Your Grace, It Was a Mistake! - Chapter 27

“What?”

In an instant, my face heated up. Grand Duke! How can you say such embarrassing things so easily? They say there is nothing you can’t do, and it seems that includes bold flirtation.

“Hic”

He lightly licked my lips, and I flailed in surprise.

“G, Grand Duke.”

“Yes, Vivian.”

“Are you going to keep licking me like you’re tasting something?!”

“What can I do when you’re delicious?”

“Ack!”

I tremble at the Grand Duke’s outrageous remarks!

To think the Grand Duke was such a playful person who enjoyed teasing others. Though I still like it. But liking is liking, and being annoying is annoying. I shut my mouth tight and glared at him, then suddenly blurted out.

“Y, You’re much!”

“?”

“You’re much sweeter, Grand Duke!”

“…Hm?”

The Grand Duke’s lips twitched as if he were about to burst into a dry laugh. I had momentarily lost my mind. What did I just say?

‘I tremble at my own outrageous remarks.’

Is this what they call a double standard? But since I’ve already started, I might as well go all the way. It would be my revenge against the Grand Duke!

“!”

I grabbed the Grand Duke by the collar. And then.

Mwah.

I pressed my lips against his as hard as I possibly could. However, simply touching lips felt too weak, so I decided to be even bolder.

“Vi”

I licked and nipped at the Grand Duke’s lips just as he was about to call my name. I know how to “taste” things too, you know!

I closed my eyes tight and kissed him, breathing into his mouth before quickly pulling away. When I looked at the Grand Duke, huffing and puffing from my own excitement.

He had a dazed expression I had never seen before.

“Vivian”

‘Aaaaah!’

The Grand Duke called my name in a voice that sounded like his reason had flown out the window. And looking closely, his eyes looked a bit far gone too!

‘This is dangerous!’

Time to run!

I quickly turned my back and fled before he could catch me. It was a stroke of luck that I didn’t trip in the process. A lady tripping and falling while running at her own engagement ceremony would be nothing short of ridiculous!

‘Where is the Great Duchess?’

I looked around frantically for her. She was the only person here who could pull the Grand Duke’s leash. But she was nowhere to be seen, perhaps having stepped out of the hall for a moment. I stamped my feet.

‘I’m going to get caught by the Grand Duke at this rate!’

And then.

‘Aaaaah!’

A couple-to-be putting on an intense display of affection in a banquet hall full of people! That’s too embarrassing!

‘F, First, let’s head to the Former Grand Duke.’

I pushed through the crowd. People greeted me, but I was so distracted I barely acknowledged them. When I finally stopped in front of the Former Grand Duke, he turned toward me.

“…Child?”

“Father”

I gripped the Former Grand Duke’s sleeve tightly, looking as if I were about to cry. He faltered for a moment, then for some reason, he covered his mouth with his hand and looked down.

“?”

Why is he doing that? As I tilted my head and watched, the Former Grand Duke spoke to the person beside him in a trembling voice.

“Isn’t our daughter in law just too cute?”

“…”

A brief silence followed. The guest standing next to the Former Grand Duke wore a blank expression, then replied while trying to hide their awkwardness.

“Ah, yes, she is a very cute daughter in law. Haha.”

There was no soul in that laughter. However, the Former Grand Duke didn’t seem to notice, looking at me with a satisfied smile. He asked me kindly.

“Child, what is the matter?”

I looked at the Former Grand Duke’s face, which resembled the Grand Duke’s but appeared much gentler, and answered.

“Please stop the Grand Duke.”

“Lennox? Why? Ah.”

The Former Grand Duke’s gaze shifted behind me. I felt a chill run down my spine.

“Hieeek”

Slowly, I grabbed the Former Grand Duke’s sleeve and hid behind him. Peeking my head out just a little, there he was, the Grand Duke had arrived!

“…Vivian.”

The Grand Duke called my name as he approached. Fortunately, it seemed his reason had returned to his eyes, but I still couldn’t let my guard down. The Grand Duke motioned toward me.

“Vivian, come here.”

“N, No.”

“I won’t tease you. Come to my side, quickly. Otherwise, I’ll go crazy.”

