Your Grace, It Was a Mistake! - Chapter 22

“Dear, come here. Oh my, how lovely. Red truly suits you well.”

I trotted over and took the Former Grand Duchess’s hand. She chuckled softly, stroking my hair and cheeks affectionately.

“Honestly, no matter how much I think about it, you’re far too good for my son.”

“Mother, is that something you should be saying as my parent?”

The Grand Duke shot back sharply. The Former Grand Duchess simply snorted and pulled me down to sit firmly right next to her.

“Well, you are quite the terrifying son, aren’t you?”

“I don’t think you’re one to talk, Mother.”

“Me? Where else could you find a noblewoman as elegant as I am?”

“Don’t you mean ‘arrogant’?”

“This brat. There’s nothing you won’t say to your mother.”

The Grand Duke was on my left, and the Former Grand Duchess was on my right. Caught between the two of them as they growled at each other, I began to break out in a cold sweat. It was an unexpected person who saved me from my helplessness.

“Ah?”

Pop! My body was suddenly hoisted up from the chair. Looking back, I saw the Former Grand Duke holding me by the armpits. He lifted me as light as a feather and moved me to the seat next to him. Thus, the seating order changed: the Grand Duke, the Former Grand Duchess, me, and then the Former Grand Duke.

I was bewildered.

‘Is, is it really okay to just sit wherever like this?’

A formal banquet wasn’t supposed to be like this, was it?

‘This family is truly’

I wasn’t the only one stunned; my family, Marina, and even the vassals of the Grand Ducal House were staring blankly. It meant this wasn’t a familiar sight for the vassals either. My head felt dizzy.

‘How exactly do the Former Grand Ducal couple think of me?’

I felt like I had become a sort of pet rabbit, but that must just be my imagination! Yes, definitely!

“Father, why are you taking my fiancée? Vivian’s place is next to me.”

Then, the Grand Duke’s fierce voice flew over. Stunned, I stole a glance at him. Wow, his eyes were literally on fire. I could almost hear the whoosh sound effects.

However, the Former Grand Duke was just as formidable.

“If she sits there, Vivian looks like she’ll get indigestion. Moderate yourself, Lennox.”

“Mother started it.”

“As the son, you should yield.”

” ”

The Grand Duke bit his lip with a look of injustice, while the Former Grand Duchess sipped her wine gracefully with a sly smirk. I just sat there timidly, feeling like a shrimp caught between two whales.

Despite the chaotic atmosphere, the banquet began. After exchanging a few words with my parents, the Former Grand Ducal couple suddenly started feeding me intensely.

“Here, try some of this.”

“It’s good with this raspberry sauce.”

“Oh, shall I cut it for you?”

“No, I can cut it”

My opinion was simply ignored. The Former Grand Ducal couple cut the food into tiny pieces and brought it right to my mouth. They were even competing with each other.

“The roasted pheasant is savory and delicious, Vivian.”

“Instead of that, this special sausage”

“I didn’t really like that one, though?”

“Is your sense of taste broken?”

I blinked back tears as I frantically accepted the food. Two people with power rivaling the Emperor were personally feeding me.

‘It’s, it’s so overwhelming’

I felt like I was definitely going to get indigestion, so I grabbed the nearest drink and gulped it down.

Gulp.

Unfortunately, it was alcohol.

“Ack! Cough, cough! Hack!”

“Oh my! Vivian! Are you alright?!”

I coughed uncontrollably as the Former Grand Duchess patted my back vigorously. The Former Grand Duke stood by, restless.

“Should, shouldn’t we call a doctor?”

“She just swallowed the wrong way. Don’t be so dramatic.”

After drinking the herbal tea the Former Grand Duchess gave me, I felt a little better. I weakly stroked my still-scratchy throat.

‘Ugh, that was some incredibly strong liquor.’

I let out a sigh and scanned the banquet hall. Everyone was looking our way with worried faces. The Grand Duke, in particular, had an expression that was hard to describe.

‘Grand Duke’

As I gazed longingly at him, looking like a puppy who had lost its owner, my vision started to blur. My mind felt hazy.

‘Oh no, I’m not drunk, am I?’

I didn’t even know my own tolerance. I had never really drank before. Usually, a single sip of champagne was my limit. But that drink I just downed, what on earth was it? I thought it came straight from hell.

‘Ah, why is this happening? The world is spinning.’

Oh, I’m dizzy. Grand Duke, I need the Grand Duke.

