Chapter 19: A Midnight Raid
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 19: A Midnight Raid
I crossed my arms in front of him and spoke firmly.
“I’m not leaving this room until you lie down in bed, Your Grace. I don’t care if the servants get the wrong idea.”
“But if you do as I say, I’ll leave immediately.”
“I refuse.”
“Are you saying you don’t want me to leave?”
“Do not play word games with me.”
“Then hurry up and lie down.”
I gave him a beaming smile, staring him down relentlessly.
“Why are you being so unreasonable?”
With a heavy sigh and a long moment of hesitation, the Grand Duke finally gave in to our silent tug-of-war and lay down on the bed as I’d asked.
Even just lying in bed, he looks like he’s in a photoshoot.
I struggled to keep my nostrils from flaring in excitement as I pulled an armchair over to sit by his head.
“Your Grace, I’m not going to eat you. Relax a little.”
The Grand Duke was as stiff as a patient on an operating table.
“In case you’ve forgotten, I am a knight trained in the sword.”
Where did that come from?
As I tilted my head at the sudden self-introduction, the Grand Duke let out a sharp exhale.
“Do not try anything unnecessary.”
“I might react reflexively and end up hurting you.”
Pfft.
Caught off guard, I burst into laughter.
“Are you seriously worried I’m going to launch a surprise attack on you?”
“I am simply telling you so that you won't be surprised if it happens.”
The Grand Duke wore a sulky expression that didn't quite suit him.
“No matter how bold I am, I’m not stupid enough to try and ambush a Sword Master of the Empire.”
I chuckled, looking down at him as he lay there with his shirt neatly tucked.
“Believe it or not, I’m actually quite fond of my own safety.”
“Your actions thus far have suggested otherwise.”
Look at him, acting like he doesn't care while making sure he gets the last word.
Even his grumpy muttering was rather cute.
Ignoring his protest, I reached under the blanket covering him and gently took hold of his large, firm hand.
The Grand Duke flinched, his Adam’s apple bobbing prominently.
“W-why are you holding my hand…!”
“You’ll fall asleep faster once your hands are warm.”
His hand twitched for a moment, but when it became clear I had no intention of letting go, the resistance ceased, and he went still.
Wow, his hands are huge.
Looking at it up close, the Grand Duke’s hand was truly massive. His fingers were long and elegant, each joint well-defined. Even using both of my hands, I couldn't fully wrap around his.
Is it just that Annette’s hands are too small…?
Feeling a bit awkward just sitting there, I began to lightly massage his hand. I rubbed the calloused knuckles and softly stroked his fingertips.
I doubted the pressure from Annette’s small hands felt like much, but I pressed down on the acupressure points I knew on his broad palm.
It felt a bit strange.
Come to think of it, both before and after my reincarnation, I rarely had memories of holding someone’s hand like this.
In my childhood, my mother’s hand was always occupied by someone else, and even after growing up, I’d never been in a relationship deep enough to walk around holding hands.
And yet, it was strange how naturally I could hold the Grand Duke’s hand, as if I’d been doing it forever.
He’s being awfully quiet, isn't he?
I expected him to snap at me for fiddling with his hand, but he hadn't said a word for a while.
This was likely his first time experiencing this kind of skinship, too.
Curious, I looked up.
As if he didn't want me to see his face, the Grand Duke had his head turned the other way. However, from my position at his bedside, his expression was perfectly visible.
I opened my mouth to tease him but quickly shut it.
With his features slightly contorted, the Grand Duke looked as if he were about to cry. His chest rose and fell with shallow, ragged breaths.
I quietly lowered my head, pretending I hadn't seen.
Why did a man with such a powerful physique have a face that looked like it might crumble at any moment?
I felt like I couldn't even breathe too loudly. I simply held his hand and stayed still for a long time.
By the time I looked up again, the Grand Duke had fallen asleep. His long eyelashes fluttered slightly with every steady breath he took.
He looks like a puppy when he’s sleeping.
I carefully tucked his now-warm hand back under the covers and slipped out of the room.
If this world is truly real, then the tragic backstory I skimmed over in a couple of lines must have been a lifelong reality for him, right?
It was an undeniable fact that the Grand Duke was a character in the original story.
But his thoughts and the emotions he showed were so vivid that the boundaries were starting to blur against my will.
I thought I could just treat him lightly, like I was playing a game character…
I wondered if I should be wary of becoming too immersed in this world.
Lost in thought, I walked down the hallway until I reached the central staircase.
