Your Grace, It Was a Mistake! - Chapter 21

Following that, the former Duke and Duchess and the Count and Countess discussed preparations for their children’s engagement. Furthermore, talk of marriage was seriously exchanged.

The Count and Countess seemed to decide that marrying the Grand Duke was the best course of action to protect the honor of their kidnapped daughter, and the former Duke and Duchess were welcoming from the start. A lady whom Lennox cherished so dearly! She was like a miracle.

Perhaps Isabelle and Lucas’s excitement was too obvious? The Count and Countess got the impression that the two were anxious to firmly capture Vivian into their family.

‘Our daughter… will she be okay in this household?’

It looked like their rabbit-like daughter was being snatched away by a family of wolves, leaving the Count and Countess somewhat uneasy.

“Shall we head up then? You must be tired, so I hope you go to your rooms and get some good rest.”

As the conversation began to lull, Isabelle stood up first and broke the ice. The Count, Countess, and the Young Lord decided to stay at the Grand Duchy until the engagement ceremony. It was agreed that the engagement would be held at the Grand Duke’s castle, and the wedding would be held at the Imperial Palace in the capital.

“Then we shall be in your care for a while.”

“Think nothing of it; we’re in-laws. Please make yourselves at home.”

“Thank you, Great Duchess.”

The atmosphere was reasonably warm, but the looks the Count and Countess gave Lennox were not particularly favorable. Cassian was even worse. The boy was glaring at Lennox as if looking at a mortal enemy.

Watching this scene, Isabelle thought to herself.

‘Our son is going to have a tough time with his in-laws.’

“We will hold a banquet this evening. Is there any particular food you’d like? If you have allergies or foods you avoid, please let us know in advance.”

The Count and Countess told Isabelle they weren’t particularly picky. Cassian muttered something about hating fishy-smelling fish, but it was doubtful whether that was properly conveyed.

“Then we shall see you at the banquet.”

“Yes, thank you for your hospitality.”

The guests went up to their respective rooms, and Lennox picked Vivian up in his arms to head up the stairs. A despondent Vivian spoke gloomily.

“Grand Duke, I have legs too.”

“This castle has many stairs. Your breath will quicken and your legs will ache trying to climb them.”

“People usually call that exercise.”

“Exercise?” Lennox smirked. “We can do exercise in bed, right?”

At his sly and brazen remark, Vivian lost her words for a moment. Was he actually a player?

“Grand Duke, you’re lying about never having a girlfriend before, aren’t you?”

“I’ve had one. Since I’m dating Vivian now.”

“I mean before you dated me! You must have had a girlfriend!”

Lennox let out a scoffing laugh as if finding it absurd.

“Didn’t you say you followed me for seven years? Do you really not know me that well?”

“Uh… well…”

Vivian’s mouth flickered as if she were momentarily speechless. Seeing her light green eyes grow vacant and deep, it seemed she was retracing the past. By the time Lennox reached the top of the stairs, Vivian muttered timidly.

“It seems… you really didn’t have one.”

“Right?” Lennox smiled brightly. “For me, there’s only Vivian.”

Vivian’s face flushed bright red. She blinked as if embarrassed and quickly turned her head away. Lennox found her shy reaction incredibly cute.

It was just as the two reached the room. Someone was standing in front of the door. Recognizing who it was instantly, Vivian’s eyes widened.

“Mother?”

At her daughter’s voice, Anetta, the Countess of Lewis, turned her head. She wore a stern expression. Lennox bowed slightly toward Anetta.

“Mother-in-law.”

“…”

The Countess did not seem to like that title very much. Lennox smiled awkwardly, thinking it couldn’t be helped. Anetta tapped her palm with her fan—thwack!—and spoke.

“It’s not even the wedding yet; are you two sharing a room?”

It was a reprimand, not a question. Just as Vivian was about to open her mouth to speak, Lennox set her down and said, “I swear on my life, I will protect Vivian. I intend to do so until the moment we marry.”

At his quite heavy tone, the Countess wore a slightly surprised expression. She tapped her fan against her palm a couple of times and spoke again.

“Are you truly sincere about my daughter?”

“I am sincere.”

