Your Grace, It Was a Mistake! - Chapter 25

The Crown Prince, Asmode Bleak Elpideon. He was looking at me. The mastermind behind the Grand Duke’s kidnapping case! The man who put Marina and me in such a predicament.

I clasped my hands together tightly in tension.

“I greet His Highness, the Crown Prince. I am Vivian Lewis.”

“I am familiar with the House of Count Lewis.”

The Crown Prince, Asmode, spoke with a beaming smile. On the surface, his face looked infinitely kind. Moreover, he bore a striking resemblance to the Great Duchess; the two looked almost like biological siblings.

“To think the lady Knox fell for was such a cute person.”

“You… you flatter me.”

“No need to be so tense. Think of me comfortably. Knox and I are as good as brothers.”

I glanced toward the Great Duchess with an inquisitive look, wondering if that was true. She raised an eyebrow slightly. It seemed to be a “no.”

“You look truly beautiful today, Lady Vivian Lewis.”

“Thank you.”

“I think I understand why Knox fell for you.”

The voice saying those words was as sweet as melting sugar. But, how should I put it? Yes, it was like the fragrance emitted by a poisonous flower. Danger signals were ringing in my head.

‘I’m certain… he’s a dangerous man!’

As a rule, poisonous mushrooms and toxic plants are often beautiful. Of course, the Grand Duke is beautiful too! But the Crown Prince felt different from him. If the Grand Duke was an elegant predator, the Crown Prince was like a venomous snake.

‘I feel like he’d bite me the moment I let my guard down.’

Don’t let your guard down, Vivian Lewis! I swallowed hard and looked the Crown Prince in the eye. His golden eyes were sparkling as if he were looking at something fascinating.

“How did you and Knox get to know each other, Lady Lewis?”

“Ah, well, it just happened.”

I laughed, letting my answer trail off. Asking how we met when he knows everything—how wicked! Of course, the Grand Duke and I knew of each other before, but the catalyst for this engagement was that kidnapping case.

‘And the mastermind behind that kidnapping is this very person!’

Despite that, his face feigning ignorance was truly impressive!

‘He is handsome, though!’

I wondered if my fangirl tendencies would kick in again, but I was entirely devoted to the Grand Duke.

‘Besides, the Crown Prince isn’t my type…’

The groups of noble ladies who fangirled over the handsome men of high society were largely split into two factions: the Grand Duke faction and the Crown Prince faction. I naturally belonged to the former and had never once been swayed by the Crown Prince’s beauty.

‘Honestly, my single-mindedness is something to be admired!’

A literal pine tree! An evergreen that only looks at the Grand Duke!

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to request a dance. Ah, but of course, the first dance must be with you, right, Knox?”

“!”

The Crown Prince added while looking behind me, and in that moment, I felt goosebumps erupt. I could feel an ominous energy behind my back.

‘Grand Duke!’

No sooner had I turned around than the Grand Duke strode up to my side and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. He looked down at me with blue eyes that were impossible to read.

‘Grand Duke…’

I’m always on your side! To appeal to that thought, I timidly gripped his sleeve. The Grand Duke smiled faintly, and at the same time, the Crown Prince let out a meaningful hum.

“Hmm.”

He rested his chin on his hand, looking back and forth between the Grand Duke and me.

“You two really don’t suit each other.”

“!”

I flinched in surprise.

‘What is he saying! Just because he’s the Crown Prince, does he think he can say anything?!’

The Grand Duke and I—well, yes, the difference between us is like heaven and earth, so we might not “suit” each other! But to say that in front of the people involved!

‘How unpleasant!’

“Lady Lewis is too good for you.”

“?”

Huh?

‘Not that the Grand Duke is too good for me?’

What on earth is this Crown Prince talking about?

“Compared to you, Knox, she’s such a kind and pure lady.”

“…”

“It feels like a dark-hearted guy like you just snatched her up. Am I wrong?”

The Grand Duke let out a dry laugh and retorted coldly.

“No matter how dark my heart is, it could never compare to yours.”

The Crown Prince smiled brightly at that.

“Is that a compliment? Thank you.”

‘I don’t think it was a compliment…’

I watched the situation, feeling like a rabbit caught between two predators.

“I don’t recall inviting you to the engagement ceremony. Why are you here?”

