Your Grace, It Was a Mistake! - Chapter 35

Today was the day I was scheduled to learn spirit arts from the Grand Duchess.

“Vivian! Welcome!”

Upon arriving at the Glenn Grand Ducal residence, the Grand Duchess greeted me warmly. I gave a shy smile and bowed.

“Hello, Grand Duchess.”

“Oh, dear! Are you still calling me that? I told you to call me Mother.”

She tapped my shoulder encouragingly, and I bit my lip, lowering my head.

“U-um.”

“Yes, go on.”

“Mother.”

“Aww, how precious! Well done, my dear daughter-in-law!”

The Grand Duchess stroked my hair repeatedly. I could only lower my head further in embarrassment. I was trying to call the Former Grand Duke “Father” and the Grand Duchess “Mother,” but it was still quite awkward.

“By the way, did you receive the gift Lennox sent this morning?”

“Ah, yes.”

I nodded, subtly avoiding her gaze. Every morning, the Grand Duke sent me flowers, a letter, and a gift. Cassian often shuddered at the sight, calling him obsessive. To be honest, I hadn’t expected him to send gifts every single day either, so I was beginning to wonder how long this would continue.

‘Surely even the Grand Duchess thinks the Grand Duke is going too far?’

I clasped my hands together and stole a timid glance at her. She had her eyes narrowed, glaring toward what I assumed was the direction of the Grand Duke’s office. After a moment, she turned back to me, causing me to flinch instinctively. I waited, tensed, to hear what she would say.

“That brat. He’s my son, but he’s so annoying.”

“?”

Pardon?

“He’s trying to monopolize you completely! I want to send gifts to our Vivian, too! Not just me, but Lucas wants to send gifts as well!”

I nearly stumbled at the unexpected turn of the conversation. She didn’t think the gifts were excessive?

‘On the contrary, she wants to send even more?!’

“Whenever Lucas or I try to send something, he blocks us, saying that giving Vivian morning gifts is his exclusive privilege!”

” ”

“I didn’t know he was such a possessive fellow. He’s completely head over heels for you, he’s lost his mind.”

“H-head over heels”

Hearing that made my face heat up, and I dropped my gaze to the floor. To think the Grand Duke was so smitten with me. Well, looking at him, it certainly seemed that way, but

‘It feels unreal, like I’m in a fairy tale.’

“Anyway, since it’s come to this, I’m going to satisfy my own desires today! Let’s go!”

“Pardon?”

“I’m going to take my cute daughter-in-law shopping and show her off everywhere! Ohoho!”

“?! ”

And so, without knowing why, I was “kidnapped” by the Grand Duchess. I was bundled into a carriage, and by the time I regained my senses, we were in the middle of the commercial district.

“Now, let’s go, Vivian!”

“W-where are we going?”

“Where else? I’m going to buy you everything you want today!”

The Grand Duchess seemed dead serious. And she looked incredibly excited. Dazed, I followed her. Our first stop was a boutique run by the most famous designer in the Empire.

“Oh, Grand Duchess Glenn!”

“It’s been a long time!”

Noble ladies who were already there approached to greet her. They were all prominent figures in high society. I clasped my hands nervously.

‘Stay calm!’

To these ladies, I was not just “Vivian Lewis,” but the “Fiancée of the Grand Duke.” Therefore, I had to be mindful of my words and actions as his representative.

“I heard the news that you had come up to the capital”

“You’ve become even more beautiful since I last saw you, Grand Duchess.”

After exchanging a few words with her, the ladies’ gazes soon shifted to me. Their eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Ah, is this young lady perhaps”

“Oh, it is! I saw you at the engagement ceremony!”

A lady with light brown hair acted as if she knew me, though I couldn’t recall her face. Regardless, I greeted her naturally.

“Hello, it’s nice to see you again.”

“Oh, how cute.”

“Right? You said her name is Vivian Lewis? How can she be this adorable?”

The noble ladies observed and adored me as if I were a pet rabbit out for a stroll. Feeling overwhelmed by the sudden attention, the Grand Duchess pulled me closer.

“It seems everyone is eyeing my daughter-in-law with envy.”

“Ohoho, well, she is this cute”

“Our own daughter isn’t even this adorable. She’s fifteen this year”

“Ah, fifteen. The age of storm and stress.”

“That’s why I’m getting white hairs lately!”

