The Villainess Captured The Grand Duke - Chapter 136

Chapter 136

With a small sigh, Raygrain spoke in a gentle, soothing voice, 

“The remnants of a monster are not good, even if you have divine powers.” 

He carefully unwrapped Scheuer’s arms from around his neck. She tried to hold on, but Raygrain easily loosened her grip and placed her on the sofa. Then he gently took the arm that had the monster’s residue on it into his large hand. Scheuer’s arm was completely engulfed by his hand.

Raygrain wiped the sticky substance off with his thumb, and the slimy residue stuck to his hand. It wasn’t much, but it gleamed visibly. He didn’t seem to mind, but instead, he looked at the part of her dress where the substance had touched and asked, 

“Is this dress something you cherish?”

“It wasn’t, but I was planning to from today.”

“Unfortunately, it’s best to throw it away. You won’t be able to wear it again.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s monster blood. It will soon discolor and the fabric will deteriorate.”

Scheuer blinked for a moment, then, as if struck by a revelation, quickly grabbed his hand and started vigorously wiping the monster’s residue off his thumb with her dress. 

“So that’s why you always wear gloves when you go out! You should’ve told me that first!”

“I’m fine.”

“You said I’m not fine, so that means you can’t be either.”

Though his hand was already clean, Scheuer blew on it and continued to wipe it as if she were polishing it. She stared intensely at Raygrain’s thumb, as if examining it under a microscope. Her gaze was so focused that it felt as though she might fall into his hand.

Raygrain gently pushed her forehead with his thumb. It wasn’t a strong push, but it was enough to lift Scheuer’s head, which was almost buried in his hand.

“Are you worried that I might have been injured by the monster?”

When their eyes met, she quickly nodded. 

“Of course! You’re someone whose emotions are so unpredictable.”

“I think you don’t need to worry about that anymore.”

Did that mean he wanted her to disregard the monster’s traces?

Scheuer tilted her head slightly in confusion.

When there was no answer, Raygrain continued calmly.

“It seems that my emotions are filling up enough to use my sword.”

“Really?”

“Some emotions may have faded, but at least it’s not to the extent that you’re worried enough to hold my hand and examine everything one by one.”

Could there be any better news than this?

She had always been anxious, constantly worried that his emotions might deplete, leaving a shadow of unease in her heart. Scheuer quickly covered her mouth with both hands to keep the joy from spilling out. She couldn’t control the smile that kept spreading across her face.

“Congratulations, Your Grace!”

“And why am I the one being congratulated?”

“Because your chances of escaping that awful power of Blenga have increased!”

Scheuer blurted out her words recklessly, then quickly clamped her mouth shut, realizing her mistake. She hurriedly added, as if making an excuse, 

“I didn’t mean to insult the previous Dukes. It’s just that… well, maybe the gods were a bit too harsh.”

“Isn’t this something you should be congratulated for as well?”

“You’re right! So that’s why you hugged me!”

Scheuer, unable to contain her joy, tried to hug him again, but then she noticed the remnants of the monster still on her arm. Instead, she lightly patted his shoulder with one hand, much like he would when encouraging Jes.

Raygrain furrowed his brows, as if he couldn’t understand her restrained demeanor.

“Hugging is always an option.”

“How could I possibly touch our precious duke…!”

Just seeing him made her worry about wearing him down; touching him felt even more daunting.

It was something that required mental preparation, a calm mind, and checking for the right “place” and “timing” before proceeding with a solemn heart.

But Raygrain effortlessly lifted her by the waist.

Sitting her on his thigh, he said nonchalantly,

“You can ask anytime. Have I ever refused? ”

Scheuer narrowed her eyes, gazing at his cool, straight, and unwrinkled face.

She wondered if perhaps a monster had disguised itself as Raygrain and slyly pinched her cheek.

Her sense of reality was slipping into doubt.

Yet her cheek stung. This wasn’t a dream; she was still facing Raygrain.

‘He must be incredibly happy that his emotions didn’t vanish during the hunt.’

With good news and events happening one after another, it seemed to be a truly good day.

Scheuer, with a determined expression, asked him,

“So about this dress… It’s okay to keep it without wearing it, right? ”

“If you like it that much, I’ll gift you another just like it.”

