The Villainess Captured The Grand Duke - Chapter 141

Chapter 141

As the wedding ceremony approached, Scheuer and Raygrain became busier. Especially after the eastern building was completed, the task of furnishing the interior fell entirely on Scheuer’s shoulders. She meticulously checked every room more than twelve times, striving for perfection. Even the slightest tilt of a pen was not overlooked; she adjusted it to perfection.

Meanwhile, the guests began to arrive one after another. The first to arrive were Marquis Henner and Betty.

“Your Grace, it’s been a while since we last met,” said the marquis, who had little interaction with Scheuer compared to Betty, whom he had met several times.

“I had intended to express my gratitude for the western matters, but I’m glad to see you on such a joyous occasion,” he continued.

“Oh, it’s nothing. You’ve been a great support to the Grand Duke,” Scheuer replied.

“No more than you have, Your Grace. As a token of my appreciation, I’ve brought a small gift,” said the marquis, gesturing to his attendant, who handed a large box to Cali.

Lady Betty quickly intervened, noticing the box’s weight. 

“One maid alone might find it a bit heavy.”

Before Cali could respond, she wobbled under the weight of the box, prompting one of the knights from Blenga, who had come to greet the marquis, to take it from her. The marquis chuckled awkwardly.

“The West is famous for its opal mines. I selected high-quality opals to create something fitting for Your Highness.”

“You really didn’t have to go this far, but I will graciously accept it,” Scheuer said with a smile as she guided them inside.

After that, Zero came from the north as a representative of the Belion family. He was in awe of the Blenga scenery, which felt unfamiliar after so long.

“Wow, is this the garden of Blenga? ” 

He stepped in and out, almost unable to believe it. The only warm area was protected by temperature control stones, which fascinated him, making him reluctant to leave the spot he was standing on.

“When I trained at Blenga, I never dreamed of anything like this. I remember once driving my sword into the frozen ground,” he recalled.

As a former knight who had trained in the North, many of Blenga’s current knights still recognized Zero, and they greeted him warmly. While the knights reconnected, Solle and his household arrived, followed closely by a group of mercenaries from the Central region.

With all these guests arriving, Scheuer spent an entire day greeting them, leaving her little time to see Raygrain. To make matters worse, Leilda had locked herself in her laboratory, engrossed in her research on black magic stones, declaring that she would not be disturbed. This at least temporarily put an end to the ongoing feud with Sevi.

Late at night, after attending to guests all day, Scheuer collapsed onto her bed, wearing only her negligee.

“Cali… Where’s the Duke?” she asked wearily.

“He’s likely talking with Marquis Hener and Baron Seisen,” Cali replied.

Since it had been a while since they last met, it was polite for her to step back during such moments. Scheuer squirmed on the bed.

“I just want to have the wedding ceremony and get the portrait done quickly! ”

“The painter has already arrived. Don’t worry,” 

Cali reassured her. Scheuer had even promised to hear compliments from Raygrain about her looks.

Despite always carrying the record magic stone with her, Scheuer found herself with no opportunity to use it amidst the flood of guests. She reached out and grabbed the guest list she’d tossed somewhere on the bed, going through it meticulously. Most of the guests seemed to have arrived, and she carefully checked the list of gifts she had received, as she would need to send return gifts later. One name in particular caught her attention.

“Cali, did this come from Netriga? ”

“Yes. If you look below, you’ll see that the royal family has also sent a wedding congratulatory gift in Your Highness’s name along with Silcaro.”

Is Erina trying to attach herself here since she can’t bloom her family’s flower? Scheuer gazed at the list with a sense of unease. The names of Duke Netri and Erina were written from Netriga, but it was clear to anyone that the duke had sent the items alone.

‘Erina wouldn’t send seedlings of a flower tree that only blooms in the south, even if she died.’ Unlike the Duke of Netri, who simply wanted a child with power, Erina had staked her life on her family’s flower.

Did Prince Silcaro give them a hint? ‘ she wondered. They had already informed the imperial family that they would be holding a small, intimate wedding, inviting only close friends. It was customary for the imperial family to send a representative to a grand wedding like this, but Blennga had respectfully declined the offer, knowing that if Silcaro came, Erina would likely accompany him. Fortunately, Emperor Lemos had been understanding.

As Scheuer continued to review the list, a piercing scream echoed through Blenga.

“Kyaaah!”

Startled, Scheuer quickly lifted her head. She moved to open the door, but Cali and the knights standing guard at the door stepped forward to block her.

“Your Grace, we don’t yet know what’s happening. Please remain safe inside.”

