THND 09

Chapter 9

That startled me.

I told him to meditate, so why was he staring at me like that?

“Your Grace, I said you’re supposed to do it with your eyes closed.”

“I was just about to.”

Was this guy seriously trying to slack off and got caught?

Considering how crafty Duke Cassiar could be, it was entirely possible.

Perhaps he was embarrassed about getting caught, because his cheeks had turned slightly red.

No…

That couldn’t be it.

Duke Cassiar wasn’t the kind of person who would blush just because he got caught lazing around.

Then there had to be another reason his face was red.

It wasn’t hot outside, so it couldn’t be because of the weather.

Then maybe…

I placed my hand against Duke Cassiar’s forehead.

His gaze wavered for a brief moment as he looked at me.

“Are you still feeling unwell? Your face is red. You don’t seem to have much of a fever, but just in case, should I call your physician?”

“I’m fine. I simply got a little warm from concentrating.”

As if he felt stuffy, Duke Cassiar untied the navy-blue ribbon wrapped around his neck.

Then he undid the top button of his shirt as well.

The opening revealed the firm line of his neck.

I guess he really is hot.

My attention lingered on his neck for a moment before I quickly pulled myself together and stood up.

“I’ll open the window.”

As soon as I opened it, a cool breeze drifted inside, causing my hair to sway gently.

Every gust blew strands of hair across my face, and it was becoming rather bothersome.

I should tie my hair up at times like this.

Is there anything I could use?

As I looked around, my eyes landed on the navy-blue ribbon Duke Cassiar had just removed.

That’s it!

“Your Grace, may I borrow your ribbon for a moment?”

“Of course.”

The Duke handed me the ribbon he had been holding in his large hand.

“Just a moment.”

I gathered up my long hair and lifted it high with one hand.

The thick waves at the ends settled neatly together.

Then I wrapped the ribbon around it and secured it into place.

That’s much better.

Satisfied after solving the annoyance, I returned to my seat across from Duke Cassiar.

He was watching me intently, as though he had seen something fascinating.

Ah… was it rude to tie my hair with the Duke’s ribbon?

“My hair is long, and whenever the wind blows it gets in the way of meditating. If you don’t mind, I’d like to borrow your ribbon for a little while.”

“You never fail to surprise me.”

Was that his way of saying I was troublesome?

Even so, Duke Cassiar didn’t seem displeased.

“It’s good to surprise you once in a while! I’m determined to find a way for you to fall asleep without relying on sleeping medicine or my power.”

If that happened, the Duke would never lose control, and everything would avoid ending in ruin.

It would be the perfect happy ending.

I clenched both fists and showed Duke Cassiar my burning determination.

“So Your Grace, please try a little harder too. Don’t try to cut corners like you did just now. I’ll be watching you very closely.”

“I will.”

Although he looked as though he was reluctantly following my instructions, a pleasant smile appeared at the corners of his lips as he closed his eyes.

So Duke Cassiar knows how to smile warmly too.

Personal preferences really are frightening.

I almost found my heart fluttering.

While the Duke kept his eyes closed, I openly admired his strikingly handsome features.

Then he suddenly opened his eyes.

“How long are we supposed to sit here with our eyes closed?”

His eyebrows shot upward in obvious dissatisfaction, as though sitting still was a waste of time.

At this rate, even sleep would run away.

I had a feeling.

This method probably wasn’t going to work.

Why was it so difficult just to get the Duke to meditate once?

I’d become so worked up trying that I ended up drenched in sweat and had to bathe again.

Drying my damp hair with a towel, I looked around the room.

So this is my room now?

Duke Cassiar had told me to make myself comfortable since it was now mine, but the luxurious interior was far more extravagant than the Marquis’s estate, and I couldn’t get used to it.

Why is this wardrobe so huge?

It looks twice as big as the one I had back at the Marquis’s estate.

Curiously, I opened the massive wardrobe.

Just as Pani had said, it was filled with brand-new dresses from expensive luxury brands.

There had to be dozens of them.

“How am I supposed to wear these without feeling guilty?”

Despite saying that, I had already changed into one of the new dresses and was standing in front of the mirror.

Expensive really is better.

You can tell just by looking at it.

Wearing new clothes instantly lifted my mood.

Pani had been right.

Duke Cassiar really did have a surprisingly thoughtful side.

While I was admiring the dress, something struck the window.

What was that?

Suddenly, I remembered what Duke Cassiar had told me.

That he had many unseen enemies…

…and that I could become a target because of them.

A chill ran down my spine.

Swallowing nervously, I slowly turned toward the window where the sound had come from.

Someone was leaning against it with their back pressed to the glass.

An assassin?

How did they find my room already?

Frozen with fear, I cautiously stepped closer.

But for someone supposedly here to kill me, the figure’s back looked strangely familiar.

Where had I seen that snow-white hair before?

Gathering my courage, I threw open the window.

The man who had been leaning against it tumbled headfirst into the room.

His face was now fully visible.

This wasn’t an assassin.

It was Duke Cassiar’s…

The man who had fallen through the window was Suu—the one who had supported Duke Cassiar when he coughed up blood.

But why had he been leaning against my window?

Had he been attacked?

“Hey… you’re alive, right?”

Fortunately, he didn’t appear to have any visible injuries.