“Then please make me another one with the same design. I’ll wear it as my ‘victory dress’ when I need some extra good luck.”

“Understood.”

As soon as Raygrain agreed, she quickly hopped off his lap. Scheuer urgently tugged at his arm and said, 

“Hurry up and change. Let’s get that monster residue washed off right away.”

She couldn’t stop thinking about that sticky substance. It was minimal, but still—one could never be too careful. After all, accidents happen when you least expect them.

Fortunately, Raygrain complied, rising to his feet and allowing her to guide him. Scheuer looked around and called out, 

“Why aren’t there any servants around? Josephina! Cali!”

Raygrain, still holding her arm, was staring at the back of her head with a somewhat puzzled expression.

as if he felt something was off but couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.

***

“Did you hear that? There have been reports of monsters appearing in the West recently.”

“Oh my, who said that? ”

“Lady Annabelle said she heard it directly.”

“I didn’t even know something like that was happening since it’s been so quiet.”

Worried voices buzzed around Erina’s ears.

Living a life far removed from the leisurely gatherings of young ladies in their dresses, laughing and chatting, Erina gazed disdainfully at the scene before her.

Since the invitation to the Grand Ball, the frequency of blooming flowers in her family has noticeably decreased, and the choices she once held have also diminished.

It had been a long time since she could select someone from the socialites visiting the Netri family whom she found appealing.

As a result, she had to make do with mingling in gatherings like this one, even if it meant spending time with young ladies who didn’t even know how to wield a sword.

At that moment, one of the young ladies asked Erina with concern,

“Aren’t you worried, Erina? After all, they are monsters.”

“They say the North dealt with it swiftly. It should be fine.”

The ladies’ eyes widened in surprise at Erina’s direct mention of the North. Even though the Netri family’s influence had rapidly declined, no one was so tactless as to openly bring up the North in front of them. It was clear to Erina that everyone was carefully avoiding the topic as if it were taboo.

Lifting her cup, she sipped the tea, which had gone cold, and said, 

“The Duke is even getting married soon, so he must be full of emotions. It’s a good time for him.”

The ladies, taken aback by Erina’s bold statement, responded cautiously.

“Oh, we thought you’d be uncomfortable talking about the North, so we didn’t mention it.”

“I am uncomfortable. It’s not pleasant.”

With a clatter, Erina set down her teacup and asked firmly, 

“But isn’t the North naturally brought up when monsters are the topic? I assumed you knew my disowned sister is the Duke’s fiancée.”

One of the young ladies, who had first brought up the monsters, lowered her head as if she might cry. Another lady, coming to her defense, said, 

“There was no need to be so blunt. Are you taking out your issues with Lady Annabelle here? ”

“Perhaps my dealings with knights have made my words sharper. It wasn’t my intention, but if I’ve upset you, I apologize.”

Erina bowed her head gracefully after her straightforward apology, leaving the young ladies at a loss for words. The tea time, now devoid of conversation, ended sooner than expected.

Shaking off her uncomfortable dress, Erina strode down the corridor.

She disliked Scheuer.

It wasn’t just simple jealousy that the second sister felt toward the first; it was something that transcended the issue of the Netri family’s headship.

Unlike Erina, who naturally wanted to wield a sword in her childhood, Scheuer often said,

“Isn’t it strange? The Netri family’s power was granted by the gods to protect humans, so why do we wield swords?”

Scheuer looked at her with a naive expression, as if she truly couldn’t understand.

Young Erina, holding a wooden sword, replied matter-of-factly,

“Why? The Blen in the North wields swords too.”

“That family fights monsters. But our father uses a sword to harm people.”

“So, is that what you dislike?”

“I don’t want to wield a sword just to take lives.”

That was a very idealistic statement.

But the reality of the Empire was one of constant struggle, where families fought to gain or retain power. If war broke out, it was the Netry family that would be at the forefront.

Erina had scoffed at her sister’s naivety.

“Sister, it seems Father has sheltered you so much as the firstborn that you’re ignorant of the ways of the world. A sword isn’t just for killing. It’s a tool for protection.”

“Void of dreams, I lie in mortal lethargy” – Anna Akhmatova