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Chapter 38
“Ugh… I’m crying because I’m happy, so don’t worry too much about it.”
“……Grand Duchess.”
The Grand Duke was still fidgeting, looking at me with unease.
“I really swear, I didn’t do it to be praised. It’s not something worth praising. I didn’t do it expecting anyone to notice… or at least, I thought I didn’t. But now that I hear it, I… ugh, people’s hearts really are fickle, aren’t they?”
“You’re not fickle. Expecting the fruits of one’s efforts is a natural thing for a human being.”
Is this man really twenty-one?
The Grand Duke’s tone sounded slightly older than his age, like someone wise beyond his years.
Considering the age difference—he was eight years younger than me—he might find it amusing that an older woman is crying over such a trivial thing.
Thinking of that, I felt embarrassed and my tears stopped.
I rubbed my face vigorously to compose myself and stood by the window.
“Thank you, Grand Duke. Please take good care of Kolong. Sleep well. I’ll be going now.”
“Grand Duchess.”
Just as I was about to leave, he gently grabbed my wrist.
Did he still have something to say?
I wanted to go back to my room before I became any more embarrassed.
“Why… why?”
“You haven’t finished your impression yet.”
“…Say it, then.”
I slowly turned back to face him.
His fine silver hair gleamed more brilliantly under the moonlight.
“I’ve grown more curious about you. The more I learn about Blansk, the more I want to know about you.”
“Ask me anything. I can tell you everything I know about Blansk.”
The Grand Duke shook his head.
With a slight lift of his lips, he said:
“Of course, I want to know more about Blansk, but right now, I’m talking about you.”
“…Oh my god.”
This feels unfair.
To whisper something like this under the dawn moonlight, looking like that…
“Did I perhaps phrase it incorrectly? I… want to know more about you.”
Thinking I might have misunderstood his Levantean, the Grand Duke simplified the sentence and spoke slowly.
As if I couldn’t understand him? He speaks so fluently…
“Excuse me, Grand Duke.”
“Yes, Grand Duchess?”
“You really haven’t dated anyone before, have you? You seem incredibly skilled at… flirting.”
“…I’m speaking seriously, am I not?”
The Grand Duke replied in a slightly irritated voice, as if to say there’s no romance between us.
“I’m speaking only of human interaction.”
“I know, I know. I’ll really stop joking now. Sleep well, then.”
“…May you sleep soundly as well.”
I really need to go back now.
I left the Grand Duke’s room quickly.
Once he was finished, Kolong quietly followed me out.
Yes, sleep should be in the proper place.
I picked Kolong up and returned to my room.
Late in the afternoon, I called the Grand Duke to the office because I had something to inform him about.
“We’re going to hold a banquet in your name.”
“Why hold a banquet in my name?”
Seeing his bewildered reaction, I smiled and explained.
“Think about it. If a banquet were held at the manor in the name of Alisa Lasantia, would the people of Blansk even come?”
“….”
The Grand Duke looked away without replying.
Right, now you know. You know how the people of Blansk see me.
“I’m curious about the reason for the banquet.”
“It’s to announce widely that Grand Duke Davit Mihailov, ruler of Dvorka, has arrived in Blansk.”
When I exaggerated his title, his brow wrinkled sharply.
“Do not mock me.”
“I’m just stating facts.”
“…Most people already know that I’m staying here. Do we really need an event to announce it?”
“You’re not fond of being the center of attention, are you? Your face shows it.”
The Grand Duke lowered his gaze, slightly startled.
“I’m not a fan of crowded places.”
“Do you not remember our agreement? That I would make use of you for my purposes?”
“I do.”
“To use you, we need a banquet. The influential people of Blansk will come and formally greet you.”
The village heads, the headmasters of schools run by Puran priests, the heads of merchant guilds based in Blansk, and the representatives of stone quarries, carpentry workshops, and forges—all received invitations.
With the Grand Duke’s name prominently displayed, no one would refuse to come.
Since public opinion about the Grand Duke is already positive, all that remains is to assert his authority in front of the officially invited dignitaries.
I don’t intend to make my husband a puppet ruler, at least not here in Blansk.
“Grand Duke, do you remember when you received your knighthood on Padon Island?”
“Yes, I remember. Why do you ask?”
