THSM 08

Chapter 8

“What?!”

I was so shocked that my mouth fell open, and the Grand Duke leaned back in his chair, looking at me indifferently.

“You have the courage to get hit on the head, but not enough to hold a fork?”

“……”

“Or maybe getting hit on the head was part of your plan—you expected to survive. But this isn’t, so you’re hesitating?”

“Do you still think I’m pretending to have lost my memory?”

“Not impossible.”

How can someone speak so calmly while completely turning another person’s insides upside down?

Did he graduate from the empire’s top sarcasm academy? He could be a professor!

I pressed my lips tightly and clenched my fists, secretly glaring at him—then suddenly met his eyes.

“Did you just glare at me?”

“No?”

I mean… I did.

“Then?”

“S-something got into my eye, so I was trying to open it wider. Ouch, my eye.”

Right. If I just survive and uncover the secret of my birth, I’ll get a happy ending. I just have to endure until then.

I quickly blinked as if something was in my eye, and he frowned slightly, then lazily gestured at the steak placed in front of me.

“Eat.”

Hmm… well, it doesn’t seem like it’s poisoned.

He said he wouldn’t kill me—today.

“Yes, I’ll eat well.”

Taking a deep breath as if to prepare myself, I cut the steak and put it in my mouth.

What is this?

Wow… how long has it been since I’ve had meat?

No, not just that—this was the most delicious meat I had ever tasted in my life.

It melted in my mouth, and the juices were incredible.

It was so good that my feet almost started dancing inside my dress.

“Who… made this?”

Unable to hide my happy smile, I swallowed the meat and looked at the servants beside me.

They seemed startled that I spoke to them.

I quickly added, worried they might misunderstand—

“It’s so delicious…! I think this is the best food I’ve ever had!”

A well-built man with a stiff expression flinched and looked at me.

He seemed to be the chef.

“W-we have always served this while you stayed here…”

“Really? The steak just melts in my mouth.”

The chef stared at me with wide, round eyes, then wiped his face repeatedly.

His face even turned red, as if he had never been praised before.

“Th-thank you, Madam.”

“No, thank you! This food is amazing!”

The fish steak and roasted vegetables that followed were just as incredible.

Maybe I wouldn’t get to eat such luxurious food again, so I decided not to leave anything.

As I happily picked up my fork, I suddenly felt a gaze on me and looked up.

“…Ah, did I eat too much?”

The Grand Duke was looking at me with an unreadable expression.

“Well, I wasn’t that hungry, but it’s not good to waste food.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“…Right.”

I gave an awkward smile, and he simply looked down and continued eating.

“……”

Seeing him sitting far away reminded me of the newspaper article I had read in the bathroom a few days ago.

It had spent over half a page praising his perfect physique and handsome appearance.

And at the end, it had added some suspicious opinions about the Grand Duchess.

According to the article, when the announcement of his marriage to Lea Azanie was published, most unmarried ladies in the empire cried in despair.

“Why are you staring?”

“Oh, um…”

His low voice made me realize I had been staring at his face too closely.

Well, he really is too handsome and capable to die young.

I quickly looked around to think of something to say.

Then I noticed the broccoli untouched on his plate.

“Y-you didn’t eat any broccoli?”

He looked at me as if wondering what I was talking about.

“You should eat it. Vegetables are good for your health.”

“You meddle in everything.”

“Taking care of your health is one of my duties.”

He raised one eyebrow as if he had just heard something ridiculous and let out a faint laugh.

He clearly had no intention of listening to me.

Fine. Ignore me all you want. I won’t be discouraged.

From now on, I will be a devoted Grand Duchess—and also a wife who gets hurt because her husband loves another woman.

So stay strong.

Someone in this dining room might become a witness for me later.

It’s better to show that I care for him from now on.

“By the way… why are you suddenly giving me such a nice dinner today? Did you change your mind?”

“To check.”

“To check what?”

While looking at me, he crushed the sorbet on his plate with his fork.

“How far you’ll go.”

His slow smile felt strangely ominous.

But there was only one thing I could do.

Push forward shamelessly.

* * *

“Wow… we’re really going… right?”

“Did you think I was lying?”

