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Chapter 73
The Grand Duke brushed the back of his right index finger twice with his left index finger, then raised both fists and shook his wrists.
It was a gesture representing a sword, and another meaning “dance.”
[My mother was a sword dance performer.]
I quietly watched the language he formed with his fingertips.
It was a story I had never heard before. I knew that Nadia, one of Madilov’s concubines, was a dancer, but I didn’t know what specific type of dance she performed.
[She wanted to protect herself from my father’s violence, but no one would teach a little girl swordsmanship. Then by chance, she saw a performance by a sword dance troupe on the street and begged them to take her in.]
A sword dance performer. Recruiting Blansk women under that pretext, huh.
Since I’m a tavern owner anyway, finding dancers for a stage is only natural.
[She learned both sword and dance, but eventually she liked dancing more than swordsmanship, so she chose to become a dancer. Still, she had learned enough swordsmanship to defend herself in dangerous situations.]
[You mean, recruit sword dance performers and teach them combat skills.]
Training and activities would have to be done secretly at night, but perhaps I could gather women interested in wielding swords.
Even if organizing a vigilante group is difficult, I could teach the village women how to protect each other.
[Right. Anyway, I’m not a precious person. Since honorifics are uncomfortable, I’ll drop them.]
The Grand Duke took back the oil lamp I had been holding.
Hearing his story, I was honestly amazed.
It was somewhat unfamiliar to see the Grand Duke speak so comfortably about himself.
‘So you, too, have a story.’
I hadn’t known. He had never shared such intimate details with me.
It wasn’t a story made up in a short time—it was too sincere. His calm voice accompanying the hand gestures carried a faint sense of longing and sadness.
My chest tightened painfully.
This man is more honest with a complete stranger—me, a mere pawnshop owner—than with his own wife.
The reason is…
He can’t open his heart. He still doesn’t fully trust me as his wife.
Have my efforts until now not been enough?
I wanted to see more of his true self. I wanted to hear more stories I didn’t know.
Even if they were lies.
Honestly, I was also afraid.
If everything turned out to be a lie, I’d have no choice but to turn away from him.
I had wanted to give him everything.
I wanted to hand over all I had built in Blansk, to help him stand tall as a spiritual pillar for the Dvorca people.
I wanted to protect him—from the royal family and nobles of my homeland who had divided Dvorca’s territory like slices of cake.
I had even taken steps to grant him a degree of authority.
But if you intend to deceive me until the end… what should I do?
Should I just hand over Blansk, the land your mother lived on, return to Lasanto without regret, and live as Duchess Alisa Lasantia?
As time passes, I would have children of my own to create an heir. You would have an heir with another woman.
We’d live far apart, connected only by treaty documents—a marriage only on paper.
It’s dry, yet a neat conclusion.
Why does my chest feel so hollow, my stomach so empty? I walked alongside the Grand Duke with a faint smile hidden under my veil.
Not far beyond the fence, Lord Julio’s house came into view. I pointed toward it and gestured that we had arrived. Today’s journey with the Grand Duke ends here.
We faced each other for a farewell.
[Thank you for seeing me home.]
[I have a question.]
What could he want to ask at the last minute? I tilted my head in curiosity.
I gestured for him to go ahead.
The Grand Duke hesitated and didn’t easily voice his question. Whatever it was, he seemed cautious.
[Did you also suffer burns in the war?]
With the heavy question, his large hand drew the gesture of a question. At the end, he reached toward my hood. I flinched back just in time.
I suppose he was curious why I always wore a hood and veil.
People who dress like this often have scars from full-body burns suffered during the war, and the Grand Duke probably assumed I had such a past.
I didn’t answer.
I’d rather remain silent than lie. How he interprets this silence is uncertain.
[It must have hurt a lot.]
He assumed on his own, so I just shook my head. It didn’t hurt.
[No one at the pawnshop seems to know your name.]
The Grand Duke said. He must suddenly be curious about my name. Naturally, they wouldn’t know; I had never told anyone.
[Can you tell me your name?]
He asked again.
[Why are you curious? You’ve already gotten everything you want.]
He gave a false name himself and now wants me to reveal my real identity? That’s audacious.
[I wondered if there’s a way I could support what you’re doing.]
Support me?
I didn’t understand. I quietly observed his gestures.
