Episode 143. The Savior of My Life
The Grand Duke teleported to the Artaeum Mansion.
However, he didn't go to his room. He didn't want the servants of the house to see him.
'Neruan would freak out if he saw me, so I should just reassure Rose before I go.'
She might faint if he found out he escaped from prison.
The Grand Duke hid on the terrace of Rose's room and cautiously watched her inside.
Despite the late hour, she still seemed unable to sleep.
Rose's back, her arms resting on the desk, and her head bowed, was utterly desolate to the Grand Duke's eyes.
'Surely... she's worried about me.'
Rose's head jerked irregularly. The Grand Duke's heart ached at the sight.
'Are you... crying?'
Rose was crying.
She was so worried that she couldn't sleep all night, wiping away her tears alone.
'I told you not to worry...'
Of course, she must be worried.
This is already the second time he's been accused of murder.
He escaped with the help of Marquis Bled's testimony.
'This time, I'll clear my name as soon as possible so you don't have to worry.'
He transformed the field mouse into his own form, but that wasn't possible every time.
Although it looked human, it was just a field mouse.
'... I'm a little worried because the mouse is nocturnal.'
Still, it's a well-trained creature, unlike ordinary field mice. He told it to be quiet, so it would at least pretend to sleep on the bed.
The Grand Duke stared at Rose, unable to imagine that the field mouse disguised as him was devouring the cheese.
He carefully teleported into the room so as not to startle Rose.
Rose's back was bowed.
He just wanted to hug her and comfort her right now.
The Grand Duke carefully took a step.
One step, then another.
He could hear the footsteps, but Rose still seemed oblivious.
The Grand Duke, walking slowly, cautiously placed a hand on Rose's shoulder.
Despite the soft tap of his hand, Rose remained motionless.
Only then did the Grand Duke realize something was off.
"Rose?"
He called her name softly. However, she remained silent.
The Grand Duke slowly moved to face Rose's desk. He knelt down on one knee and slowly leaned his head in close to Rose's face. Rose's shoulders were shaking irregularly. The Grand Duke, upon seeing her, couldn't hide his bewilderment.
"...Are you dozing?"
Rose wasn't crying; she was dozing with her eyes closed.
She was nodding, shaking her head, and even drool was dripping from the corners of her mouth.
The Grand Duke, who had mistakenly assumed Rose was crying, couldn't hide his embarrassed expression.
"It's good she's not crying, but..."
What was this feeling of resentment?
Of course, it wasn't something like, "I wish Rose would cry. " Looking at Rose's sleepy expression, which seemed carefree, all he could feel was disappointment.
The Grand Duke stared at Rose with a slightly pouty expression.
Did she sense the Grand Duke's gaze even with her eyes closed?
Rose, who had not flinched at the sound of someone, flinched and lifted her eyelids.
Her half-asleep, hazy eyelids fluttered heavily, blinking.
'...When did I fall asleep?'
Rose rubbed her eyes.
'What...'
A blurry figure appeared behind the desk.
Rose rubbed her eyes again, wondering if she had seen it wrong.
Her blurry vision gradually cleared. The vague figure became clearer, and she soon realized it was the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
"...Wha, what!"
Sleep suddenly vanished.
Rose gasped and leaned back. Then she looked at the Grand Duke before her.
Blink.
She closed her eyes wide and then opened them.
The Grand Duke was still before her eyes.
'What? There's no way the Grand Duke, who should be in prison, would be here.'
Rose cautiously reached out her hand toward the Grand Duke. Warmth filled her fingers as they touched his smooth skin.
Rose, who had been gently caressing the Grand Duke's cheek, suddenly reached out with her pincers and grabbed his cheek.
And before the Grand Duke could stop her, she pulled him aside with all her might.
It was a gesture to confirm whether it was a dream or not.
"Ah."
A groan escaped the Grand Duke's lips.
It wasn't a voice of pain or anger. It was a faint voice, as if trying to express just how much pain it was causing.
