Your Grace, It Was a Mistake! - Chapter 19

“If you keep looking at me with that cute face, it makes me want to devour you.”

Whispering those words in a honeyed voice, the Grand Duke lightly licked the tip of my ear. I jumped in surprise and hurriedly glanced around at my surroundings. The maids, standing demurely, were feigning ignorance by looking elsewhere.

They definitely saw what the Grand Duke just did.

‘Agh! How embarrassing!’

I was on the verge of dying from pure mortification when there was a knock. A sound came from outside the door.

“Young Master. The guests have arrived.”

‘!’

Guests! My eyes flew open. If there were guests visiting the Grand Duchy today, it could only be my family. I turned my head to check the clock.

10:40 AM.

They arrived incredibly early. I didn’t expect to see them until the afternoon.

‘They must be so worried about me.’

Even though I’ve actually been living in the lap of luxury here at the Grand Duke’s castle.

A wave of guilt mixed with a swelling emotion in my chest. I desperately wanted to see my Father, Mother, and Cassian. Come to think of it, that brat Cassian said something strange when I left the mansion in the capital.

‘I won’t let those bastards touch you, Sister.’

I thought of the pendant I was keeping safely in the box the Grand Duke gave me. Cassian had acted quite unlike himself when he handed it to me, calling it a lucky charm.

‘I guess he really does worry about his big sister after all.’

That kid.

Feeling touched all over again, a warm smile spread across my face.

“Your father and mother arrived earlier than expected. Shall we go greet them?”

The Grand Duke spoke as he smoothly and naturally pulled me toward him. I was being led along reflexively when I suddenly stopped, realizing something strange.

‘Your father and mother?’ Wait, hold on a second.

“Are you calling them that already?”

“Then what else should I call them?”

Well, no, I mean, he’s right, but isn’t it a bit early? From my parents’ perspective.

‘The Grand Duke is a world-class scoundrel who kidnapped their precious daughter.’

Of course, that’s only from my parents’ point of view. Since I was kidnapped quite willingly, I didn’t really have a leg to stand on.

‘I’ll have to explain everything clearly to my parents.’

I let out a deep sigh and walked alongside the Grand Duke. I had a bad feeling about this, but I could only hope the meeting between the two families would go well.

To be honest, the members of the House of Count Lewis and Marina Martins were intimidated by the sheer magnificence of Castle Glenn.

The garden was so vast its scale couldn’t be measured; the towering fortress stood tall against silver-white cliffs; and ancient forests stretched out on either side as if shielding the castle. If the Imperial Palace emphasized splendor and luxury, Castle Glenn possessed an atmosphere that felt somehow overwhelming. It was the kind of place that made one’s back instinctively hunch.

However, Marina was the only one truly shrinking back. Vivian’s family members were keeping their backs straight out of a desperate necessity to remain dignified.

“T, The Grand Duke of Glenn has kidnapped Lady Vivian!”

Ever since they heard that unbelievable story from Vivian’s escort knight, the House of Count Lewis had felt like it was walking on thin ice.

As for Vivian, she was a precious daughter raised like a delicate flower, and she was Cassian’s only sister. There was no need for long explanations regarding how the Duke who kidnapped her appeared in the eyes of the Lewis family.

‘That damn thief. Does he think being a Grand Duke is everything?’

Each member of Vivian’s family was glaring with eyes full of fire, ready for a fight. Social status, the charges currently facing the House of Count Lewis, none of that mattered. Vivian was far too precious.

‘Lennox Glenn, I hope that bastard hasn’t done anything to Sister already.’

Cassian glared fiercely at the white fortress boasting its noble stature. The boy’s fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Cassian, who would turn seventeen after his birthday this year, was a boy who, though he wasn’t good at expressing it, dearly cherished his sister. Everyone in the Count’s household except Vivian knew that Cassian had a major sister complex. He was also the one most enraged by this kidnapping.

‘If anything happens to Sister, I’ll kill that guy and go to hell myself.’

And, fitting for his age, he had a spirited personality. To be honest, it was a bit much. He almost gave off the vibe of someone who believed a “Black Flame Dragon” resided in his left hand. Regardless, it was an undeniable fact that Cassian valued his sister deeply.

‘Lennox Glenn, I won’t forgive you.’

Cassian ground his teeth.

Meanwhile, that very Lennox Glenn was busy observing Vivian, completely unaware that his future brother-in-law’s rage was reaching a boiling point.

