Chapter 37
“Even if his handwriting is that bad, Jade can understand it perfectly when it comes to work, so isn’t that enough?”
“……”
The Duke’s terrible handwriting wasn’t a recent problem.
People had told him to just have someone write for him, and it’s not like he hadn’t tried to improve it—but there hadn’t been much progress.
He could barely manage to write in block letters for short sentences, but as soon as he tried writing something long, like a letter, the text turned into a complete mess.
“And again, just like last time, he seems convinced that I’ll hurt myself when I get upset. He’s constantly thinking that for some reason.”
“Oh dear, how pitiful.”
Rasita offered a sympathy that didn’t sound even the slightest bit sincere.
Well, considering he’d killed all his siblings to become Duke, it was no surprise even his lover was afraid of him.
“He was completely convinced I wrote something bad about him.”
“That’s what happens when you’ve got no popularity. Should’ve behaved better.”
Unlike the Duke, who had declared from the beginning that she would be his future Duchess, Pricia clearly looked like she was desperately trying to find a way to go back home, darting her eyes around for any escape.
“Well, married life is all about figuring things out together. Madame Benoît has been waiting forever to hear some baby news from you two.”
“That’s something we’ll handle on our own, thank you.”
“Oh? Is that how it is?”
Trying to change the subject like that meant there was definitely something she was hiding.
Just as Rasita’s eyes grew sharper with suspicion, Pricia, who had gone for a walk, spotted them with a young boy and waved.
“I didn’t know you both were here.”
“The sharper the blade, the more it needs care. So, is this young man from the Bailey family?”
“I’m Luca Bailey.”
His introduction was still a bit awkward, but Pricia nodded enthusiastically, moved as if it was the greatest thing ever.
“You did great! Once your body gets used to it, your posture will be perfect.”
As she showered him with compliments, calling him a genius, the shy boy’s cheeks turned a deep red. His bright eyes and flushed face were absolutely adorable.
Seeing the Duke looking visibly displeased, Rasita smoothly joined the conversation.
“Looks like our madam has really taken a liking to the little young master?”
“I only had two sisters, so I always wondered what it’d be like to have an older or younger brother.”
Compared to Lilie, who was just a spoiled baby, Luca felt so much more mature. Pricia couldn’t stop praising him.
“Come to think of it, it’s almost dinner time.”
“I had the kitchen prepare Boeuf Bourguignon and a ganache cake for dessert to celebrate our new guest. Do you like that, Luca?”
Not even knowing what those dishes were, Luca desperately searched for a way out of the situation.
“It’s beef stew. All kids love it.”
“I-I like it too.”
“Well, I’m not sure if it’ll suit a noble palate, but our chef in Cromford makes a Boeuf Bourguignon that’s worth trying at least once in your life.”
As Luca swallowed hard at the thought of food, both Rasita and Pricia smiled warmly at him.
For someone from a noble house, he was adorably innocent.
But the Duke, still displeased, picked a fight.
“I’ll have fish.”
“But the meal’s already prepared. You can’t change the main dish now.”
She meant to say he should just go along with the plan, but the Duke stubbornly shook his head, rejecting her suggestion outright.
“I’d rather rest first. I think I have a headache and a fever.”
“Really?”
That was clearly code for “I want to be alone with you.”
While Pricia rushed to check on Wilfred’s condition, Rasita happily took Luca by the hand and led him away.
“Let’s leave them and go eat all the good food ourselves, my dear boy.”
“Are you sure they’ll be okay?”
Seeing the Duke suddenly acting like he was about to collapse, Luca looked worried.
“It’s fine. He’s faking.”
To go this far just to get her attention…
So this is what love does to a man.
Rasita pretended not to notice and slipped away with the little “third wheel.”
* * *
To get to the point: she had been fooled.
Completely and utterly deceived.
“Mmph!”
As soon as she entered the bedroom, his lips were on hers. That’s when Pricia realized one harsh truth—
Her husband was a huge liar.
“If you’re tired and not feeling well—ah, wait a minute!”
“If you don’t like it, push me away. Kick me, I don’t mind.”
As he gently cupped her cheek and kissed her deeply, Pricia couldn’t do anything but grip his collar tightly.
