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Chapter 14
“Why is she this drunk?”
The maid flinched at Erno’s sharp glare, looking like she wanted to cry.
“I-I’m sorry! I thought honey mead would be fine. I didn’t know Her Grace would be this weak to alcohol!”
“Don’t make excuses. You know what happened to her last night. And you still gave her alcohol just because she asked for it?”
Then what was I supposed to do?
The maid’s rebellious thoughts made her look up at Erno’s face, but his terrifying expression made her quickly lower her head again.
She had only followed the Grand Duchess’s request, but the way he glared at her as if he wanted to kill her was too much.
“Don’t just stand there. Go bring some cold water. Now.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
Relieved that she got away with just that, the maid clutched her chest and ran out.
She had never seen Erno like this before. Maybe the rumors from the servants about last night weren’t just nonsense after all. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Diana. Wake up. Diana!”
Erno forcefully took the cup from Diana’s hands. Thankfully, the smell told him it was just honey mead—beer mixed with water and honey, not very strong.
“E…Erno… I… I lasted… I did well…”
“You want me to praise you?”
His drunken bride nodded, not even noticing his sarcasm.
Diana stared up at him with hazy eyes, as if asking why he wasn’t praising her.
Erno felt his irritation melt away. He let out a strange sigh—half laugh, half breath—and placed his hand gently on her head.
“…You did well. Keep being like this.”
“Mhm…”
She nodded obediently.
Even though there’s a saying that you shouldn’t believe the words of a drunk person, he couldn’t stop the small, satisfied smile creeping onto his lips.
“Why are you so happy?”
“It’s my first time… being praised…”
Diana whispered with a soft sigh that smelled faintly of honeyed alcohol.
Aside from memories of her mother when she was very young, it really was the first time in her life she had been praised.
“That’s not even something hard to do.”
Erno replied flatly as if it wasn’t a big deal.
But his hand on her hair was warm and careful, showing more kindness than his tone.
I didn’t think she’d actually last three days.
Erno smiled bitterly, annoyed at his own arrogance for thinking the bet would be an easy win.
It was his mistake from start to finish, but admitting it felt like swallowing his pride.
Sitting next to Diana, Erno leaned his chin on his hand and complained.
“But Diana, you spent almost the whole day in bed being sick. That should make the bet invalid.”
“What?”
Diana’s eyes flew wide open at the shocking words.
Seeing her reaction, Erno covered his face with one hand and started laughing.
Diana stared at him, pouting.
“That’s not fair! Your Highness, I didn’t think you were… such a petty, small-minded… stingy person!”
“…What?”
Petty? Small-minded? Stingy?
It was the first time in his life anyone had said that to him.
And the woman who said it didn’t even realize what she’d just called him.
“You’re probably the only one who dares say such things to me.”
“Then let’s extend the bet! A week! No—a month! A year! I can do it! Because… I’ll stay by your side!”
“Why?”
He suddenly wondered. Why was she so determined to stay by his side?
Even when she was drowning, even now when she was drunk.
It didn’t feel like she was saying it to clear up misunderstandings or to win his favor. Her expression looked… desperate.
“Because… I’m your wife. As of today, I’m officially the Grand Duchess. So me being here… it’s only natural, right?”
“Natural, huh.”
He usually hated talking to drunk people, but seeing her like this made him think maybe it wasn’t so bad sometimes.
“Let’s get you to bed.”
He’d already tolerated enough tonight. If this continued and she tried jumping off the terrace, that would be a disaster. He decided to be merciful.
He carefully laid her down on the bed. Diana smiled, eyes crinkling with joy.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“Because you’re handsome.”
“…Hah.”
Drunk people. Erno shook his head and ignored the comment.
“Erno… You called my name.”
“Your name?”
Was that such a big deal?
Throwing off his formal clothes, Erno frowned slightly.
“My place… where I belong… my name.”
Diana murmured softly, almost like she was singing.
“You yell sometimes, and you get angry, and your face is scary when you shout… but you’ve never hit me, have you?”
“Why would I hit you?”
Erno’s voice was full of disbelief.
He’d heard the nasty rumors that the Grand Duke of Fenril “devoured his brides.”
But he never imagined someone would see him as a man who hit weaker people.
“Diana. Do I look like some kind of monster that eats people?”
“No… not at all.”
“Then that’s enough. Now, rest.”
But Diana grabbed his sleeve just as he was about to turn away.
“What now?”
“…The bet. I won.”
So give me my prize. Praise me too.
Her eyes clearly demanded it.
At this point, Erno felt like he was beginning to understand her.
She was stubborn in strange ways, persistent, and though she looked quiet, she always said exactly what was on her mind.
The kind of personality he usually hated.
“We’ll talk when you wake up.”
“No. I want it now.”
“You’ll regret it.”
“I don’t care.”
Her drunken face looked so serious and sincere that Erno finally gave in.
“Fine. Do as you please. What do you want?”
“Anything?”
“If it’s what you want, anything.”
He regretted saying it the moment the words left his mouth.
What if she asked for something ridiculous—like for him to love her?
Diana tilted her head, frowning slightly as if deep in thought.
“Then… hmm…”
The suspense made Erno’s nerves tighten as he waited for her answer.
Finally, she smiled brightly.
“I’ll think about it later. Right now… I’m too sleepy…”
Erno closed his eyes and told himself to be patient.
She’s drunk. Don’t get mad at a drunk person.
After three deep breaths, he managed to force a stiff smile.
“Sleep well.”
He gently pulled the blanket over her head.
Wrapped in the soft, warm, luxurious bedding—so different from the old, thin blanket she used to have—Diana secretly made a wish.
I don’t need him to always be kind. Even if he’s not gentle all the time… as long as he treats me warmly like today, just sometimes…
Maybe then, even if it wasn’t a “happy” life, she could still live a normal, peaceful one.
My wish… is for you to keep being kind to me, like today. Then I’ll try to be someone who truly deserves to be your Grand Duchess.
Once she was asleep, Erno’s face instantly lost its warmth, as if a snowstorm had wiped it away.
‘There are rumors among the soldiers… about monsters that can speak human language.’
‘That’s absurd! They must’ve been drunk and imagining things!’
‘But recently, reports of monsters crawling like snakes but walking on two legs have been increasing…’
It was nonsense. Drunken soldiers’ wild stories.
But if the rumors involved monsters, there was no harm in confirming it.
Erno’s expression hardened as he stood up.