Could I really trust the Grand Duke’s word that he wouldn’t tease me? As I glanced at him suspiciously, I heard the Former Grand Duke’s voice, laced with laughter.

“Are you two having a lovers’ quarrel already?”

“No. It’s just that Vivian ran away.”

“Why did she run?”

“That’s”

The Grand Duke hesitated for a moment, then answered in an unhesitating tone.

“Because I teased her.”

‘Grand Duke, you’re being far too bold.’

I glared at him.

“Don’t tease Vivian too much, Knox. What if she really runs away far, far away?”

“!”

As if the Former Grand Duke’s words were a bomb, the Grand Duke’s eyes flew wide open.

“That won’t happen”

The Grand Duke muttered blankly, staring at me intently. It seemed he wanted an answer from me that I would never, ever run away from him. Of course, that’s the truth.

But. I debated whether to be petty with the Grand Duke who always teases me, or to be honest. What should I do?

The Grand Duke’s eyelids fluttered. He had a desperate expression, like a puppy wanting its owner to pet it. Seeing that, it hit me just how much he really likes me.

‘Grand Duke’

For some reason, my heart felt a tug, and my pent up pettiness melted away. Is it true that in a lovers’ quarrel, the one who likes the other more is the one who loses?

‘Fine, I’ll lose!’

I already like him so, so much, so what choice do I have! I let out a deep sigh and stepped forward. As I took a step toward him, I saw his shoulders flinch and his fists tighten.

I’ve thought this lately, but the Grand Duke’s reactions whenever I do something are quite delicate. I went up to him and spoke softly.

“Grand Duke.”

“…Yes, Vivian.”

“I won’t run away.”

“…”

“Because I’ll stay by your side forever.”

I grabbed the Grand Duke’s hand tightly and smiled brightly. He gazed at me for a long time, then let out a sigh and wiped his face with his hand. The look he gave me afterward seemed somewhat complex.

He pulled me closer to him and said.

“Never”

“…”

“I will never let you go, Vivian.”

It felt as if a flame was ignited in the Grand Duke’s eyes as he spoke. Is this what they call… obsession?

‘It’s a little scary.’

I nodded, feeling goosebumps on my arms. It was a strange feeling I couldn’t understand, being scared yet liking it at the same time.

Finally, the ring exchange ceremony took place. The procedure was simple. The Grand Duke and I would announce our engagement starting today and put rings on each other’s fingers in front of everyone.

‘Wow, it’s beautiful.’

I marveled at the silver-white ring set with a large diamond. The clear diamond sparkled with all the colors of the rainbow. It was so brilliant it was almost blinding.

“Then”

The Grand Duke smiled and slid the ring onto my finger. I watched silently as the silver ring settled onto my ring finger. Finally, the ring sat perfectly on my finger. It fit surprisingly well. Did he say he’d been preparing this for six months?

‘I don’t know whether to be impressed by his amazing preparation or horrified by the fact that he prepared this in secret without anyone knowing.’

I still can’t believe the Grand Duke has liked me for five whole years.

‘To think the Grand Duke and I were pining for each other.’

Of course, I’m the one who liked him first, and it seems I’m the one who likes him more!

“Vivian? It’s your turn now.”

At the sound of the Grand Duke’s voice, I quickly snapped out of my thoughts. I flashed a bright smile at him and then slid the engagement ring onto his finger.

‘Wow, it’s a perfect fit.’

The Grand Duke’s ring also fit his hand perfectly without a gap.

“Then, I announce that the engagement of these two has been successfully formed.”

The priest officiating the ceremony announced to everyone, and thus, the Grand Duke and I became an engaged couple.

‘It feels like a dream.’

I bowed my head slightly to hide my blushing face, and the Grand Duke lifted my hand. He slowly pressed his lips to the back of my hand.

In that moment, cheers erupted from all directions. Among them, I could hear deep sighs from noble ladies my age.

‘Come to think of it, I hadn’t thought about this.’

Since I’m engaged to the Grand Duke, I’ll be the envy of everyone who likes him.

‘And some of them might even be jealous of me.’

Mmm, for some reason, I feel uneasy. Especially, who was it again? Ah, right. I’m most worried about the daughter of Marquis Morias. I recalled the beautiful lady with dark purple hair, like cockscomb petals, and violet eyes.

