Your Grace, It Was a Mistake! - Chapter 6

While I stood there dazed, the Grand Duke barked a command to his knights. Instantly, the menacing knights wilted like dejected puppies. I gaped in surprise. His charisma was truly incredible.

“Now that things are settled here, shall we go speak with your family, Vivian?”

“Ah, yes! Let’s do that!”

I answered stiffly, tense with nerves. The Grand Duke let out a short, soft chuckle as he looked at me. Why does he keep laughing like that? It’s not good for my heart. Sob.

“Hey, did you see that…?” “Crazy… His Highness Lennox laughed.”

I heard the knights whispering behind my back.

“It’s my first time seeing His Highness smile.” “I think I’m going to have nightmares tonight…” “It looked like a demon descending into hell just broke into a grin…”

‘…?’

What were they talking about? What’s wrong with his smile? It’s bright and lovely! I turned to meet his eyes and gave him a beaming smile, wanting to see it once more. Just as I expected, he smiled back in return. Ehehe.

‘See? It’s a smile like a spring flower.’

I glanced back at the knights with a triumphant face, but they were all pale as ghosts. Some were even shaking. I tilted my head and frowned.

‘What’s wrong with them? Are they cold?’

For knights of the Grand Duchy, they seemed a bit under-trained. Is this knight order really okay? The Grand Duke himself is perfectly fine wearing nothing but a single shirt.

‘Wait, now that I think about it, I’m cold too!’

The moment the thought struck, I began to shiver. It was early November. Winter had just begun, and the night air was chilly; I must have been too nervous to notice the cold until now.

“Vivian, are you cold?”

“Ah, a little? But I’m fine! This is nothing!”

“…”

The Grand Duke gazed down at me as I answered bravely. Then, as if to share his warmth, he wrapped his arms around me in a deep embrace. He then pressed a light kiss to my cheek.

“Ha…!”

“You’ll have to get used to it.”

“But… Gasp.”

I started to reply, but my mouth snapped shut when I saw my family’s faces. My father, my mother, and Cassian—all of them were staring at us with expressions of pure horror. Only then did I realize what I had done.

‘I just kissed the Grand Duke in front of my family!’

Ugh, how embarrassing! I’ll have to ask him to tone down the skinship later. If this keeps up, I might actually die of shame.

“Your Grace,” my father said with a solemn face as we approached. “I have many questions… but it is impolite to leave a guest outside. Please, let us head indoors first.”

The Grand Duke gave a slight bow and replied, “Very well. Thank you, Count.”

We all entered the drawing room together. The servants had already lit the fireplace, making the interior wonderfully warm.

‘Ah… I feel alive again.’

As the warmth surrounded me, my body, which had been stiff from the cold and tension, began to relax.

“…Your Grace.”

“Yes?”

“Do you intend to remain seated in that manner?”

Huh? At my father’s words, I blinked and looked at the Grand Duke. What was wrong with him?

‘He looks fine, what’s the issue—Ack!’

I was struck with horror. The Grand Duke was sitting on the sofa while still holding me. Which meant I was sitting right on his lap—

“—Aaaah!”

A scream escaped my lips. I struggled to break free from his arms, but he only pulled me tighter.

“W-Why are you doing this—” I sputtered in panic. The Grand Duke was smiling as if he found this delightful.

“My apologies, Count.”

“…”

“I simply don’t want to be apart from Vivian for even a single moment.”

Pardon…? My jaw dropped. Him? Really?

I’d been thinking this for a while, but why does he keep dropping these pick-up lines? He doesn’t need to be this dedicated to the role! It’s just a contract relationship anyway!

‘You’re going to marry Princess Eunice regardless!’

Feeling inexplicably wronged, I made a tearful face. The Grand Duke looked at me curiously, then wore a somewhat mysterious smile. Seeing that smile gave me a sense of déjà vu. That look was…!

‘That’s the smile Cassian makes when he’s bullying me!’

Your Grace, do you want to bully me? Is that it? Is it really!

‘The Grand Duke… was a sadist after all.’

Indeed, my intuition was correct. The most handsome man in high society, beloved by countless ladies—Grand Duke Lennox Glen—was a sadist!

‘I-I have to be careful, or I might get eaten alive.’

