Chapter 31: A Man Who Needs Looking After
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 31: A Man Who Needs Looking After
‘Anyone can see the Grand Duke is the greatest perk of this place.’
Right on cue, the "perk" in question cleared his throat and spoke.
“I believe I heard you calling for Leon earlier. Did you have business with him?”
“Oh, it was nothing major.”
I tried to brush it off, sensing the explanation might get long, but the Grand Duke’s gaze didn't waver. His eyes practically demanded to hear the rest.
‘I suppose it is suspicious to call for his personal knight in the middle of the night.’
In the end, I confessed everything about the spicy tomato stew recipe.
His sharp, upturned eyes gradually softened, as if his guard had finally dropped.
“Do you… like spicy tomato stew?”
“I could honestly live on nothing else for an entire week!”
“Spicy tomato stew, I see…” the Grand Duke murmured softly.
“But I’ve been a bit worried.”
“About what?”
“It seems business isn't doing as well as I expected.”
I took the opportunity to recount the conversation I’d had with Mrs. Marie.
“That is likely because Blenheim isn't much of a tourist city,” the Grand Duke said, evaluating his own territory with surprising coldness. “The cold is part of it, but there are also no entertainment facilities for the nobility. The Kingdom of Rondoris is famous as a resort destination, so most Northern nobles spend their vacations there or in Arsen.”
“Why hasn't Blenheim built anything like that?”
I asked out of pure curiosity, but the Grand Duke rubbed the back of his neck as if embarrassed.
“It is because… I have not been able to pay it much mind.”
“Oh…”
I’m usually quick on the uptake, but every once in a while, I can be incredibly dense.
How could I say something so thoughtless to a man who was already exhausted from fighting a curse and protecting the North all on his own? Asking why there was nothing fun to do in his territory was practically an insult.
“Well, Blenheim is quite vast, after all.”
Fearing I’d say something even more foolish if I continued, I hurriedly changed the subject.
“By the way, Your Grace.”
Ahem.
He met my gaze with a puzzled expression at the sudden playfulness in my voice.
“Do you notice anything different about me?”
The Grand Duke hesitated, seemingly flustered by the mischievous glint in my eyes.
“Different… I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Exactly what I said. Is there nothing different about me?”
His dark pupils shook violently.
‘There’s no way he’d notice. He probably doesn't even know what he’s wearing himself.’
I bit my lip to stifle a laugh as I watched him clumsily scan me, his eyes darting around while he tried his best not to make it obvious.
“You really can’t tell?”
I stood up and did a slow pirouette.
The hem of the white dress—the only one that hadn't required alterations—wrapped softly around my body, creating elegant folds.
“Ta-da!”
Only then did the Grand Duke seem to realize my intent, letting out a shallow sigh.
“Is that a new dress?”
“Yes. My husband gave it to me as a gift.”
I gave the skirt a little shake.
‘He’ll probably recoil at the word "husband" again.’
I looked up, a smile dancing in my eyes as I imagined his shocked reaction. However, the Grand Duke was simply staring at me, dazed. His thick, prominent Adam’s apple bobbed once.
“It suits you well.”
“Oh… thank you.”
His voice was so sincere that the joke I was about to make died in my throat.
His gaze was cool yet gentle. It was a contradictory combination of words that shouldn't have made sense, yet there was no other way to describe those pitch-black eyes shimmering in the lamplight.
‘Why is my throat so dry?’
Feeling as though I might be sucked in if I looked any longer, I let out a fake cough to break the ticklish tension.
“Anyway, why did you call the boutique so suddenly?”
“…Spring has arrived.”
The Grand Duke toyed with the handle of his lukewarm teacup.
“I thought you might need new clothes…”
“It wasn't because my attire didn't meet the standards of Blenheim?”
“Never…!”
The moment he shouted, the handle he was holding snapped off the teacup with a sharp crack.
“A-Are you okay?”
Still clutching the handle, the Grand Duke lowered his head in embarrassment, though he continued to speak clearly.
“It was never anything like that. I simply thought you might need assistance since you don't have a lady-in-waiting yet…”
Seeing the tiny fragment of the teacup held in his massive hand, I let out a little giggle.
“I know. I was just joking.”
I knew. Because I knew, I was grateful, which was why I’d gone out of my way to show him the dress at this hour.
“I ordered a ton of clothes, so you can’t say anything later when you get the bill. This is a gift, right?”
At that, the Grand Duke let out a small, breathy laugh that sounded almost like a cough.
“Why are you laughing? I really bought a lot.”
As I shrugged, the Grand Duke spoke with a lingering smile.
“I will never say a word. It is a gift solely for the Grand Duchess, so I would be happy if you accepted it with a light heart.”
His steady voice brushed against my ear, tickling something deep in my chest.
‘Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve seen him smile.’
The handsome Grand Duke’s lips had curved into a graceful arc.
The dark eyes beneath his slightly lowered lids looked incredibly harmless. That refreshing aura made my heart throb uncontrollably.
I fanned my face with my hand, trying to cool my flushing cheeks.
“I-Is it the greenhouse? It’s a bit hot in here.”
In truth, the temperature in the greenhouse was quite pleasant.
