Your Grace, It Was a Mistake! - Chapter 23

“Grand Duke, sing me a lullaby.”

Her voice was quite sweet.

“I really love your voice, Grand Duke.”

“I think I like your voice more.”

Lennox gazed at Vivian for a moment, let out a sigh as if he had no choice, and then conceded.

“Alright, I will.”

He lay down beside Vivian, offering his arm as a pillow. Gently patting her body beneath the blanket, he began to sing a lullaby.

“Sleep well, my lovely child, the moon will watch over you. With the songs the stars sing for you.”

It was the same song from before. Vivian smiled ecstatically and drifted off to sleep, her eyes sliding shut. Lennox found himself smiling along with her, thinking with a sense of helplessness.

‘Fine, if it makes you happy. I’ll just take the scolding later.’

And so, the night deepened. There was about one week left until the engagement ceremony.

Preparations for the engagement moved along busily. My only task was to pick out two or three dresses for the ceremony and try them on to see if they fit.

“My Lady, your skin is so translucent that every color suits you.”

“I agree entirely.”

“But since your hair color is quite striking, perhaps the hair ornaments should be kept simple?”

“For our Lady Vivian, red jewels or pearls suit her best. After that, green peridot or emeralds are quite nice.”

The one who offered that last chic opinion was Emma. Emma, who had arrived later than the rest of the family due to the carriage ride, was busy asserting her dominance as my exclusive maid.

“Then, I’ll trust the eye of Miss Emma, who has served the Lady for a long time.”

“Exactly. Emma’s eyes must be the most accurate since she’s been with the Lady longer than us.”

The maids of the Grand Duchy all seemed to have pleasant personalities; they didn’t take offense at Emma’s haughty attitude. Instead, they puffed her up as a Lady Vivian Specialist, which made Emma look very proud.

“By the way, doesn’t His Grace the Grand Duke seem like a different person lately?”

“Truly! I almost fainted from shock.”

“He seems completely head over heels for Lady Vivian.”

The maids chatted idly while brushing my hair. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, feeling like I’d been looking a bit prettier lately, and listened intently to their stories. The Grand Duke’s image among the vassals.

‘I’m curious.’

My ears perked up instinctively.

“Originally, His Grace was really, really.”

“He was scary.”

“Mmm, yes.”

The Grand Duke is scary? From what angle? I tilted my head, unable to understand.

‘He has a cold side, sure, but scary? I don’t think so.’

“He used to exude such a chill that even in midsummer, it felt like winter just being near him.”

“But these days, he’s smiling all the time.”

“It’s all because he’s thinking of Lady Vivian.”

“As expected!”

Suddenly, everyone’s eyes turned toward me. I flinched reflexively and looked around at the maids. For some reason, they were nodding with determined expressions, their eyes sparkling as they spoke to me.

“My Lady, you must marry His Grace.”

“We will treat you really, really well.”

“We will serve the future Grand Duchess with all our hearts! Just leave it to us!”

The desperate look in their eyes was a bit overwhelming. Why were they suddenly like this? Just as I was about to look away and speak, there was a knock.

A sound came from outside the door.

“Vivian? May I come in?”

The Grand Duke!

“W, Wait a moment!”

With the help of the maids, I scrambled to change clothes. It was a modest pink one piece dress. My hair was braided on the sides and tied into a half updo, and once I put on sparkling diamond earrings, I was ready.

“You may come in now!”

No sooner had I shouted while standing demurely than the door swung wide open and the Grand Duke strode inside. Today, as always, I marveled at the length of his legs. He stopped in front of me and gazed at me intently. His gaze, scanning me from head to toe, didn’t feel unpleasant; rather, it felt ticklish.

“Vivian.”

Calling my name as if letting out a sigh, the Grand Duke placed both hands on my shoulders and hung his head as if in deep agony.

‘Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?’

I grew restless at his strange reaction. My thoughts spiraled wildly. Could it be that he thinks our engagement is impossible after all?

‘Is he going to say we should act like it never happened!’

Was that it? I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying and looked up at him. Finally, he lifted his head. But his expression.

‘That expression, how should I even.’

How should I describe it?

“You’re so cute I’m going crazy.”

“Pardon?”

“Why do you keep getting prettier every day?”

“U, Um, Grand Duke?”

