The Villainess Captured The Grand Duke - Chapter 149

Chapter 149

The servants were huddled together in front of Raygrain’s office, obeying the order not to enter. Some of them, noticing a change in Raygrain’s behavior, were whispering excitedly.

“Did you see His Grace carrying Lady Scheuer inside earlier?”

“I saw it too! The door opened briefly, and they were kissing!”

“Was it a kiss? I thought it was just on the cheek.”

Even the nearby guards joined in the gossip, though they quickly lowered their voices, fearing it might be heard inside the office. One of the maids, blushing, touched her cheek and added,

“I have to confess, I’ve already prepared baby clothes for when Lady Scheuer has a child.”

“Gasp. I got a pair of mittens ready.”

Their chatter was suddenly interrupted by a loud voice from inside the office.

“As long as we don’t get caught!”

Startled, the servants quickly returned to their original positions. Luckily, no one came out. After a moment of silence, one of the maids spoke again, cautiously.

“Wasn’t that Lord Leilda’s voice?”

“I think so. Do you think he’s upset?”

“And the High Priest has been unusually quiet today…”

The servants were well aware that the two, who bickered daily, had been unusually silent today. A guard who had been listening with a serious expression finally spoke. Could it be… ”

The maidens fell silent, the sound of their nervous swallowing filling the air. The guard carefully continued,

“Could it be… that he finally dealt with him?”

As he dragged out his words, the sound of the maids swallowing their breaths was unmistakably clear in the silence. The knight continued cautiously.

Gasp. The servants went completely quiet at the implication. The problem was, Leilda was someone capable of such a thing. The long-serving staff of Blenga, who had seen Leilda in action many times, exchanged worried glances and whispered even more softly.

“It’s possible. Lord Leilda has been holding back for a while now.”

“He’s never stayed away from the Mage Tower for this long, and the High Priest has been disrupting his research.”

Their expressions grew serious as they imagined Leilda beyond the invisible door. 

Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the office was heavy. In such a dark and cramped space, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone reported it immediately.

For once, Lielda, who usually sat in a slouched, relaxed posture, was sitting upright with a rare sense of seriousness. With his hands clasped as if deep in thought, he covered his mouth slightly and spoke with a stern expression.

“If we line the path, he’s coming down with those obnoxiously exploding flowers.”

“Won’t that startle the guests? I think it would be better to quietly guide him to the lab without leaving any trace,” Scheuer suggested.

“Just lure him to the hallway. Then I’ll cast a spell and block everything off, so no one will notice a thing.”

“I’m good at this sort of thing, aren’t I? I’ve led people into traps before. I’ll avoid any attention and make sure it goes smoothly.”

If you overheard their conversation, it would sound like they were smuggling something illegal. Leilda was grinning slyly, while Scheuer was nodding with an intensely serious look in her eyes. Meanwhile, Koa was praying quietly, looking conflicted, and Raygrain stood at a distance, watching them with a grim expression.

“As expected, Scheuer! ”

He raised his hand, and Scheuer responded with a high-five. The sound of their hands clapping echoed lightly as Leilda stood up, running a hand through his freshly cut hair, still getting used to the short style.

“Alright, see you tomorrow, then.”

At those words, Scheuer suddenly felt the weight of reality hit her. The wedding ceremony is indeed tomorrow.

***

“Lady Scheuer, did you go to bed early? You didn’t wander around again, did you? ”

“No, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.”

It was 5 a.m., long before sunrise. Scheuer peeked out from a bath filled with fragrant oils, her face covered in egg yolk. The tub was saturated with the scent of roses to the point where it was almost overwhelming. Despite the early hour, the maids were wide awake, their eyes gleaming as if they hadn’t slept at all.

They were combing Scheuer’s long hair, which had become tangled in her sleep, making the process quite painful. Though she whispered her discomfort, the maids remained firm.

“On a day like today, your image will be captured perfectly by the magic stone. Are you sure you’re okay with that? ”

“T-The magic…”

“Your portrait will capture every detail too. Is that alright with you? ”

“Just do it. I can endure it! ”

Scheuer fought back tears, enduring the painful combing session. The northern region had a sharp temperature difference between night and day, and although it was chilly, the maids’ intense energy made the room feel warm.