‘Cute.’

Vivian was fidgeting with her hands while in his arms. Originally, he intended to let her sit normally on the sofa, but the thought of letting her go felt lonely, so he selfishly sat her on his lap. Vivian resisted a few times but eventually gave up and settled down. “Resignation” was written all over her face. Lennox found even her grumpy expression adorable.

“Are you going to keep holding her like that even after the guests join us, Lennox?”

Isabelle glared at Lennox with a look that suggested her son was truly pathetic. Regardless, Lennox countered brazenly.

“Is there any reason I shouldn’t? They are Vivian’s family, after all.”

“Vivian looks uncomfortable. Is it enough that only you are happy?”

At Isabelle’s words, Vivian nodded her head vigorously. Lennox looked down at her with dissatisfaction and sighed.

“Do you hate being in my arms that much, Vivian?”

“Huh? It’s not that.”

Vivian started to answer but bit her lip. She seemed to think about something deeply for a moment, then put on what she thought was an angry face and shouted.

“I, I hate being in the Grand Duke’s arms!”

It was obvious she was lying. Lennox spoke while pretending to be hurt.

“It seems Vivian has already grown to dislike me.”

“Gasp! That’s not it.”

“But you said you hated it?”

“No, I mean I hate being held in a situation like this!”

Vivian looked like she was about to cry. Lennox decided to back off for now, fearing she actually would burst into tears if he teased her any further. He picked her up and sat her down in the seat next to him.

Isabelle and Lucas watched the scene with curiosity. It was surprising to see their always arbitrary son following someone else’s opinion so submissively.

‘I definitely need to make Vivian my daughter-in-law. This young lady is the only one who can tame Lennox. Don’t you think so?’

Isabelle asked Lucas with a glance. Lucas, who vaguely understood what she was thinking, nodded. They were a couple who had already reached a state of perfect telepathy.

“Master, Mistress. The guests from the House of Count Lewis have arrived.”

Walter, the manager of Castle Glenn, announced respectfully. The former Duke and Duchess nodded in unison.

“Please bring them in.”

“Yes.”

Not long after, Walter returned with the guests. The moment they stepped into the drawing room, Vivian jumped up from her seat. Her eyes welled with tears, and she soon ran over and threw herself into her parents’ arms.

“Uwaaah, Father! Mother!”

Rubbing her cheek against her parents’ cold coats, Vivian poured out a torrent of tears. Perhaps because she was crying so sorrowfully, Vivian’s family completely misunderstood the situation.

“Vivian.”

“Sister, could it be?”

Fire ignited in the eyes of the Count, the Countess, and their young son. They glared at Lennox as if he were the most villainous man on earth. Only then did Lennox and the former Duke and Duchess realize that things were taking a strange turn.

“Everyone, there seems to be a misunderstanding.”

Isabelle tried to speak quickly, but Cassian was faster, grabbing Lennox by the collar. The boy, who was tall for a seventeen-year-old, didn’t back down even in front of the famous Lennox Glenn, though there was still a noticeable difference between them.

Cassian snarled at Lennox.

“You bastard, how dare you do this to my sister!”

Everyone present was shocked by the boy’s insane ferocity. His opponent was none other than the current Grand Duke of Glenn. Yet, Cassian did not retreat. He acted as if he wouldn’t mind even if he had two lives to lose.

“Do you know how much my sister liked you? How dare you use those feelings and try to trample on them!”

“Young Count Lewis, it seems you are under a great misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding? Is that what a kidnapper has to say?”

Lennox could have easily brushed the boy’s hand away but stayed still. The former Duke and Duchess merely watched the situation with interest, while the Count, the Countess, and Marina stood frozen in shock.

“Cassian! Stop it!”

Vivian, unable to watch any longer, stepped in to block the two of them. Cassian was forced to let go of the collar, but he didn’t stop glaring at Lennox.

“Cassian, nothing like what you’re thinking happened! How can you be so rude to the Grand Duke!”

Vivian spoke urgently. Cassian looked at his sister with an incredulous face, then grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him.

“That guy didn’t do anything to you? Really? Nothing at all?”

“Uh.”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t that he hadn’t done anything at all, so Vivian could only blink, her mouth hanging open. Seeing that reaction, Cassian became even more certain.

The Duke definitely did something to my sister.

Just as the boy was about to charge at the Duke again, Vivian shouted in a panic.

