The Villainess Captured The Grand Duke - Chapter 57
Chapter 57
Tilting her head and looking at him, Scheuer couldn’t grasp what was going on in Raygrain’s mind.
***
He returned to the room quietly looking through the documents without saying a word. In response to his increasingly cold demeanor, Scheuer, who had been lying down and staring at the ceiling, blinked for a moment and got up to wander around his table.
The one who had silently examined the documents with a dignified demeanor finally spoke first.
“Not sleeping?”
“You’re not in bed today?”
“The table is more comfortable.”
“Yesterday, you were sitting on the bed.”
Scheuer, peeking at the complicated documents filled with unknown terms behind him, commented,
“You see this every night, why can’t you sleep?”
Scheuer looked down at him with unknown difficult terms scattered on the desk.
“It’s not because of forgery. It doesn’t seem to be Sevi’s issue either. Then there was only one thing left. ‘You still haven’t given up.'”
Raygrain lightly touched her face with the documents he was holding. Scheuer pouted, casually wiping her forehead with the palm of her hand.
“Give me chamomile tomorrow.”
“…Is that your favorite flower?”
“It’s not, but I prefer what the Duke gave me.”
Only then did Ragrain’s gaze, which had been fixed on the documents, turn to her. Scheuer nodded her head and said seriously,
“I told the Duke that his flowers are the best. I realized that even when I’m alone, and even in the presence of the Duke, even if it’s just a simple favor, it would feel unpleasant if I didn’t accept it.”
Once she said it, she felt awkward. Shouldn’t she be happy that even unpleasant emotions have returned?
Raygrain’s gaze, which had been wandering in the air, settled on her again. She asked seriously,
“Was it better to just feel bad?”
“I’ve never felt that way.”
“That’s the problem!”
Raygrain’s expression twitched strangely at Scheuer’s sudden exclamation.
‘Did I touch a nerve?’
She looked at him beyond the documents and subtly reached out her arms.
It seemed like her fingertips were about to touch his wrist. Even if she lightly touched him while leaning over the table with her eyes closed, he didn’t react like a numb person.
It’s not that he lacks emotions; it’s not that he lacks sensations.
She absentmindedly touched the papers scattered around, and on an empty sheet, she scribbled her name again and again.
In the car where she had just written Raygrain’s name next to hers, she casually dropped a bundle of documents onto the table.
“Do you have something to say?”
“How about taking a walk?”
“What’s your motive?”
“It’s a method to make you tired and fall asleep.”
“You’ll collapse first.”
Scheuer made a small smirk and thumped onto the bed with an air of indifference. With a light bounce, she pulled the entire blanket over her.
Raygrain turned his body, leaning on the table with his arms crossed, silently watching her actions.
“If you’re going to threaten, at least make some progress.”
Raygrain had already seen through her. After the incident with the forged slab, the atmosphere within the royal palace had become even more tense. Those present at the scene of the discovery were said to have been quarantined separately. Even though no one said it, there was a cautious atmosphere.
Scheuer, using the excuse of feeling unwell, had stayed in her room for a few days. It seemed more prudent to stay out of the severe atmosphere. After resting for three days, Scheuer finally came out.
‘Will I get caught like this?’
The palpable gaze of disapproval felt like it was penetrating her skin. Scheuer, slightly shivering, waved her hand towards the distant knights.
In response, Sefic was the first to rush out, flashing a charming smile and bowing his head to Scheuer.
“Good morning.”
“My lady, have you arrived!”
Many, including the wounded knight, showed a somewhat favorable attitude. The knight who had scolded her yesterday rushed towards her, looking as if his breath was about to stop at the sight of her. It seemed he had been eagerly awaiting her arrival for the past three days. He urgently pointed to where Scheuer used to sit.
“It’s nothing special, but we brought some comfortable chairs for you. Please, have a comfortable seat.”
Chairs that didn’t fit the atmosphere of the training ground, with their excessive size and extravagance. Even cushions that seemed plush. The flashy patterns even reflected sunlight, creating a self-luminous effect.
‘Is this good for the Duke’s eye health?’
Moreover, someone had placed a simple awning with rough pillars driven into the ground to block the sunlight, along with a small table.
Scheuer couldn’t help but smile at the knight anxiously awaiting her response.
“Thanks. Did you arrange this with the other knights?”
“Yes, we are from the same order.”
“You went through unnecessary trouble. I was comfortable with the previous chair.”
“But considering your condition, it’s only natural. Please don’t worry about it!”
He seemed nervous, wiping the sweat gathered on his palm.
In fact, after sleeping with a chamomile bouquet for the past few days, even the slightest trace had completely disappeared. Even during the three days she didn’t go outside, Raygrain consistently handed her chamomile bouquets.
Thanks to that, the entire room became a chamomile paradise. Scheuer, aware of the expectant eyes hidden here and there, simply smiled along with it. However, to the other knights who had been summoned from outside, this situation seemed unfamiliar.
One of them pointed to the chamomile Scheuer held close to her chest and asked,
“Is this the flower?”
“Yeah. The Duke gave it to me.”
Far away, Raygrain, who had been wiping his sweat, raised his head. Scheuer shook hands with him and shouted,
“Your Grace!”
The moment she called him, his expression was distorted. Stepping forward with a drawn sword, he approached with measured steps. His appearance was quite threatening. As he got closer, the other knights around seemed to vanish like a receding tide.
Straightening up in front of me, he quietly asked,
“Why are you calling me?”
“Just because. I wanted to try meeting eyes with the hardworking Duke.”
Although she saw him every night in the room, the vitality felt during the day was different. Both appearances were precious to her.
Unaware of such feelings, Raygrain, observing her upgraded seat, responded,
“It’s a meaningless gesture.”
Scheuer grabbed his arm and pulled him under the shaded cloth. Already disliking the training ground structure that was always under the scorching sun, she said,
“Want to take a break? The knights made it for you, and it’s surprisingly spacious.”
A place that had always been wide enough for the two of them to fit in comfortably now felt cramped. The height of the cloth blocking the sunlight didn’t match his height, requiring him to tilt his head to stand together.
A laugh escaped, but Scheuer held back the feeling of her thighs being pricked. ‘Cute…! The Duke is cute!’ She silently thanked the unknown knight, not knowing his face or name, with tears in her eyes.
“It’s a place only you can enter.”
As he uncovered the cloth, Scheuer tried to stand up with the bouquet. Somewhere, a sign of admiration could be heard.
“Wow, that’s Netri’s swordsmanship.”
“Smile Love”