After her bath, Scheuer dressed lightly while the maids applied a soft, fragrant oil to her body. Just then, a knock came at the door, even at this early hour.

“His Grace, the Duke, wishes to see you for a moment.”

Jess’s voice, weary from exhaustion, came through the door. Scheuer eagerly called out to the welcome visitor.

“Your Grace! ”

However, before she could greet Raygrain properly, Cali sternly refused.

“Please inform His Grace that the groom should not see the bride while she prepares for the wedding.”

Raygrain’s deep voice responded from behind the door.

“I’ll just deliver the bouquet, then.”

At the mention of the bouquet, Scheuer, who had been lying in bed, lifted her head eagerly. Cali signaled to one of the maids, who quickly approached the door. Through the small crack that barely allowed a hand to pass, Raygrain’s voice filtered in.

“I always deliver the bouquet myself. Let me hand this over, at least.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

The maid returned with the bouquet and placed it beside Scheuer’s dress, which was already prepared for the day. The bouquet was crafted from carefully selected flowers from Scheuer’s own garden, featuring a mix of ancient tree blossoms, rudbeckia, daisies, large peonies, and roses.

As Scheuer fidgeted, clearly wanting to hold the bouquet, Cali massaged her shoulders and said with a grin, 

“His Grace personally selected these flowers early this morning.”

“Ugh, Cali, how did you know that? ”

Struggling with the painful pressure on her tense muscles, Scheuer asked with difficulty. Cali replied nonchalantly.

“Because I was in the garden with Peyton early this morning.”

“So when do you sleep? ”

“I can go without sleep today. Besides, there was a bit of a stir when the High Priest was wandering around like a ghost.”

It seemed he really had pulled an all-nighter, just as Sevi had said. Unaware of this, Cali continued,

“Of course. Anyway…”

Cali shook her head as she helped Scheuer stand up. The dress that Raygrain had praised and the carefully kept diamond necklace fit her perfectly, as if they were made just for her.

The vibrant red hair flowing down to her waist stood in stark contrast to the white dress, making Scheuer look even more striking. The hours of effort it had taken to get to this moment were beyond count, nearly tearful in their magnitude. The maids, including Cali, admired Scheuer with awe.

“Your Grace, my goodness. You are absolutely stunning.” 

One of them exclaimed, pride and satisfaction evident on their faces as they beheld their masterpiece.

Cali, looking at Scheuer’s reflection in the mirror, spoke with warmth.

“Congratulations, Your Grace. Today, you’ll be the happiest person in the world.”

“Thank you, Cali.” 

Scheuer replied with a bright, radiant smile, enjoying the moment.

The sun had risen, and the faint sounds of the garden’s hustle and bustle could already be heard through the window. Guests were starting to stir, bringing life to the estate after the quiet of dawn. Not long after, Lady Betty and Lady Solle were the first to visit.

“Your Grace, you look wonderful!”

“On such a joyful day, with perfect weather, it truly feels like this day is made just for you.”

Scheuer beamed, proudly showing off her bouquet.

“The Duke picked these flowers himself at dawn,” she said with a smile.

“Oh, so that’s why things were so busy outside this morning,” Lady Betty said, marveling at the beautifully arranged bouquet.

Scheuer then gave Solle a playful, pleading look as she had promised to give her the bouquet. Solle, quick to catch the hint, smiled and responded,

“I won’t take the bouquet.”

Scheuer’s eyes lit up as she asked,

“Really? Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Of course! I’m not even close to getting married yet—there are just some talks about potential matches.”

Solle, the only one who is not engaged, had been set to catch the bouquet, but she graciously ceded it to Scheuer for her collection. Amused by the situation, Lady Betty chuckled and added,

“Your Graces might be the only one in the world to collect the bouquets from your own weddings.”

But it was a bouquet the Duke had personally chosen for her. Gripping it tightly with both hands, Scheuer was determined not to let it go.

“Give me fresh flower and an old love.” – Kavya Dixit