'...Don't you usually do this on your own cheeks?'
Rose couldn't understand why she'd pinched his cheek instead of her own, but she didn't want to argue about it.
Rose's eyes widened like a rabbit's.
"Your Highness...?"
The Grand Duke of Artaeum nodded, placing both hands on the desk. Then, he tilted his head down onto them.
"I thought you were worried, but you're sleeping soundly."
His voice was laced with regret, but his tone was utterly playful.
Rose placed her hands on the Grand Duke's cheeks in disbelief. The Grand Duke, who had expected something like
"I missed you," or "Did you escape from prison?" burst into laughter at Rose's subsequent words.
"The Grand Duke appears in my dream."
A lucid dream again?
Rose thought this was all a dream.
Common sense wouldn't have it that the escaped Grand Duke would come to his room.
"A dream?"
The Grand Duke simply found Rose adorable as he stared at him with a blank expression.
'To think this was a dream?'
How could every single action be so endearing?
The Grand Duke, his eyes tightly closed, cast aside any resentment and smiled at Rose.
"This isn't a dream."
He slowly rose from his seat, his eyes narrowed into crescents. He then walked towards Rose in a semicircle.
The Grand Duke stood still and stared at Rose. His face still bright with a smile, he spread his arms.
"Hug me."
Rose was reassured by the Grand Duke's words.
"In dreams... You're so expressive."
Usually, the Grand Duke would hug Rose silently, or Rose would hug him.
The Grand Duke's single word only confirmed to Rose that this was all a dream.
'Wait... But if you do this and that in a dream... Isn’t that a nightmare?’
He had only asked to be held, but Rose imagined something more.
Her head, filled with a feast of flesh-colored scents, was bolder than her usual lovemaking.
‘It’s a dream... because it is.’
Wouldn’t it be okay to try this or that thing she hadn’t tried before?
The Grand Duke teleported to the Artaeum Mansion.
However, he didn't go to his room. He didn't want the servants of the house to see him.
'Neruan would freak out if he saw me, so I should just reassure Rose before I go.'
She might faint if he found out he escaped from prison.
The Grand Duke hid on the terrace of Rose's room and cautiously watched her inside.
Despite the late hour, she still seemed unable to sleep.
Rose's back, her arms resting on the desk, and her head bowed, was utterly desolate to the Grand Duke's eyes.
'Surely... she's worried about me.'
Rose's head jerked irregularly. The Grand Duke's heart ached at the sight.
'Are you... crying?'
Rose was crying.
She was so worried that she couldn't sleep all night, wiping away her tears alone.
'I told you not to worry...'
Of course, she must be worried.
This is already the second time he's been accused of murder.
He escaped with the help of Marquis Bled's testimony.
'This time, I'll clear my name as soon as possible so you don't have to worry.'
He transformed the field mouse into his own form, but that wasn't possible every time.
Although it looked human, it was just a field mouse.
'... I'm a little worried because the mouse is nocturnal.'
Still, it's a well-trained creature, unlike ordinary field mice. He told it to be quiet, so it would at least pretend to sleep on the bed.
The Grand Duke stared at Rose, unable to imagine that the field mouse disguised as him was devouring the cheese.
He carefully teleported into the room so as not to startle Rose.
Rose's back was bowed.
He just wanted to hug her and comfort her right now.
The Grand Duke carefully took a step.
One step, then another.
He could hear the footsteps, but Rose still seemed oblivious.
The Grand Duke, walking slowly, cautiously placed a hand on Rose's shoulder.
Despite the soft tap of his hand, Rose remained motionless.
Only then did the Grand Duke realize something was off.
"Rose?"
He called her name softly. However, she remained silent.
The Grand Duke slowly moved to face Rose's desk. He knelt down on one knee and slowly leaned his head in close to Rose's face. Rose's shoulders were shaking irregularly. The Grand Duke, upon seeing her, couldn't hide his bewilderment.