I stopped when I heard the sound of people nearby.
“So you swapped shifts for her again?”
“What else could I do? She said there was no one to look after the kids.”
I heard the hushed voices of maids talking.
I pressed myself against the edge of the stairs so I wouldn't be seen from below.
“What was the excuse this time?”
“She said her husband hurt his ankle.”
“How?”
At that, the maid who started the story seemed to check her surroundings, prompting the other to urge her on.
“Well… they were trying to, ahem, set the mood for the first time in a while. And then, while the husband was…”
The conversation was punctuated by giggles as they whispered the scandalous details.
“But just as they were about to… the kids burst into the room!”
“Oh my goodness!”
“So, the husband got startled and tried to jump up, but his foot got caught on the bed and he fell!”
More giggles followed as the conversation continued.
“My sister sent her kid to their grandmother’s for a few days, and she ended up pregnant with a second one right away.”
It was just idle gossip, but because I’d hidden myself at the start, it felt awkward to go down now. I’d been worried they were badmouthing me.
Should I just go down now?
Standing in the cold, unlit hallway for so long made my feet go numb.
Just as I finally worked up the nerve to step onto the stairs, another voice joined the conversation.
“What are you doing here?”
It was a familiar voice—one of the maids who cleaned my room morning and night.
“Just taking a break.”
“Don't you know you’re not supposed to be here at this hour?”
“I was just standing here. Don't be such a stickler.”
“The Head Butler said not to go anywhere near the central staircase after sunset.”
“Ugh, you’re so rigid.”
“And why are you here?”
“The Consort’s room ran out of warm water.”
“I was just about to take some up. Here, you take it.”
“…Wait, this is cold.”
“It was warm when I got it. It just cooled down because it’s so cold out.”
“Go boil it again.”
“Look at her. Am I your servant?”
“Water duty is your responsibility today.”
“Ugh, whatever! I’ve been wiping windows all day and I’m exhausted. I’m telling you, I delivered it!”
“She’s not the type to complain about things like this anyway. Just leave it.”
The two maids grumbled as they moved away down the hall. With a deep sigh, the footsteps of the remaining maid also gradually faded.
I guess being hated for doing your job properly is the same everywhere.
The maids’ attitude was a bit annoying, but it wasn't my place to step in and enforce discipline.
It’s not like they committed a capital crime.
I waited a bit longer to give the maids time to clear out before returning to my room, but strangely, the parlor was empty.
It was quite a while later when a maid finally appeared with the water.
Did she actually go back to boil it?
I felt a sudden surge of curiosity about her.
“Could I have a glass of water?”
The maid, who was setting the teapot and cup on the table, poured a glass and brought it over at my request. I took a sip.
The water was warm.
It seemed this upright maid had indeed gone back to boil the water.
It must have been a huge hassle to go all the way back to the kitchen in the middle of the night.
Management of the servants in the Grand Duke’s Castle was much looser than in the Marquis’s estate.
Furthermore, as the maids had said, they knew I wasn't the type to nag or make them redo things even if they did a sloppy job, so many of them probably slacked off.
I didn't mind much, having lived perfectly fine in a shabby studio apartment before.
But the room definitely feels more comfortable when this maid is on duty.
The maid stood there with a blank expression, waiting for me to hand back the cup.
She had brown hair and a face dotted with small freckles. Her nose was a bit blunt, but her eyes were quite sharp.
However, she didn't look like the ambitious type. She didn't seem to have any particular desire to get on my good side, either.
She just seemed like the type of person who couldn't bring herself to cut corners.
The type that makes life hard for themselves—just like me.
“What is your name?”
The maid, who had been standing there vacantly, hesitated for a moment, perhaps fearing a reprimand, before opening her mouth.
“It is Reta, Your Highness.”
“The water is nice and warm. Thank you.”
Her eyes widened slightly. Not knowing how to respond, she stammered for a second before simply bowing her head and taking the cup.
Back at the Marquis’s estate, the maids had been so cold that I never even thought about befriending them.
The servants here weren't exactly warm either, so I generally avoided talking to them. I didn't want to get hurt if I tried to be friendly only to hear them gossiping behind my back.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to at least know their names.
After Reta finished tidying the room and left, I flopped onto the bed.
Perhaps because the days felt so long, or perhaps because I had nothing to do, I’d been overthinking things a lot lately.
I guess I really am the type who needs to work.
At least I had the "task" of dealing with the Grand Duke for now. With that comforting thought, I fell asleep.