However, the hallway was already filled with guests and servants, holding candles and peering out of their rooms. Seeing Scheuer in just her negligee, Cali hurriedly fetched a shawl and draped it over her shoulders. At that moment, a maid came running down the corridor, clearly distressed. The knight addressed her seriously.

“What’s going on?”

“One of the guests… They said they saw a ghost…” the maid stammered, her voice trembling.

“A ghost?” the knight repeated, bewildered.

“Yes, they claimed they saw a white figure walking around in the middle of the night. And not just one—there were two of them,” the maid explained, still catching her breath.

Cali looked puzzled. 

“We’ve never had any reports of something like this before. Why all of a sudden?”

“But Lady Solle isn’t someone who would lie…” 

The maid glanced nervously at Scheuer, clearly worried about how to handle the situation delicately, given Lady Solle’s close relationship with Scheuer.

Scheuer nodded briefly.
That’s right. She’s not the type of lady to cause a fuss over something like this.”

Hearing this, one of the mercenaries said with a hearty laugh, 

“Well, if it’s a ghost, we just beat it up! Let’s go!”

“I’ve been itching to move my body anyway. Some exercise in the early morning sounds good.”

At that moment, Mufi, who was among the mercenaries, stepped in to control them. Zero, who was dozing off in his arms, stirred.

“This isn’t the central region. Let’s first get Her Grace’s thoughts and proceed accordingly.”

Zero whimpered slightly, and Mufi gently soothed him again as he asked, 

“Your Grace, what would you like us to do?”

His previously stern voice softened a bit. It was already past 2 a.m., a time when most people were asleep, except for the guards on duty. The unfamiliar environment and sudden commotion seemed to have frightened some of the guests.

Scheuer thought for a moment before answering, 

“Since you mercenaries are our guests, would you mind leaving this issue to the people of Blenga?”

“Well, if that’s what Your Grace wishes, sure.”

They scratched their heads awkwardly.

Scheuer then looked at the servants and knights who were gathering around and gave them instructions,

“You’ve already reported this to the Grand Duke, right?”

“Yes, Captain Jess went to him immediately.”

“Josephina, please prepare a room with warm milk for the guests so they can chat.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

Josephina quickly gathered the maids and organized them efficiently, and Scheuer cheerfully added,

“Since everyone’s already awake, let’s chat for a while. If you’re tired, feel free to return to your rooms. I’ll have maids and knights stationed at each room for your convenience!”

Despite the cold air of the early morning, her voice was bright and reassuring.

The mercenaries responded loudly, 

“Hey, we have our pride as mercenaries. We’re fine. If necessary, we can even stand guard.”

“What’s with the milk? Don’t you have any liquor?”

“Hey, this isn’t our usual hangout, you know!”

The mercenaries, toughened by their rough upbringing, were unfazed by the mention of ghosts, and seeing their lighthearted reactions seemed to ease the tension among the servants and guests. It appeared that the lively atmosphere was helping everyone feel a bit more at ease.

Scheuer, speaking more casually than usual, continued,

“Blenga has plenty of knights to handle this. Our very own Sir Luther, for example, has never missed a subjugation mission.”

“Y-Your Grace, that’s not entirely true…”

Luther blushed, clearly flustered by the sudden praise and attention.

As Scheuer bustled down the hallway, she stopped a couple of knights and said,

“It’s true, isn’t it? Please escort the guests to the reception room until the lounge is ready. Sir Deomian and Sir Haval, I’ll leave the guests’ protection to you.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

The knights snapped to attention and followed her orders without hesitation.

The guests were now dividing into groups—some heading to the reception room, while others decided to stay.

As the heavy footsteps approached at a steady pace from behind her, Scheuer’s face lit up with anticipation. When she turned around quickly, she saw Raygrain standing there, accompanied by Jess and a few knights, dressed in a somewhat casual outfit.

“Scheuer.”

At his sudden call, Scheuer hurried over to him, her eyes curiously tracing the curves of his shirt’s sleeves. Meanwhile, the knights began explaining the situation beside them.

Raygrain, hearing their report, asked sharply, 

“So, have you identified the nature of this ghost?”

“There’s no reaction from the barrier stones, so we believe it’s not an intruder. I’ve also reported to Lady Leilda, but she seems to be in a frenzy, calling it nonsense.”

As the explanation dragged on, Scheuer absentmindedly fiddled with the end of his sleeves. Noticing her distraction, Raygrain quietly inquired, 

“So, how are you holding up? ”

“Pardon?”

Startled by the sudden question, Scheuer looked up, and Raygrain pressed further, 

“I asked if you are okay.”

“The very essence of romance is uncertainty” – Oscar Wilde