How can someone be so good at kissing?
If she really didn’t want this, she could’ve stopped him—but he was just too skillful.
Eventually, she gave in, and as she looked carefully at her supposedly “tired” husband, she asked:
“Are you done with your work now?”
“For the most part. But I’ll be busy again starting tomorrow.”
Today, like always, he shamelessly asked for a lap pillow.
Moments ago, he’d been passionately kissing her, and now he calmly closed his eyes with his head on her lap.
“Are you actually asleep?”
She poked his cheek a few times, but he didn’t budge. Only his calm, rhythmic breathing filled the room.
She had so many things to ask—about Luca, about everything.
“That boy earlier… You were the one who told Rasita to do that, weren’t you?”
No answer. Either because he didn’t want to answer a tricky question, or he really had fallen asleep.
When Rasita suddenly threw the axe earlier, her heart nearly stopped. Thankfully, Luca had stepped in.
But Wilfred hadn’t even flinched. Seeing his calm reaction left her feeling betrayed.
“You tried to get me killed, didn’t you?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Knew you weren’t asleep.”
Now that she had him, she launched into her questions.
“Luca’s a noble, right?”
“There are… circumstances. I owed a favor to someone, so I brought him here to repay it.”
“Lies.”
He clearly brought him here for security.
The sudden appearance of the Bailey family’s young master left Pricia baffled.
“Are there any other kids?”
“Not fond of him?”
If the original plot was right, by now the main character should’ve already found a place within the Cromford family and taken on a fairly important role.
The story didn’t explain exactly what, so it was hard to confirm. But thinking of what lay ahead, she felt a sudden sense of urgency to find the protagonist.
“If you don’t like him, I can always replace him.”
“That’s not what I meant! I just…”
“I really don’t get what’s going on in your head.”
To him, she probably just seemed like a woman plagued by vague anxiety. But there was nothing she could do about that.
“He’s just a child. He needs care and attention.”
“Sweet Pricia. Do you think I don’t understand your heart?”
His whisper, laced with mockery, stung.
He gently brushed her lips, his smile cold as ice.
“You never hesitate to sacrifice yourself. That must be why you came to me.”
His intense gaze was sharp.
“Are you afraid I’ll destroy the world or something?”
His sudden directness made her heart lurch.
“Wh-who said that!”
“Relax, I’m joking. But you reacting like that makes it sound like you really believe it.”
He’d seen right through her.
His playful smile returned as he looked at the flustered Pricia.
“Well, I guess I wouldn’t hold back either, if someone dared to lay a hand on you.”
“Who’d be stupid enough to do that?”
“Are you calling me stupid now?”
Confessing his impure intentions right in front of her—
His eyes blazed, as if ready to devour her.
“I never thought I lacked charm as a man, but I suppose I’ll have to try harder.”
As he unfastened the buttons of his shirt, Pricia gulped.
“If you keep going, I might do something I regret. Please put your shirt back on.”
“Oh? I’d like to see what you’ll do.”
As the Duke closed his eyes, practically inviting her to eat him alive, Pricia’s mind filled with turmoil.
“You need to eat. Everyone’s waiting.”
“But I’ve got something else I want to eat.”
“You—!”
She tried to fight him off with a cushion, but it wasn’t easy.
Only after a prolonged struggle did he finally give in and hold her tightly, whispering in her ear:
“If I’d known, I’d have seen you as a woman sooner.”
“Are you jealous of Luca right now?”
“Not quite. I’d rather compete with a man than a child.”
He must’ve been remembering Lilie, who always cried for her older sister.
Seeing him shudder at the thought made Pricia struggle to suppress her laughter.
He might fall into jealousy again, so maybe it was okay to at least explain why she wanted to go to the imperial palace.
“There’s a book I really want.”
“I’ll get it for you using Cromford’s power.”
“It’s a book with a story—I don’t want to get it that way.”
If he really put his mind to it, Cromford’s intelligence network would soon discover the book was at Count Ravalny’s estate.
“It’s a rare book that was banned and mutilated during an old censorship.”
“You don’t mean Lady Margaret, do you?”