Even as they chatted, the ladies kept stealing glances at me. Everyone seemed intensely interested. It made sense; I was the one who had suddenly become engaged to the Grand Duke, a man legendary for his coldness.

Sure enough, one lady asked tentatively:

“By the way, how did Lady Lewis meet the Grand Duke?”

“Yes, I’m curious too! To think such a stoic man would suddenly get engaged one day! I was truly shocked!”

Their eyes fixed on me at once, and I bit my lip, choosing my words carefully. How should I answer? But before I could even open my mouth, the Grand Duchess beat me to it.

“Well, you see,” she laughed, looking strangely proud for some reason. Why was she so proud?

“Our cute Vivian was just standing there being cute.”

“?”

“And Lennox took one look at her and fell completely in love.”

The noble ladies had expressions that suggested they couldn’t tell if she was joking or being serious. I felt the same way.

‘Mother, why would you suddenly say that’

Just as I felt a bit faint, the Grand Duchess hugged me tight.

“She’s this cute, so how could he not fall for her? Even my cold-blooded son simply melted. Hehe”

She looked at me with eyes that said she found me irresistibly precious and stroked my cheek. I was so embarrassed my face felt like it was on fire. I must look like a carrot right now. The noble ladies gave hollow, lighthearted laughs.

“Ahaha, I see”

“Well, Lady Lewis is indeed very cute, but somehow”

“It seems you’ve fallen for her too, Grand Duchess,” the lady with light brown hair added.

The Grand Duchess immediately confirmed it.

“Am I the only one? Even my husband is completely powerless when it comes to Vivian.”

“My goodness, the Former Grand Duke?”

“That is truly surprising”

Now the ladies looked at me with pure wonder. They seemed desperately curious about what exactly it was about me that had captivated the entire Glenn Grand Ducal family.

‘Yeah, I’m curious too’

Why were the Former Grand Duke and Duchess so kind to me? I was deeply grateful they liked me, but I also wondered about the reason.

‘If I ask, would she tell me?’

While I was lost in thought, the ladies left the boutique. Realizing this a moment late, I snapped out of it, only to hear the Grand Duchess sigh.

“Phew, how tiresome. Right?”

“!”

I was caught off guard by her honest and blunt remark.

‘W-what should I say?’

To be honest, it was a bit tiresome, but saying so felt far too arrogant. So, I just gave an awkward smile. Seeing this, the Grand Duchess beamed and said:

“How kind of you.”

Huh? Startled by the unexpected praise, I felt her stroke my hair.

“Our Vivian is so kind it’s almost a problem. I’ll have to protect her for a long, long time.”

” ”

Hearing those words made my chest feel tight. To be honest, I was a bit scared of dealing with people as the “Grand Duke’s Fiancée.” It seemed she had already noticed my feelings.

“Because you’re a kind child, you seem to have a lot of caution and worry.”

” ”

“But it’s okay to be a bit more bold. That’s what it means to be a ‘Member of the Glenn Grand Ducal House.'”

Laughing softly, she whispered with a somewhat dangerous expression:

“It’s okay to wield your power a bit more.”

“!”

P-power! Where would I have such a thing! As I trembled in bewilderment, the Grand Duchess plopped down on the boutique sofa and added:

“For example, ordering 1,201 dresses of the highest quality from this boutique.”

“?”

What on earth was that specific number? As I thought about it, my eyes widened as the realization hit me.

December 1st, 12-01. It was my birthday!

“It’s your birthday soon, isn’t it, Vivian?”

At her playful question, I stammered a reply.

“Yes, but there are still two weeks left”

“No, no! There are only two weeks left!”

The Grand Duchess leapt up from her seat and approached me with incredible intensity. I stepped back, overwhelmed by her aura.

“To think there are only two weeks left! I only found out your birthday four days ago! If I had known sooner, I would have prepared much earlier!”

“Ah, um, my birthday is just”

“No! We cannot let our Vivian’s birthday pass by haphazardly! Everything must be perfect!”

Mother, please calm down! But it was impossible to calm her. At the boutique, I ended up ordering a mountain of dresses, then jewelry, then shoes, then hats. Aaaaah, it was a literal shopping storm!

“M-Mother, please, that’s enough”

“Phew, no, it’s not enough yet”

I think I finally realized who the Grand Duke inherited his slightly no, very extreme tendencies from. He really took after his mother.

