IBWMD 88

~Chapter 88~

The Grand Duke? How? Why?

As I looked up at Jeremy, full of questions, his expression was still sour as he replied:

“…He was badly injured while fighting monsters at the front lines and has returned.”

“Badly injured? Is he okay?”

“Yes. He’s much better now.”

“He’s already here? I didn’t even sense he was returning.”

“…Because he returned in absolute secrecy.”

The Grand Duke had returned, and yet the Grand Duke’s estate was completely quiet—only for a moment did I find it surprising.

“Someone who never even showed his face suddenly appears…”

If it had been my old self, I would have scoffed, “Oh, I had a husband?”

I would have added that I had refused him because I disliked him.

We hadn’t even had a wedding, nor were we truly a married couple.

“…But now, I’m in no position to say that.”

I couldn’t criticize him for ignoring me when I had my own situation with Karl.

“Wow. Now that I think about it…”

If I looked at it objectively from a third person’s perspective:

“While the Grand Duke was fiercely fighting monsters and getting injured, the bride the Emperor sent was flirting with a monster hunter and even received a proposal?”

That would look exactly like an affair in a trashy drama!

I felt cold sweat dripping down.

Honestly, this wasn’t just my “fault.”

“I’m just trash…”

Even though I didn’t accept Karl’s proposal immediately…

Even though I was planning to refuse him properly later…

Even though I was planning to tell the Grand Duke honestly that I liked someone else and wanted to leave if he allowed it…

“That was only my hopeful thinking.”

In this situation, the Grand Duke would have every right to confront me, and I’d have nothing to say.

Still, I felt a little bitter.

Karl was the one who’d made me a heroine of a trashy affair story, and now he was nowhere to be found.

But I didn’t have time to dwell on that.

“……”

“……”

I looked at Jeremy, who was avoiding my gaze with an uneasy expression.

“Wait. Jeremy was there when Karl proposed to me…”

He’d even panicked and run away.

Could he have already told the Grand Duke…?

“…I won’t tell His Grace.”

At Jeremy’s words, I blinked in surprise and replied with trembling lashes:

“What nonsense are you talking about? Of course you should tell him.”

“What?”

“You’re the Grand Duke’s aide. How could you not report something like this?”

“……”

“I didn’t think you’d be this disloyal.”

“Excuse me…”

Jeremy clenched his jaw, clearly holding back what he wanted to say.

Seeing his sulking face made me feel a little sad.

“He’s been so cold to me these past few days… This is the first time we’re even talking.”

Though the topic wasn’t ideal.

“Even if you don’t tell him, I was planning to say it myself.”

“What?!”

I had to take responsibility. What happened, happened.

I had already decided not to run away.

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

“I was going to tell him I liked someone else.”

“……”

“And if he allowed it, I’d leave with that man.”

That part made me feel a little down.

“But can Karl even leave now…?”

I knew asking Jeremy about Karl now would be too much.

It would be the worst thing to talk about another man when my husband was coming.

I tried to hold back my curiosity and continued:

“And as for an heir…”

But before I could finish explaining my thoughts—

“Please don’t mention Karl at all. I’m begging you.”

It was an unexpected response.

“Don’t even say anything about leaving with another man.”

“What?”

“No, the words ‘another man’ are banned entirely.”

“Why?”

“To be completely honest, I’d rather you kept absolutely everything a secret.”

“…Really?”

Normally, it should be the opposite.

Jeremy, the loyal knight, should be reporting all of this to his superior.

“Is this guy also disloyal?”

I gave him a disappointed look.

Was he really loyal to the Grand Duke?

Or was he just trying to cover everything up to avoid trouble?

Jeremy, who clearly felt my glare, looked like he was the one who was wronged.

“Anyway, His Grace will be summoning you soon.”

“When is ‘soon’?”

Jeremy looked at his pocket watch.

“Well… 3, 2…”

“One day?”

“…One minute from now.”

“What?!”

“What’s going on, Young Lady?”

Beth peeked her head out from outside the door at my outburst.