The Grand Duke walked slowly down the long, endless hallway and looked down at me with a cold smile.

His expression made a chill run down my spine, and I instinctively shrank back.

Is this really the hallway leading to his bedroom?

“If we’re married, we should at least share a bedroom. Don’t you think?”

After dinner, he said he would take me to his bedroom.

A bedroom?!

We didn’t look like a couple who shared one at all!

“Did we really share the same bedroom?”

“Of course.”

That’s a lie!

The servants had clearly been shocked when he said that earlier.

Some of them even flinched.

Their reaction made it obvious that we had never shared a bed before.

“…Wow.”

But when the doors to his bedroom opened wide, I couldn’t help but gasp.

The view was breathtaking.

Until now, I had only seen my hospital-like room, two reception rooms, and the dining hall.

None of them had cheap things—but this place was on another level.

It was like heaven.

The golden glow under the chandelier was so overwhelming that I almost lost my mind.

“Ah!”

The servants glanced at me, and I quickly covered my mouth.

The Grand Duke walked in without caring about me, and I hurried after him.

“Well?”

“Huh?”

“Do you want to go back now?”

He looked down at me indifferently.

“W-why?”

“There aren’t many things a couple does in a bedroom. And whatever we start, I won’t stop.”

“……”

“Will you be alright?”

Wow… he’s being way too direct.

But there was no way he would actually do anything to me.

This was just his way of saying he wouldn’t fall for my act.

His slightly raised lips looked charming—but his eyes were cold with clear hatred.

If you act, I’ll go all the way too.

He seemed like someone used to playing with people.

I understood what he meant—but I’m supposed to have amnesia.

“…I don’t understand what you mean.”

I forced a smile and shook my head.

“This is our bedroom, right? Then this is where I should be.”

“……”

“You only kept me in that room until I recovered, right? And now you brought me here because I’m better.”

Your Highness, I’m just a woman with amnesia who has no one but her husband to rely on.

So no matter how much you test me, you won’t get what you want.

He stared at me silently, then let out a short laugh and straightened up.

“Impressive.”

He didn’t seem pleased.

“Then try it.”

His cold eyes made my lips dry.

Knock knock.

At that moment, two maids entered.

“We will prepare you for bed.”

By “preparation,” they meant removing my accessories, changing me into a chemise, and washing my face.

But since it had spread that I was still sane, their hands became rough again.

Sigh… can I really change their minds and make them acknowledge me as the Grand Duchess?

It felt impossible.

“Madam is ready.”

As the maid reported, I stepped out of the dressing room—

And froze.

“……”

Is that… really the Grand Duke?

He was leaning against the bed casually.

But… why is he half-naked?

Do nobles usually sleep like that?

Is he just… wearing muscles?

My heart dropped.

The butler kindly guided me closer.

“Ah…”

His upper body was completely bare, and under the thin blanket, I could vaguely see the outline of his lower body.

I quickly looked away.

“Everyone, leave.”

No—don’t leave!

I looked at the servants desperately, but they all exited the room.

As I watched them go, I turned my head—

And met the Grand Duke’s eyes.

He’s not completely naked… right?

Forcing a smile, I looked at him.

What if he actually is?

Then he lightly gestured toward the bed.

“Lie down.”

“…What?”

“Why? You don’t want to?”

“N-no! Of course I will. Yes.”

Not even understanding what I was saying, I climbed into the bed.

Is this really a test?

I pulled the blanket up to my neck and spoke cheerfully on purpose.

“G-good night. I’ll sleep now…”

“I’m not letting you sleep.”

“What?”

I opened my eyes—and suddenly my vision went dark.

Before I knew it, his upper body was above me.

His sharp eyes glowed in the darkness as he looked down at me.

“……”

I was too shocked to even scream.

His gaze slowly deepened, becoming intense and heavy.

For a moment, he looked like he was lost in thought—then suddenly leaned down toward my face without hesitation.

His hot breath brushed against my neck.

I held my breath and shut my eyes tightly.

“Ah!”

When his hand grabbed my thigh, a shiver ran through my body.

I pushed against his chest, and just as it felt like he might kiss me—

His cold voice whispered near my ear.

“Shall we continue?”