The Villainess Captured The Grand Duke - Chapter 146

Chapter 146

It took a few minutes for Scheuer to regain her lost sense of reality. During that moment, Raygrain silently waited. 

Ding! 

As if a bell had rung, she suddenly realized something and almost buried her head in her desk at the absurdity of her own assumption. Scheuer looked at him with doubtful eyes, retracting his words. 

“Could it be the emotions I created…?”

With a cautious nod, as if hoping against hope, she opened her mouth, and Raygrain slowly nodded in response. 

“That means…”

This had to be some kind of bad dream conjured by her imagination. There was no way such a thing could happen.

Her Raygrain—whether in dreams, in her imagination, in reality, or even in the original story—would never say such things.

‘I’ve never even thought of a dream like this!’

Scheuer repeatedly apologized in her mind, apologies that couldn’t possibly reach him.

‘Your Grace, this wasn’t my intention. Isn’t it said that dreams are usually the opposite of reality? ’

But the warmth from the hand holding hers felt too vivid, too real. She tried to slap herself with the hand that wasn’t being held, as if to wake herself up.

Raygrain, now used to her impulsive actions, easily stopped her hand and gently placed it back on the desk.

“It’s not a dream.”

He even added an explanation kindly. At the same time, Scheuer’s eyes trembled slightly.

“Is it a monster pretending to be Your Grace? ”

“If that were the case, Leilda would’ve killed it by now.”

“Or are you sick?”

Scheuer lifted her hand to place it on his forehead to check for a fever. When she compared it to her own, strangely enough, her own face felt hotter.

Noticing something was off, Scheuer’s eyes darted around in confusion. Once again, Raygrain, with a calm and expressionless face, responded directly.

“I thought I mentioned I’ve never been sick.”

“Then… It’s the alcohol! Yeah, that must be it! ”

“I don’t get drunk.”

How is he so flawless?

Scheuer marveled at his ability to refute every possible excuse she could come up with.

And yet, she found those traits incredibly endearing. She clenched her fists, barely managing to resist the urge to cover her face in embarrassment.

Despite her confusion, Scheuer couldn’t believe how much she liked him. Conflicting emotions coexisted within her. She stared intently at the hand he was holding, trying to make sense of the situation, but all she could think about was how happy she was that they were holding hands.

Raygrain, quietly observing her ever-changing expressions, seemed puzzled by her reaction and asked again, 

“Didn’t you say you liked me?”

“Yes!” 

She replied energetically, out of habit. He chuckled, and the rare sight left Scheuer speechless, her mouth hanging open. However, when the deeper meaning of his words dawned on her, she couldn’t just enjoy the moment.

Raygrain asked once more, 

“Then, don’t you want to touch me?”

“…I do!” 

She admitted, though she had never shown any inappropriate behavior toward him. Yet she’d often imagined wanting to bite him when she saw him stuffing his mouth with bread.

In a low voice, he replied, “I feel the same.”

By this point, Scheuer began seriously questioning if she was misunderstanding his words. Could they be talking about entirely different things? Was he simply saying he liked her as a person, the way she liked him? But his next words left no doubt about the kind of “like” he was referring to.

“When you smile.”

Creak—the sound of the chair moving filled the room as he leaned on her desk with one arm, slowly bringing his face closer to hers.

The closer he got, the more Scheuer leaned back. She tried to maintain some distance, but the hand he was holding kept her from moving any further. His icy, clear blue eyes were vividly visible right in front of her.

Instinctively, she turned her head away, but he, just as stubborn as she had been before, followed her gaze, refusing to let her avoid him.

With barely an inch between them, Scheuer could hardly breathe. The air in the office felt thicker than usual.

“D-Duke, I…”

As she timidly turned her head slightly, Raygrain paused. Then, in a low, raspy voice mixed with his breath, he spoke near her ear.

“I want you to smile only for me.”

And just like that, he retreated, as if nothing had happened. Standing a little farther away, he returned to his usual cold demeanor. The only difference now was that he looked at her for longer than he used to.

***

The sun set early in the north.

