Chapter 65
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I possessed the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower.
Chapter 65
'Why does this scene feel so familiar...?'
There's an old saying: a thief's feet itch with guilt.
But I hadn't committed any crime.
So why was my heart racing like this?
As I racked my brain trying to recall if I'd done anything wrong, the Blaire Grand Duke's expression grew increasingly rigid.
"I... I'm not sure I understand what conversation you wish to have..."
He stared at me intently, then clenched his fists and spoke through gritted teeth.
"I intend to conduct a reassessment of your accumulated room and board expenses."
"A reassessment?"
Suddenly?
Why?
His declaration struck me like a bolt from the blue, and I froze in place.
"We'll discuss this inside. Follow me."
Though I was momentarily stunned, I reminded myself that even if a tiger bites you, you can survive if you keep your wits about you.
I tried to suppress my panic and followed the Blaire Grand Duke into the Mansion.
Yet whenever the subject of room and board expenses arose, I couldn't help but feel anxious, and countless worries tormented my mind as I trailed behind him.
'What on earth could be wrong?'
Why would he want to reassess my accumulated expenses? Was he going to raise them or lower them? What exactly was this about?!
But no matter how hard I thought, nothing came to mind.
As I spiraled deeper into worry, the Grand Duke's Office—now completely familiar to me—came into view.
"Come in."
"Y-yes, of course..."
Click.
The moment I stepped inside, he shut the door and regarded me with a stern expression.
...He simply stared at me without saying a word.
"Um, Your Grace?"
Unable to bear the pressure, my voice came out small and trembling.
Still, he made no move to speak.
'Why is he doing this?!'
What felt like a year passed in what was probably just a minute.
Only when my patience was fraying did he finally open his mouth.
"...Through Liam, I've confirmed that meal orders for two have increased significantly of late."
"...!"
How... how did he find out?
Already feeling guilty about it, I flinched the moment he spoke.
"That is... well..."
I certainly had plenty of excuses ready.
After all, I'd skipped meals and worked without compensation all this time, and now I was expected to pay back every last expense—it hardly seemed fair!
I had requested two portions because I often shared meals with Ashley and Bonita, my colleagues, but I never imagined he would factor that into his calculations.
Of course, I couldn't exactly claim innocence, but there was nothing wrong with inviting guests to dine with me, was there?
But they say when a person is too flustered, words simply won't come out.
My mind conjured up various excuses, yet my lips remained sealed as if glued shut.
Unaware that the Grand Duke's gaze, fixed directly upon me, grew increasingly relentless, I lowered my head and began to construct increasingly concrete anxious imaginings.
'So... this "review of room and board expenses" wasn't good news after all?'
To be honest, a small corner of my heart had harbored a faint hope that perhaps he pitied me.
Maybe a substantial reduction in room and board? Or perhaps a discount?
Couldn't he consider something like that? Everyone knew that Blaire Grand Duke was the second-wealthiest person in Cletan after the Crown Prince of Kletan.
...But to suddenly bring up the matter of two portions.
The Grand Duke posed another question to me, my spirit now completely deflated.
"It seems you've been dining together with m.e.n you've met while working?"
"Oh..."
I bowed my head like a terrified ostrich, sinking deeper into fear.
I had indeed invited managers who occasionally visited from the Merchant Guild, as well as elderly painters who had finished their deadlines, to share meals with me quite often.
But how could the Grand Duke possibly know all of this?
It wasn't as though surveillance cameras were installed!
"Does your silence mean you're admitting to it? If so, then the 'meals' portion of your room and board should be charged not for one person, but for two..."
"Wait, please!"
Fearing that continued silence would only deepen the misunderstanding, I hastily raised my head.
But then.
"...Oh."
When our eyes met, I found no particular hostility in the Grand Duke's green gaze.
It was something... how should I put it... like he didn't truly wish to be angry with me.
But now that I had found my voice, I had to speak my mind.
"I... find this unfair!!"
"Unfair?"
"I'm allowed to invite guests, and I'm allowed to dine with them!"