The Countess narrowed her eyes and scrutinized Lennox, as if trying to gauge his true intentions. And Lennox faced her directly without wavering. After a moment, the Countess spoke.

“…I see. I shall believe those words.”

Lennox’s relief lasted only a moment before the Countess grabbed Vivian’s arm and pulled her away.

“But sharing a room is not allowed. If you are truly sincere about Vivian, you should be able to endure it until the wedding.”

Lennox replied with a mock-serious face.

“Of course, Mother-in-law.”

“…Then I shall take Vivian with me. We shall see you at the banquet.”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

Lennox smiled broadly. Seeing him so desperate to look good in her eyes, Anetta was momentarily speechless.

‘He really does seem to like our Vivian, but…’

Anetta glanced at Lennox and was about to leave with Vivian when Vivian suddenly shook off her hand. Then, didn’t she run to the Grand Duke and throw her arms around him?

It was truly absurd. Anetta’s mouth hung open.

‘They say there’s no use raising a daughter.’

Whether her mother was bewildered or not, Vivian hugged Lennox tightly around the waist, sounding like she was about to cry. It was as if she didn’t want to be away from him for even a second.

“Sob… Grand Duke…”

Vivian looked up at Lennox earnestly with her moist, light green eyes.

“Ah.”

Lennox groaned. He felt like he would go crazy wanting to hug her and kiss her right this second. However, he had to restrain himself in front of the Countess.

‘I’m going to lose it.’

He let out a sigh and gave Vivian a firm hug. When he took her by the shoulders and pulled her away, Vivian made an incredibly sad face.

‘Do you like me that much?’

Lennox wanted to ask that. Why did she only do such cute things? She was so lovely he could hardly stand it. Lennox leaned down and whispered into Vivian’s ear.

“I love you, Vivian.”

“!”

Vivian’s face turned red in an instant. Her mouth flickered with an expression that seemed moved yet shy, and then—mwah! She quickly stood on her tiptoes and gave Lennox a surprise kiss on the lips.

They collided so hard her lips felt tingly, but Lennox’s mood soared. He laughed helplessly. Her cute antics were increasing by the day. He looked at Vivian lovingly and said, “Rest well, and I’ll see you at the banquet. My cute Vivian.”

He kissed her lightly on the cheek. The Countess looked displeased but didn’t make any comments. Lennox returned her daughter to her.

Even as she was dragged away by the Countess’s hand, Vivian kept looking back at Lennox. Vivian, with tears welling in her eyes, was so cute that Lennox broke a wall a hundred times in his mind.

He thought to himself, burying his face in his palms.

‘Ha… I want to get married quickly.’

If he could marry Vivian right now, he would have no further wishes. Lennox sighed over and over, his heart aching with longing.

I waited anxiously for the banquet to start. My parents and Cassian seemed displeased by this. But there was nothing I could do. I missed the Grand Duke so, so much I felt like I would die!

‘Haa, is this what they call lovesickness?’

I sprawled on the sofa and kicked my feet. My heart kept aching with a sharp pain. The Grand Duke’s voice echoed in my head, and when I closed my eyes, his face appeared.

‘I think I’m going crazy because I miss the Grand Duke so much.’

“Sister. What exactly do you like about that guy? He’s a personality-disordered wreck.”

Just then, Cassian spoke in a sharp tone. I glared at my brother. Ignorant fool! I feel sorry for you, not knowing the Grand Duke’s coolness!

“Our Grand Duke is so cool. He’s the coolest person in the Empire—no, in the world!”

“…Let’s just stop talking.”

Cassian sighed as if giving up. I stared at my brother grumpily and then pretended to sleep with my eyes closed. The family and Marina had been prying into things since earlier, which was annoying.

“Vivian, are you sleeping?”

“I think she’s pretending.”

Marina poked my cheek from the side, but I continued to feign ignorance. As I kept my eyes closed like that.

“Ugh?”

I actually fell asleep and then woke up.

“Vivian, are you awake? You need to prepare for the banquet now.”

Mother was next to me, changing into elegant clothes.

‘Come to think of it, this was my parents’ room.’

Cassian and Marina seemed to have returned to their own rooms as they were nowhere to be seen.

‘Ah, they should have woken me up!’

I grumbled and headed to the room where I would be staying. When I entered, the maids were already waiting.