Having not spent much time in the South, she wasn’t sure, but it definitely felt like darkness arrived earlier here than in the central regions. It was around sunset that Scheuer had to part ways with Raygrain due to security issues. Even though he had told her to stay by his side, he didn’t stop her if she moved away.

Of course, even though the situation had changed a bit, the fact that she liked him remained the same, so she didn’t feel the need to leave unnecessarily.

As she walked into the garden with a complex expression, a sarcastic voice called out from behind her.

“Hard to see your face today?”

“Lord Leilda!”

Delighted at the timely appearance of a familiar face, Scheuer ran over, her face brightening.

He was tossing a pouch of black magic stones into the air and catching it repeatedly as he asked, 

“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

“What did you say to His Grace?”

At her abrupt question, his eyebrow twitched slightly.

“I don’t think I said much. Why? Did he propose marriage?”

“He already did.”

“Oh, right. Then what, is he suggesting you get matching coffins?”

“You like that kind of thing, Lord Leilda. That’s okay! People have their preferences!”

As she nodded, realizing his preference for the first time, Leilda waved one hand dismissively.

“Forget it. Brew some chamomile.”

“Did you use it all up? ”

“Yeah. Thanks to that, here I am outside on this dreadful evening.”

It seemed he had used up all the chamomile Scheuer had provided in bulk before. Scheuer picked some chamomile nearby and began to brew it, asking, 

“But why is the evening dreadful? ”

“Because that guy is active at this time.”

Without needing to ask who ‘that guy’ was, it was clear it referred to Sevi.

Since the ghost incident, they had explained to all the guests that if they saw a white figure passing by at night, it was definitely the High Priest.

Everyone was curious why he roamed after sunset, but no one could provide an answer.

‘I can’t exactly tell them that the High Priest doesn’t come out during the day because he’s worried about the sun damaging his skin…’

She thought, keeping silent, believing she was preserving the dignity of the temple.

As she handed him the chamomile, she asked, 

“How is your research going?”

“It feels like if I could just solve one thing, everything would fall into place. But that one piece is elusive.”

Hearing the effort in his words, Scheuer sighed softly. Feeling sorry that she couldn’t help him all day, she focused even more on blooming the flowers.

Then he pointed his finger firmly at her and said, 

“It’s not that I don’t know. I know, but I can’t find that one clue. Understand?”

“I know! There’s nothing you don’t know, Lord Leilda!”

As Scheuer replied, clenching one fist as if she truly believed in him, a soft chuckle came from behind.

“Is the Tower Master a god?”

“You shouldn’t say things like that, Lord Sevi.”

At the same time as Sevi’s voice, Koa’s scolding also echoed.

Seeing her from behind, Leilda scrunched up his face as if he’d spotted a bug.

“There, that ghost guy’s out again.”

When she turned her head, Sevi was striding confidently and powerfully toward them. As soon as Sevi arrived, Koa immediately bowed his head.

“I apologize for yesterday, Your Grace.”

Leilda clicked his tongue and muttered under his breath. 

“Bowing his head everywhere he goes in the mansion. Koa’s back must be breaking from looking after the High Priest.”

Koa, unbothered, replied calmly, 

“Thank you for noticing. It moves me to tears.”

At this, Sevi jumped in surprise.

“Koa, lift your head!”

“Allow me to walk around without having to.”

“I was just wandering around; how could anyone misunderstand that?”

“Then perhaps you should wander during the day like a normal person.”

“Koa.”

At Sevi’s quiet call, Koa instantly closed his mouth and stepped back. Sevi then spread his hands wide, as if overflowing with mercy and kindness, his ample priestly robes swaying gently.

Koa responded, “I told you not to use your magical power to make yourself stand out.”

“I was trying to draw out some of my light since you told me to walk around during the day. What’s the problem with that? ”

“That is the problem.”

Just as Koa’s unwavering answer rang out, a crackling sound echoed from somewhere. The source of the noise was none other than the pouch containing Leilda’s black magic stone.

I wish you a kinder sea – Emily Dickinson