“Why are you being so cold between us? It’s your engagement; of course I should attend.”

The Grand Duke scoffed again.

“Between us?”

“Yes, Knox. Wouldn’t your fiancée prefer someone with good social relationships?”

“!”

The Grand Duke flinched at those words and looked back at me for a moment. A complex emotion flickered across his face before he clenched his fist and spoke to the Crown Prince.

“Don’t push your luck.”

“…”

“Don’t cause trouble. Just stay quiet and then disappear.”

The Crown Prince’s lips twitched before he burst into a loud laugh. It was a boyish laugh that didn’t suit him at all.

“Hahaha! Wow, I suspected it, but…”

“…”

“Are you serious about this lady, Lennox Glenn? You?”

The Grand Duke snarled back.

“Do you think I would hold an engagement ceremony with someone I wasn’t serious about?”

The Crown Prince answered, still grinning.

“No, I just thought maybe you’d caused an accident.”

“!”

At those words, both the Grand Duke and I froze. Furthermore, the surroundings became deathly quiet. Only then did I realize that everyone in the Great Hall was focused on us.

‘No…’

I clenched my trembling fists.

‘What kind of nonsense is this Crown Prince talking!’

If a man and a woman “cause an accident” and have a hurried engagement, there is only one such “accident.” Pre-marital pregnancy!

But both the Grand Duke and I had never crossed that line! We were undoubtedly protecting each other’s purity!

‘Crown Prince or not, I want to hit him.’

My latent violent tendencies were just about to wake up.

Thwack!

“Urgh!”

“?!”

Someone had struck the back of the Crown Prince’s head fiercely. That someone was none other than the Great Duchess. She was smiling, but her face was clearly angry.

“Oh my, Asmode.”

“Aunt…”

“You’ve become quite cheeky since I last saw you.”

“Well, that’s…”

“How dare you say something that damages the honor of Knox and our daughter-in-law in front of me? Do you want to die?”

Ohoho, laughing ominously, the Great Duchess grabbed the Crown Prince by the collar. His face turned pale, as if he had become prey before a predator. I marveled at the sight.

‘As expected!’

The Great Duchess’s rank is the highest in the Empire! …Or is it? Because the Emperor exists? Regardless, it was clear that the Great Duchess’s rank was much higher than the Crown Prince’s.

“It’s been a while, so let’s spend some quality time with your aunt.”

“W-Wait a moment, Aunt.”

“Oh? You’re saying you’d love to be taught by your aunt? Yes, I understand your heart completely.”

“No, wait, just a second!”

The Crown Prince was dragged away somewhere by the Great Duchess. I didn’t know what would happen to him, but I didn’t feel particularly sorry for him.

‘Haha, serves him right.’

It was a shame I couldn’t land a blow myself, but just wait! I’m a person who holds a grudge!

‘I should thank the Great Duchess properly later.’

Anyway, Grand Duke. I linked arms with the Grand Duke and peeked up at his face.

‘Yikes, what a scary face.’

He was eyeing the crowd with a terrifying expression that would make anyone who met his gaze tremble. It seemed like a silent threat that he would kill anyone who uttered the kind of nonsense the Crown Prince just did.

‘Grand Duke…’

So reliable! I hugged his arm tightly. I like the scary Grand Duke and the angry Grand Duke, too.

‘Though I like the kindly smiling Grand Duke best.’

“…”

As I rubbed my cheek against his arm, he looked down at me quietly. I looked up at him with a smile.

“Vivian.”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry. Your mood must have been ruined because of that Asmode fellow.”

I shook my head.

“No. I’m more worried that your mood was ruined, Grand Duke.”

“You don’t need to worry about me.”

“That’s not true.”

I clasped his hand with both of mine.

“You’re the person I like, my lover, and now my fiancé. It’s only natural for me to worry.”

Saying this made me a bit shy, so I blushed. When I pulled his hand to my cheek and hugged it, he laughed helplessly.

“It’s frightening.”

“Pardon?”

“Just how much more lovely you can become, Vivian.”

‘Grand Duke…’

Do you know that my heart flutters every time you say things like that?

“Shall we begin the engagement ceremony in earnest? My mother isn’t here, but she’ll be back soon.”

“Yes, alright.”

