Chapter 05
‘What in the world just happened?!’
Elisha stood there in shock, her eyes rolling around in panic.
The Duchess covered her mouth with a face that had turned completely pale, and the Duke quickly rang a bell to summon the guards.
“Your Grace! Are you alright?!”
The guards came running in, panting, far too late.
They hurriedly tied up and restrained the two assassins.
The two of them remained dazed and half-unconscious until the guards forcibly pulled them up.
“We are truly sorry, Your Grace! We will send them to the underground prison immediately!”
When the guards dragged the assassins out, the garden became quiet again.
Elisha was still holding the broken flowerpot, looking completely dazed.
That was when—
“Lady Elisha!”
Felicia suddenly grabbed Elisha’s hands tightly.
The Duchess looked overwhelmingly moved.
“You are the savior of our lives! How could we ever repay this debt?!”
“Huh…?”
“When that boy Blaine first said he wanted to get married, I thought it was strange. But now I understand. Since you’re such a strong person, of course he was drawn to you.”
“H-Huhhh?!”
The Duke even joined in.
At their sudden change in attitude, Elisha’s mouth fell open.
Felicia squeezed Elisha’s hands even tighter.
There were even tears gathering in her eyes.
“Come now, my daughter-in-law. Don’t stay out here like this.”
“D-Daughter-in-law…?”
At some point, even the way she was being addressed had changed.
“Yes, Elisha. Our daughter-in-law.”
Felicia’s voice when she said it was unbelievably natural, too.
“You must have been very shocked. Let’s go inside first. Oh dear—your dress has become a mess.”
“We should summon the finest dressmaker in the capital immediately.”
“Hehe, perfect timing. Our budget is generous right now. After all, it was money we were going to give our daughter-in-law anyway.”
The Duchess picked up the envelope of money she had earlier held out with such determination.
‘T-That was money you were going to use to kick me out!’
Elisha opened and closed her mouth, but no words came out.
The ducal couple moved in close on both sides of Elisha and each linked arms with her.
They kept looking at Elisha with bright smiles.
Soon, the Duke gave a loud command.
“Alright! Everyone, welcome the Young Grand Duke’s wife!”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
The servants hurried out and lined up in a row.
Then they all bowed deeply and shouted together.
“Young Grand Duke’s wife! It is an honor to meet you! We will serve you with all sincerity!”
“Wh-What? Uh, um, w-wait…!”
The ducal couple linked arms with Elisha and brought her straight into the mansion.
The same people who had wanted to chase Elisha away just moments ago were now taking care of her with moved expressions.
Elisha felt like her mind was turning completely blank.
‘W-What is even happening right now?!’
***
“Elisha!”
Blaine returned not long after that.
He had already been anxious after hearing that Elisha arrived at the ducal house while he was away.
And then he heard that assassins had broken in, so Blaine’s face had turned pale.
But the moment he entered the drawing room—
“My dear, is there anything you want to eat?”
“How should we decorate your room? Do you have a preferred style?”
“Or would you like to share a room with Blaine?”
“Let’s go shopping together tomorrow. There’s so much I must teach you as the next Duchess.”
“Um, excuse me…”
Right in the middle of the drawing room,
with Elisha between them, the Duke and Duchess were bombarding her with questions nonstop.
“Y-Young Grand Duke…”
When she saw Blaine walk in, Elisha finally looked relieved.
He still felt scary and unfamiliar, but seeing a face she had met before made her feel a little calmer.
Blaine let out a sigh and approached.
“Oh, Blaine, you’re here.”
Only then did the ducal couple look at their son and nod.
When they stepped back, Blaine carefully took Elisha’s arm and helped her up.
“Elisha must have been very startled, so I’ll take her now.”
“Ah, yes. That makes sense. Do you need a physician?”
“It’s unfortunate our personal doctor is away with Isaac at a time like this… I’ll contact him and make him come back quickly.”
“N-No! It’s okay! I’m really fine!”
When the duke stood up as if he was about to summon someone immediately, Elisha hurriedly waved her arms around.
Blaine lightly lowered her arms and said,
“I’ll handle the rest from here. Please rest as well.”
