock.
He even considered opening his bedroom door in a fit of fright if she knocked at night.
Of course, that didn't happen.
Rose didn't see the Grand Duke as a romantic interest.
Still, perhaps thanks to Rivera's flirtatious remark, Rose found herself becoming more self-conscious of him.
"It wouldn't be a bad idea to invite him to my mansion."
Archduke Artaeum rolled up his shirt, which had fallen down to his wrists, twice.
Thick veins revealed themselves between his well-defined muscles.
Rose's gaze involuntarily fixed on the Grand Duke's forearms. Her eyes were drawn to the strong-looking forearms.
"Do you work out regularly?"
He seemed so busy with work, but when on earth did he ever exercise?
When she first saw his body in this mansion, she hadn't been this self-conscious...
Now, just the sight of his muscular arms made her heart flutter.
A cool autumn breeze blew through the slightly open window.
The Grand Duke's unkempt blond hair blew naturally over his eyebrows.
Rose couldn't take her eyes off him, as if admiring a painting.
She met his gaze, the man she'd thought was driven mad.
The Grand Duke's gaze, once so fearful, now held a strangely sensual aura.
And what about that slightly undone shirt? The deeply draped shirt between his broad shoulders radiated a strangely decadent beauty.
The Grand Duke's eyes narrowed subtly at Rose's inability to take her gaze off him.
Rose's gaze made him move involuntarily. The Grand Duke felt the urge to draw closer, to meet her gaze. The Grand Duke rose from his seat and approached Rose, who was across from him. He then sat diagonally next to her.
Did he think Rose's gaze was a signal?
Rose was taken aback by the Grand Duke's sudden approach.
"What, what?"
His sudden approach made her heart pound.
The Grand Duke's forearm brushed against Rose's skin. A ticklish feeling made her flinch.
Grand Duke Artaeum stroked Rose's hair with a strange expression.
She didn't dislike the Grand Duke's gentle touch. No, she actually liked it.
The Grand Duke, who had been staring at Rose with his mouth firmly shut, leaned in closer.
The moment she inhaled, the Grand Duke whispered softly into Rose's ear.
"You have a dangerous gaze."
His husky voice, half-breathed, penetrated Rose's ear like a tickle.
"Wh-what!"
Rose's face instantly flushed red. She gently pushed the Grand Duke away and covered her mouth.
Rose's embarrassed expression was quite endearing. The Grand Duke thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a little closer to her, as Rose had wished.
The Grand Duke, oblivious to Rose's touch, slowly approached her with a mysterious expression.
They were close, but too close.
It felt as if the Grand Duke's lips were about to touch.
Grand Duke Artaeum gently grabbed Rose's hand, covering her mouth. Then he slowly lowered her hand.
The moment she was unable to do anything in this strangely erotic atmosphere,
-Waal! Waal! -
Finn rushed in with a loud roar.
"Finn!"
Rose's large eyes rolled around, and she jumped up. Then she spread both arms toward Finn.
The Grand Duke, who had been clinging to Rose, was frozen in an awkward position thanks to this.
Finn, leaving his master, the Grand Duke, ran straight toward Rose.
Rose lowered herself and reached out to Finn. The sight of Finn's tail wagging gently made her feel very happy.
Rose's body lurched backward, unable to support Finn's weight. Hesitant, Rose quickly regained her balance and stroked Finn's fur.
"Have you eaten? I thought you were suffering from parasites, but I'm glad you look fine."
Finn looked as clean as ever.
Could he be infected with ticks or fleas? Rose asked the Grand Duke while still holding Finn.
"I heard Finn has a parasite. Is he okay?"
The barely-held atmosphere was shattered by Finn. The Grand Duke's expression softened, and he straightened his posture.
"Parasite? Finn has never had anything like that."
Rose paused at the Grand Duke's words. Neruan had clearly mentioned it during breakfast. That Finn was infected with a parasite.
'What... So you really told me that?'
That made it clear. The meaning of "parasite" that Neruan had mentioned.
Rose's arm, which had been holding Finn, slowly lowered. Rose's expression hardened, and she mulled over Neruan's words.
-Kkiing... Woof woof!
Finn, upset that Rose didn't love him, dug into her arms. He then licked only Rose's limp fingers desperately.
"Stop, stop."
Rose, not in the mood to play with Finn, pulled her hand away and spoke. However, Finn wagged his tail and licked the back of Rose's hand despite her words.
Rose told Finn to stop once again, but Finn remained the same.
The Grand Duke's eyes narrowed as he watched this.
'... Finn isn't listening to Rose's orders. Was that just a coincidence?'
Because of the way he had seen Rose in the forest, he had thought that 'Luna's Tears' might have something to do with it.
In the Grand Duke's eyes, Rose seemed to be controlling monsters.
However, seeing her today, he thought that maybe he was wrong.
'Finn is a monster dog. He can't refuse the orders of someone who has absorbed Luna's Tears."
He was a creature with demonic blood.
Because of that, Finn had no choice but to obey someone who possessed Luna's Tears. No matter how trivial the order, it was a trivial one.
The Grand Duke looked at Rose with a complicated feeling.
Her sparkling purple eyes felt particularly mysterious.
And Rose, who was contemplating Neruan, suddenly felt the Grand Duke's gaze fixed on him.
Something about the Grand Duke felt strange today.
The scent of the Grand Duke who had approached her a moment ago came to mind, and it was difficult to control the pounding heart.
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