I poked him, glancing at the maids who were watching the scene with great interest. However, the Grand Duke didn’t seem to care about their gaze in the slightest. He hugged me so tightly I could barely breathe and gave me a light peck on the cheek.

“Haaa, Vivian. I was planning to go boating today, but.”

“Boating?”

“I just want to hold you like this and roll around on the bed.”

“No, that.”

“Of course, I should restrain myself until the wedding.”

The Grand Duke looked down at me, his arms wrapped around me, licking his lips as if he were disappointed. It was the gaze of a predator wanting to devour its prey, and my shoulders shook instinctively.

“Why are you trembling like a rabbit?”

“Because you keep looking at me like that.”

“What can I do when looking at you makes me want to eat you up?”

“Am I food?!”

“In a sense?”

What on earth does that sense mean! And the maids are watching! Please let me go! I protested, pushing against the Grand Duke’s chest.

But then.

‘T, The texture is strange!’

Poke.

It was so fascinating that I found myself pushing against it again without realizing.

Poke. Pooooooke.

“Vivian?”

“Gasp.”

Snapping back to my senses at the sound of his voice, I froze in shock.

‘W, What did I just do?’

Poking the Grand Duke’s chest, like that, over and over.

I felt like I had done something incredibly perverted. No, I was a pervert.

Aaaaah!

‘I want to hide anywhere, anywhere at all!’

I struggled wildly in his arms. But rather than letting me go, the Grand Duke only hugged me tighter. As I thought, he enjoyed teasing me!

“Vivian, what are you so embarrassed about? Were my chest muscles that fascinating?”

“Aaaah! No!”

“What do you mean no, you kept poking them.”

“No! Be quiet!”

I hurried to cover his mouth with my hand. I felt like I was going to die of embarrassment. Grand Duke, why do you have such a terrifying mouth!

With his mouth covered by my hand, his eyes widened for a moment, and then he smiled mischievously. I felt a sense of deja vu from that smile.

‘Didn’t this happen before?’

True to my suspicion, he did it again.

“Hiek!”

The Grand Duke licked my palm as if to show off. I heard the maids beside us whispering, “Oh my, oh my.” Emma looked as if she had just chewed on a rotten fish.

I slumped my body, half giving up. Is this how a herbivore feels when its neck is caught in a predator’s fangs?

“Vivian, are you mad?”

“I’m sorry for teasing you. I won’t do it again, though I can’t guarantee that.”

I glared at him.

“You’re so lovely, Vivian, it’s hard to control myself. My cute Vivian.”

“Even now, you look like a rabbit with drooping ears.”

“Grand Duke, did you know?”

I spoke gloomily.

“When a female rabbit fights, she can punch a male in the face up to five times per second.”

I wondered if my trivia knowledge would finally shine. But his response was calm.

“Hmm, that’s impressive.”

Why is there no damage? Why? My hands trembled with frustration.

The Grand Duke said playfully, “But I’m not a rabbit.”

“I am.”

He looked me straight in the eye and slowly leaned down.

He pressed his lips against my neck and squeezed gently. In that state, the sensation of his lips moving gave me goosebumps.

“I’m the wolf that’s going to eat you.”

“Huu.”

A groan escaped my lips involuntarily. For some reason, a chill ran down my spine, I felt a surge of tension, and my heart hammered.

‘Why am I like this?’

Confused by these feelings and on the verge of tears, the Grand Duke bit my neck lightly before letting go. At that moment, a tingling sensation swept over me like a shiver. I flinched and squeezed my eyes shut.

The Grand Duke slowly loosened his arms around me. When I peeked my eyes open, he was looking at me with a soft smile.

“Shall we go then?”

“Pardon?”

“Just the two of us, to go boating.”

He smiled brightly and picked me up. Ignoring my claim that I could walk on my own, he strode out of the room while carrying me. I think I heard the cheers of the maids behind us.

A deep blue lake stretched out vastly against a backdrop of green forest.

“Wow!”

I let out an exclamation and ran toward the lakeshore. I had only seen a lake this large in encyclopedia illustrations; it was my first time seeing one in real life.

‘To think this lake and that forest all belong to the Grand Duke of Glenn. Incredible!’

As expected of a high noble, the scale of their property was on a different level.

“Oops.”

“Vivian!”

The Grand Duke caught me firmly just as I was about to trip. I looked back at him, my eyes wide.

“Grand Duke, when did you get beside me?”