“I, I like it!”

“What?”

“I like the Grand Duke, so, it’s okay! I like whatever the Grand Duke does to me!”

Vivian shook off her brother’s hand and ran to embrace her beloved. Looking at her, Lennox suppressed a laugh.

“Sister?”

On the other hand, Cassian, left standing alone, looked as if he had lost the entire world.

Cassian Lewis was born in April, when spring flowers were in full bloom.

Young Cassian followed his sister well, but as he grew older and became a boy, he began to pester her. It was all behavior rooted in affection, but Vivian, who had no way of knowing that, simply thought of Cassian as a spiteful younger brother.

Cassian, who was poor at sharing his true feelings, would occasionally toss a gift at Vivian saying, “I just picked this up on the way,” but that was hardly enough to clear up Vivian’s misunderstanding.

Still, siblings were siblings, and it was clear they both cherished each other. It was certainly like that.

And yet.

“Sister, are you serious?”

Cassian stared blankly at his sister, who was huddled in the Duke’s embrace. His one and only precious sister.

Cassian had liked his sister very much even before he could speak properly. With blonde hair that looked like it was dyed with strawberry juice and light green eyes as vivid as summer greenery, his round-faced sister was the cutest person in the world. Even the daughter of Marquis Enrique, rumored to be a beauty in social circles, wouldn’t be as cute as his sister.

‘Cassian, I don’t want to get married!’

Whenever his sister whined like that, Cassian felt inexplicably good. Just because he felt like he wouldn’t have to lose his sister to the bastards out there?

‘Because you’re peculiar, Sister.’

‘What? Is being peculiar a bad thing?’

He was speaking literally, but seeing his sister get defensive and snap back was both funny and cute. Being peculiar wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. In Cassian’s eyes, or rather, objectively speaking, Vivian was far too innocent. As her brother, he couldn’t help but worry.

‘She might get fooled by some con artist. I have to protect her.’

That was why Cassian honed his swordsmanship. Since the family wasn’t wealthy and his parents didn’t have political savvy, the only way to revive the House of Count Lewis was for him, the heir, to achieve merit in war.

‘I have no intention of dying in war. That would be unfilial to my parents and leave my sister all alone.’

Cassian was a talented swordsman and possessed strong physical abilities. Therefore, he was confident. Confident that he would one day go to war, achieve merit, revive the family, and make his sister the most noble lady in the world.

‘I thought so, but.’

Cassian glared murderously at the Grand Duke of Glenn.

That guy, whatever he did, had completely bewitched his sister. No, actually, he knew exactly why his sister had fallen for that man. His sister liked that bastard, that personality-disordered, battle-hungry madman.

The reason he had left his sister’s hobby alone was that she only liked the “shell” known as the Grand Duke of Glenn. With his polished appearance, that devilish bastard was the one who stole the souls of noble ladies, including his sister.

‘But he played the innocent act in front of my sister, didn’t he?’

Nothing else could explain his sister’s current state. Cassian recalled the uproar that happened at dawn a few days ago. It was ridiculous even thinking about it again. To think the cold Lennox Glenn would act sweetly toward his sister.

‘I thought he only did that because he had some ulterior motive.’

He didn’t worry too much because he expected his father to make a move to protect her. And as expected, his sister was sent down to the estate under the pretext of recuperation, but.

‘That guy followed her.’

That was unexpected. Therefore, based on the evidence, though it was a very unpleasant assumption, Lennox Glenn liked his sister. It seemed so.

‘Damn it.’

He didn’t know how sincere that guy was, but the mere thought of him lusting after his sister made his blood boil. He wanted to throw down his glove and challenge him to a duel right then and there, but he knew his own abilities were far lacking compared to that monster.

So, his heart was just burning up inside. Especially since his sister was defending him without even knowing that madman’s true nature.

‘Do you even know what kind of human that guy is? You naive sister.’

And then, that very sister, looking at Cassian with rabbit-like eyes, spoke.

“I, I really like the Grand Duke. So it’s okay, Cassian.”

“What do you mean it’s okay?!”

When Cassian yelled, Vivian flinched and then answered hesitantly.

“I asked the Grand Duke to kidnap me.”

“What?”

“Didn’t Emma and the knight tell you this? I was kidnapped voluntarily.”

That statement left not only Cassian but also the Count, the Countess, and Marina standing there with their mouths agape.

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