‘Exactly how much of the Grand Ducal money did we spend today? Is this okay?’

As I tried to do the math in my head, I almost fainted at the unbelievable number. Just as I was swaying from the shock, someone caught me.

“Vivian, are you okay?”

It was the Grand Duke.

“?”

Why was he here?

‘Isn’t he supposed to be busy right now?’

As I stared blankly at his radiant face, I heard the Grand Duchess’s voice.

“Ah! Lennox! You brat! To think you’ve come to interrupt my date with Vivian!”

The Grand Duke snorted and pulled me into an embrace, as if to show off.

“Why would Vivian go on a date with Mother? She should be with me.”

“You must have gone on plenty already! So she should spend time with me too!”

“I’ve been so busy I’ve only been on one! And since Vivian is my fiancée, of course she should only date me.”

“She’s your fiancée, but she’s also my daughter-in-law! Why do you get to monopolize her?”

The way they bickered made it hard to tell if they were mother and son or just friends. Caught in the middle, I could only tremble like a rabbit caught in a wolf’s den. If one of them asked me to take a side, I’d be in real trouble.

‘Ugh, what should I do?’

As I stood there anxiously, unable to think of a solution, both of them suddenly turned to me at the same time.

“Vivian, let’s go.”

“Let’s go!”

Pardon? Wait, where are we going all of a sudden!

Once again, I was dragged along without knowing why. The Grand Duchess and the Grand Duke took me through the department store and various shops, buying me a mountain of gifts. My mind was spinning because of the way they competed to shower me with presents.

The, the Grand Ducal fortune. Is it really okay like this? It won’t run out, will it?

“No, I told you this light green suits Vivian better!”

“Hah, really, what are you saying? Yellow suits Vivian much better.”

” ”

Whether it’s light green or yellow, you’re going to buy both anyway. This had been going on for twenty minutes. The Grand Duchess and the Grand Duke fought over what suited me better and ended up buying both, over and over again. The servants of the Grand Ducal House were suffering greatly, carrying the ever-growing pile of gift boxes.

“What do you think, Vivian?”

“Which do you like better, light green or yellow? Vivian.”

The question was suddenly fired at me. I could only stutter in embarrassment. Does it have to be one or the other? Can’t I like both?

‘I like both Mother and the Grand Duke so much.’

Honestly. It pained me to see them bickering because of me. Was that why? I ended up answering in a tearful voice without realizing it.

“I like both”

The expressions of the Grand Duchess and the Grand Duke turned strange as they looked at my face.

“I like both Mother and the Grand Duke”

Please, can’t you stop fighting? And stop the gift-giving competition, too. As I pleaded earnestly, their expressions became even more complex. Soon, both of them sighed or wiped their faces, muttering as if they couldn’t stand it.

“How can she be this cute?”

“What does she eat to be this adorable?”

” ”

At this point, I felt like giving up too.

“Cute Vivian, you like me better, right?”

“What are you saying? Vivian likes me more! You just tease her all the time!”

They began to bicker again.

” ”

It was no use trying to stop them. I decided to give up.

‘Right, giving up is easier.’

I sat on a nearby sofa and peacefully watched the two of them fight. Once I gave up, I felt at ease. This must be what they call the state of nirvana.

“Lennox, have your eyes gone bad?”

“It seems your taste is the one that’s broken, Mother.”

The Grand Duke’s rebellion was always spectacular to witness. But the highlight was always the moment he got smacked on the back by his mother.

Smack!

‘As expected.’

As I watched him get hit, I felt a bit hungry.

‘It would be nice to have some crunchy cookies.’

And maybe a fizzy soda. As I was smacking my lips, a shop clerk quietly approached and set a small table in front of me.

Huh?

“This is on the house, please enjoy.”

“Ah, thank you.”

On the table were freshly baked cookies, black tea, and sweet juice. Hmm.

‘It’s a shame there’s no soda, but’

I picked up a cookie and took a bite. There was a satisfying crunch.

“He’s my son, but how can he be so arrogant?”

“Maybe it’s because I’m your son?”

“This brat!”

Whack, whack!

Watching the Grand Duke get hit so thoroughly felt strangely satisfying.

‘Maybe it’s because he’s teased me so much’

Mother, please hit him some more. I enjoyed the cookies and tea while calmly spectating, thinking that I had finally adapted to this family.