"...Are you dozing?"
Rose wasn't crying; she was dozing with her eyes closed.
She was nodding, shaking her head, and even drool was dripping from the corners of her mouth.
The Grand Duke, who had mistakenly assumed Rose was crying, couldn't hide his embarrassed expression.
"It's good she's not crying, but..."
What was this feeling of resentment?
Of course, it wasn't something like, "I wish Rose would cry. " Looking at Rose's sleepy expression, which seemed carefree, all he could feel was disappointment.
The Grand Duke stared at Rose with a slightly pouty expression.
Did she sense the Grand Duke's gaze even with her eyes closed?
Rose, who had not flinched at the sound of someone, flinched and lifted her eyelids.
Her half-asleep, hazy eyelids fluttered heavily, blinking.
'...When did I fall asleep?'
Rose rubbed her eyes.
'What...'
A blurry figure appeared behind the desk.
Rose rubbed her eyes again, wondering if she had seen it wrong.
Her blurry vision gradually cleared. The vague figure became clearer, and she soon realized it was the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
"...Wha, what!"
Sleep suddenly vanished.
Rose gasped and leaned back. Then she looked at the Grand Duke before her.
Blink.
She closed her eyes wide and then opened them.
The Grand Duke was still before her eyes.
'What? There's no way the Grand Duke, who should be in prison, would be here.'
Rose cautiously reached out her hand toward the Grand Duke. Warmth filled her fingers as they touched his smooth skin.
Rose, who had been gently caressing the Grand Duke's cheek, suddenly reached out with her pincers and grabbed his cheek.
And before the Grand Duke could stop her, she pulled him aside with all her might.
It was a gesture to confirm whether it was a dream or not.
"Ah."
A groan escaped the Grand Duke's lips.
It wasn't a voice of pain or anger. It was a faint voice, as if trying to express just how much pain it was causing.
'...Don't you usually do this on your own cheeks?'
Rose couldn't understand why she'd pinched his cheek instead of her own, but she didn't want to argue about it.
Rose's eyes widened like a rabbit's.
"Your Highness...?"
The Grand Duke of Artaeum nodded, placing both hands on the desk. Then, he tilted his head down onto them.
"I thought you were worried, but you're sleeping soundly."
His voice was laced with regret, but his tone was utterly playful.
Rose placed her hands on the Grand Duke's cheeks in disbelief. The Grand Duke, who had expected something like
"I missed you," or "Did you escape from prison?" burst into laughter at Rose's subsequent words.
"The Grand Duke appears in my dream."
A lucid dream again?
Rose thought this was all a dream.
Common sense wouldn't have it that the escaped Grand Duke would come to his room.
"A dream?"
The Grand Duke simply found Rose adorable as he stared at him with a blank expression.
'To think this was a dream?'
How could every single action be so endearing?
The Grand Duke, his eyes tightly closed, cast aside any resentment and smiled at Rose.
"This isn't a dream."
He slowly rose from his seat, his eyes narrowed into crescents. He then walked towards Rose in a semicircle.
The Grand Duke stood still and stared at Rose. His face still bright with a smile, he spread his arms.
"Hug me."
Rose was reassured by the Grand Duke's words.
"In dreams... You're so expressive."
Usually, the Grand Duke would hug Rose silently, or Rose would hug him.
The Grand Duke's single word only confirmed to Rose that this was all a dream.
'Wait... But if you do this and that in a dream... Isn’t that a nightmare?’
He had only asked to be held, but Rose imagined something more.
Her head, filled with a feast of flesh-colored scents, was bolder than her usual lovemaking.
‘It’s a dream... because it is.’
Wouldn’t it be okay to try this or that thing she hadn’t tried before?
‘Hmmm, just sleep well... and then you’ll recover, right?’
Her face flushed for no reason at the thought of impure thoughts.
The Grand Duke couldn’t wait for Rose to just fidget with her fingers.