The way his eyes looked at me—as if he wanted to swallow me whole in one bite—definitely wasn’t my imagination. Taking advantage of a moment when his guard was down, I crept away to the seat next to him. I was worried he might grab me, but surprisingly, he let go quite easily, though he looked a bit disappointed.

‘At least he’s conscious of my family’s eyes.’

“Ahem! Let us continue our conversation,” Father said.

“Let’s, Count Lewis.”

Come to think of it, the Grand Duke had been calling my father “Count” with a polite honorific. Normally, it would be appropriate for him to just say “Count Lewis” more formally…

Because of this, my father looked extremely flustered, and my mother and Cassian looked equally shocked.

“F-First, some tea…”

My mother, usually so calm, stammered in her confusion. Cassian sat beside her with his mouth hanging wide open. Ha, what a stupid expression!

‘I need to sketch that face right now!’

It was such a shame I didn’t have paper or a pencil, given the situation. I could have teased him for at least ten years with that idiotic look!

‘He’s not a brother, he’s an enemy… I’ll get my revenge someday.’

I trembled, clenching my fists in a vow of vengeance.

“First, warm yourselves with some hot tea.”

“Then, I won’t refuse.”

When the maid brought the tea, my father invited the Grand Duke to drink first, and he silently complied. Even if he’s a Sword Master who is nearly superhuman, was he still cold? I toyed with my teacup and stole glances at him as he drank.

‘He’s even handsome when he drinks tea…’

“Unreal beauty” must have been a term invented for someone like him. Just watching him made my heart race. Once he had taken about three sips, my father spoke tentatively.

“Um, excuse me… Your Grace.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“That shirt… it’s mine.”

“…Ah.”

“It’s a shirt I… cherish…”

“…My apologies. I had nothing else to wear.”

…Suddenly, the atmosphere was all about a shirt. I avoided my father’s sorrowful gaze and pretended to drink my tea. Father, your pathetic daughter has sold her soul to fangirl over the Grand Duke. Please forgive me.

“I will have your shirt laundered and returned to you. I will also send about a hundred similar shirts to your estate.”

“Pardon? No, there is no need for that…”

“I wouldn’t feel right otherwise. Please, accept them.”

“Oh, well, if you insist…”

Thanks to the Grand Duke’s grand generosity, the mood softened, and the topic soon shifted to our “relationship.” The Grand Duke explained our situation to my father, skillfully omitting the word “contract.” My father listened silently with a strange expression.

“So, what you’re saying is that Your Grace is seriously dating my daughter?”

“That is correct. It has only been a week, but my feelings are genuine.”

Of course, the part about us dating for a week was a lie. My conscience pricked at the thought of scamming my father, but… it couldn’t be helped. Wouldn’t Father prefer his daughter to be the Grand Duke’s lover rather than a kidnapper?

“…I see. Understood.”

Eh? My father, who had looked so serious, backed down surprisingly easily. However, his expression remained complex. What was he thinking?

‘Father is a master of hidden intentions; what you see on the surface isn’t everything…’

Is this really okay? I felt strangely uneasy.

“Your Grace, if I may ask a forward question.”

Suddenly, Cassian cut into the conversation. I gave my impudent younger brother a stinging glare. Even Mother is staying quiet, so why are you stepping up!

“Exactly what about my sister do you like?”

Unbelievable. I wondered what he was going to ask, but it was basically: “Why on earth do you like a woman like this?” This brat, what does he take his sister for…!

“What do I like about Vivian? Well…”

The Grand Duke seemed to seriously consider Cassian’s stupid question. Why are you thinking about it so hard?

‘Just give a vague answer! Something plausible!’

We’re in a contract relationship anyway!

“To put it simply… Vivian is cute.”

“Cough!”

Cassian looked like he was choking, but the Grand Duke continued unbothered.

“To be more specific, her round eyes are cute, the way her cheeks turn red whenever she’s embarrassed is cute, and the way she looks like she’s about to cry when she asks for a favor is also cute. Actually, everything about her is just cute.”

After hearing the Grand Duke’s explanation, Cassian sat there with a gormless expression, his mouth agape. It was the regret of a lifetime that I couldn’t sketch that moronic face.

“Don’t you think Vivian is cute too, Young Count Lewis?”

“Pardon? Unless I suddenly went insane one day—”

Cassian started to blabber nonsense before flinching and glancing to his side. It looked like Mother had poked him in the ribs. He immediately changed his tune.

