Your Grace, It Was a Mistake! - Chapter 11

“Uuugh!”

As I clutched my stomach and dry-heaved, Emma rushed over and rubbed my back frantically.

“My Lady, do you have indigestion?”

“N-no. I just… remembered something so gross it made me want to throw up.”

“Oh dear, you must be careful.”

Suddenly, Emma’s face paled with horror.

“Emma? What’s wrong?”

“My Lady, surely you don’t mean…”

“…?”

What? What is it? I grew tense at Emma’s ominous aura. She grabbed my shoulders firmly and looked at me with burning eyes.

“My Lady, you said you’ve been dating the Grand Duke for a week, right?”

“Gasp, you heard?”

“I am your personal maid; of course, I heard! No, that’s not what’s important right now.” Emma shook her head vigorously and asked again, “Did you, by any chance, have a ‘relationship’ with the Grand Duke before that?”

“A relationship…?”

I tilted my head. My relationship with the Grand Duke… was just passing each other by. At least until yesterday.

“No, I haven’t.”

“…”

Emma stared at me with a complicated expression, let out a deep sigh, and asked again.

“My Lady… do you actually understand what kind of ‘relationship’ I’m referring to?”

“A relationship is a relationship, what else would it be?”

“…”

Emma looked at me as if she didn’t know what to do with me. It was the look one gives a toddler wandering near a deep pond. When I frowned, unable to understand her concern, she sighed again and spoke worriedly.

“My Lady… at this rate, you’re going to be eaten alive without anyone even knowing.”

“E-eaten alive?”

“Yes. The Grand Duke will just—chomp! with his fangs!”

“Hieee!”

I jumped when Emma mimicked a biting motion with her nails. She shook her head at my reaction.

“The ‘relationship’ I am talking about is sexual in nature. Do you understand what I mean now?”

“Sexual…”

Only then did I realize what Emma had misunderstood. My face turned bright red.

“T-that’s impossible! There’s no way the Grand Duke and I did that!”

I shook my head violently, trying my best to emphasize that ‘such a thing’ had never happened. Emma watched me suspiciously for a moment before sighing in relief. She then took my hands and spoke with a very serious voice.

“My Lady, keep this in mind.”

“Yes?”

“No matter how cool and handsome the Grand Duke is, or how well he treats you.”

“Uh-huh…”

“You must not trust him one hundred percent. You must always keep at least a one percent margin of doubt. Do you understand?”

“I will…”

I looked away and answered with a shaky voice. How could I tell her? In my heart, the Grand Duke already occupied one hundred percent!

Emma patted my shoulder a few times and then suddenly hugged me tight. To me, Emma was like an older sister or an aunt, the person who worried about me most after my parents. She was the daughter of the nanny who had raised me, who had since passed away. Because of that, we grew up like real sisters.

“Honestly, I’m so worried because you’re the type to give someone your liver and gallbladder just because you like them.”

“Well…”

I might be a bit ditzy, but I didn’t think I was that bad. ‘I’d die if I actually gave away my liver and gallbladder.’

Of course, I knew it was a metaphor, and I wasn’t so clumsy that I didn’t know every relationship needs boundaries. I hugged Emma back and spoke.

“Emma, don’t worry so much.”

“…”

“Besides, even if I gave them to him, the Grand Duke wouldn’t have any use for my liver or gallbladder.”

“…”

Emma didn’t reply. Only the sound of her perhaps tenth faint sigh reached my ears.

The gifts the Grand Duke sent included a flower basket large enough for me to sit in, along with several boxes made of luxurious paper. The boxes varied in size, and it seemed the contents were just as diverse.

The flowers were roses bred to hold the mysterious colors of a sunset. There were so many… I couldn’t even count them.

“They look like your hair color, My Lady…” Emma muttered beside me, wearing a complicated expression.

Before opening the gifts, I decided to read the Grand Duke’s letter first.

‘A letter handwritten by the Grand Duke himself…’

The fact that I was receiving a letter in his own hand made my heart throb. I carefully opened the envelope so as not to tear it and held the single sheet of paper preciously.

‘It smells like the Grand Duke…’

When I brought the paper to my nose, a faint scent unique to him lingered alongside the smell of crisp, new paper. I gave the letter a small kiss. I heard the sound of Emma dropping something next to me, but I didn’t have the luxury of paying attention to her.

‘His handwriting is even beautiful…’

I had seen his handwriting a few times before, but this was the first time seeing it from this close.

“I’m so happy I feel like I might melt,” I whispered, moved. “The Grand Duke wrote me a letter. Personally every single letter.”

