The Villainess Captured The Grand Duke - Chapter 77

Chapter 77

However, the other party was Erina.

Scheuer firmly held one of his hands with both hands and asked bluntly, 

“So, did you hold hands?”

“No, I didn’t.”

When he glanced at her, he emphasized once again, 

“I presented a gift to Silcaro in the morning. I didn’t hold hands there either, just a thank-you gesture.”

“Well done. You should continue like that.”

Instead of praising, she patted his back of the hand.

Then, Ragraen asked, 

“You said you caught it in the North.”

“……Yes, I did?”

“Jest said so.”

Scheuer quickly turned around.

Jess and Neveed, who were following, also stopped.

Under her scrutinizing gaze, Jess cheekily raised his head and looked elsewhere.

Scheuer quickly explained, 

“Don’t worry about the past! I haven’t caught anything since then!”

“Take it easy.”

As soon as they reached the room, he tried to pull her away.

Because Scheuer held on tightly and resisted, he couldn’t push her away with more force.

Through the closing door, Jess’s distorted face and colorless lips were impressive.

He dragged Scheuer along without letting her go.

Servants, who were about to come in for the wardrobe change, couldn’t enter or leave after seeing the two.

At Raygrain’s command, they hesitated and approached.

Scheuer, who had never been pushed away like this, was quite worried.

If he doesn’t understand and starts holding hands everywhere, what should she do?

However, he silently changed his clothes and didn’t say anything more.

“Duke. Really, I just briefly shook hands with Celly, that’s all.”

“I see.”

“As long as it’s not Erina, Duke doesn’t mind… But I don’t like it.”

“In the future, try not to pay much attention to anyone except her.”

Scheuer, watching him sitting silently with his fists clenched, felt like something was coming to mind.

Could it be…?

“Duke, are you jealous?”

People, by nature, can’t be without jealousy.

Scheuer admitted that she was quite a jealous person.

With many desires, she wanted many things.

For example, a handkerchief made by imitating Raygrain’s handwriting. Or a portrait of him. Ideally, life-size. But in all these things, he was an exception.

A person who can’t feel fatigue in the first place feeling jealous—Scheuer couldn’t believe the words she had just uttered and let out an awkward laugh. Nevertheless, he showed no particular reaction. Scheuer, walking briskly, spoke crisply, 

“Forget I said anything.”

While checking the pile of letters accumulated during that time, Scheuer said to the servants, 

“Could you please prepare a bouquet by tomorrow morning?”

“Yes, we will prepare it.”

She used to always ask Raygrain, but lately, since he hasn’t been wielding the sword, there hasn’t been much reason for him to receive one. However, she couldn’t go out by herself, and she couldn’t ask Naveed to do it either. Surprisingly, when Naveed stepped out of his escort role, he could be quite exuberant and create quite a commotion.

Scheuer placed the letter sent by Leilda on his table and said, 

“Duke, it seems like Lord Leida is in a hurry. Would you consider adjusting your schedule?”

Until he read the hesitation about not wanting to give a speech tomorrow, he didn’t respond. She felt something was odd and turned her attention to him from the letter.

Raygrain seemed to be deeply contemplating something.

Scheuer, waving her hand in front of him, asked,

 “Duke, Duke?”

“Yeah, I’m listening.”

“Doesn’t seem like Lord Leida is joking in the letter.”

“I know. We probably need to assess the situation after the founding ceremony.”

With a week less in the schedule, Scheuer felt impatient. It became difficult to know where Erina ordered the items from the boutique. Soon, she was going to send the gifts, but there didn’t seem to be any suitable targets according to the rumors.

As Gorfel often wrote, writing 

“Consider it a service that I’m delivering it earlier than scheduled since you’re so busy,” 

on a gift was a common technique. He rubbed his temples and sighed twice. Usually, when he did this, he had something on his mind, even if he himself didn’t seem to know.

And sure enough, after he sighed,

“What are you planning to do with the bouquet?”

He asked in his usual tone. Scheuer blinked. She thought, naturally, that it would be about Leilda.

“The people I’m meeting today keep mentioning flowers. I thought it would be nice to give a simple bouquet to the attendees.”

“Don’t overuse it.”

“It’s not like it’s going to wear out, and I don’t have much time in the central region. It’s better to do it when I can.”

Raygrain’s eyebrows gathered at her words. Saying that the more you use, the more your family’s flowers will bloom might have been too presumptuous. Scheuer shrugged it off.

He didn’t seem to ask any more about the bouquet. And when morning came,

“It’s the bouquet.”

Raygrien brought the bouquet she had asked the servants to prepare.

***

The dinner organized by Viscount Sinderic was a very typical gathering.

“You may or may not remember me from before, Your Grace.”

The third son introduced by the viscount was Tophard Sinderic, a person with no distinctive features. The problem was that he was one of the victims of the rumors about ‘Scheuer.’

“It’s nice to see you again like this.”

“Ah, yes…”

“If we had attended together as partners, we might have had good memories, but I apologize for that time.”

“Oh no. Well, it wasn’t that important a party, considering you’re still alive. Since I don’t remember it, it must not have been memorable.”

Scheuer grinned innocently. It seemed like the event might end a bit earlier than planned. It appeared that they were trying to use past events as an excuse to scrutinize her weaknesses.

Scheuer sat uneasily, holding the bouquet tightly. Nonetheless, not all faces were unfamiliar. Solle was one of the guests invited to the meal. Surprisingly, the discussion during the meal revolved around the engagement story of Viscount Sinderic’s eldest son.

Scheuer wanted to say something, but it seemed inappropriate, so she kept her mouth shut. Above all, Ross Sinderic, the eldest son, was silent compared to the casual remarks of the third son.

‘I was probably invented because they claim to have a friendship with me, but…’

Surprisingly, it seemed like there was an engagement story going on between the eldest son and the third son. Although she wanted to discourage it, it seemed too impertinent, so she kept silent.

Most importantly, the eldest son, Ross Sinderic, was not very talkative compared to the light-hearted comments of the third son.

‘He was invited probably because of his good relations with Ross, but it’s not like he’ll have a party here. He will not have a reason to come here after going to the Duke of Gadot’s.’

He seemed to wish that Solle would actively step forward and continue the friendship.

Solle, who usually had a quiet personality, remained silent even during the meal.

“Because the two of you seem to get along so well, I will treat you exceptionally well when you come to the central region later.”

Lord Gado Litten probably knew he wouldn’t be coming here after going to the Duke of Gadot. He seemed to hope that Solle would actively maintain the friendship. But since Solle didn’t speak up, he openly set the stage to encourage her.

Originally, she had planned to express gratitude for the invitation by delivering the bouquet. However, it seemed that there was another suitable host.

Scheuer, openly passing the bouquet to Solle, said, 

“Solle, will you visit the northern region later?”

“Anytime, if you invite me.”

“If I don’t invite Solle, who else will I invite? You must come when you get married.”

“Of course! Have you set a date at the temple?”

In the midst of the awkward situation, she addressed Solle and saw her face turn red. Toftard, without any tact, interjected, 

“They say you and His Grace have an exceptional relationship. It seems you’ve set the date sooner than expected!”

“Smile Love”