She has a somewhat prickly impression, but the daughter of Marquis Morias is.

‘She’s prettier than me!’

Mmm. Not that I feel a sense of crisis or anything. I’m just saying that’s how it is objectively. The problem isn’t that, it’s that she truly worked hard to marry the Grand Duke.

‘And the Marchioness of Morias was also very active in trying to grant her daughter’s wish.’

How will they react when they find out about the Grand Duke’s engagement to me? I wonder if they came here today? I scanned the crowd. But the Marquis Morias’s family was nowhere to be found.

‘They didn’t come.’

But by now, the rumor must have spread throughout the capital.

‘Lady Morias’

It, It’ll be fine, right? I tried to calm my racing heart and smiled at the people who were clapping. Then, suddenly, I made eye contact with the Crown Prince.

He was smiling, but it wasn’t exactly a kind smile. It might just be my imagination, but his golden eyes looking at me felt somewhat ominous.

Before the evening party began. I went to the lakeside with the Great Duchess. The Grand Duke, the Former Grand Duke, my family, and Marina were there too. Plus, all the guests who attended today came crowding along. Everyone seemed very curious to see if I had truly been chosen by the spirit.

‘If I wasn’t chosen, what would happen?’

Hm. But we’re already engaged, aren’t we? The priest officiated, and we made our vows before God!

‘And the Grand Duke said he would never let me go.’

I’m the Grand Duke’s, the Grand Duke is mine. Did you think only the Grand Duke wouldn’t let go? I won’t let go of him either. I hugged the Grand Duke tightly around the waist.

“?”

The Grand Duke looked puzzled by my sudden physical affection, yet he still gave me a smile. Furthermore, he seemed a bit happy.

“I’m happy, Vivian. You’ve been approaching me first quite often lately.”

I replied with a giggle.

“Is that so? I’ll work hard to approach you first from now on.”

“I appreciate that. You can be even bolder if you like. For example, like that kiss on the balcony earlier.”

The Grand Duke leaned in close and whispered, making my face flush.

“It’s fine if you kiss me somewhere else, not just on the lips.”

“?!”

S, Somewhere else? Where? As I blinked in confusion, the Grand Duke scanned his own body.

“Anywhere Vivian wants.”

“!”

“For example, my favorite”

“Aaaah! S, Stop! That’s enough!”

Before he could say anything more scandalous, I pinched both of the Grand Duke’s cheeks with my hands. Grand Duke, please control yourself! People are watching! When I protested with a look of injustice, he chuckled.

“Vivian, do you know?”

“?”

“That I’m just teasing you because your reactions are so fun.”

“…”

I squeezed the hands pinching his cheeks even harder. But he didn’t seem to be in any pain at all. In fact, he was grinning ear to ear.

My hands pinching his cheeks trembled. Grand Duke, just because your skin is soft and smooth and nice, does that give you the right to do everything? Does it!

“You kids, put the flirting aside for a moment and come over here!”

Just then, the Great Duchess called out to us. I had no choice but to let go of the Grand Duke’s cheeks. Small red marks were left on his fair face, and it was so funny that I kept giggling.

‘It looks like he’s wearing blush.’

“Now, Vivian, stand here.”

The Great Duchess had me stand beside her. I stayed quiet, not knowing what to do. Then, the Great Duchess closed her eyes and whispered something into the air. After a moment, a gentle breeze blew, and the water began to move.

“Gasp”

I was startled by the sight of the water moving as if it were alive. As I waited quietly with my hands clasped together, bubbles began to rise from the waves that came in like gentle ripples.

The water droplets floating in the air soon turned into a round, bead-like shape. As I made eye contact with it and blinked, rabbit ears sprouted from the droplet.

“?”

No, wait. I rubbed my eyes and looked again. No matter how I looked at it, those were rabbit ears. Of course, they weren’t real rabbit ears, but the spirit was imitating the shape of rabbit ears.

“…”

For some reason, I felt annoyed. Spirit of the Glenn family. You brat. Why of all things is it rabbit ears?

‘Are you mocking me right now?’

Just as I thought that, the spirit hopped in the air.

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