Thinking I should wake him up, I gently poked his pale cheek with my finger.

His steady breathing brushed softly against my skin.

“Don’t tell me you’re asleep too?”

At this point, I was beginning to reasonably suspect that everyone in this place had a disease that made them fall asleep whenever they met me.

As I wondered what to do, my gaze drifted to Suu’s snow-white hair.

It looked so soft.

It reminded me of the fluffy white puppy I’d once seen on the street.

It looks so fluffy.

I bet it feels nice to touch.

Just as I found myself wanting to pet his hair the same way I always wanted to squeeze a cat’s jelly-like paw pads or a puppy’s chubby little bottom…

…my hand was already stroking his hair.

It’s so soft.

Just like cotton candy.

Completely absorbed by the fluffy sensation, I didn’t notice that Suu had awakened.

When he opened his eyes, they naturally settled on me as I continued stroking his hair.

How embarrassing.

I expected him to slap my hand away or immediately stand up.

Instead, he simply looked at me quietly.

Like a puppy lying comfortably beneath its owner’s hand, happily wagging its tail.

In the end, I was the one who withdrew my hand first.

“You were asleep while leaning against the window. When I opened it, you fell inside.”

Understanding what had happened, Suu nodded and stood up.

Even then, his eyes remained fixed on the hand that had been petting his hair.

“But why were you sleeping in a place like that?”

“His Grace ordered me to guard Milady.”

“Duke Cassiar did?”

That was the first I’d heard of it.

When had he assigned me a bodyguard?

Calling it protection was one thing, but wasn’t this really just to make sure I didn’t run away?

“May I come in?”

It seemed even the mastermind appeared whenever someone mentioned him.

Right on cue, Duke Cassiar knocked on the door.

When I opened it, he walked inside.

“Your Grace, you assigned a bodyguard to me?”

“So you’ve already met.”

Duke Cassiar’s gaze briefly shifted to Suu before returning to me.

“As I told you before, now that you are the Duchess, you may become a target. To prepare for that, I have assigned Suu to protect you.”

I glanced at Suu, who still looked half-asleep.

No matter how I looked at him, he didn’t seem strong enough to protect anyone.

With his slender build and doll-like appearance, it looked more as though I should be the one protecting Suu.

Besides, having someone constantly following me around sounded uncomfortable.

“Your Grace, I don’t need a bodyguard. It would feel uncomfortable knowing someone is always beside me.”

“You needn’t worry about that. Suu will guard you from a distance that won’t make you uncomfortable. Unless something happens, it’ll be no different from living alone.”

Come to think of it, when Duke Cassiar coughed up blood, Suu had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

“Isn’t Suu supposed to be your bodyguard? If you assign your own guard to me, who will protect you?”

“Are you worried about my safety?”

Duke Cassiar looked completely unconcerned.

I had almost forgotten.

Duke Cassiar was the greatest mastermind in this world.

Unless he lost control and injured himself, no one else was likely capable of harming him.

Even I had to admit my concern was unnecessary.

Still, even if I was nothing more than an extra who wasn’t even mentioned in the original story, I wasn’t so weak that I needed constant protection.

“Just as Your Grace possesses the strength to protect yourself, I also have enough skill to protect myself.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

He sounded as though he was humoring me, but it was obvious Duke Cassiar didn’t believe a single word I said.

Now I was feeling competitive again.

If he was going to act like that, I had no choice.

I’d just have to reveal the skills I’d been hiding.

“Suu, could I borrow your sword for a moment?”

Suu nodded and handed over his sword.

What?

Why is this thing so heavy?

He had drawn it effortlessly with one hand, so I assumed it was light, but it was so heavy I could barely lift it with both hands.

“Would you like to give up now?”

Duke Cassiar asked, clearly noticing my surprise.

Honestly, he’s far too perceptive.

I was only startled for a moment because the sword was heavier than I expected.

That wouldn’t stop me from showing my abilities.

“Your Grace, please prepare an apple. I’ll show you with your own eyes.”

When I was little, I had briefly become interested in swordsmanship.

I continued practicing, and while I never became exceptional, I had reached the level where I could spar with an average person.

“Pani, bring an apple.”

At Duke Cassiar’s order, Pani brought one over.

“Now then, what exactly are you planning to do with this?”

The Duke handed me the apple.

“Don’t be surprised.”

I tossed the apple into the air.

Then I swiftly swung the sword.

The apple split cleanly into two.

“Well?”

“Amazing, Milady!”

Pani clapped enthusiastically while cheering.

Even Duke Cassiar looked a little surprised.

See?

I’m a woman who’s actually handled a sword before!

At that moment, Suu picked up one of the apple halves.

Oh?

You’re challenging me?

Go right ahead.

A halved apple was much harder to cut because there was so little surface area left.

It had taken me countless hours of practice just to reach the point where I could slice an apple.

There was no way someone with such a frail-looking body could pull it off.

Half worried, I handed the sword back to Suu.

Still wearing his sleepy expression, Suu tossed the apple half into the air.

Something flashed before my eyes so quickly I barely saw it.

When I blinked, the apple half had been cut into perfectly even bite-sized pieces.

With a completely serious expression, I turned toward Duke Cassiar.

“He’s certainly a capable knight. He’s even excellent at preparing apples. Approved.”