“There was an order from His Grace the Grand Duke to treat you with the utmost care.”

The maid who looked the oldest said with a somehow pleased smile. Looking closely, the other maids also had warm expressions on their faces.

Why was that? I didn’t know. I smiled, feeling somewhat embarrassed, and said, “Then I’ll be in your care.”

And so, I cast off all the dress and jewelry I was wearing, changed into new ones, and had my hair braided up again. I decorated my hair with a red ribbon densely set with large rubies and wore ruby earrings and a necklace to match.

The white dress was a design that revealed the shoulders. I wrapped a red ribbon around my waist as a belt, which felt like a perfect accent. It was a moderately luxurious and elegant outfit, perfectly suited for an evening banquet.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes.”

I answered in a small voice, my cheeks flushing. The “me” in the mirror had light green eyes shining vibrantly.

‘I… think I’ve been looking a bit pretty lately.’

If I said this out loud, Marina would be horrified and ask if I’d gone mad.

After finishing my preparations, I went down to the banquet hall with my family. The hall where the banquet was held was incredibly vast and luxurious. And it had a grand atmosphere.

Feeling overwhelmed once again, I stepped forward cautiously when I saw the Grand Duke approaching this way. At that moment, I unintentionally hopped in place and then hurriedly glanced around.

‘Ah, surely no one saw that?’

“You look like you’re about to fly away because you’re so happy, Vivian.”

Darn it. Marina must have seen. My face turned as red as a carrot, and I bowed my head deeply.

‘How embarrassing!’

“Why are you acting like that, Vivian?”

The Grand Duke, who had arrived in front of me before I knew it, asked in a tone mixed with laughter. I gripped his sleeve tightly, crept closer, and leaned into him.

Grand Duke, I missed you so much. I wanted to say that, but glancing around, everyone was stealing peeks at us. Ugh.

“That dress suits you well too, Vivian.”

The Grand Duke said, gently stroking my cheek. When I peeked up at him, he faltered for a moment and then let out a deep sigh.

Huh?

“Ha, I’m going crazy.”

He hugged me tightly and muttered.

“You’re too cute, Vivian. My heart won’t survive because of you. I want to kidnap you just like this and hide you somewhere no one knows.”

“…”

Hearing that, I was so happy I couldn’t stop grinning. The fact that the Grand Duke liked me touched my heart deeply, and I was so, so happy.

“Ah, don’t block the path; move, Sister.”

Just then, I heard a voice that shattered my happiness. It was Cassian. I frowned deeply and looked at my brother. Insolent brat!

“Show some respect to the Grand Duke, Cassian.”

I said with a mock-stern voice. But Cassian didn’t even pretend to listen and just glared at the Grand Duke.

“Cassian, you—”

“It’s okay, Vivi.”

I was about to say another word to Cassian, but the Grand Duke stopped me. He even called me by a sweet nickname. I threw myself into the Grand Duke’s arms. Then, the Grand Duke laughed happily and hugged me back.

“Grand Duke!”

“Yes, Vivian.”

“The nickname.”

“Vivi.”

The Grand Duke’s voice calling my nickname sounded so good. I grinned and rubbed my cheek against his sleeve. Grand Duke, I like you so much.

“I’m so happy.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I like anything you do, Grand Duke.”

I really do. The Grand Duke stared at me with a strange expression as I looked up at him while blinking. What was he thinking?

My wonder lasted only a moment before the Grand Duke flashed a bright smile. The strange look had vanished as if it had never been there.

‘What was that?’

“It’s dangerous to trust people so readily, Vivian. Though, of course, you can trust me.”

The Grand Duke’s blue eyes sparkled clearly. I nodded with a face full of trust. That’s right; who else would I trust if not the Grand Duke?

The Grand Duke let out a chuckle and took my hand, leading me. I felt a stinging sensation on the back of my head for some reason, but I didn’t care. Even if my parents and Cassian don’t like the Grand Duke, I like him so much.

‘I can’t live without the Grand Duke anymore. If he’s not by my side, I might just drop dead from sadness.’

And as I held the Grand Duke’s hand and reached the table where the banquet was being set, the Great Duchess reached out her arms toward me and spoke.

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