Especially since I'm even paying room and board!
But the Grand Duke didn't budge.
"Is that why you have so many male guests?"
He even countered with a rather displeased(?) tone.
Unable to understand why he kept bringing up male guests since earlier, I closed my mouth and chose my words carefully.
In truth, the proportion of female guests was far higher than male ones.
'Could it be because they eat more?'
But that was merely prejudice!
Bonita and Ashley ate two or three times as much as the elderly painters. Especially when it came to desserts.
But revealing that here would certainly do me no good.
"Isn't it my right—my privilege to dine with whomever I wish while residing here?"
Due to the Grand Duke's suddenly intensified gaze, I momentarily stumbled over my words and quietly cast my eyes downward.
"Someone who wants to eat."
And then came that chilling repetition.
"Someone who wants to eat... you said someone who wants to eat. Ha. Unbelievable."
In that moment, I could tell something was terribly wrong.
I was beginning to feel the urge to tell him I now understood about room and board and all that nonsense, and to ask him to let me leave this place.
Not long after, the Grand Duke's voice echoed through the now completely silent Office.
"From now on, we'll have dinner together without fail."
"Pardon?"
That was a completely unexpected response.
Unable to fathom what sort of logical leap had just occurred, I could only stare at the Grand Duke with a bewildered expression.
"Why...is that?"
I voiced my question, but he casually ignored me and called for his right-hand man.
"Liam."
The door swung open.
"Yes, Your Grace."
And there was Liam, appearing through the Office door at the Grand Duke's summons as if they'd coordinated it beforehand.
Liam entered, deliberately letting my gaze pass over him, and stood beside the Grand Duke with a bowed head.
He truly was the picture of loyalty.
Whether or not the Grand Duke knew what I was thinking, he turned to Liam standing beside him and asked a question.
"Among all meals, dinner is the one with the highest expenditure, correct?"
"Generally speaking, that is so."
"I see."
Wait.
The flow of conversation happening without me felt oddly strange.
'Is he now saying I shouldn't eat two portions because dinner costs the most?'
Or rather, he's insisting I eat with him no matter what?
Realizing the Grand Duke's pettiness exceeded my imagination, I barely managed to suppress a hollow laugh that threatened to escape.
A man with enough wealth to count among the Empire's richest, yet he could be this stingy.
At this point, even Scrooge McDuck would learn a thing or two from him about miserliness.
'But then again...'
It might not be so bad?
First, that face that seems forgivable no matter what he does.
And that toned body that never loses its composure, despite being sprawled across the Office every day—I still couldn't figure out when he even managed to maintain it.
Sharing meals while looking at that face might bring more joy than any delicacy could offer.
So this is actually beneficial for me too, isn't it?
Having made my judgment quickly, I nodded first.
"I'll do it. I actually like it."
"...You actually like it?"
"For me as well, having dinner with Your Grace is something I've wanted, not something I dislike."
When I thought about it, it was an opportunity many would desperately desire but never obtain.
Besides, I had plenty of work-related matters to discuss with the Grand Duke anyway, so this proposal was actually welcome news to me.
But as he listened quietly to my words, the Grand Duke's expression grew peculiar, and then an unexpected answer tumbled from his lips.
"We'll waive it."
"Pardon...?"
"Room and board fees."
Now, all of a sudden?
I couldn't quite grasp his wavering intentions, as fickle as reeds bending in the wind.
"However, if you hire an additional escort knight, I'll double your room and board fees, so be prepared for that."
"I'm sorry? What do you mean... Why?"
"Because the escort knight currently employed is being paid far too little."
Ian? Paid too little?
Why? Why on earth?
Caught off guard by this unexpected revelation, I found myself at a loss for words, and he, having settled the matter on his own, turned his head toward Liam.
"Liam, prepare a new invoice."
"Understood."
Liam bowed without protest and left, leaving an awkward silence between the Grand Duke and me that was almost suffocating.
'What was that?'
It felt as though something momentous had just swept past like a storm.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org