“…Yes, My Lady. I’m sure you’re very happy.” Emma’s voice sounded strangely hollow.

Though I found it a bit odd, I was quickly distracted by the letter again. I giggled as I stroked the paper, took a deep breath, and began to read slowly.

[Dear Vivian.]

“Aaah! Dear Vivian!” I squealed, pounding on my cushion. ‘Dear’! I love it so much, what do I do!

[Did you sleep well?]

“Yes, Grand Duke… I slept very well.”

“…”

I noticed Emma’s peculiar stare, but forgot it instantly.

[I hope the flowers and gifts are to your liking. I chose them while thinking of you.]

“Gasp…!”

Overwhelmed with emotion, I covered my mouth with one hand while my eyes welled up with tears.

[I miss you so much I can hardly bear it. I will come to pick you up this evening. Please be ready and wait for me.]

“Oh my gosh, this evening!”

Is it a date?!

I sprang up from my seat. Toward the startled Emma, I reached out my arms and shouted.

“Emma! I have a date! With the Grand Duke!”

“Y-yes, My Lady. I’m sure you’re very happy.”

I ran around in excitement, and Emma broke into a cold sweat trying to calm me down.

“I’m going on a date with the Grand Duke!”

“My Lady, please calm down. You’re going to trip!”

If my parents had seen this, they would have scolded me, asking where my ‘ladylike dignity’ had gone.

“My Lady, please settle down and open the gifts.”

“Yes, yes!”

I grinned and opened the largest box first. Inside was a magnificent silk dress. Wow, my jaw dropped. From the smooth texture alone, it was clearly no ordinary item.

“My goodness, I’ve never seen a dress decorated with so many jewels. The lace is so delicate, it’s like a work of art.” Emma chimed in, impressed.

I took the dress out and held it against my body. It looked like a perfect fit.

“…But how does the Grand Duke know your size, My Lady?”

“…I don’t know.”

W-wait… How did he know my size? When I tried it on briefly, it fit so eerily well that my suspicion only grew.

“L-let’s open the next box for now.”

“A-alright.”

Feeling a bit bewildered, we opened the rest of the boxes. A platinum brooch decorated with peridot, diamonds, and pearls. White lace gloves that matched the dress, coral hairpins and earrings, and pale coral-colored shoes…

“Wow… there are so many.”

“Indeed…”

As Emma and I stood dazed amidst the pile of gifts that seemed to have fallen from the sky, there was a knock at the door.

‘Who is it?’

“My Lady, it is the butler. The Master is looking for you on urgent business.”

“Father?”

He should be busy with work right now; what’s going on?

‘The only reason Father would call me so suddenly… is probably because of the Grand Duke.’

As I walked toward the door, I glanced back at Emma, who flinched and avoided my gaze.

“…?”

“My Lady, you must go at once.”

“I’m coming out.”

Answering the butler’s persistent prompting from outside, I opened the door. In the hallway, the butler bowed to me.

“My Lady.”

“Butler, do you happen to know what this is about?”

“My apologies. I do not know either…”

“Hmm… I see.”

I headed to my father’s office with the butler.

A moment later, upon arriving at the office, I saw a brown-haired man I had never seen before sitting on the guest sofa. When our eyes met, the man smiled awkwardly. I looked curiously at the four or five suitcases placed around him before shifting my gaze to my father, who was standing by the window.

I spoke softly to my father’s back. “Father, I’m here.”

“Yes. Come in.”

Only then did Father turn around. He looked even more solemn than usual today, which made me feel strangely uneasy.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, My Lady. I am Baron Evan Harris.” The brown-haired man, sensing Father’s mood, stood up and bowed politely.

‘Evan Harris? Where have I heard… Ah!’

Recalling who he was, I smiled brightly. “You’re Mrs. Rockwell’s cousin!”

“Haha. Yes, that is correct.”

Mrs. Mary Rockwell. She was the House Steward in charge of managing the Count’s castle in the Lewis Estate. Baron Evan Harris was her cousin. I hadn’t seen his face before, but I knew the name.

“But what brings you here? Is Mrs. Rockwell doing well? And what are all these suitcases…”

“That is…”

Baron Harris glanced at Father. It seemed Father was the one who had summoned him. Looking at my father with questioning eyes, he sat down and spoke.

“Sit, Vivian.”

I sat across from Father, and Baron Harris, still acting cautious, sat diagonally from me. After a glance at the Baron, Father turned his gaze to me.

“Vivian, starting today, you will go down to the estate to recuperate. Baron Harris here will escort you.”