I nodded with a smile, and the Grand Duke led me by the hand to the head table. My father and mother were there, along with Cassian—who was standing like a total nuisance—and the Former Grand Duke, all engaged in conversation.

“It’s not certain, but since such a thing occurred…”

“But our Vivian…”

Huh? What are they talking about? Curious, I approached them. The Former Grand Duke spotted me and greeted me in a kind voice.

“Ah, you’re here, child.”

‘The Former Grand Duke is calling me “child” now, too.’

It was a bit of an embarrassing title, but it also made me feel good.

‘It feels like I’ve truly become family.’

To think I’d become a member of the House of Grand Duke Glenn! It was truly unbelievable.

“What were you all discussing?”

The Grand Duke asked everyone. The Former Grand Duke exchanged looks with my parents, then looked at the Grand Duke and me and spoke.

“Well, about the time Vivian fell into the lake…”

It was then. Someone rudely interrupted the Former Grand Duke.

“Is it this girl? The one who is supposed to be engaged to Lennox?”

It was a very fastidious voice. I turned toward it. A noble lady with graying white hair, wrapped in furs, was glaring at me. It was not a pleasant gaze by any means.

‘Who is she?’

I pulled the “House of Grand Duke Glenn Family Tree” I had memorized long ago from my memory. After thinking hard, I realized who the noble lady before me was. I immediately greeted her with proper etiquette.

“Countess Sudley. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Vivian Lewis.”

“!”

The elderly lady in furs, Countess Sudley, looked quite surprised that I recognized her and greeted her immediately.

‘Beatrice Glenn Sudley.’

This person was the Former Grand Duke’s aunt, making her the Grand Duke’s grand-aunt.

‘She doesn’t seem to like me…’

As I stole peeks at her, Countess Sudley let out a loud cough.

“Hmph, it seems she has the basic manners, at least.”

“Aunt Beatrice, you’ve arrived.”

“Yes, Lucas, my boy. What is this all of a sudden, Lennox getting engaged?”

The Former Grand Duke laughed sheepishly and answered.

“Lennox has fallen head over heels for Vivian. This engagement ceremony was also rushed at Lennox’s insistence.”

“What? What exactly did he see in that small, thin girl?”

Countess Sudley, who was about to look back at me, shut her mouth when she made eye contact with my parents. Certainly, it’s a bit much to insult a daughter in front of her parents. My parents greeted Countess Sudley with dignity yet politeness.

“I am Damon, and this is Anetta Lewis. This is our son, Cassian. Cassian, greet her.”

“A pleasure to meet you.”

I was a bit worried about Cassian, who is going through a stormy adolescence, but he held back surprisingly well. Though his face looked like he wanted to shout, “Who do you think you are!” right away. Countess Sudley tilted her chin arrogantly and scanned our family.

“Hmm, the House of Count Lewis. A family that lost its power long ago, but not a bad place. It has a certain degree of legitimacy.”

I got the feeling Countess Sudley liked the phrase “a certain degree.”

“And Vivian is far too good for me, Grand-Aunt. It has been a while.”

The Grand Duke quickly cut in before Countess Sudley could say anything more. However, it seemed to have the opposite effect. Countess Sudley muttered with a bewildered expression.

“Too good for you? Ha, really!”

She crossed her arms and looked back and forth between the Grand Duke and me with a very displeased face.

“Who is too good for whom?”

“Of course Vivian is too good for me.”

“Do you think that makes any sense?”

“I have only spoken the truth.”

“You’ve lost your mind. I didn’t raise you this way.”

“I was raised by my parents.”

A strange conversation followed, almost like a comedy routine. Countess Sudley insisted with a voice full of spite.

“I cannot accept that girl as a member of the Glenn family! If she is to be engaged to you, Lennox, she must show a suitable quality!”

It was then.

“Speaking of quality, you’ve brought up a good point, Aunt.”

The Great Duchess, appearing while leading a thoroughly dejected Crown Prince, spoke with her arms crossed.

“Actually, it seems Vivian has a very remarkable quality.”

“What?”

The Great Duchess strode up to my side and placed a hand on my shoulder, as if cherishing something very precious.

“Would you understand if I told you, it’s a quality so startling that the founder of the Glenn family would leap out of his grave?”

“!”

Countess Sudley’s eyes grew as wide as full moons.