The Villainess Captured The Grand Duke - Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Anyway, since she was prepared to see how the situation unfolded, Scheuer pretended not to notice the agonizing muscles that were howling in pain at the thought of enjoying Erina’s crumpled face.

***

With a firm click, Jess bowed in front of Raygrain as if waiting for him to come out.

“I will guide you as soon as Lady Scheuer is ready. Would you like to go to the banquet hall first?”

“No. Rather than that.”

Raygrain quickly recalled Scheuer, who would be preparing behind the door.

She had been somewhat unpredictable since she came alone to the North, but jumping into the fire for the sake of the family’s reputation was beyond expectation.

Thinking she was like that made him uneasy in some corner of his mind.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her. It was just too reckless.

There were too many risks to consider, even if he looked at it from the perspective of someone calculating gains and losses.

In fact, from Raygrain’s point of view, there was no loss either way.

The rumors about the decline of the North had been circulating for days, and they hadn’t been able to carry out an actual campaign for nearly a year, so squabbling among themselves wasn’t entirely inaccurate.

he hadn’t even felt bothered by such aspects.

Even if she dedicated herself to the family to this extent, being the Duke’s wife, she seemed mentally fit despite her physical fragility.

However, despite all this, accepting her smiling face as it was, just like usual, wasn’t so straightforward.

Quietly looking beyond the door at an unseen figure, Raygrain whispered to Jess in a low voice.

“I hid the plaster materials in a pile. Handle it as soon as the preparations are complete.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Either Jess had expected it or not, he nodded without saying a word.

In addition, Raygrain said one more thing.

“Find out who sold the slates to Scheuer in the capital. Verify if they are trustworthy.”

In a voice even lower than usual, Raygrain spoke to Jess behind her back.

“If it seems dubious, eliminate them.”

“…Yes, Your Excellency.”

With Jess disappearing to fulfill his given task, a clattering, noisy sound was heard behind her.

The voices of the courtiers bustling about were just an extra noise.

And not long after, Scheuer came out with a triumphant smile, opening the door.

Several flowers were clenched in her fist.

It seemed like chamomiles, similar to the flowers she had handed over to the injured knight.

“My Lord, shall we go!”

How many slates had she moved with that small body that even her footsteps didn’t seem comfortable?

Raygrain took Scheuer’s hand, holding it tightly to support her.

Scheuer was even more willing to be held so that her weight could be borne.

By the time Scheuer arrived at the hall, there were quite a few new faces.

All the nobles who had received invitations seemed to have been summoned without exception.

Even though she was wearing a beautiful dress, Erina looked quite pale.

“I heard that Lady Scheuer is not feeling well.”

“Yes. I guess roaming around freely with the girls without any restrictions after a long time in the center took a toll on her.”

Even with the tight corset, enduring those piercing glares seemed to make her suffer.

Erina, already in an elegant dress, seemed quite out of sorts.

“I remember that you gave the recoverable flower to Sir Devian, who was my opponent in the Duke’s sparring match before. Can’t you use it yourself?”

Raygrain said this, thinking it would be a simple question and answer.

The atmosphere was openly tense. Scheuer shook the chamomile she held in her hand, and with each shake, petals fell down. The petals scattered downward with each swing of her arm. She had already used up her recovery ability while coming here.

Scheuer swung the chamomile, making a light jingling sound, and spoke, 

“Recovery depends on one’s usual physical condition. Unfortunately, my physical condition is not great, even in the North, including the South, where outdoor activities are limited.”

Whether Erina, who used to do flower arrangements in the South, would be compared to the knights. subtly mentioning the South, Erina didn’t speak any more.

“That makes sense. It wouldn’t look good to mix personal emotions with public matters, especially when the relationship is already strained.”

Thanks to the chamomile, Scheuer’s body was much lighter than before, but she still exaggerated a bit, thinking of it as an opportunity. 

“My lord, my lord.”

When she poked his arm, Raygrain, who had been looking at the place where the slab was, turned his head. Scheuer tried something as she grabbed his arm. Due to the solid and heavy nature of his arm, it wasn’t easy to lift, and Scheuer groaned.

Raygrain silently observed her actions, seeming to consider what she was doing. Scheuer struggled and shook his hand after much effort. Only then did he absentmindedly raise his arm. Taking advantage of that, his hand naturally touched my shoulder.

Perhaps thinking she might collapse, he held her quite firmly. The sight of the two might have seemed like worrying about the not-so-healthy Duchess.

Although it seemed formal, everyone in the hall stood still, waiting for the Duke’s answer to know if they could wait for a formal response from the Grand Steward to identify the authenticity of the slab.

Not long after, the Grand Steward, who suddenly stood up, spoke seriously, 

“Find the one who forged this slab and bring them here.”

Scheuer unintentionally uttered an admiring exclamation upon seeing the Grand Steward’s beauty for the first time with his two eyes. He was certainly someone who suited the description of being beautiful. If there were gods, wouldn’t they look like that? Moreover, he seemed truly happy, as if he had obtained everything in the world. Despite speaking seriously, his eyes twinkled with a subtle smile, making him look even more like a sacred being.

“Identify someone who knows about the real slab. Find them.”

When a fake slab appeared? When that doubt arose, Sevi spoke with a serious tone and without a trace of a smile, 

“Identify someone who knows about the real slab. Find them.”

***

Sevi Meltre. The name Meltre itself was a title bestowed by the God Raphael, even the castle was considered a sanctuary given by the god. The only person on the continent to receive the divine blessing. This fact was like a label always accompanying Sevi.

Originally, the reason he entered the temple was simple. 

“If I pretend to believe in the gods, they give me bread.” 

However, unexpectedly, the god seemed to like him too much. Of course, he earnestly prayed, asking for the ability to survive life. Thanks to this, he quickly climbed the ranks and even reached the position of Grand Steward, but somehow, his wishes seemed to drift farther away.

“Before confirming anything that looks like a slab in the Evita Mountains, Sevi, you need to first accept the fifteenth princess of the Becheren Kingdom’s wedding date.”

Koa, the assistant priest, recited the schedule without missing a beat. When things poured down on him, Sevi just wanted to lie down and do nothing. Why? Because he simply didn’t want to do anything.

When the noble idiots couldn’t even decide their own wedding date, Sevi muttered, 

“Koa, tell the Becheren King. If there’s a sixteenth, I’ll chop off the third leg.”

“Already twenty people, sir.”

“Better cut it now before it increases!”

If all the priests of the temple hadn’t taken a week off as an excuse, the Becheren King might have had to live without a leg.

“Smile Love”