My vision wavered. Staggering to my feet, I instinctively sought him out.

Vivian, who had risen unsteadily from her seat, approached Lennox in a precarious state. Her pale green eyes, slightly out of focus, reflected Lennox’s flustered face as they curved into a soft crescent.

Lennox stiffened. He had never seen Vivian make such an expression, even when she had been under the enchantment. He felt a violent urge to quickly snatch her away and hide her. He didn’t want anyone else to see that face.

One that was somehow sorrowful yet seductive.

‘Dammit.’

Lennox clenched his fists.

“Grand Dukeee”

Vivian slumped into his arms. He could smell a faint floral scent mixed with the sharp aroma of high-proof vodka. He wondered what she had drank.

“Grand Duke, I like you so much.”

“Right, I like you too. No, I love you.”

“Hehe. You’re going to marry me, right?”

“Of course I am.”

Seeing her speak informally, it was clear she was truly drunk. It was cute, but Lennox pressed his throbbing temples, wondering what to do.

“Grand Duke, kiss me.”

“No.”

He had answered reflexively, but Vivian seemed to have misunderstood, as she suddenly looked like she was about to cry. A panicked Lennox added hurriedly:

“Not right now. I’ll do it later.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“I’m not talking about a peck. Give me a real kiss.”

Lennox was momentarily speechless. Why did this lady become so bold when she lost her senses?

‘She really drives me crazy in so many ways.’

Crazily cute, lovely, and she completely stole his soul. Lennox let out a deep sigh and said:

“Vivian, you’re drunk. Let’s go to sleep, okay?”

“Whuuut? Nooo! I’m not drunk!”

At the mention of being drunk, she suddenly flared up and started making a scene. Lennox broke into a sweat trying to hold her so she wouldn’t get hurt.

“Vivian, calm”

“Lennox Glenn! You dummy, you idiot!”

This drunkard, honestly.

“Vivian. If you don’t stay still, I’m going to keep calling you ‘rabbit’ from now on.”

“!”

At that, Vivian froze instantly. It seemed she really disliked being called a rabbit, even though she was one.

‘I’m curious.’

Lennox decided to test it out once.

“Rabbit.”

“I’m not a rabbit!”

“Then Vivian.”

“Yes.”

When he corrected it to ‘Vivian,’ she nodded immediately. Her bright smile seemed to be praising him. Lennox looked at Vivian in detail, as if appreciating a work of art.

The strawberry-blonde hair covering her rounded forehead, her flushed cheeks, her dreamy, hazy eyes, and her slightly parted pink lips.

‘Really is dangerous, this lady.’

She was the cutest and most dangerous creature in the world. Lennox sincerely thought that if he had to hold back much longer, he might actually reach enlightenment from the sheer patience required.

After confirming that Vivian was sound asleep, the Viscountess of Lewis, Annetta, locked the door firmly and stepped out. The room was designed so that the door couldn’t be opened from the outside. It would be a different story if someone had a key.

But the only person with a master key to every room would be the Former Grand Duchess, and Annetta believed she would keep a tight leash on her son. Surely, she wouldn’t just hand out the master key carelessly.

‘And Vivian is fast asleep, so she won’t be coming out in the middle of the night either’

So, there was no need to worry about “things” happening between a man and a woman. Annetta let out a sigh and left the area.

It was exactly four hours later when Vivian woke up.

After taking the drunk Vivian to her room with the Viscountess, Lennox didn’t go back down to the banquet hall but headed to his own room.

‘I need some rest.’

He wasn’t particularly tired, but his mental fatigue had built up. He had always disliked crowded places like banquets or parties anyway.

‘I should take a bath and lie down.’

He desperately needed the comfortable rest that a deep sleep provides. So, as soon as he entered his room, he ordered the servants to prepare bath water and light incense candles that were good for sleeping.

Having completed all preparations for a deep slumber, Lennox lay down and fell asleep immediately. However, not long after falling asleep, Lennox felt a strange presence and jerked awake.

“?”

The first thing that entered his vision was fluffy blonde hair. Because the unique pinkish hue was vivid even in the darkness of the night, Lennox knew immediately who the uninvited guest was that had dared to disturb his sweet sleep.

‘Vivian.’

Why are you here?

As he shifted in bewilderment, Vivian lifted her head, rested her cheek on his chest, and stared at him. She was lying on top of him. Her cheeks were still flushed, and her eyes were like transparent jewels. But her gaze was somewhat vacant.