[Even if the tavern does well, running a pawnshop solely with that would be difficult. A pawnshop is essentially a charity for welfare. The interest is negligible. Don’t you need help?]
I couldn’t help but laugh. Who’s worrying about whom?
The man who came to borrow money under the pretense of hiring mercenaries is offering to support me?
Ha. This must be because he doesn’t know my true identity. Still, it’s thoughtful—he considers someone else’s financial situation.
[The sun will rise soon. You should go in before your wife wakes up.]
At my words, the Grand Duke pulled out a pocket watch from inside his robe. One eyebrow rose in surprise.
[We’ve dawdled too long.]
[Goodbye.]
[I’ll wait in front of the tavern again tomorrow night.]
I gestured for him to do so.
The Grand Duke checked his surroundings carefully before finally turning away.
I watched for a long while until his large shadow walking alone became small.
He looked lonely. I still truly didn’t know—could I ever fathom the depth of him?
I trudged toward Lord Julio’s house.
Thunk, thunk, thunk. After knocking for a long while, a voice came from inside.
“Hah, is it you again, Lord?”
What is he asking this time? Who else could come at this hour?
The door swung open. Lord Julio puffed indignantly as he saw me.
“What on earth are you crawling in here for at this hour? Secretly seeing someone, are you?”
I gently pushed him aside and entered the house. My sleeping quarters were next to the entrance. Peeking through the door, I saw the bathwater and bedding already prepared.
“Ugh, I really can’t sleep because of you, my lord.”
Lord Julio followed me into the guest room, grumbling.
“Sebastian, I raised your monthly stipend. Didn’t we agree that in return, you’d let me put you to bed without complaint whenever you came?”
“You didn’t say you’d come past 4 a.m.!”
Lord Julio scowled at the wall clock. Realizing he’d raised his voice, he cleared his throat and muttered to himself.
“I’m tired. Go back to your bedroom; you need to sleep.”
“Where are you wandering at night? The Grand Duke will worry if he knows.”
Lord Julio really is a persistent scold.
“Sebastian, you were assigned to assist the Grand Duke, but you’ve turned toward him? Remember, if you reveal my visit, your barony title will be revoked. Your employer is me.”
I had to keep him quiet.
Mentioning the title, Lord Julio gasped and fell silent. After a long sigh, he earnestly pleaded with me:
“…Please say it’s nothing but wind.”
“Wind? Seriously.”
There are words one reserves for someone who has been alone with her husband. I could only feel regret that I couldn’t clear his misunderstanding.
“You must not betray your husband who waits for you so devotedly. Don’t drive nails into an old man’s heart.”
He clasped his hands together as he urged me.
This man’s perspective is the exact opposite of Treasurer Moreno, who was convinced the Grand Duke had another woman.
I wonder if there’s another reason Lord Julio believes the Grand Duke only has eyes for me. He must be closer to the Grand Duke than Moreno.
“Here, I can’t let you go empty-handed. Take this.”
Lord Julio rummaged in his pocket and handed me something. The cold touch against my palm felt like metal. It was a key.
“What is this key for?”
“The annex is nearby. I’ve prepared it as a private suite for you. From now on, don’t knock on this shabby house’s front door. Stay there instead.”
Lord Julio pointed behind with a forlorn expression. An elderly woman, her hair tied back messily, entered the room.
Gasp. It was Lord Julio’s wife.
“Greetings, my lord.”
She raised her skirt slightly and bowed. Though freshly awakened, she maintained proper manners.
I forced a smile, hiding my surprise.
Lord Julio’s wife normally resides with their children in their homeland. She spends about a month each season in Blansk. No wonder Lord Julio had been leaving work early lately—his wife was home.
“You’re here. I’m sorry to disturb your couple’s time. My visit at this hour is for no other reason—”
Her kind smile stopped me from explaining further.
“It’s fine, my lord. You must be exhausted managing your domain day and night. Whenever you come, I’ll prepare a clean place for you to sleep. Stay without worry.”
“…Thank you.”
“You generously raised Sebastian’s monthly stipend; I should be the one thanking you.”
The couple greeted me and left for their bedroom.
I sat down heavily on the bed, alone in the room.
Leading a dual life, day and night, is not easy. Sigh. Deceiving people requires such immense effort.