“…What?”

It was so unexpected that it took me a moment to process. I stammered and asked, “Go down to the estate for recuperation? What do you mean by that?”

Then I won’t be able to see the Grand Duke! There was no way the busy Grand Duke would travel all the way to the Lewis Estate just to see me. Therefore, if I left the capital, our contract relationship would be effectively suspended.

‘I don’t want that…’

Even if it was just a one-year contract, it was a dream come true for me, who had nurtured a one-sided crush on him for seven years! I looked at my father with a wronged expression.

“Father, if I go down to the estate, the Grand Duke and I—”

“Vivian, do you know the origin of that marble you broke by mistake?”

“Huh? T-that… how do you know about?”

I was flustered. How did Father know about the marble?

‘I never mentioned the marble… Ah, wait!’

As if to prove my suspicion, the very person I was thinking of opened the door and walked in. With navy hair falling to her shoulders and silver-grey eyes, it was Marina.

“Marina!”

“Vivian…”

Marina looked at me with an apologetic face. Toward her as she lingered at the doorway, Father said, “Come and sit.”

Marina crept over like a cat and sat beside me. She kept glancing at me with a look of genuine guilt.

‘What is she sorry for? The marble?’

“Marina, tell Vivian as well.”

“Yes, Count.”

With a low sigh, Marina began her story. “Vivian, about that bag. Before I gave it to you, back at the Academy…”

Marina’s story could be summarized as follows: While she was studying in the Academy library, she had stepped away for a moment. When she returned, there were traces that someone had rummaged through her bag.

“Professor Shannon is suspicious. He kept hanging around.”

“Who is Professor Shannon?”

“I told you before, remember? The Crown Prince’s mage.”

“Ah.”

In this world, there were many supernatural abilities such as magic, spirit arts, alchemy, and puppetry, and the Crown Prince was very interested in them. Thus, he had been scouting talented users from all over the continent to bring them to his side.

‘Cale Shannon was one of them.’

“That man is an authority on black magic. He’s one of the few people authorized by His Majesty the Emperor to research it.”

“Gasp, then that marble…?”

As the realization hit me, Marina nodded.

“It was likely Professor Shannon’s doing. I didn’t find anything when I checked the bag again… he must have used some trick.”

I spoke blankly. “Your bag exploded when I opened it.”

“So it seems… I shouldn’t have left it with you.” Marina sighed, looking full of regret. “Most likely, Professor Shannon placed a spell so that if the bag was opened after a certain amount of time, it would explode and scatter items everywhere.”

Frowning, Marina crossed her arms and continued. “The hidden marble would have come out then, and someone would have been bound to touch it to pick it up. That was probably the plan.”

“Then the person Professor Shannon was targeting wasn’t me, but you?”

When I pointed out the truth, Marina looked at me with a surprised face. “Vivian, you’re surprisingly smart, aren’t you?”

“I’m not an idiot, you know!”

“Sure, sure.”

Marina patted my head. Feeling annoyed, I frowned and straightened my hair. Her sighing voice followed.

“Professor Shannon doesn’t like me very much, he offered me a position in black magic research before, and I rejected him. He must be holding a grudge.”

“Ahem.”

“He wanted to kill two birds with one stone: get rid of me, who he dislikes, and carry out the Crown Prince’s orders.”

“But it failed because I touched the marble before you did.”

“…Exactly. Unfortunately, you were the one who got charmed…”

Marina stared at me with an unreadable gaze, and I frowned even harder.

‘What? Why is she looking at me like that?’

When I glared at her, she gave a complex smirk. “You really are a rare specimen.”

“That’s a compliment, right?”

“Would it be an insult?”

As the two of us bickered, Father cleared his throat to regain our attention. Hearing that, Marina and I both corrected our posture.

I asked Father cautiously, “Anyway, the conclusion is that the Crown Prince is the one behind this?”

“Yes. The Grand Duke and the Crown Prince have not been on good terms for a long time.”

Was it for personal reasons, or a political issue? I pondered it, but it was beyond my knowledge. I should ask the Grand Duke later. Though that ‘later’…

‘…might only happen if I’m still here.’

I looked at Father with a pleading face. But Father only shook his head firmly.

“It does seem like the Grand Duke likes you.”

“…See!”

“Even so, I cannot allow it.”

“Fatheeeer…”

I was on the verge of tears, and Father avoided my gaze as if trying to ignore me.

“Vivian, the Grand Duke is…” After a deep sigh, Father continued. “He is the most dangerous individual among all the people I have met in my life.”

“…”