When she heard the full story, she grabbed Jeremy by the collar and yelled at him for letting the Grand Duke summon me without any notice.

“Tell him to call for her after she’s ready!”

“Wait, Beth. We’re the ones at fault here…”

“Just like His Grace is precious to you, my Young Lady is precious to me! Got it, you brat?!”

“…I get it! Now let me go!”

“I won’t let my Young Lady meet His Grace looking like this!”

I wasn’t sure if she was trying to protect me or insult me.

“One day! I’ll buy you one more day!”

Jeremy’s face was bright red as he surrendered to Beth, gasping for air.

…And so a day passed, and finally, the moment arrived.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Grand Duchess.”

“……”

“His Grace is asking if you can come to him.”

I was adjusting my hair ornaments when the head maid entered my room after knocking politely.

I was surprised she came personally.

“The head maid came herself to deliver this?”

Before joining the Grand Duke’s estate, she had always kept me at arm’s length.

Now that it was known I had holy power, I thought she’d be even colder than Jeremy.

But her calm reaction surprised me.

“Don’t you feel uncomfortable that I have holy power?” I asked carefully.

“……”

“What if I’m connected to the temple?”

Her reply was so straightforward it was almost anticlimactic.

“If you had really joined hands with the temple, you wouldn’t be saying that to me now.”

So she wasn’t the type to get attached easily, but she was objective in her judgment.

I was a little touched.

“And besides… the union has already been consecrated.”

What did she mean by that? We hadn’t even held the wedding yet.

Anyway…

“Alright. I’m ready.”

“Then I will inform His Grace.”

Click.

As soon as the door closed, Beth muttered under her breath:

“I still don’t like the idea of you having to go meet that man.”

“For someone who doesn’t like it, you really dressed me up a lot.”

“I’d dress you up even more if I could.”

“And what’s with this necklace? I didn’t even know I owned something this fancy.”

“Lady Reyna gave it to you. You absolutely cannot let Elaine be discouraged!”

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, feeling a little overwhelmed.

My hair, usually tied up or left loose, was now styled in waves.

I was wearing a blue silk dress with lace everywhere, long gloves, and heavy jewelry on my neck, ears, and wrists.

“This is definitely too much.”

I muttered bitterly:

“Even if I go like this, I’m sure the Grand Duke will still hate me.”

“Who does he think he is?”

“He’ll just think the bride sent by the Emperor is overly extravagant and hate me more.”

“Who does he think he is?!”

Even as Beth fumed, I thought maybe this wasn’t so bad.

“At least this way, the Grand Duke will definitely not want to keep me as his wife.”

“I just need to negotiate properly…”

Jeremy had told me not to bring it up, but did I look like someone who would stay silent?

If I were, I wouldn’t even be here.

I was taking a deep breath, steeling myself, when Beth patted my shoulder encouragingly.

“You know, Young Lady, there’s nothing about you that falls short.”

No, I fall short a lot. I’m the trash in this situation.

“You’re absolutely second to no one.”

Sorry. I’m very much second to someone.

“Beth… actually…”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I was about to make a small confession when—

“Grand Duchess.”

Click.

The head maid entered again.

“His Grace is asking you to enter.”

Suddenly, nervousness crashed over me.

She gestured for me to follow, and I quietly stepped out of the room behind her.

Creak.

No one spoke as we walked down the hall.

A strange tension filled the entire Grand Duke’s estate.

Beth glanced at me as if asking if I was okay.

I nodded as I followed the head maid—until she stopped in front of a door.

“He is inside.”

“……”

“……”

She stood in front of the door next to the marital bedroom.

That’s right…

“The Grand Duke’s room was right next to the couple’s bedroom.”

Of course he’d be in his own room now that he was back.

“Wait a second…”

It was strange.

“How could I not notice someone was this close?”

I was a trained knight. My senses couldn’t have dulled that much…

“…Could it be?”

Was that noise I heard from the couple’s bedroom a few days ago—the one I thought was a mouse?

I was lost in confusion for a moment.

Creak.

The door opened.