“Would you like to walk for a bit?”
At my suggestion, the Grand Duke set down the broken handle and stood up.
Approaching me, he suddenly offered his arm.
“May I escort…”
“Oh, thank you.”
But the moment I placed my hand on his arm—
“…Ah!”
I flinched and pulled my hand away instinctively.
“What is it?”
The Grand Duke froze as well.
“Are you… playing a trick on me again, like last time?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
— “I was just surprised. Your arms are incredibly firm, Your Grace.”
It seemed the comment I’d made the first time he escorted me had sounded like teasing to him.
“I wasn't joking then, either! Look, your arm is like a rock.”
I pouted and poked his forearm.
“And the Grand Duchess is so soft—!”
“Soft…?”
“It is nothing.”
The Grand Duke’s face instantly turned beet red as he hurriedly glossed over his words.
Even so, he didn't withdraw his arm, so I carefully placed my hand back on it.
It was strange. Today, it definitely felt…
‘Hot?’
Just by touching his arm, my heart raced as if hot blood were coursing through my entire body.
‘I don't care how handsome he is. Is this really a reaction I should be having just from touching an arm?’
This was definitely because Annette had no immunity to men.
I made excuses for my own lewd thoughts and tried to fix my expression.
We walked through the greenhouse for a while.
Once we were actually moving through it, the glass greenhouse proved to be much deeper than it appeared from the outside. There were signs everywhere that it hadn't been built all at once, but rather several greenhouses had been joined together over time. The moonlight pouring through the massive windows and the indoor lamps reflected off each other, breathing various colors into the greenery.
“I think this place is truly beautiful.”
“…Is that so?”
The quiet Grand Duke gave a small response to my remark.
As we reached the innermost section, we found a flowerbed overflowing with nameless white flowers in full bloom. Small buds peeked out from between the white petals, making it look as if a smaller flower were blooming inside a larger one.
An exclamation of awe escaped my lips.
“How pretty. I’ve never seen a flower like this before.”
“It is called Nephras.”
To get a closer look at the flowers, I let go of the Grand Duke’s arm, feeling a slight pang of regret.
As I approached the flowerbed and leaned down to inspect them, a large shadow loomed behind me.
“…It was my mother’s favorite flower.”
“The late Grand Duchess?”
His low voice echoed near my ear.
“This was originally my mother’s greenhouse. It has been closed since she passed away.”
Closed?
No wonder Whitley had been so hesitant at first. He must have asked the Grand Duke for permission to open the greenhouse for me.
‘He opened it specifically for me.’
“I’m sorry. I didn't know…”
The Grand Duke spoke with a stoic face.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. I am only embarrassed to show it to you, as it hasn't been well-maintained.”
“If I’d known it was your mother’s greenhouse, I wouldn't have asked to open it so carelessly.”
He slowly shook his head.
“Do not worry about it. It wasn't closed for any particular reason. It was just a hassle to maintain… and there was no one to visit it.”
Not knowing what to say, I quietly turned my gaze back to the Nephras.
“Do you like the Nephras?” the Grand Duke asked, looking at the cluster of white flowers.
“Yes, very much.”
“If you wish, I will have Whitley make a bouquet and send it up to you.”
“No.”
I hurriedly waved my hands.
“They’re so beautiful; it would be a waste to pick them.”
I inhaled the rich scent of earth rising from beneath the flowerbed.
“Just looking at them like this is enough for me.”
“Then…”
The Grand Duke hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Come whenever you like.”
“I will keep the greenhouse open.”
I turned my head and met his eyes. He was already looking at me. Rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, he said, “The flowers will remain until midsummer, so please come to see them whenever you wish.”
“…Thank you.”
A brief silence followed his words.
Was he thinking of his mother?
His face looked the same as usual, but there was a hint of loneliness in the way he surveyed his surroundings.
He was a man as large as a mountain, capable of easily eclipsing the surrounding lights. Why did he suddenly look so pitiable?
And look at that. He’d only gone a day or two without help, and his cravat was already tied sloppily around his neck.
‘He really is the type who needs looking after.’
I took a large step toward him.
“Grand Duchess?”
His shoulders flinched and went rigid.
“Your cravat is crooked.”
At those words, he looked down at his neck for a moment, hooked a finger into the knot, and pulled the cravat loose in an instant.
He then obediently held the fabric out to me.
“Then, I ask of you…”
‘Wait, what? What’s with this submissive attitude?’
As I stared at him, slightly dazed, he averted his gaze.
When I took the fabric, he naturally leaned down.
I gently wrapped the cravat around his neck and tightened the knot neatly in the center.
“I tied it loosely since it’s nighttime.”
The Grand Duke toyed with the cravat I’d just tied.
I suppose even he could see it looked good. Or wait, was that why he was carrying the fabric around yesterday, too?
I glanced at him sideways and asked, “Even you think the way I tie it is much prettier, right?”
“That… is true.”
He nodded obediently.
“Then should I come and tie it for you every morning?”
“Yes. Wait, what?… Ah, no.”
He had answered reflexively before hurriedly shaking his head.
“Why? Do you not want me to?”
“It is not that I do not want to…”
The tips of the Grand Duke’s ears turned bright red.