The Villainess Captured The Grand Duke - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“Then I won’t stop you,” Scheuere replied.

Celi strode ahead, opening the door wide to guide her. She didn’t need to look for a specific destination; the bustling crowd at the entrance gave her a clear indication. Schuere also walked purposefully and slipped into the crowd.

Servants, taken aback, couldn’t decide whether to bow or stand up straight. They uncomfortably continued to shift their shoulders, but that was not Schuere’s concern. She craned her neck and fixed her gaze on the lobby.

The first person to come into view was Jess, whose striking amber eyes seemed on the verge of collapsing. Despite his appearance, he appeared severely fatigued. Although his exterior was deceiving, he was indeed an excellent commander as well as a formidable warrior. This fact was now truly astonishing.

And following closely behind him was the person she had been eagerly waiting for…

“Is this the lady?”

Suddenly, a face blocked Scheuere’s view as she was about to catch a glimpse of Raygrain. She urgently looked to the side to escape the gaze of the mysterious man. Raygrain was in the process of removing his expedition gear, a suitable time to change his shirt.

However, just as she was about to go ahead, the unfamiliar man blocked her way once again.

“Is the lady my savior?”

He threw out these incomprehensible words.

“Oh, is that so?”

She pretended to be surprised, batting her eyelashes inquisitively. She rolled her eyes dramatically, scrutinizing the man in front of her. The term “savior of my life” seemed so out of place.

The original Scheuere had never been to the North, and she wondered if he might know the previous Schuere. So, she tensely scrutinized him. He had tousled brown hair and hazel eyes, and there was a playful, friendly vibe about him.

“Oh, I’m sorry for the late introduction. I’m Nevit Mozon,”

 he said politely, bowing slightly and extending his hand, despite being covered in some sticky substance all over his body.

In an instant, she unknowingly frowned. Scheuer took a step back at the unpleasant smell.

Even when she heard the name, she couldn’t remember.

In an honest response of not knowing at all, Navit’s mischievous mouth drew a smile as he said,

“Lady, you saved my life! Well, you see, I was on the verge of being caught by a monstrous tentacle the size of a tree, and I had resolved to become a thorn that would pierce it even in death. I clung to a protective mana stone and was determined to become a single thorn when suddenly, a ray of light…”

He excitedly shouted as if reciting a heroic tale.

“Quiet down, Nevit.”

A gloved hand pushed Nevit’s face away. Finally, her vision cleared. It felt like she was seeing the world for the first time, despite the sticky, viscous substance covering everything, including herself. Even with that gooey mess all over, her composure didn’t waver. She saw Nevits, his animated expression, and his eyes that mirrored her own cold gaze.

“If you keep talking, it’ll never end. Give it a rest.”

A calm voice echoed with gentle ripples in the brightened world.

Raygraine’s cold gaze looked down at her and said,

“If it’s a promise, I won’t break it. It means you don’t have to come out and greet me like this.”

“Oh, no. It’s not that.”

“Hugging… right. Let’s wait until I change into something more suitable. You wouldn’t be comfortable with the scent of the monsters’ remnants, would you?”

So, this sticky liquid was the trace of monsters. Nevit was wearing the same thing, but it didn’t smell foul; instead, it was somewhat fragrant. Schuere had always painted him based on how he appeared during his visits to the palace, but now she was seeing him in his natural state. The idea of capturing his everyday life in the North became even more precious. If she could document his activities as a member of the monster eradication team, Suhr might have already followed him to join the expedition.

Furthermore, he mentioned changing clothes. Timing was everything in life, wasn’t it? Schuere held up the shirt she had clung to in her arms and said,

“If you give me the clothes you were wearing, I can change them for you!”

“I don’t recall ever telling you to take my clothes off.”

“It’s not like that.”

Schuere words made Raygraine’s eyebrow twitch slightly. She quickly checked the condition of the shirt he was wearing. Various liquids had mixed together, making it hard to discern the original color. Perhaps it would be faster just to dispose of it. Schuere showed him the shirt again and said,

“It’s the same as the clothes you usually wear.”

“How did you know?”

“While you were away, I asked the people here at the mansion. Wasn’t that a good idea? It should fit you perfectly.”

“Is that important to you?”

He asked, sounding almost too casual. Schuere nodded her head.

“Of course. So, please exchange my new clothes with the ones you usually wear!”

“What am I supposed to do with the clothes I was wearing?”

As he questioned it almost as if in a sulking tone, Jess, who had been watching with a stern expression, shouted angrily,

“Your Highness, didn’t I tell you? I clearly mentioned your scent…”

“We’ll keep them!”

The corridor fell silent for a moment. Jes, who had been holding Raygraine’s clothes, looked at Schuere with astonishment and asked,

“What are you planning to do with them?”

“Admire them?”

“Why on earth?”

“Is there a reason? I like to see them because it reminds me of the Duke, and thinking of him makes me happy.”

Did she ask for a mannequin or an acrylic stand? She’d already prepared new clothes, so this was definitely not a losing deal. Schuere spoke with great anticipation in her voice.

Schuere watched him go, disappointed but not giving up. She said,

“You know, you can’t see the Duke every day. I have full confidence in admiring the Duke more than anyone else.”

Raygraine’s brow furrowed slightly in response to her words of longing. He remained silent, continuing to walk down the corridor as if he had given up trying to understand Schuere actions.

Despite that, Schuere felt pleased that he had narrowed his brow even if he didn’t fully understand her intentions. She playfully kicked her foot, and as Raygraine turned to leave, he said,

“Wait for me in the study. I have something to discuss.”

Jes, who had been alternating their gazes between him and Schuere followed after him. Seeing their retreating figures, Schuere couldn’t help but smile. It seemed like she might indeed get the clothes she wanted.

***

Not long after that, Raygraine returned, looking neat and clean as if he had never been in contact with any of the messy substances. Seeing his damp hair and tidied appearance, Schuere couldn’t contain her excitement and clapped her hands.

“My goodness, Your Grace. Please look at me once!”

She reached out and shook the shirt that she had been safeguarding all this time, almost tearing it apart in her enthusiasm.

“Indeed, people should live in the North. Your Grace is practically a blessing.”

Schuere struggled to suppress her overflowing enthusiasm and took a deep breath. With her current mood, she felt like she could create a masterpiece by using Raygraine as her subject. The inspiration to turn him into a rolling snowball in the North had come bubbling up from within her.

Upon seeing Schuere fervent gaze, Raygraine reached her in just a few steps. He maintained his indifferent tone, sounding as though his voice echoed from above.

“It’s been days, and you’re still the same, My Lady.”

“Smile Love”