Chapter 62
In the meantime, Rex gestured toward the maid.
“Ah…”
“If Lady Aisha doesn’t want to go, you don’t have to. After all, he’s only acting like that to bring you along.”
“I’ll go.”
“Understood. Then let’s go together.”
I nodded and looked at Rex.
Selex, who had betrayed the grand duke’s house despite having once been fiercely loyal for the sake of his sister. I realized I had misunderstood him a little because of how he was portrayed in the novel.
“If he looks like this… I could definitely change his future too.”
Still, I didn’t have any immediate plan for him. I had only let slip a word or two about his sister, Regina, but for now, my priority was figuring out how to get the Grand Duchess out.
Before long, we arrived at the room.
By then, Lohen was either asleep with Lari or had dozed off halfway on the bed, leaning on his upper body. At least he was more comfortable here now; seeing that he didn’t wake easily even with me there gave me some relief.
“Yes. This is your home. Just relax, like now.”
I smiled faintly and quickly turned around.
Perhaps seeing this, Rex carefully put down the book he had been holding and stepped out of the room. Elaine, impatient as ever, hurried us along, and I moved toward the Grand Duchess. The meeting place was the same as last time—the garden.
Because I hadn’t come alone but with Rex, the expressions of everyone present stiffened at the same time.
The Grand Duchess seemed to be waiting with some urgency.
“You cannot proceed from here together.”
“For safety, we must go together.”
Her face, already flushed from having to bring Rex this far, showed annoyance as she spoke in a sharp tone.
“I hear it’s dangerous for the Grand Duchess.”
“That’s not it…”
“If that’s not the case, then step back. There’s no reason for danger in such a public place, is there?”
“Lady Aisha.”
“I’m fine. Nothing happened last time either.”
Rex, full of concern, looked at me with that pleading gaze again. It was as if he would stop anyone from doing something if I said I didn’t want to go. When I reassured him I was fine, he made a disappointed expression.
“Understood. I’ll stay here, so please let me know immediately if anything happens.”
“Okay!”
Trying to seem cheerful so as not to worry him, I slowly approached the Grand Duchess. Perhaps adjusting her behavior toward me, she stood up from her seat as I arrived.
“Welcome.”
I thought she might be doing this to show off in front of Rex, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
“Ah, yes.”
“I’ve been waiting. I’ve waited a long time.”
A maid was fanning her beside her, and although there was a sunshade over the tea table, beads of sweat still formed on her forehead.
Seeing how long she had waited, I quickly sat down.
“I was a bit busy!”
“I see.”
“Next time, if you tell me beforehand, I’ll come at that time. Coming suddenly surprised me too.”
“Mm.”
Of course, her patience wasn’t unlimited. Just waiting had already put her in a bad mood, and my comment made the Grand Duchess frown. True to her nature—pretending to be kind and benevolent in front of others—her expression kept shifting constantly.
“I’ve prepared some chocolate milk just in case. You’ve never tried something like this, right?”
“No.”
“You’ll like it. Children love chocolate.”
I wanted to tell her not to generalize like that, but for now, I smiled brightly and drank the chocolate milk to appear childlike. Personally, I preferred strawberry milk. Even more, just adding chocolate to plain milk without proper mixing made the taste a bit odd.
The chocolate floated in the milk, but to show I liked it, I nodded with a bright smile.
“It’s delicious!”
“Right? If you hold my hand, you can have this anytime. I’m very kind, you see.”
“I see.”
“You’ve caught the Grand Duke’s attention, haven’t you?”
As expected, she started with that. Even though she already knew, she asked me anyway.
“I’m not sure, but he allowed me to stay here.”
“To turn his mind… you’re quite an impressive child.”
“The Grand Duke was generous! But I think I am pretty impressive.”
Her eyes flickered at my sudden boast.
“You think you’re impressive?”
“Yes!”
“For what?”
“For many things! It seems everyone likes me more than I expected!”
Last time, I had acted like an overly smart child; this time, I laughed and acted naïve. That way, she wouldn’t fully understand me.
“Is that so? Who likes you?”
“The Grand Duke, the Vice Lady, and even the Grand Duchess herself!”
“Me?”
She looked at me in disbelief.
“Yes. Isn’t that right?”
Only then did something occur to her, and she forced a smile.
“Yes. Of course. He likes you so he asked you to hold hands. Just look at how he didn’t say that to the twins—see how special he thinks you are?”
“Yes!”
“Exactly. He likes you. The Grand Duke likes you, so that’s fine….”
She trailed off and nodded slowly.
“It makes sense. A man who usually doesn’t care for anyone suddenly wants to care for you, makes a knight for you….”
She seemed to want to say more but held back.
It felt like the Grand Duke was doing something, but she wasn’t saying it.
“Well, anyway… what about the Vice Lady saying she likes you?”
“She told me to come often because she would give blessings.”
“She said that? The Vice Lady told you to come often to give blessings?”
“Didn’t you hear that?”
I teased her, pretending not to know, even though she must have heard it through the maids assigned to us. She scratched her head, pretending ignorance.
“Oh, I did hear. I see. But did she really say she would bless you? That Vice Lady, who hardly meets anyone, said that after meeting you?”
Even the Grand Duchess looked shocked and smiled awkwardly.
“Is it possible the person you met wasn’t the Vice Lady…? How did she look?”
“She… looked very young. She was covering her eyes with something, and she couldn’t walk. But it was amazing… just being there with her.”
“I see. She didn’t say anything else?”
Curious, the Grand Duchess continued asking.
“No, just that she wanted to bless me…”
Like her, I trailed off and leaned slightly toward her with a small smile.
“I’m only telling the Grand Duchess…”
“Only me? Did you think about holding my hand?”
“Uh… not exactly. Do I have to think about holding hands to say it?”
“No! Not necessary. Go on, tell me.”
Adults usually underestimate children. They think the child doesn’t know, and they can manipulate things to their will. Even smart children can’t outmatch adults. The Grand Duchess was no exception.
“I’m just bragging because I want to! But the Grand Duchess is too scary, so I couldn’t say it! Thank you for the chocolate milk!”
“It’s okay to brag. Go ahead, go ahead!”
“Really? I’m not saying this for any other reason… don’t misunderstand me!”
“Sure. What’s the story?”
“She said I’m very special. So it seems the blessings are actually meant for me, but since I can’t go alone, I think she wants to give blessings to the twins too.”
Her expression changed little by little.
“Because of you? Then if you weren’t there, there’d be no blessings?”
I nodded.
“Oh…”
“Ah, you’re worried.”
“Worried?”
“About whether I’ll go alone, and whether the twins might miss the blessing, right?”
Watching her shake her head while saying “uh-oh,” I nodded emphatically to tell her not to worry.
“I’ll go with Lari until she’s fully healthy. No matter who stops me, I’ll go with her, so don’t worry!”
“Well, that…”
“You said you cared for the twins, Grand Duchess. So I’ll care too.”
Like someone who had just discovered a clever plan and lost it, the Grand Duchess bit her lip tightly.
“I see… yes… I should care.”
Does she think she only needs me out of the way? Then she’d try to kick me out. But since the Grand Duke already said he would let me stay as a guest, she could never actually remove me.
She must regret not having kicked me out earlier.
In that case, the Grand Duchess would try to find a way for me to leave on my own. And somehow, prevent Lari from going with the Vice Lady, stop the blessings from curing the child.
“I hope Lari gets better soon.”
“Yes. She needs to get well quickly.”
“You think so too, Grand Duchess?”