” ”

The moment their eyes met, Lennox realized: Vivian was still drunk.

‘I’m going crazy.’

Lennox was utterly flustered, as he never expected she would come all the way here while drunk. He carefully wrapped his arms around Vivian and sat up. Vivian was wearing a lace-trimmed nightgown, and the ribbon fastening the front looked dangerously close to coming undone.

Lennox tried his best not to look there as he tied the ribbon properly. He hesitated before asking:

“Vivian. What are you doing here?”

“Grand Duke, I missed you, so I came.”

” ”

In that moment, Lennox clenched his fists because Vivian was just too cute. He wanted to pull her close and kiss her passionately, but he barely managed to hold back.

‘Let’s endure.’

Recalling that thought ten times, Lennox smiled at Vivian and said:

“I’m grateful you came because you missed me, but Vivian should sleep in her own room.”

As he said that, Lennox glanced toward the door.

‘Come to think of it, did I dismiss the guards because they were annoying?’

He didn’t realize that would lead to this situation.

“Grand Duke.”

At the sound of Vivian’s voice, Lennox looked at her again. For some reason, she had a quite serious expression.

“Grand Duke, why do you like me?”

“Huh?”

It was a question he hadn’t expected. Lennox blinked in confusion and answered somewhat vaguely:

“Why do I like you, because, I just do?”

” ”

Did there have to be a reason for liking someone? He still didn’t know why she made his heart race like this.

‘It’s not like I can ask my heart.’

Because his heart went to her, because she made it flutter. Weren’t those reasons enough? However, Vivian seemed to think otherwise. She glared at him and muttered discontentedly:

“Emma said I shouldn’t trust you one hundred percent”

‘Shouldn’t trust me one hundred percent? Who is Emma?’

Come to think of it, he seemed to have heard that name before. When he investigated Vivian’s surroundings previously, Lennox tried to recall his hazy memory.

“But still” Vivian continued to mutter. “I like the Grand Duke so much.”

When Vivian suddenly wrapped her arms around Lennox’s neck, her sweet scent wafted over him. In that moment, Lennox froze stiff. Regardless, Vivian rubbed her face against Lennox’s cheek and slowly moved her head.

Soon, her lips gently touched his. Lennox finally snapped out of it and gasped for air.

“Vi!”

When he tried to push her away, Vivian cupped both of his cheeks with her hands and pressed her lips against his. He felt the clear, warm, and soft sensation. Lennox felt the back of his neck grow hot.

‘She hasn’t even learned how to do this’

Because Vivian was kissing him so naturally, Lennox felt like his heart was going to go crazy. In a state where his reason was close to snapping, he pulled up superhuman self-control, grabbed Vivian’s shoulders, and carefully pulled her away.

“?”

Vivian looked at him with wide eyes. When she made a hurt expression, Lennox’s heart momentarily sank. In a voice that sounded like she was about to cry, Vivian asked:

“Grand Duke. Do you hate it?”

“No, it’s not that I hate it”

Lennox hurriedly denied it and wrapped Vivian in the blanket like an omelet, holding her close. He answered like a sigh:

“It’s because if we kiss any more, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“What you’ll do”

Vivian was silent for a while. As Lennox looked down at her in wonder, Vivian suddenly looked up and asked:

“That ‘thing’ you’ll do, will you do it for me after we’re engaged?”

” ”

What kind of answer was this lady expecting with such a question?

‘I think I know what the right answer is’

To him, there was only one right answer.

“No. I won’t.”

At that, Vivian’s light green eyes widened.

“I’ll do it after we’re married.”

” ”

Vivian bit her lower lip and suddenly burst out in anger.

“How can I wait until then!”

She struck Lennox’s chest with her small fist. It was an attack that still felt like a rabbit swinging its front paws. Embracing the huffing Vivian, Lennox calmed her down.

“Vivian, you’re still drunk. Let’s go to sleep now.”

“No. I’m going to sleep here.”

“If you sleep here, the Viscountess will scold you.”

Lennox tried his best to persuade her.

“Vivian, let’s go sleep in your room. Okay?”

But Vivian was unyielding.

“No. I want to sleep here.”

“Vivian, please”

Glaring at the pleading Lennox, Vivian suddenly turned her head and flopped onto the bed. Since she was rolled up in the blanket, she looked like a caterpillar falling over. It was both funny and absurd that she continued to be so stubborn, so Lennox let out a hollow laugh.

When their eyes met in the darkness, she smiled softly and whispered.

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