“My sister is so cute that I might just go insane one day, yes.”

‘Ugh.’

I felt like I was getting indigestion despite not having eaten anything.

“Well then, it seems our conversation has reached a conclusion. Shouldn’t you be heading back? It is very late,” my mother said in a gentle voice. It was always her role to skillfully wrap up such gatherings.

The Grand Duke seemed to agree, nodding his head.

“I apologize for the intrusion so late at night. I shall take my leave.”

“Not at all. I wish you a safe journey back.”

After exchanging farewells with my parents, the Grand Duke turned to me. His blue eyes curved into a beautiful crescent. At that moment, I felt my heart drop. I reflexively went to clutch my chest but squeezed my hands into fists instead.

No, this won’t do. If I don’t train my heart, I won’t be able to survive this contract relationship!

“I had a lovely time today, Vivian,” the Grand Duke whispered, leaning down.

His warm breath brushed against my nose and fell upon my lips. In that instant, I remembered our kiss in the bedroom. It was brief, but it was enchanting enough to make me lose my mind. Overcome with embarrassment, I lowered my head and mumbled a response.

“Yes, me too…”

“I will send a letter and a gift tomorrow morning. Please look forward to it.”

“Huh? A letter and a gift?”

When I asked back in surprise, the Grand Duke smiled and replied, “It’s the basics.”

I-Is that so? Are those the basics?

‘Ugh… I don’t know. This is my very first time dating.’

I’ll have to ask Marina for advice later. By the way, where did she go that she still isn’t back yet? As I tilted my head and frowned in thought, the Grand Duke gave me a light kiss on the cheek.

I jumped in surprise. Seeing me like that, the Grand Duke laughed out loud. It was a sound like rolling pearls. How can a person’s voice even be handsome?

“It’s a goodnight kiss. Have sweet dreams, Vivian.”

“You too, Your Grace… have sweet dreams.”

After my timid reply, I saw him to the front door. He left immediately with his knights, and the Imperial investigators never arrived. It was a huge relief.

‘Hmm, but that’s strange. They should have arrived by now…’

Well, I suppose his knights didn’t report it to the Imperial Guard. I said goodnight to my parents and went up to my room. I didn’t care whether Cassian slept well or not, so I skipped the greeting for him.

‘…Gasp!’

As soon as I opened my door and stepped inside, I froze.

‘The room smells like the Grand Duke…’

Argh, I feel like such a pervert! But I couldn’t help it. His scent really did linger in my bedroom.

‘Aaaaah, I’m going crazy…’

I flopped onto my bed without even changing my clothes. Closing my eyes, his face flickered in my mind, and my heart went thump-thump. I screamed internally and started pummeling my cushion. Then, I suddenly realized the cushion I was beating had the Grand Duke’s face drawn on it.

Gasp, I was hitting him!

‘I’m sorry! Your Grace!’

I prostrated myself before the cushion in apology.

‘But I couldn’t help it…’

Because this reality was simply unbelievable…

‘To think that I am dating the Grand Duke!’

Aaaah!

I unconsciously started pummeling the cushion again. After acting a fool by myself for a while, I fell asleep as if collapsing. My heart fluttered with excitement and anticipation, wondering what the letter would say and what the gift would be.

Upon returning to his estate, Lennox worked his knights at the training grounds until they were on the verge of death. Among them, he drove Lloyd so hard that the knight wished he were dead instead.

The other knights looked at Lloyd with pity, but no one stepped forward to stop Lennox. They didn’t want to end up like Lloyd.

“Dumbass. You brought this on yourself. Why did you have to run your mouth?”

“Tsk tsk, your attitude has always been trash, and now look…”

“Hey, even so, calling a lady a ‘witch’? You have no basic manners, you jerk.”

“Don’t worry, Lloyd. After another thousand laps, His Highness might forgive you.”

Leaving behind the knights who were either comforting or cursing Lloyd, Lennox exited the training grounds. He took a refreshing bath before bed and instructed the butler on what needed to be prepared by morning.

“The flowers must be fresh. No silk flowers. Yellow dahlias or freesias would be good. They resemble Vivian’s hair color.”

“…”

The old butler was deeply concerned that the young master he had cared for so long had finally lost his mind.

Support Your Grace, It Was a Mistake!