“How did the lord of Padon Island act?”
“After the oath of loyalty, the Count tapped my shoulders with the ceremonial sword and offered words of blessing.”
“Words of blessing? Do you remember what they were?”
“I gladly accept your loyalty. In accordance with Mihailov’s will, may the goddess Purana’s blessings be upon you.”
“Good. That’s exactly how it should be done.”
The Grand Duke looked at me blankly, then spoke.
“…You want me to say words of blessing?”
“The representatives of each sector of Blansk will come to greet you. You will give words of blessing in return.”
“I don’t see why I need to be greeted by them.”
“Why not? You were recently crowned Grand Duke, and you married me as well.”
The coronation is certainly a reason to celebrate, though regarding our marriage, people would likely scoff in secret.
Even visitors to the pawnshop gossip endlessly.
A young, handsome, valiant Grand Duke ended up bound to an evil witch… or so they say.
I never captured him, yet I could not protest.
They must never know that the lord they criticize so much is the same person as the owner of the pawnshop who lends money.
“…All I need to do is receive greetings and say words of blessing to the attendees?”
“Oh, and there’s someone who wants to meet just with you.”
“Who is it?”
“Someone named Joachim. He represents the teachers of Blansk’s schools.”
“Why would he want to meet me?”
“He apparently saw you long ago when visiting the Yorka palace.”
“…He couldn’t have seen me.”
The Grand Duke shook his head firmly, his face showing a hint of caution.
“Why are you so sure?”
“As you might guess, I rarely left the harem during my youth.”
Finally, he’s being honest. It seems the young Grand Duke was rarely exposed to the outside world.
Though he must have gone out for his baptism at age one.
The Grand Duke is officially listed in Dvorka’s royal registry. Not receiving baptism from the archbishop would have prevented his name from being included.
“Just in case, meet him. Maybe you don’t remember.”
We still need to keep secret the fact that Joachim was a former archbishop of the Puran Church.
He probably wants to reveal it himself.
“Must it be a private meeting?”
“Why, would a private meeting be too burdensome?”
“The Grand Duchess can attend as well. There’s no reason for him to speak with me alone.”
“…Fine. I’ll tell him so.”
We were speaking in my office. Since I visited the Grand Duke’s bedroom recently, he often comes here.
He seems to know exactly when I return from outside.
I suspect Sir Sebastian Julio reports my schedule directly to him.
Julio seems to mistakenly think we are close.
A plate full of tomatoes sat on the desk.
I picked one up and bit into it.
“Ah, refreshing and tasty. Grand Duke, have some too. The peasants surprisingly sent their tribute to the manor.”
“….”
“Why aren’t you eating?”
“I will.”
The Grand Duke picked up a tomato and ate it.
“Delicious, right? The western farms struggled with pests and wild boars, but thankfully the tomato harvest turned out well.”
“Yes, it tastes good.”
Though he says it’s good, his expression isn’t very pleased. Perhaps he doesn’t like tomatoes.
“Thanks to you staying at the manor, we can enjoy such luxuries. By the way, how’s the training going?”
I recently entrusted his education to Moreno, the treasurer of Blansk.
Moreno is a loyal retainer of our family.
He willingly accompanied me to Blansk and works efficiently.
The Grand Duke recently began learning bookkeeping from Moreno and has been approving donations and welfare matters on my behalf.
“There’s something I don’t understand.”
“What don’t you understand?”
“Why are all donations to schools, orphanages, and childcare facilities in other regions under my name?”
The Grand Duke asked sharply. His mood was clearly sour since entering.
“…Is that a problem?”
“I’m curious why money that isn’t mine is donated under my name.”
“That’s an obvious question, Grand Duke.”
“What’s obvious? I genuinely don’t know, so I’m asking.”
“These were places that refused donations under my name previously. Facilities in Blansk can receive my funds under the lord’s authority, but not outside Blansk. I even tried anonymously, but they must have realized it was me and didn’t accept it.”
Many institutions refuse checks under my name, even if the funds are for starving children. I understand their pride, but… we have to feed the kids properly.
“…They accepted donations under my name?”
“They agreed to the donations. That’s why I asked you to approve them. Clear enough?”
The Grand Duke remained silent for a while before reluctantly nodding.
He watched me quietly, then closed the door and left.