In the end, he approached Rose first.
Rose unconsciously swallowed dry saliva at the sight of the Grand Duke striding towards her.
The Grand Duke reached out to Rose, who was frozen with nervousness, and took her hand. Then he slowly helped Rose up.
The Grand Duke pulled Rose’s arm into his embrace and hugged her with all his might.
As she was held in the Grand Duke’s embrace, a cool scent tickled her nose.
‘Your scent...’
Even in her dreams... could she smell something?
Rose, still held in her arms, was dazed. The Grand Duke brought his lips to her ear.
“What are you thinking about?”
A low voice, entangled with his dizzying breath, dug into her ear.
Rose began to feel something strange.
‘No... dreams are this vivid?’
The Grand Duke kept digging into Rose. With her flushed cheeks, small ears, and straight neckline.
At first, he had simply come to comfort Rose, but looking at her face, he found it difficult to control his instincts.
“Ugh... Wait a minute.”
Rose, who had flinched, took a deep breath and gently pushed the Grand Duke away.
“Really... is this Your Highness? Am I dreaming?”
Rose hit her cheeks with a clank.
Her cheeks felt numb. The Grand Duke was still in front of her, not even waking up from the dream.
“Are you, really, the Grand Duke?”
The trembling voice echoed once more as if confirming. And then,
“The Grand Duke, you couldn’t possibly have escaped from prison...!”
Rose let out a scream. The Grand Duke hastily covered Rose’s mouth.
“That’s not it.”
“Ugh, ugh, ugh!”
Rose protested, flailing her arms. Asking him to release the hands covering her mouth.
“Don’t scream. If you do, I might be considered a real escapee.”
Rose nodded at the Grand Duke’s pleading tone. Only then did the Grand Duke slowly release Rose.
“What happened? You escaped from prison... right?”
“No.”
“So, are you out?”
“No.”
If you’re not out, how are you here...?
‘Then it’s a prison break...!’
Shocked eyes turned to the Grand Duke.
Rose didn’t say anything, but her thoughts were clearly visible on her face.
“It’s not that. I came out for a moment because I was worried about you.”
“...”
The suspicious gaze remained.
“Really. I was going to go back after seeing only you.”
What really happened? Rose scanned the Grand Duke with confused eyes.
The Grand Duke told the lie he had prepared to reassure Rose.
“My body is in prison. I standing before you is an illusion created by magic.”
He said, completely reversing the truth and the lie.
“Magic?”
“Yes. The topaz brooch you gave me. That gem had hidden powers. Thanks to that, I was able to reveal myself to you.”
The Grand Duke tapped the topaz brooch on one side of his chest and said.
This brooch was the first gift Rose had given him. It was a bribe, a gift she'd prepared to win the Grand Duke's heart that day, disguised as a maid. Rose nodded, surprised by the Grand Duke's plausible words.
Her face flushed for no reason at the thought of impure thoughts.
The Grand Duke couldn’t wait for Rose to just fidget with her fingers.
In the end, he approached Rose first.
Rose unconsciously swallowed dry saliva at the sight of the Grand Duke striding towards her.
The Grand Duke reached out to Rose, who was frozen with nervousness, and took her hand. Then he slowly helped Rose up.
The Grand Duke pulled Rose’s arm into his embrace and hugged her with all his might.
As she was held in the Grand Duke’s embrace, a cool scent tickled her nose.
‘Your scent...’
Even in her dreams... could she smell something?
Rose, still held in her arms, was dazed. The Grand Duke brought his lips to her ear.
“What are you thinking about?”
A low voice, entangled with his dizzying breath, dug into her ear.
Rose began to feel something strange.
‘No... dreams are this vivid?’
The Grand Duke kept digging into Rose. With her flushed cheeks, small ears, and straight neckline.
At first, he had simply come to comfort Rose, but looking at her face, he found it difficult to control his instincts.
“Ugh... Wait a minute.”