I was sure I had run out first. Could it be he’s using the Art of Space Compression!

‘My Grand Duke even uses Space Compression!’

“As I thought, I should always carry Vivian in my arms.”

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous to use Space Compression while holding me?!”

“Space Compression?”

“Ah!”

Because the Grand Duke suddenly picked me up, I missed the timing to reply. However, as if reading my thoughts, he explained kindly.

“It’s not Space Compression. When one reaches the level of a Master, mana reinforces the body, allowing one to run much faster than an ordinary person.”

“Ah, I see!”

Come to think of it, I believe I heard something similar from Cassian. I said without thinking, “Cassian said that someone at your level, Grand Duke, is no different from a monster.”

At that, the Grand Duke flinched, stopped, and looked down at me. I felt my heart tighten under his steady gaze. Why is he staring so intently?

“Vivian also.”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing.”

He suddenly smiled and began walking forward again. I felt a bit unsettled.

‘What was he going to say before stopping?’

I thought hard about what could follow Vivian also, but nothing came to mind.

‘Ugh, I’m curious! It’s bothering me!’

Grand Duke, that nuance was very strange! After agonizing over it, I decided to throw a straight ball.

“Um, Grand Duke.”

“Yes, Vivian.”

“What were you going to say just now?”

“Ah, I see a rowboat over there.”

My mouth fell open in disbelief. Grand Duke, did you just change the subject?

‘No, what on earth is it? What? What is it!’

I’m dying to know! My fatal curiosity was triggered once again. I felt like a narration was playing in my head in Marina’s voice: Humans are foolish and repeat the same mistakes twice.

But as a rule, between people, one shouldn’t leave discomfort behind!

“Grand Duke.”

I grabbed the Grand Duke’s collar with both hands and asked seriously.

“Please answer me. What were you going to say just now?”

The Grand Duke looked at me blankly and retorted, “What if I don’t?”

No, this man. I tightened my grip on his collar. I have spirit too, you know!

“I’ll, I’ll bite you!”

Wait, hold on. This doesn’t seem right.

“No, I mean, not that, if you don’t answer, I mean.”

“That sounds good.”

“That seems like it would be more of a gain for me.”

Darn it, I knew this would happen. Am I a fool? Is it okay for me to be both a pervert and a fool? But I couldn’t back down now. I must hear his answer.

“I’m going to bite you really, really painfully, okay?”

“Anything is fine. If it’s something Vivian does.”

“Even if I, like, hurt you and bully you, you’re okay with it?”

“Yes, I think I’d be so happy I’d go crazy.”

The Grand Duke smiled leisurely as he lowered me into the rowboat. His movements were infinitely careful, as if handling a piece of glass art. Soon after, he boarded the boat himself, and as I watched him sit down, I decided to use my final resort.

If there’s one thing I’m confident in, it’s this acting.

“Sob.”

“Vivian?”

When I bowed my head and started pretending to sob, I felt the Grand Duke grow flustered. He gripped my shoulders, his mouth flickering.

“Vivian, look at me.”

“Vivian.”

“Grand Duke, are you truly sincere with me?”

I felt a pang of guilt for asking such a question of him, but it couldn’t be helped. I don’t want the Grand Duke to have any misunderstandings about me. I want us to be candid with each other!

“Sincere.”

“Why are you asking something so obvious, Vivian?”

“But, you won’t tell me, Grand Duke.”

“That is.”

“I want to know what you were going to say to me, what you’re thinking. Because, I.”

I looked the Grand Duke straight in the eye and spoke clearly and firmly.

“Because I’m truly sincere about you, Grand Duke!”

“I, I s, sincerely l, love you!”

No. Can my feelings for him be confined to the mere expression love? I should write a poem. An Ode to the Grand Duke! A poem praising the Grand Duke in exhaustive detail!

‘Ah, it’s been a while since I felt the urge to create.’

No, let’s calm down. Is that what’s important right now?

“Vivian.”

“Yes, Grand Duke.”

The Grand Duke let out a deep sigh and suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace. After a moment, he let go, and his blue eyes were deeper than ever before.

“Alright. I’ll tell you.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

He smiled brightly, unfolded the blanket he had brought, and draped it over my shoulders. A breeze blew from the forest. It felt like I could smell the fresh scent of trees. Placing a hand on my cheek, the Grand Duke opened his mouth.

“Actually.”