The Villainess Captured The Grand Duke - Chapter 65
Chapter 65
The room filled with flowers failed to bring understanding to him.
“It’s quiet.”
His head had been pounding all day as he dealt with the aftermath of yesterday’s events. Raygrain tried to focus on the documents spread out before him, but for some reason, the words did not register.
Staring at the scrawled writing on the paper that Scheuer had left on the table, he closed his eyes tightly, feeling the throbbing pain in his head once again.
***
“Scheuer, do you happen to like cookies?”
“Yes, Your Highness. It’s not a grand reward, but would you accept this chocolate?”
As she continued to distribute flowers, she found herself receiving various small gifts in return. What initially started with one or two items gradually piled up like a mountain, reaching a point where she couldn’t hold them all in her hands. She reluctantly borrowed a large wooden box from the kitchen manager responsible for food distribution, and the knights helped by poking small holes in it and attaching a string to use it as a makeshift bag.
The sound of the wooden box scraping against the floor became a signal in the palace corridors, indicating her presence. Without fail, as she continued to distribute flowers, a crowd followed, and amidst them, a young lady approached.
“Your Highness! I was worried you might have taken a break, but I’m relieved!”
The young lady, a noble from some aristocratic family, held a yellow bottle, seemingly a specialty product from their estate.
“This is a specialty from our family estate. It’s natural honey. If you have it with dessert or bread, you might both die without knowing it.”
“But wouldn’t dying mean you’d know?”
Scheuer’s playful remark surprised the young lady, who clapped her hands.
“Oh, my, that’s true. I meant it in that sense. My father usually doesn’t give it to anyone unless they’re close friends, but I managed to sneak some.”
Proudly sharing this information, the young lady was joined by a person who was about a head taller. Scheuer greeted her with a friendly smile.
“You’ve returned, Lady Erina.”
It seemed she took some time returning with the knights she led. Erina, with her stern demeanor, nodded in a mannerly way, but unlike usual, she didn’t initiate a conversation.
The atmosphere felt strangely subdued.
“Well, after making a fool of myself during the sword practice, it’s no wonder she’s embarrassed. It’s quite a spectacle.”
It seems someone touched the Duke after all. As Erina passed by, Scheuer stuck out her tongue playfully.
***
After completing today’s goals, Scheuer hurriedly ran through the corridor, pulling a box with her. Startled attendants cleared the way, expressing their concerns,
“Your Highness, please be careful!”
Even though her actions were against protocol, no one reprimanded her. There was no need to pay attention to every detail.
After wandering for a while, Scheuer realized that a considerable amount of time had passed, and it was already time for him to return. She hadn’t even seen him leave in the morning, so she was anxious.
Breathing heavily, she entered the room, and there he was, still in the same posture as when she left. The scent of chamomile enveloped her as she cautiously approached.
“Your… Highness…?”
With his keen ears, he should have reacted to such a soft voice. However, he remained motionless. It was a moment she had never experienced even in her dreams.
Finally! Overwhelmed with gratitude, Scheuer silently cheered within herself. She raised her heels, lifted her dress, and stealthily approached. When the bedding rustled, she trembled.
Fortunately, his sharp jawline, straight nose, tightly closed lips, and eyes remained the same. Scheuer slowly crawled onto the bed.
Resting her arm on the windowsill, she gazed at his profile, which she saw every day but still found pleasing. Though she saw his face every day, it still looked good to her. Perhaps it was because she was always a step behind, her perspective seemed different.
Quietly observing him, she formed a faint smile. Why doesn’t he lay down?
The feeling of being sucked into his appearance overwhelmed her as she silently stared at him. In the somewhat dark room, the moonlight shining white was a perfect match with him.
It felt like she was being drawn in by watching him. The moonlight cast an ethereal glow in the somewhat dim room, making him appear almost surreal. Considering his usual sleeping habits, she expected him to at least open his eyes.
Or maybe he’d turn in his sleep or mumble something. Or even drool.
Suddenly, a worry crept into her mind. Wasn’t this what she usually did? Inadvertently, she became conscious of her own actions and contorted her face in embarrassment.
Having overcome an untimely obstacle, she took a deep breath and sneakily glanced at him. The cold night air permeated his skin. Waving her hand in front of him yielded no response, so she gathered the courage to touch the tip of his bangs with her finger. The straight eyebrows and long eyelashes, even the earlobes that a human should have were fascinating. She couldn’t resist pinching his cheek and, at that moment, his eyes, a deep blue, met hers.
“…Have you arrived now?”
Her breath caught for a moment. Considering the sharpness of his gaze, it couldn’t be someone who had just woken up. There was no place to hide. Face to face, she stammered out a response.
“Um, well. Um… When did you wake up?”
“Since you called.”
Did he not sleep at all? Scheuer tried to find the right words, but she was at a loss for his inexplicable body rhythm.
“Originally, I mentioned that I don’t sleep.”
“Well, even so, how can a person…”
She couldn’t find the words for his abnormal body rhythm. It seemed like he had given up on being human.
Beyond amazement, Scheuer, flustered, struggled to speak,
“Uh, so… When did you wake up?”
“When I felt like it.”
Could it be that he never slept at all? Scheuer’s eyes widened with disbelief.
“Nobody knows when the demons might attack.”
In his indifferent words, there seemed to be an unseen sense of responsibility. No wonder he would not stray from following Blenga in the North. It sent shivers down her spine, realizing the strange form that resulted from one person’s sacrifice.
The cold emanating from his body started from his arms, and Scheuer shivered. Thinking it was because of the cold, he casually handed her a blanket.
“Blenga always stayed with the demons until the end. My parents were the same; it became a habit.”
Scheuer felt a chill, not only from the cold but also from his explanation. Perhaps he keenly felt the existence of the mysterious force called divine power. The coldness that started from his arms spread, and as if he thought it was cold, he casually handed her a blanket.
“There’s a first-class chef in the palace and the North. No need for me to cook. Besides, I don’t find it interesting.”
Right, it makes sense that interest is an emotion. Scheuer quickly understood. For someone without emotions, the assigned goal was absolute. It felt more significant than what she had read in novels. With a serious expression, he lightly touched her cheek.
“So, I find it fascinating that you’re making a request.”
“Smile Love”