Rose, who had flinched, took a deep breath and gently pushed the Grand Duke away.
“Really... is this Your Highness? Am I dreaming?”
Rose hit her cheeks with a clank.
Her cheeks felt numb. The Grand Duke was still in front of her, not even waking up from the dream.
“Are you, really, the Grand Duke?”
The trembling voice echoed once more as if confirming. And then,
“The Grand Duke, you couldn’t possibly have escaped from prison...!”
Rose let out a scream. The Grand Duke hastily covered Rose’s mouth.
“That’s not it.”
“Ugh, ugh, ugh!”
Rose protested, flailing her arms. Asking him to release the hands covering her mouth.
“Don’t scream. If you do, I might be considered a real escapee.”
Rose nodded at the Grand Duke’s pleading tone. Only then did the Grand Duke slowly release Rose.
“What happened? You escaped from prison... right?”
“No.”
“So, are you out?”
“No.”
If you’re not out, how are you here...?
‘Then it’s a prison break...!’
Shocked eyes turned to the Grand Duke.
Rose didn’t say anything, but her thoughts were clearly visible on her face.
“It’s not that. I came out for a moment because I was worried about you.”
“...”
The suspicious gaze remained.
“Really. I was going to go back after seeing only you.”
What really happened? Rose scanned the Grand Duke with confused eyes.
The Grand Duke told the lie he had prepared to reassure Rose.
“My body is in prison. I standing before you is an illusion created by magic.”
He said, completely reversing the truth and the lie.
“Magic?”
“Yes. The topaz brooch you gave me. That gem had hidden powers. Thanks to that, I was able to reveal myself to you.”
The Grand Duke tapped the topaz brooch on one side of his chest and said.
This brooch was the first gift Rose had given him. It was a bribe, a gift she'd prepared to win the Grand Duke's heart that day, disguised as a maid. Rose nodded, surprised by the Grand Duke's plausible words.
"Well, Luna's tears possessed mystical powers, so it stands to reason that the topaz brooch could have some, too."
So this was the protagonist buff? It hit home. The fact that she had possessed the protagonist.
"You said topaz was a gem that protected life and health. You said that, didn't you?"
"Oh, yes."
"Thanks to this, I'm safe even in prison. I wanted to tell you that."
Rose, who had been left alone, had been caught off guard, so he had to come see her.
"... Well, you don't seem particularly worried, though."
The Grand Duke scratched his cheek and looked at Rose.
"I wasn't worried,"
Rose said with a bright smile. She met the Grand Duke's eyes with confident eyes.
"The Grand Duke isn't guilty. Neruan, I, and Gwen are struggling to prove the Grand Duke's innocence. I think we'll be able to prove the Grand Duke's innocence soon."
Rose's words warmed the Grand Duke's heart. It seemed as if she was telling him not to worry, that he wasn't alone.
'I came to comfort you... and I'm leaving feeling comforted.'
The anxiety deep within the Grand Duke's heart dissipated like the wind.
'It's strange... Since I met you. I have a strange confidence that everything will work out.'
You know what? You are a ray of light in my life. In the pitch-black darkness where I couldn't see an inch ahead, you were a ray of hope. One day, you suddenly appeared in my life and became my savior.
The faint light had already seeped into his world brightly enough to illuminate it. With Rose by his side, all his anxiety subsided. The mysterious feeling that he could accomplish anything with her was indescribable.
"Thank you. For staying by my side."
A shy yet sincere confession flowed softly. He longed to be with Rose forever. However, the Grand Duke had another stop before returning to prison.
"I'll be back."
He pushed aside his regret and placed a light kiss on Rose's forehead. Before Rose could even say goodbye, the Grand Duke vanished like the wind. He was headed to the capital.
"I can't just let today go,"
A voice filled with anger echoed softly. He wouldn't kill him immediately, but he didn't intend to let it go unpunished either. Hiding in the grass, his gaze landed on Count Wence's mansion.
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