“Alright. If you say so, Blaine…”
Only then did the ducal couple step back.
Elisha let out a relieved breath, and Blaine naturally led her out of the drawing room.
His large hand was already holding Elisha’s hand tightly.
“Y-Young Grand Duke…”
Elisha followed Blaine in small quick steps, her face full of confusion.
Soon, they arrived in front of a guest room.
“We haven’t been able to prepare a separate room for you yet. It may be humble, but for now, I will have you stay here.”
“Humble…?”
Elisha stared around with her mouth open.
Unlike Blaine’s modest words, the room was incredibly luxurious.
The ceiling and walls were filled with ornate decorations, and expensive marble furniture gleamed softly.
It looked so grand that she could believe it was a room the Emperor stayed in at the palace.
When Elisha didn’t say anything, Blaine asked,
“…Is there something you dislike about it?”
“Huh? N-No! Of course not! It’s far too much for someone like me!”
When Elisha shook her head intensely, Blaine finally smiled as if he felt relieved.
Elisha stared at that expression for a moment, stunned, then suddenly snapped back to her senses.
“But… I think I should go back home now…”
“Go back?”
Blaine’s expression hardened in an instant.
Elisha flinched in fear.
But she couldn’t keep staying here like this forever.
“I think my uncle might be worried…”
“Do you truly believe that? That Baron Burns is worried about you?”
“Umm…”
At Blaine’s words, Elisha only made an awkward face.
Even she knew it was a ridiculous excuse.
Honestly, claiming Elisha had inherited the power of the Goddess would be more convincing.
“Still, staying without any prior notice is rude, and… Y-Young Grand Duke?”
But before she could even finish speaking, Blaine leaned into her.
He rested his head against the back of her neck and let out a deep breath.
“Elisha…”
When his warm breath brushed against her skin, Elisha froze and shut her mouth tight.
‘W-What is this…?!’
Elisha felt like her head was about to explode.
It was her first time being this close to a man.
And of all people, it had to be Blaine.
Into her frozen ears, she heard Blaine’s low voice.
“I was very worried. I heard that something like that happened while I was away.”
“Huh? Ah, th-that…”
“If I had lost you, Elisha… I think I would have gone crazy.”
Straightening up again, Blaine gently held Elisha’s hand.
The heat from his hand was intensely clear.
‘Ah…’
This was because of the potion too, right?
Elisha didn’t know what to do, only opening and closing her mouth.
Meanwhile, Blaine tightened his grip slightly.
It was filled with the will not to let her go like this.
“Elisha, if you leave like this, you will become Marquis Montis’s wife.”
“Th-That…”
“I looked into it, and it seems Baron Burns was promised fifty million der by Marquis Montis as the price of your marriage.”
“…What?”
Elisha’s eyes opened wide.
At her reaction, Blaine’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
‘It sounds like I’m threatening her.’
He didn’t want to do this, but he had no choice.
If he didn’t, Elisha would run back to the baron’s house.
And after what happened today, the Grand Temple would likely target her too, so he absolutely had to keep her inside the ducal house and protect her.
Blaine stepped one step closer.
“Or do you truly love Marquis Montis more than me? Is that why you’re leaving me to marry him? Is that marquis really worth that much to you?”
“What?! No! No! Of course not!”
What kind of horrifying thing is he saying?!
I bought the potion because I don’t love him!
Swallowing those last words, Elisha shook her head rapidly.
Blaine’s relentless questions made her dizzy.
Even Elisha, who was often called naïve, found the idea of being tangled with Marquis Montis absolutely terrifying.
At Elisha’s response, a satisfied smile appeared at the corner of Blaine’s lips.
“Then it’s decided.”
“Huh? No, I didn’t decide I’d stay he—KYAAK!”
Elisha’s protest was cut off and scattered into the air by Blaine’s sudden hug.
“Y-Young Grand Duke! W-Wait!”
Elisha, startled, tried to push Blaine away out of instinct—
but at that moment,
Boing!
Over Blaine’s shoulder, as he held her tightly, she saw something pop up and bounce into the air.
